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After Uhtred and his men made a big dramatic entrance she sat next to Sihtric and Finan as they ate, she wasn't hungry though, she instead drank some ale and fed Seidr, she watched in amusement as the Abbess looked horrified at the sight.

"Your guards are not, lady." Finan said after a moment of chugging down some ale.

"Not what?" Aethelflæd asked and glanced at her in curiosity.

"They're not guards. Their swords are trinkets." Sihtric said with a smirk, Aethelflæd watched him hold out a piece of meat and to Sigrún's surprise, the snake gently took it from him. She watched her baby and Sihtric interact but she wasn't sure why Seidr felt so comfortable with the Dane, the snake never liked anyone but her. Not even its maker, Loki.

"It's true." Finan agreed.

"They're good men."

"Sure, but they are not worthy warriors. They will die tonight." Sigrún told the princess and leaned forward to stir the mush that was food.

"I'm sure they're loyal but they are not guards." Finan explained.

"They are barely men." Uhtred added and looked over at Sigrún and Sihtric, why they were feeding the snake like a child he would never know.

"I do not like you, young man. You have a very high opinion of yourself." Aethelflæd smiled at the Abbess and Sigrún cracked a grin at the woman.

"I am heathen, I am godless and an enemy of Alfred. But I will keep you all safe." Uhtred told the holy woman.

"And who is it that wishes me dead?" The elder woman asked them. Sigrún and Finan grinned at one another as he spoke.

"Several people, I imagine." Sigrún noticed Skade had leaned forward to watch the Abbess before turning to look down the table at her.

"What Uhtred is saying, is that the lands are changing. Men are becoming sick with greed and we must all be on our guard." Aethelflæd explains.

"Well, perhaps. But I know when I am hearing half-truths. I do not like him." The abbess scoffs at him. "And I like them even less." She replied motioning to Skade and Sigrún as she left.

"Nor I you, hag!" Skade shouts making the Abbess pause and turn around, Finan giggles next to her.

"I have yet to kill a woman, I doubt you will be the first." Sigrún said looking at the Abbess and letting Seidr hiss at the woman.

"She reminds me of my mother and that woman was never wrong either." Finan says making them laugh. Uhtred leaves to tend to his horse and Sigrún noticed in stressful situations he would often go to his faithful companion.

"What is his name?" Sihtric asked drawing her attention back to him and her snake.

"Seidr, he was given to me as a gift." She recalled smiling softly at the sleeping snake.

"That name refers to witchcraft? You are not helping with men believing you a witch." Sihtric laughs at her when she huffs in annoyance.

"The name fits him."

"How did you find him?" She hesitated for a moment but she knew if Seidr trusted the Dane then she could confide in him with this knowledge.

"He was given to me as payment for my gift of sight. I was visited in my dreams by a man named Loki, the god himself. He wanted me to tell his fortune and when I woke there sat a baby snake dark as night and eyes as golden as the sun sleeping in my palm. Loki had created him personally for me, you are the first person he has trusted that was not me." She watched the Dane as he absorbed the information, he did not laugh or claim her to be crazy but rather grew silent.

"He does not trust Loki? That is odd," Sigrún shook her head no to answer his question. "Did Loki give you the staff too?" She smiled at the Dane and found it wholesome how much he wanted to learn.

"That was given to me by Odin." Sihtric slowly nodded and looked at her in awe. Not long after the group gathers at the table when the Abbess runs in with the nuns in panic, she boards up the door and turns to them.

"What is it?" Uhtred asked.

"Abbess?"

"Danes, outside. I just witnessed them kill a man." The woman said quickly and terrified.

"How many Danes?" Finan asked as the men stood alert and unsheathed their swords. Sigrún sighed when Skade moved to her side much too close.

"I did not count, but many."

"Why aren't they bursting through the door?" Sihtric asked and watched Skade cautiously as she hovered by Sigrún's side.

"Finan, hold. Sihtric, they may not know we're here. Sigrún, can you tell me anything?" Uhtred asked softly as he touched her arm and she nodded. Uhtred held out his palm so she could cut it and get his blood, once his blood touched her tongue she gasped in pain. Both Skade and Sihtric moved to touch her but only Sihtric was granted permission, Seidr snapped at Skade and hissed protectively.

Sihtric wrapped an arm around her waist when she was pulled out of the dreamlike state and leaned against Sihtric. Uhtred wiped away the blood on her face and looked at her expectantly.

"You must decide between women, the seer or the princess. One must go tonight." She spoke in riddles and Uhtred frowned as he looked over at Aethelflæd. Sigrún placed a hand on Sihtric's chest to steady herself, she sent the man a grateful smile.

"They have asked for the lady Aethelflæd." The Abbess says.

"Well, they know someone is here." Osferth replied sarcastically.

"There are two other hostages."

"We wait inside and will remain silent. Abbess, you will go to them and talk to them." Uhtred ordered and the Abbess began to panic.

"No, no. I...I...I will not."

"Yes, you will because you must." Uhtred insisted.

"Did I not say I did not like you?"

"You did. Allow them to believe you are unprotected and deny Aethelflæd is here." Uhtred explains. Sigrún felt Sihtric tighten his grip on her hip when she gripped his armor.

"Are you alright, Lady Sigrún?" He whispered into her ear.

"Just a little drained, I will be fine soon." She patted his chest plate and watched Uhtred and the Abbess.