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"Finan." Uhtred says as he walks up to his friend, Revna groaned in annoyance. She was so close to convincing the Irishman to take a nap with her and Uhtred interrupted.

"Lord."

"Have the priests unload half of what they've taken. Send them back to Alfred. You will ride with them." Uhtred demanded and Finan sighed as he turned to her with an exhausted expression. Revna raked her fingers through his hair and smiled when he relaxed against her.

"All the way to Winchester?"

"I will follow and find you." Uhtred promised and softened his gaze at the sight of the two, he was happy for them.

"And what of Skade?"

"She stays with me. I will find you in Winchester. I must be there. Unseen." Uhtred said and turned to Revna with a silent order, they both knew nothing would happen to his three men while she was near.

"And if Alfred decides to take me hostage?"

"He will have you watched, nothing more. You need only drink ale and find a woman." Uhtred tells him with a smile. Revna scoffed in jealousy at that and Uhtred hid his amused smile as Finan paled.

"I do not want anyone but you, beautiful. And I can do that, lord, We all need a good woman!" Finan shouted when Uhtred walked away. Finan pulled her into a chaste kiss when she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"I will kill any whore that touches you." She spoke with determination and Finan felt his heart flutter at the promise.

"I only want you, little bird."

"My men are free men still. They'll travel with you to Winchester, ensure your safe return." Uhtred tells the Bishop as he walks to his horse. Finan leaned against Revna's horse and closed his eyes when her hand caressed his cheek and moved to squeeze the back of his neck softly.

"I have a guard. And Wessex is not a land of banditry." The Bishop claimed.

"Priests and Ealdorman aside, you should never refuse the offer of a sword, Bishop Erkenwald." Finan tells the holy man as he crosses his arms and ignores the teasing looks his friends sent the two.

"Is it your intention to remain at Coccham?"

"It is not. My lord's intention is to rule at Winchester." Skade adds as she stands next to Uhtred and the Dane-slayer sends her a dirty look. Revna scoffed at that and looked to Sihtric who snickered at her expression, she was so done with the seer's voice.

"Is that right, lord?" Finan asked sardonically and kissed her wrist when she moved away from him.

"My business is my own." Uhtred claims.

"And your children?"

"Are Christian now." Uhtred said through gritted teeth.

"I will ensure they are cared for." Hild tells them reassuringly.

"If it pleases you."

"I will bring my wife to Mercia, lord. Meet you there." Sihtric says with a grin from where he is perched on his horse. Revna didn't know how her brother did it, she hated being separated from Finan and the two weren't even together, or maybe they were? She was confused about the matter but they belonged to one another and that's all she cares about.

"What is happening? Why is she not dead?" Osferth said as he pulled Finan to the side. Revna watched in silence as Finan picked up his saddle and glanced at her.

"She has beauty and power, Osferth, over men who believe is their own reputation." Finan claims and winks at Revna who shakes her head.

"But she is evil. He had promised her death." Osferth asked in confusion.

"Pray for him, he'll need it." Finan said as he nudged the monk. In Winchester, the Bishop stands in front of the yelling and shouting for Steapa.

"Steapa! Steapa!" The guard appears looking down at them.

"Ah! Do you not recognize me, Steapa? Why have the gates not opened?" The Bishop asked.

"Bishop Erkenwald, you have guests."

"They did ride with us from Coccham." Erkenwald spoke.

"Where Uhtred remains. He'll be going directly to Mercia." Finan shouts to the guard.

"Steapa, he had hoped to visit his children there." Hild added.

"This is true, lord?" Steapa asked.

"You do not believe me?" Hild asked in disbelief but she was ignored.

"It is true that Uhtred Ragnarsson remains at Coccham. That is all I know to be true." The Bishop answered.

"It is Uhtred's intention to return to Mercia. He asked me to petition to the king to have his children follow. Now, open the gates, and let us rest." Hild claimed.

"Hey, big man. We are guilty of being hungry and tired, my friend. That is all." Steapa watched them with suspicion as he ate his apple. When Steapa glanced at her she raised an eyebrow and glanced at her sword with a smirk, that was a fight he wouldn't win. Soon after, the gates open, and Finan and Sihtric smile at her in victory. Sihtric and Finan stand in the stables with ale as Revna sits on the fence behind Finan, the Irishman leans against her chest as she slings her arms around his shoulders when Finan gets Sihtric's attention.

"Is that Aethelwold? The sword-Dane I see? Looks like you've mislaid your eye." Finan mocked with a grin, Revna propped her chin on his head as she listened.

"I see you perfectly, Finan. Though I do not see your master. Uhtred, where is he?" Aethelwold asked with annoyance.

"Standing at your blind side, perhaps?" Sihtric smiled at his joke while Revna cackled. She jumped down when Finan moved away, he held his hand out to her with soft eyes and she sighed. She couldn't deny him anything and that would be a problem. Finan and the siblings walk away making Aethelwold angry.

"Your men have been telling me there's to be a wedding, lord." Finan asked the Bishop when he separated from Sihtric. Revna attempted to move away but he sent her a pleading look and she gave in.

"Edward, is to marry, yes. A sweet girl." Erkenwald confirmed.

"I, uh...I do enjoy a wedding. Ale flows and kisses are a little easier to come by. I might stay a short while." Finan said with a sly smile, the Bishop did not like the comment. Nor did she, she clicked her tongue in jealousy at the thought.

"You are welcome, Finan. I am sure, as are your people." The Bishop walks away as Finan grins and Sihtric appears with white flowers.

"Finan, sister, I am away to find my wife." Sihtric says with a bright smile and she patted his arm in support.

"Um, she'll be underneath some man." Sihtric rolls his eyes and smiles as he walks away. "And you'll recognize her by the size of her big," He trails off as he motioned to his chest. "Feet." He then points down as he grins teasingly, she kicks him in the shin and he gasps in pain.

"I still love her." Sihtric said hopelessly in love and Finan laughed. Osferth then walks by and grabs Finan, Revna almost attacks the monk for scaring him until she notices who he is.

"Finan."

"What the...Osferth? You're here?" Finan asked confused as Osferth walked them to a fire pit.

"So, we are inside the walls of Winchester. Where will he go? To father Beocca?" Osferth asked his friend.

"Yes, he'll find us. Be sure of it."

"And he is free of his curse." Osferth whispered.

"She's dead?" Revna asked hopefully.

"Very." Osferth answered.

"Then we're all free of the curse, baby monk." Finan said with relief.

"She was of the devil, wasn't she?"

"No, more than that. She was the devil in disguise." Finan claimed making Osferth frown.

"It is what he would do."

"Ale and women." Finan says suddenly as he taps Osferth's chest. Revna raised an eyebrow in warning as she crossed her arms, Finan sent her a small smile to reassure her.

"And prayer."

"Absolutely, but in that order." Finan said with a grin and crossed himself as they laughed. He tugs her hand to make her follow and she begrudgingly walks with them for one reason alone: to kill any whores that glance his way.