Always Be By My Side - Sequel to Always Return to Me (The Last Kingdom Fan Fic)

Chapter 16

After what felt like ages of walking in circles we finally made our way to the whorehouse.

"I mean no offense, but you are sure you want to come in lady?" The Irishman asked, a hint of genuine concern in his voice.

"I slit men's throats in battle, you really think a whorehouse is going to bother me?" I replied laughing. There were some quiet sniggers as I marched after Uhtred into the building with Ragnar uncomfortably close behind me.

"Grimsby seems like a lovely place," Finan commented softly.

Danes and Saxon men alike littered the whorehouse room. They went silent as we entered and stared. I was aware of all eyes on us, and my finger twitched for my dagger. I felt Ragnar gently place his hand on mine, warning me to not move.

"Sihtric, don't make eye contact," Finan warned an equally anxious Sihtric who was staring at several large looking brutes.

A less shaggy looking man stepped forward, clearly sizing up our odd party. "What's your business here?" He gruffly asked, coming nose to nose with Uhtred.

"We are traders headed to Frankia," Uhtred replied calmly. The man's dark eyes shifted to each one of us as he studied our faces.

"The woman?"

"Mine," Ragnar replied with a menacing calm that sent shivers down my spine.

"Well, you keep trouble out of my alehouse, agreed?" The landlord of the so called alehouse warned, trying to look behind the shadow the low candlelight and Ragnar's hood created, hiding his face.

"Hey we're just hungry for some food, nothing more," Finan tried to lighten the mood.

The landlord switched his attention to the Irishman and smirked. "Food huh?"

"And do you have women? He needs a woman," Uhtred swung his head towards poor baby Osferth who looked horrified at the idea.

"We aren't that sort of alehouse," the landlord insisted.

Uhtred didn't miss a beat. "Finan," he ordered. Finan stepped forward and handed silver to the man. The power play was clear. Uhtred was a man who was in charge.

The landlord ran his tongue over his teeth and looked down at the silver in his palm. "This way," he said, quickly pocketing the coins.

Uhtred signaled for the rest of us to wait where we were and dragged Osferth off after the man. As we sat around a table closest to the door I noted that all eyes were still eying us with extreme prejudice. "What does a man have to do to get some ale around here?" Finan called into the tavern. A pitcher was rushed to our table and the mood seemed to relax as we began drinking. Eyes turned back to their own business, and I felt my shoulders relax.

"Well, lovely place this is," Finan tried again.

"If you find drinking amongst cut throats lovely," Ragnar replied, taking a large gulp. I watched as some of the ale dripped down his beard. He clumsily wiped it with his sleeve.

"Actually, I do," Finan smiled deviously, his thick eyebrows raising. The Irishman's humor caused me to involuntarily spit ale back into my cup. He flashed me an amused look, and I felt Ragnar's leg move closer to mine. I looked in his direction to find him staring elsewhere. I rolled my eyes at his behavior, but will admit to feeling a small thrill that Ragnar was jealous.

~~~~~

The cool misty air felt good on our hot faces, though the smell was of little improvement. Finan loudly proclaimed that he needed a piss and wandered off. Sihtric followed him, leaving Ragnar and I standing there.