Blood Moon| The Last Kingdom| Sihtric Kjartansson

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"I'm going to hurl," Saga gagged mockingly, dropping her spoon back into her bowl, the gruel she had been trying to stomach splattering over the rims. "How can they eat this every day?"

Silently, I agreed, but I simply set the bowl down in the grass, looking up to the sun instead. I shut my eyes to the brightness, shielding my eyes with my hand.

"I need to find something to do before I start to eat my own hair," Saga grumbled, passing her bowl to a passing Saxon soldier who did not have the courage to protest her.

"Battle will come," I mumbled calmly, lowering my head again, my face warm, "the ravens have flown by three times since this morning."

Saga hummed in approval, "How do you intend to reach your father?"

I did not really have an answer for that. I could not send him a message, and I did not have Henrick or Olav to send to the Danes either. "I must seek him out during the battle somehow."

Saga sniffed, lowering her voice and bending forward, her elbows on her knees, "Gyda, you have to be very careful. If the Saxons see you move to the other side, they will aim to kill you."

"They will fail," I muttered simply, looking through the camp, "I am protected by too many to die."

Saga pulled a face as though agreeing with me, "Still. Caution can not hurt."

I opened my mouth to reply, but the words died in my throat as a familiar face caught my attention, "Jackdaw?"

Saga frowned, turning to look where I was looking as well, "By the Gods, what is he doing here?"

I shot out of my seat, crossing through the camp quickly, paying little mind to Uhtred, who was speaking to him.

"She says, Aethelwold, Lord," Jackdaw spoke lowly, his hands bound behind his back, "She says, do not fail."

"Do not fail in what?" I asked, climbing the small rise in the soil beside Uhtred, looking between the two men curiously.

Jackdaw was surprised to see me, his face shifting from shock to confusion to suspicion, "Lady Gyda."

I smiled at him, "Jackdaw."

"I did not expect to see you here," Jackdaw frowned, "your father said you were in Dunholm with your brother."

I waved him away, turning to Uhtred instead, "We will talk in private. Are you done with him, Uhtred?"

Uhtred sighed, looking to the Dane in captivity, "How long before they come?"

"They are near," Jackdaw revealed, "You are facing death, for certain."

I took a slight step back, eyeing the man carefully; he seemed to truly believe the Danes would win in this battle. That was a good thing for my father but not for Uhtred.

"You are wrong, Jackdaw," Uhtred scoffed easily, "I will not die."

Finan and Sihtric began to lead Jackdaw away, deeper into the camp.

"If it is a comfort, Lord," I mumbled, walking around Uhtred to follow them, "I have not seen your death."

Uhtred smiled briefly, "Have you seen our victory then?"