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They sit around the boat as Uhtred sleeps, Skade drinks from water from the river as Finan is huddled at the back of the boat and the others are in the front. Finan watched horrified at the sight of Uhtred kissing Skade, he reached down to play with Revna's hair to calm himself. She had her head resting in his lap as she curled into him, his heart almost couldn't contain the love he had at the sight. He looked away from his friend and raked his fingers through the knots gently and started to plait her hair to take his mind off of his friend and the seer.
Eventually, they arrive back in Coccham.
"Is the idea we walk into Coccham like we've never been away?" Finan asked from where he walked with Uhtred. Revna had pulled him into a kiss the moment he woke her, not that he complained, and she softened her gaze when she felt the braids he attempted. They weren't at the level of a warrior but he tried his best and she refused to redo them.
"Yes."
"Directly to the hall?" Finan questioned in disbelief, he reached back and she laughed when he made grabby hands at her, she intertwined their fingers together and ignored the smirk Sihtric sent her.
"Yes."
"And if another lord resides there?" Finan asked quietly.
"We ask him to leave, my friend." Uhtred spoke nonchalantly. Revna squeezed his hand when she noticed the Irishman growing nervous.
"I can do that. Are we to expect a wedding, lord?" Finan asked as he looked back at Skade. "We did not risk our lives for you to hump the bitch. Or do you plan to kill her with your cock?" Revna snickered at that and let go of Finan's hand to wrap around his torso and pulled him closer.
"I plan to see my children." Uhtred said dismissively and looked to a man who gained his attention.
"Lord, you will not remember me." A man claims as he bows to him.
"I remember you. You're Edwin. You're married to Mildwynn." Uhtred claimed happily as he patted the man's back.
"Lord, they have taken more than half our winter store. Animals and grains. They say it is to feed Alfred's army, but we will certainly starve." Edwin said in a panic.
"Who did this?"
"They're at the hall, lord. King Alfred would not have ordered this." Edwin said. Uhtred and his group walked to the gates of the hall and noticed guards were placed outside. Revna hoped Uhtred would let her kill them.
"Stand aside, I want no bloodshed, no man killed." Uhtred said and sighed when they refused to move.
"He said stand aside. Now!" The guards look at one another before moving. "Thank you. I should not need to raise my voice." Sihtric says softly and they enter. Sihtric moves to the table to eat and drink ale as the priest takes notice of them. Sihtric raised an eyebrow at her when she moved to lean against the beam and Finan followed, she just shrugged with a small smile.
"Uhtred. Uh, what is the meaning of this invasion?"
"This is my home." Uhtred stated and shook his head in amusement as he noticed his best friend rolling the woman.
"We are here by right, on the king's business." The priest said as he stood up.
"You are stealing food from the mouths of the poor." Uhtred said as he looked at the priest in disdain.
"An army needs to be fed."
"As do the priests, it seems." Uhtred says as he watches Skade stab a piece of meat on a priest's plate.
"You are lucky it is not your hand." Skade sneered at the man as she leaned in close.
"Are you sure I cannot kill her?" Revna questioned as she leaned over to whisper to Finan, she kissed his cheek when he shivered at her voice.
"We want no disharmony here today." Uhtred turns and sees a cross hanging above the doorway.
"What is that?" Uhtred questioned.
"Well, you know what it is."
"Take it down. Take it down or I will make a gift of you to Skade." Uhtred threatened as Skade walked behind him in interest.
"I will not do as you ask. I cannot."
"Lord, see it as a piece of wood, nothing more." Finan stated moving close to them. Revna watched carefully to ensure her man didn't get harmed in the process, she moved a hand to the hilt of her sword.
"It is a holy cross."
"Bishop Erkenwald, I suggest you shut your holy mouth." Finan interrupted sensing the growing tension.
"And take it down."
"Or I...I can just take it down, lord?" Osferth added softly pointing up at it.
How sweet, it is a shame more men weren't kind like him.
"You will do nothing." Uhtred demanded making Osferth nod.
"I realize you are looking to find a reason to kill me, and I would prefer to do as you ask. I am not a fool, but I cannot deny my faith. The king will hear of it, God would know of—" Uhtred cut in with anger.
"The king has told me many times that this is a pagan's hall. You will take it down."
"It is my cross, lord. My doing. I put it there and I would like it to remain there unless, of course, your plan is to once again be the Lord of Coccham. I meant no insult." Hild said from the entryway, Uhtred smiled softly just as Skade grunted and the cross fell. Revna glared at the seer as the cross came a little too close to Finan and Skade cowered under her threatening gaze.
"Now, perhaps, we may eat." Skade says from above. Finan moves to dust off the cross as he picks it up.
"You may take it." Uhtred says as Hild and Skade stare one another down.
"When you leave, you will take only half of what you have gathered. I understand an army must be fed, but my village will not starve." Uhtred demands looking at the Bishop.
"The king will not approve."
"The king is a ghost! Nothing more than that." Uhtred shouts making the men whisper amongst themselves.
"Lord, may we speak further, privately?" Hild asked and the two left the hall as Skade stood by the door watching. Finan turned to her with a sigh and she held her arms out as the Irishman melted into her chest as she embraced him.
