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"Yrsa." Sihtric ran his hand through the hair of his brooding wife, who was glaring at the campfire as if she was imagining someone burning alive in it. "Come. Eat."
She huffed, angrily chewing on the bread that was offered as Sihtric fought down a smile. Despite the anger emanating off the woman, she could not eat and look angry at the same time. No, instead, she seemed like a petulant toddler who had not got her way, but Sihtric adored it all the same.
"If you believe her to be alive, you will not abandon her." Finan stated, stretched out on the other side of the fire as Sihtric pulled Yrsa closer and pressed a kiss to her forehead. He didn't care to think of what it would be like to think that his own wife was dead, or captured. He would be demanding for her to be released, marching up to whoever had her and demanding her back. That was if Yrsa hadn't already killed her captors and made her escape. "You will not. That is a fact. So, what is the real reason we are travelling home to Coccham and not to Winchester?"
Yrsa paused her anger to turn and look up at Uhtred.
"There's nothing to be said in Winchester." Uhtred shrugged. "I won't be part of a whispering court. We will go when I have something to say, not before."
"You already are part of a whispering court." Yrsa pointed out, a trouble making grin finally appearing on her face as an opportunity presented itself. "We whisper about you behind your back all the time."
Uhtred turned, before his eyes settled onto Sihtric.
"Sihtric."
"Lord?"
"Take Rypere there and go to Beamfleot, that is where Erik and Sigefrid's fleet lie. That is where they'll be." Yrsa's eyes narrowed at Uhtred's words. This felt strangely like punishment for her telling him that they talked about him behind his back, even though that was the truth.
"We are to spy?"
"You are to confirm the Lady Aethelflaed is alive and how they are treating her." Uhtred corrected, ignoring the woman's glare on the side of his face. "Send Rypere back to me at Coccham. You will remain there and yes, you are to spy. Sihtric, I will need to know every part of Beamfleot. Every blade of grass that surrounds their fortress."
"Yes Lord."
"Why can I not go with him?" Yrsa questioned, not truly wanting to be parted from her husband so soon after they were wed.
"Because you are too easy to recognise. Your hair and sharp tongue give you away." Uhtred winked at her, causing the girl to scowl and turn back into her husband.
