Painted Blade || sihtric

70.

   THE next day, the cold had turned harsher, biting any exposed skin on Bemia's body as she quietly walked into the hall, spotting her brother staring into a room.

There was not a single sign that Brida had stuck around after they had spent the whole night searching and on guard.

Bemia made her way toward her brother, slowing down at the sight of Eadith tending to Young Uhtred who was pale and unconscious, the blood cleared away from his body and gown.

"Brother?" Bemia quietly said, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

Uhtred faced her, releasing a shuddering breath with tears in his eyes. "Why have the Gods done this to us?"

She sadly sighed, rubbing his arm. "I wish I knew, brother. I wish I knew why they took my daughter and allowed this harm to your son." She blinked away the tears growing in her eyes and looked back at Young Uhtred. "Sit with him, your voice might wake him."

"And say what?" He took in a shaky breath, watching his son. "What words are there for this? How can I tell him he is no longer a man?"

"He is still a man and your son," Bemia firmly said, pulling him into a hug while rubbing his back. "He is still the man you raised."

Uhtred hugged her back, resting his chin atop her head with tears falling down his face. "Gisela's heart would be shattered if she were here."

Behind them, a door opened and closed before hurried footsteps sounded and the pair pulled away just when Aethelstan rounded the corner, widening his eyes slightly.

"Aethelstan." Bemia sent him a curt nod with a sad smile. "Are you okay?"

Aethelstan clasped his hands behind his back, returning the smile. "Yes, Lady. Uh, the scouts are returning from the hillside."

Bemia sighed, patting Uhtred on the shoulder. "Eadith will send for you if he wakes."

Uhtred hesitated for a long moment before following Bemia and Aethelstan out of the hall and back into the cold. Snowflakes were lightly falling, covering the many guards that were lined up while Osferth and a few men rode in.

"Nothing to the east, nothing upriver, nothing downriver," Osferth informed them, dismounting his horse beside Bemia just when Sihtric and Finan joined them from the docks. "I don't think she's here, Lord."

Bemia placed her hands on her hips, following behind her brother who marched down the docks with a brooding face.

"Lord, stand down," Finan advised, joining Bemia's side. "Let me take over the watch."

"No." Uhtred stopped at the edge, facing the pair. "We must keep all the men ready."

"Brother, you need to rest," Bemia gently said.

Uhtred sent her a sharp look. "You need rest as much as me," he firmly countered. "I've noticed you wincing every time you move to fast, and you haven't eaten."

"I'll fetch her some food," Sihtric offered, already jogging back up the docks as Bemia faintly smiled at his retreating figure.

"Sihtric's gettin' her food, you can now rest, Lord," Finan tried again. "We have men everywhere. We'll not be taken by surprise."

"I am already outplayed, Finan," Uhtred spoke over him.

Bemia sighed as Aethelstan stopped beside her. "You had no way of knowing."

"I did. I always knew she would return." Uhtred looked over at Bemia and Aethelstan. "I just always thought she would attack me, not you or Katja. Nor my son."