the invisible string. Sihtric Kjartanson

Chapter ten: dead men

"How about you shut your ratty pie hole?" I quietly hissed at Sihtric. He had just called my sword girly because of the pink stone in the hilt while I was sharpening it. He was doing the same to his cheap, rancid and crooked sword while we were waiting for our sign to attack.

"Lord I must start the topic again" Uthred groaned and I stopped sharpening to poke Sihtric. "She said she loved me. I want to have a family" Oh it was this again not criticising my gear.  He has been whining to be allowed to marry his favourite whore. Eahlswith was indeed kind and very sweet but Uthred would rather let Sihtric marry a cow than the whore. If you ever needed any information you could ask her she'd be able to tell any tale and Uthred wouldn't let one of his man marry a liability.

"Is it because you're going broke? You want to marry her so you can fuck her for free?" I suggested earning laughter from all the men huddled around us.

"Shut up Kendra. You're just jealous because I've someone who loves me and you don't" I let out a dry laugh.

"Of course I'm jealous that you bought yourself a friend who gives you affection and attention. Who wouldn't be?" I said ironically.

"Sihtric Eahlswith is not a woman for you. She had a tumble with half the men of Wessex and she's to old to bare you many children" Uthred agreed with me. Sihtric wore a sulking face while my face was victorious.

"Oh yes Eahlswith. If you'd gather every men that has ploughed her you could make the greatest army Wessex has ever seen" Ralla, our shipmaster, commented and chuckled quietly.

"How often would you be there Ralla?" I asked him with a smirk that stayed hidden in the darkness.

"Like twenty times and all my men equally as much. Boy take my advice and let your lord choose a young, beautiful bride for you" Ralla told Sihtric. Even in the darkness I could tell he rolled his eyes. "Why don't you marry Kendra?" Ralla suggested with a big laugh that almost blew our cover. Before I could answer something suitable Sihtric spoke up.

"First of all she is an old maid basically and secondly she is insufferable because she has a big mouth" He said directly to me. I narrowed my eyes. I could just stab him in the raid and make it look like an accident.

"I do not deny that at all but I'd rather have a big mouth than one filled with your silver and your cock-" I snarled at him before Uthred hit both of us in the head to keep us quiet.

Then the fighting started. I took down three men. All not too large in size but that doesn't matter. We hanged them by the river. It was a gruesome sight but it would send a message. We rowed back home in victory.  I quickly washed my hands and face in the river when I saw Gisela waiting with the kids at the banks. Little Uthred had turned out as a very good boy. Often very even tempered and quiet so unlike his father. But Gisela had also Stiorra on her arm and she was my favourite child because she had a wild spirit. She was truly her mother's child as they already looked like twins and had the same nature. As soon as she could be able to walk she'd surely run away from us.  

Later that day we got an unexpected visitor. The king came to check in on the progress on the burh. We had worked hard to make it a proper fortress in good time so I hoped the king would be proud. Uthred send me to welcome the king because Alfred like me more than he did Uthred which was a privilege. He often stressed I was the only god-fearing one of the bunch. I never told him that I liked men just the same way the others did. He was the king he could live in his delusion for as long as he'd like. He often tried to persuade me to come to Winchester with him but I told him I was sworn to Uthred which was true. But I was also afraid that'd he'd assign me to more womanly duties which I had no mind or talent for.