Lady Luck| Finan The Agile| The Last Kingdom

TWENTY-THREE

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Sigdeflaed was not like Aethelflaed, I learnt that across the month, I had now lived in Rumcofa. She was as wild as her beauty, and she was unrestrained by rules or laws and praying. She was free, wild, and happy.

"Here, fishy, fishy," Sig sung playfully, staring down into the lake of Rumcofa, "come and get caught so I may eat you for supper."

I snorted slightly, watching the water as well. We had placed barrels into the water that had small holes at the bottom. The barrels were attached to a thick rope, which was attached to Mare and Edward the Second. This was the new way to fish, or so Sig told me.

Sig had taught me many new things. She had taught me how to carve toys from wood and how to gather firewood that was dry. She showed me how to gather berries, fix leather, and plant my own food. She had even explained in great detail, despite my horror and embarrassed protests, the inner workings of martial relations. 

I was quite sure that there was nothing that Sigdeflaed did not know how to do.

"Go!" Sigdeflaed smacked Edward the Second's rump sharply.

The horse snorted in protest but started forward, and Mare did the same with even more protest.

"Your horses are strange beasts." Sig settled her hands on her hips, shaking her head at the two horses pulling the rope up and out of the water along with the barrels full of fish.

"They are royal horses so they are arrogant," I grinned up at her, shuffling backwards and pulling my feet out of the water before I used my hand to push myself up to stand on the dock.

"Makes sense," Sig pulled a playfully serious face before a smile broke onto her face again, and she shot forward, looping her arm through mine. "You never tell me what it was like to live in a palace."

I had tried to forget Winchester and Aegelesburg as best as I could, so I had stopped speaking about it entirely. It did not mean I had forgotten, though. "It was dull and frustrating," I shrugged, letting her drag me off the docks, both of us walking through the town barefoot.

"Sounds like the whorehouse I used to work at," Sig repeated the answer she always said when I told her the same thing. She was open about her life, unapologetic and honest. She had told me again and again that because she had had nothing, she had made something of herself and she had not cared what people thought of her. She had married Sihtric with her own wealth, on her own terms and I envied her for her wit and strength.

"You are done already?" Uhtred called out to us from beside the stables where he spoke with Sihtric and Finan, debating how to repair the roof.

"You owe me ten silver, Uhtred of Bebbanburg!" Sig fired back, grinning from ear to ear, "I told you not to challenge me!"

I had a feeling if Sihtric was not leaning against the frame of the stable, he would have swooned and fallen to the ground.

"I accept defeat!" Uhtred shook his head fondly, "I will reel in the barrels and deliver your silver!"

"You can hand it to my husband," Sig turned to walk backwards as we continued through the town, "I have other matters to attend to!" 

"Eh?" Finan asked in question as the other men barked out a laugh, "Where are you two busy bodies headin' off to now?"

"We've a school to finish preparing," I called back, letting an easy smile lift my face, "or have you forgotten already?"

"Course not," Finan winked at me, "I promised to teach the children the stars, did I not?"