The Dawn of the Lost

4

"So this is property of yours how did you come by it?" I asked trying to look up at him.

"Marriage," he said.

"Marriage? Uhtred of Bebbanburg is married?" I asked peeling his arms off me and pulled myself back into my saddle.

"Yes to a Saxon Mildrith," he said.

"Is she pretty?" I asked leaning forward in the saddle.

"Nothing compares to your beauty," he said.

"Don't try to flatter me Uhtred. It never suited your tongue," I replied. "Is she still there?"

"Yes, and I know you two won't like each other," he said.

"What makes you say that?" I teased. "Rains stopped let's go."  I nudged my horse forward, Uhtred followed. By the afternoon we reached the small farmstead. Everyone came out of their homes to greet Uhtred but stare at me.

"Lord, it's good to see you have returned," a tenant said rushing out to him. "But who's this Dane you bring with you?"

"She's none of your concern," he said and rode forward. We finally reached a large house and outside stood two women, one who I could tell was with child and the other must have been her servant. She smiled as she saw him approach but it dropped as her eyes locked on to me.

"Who's she?" She growled.

"An old friend," he replied.

"Touch Uhtred, I won't be afraid to do something," she warned me. I rolled my eyes as I dismounted.

"Don't tell me what to do Saxon, I'm far more loyal to Uhtred then you ever will be. If you think about baptizing that child as Christian, Uhtred will disown him," I warned following Uhtred into his home. She fell silent, she couldn't win an argument against me.

"You don't need to make threats," he said to me.

"I was only telling the truth," I replied and kissed his cheek as she entered into the hut too.

"Do you need rest?" she asked. Uhtred looked at me.

I'm fine," I replied laying my axes on the ground. "Could do with a drink, do you have any mead?"

"I got rid of it because Uhtred couldn't control himself," she said.

"I know all about that," I giggled. "I remember the last feast we attended you were dancing on the tables."

"You're making that up. I don't remember that," he said.  

"You wouldn't, you were out of it," I replied. His wife looked between us disgusted. "It comes with being a Dane."

"I wish to hear no more of this!" She exclaimed.

"As you wish milady," I mocked her, I knocked shoulders with her as I walked out. She was so light that I knocked her over. I explored the rest of the farmstead. "Wow Uhtred you did well for yourself," I whispered to myself.

"They say when Danes speak to themselves they are unhinged," one of the tenants said walking up behind me.

"They also attack when snuck up on," I said turning, my hand resting on the hilt of my knife.

"That's why none of us trust you," he said. I suddenly realized I was being surrounded by a group of tenants. Before I knew it I was knocked over the head and on the ground.