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The journey to Wessex had been near enough silent, though there was a lessening of tension between the group. Sihtric had been accepted back into the fold by Finan and Osferth, though Yrsa remained cold towards him. Hild had joined them on their trip, meaning that Yrsa remained glued to her side, still glaring at her husband whenever she felt as if she needed to remind him that she was annoyed.
It had not scared her husband away from her, for Sihtric was quick to fall in ahead of her, twisting to look at her every once in a while to make sure that she and the baby were alright.
"Finan, look!" Sihtric nodded his head as Yrsa followed his gaze, stopping herself from glaring at him for the moment. There was a travelling troop mere yards away, music streaming from their encampment and laughter echoing too. The smell of food made Yrsa's stomach grumble, though she ignored it. She would eat when they reached Winchester.
"Should you investigate?" The bishop turned to Yrsa, who merely hummed and shook her head. The troop of musicians did not pose a threat, and what would they truly be able to to her or others in their party? Yrsa would strike them down with ease.
"Any spare coins, Lord? Any spare food?" The man came rushing over as Yrsa's horse snorted, ears flattening for a moment in a warning. "God would bless you, I'm sure."
"Are you traveling to Winchester?"
"We are, Lord. For the wedding." Yrsa looked up, catching eyes with Sihtric, before turning away once more. She met Hild's eyes instead as the abbess cocked an eyebrow. Yrsa knew that the Abbess wished for Yrsa to speak with her husband instead of glaring at him, but Yrsa knew that if she spoke to her husband, she would continue to curse him for his actions.
"We shall see you there then." Finan nodded, as Sihtric lead the others up and behind the encampment. Yrsa stuck close to Finan's side, chuckling when she heard the man call him a miserable bastard.
"You are doing so well, charming the people." Yrsa teased, patting her horse gently as she took another glance at the group of musicians.
"Stop it." Finan laughed, before they joined back up with their caravan of people for the remaining few miles to Winchester.
The final part of the trip was simple enough though the gates were closed when they reached the city. Both Finan and Sihtric were looking dutifully at the ground and away from the other soldiers, whilst Yrsa remained beside Hild. They could not do anything to the abbess, therefore, she too was safe.
"Steapa!" The bishop's voice was remarkably grating, and it had grown more and more on Yrsa's nerves as they travelled to Winchester. "Steapa!"
Steapa made an appearance, staring down over the parapet with a foul look on his face. Yrsa licked her lips, pulling her cloak further over her hatchets as if that would help to hide them and protect her stomach from view.
