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"And we will do what, hide?"

"We will make an advantage out of this abbess, the hostages are dead men breathing. You cannot save them what we must do now is save the lives of your nuns and my men." Uhtred said to them.

"And Aethelflæd." Osferth added from where he stood, Sigyn reached out to uncross his arms so she could hold his hand. Skade glared at her but Sigyn didn't care. If she wanted to hold the monk's hand, she will. Osferth blushed when she smiled at him and the monk turned away to look at Uhtred once she began to swing their interlocked hands lightly.

"Abbess?"

"Aye." The Abbess said.

"I will do it." A woman spoke.

"No, no this is my house. It's my responsibility, I will do it." Abbess says and walks outside.

"It is Hæsten, with no more than forty men, that I can see." Uhtred told them.

"Then let us fight them."

"No, wait." Uhtred ordered as Aethelflæd gasped at what she witnessed outside.

"Lord, now?" Finan asked.

"We do nothing yet." Uhtred demands. Finan and Sihtric share a look, Sihtric fidgets with his sword ready for a fight. They wait for Hæsten to open the door before attacking. Hæsten and his remaining men run.

"We are trapped."

"We're alive and they are twelve or thirteen men less." Uhtred told the princess.

"But we are trapped under a wooden roof."

"What do you suggest then, lady? That you give yourself over?" Finan asked harshly and glanced at Osferth and Sigyn with a small smile.

"Yes, Hæsten's right. Why should I live when so many others have died."

"Hæsten has never spoken the truth in his life. Do not say as much again, never of those men have died for no reason." Uhtred snarled in anger making Sigyn flinch at the tone. Osferth pulled her into his chest on instinct and his eyes widened when he realized what he had done, instead of saying anything she just cuddled up to the man as she watched the group silently.

"All doors have been blocked on the outside apart from that one." Finan said after checking the exit.

"Will they set a fire?"

"No, not yet. He will want you alive." Uhtred told her.

"So we should fight, lord. We should open the doors and fight." Finan said.

"And die." Osferth said with a shrug and apologized to Sigyn quietly when she slapped his shoulder playfully.

"It's as good a plan as any." Skade stands next to Finan as he speaks, she glares over at her sister and the monk.

"Osferth, you'll open the door on my word and retreat. We form a shield wall and then we negotiate." Uhtred ordered.

"Negotiate?" Sihtric asked in disbelief.

"Hæsten will want his prize, to the door," Uhtred says as he moves to Skade. "If you truly belong to me you will do as I ask. In return, I will not abandon you. I will come for you." Skade looks over at Aethelflæd who is already watching them.

"And I will find you, shield wall, ready. Lift the bar and open the door, move!" They open the door at Uhtred's command, and Sigyn lets Osferth do as commanded. Finan peaks his head out from the shields.

"I count a few more than thirty of the bastards."

"Fight Hæsten, and you will lose men, many men. I guarantee it." Uhtred shouts as Skade walks to her.

"I have many men."

"But you have just the one life and I plan to take it." Finan yelled.

"Move out."

"I will not leave without her, Uhtred. I may lose many men but you will lose everything and the bitch will still be mine." Hæsten said.

"Then take her because that is what you will have to do or we can strike a bargain. Two women in place of another." Uhtred said smiling sadly at Sigyn knowing she and Skade were a package deal for now.

"I am in no need of a nun. Who are these women?"

"Skade, the seer. And Sigyn, the healer." Uhtred shouts as they walk forward to be seen. "Finan," The man opened the wall and watched her cautiously. "They're yours! In return, you and your men ride clear of this place and do not return."

"They are not yours to give. They belong to Bloodhair."

"I do not!" Sigyn said in disgust, Finan snickered behind her at her expression.

"I belong to the man I choose. The man who has the will to lead, to conquer. Bloodhair is not that man." Skade corrected and clutched Sigyn's wrist tig toy making her hiss in pain.

"She has sent Alfred's death and in battle, her man will benefit from that death greatly."

"Is that true?" Hæsten asked.

"It's true."

"May I approach?" Hæsten slowly walks up the stairs as Finan turns to Uhtred.

"Uhtred, you cannot bargain with this sack of chuck shit." Finan tells him.

"You're close enough, lord. If a bargain is made we will not be handed over like you would a whore. We will walk to our new lord and should either man go back on his word, I shall see he is tormented till the end, I swear." Skade announced.

"Do we have an agreement? Skade and Sigyn in place of Aethelflæd?" Uhtred asked.

"Agreed, the seer and her sister are mine."

"Then step back and they will walk to you and then you leave." Uhtred said.

"I will."

"And you are cursed once more Uhtred of Bebbanburg, you shall wither." Skade spoke as Sigyn hugged Osferth goodbye.

"Be careful, Sig." Sigyn gave him a sad smile and kissed his cheek as she walked back to her sister.

"Go, open. Let them pass." Skade and Sigyn walk to Hæsten.

"This does not mean the princess is forgiven, Uhtred. She is safe for now, no more than that."

"Leave, go." Skade looks at Uhtred with a glare and Sihtric turns to him with worry.

"Your life is not your own, lord." Sihtric speaks.