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Yrsa had stayed much to herself for the ride up to Uhtred's brother in the north. Something in her was unsettled, restless even, and she had not felt as such since she had been forced from her home many years earlier. The talk of the curse was still ever present, with it being all the boys could speak about and worst of all, Sihtric's unease had seeped into her and she was as skittish as her horse.
Beastie snorted once more, twisting and huffing, ears back in distress.
"Yrsa..." Sihtric twisted to look for his wife, who was riding away from the line, her eyes narrowed and her hand on her axe. Her grip on Thor's hammer was tight, and she huffed, looking around. "Yrsa!"
"Leave her be." Uhtred called back as Yrsa grew further from the group, heading for the treeline and away from the dark, swirling energy that seemed to ensnare their group and hold them in a tight chokehold. Beastie snorted, squealing once, as Yrsa disappeared into the forest, slowly being concealed by the trees.
She needed to be alone, with her own thoughts and away from the witch and her wicked words. The gods were calling her, were whispering in her ear and telling her things that she did not know answer to. She could hear them better now, whilst she was further from the witch, and that was what she needed.
For an hour or so, that was where Yrsa stayed, the group is sight but further away to listen to the gods. They were telling her to leave Uhtred's group for the moment, to clear her head from the witch's curse and turn towards Mercia, towards her friend who had made her home there. They told her that it would help her fate.
Yrsa hummed, before twisting Beastie back around and spurring herself to Uhtred's side.
"Yes?" He looked feverish, and Yrsa hated to leave him like this, but the gods had called and she would have to answer.
"I have to go." Yrsa whispered in his ear, ducking her head in shame that she was leaving him at a time like this. "The gods are calling to me, telling me to leave, to go elsewhere."
"Where?"
"To Mercia. I have to, the gods are telling me something and I have to leave." Yrsa stumbled over her words, not daring to look in Uhtred's eyes. Giesla had just died, and now, she was leaving too and she felt so shameful.
"Go, Yrsa. Return to us when you can." He reached over, squeezing her hand, and patting the back of her neck. Yrsa looked up at him, making eye contact slowly as he smiled softly at her. "I am not annoyed. Go on. You have your own destiny to follow and I cannot control when the gods will call to you."
