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"Apologies for keeping you waiting in the cold, my dear, your father is to blame after deliberation, he has decided not to attend." Æthelred mocked and shrunk back into his seat at Revna's glare, Aethelflæd smiled softly at her.

"I am here in place of the king. I'm here to speak for the king." Edward said and Uhtred was secretly amused when the boy looked fearfully at Revna.

"Our business is with Alfred." Aethelflæd spoke to them.

"Edward is Alfred."

"On this occasion." Beocca correct.

"We are all curious about what you have to say, my dear. Speak." Æthelred motioned around him. Sihtric placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her from attacking the Mercian lord.

"Danes are near."

"Yes, which is why we are gathered. This is not some hunting party." Æthelred said annoyed.

"Hæsten is with them. His army is allied with them." Aethelflæd informed them.

"But it was Hæsten who first advised the king that the Danes were marching south."

"He would do that, Lord." Uhtred said.

"Hæsten also advised the king this dane army included yourself, Uhtred Ragnarsson."

"It does not, father." Uhtred felt Revna move next to him and he relaxed knowing their human attack dog was protecting him.

"Which we can clearly see."

"Hæsten has betrayed the king. He rode to Mercia to kill me, Uhtred saved me." Aethelflæd said attempting to make them see reason.

"God is good, praise him."

"I am at a loss. How is it that you knew of this danger? How is it he knew exactly where to find you?" Aethelred questioned as he leaned forward.

"An interesting question, lord."

"An irrelevant question." Aethelflæd snapped.

"Uhtred made a plan with this dane, this Hæsten to save you, to gain your trust, gain entry to this estate."

"No." Aethelflæd said sharply.

"A spy."

"An assassin." Men began to murmur with false opinions.

"No, saved me."

"I should've expected nothing different." Uhtred said with a scoff, Revna watched him closely.

"Uhtred has risked everything for me—"

"That's what he wants you to believe, I am sure." Æthelred interrupted.

"Seems a rather grand strategy, lord Æthelred. And for what?" Edward said and moved back at the sight of Revna.

"He is here, among us." Sigebriht said.

"And under guard."

"Then let us get to the truth of the matter, let us hear exactly why Uhtred is here," Alfred speaks as he steps into the room and slowly walks to Uhtred. "What do you have to say to me?" Revna snarled at the king and Uhtred gripped her wrist tightly.

"I wish to speak to you alone."

"This is a Witan, we are one people. What you have to say affects all of us." Æthelred said with an air of superiority.

"These men are my friends and allies. I have nothing to hide." Alfred said as Aethelflæd and Uhtred share a look.

"I saved your daughter's life. It was Hæsten's intention to kidnap her. If that could not be done, he would have killed her. And you claim he, too, is your ally." Uhtred told him.

"I have never made that claim. I have listened to Hæsten but I have never believed him fully." Alfred walks to Aethelflæd. "That you are here with Aethelflæd, is the only reason you are alive." Alfred glanced at Osferth briefly before turning away. "Do not tell us what you have done. Tell us all what it is you want, you always want something."

"I want one thousand men. One thousand men and I will give you Beamfleot." Æthelred scoffed.

"I do not need Beamfleot."

"I will give you peace, I will defeat Hæsten. I will prevent him from joining with the Earls Cnut and Bloodhair." Uhtred said.

"Not forgetting the Earl Ragnar."

"My brother is dead, lord. That is to your advantage, with Hæsten defeated and Ragnar gone, the Danes will have half the army and no leader. To prevent a great war, you must attack Hæsten." Uhtred loosened his grip on Revna at the mention of his brother.

"Seems viable, lord."

"You wish me to divide my army?" Alfred asked.

"Yes."

"Send one thousand men east?" Alfred turned to look at her with disdain.

"Yes."

"That is too great a risk to Wessex, lord." Sigebriht announced.

"Hæsten sits inside a fortress, one thousand men could die upon its walls easily. And then what?" Alfred questioned looking Uhtred in the eyes.

"We are overrun."

"We devise a plan." Uhtred said.

"Why? What is at stake for Uhtred Ragnarsson? Is it Mercia you care for? Is it Wessex or is there another reason for this attack?"

"Vengeance, lord. Do you require the details?" Uhtred snapped.

"You seek vengeance?"

"I do."

"The man is a fool, who believes all of us to be fools!" Aethelhelm shouts and Revna decides to intervene.

"You are a shit stain of the Witan. Keep speaking and I will rip your tongue out with the cross around your neck." She snarled aggressively and Uhtred fought back a smile.

"You arrived here under the protection of the lady of Mercia. I shall not undermine that protection. You are free to leave when you are ready and rested. You remain an outlaw of Wessex." Alfred spoke and grimaced at her. "Take the king-slayer with you, Uhtred. If you had any sense at all, you would have sold her back to Frankia."

Revan saw red and lunged at him, like a rabid dog she went for his throat, Steapa managed to grab her before she could rip his throat out.

"Unlike you Saxons, who are worthless without a sword, I only need my body to kill. Whether by my hands breaking Aethelred's ribs apart to rip his heart out or my teeth buried in your jugular, lord. And I swear to your god and mine, if your sickness does not kill you soon, I will." She threatened and tossed her head back to bash Steapa's nose to free herself.

"Finan, get your woman." Alfred said dismissively, although, they all knew he was terrified.

"You have it wrong, lord. She is not my woman, I am her man. I do what she says, not the other way around." Revna smirked at them when Finan spoke.

"I know what this is about, Alfred. Finan is my bitch-"

"Sihtric, I have upgraded." Finan said with a tone of happiness, Sihtric frowned in disgust.

"And you so desperately want to be Uhtred's bitch. Why else are you always so far up his ass?"

The room went silent when the king slapped her, everyone held their breath as they watched with caution. Revna laughed at him as she stepped closer to him and leaned in close so only he could hear.

"I will make sure from this day forward to make your life shit, I will call upon Skade to curse you and your family. And when they begin to die, you will be the one at fault. You are a coward, a disgrace of all kings." She hissed with rage as the king grimaced at her words. "Heaven cannot help you now."