CHAPTER 3

"We can't just leave him in the hands of the Danes, Lord." Sihtric was about to come out of his saddle. He hated this. He hated what they were doing. This was not how this day was supposed to go or how the rescue was meant to transpire. They were supposed to be heading back to Coocham with Finan next to them. Not still in the hands of the Danes. Not feeling utterly defeated and feeling like they had just sealed Finan's fate.

"Sihtric, I know this. But what would you have me do? You know better than anyone they were not bluffing. They would have ripped Finan piece by piece right there in front of us. Would you like to tell Eadith or, better yet, their child how their father died in a blood eagle ritual? I will think of something." Uhtred's head was spinning, thinking up a thousand different scenarios. Ones they hadn't tried yet. Yet everything he played out in his head, they all died. It took everything in him not to turn his horse back around and try and take out as many Danes as he humanly possibly could. It wouldn't be the first time he wasn't thinking straight as he went headfirst into battle. Yet, that would bring death to himself and possibly Sihtric, and he couldn't do that. Maybe if he was a bit younger, it would have been a whole different type of situation. Sihtric pulled him out of his spiraling thoughts.

"Let me trail them."

"No, I can't lose you too."

"Lord, I'm not asking."

Uhtred stopped his horse and looked to Sihtric. This was the first time that Sihtric outright defied him. Sihtric had never backed talked him, never questioned an order. He was loyal beyond anything he could ever ask, and in a lot of ways, more than one; Sihtric always looked to Uhtred as a maternal father, always looking to him for guidance and asking permission. Like the day Sihtric asked to marry his beloved Ealhswith. Looking for his support. Yet Sihtric had grown up fast; he had a wife of his own, children that were growing up far too quickly. The way Sihtric had children, he would establish his own village. Which brought him to his defiance. Seeking no longer to please. Making his own choices, his own decisions going even against Uhtred's word. He knew that Finan and Sihtric were close. The bond and comradery that happened on the battlefield would always bring men closer. The brotherhood was often more potent than blood family. Sihtric and Finan were no different. The two had confronted many adversaries together, watching each other's backs to make sure no one cut the other one down in front of them. They were always standing next to one another, ready to defend each other to death if need be.

Uhtred knew right then, and there he had to let Sihtric go. He didn't want to part on bad terms, and then something happened. anything could happen, so Uhtred knew what he had to do.

"Very well, Sihtric. You will follow them. You will not be caught; find out as much as you can. See where they are headed and report back to me," Sihtric turned his horse to head back the direction they once came but stopped when Uhtred grabbed his arm, as Uhtred had pleaded out, "Please, Sihtric, come back safely."

Sihtric gave a slight nod of his head. He would not agree to such terms. He knew just like Uhtred knew, he could not keep such a promise. No telling what could happen. He would try as much as he could, but Sihtric would be damned if he broke a promise to Uhtred in the process. Without another word, he spurred his horse into a gallop leaving Uhtred to watch him disappear into the tree line.

Uhtred had watched until he could no longer see Sihtric, and he then kicked his horse into high gear to take off and catch up with Osferth, who was still walking back to Coccham. The Dane-Slayer did not miss the eyes searching out Finan and Sihtric and the hint of worry crossing the young man's features.

Osferth was beyond confident that Sihtric and Uhtred would come back with Finan. However, something didn't add up; where was Sihtric, and why was Uhtred now alone? Not seeing either many made him fear the worse. Osferth could feel it all across his features. Yet he didn't see any blood on Uhtred, so there was no battle to speak of.

"Where," finding he couldn't finish the words to his sentence or the inquiry that was on the tip of his tongue.

"Finan is still with them, and Sihtric is to follow. We will go to Coccham collect any provisions and ride to Mercia."

"You think Aetheflaed will help?" Osferth asked. Uhtred kicked his horse into a gentle trek as Osferth looked up at Uhtred.

Uhtred knew for certain he could never ask her for men from Aetheflaed. To risk the lives of Mercian's over one man captured by the Danes that was not a King or of somebody of importance, it was just madness or even stupid to even think so. Though Finan was beyond important to Uhtred's and the rest of his men's lives, Uhtred knew better. Yet there was always hope that she could offer some advice and maybe give him a new perspective on the whole crisis. For right now, he felt blinded and grasping for any type of help he could get at the moment. Uhtred decided to not answer Orferth's question because what was the point of saying something out loud when everyone knew what the actual answer was.

(Dane Camp)

Finan fell for what felt like the hundredth time since walking defeated back to the Dane camp. They bounded his hands and once again placed a rope around his neck, tighter than last time, and gave the rope to Haesten. He was made to walk and trail behind Haesten. One of the Dane's would kick his feet out from under him every few feet. Sometimes Finan could see the aggression coming from one of the Danes and avoid the shot at misstepping him. Yet sometimes, his foundation would get the best of Finan, and he would be brought down to his knees. Because Haesten did not stop his horse, Finan would be dragged a few feet, the pull on his neck taking the sheer breath from his body as he tried to scramble up onto his feet. He'd twist and turn and try to get back up until Haesten realized he was about to kill him and would halt his horse for a second for Finan to get back up on his feet and catch the air that didn't want to come to his lungs.

Haesten turned around his saddle to glance back at Finan the last time this happened. "Awfully quiet this time Irishman. Usually, you have something to say. No? Your not so bad when you hold your tongue." Haesten laughed and turned back around. All Finan could do was glare at the Dane. His throat was killing him from the pull of the coarse rope that had tried to choke the very life from him. Thankfully the rest of the trip was uneventful as they made their way back into the camp.

As much as Finan didn't want to be in the Dane Camp, he was thankful to not have to keep walking. Haesten still held on to the rope, and he looked like he was thinking something through, which was fine for Finan, who was still trying to get his bearings. Haesten gave the rope to one of the Danes next to him. "Here, put him in my tent to make sure he's secured. We will not have a second repeat."

Haesten had almost failed before it even began. He could not believe he had been stupid to think that one of Uhtred's men would not try something so foolishly as walking into a guarded camp. If they tried something again, it would be ten times as harder. All he had to do was get them to Dane land. They would be better protected and have even more men to spare. He came down from his horse as his horse was then led to graze and rest for the remainder of the night. He grabbed a cup of mead as he walked back to his tent. The guards walked out as he walked in, standing vigil at his tent in front. He walked in to see Finan was now tied to the middle tent pole. The new addition was the rope around his chest and neck. He was not going anywhere this time.

Haesten glared at the Irishman and then kicked as hard as he could into Finan's unprotected chest without any warning. He did this a few times and was satisfied when he felt and heard a crack and the complete anguish that ripped across Finan's face. He then walked to his makeshift bed and landed on it. He shut his eyes, and it did not take long for him to slip back into a solid slumber.

Finan was left wheezing, trying to find composure and suck in a breath that was hard at the moment from the blows that Haesten had landed. He tried counting, he tried thinking of anything, but the pain ripping through his chest at the moment made it quite tricky. Finan continued to try and not think of the pain, but it was all his world concentrated on at that moment. It felt like an eternity for him as the pain was still very much there, but he was able to take shorter breaths, which seemed to ease his suffering. Not to mention the pain still raiding from his back when they threatened to do the blood eagle on him. The snoring came loud from Haesten's bed. Finan knew he would get no sleep here. It would only be a few more hours, and the sun would rise, and they would proceed wherever they were going.

He thought back to the conversation between Haesten and Uhtred. Nothing made sense to Finan. All the times Finan had been in combat, they just always tried to kill him. They never wanted him. Never tried to seize him. None of this made a lick of sense. They always wanted the head of Uhtred, the notorious Dane-Slayer. Never Finan, a second in command at best. He thought for a mortifying second maybe it had to do with his past, and it finally had caught up to him, but then he realized it could not be that. Haesten would have said something about Finan's past title or even mocked Uhtred with it. No, this was something else, more thought out. Finan closed his eyes and pictured Eadith and all her beauty, and a soft smile came to him. Sleep must have come to him suddenly because the next thing Finan knew was he was ripped from his rest as Haesten made his way from his bed from once he laid and walked out of the tent, farting as he went. Finan tried to move a muscle and immediately regretted the sheer pain that ripped through him from the rib was taking his breath away. He looked up and sent a silent prayer to the Lord, asking for any strength he could give him. Finan knew today would be agonizing as they would shortly break up the camp and start their trek shortly through Mercia.

(Coccham)

"I'm coming with you."

"No, and that's my final word on the subject." Uhtred, not even looking behind him as he continued getting his horse ready. Eadith followed close behind, not even giving Uhtred a chance to get away from her.

"Uhtred you are not my King and though I considered you Lord I will not be left while Finan is out there…no I will come with." Eadith's face set.

Uhtred let out an aggravated breath and turned around, pointing down to her swollen tummy, "What am I to do with you if you have the child on the road?"

Eadith rolled her eyes. "Then I will have that child wherever we are at, but I will not be left here, Uhtred." Then, crossing her arms in defiance, an eyebrow went up to show she was ready for a fight and an argument.

Uhtred was surrounded by people just as stubborn as him and sometimes even more stubborn if that was true. Twice now, he had people defied his order. Would Osferth be the next one? What was going on? It seemed no one wanted to heed his warnings. Maybe he was losing his touch, or simply Uhtred was giving bad advice. No, he was not wrong on this. He could not let Eadith go out of Coccham while pregnant; it was pure madness. Not to mention Finan would kill him if he found out he allowed his pregnant woman to ride into battle or go on the road for too long and, God forbid, lost the child in the process or worse, something happened to her.

"Eadith, we plan to ride into Mercia. Last time." Stopping his sentence, knowing that Eadith was smart enough to pick up on what he was trying to say without coming out and saying it.

Knowing that Aetheflaed did not out forbid Eadith to come to Mercia, Aetheflaed made it clear she would punish her if need be. Aetheflaed would not allow herself to look feeble in front of her men. They were always looking for ways to dethrone her, those who were not loyal to her. She did not want to give them any reason, which included being too nice to her late husband's mistress. Nodding her head in agreement, Uhtred could see something spinning in Eadith's mind as she tried to think of another way to come with them, "Look, if I need to, I'll stay outside, but I'm coming with."

At that moment, Aetheflaed came tearing up towards them and hiding behind Eadith as one of Sihtric's boys came charging after him. The boys laughed, and Uhtred knew what stances to finally take on this argument.

"But who will watch Aetheflaed?"

Uhtred watched something flicker behind Eadith's eyes, and he knew he had just won the battle of words. Eadith would never leave Aetheflaed in the care of someone else. But just to be stubborn, she shot back with, "Ealhswith could watch the boy." Her voice didn't sound convinced with what she had said, and even she knew that was a ridiculous idea.

Uhtred snorted a laugh and now turned back to his horse to finish up packing as Sihtric himself walked up. "Are you kidding me? As many kids as she must watch now, you want to put one more soul into her hands. I'm surprised they have survived this long." Uhtred gave a slight elbow shove to Sihtric, who smiled, knowing he did tire his wife out as many kids as they had running around.

Eadith couldn't think of any other answer to Uhtred's response. He had adequately backed her into a corner. Yet the fear that wanted to swallow Eadith whole made her want to put Aetheflaed on a horse and ride out with them. She just did not want to be left behind. She desired to help Finan and be there for him. Yet she knew the best thing undoubtedly was to wait for the men to get him back. She finally relented, "Fine, I will stay here. But if you are not back after I have this child." The threat was there. She meant it. She knew she would love this child, but Finan, in her eyes, came first. She would do what she had to do to bring her husband home to their child.

It would be only a few more minutes, and the men got on their horses and rode out, leaving those who stood and watched them. Uhtred did not promise her. He did not say he would bring Finan back. She had to have faith that he would do everything in his power to get her Irishman back for her alive and well, yet she could not find any comfort in it. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she knew it was Ealhswith trying to give her some type of support. With her hand, she reached out and grasped it and closed her eyes, and sent another quiet prayer as she felt tears starting to demand to be left free. She opened her eyes, and feeling like she finally had control of her emotions, she walked back to her house that once felt the warmth from Finan now just felt utterly cold and empty.


Finan was thankful that the Danes had grown tired of trying to trip him for the day. He did, though, keep a close eye on them just in case they wanted to start back up again. Though it was somewhat hard to do with every step taken, he could feel the searing pain from his rib, screaming in protest with the movement. Though again, he had no choice but to walk, for the rope around his neck prevented him from stopping. It had been very uneventful for most of the morning, but he grew tired of the quietness, and finally, he couldn't help himself.

"So what's de purpose of dis? Who's plan was dis?" Finan asked out loud to no one in particular but figured Haesten would take the bait because the Dane just couldn't help himself.

Turning slightly to look back at Finan, Haesten got that look on his face, and Finan had to do everything in his power not to smile. But, Haesten just could not refuse.

"Why wouldn't it be mine?" He huffed out as he sat back, looking forward.

"You're a fahllower at best, naht a dinker. You're de type would take credit fahr ather people's accomplishments; I know yooehr type, all talk no bite."

Haesten turned around, and Finan knew he had pushed with his words, but he just couldn't help himself. He also couldn't help the smile that reached his eyes as he knew he was getting under the Dane's skin. It was just too easy for Finan. He was waiting for the retaliation from his previous words, but when nothing came, Haesten turned around and continued to ride. Finan decided to keep going.

"Your reaction tells me all I need to know. So, Sigytryggr can't be 'im, naht unless he wants Stiorra to cut ahff 'is balls, if you know what I mean. Who's left? New Dane, tryin to prove demselves, make a bet of a reputation fahr demselves, or," trying to watch Haesten's movements, see if he shifted, see if he gave away anything by his body language, "is it Brida? She seems like a revengeful bitch type. Wait, doesn't Sigytryggr 'ave a brother?"

Haesten spun around, stopping his horse in the process.

"Enough Irishman. Do you ever stop talking!?" Haesten yelled.

"No, I think dat's why I was kecked ooeht of Irland."

Haesten looked ready to retaliate against Finan's mouth when the commotion started happening in the rear. It didn't take long to realize they were under attack. Men were coming from the tree line on other horses surrounding them quickly. Finan was excited and hoped spun adrenaline into his veins for half a second. He was about to be freed and able to escape this nonsense. Uhtred had come through and was able to rescue him. Then as Finan quickly scanned those who were quickly surrounding them, he realized it wasn't anyone he recognized, and to his disbelief, he realized it was other Danes. Danes were attacking other Danes. This was not good in so many ways. He glanced up to Haesten, putting his hands up.

"Coeht me loose, give me a chance to live, man." Finan fearing for his life. Not sure what these other Danes would do to him since he was their captive.

Haesten ignored Finan and knew they were vastly outnumbered, and they were surrounded rather quickly before he could give any type of order. Fighting was useless, and they showed their hands were free of weapons that they would not fight their own kinsmen. Finally, the evading Danes leader came up to Haesten, speaking to him.

"We are not here to kill you; just take your prisoner and any provisions you may have on you."

Finan couldn't believe this. Were Uhtred's Gods pissed at him? Was his own God punishing him? Maybe Uhtred knew these men by chance and were here to save him? He prayed it was the latter part, but for some reason, deep down, he knew he had fallen into deeper shit than ever possible.

Haesten looked to Finan and then at the demanding leader of the new Danes raiding party.

"Lord, why would you want our prisoner? He is nothing, not worth shit." He pulled on the leash, almost causing Finan to lose his footing and making his men laugh. Trying to emphasize that Finan was nothing but a toy meant to be played with and nothing worth of value. However, the Dane was not falling for it.

"If he did not matter to you, then he would be in the back of your group. Instead, you keep a tight leash on him, literally. So, he matters to someone, and Danes do not keep prisoners unless they are worth something. So, hand him over and we will let you live with your heads in tacked."

Haesten weighed his options, trying to figure out what they would do. If they fought, they would all die and make off with Finan. If they allowed him to be taken and they lived, there was a chance of them regaining him back by gathering more men. There was also a chance they would find out who Finan was truly and end up killing him, not thinking he was worth any value. It didn't matter what Haesten did; he was damned no matter what. He walked his horse over to the other Lord and handed Finan's rope that he had been using to keep Finan walking. Haesten then slowly backed his horse up away from the other Danes.

The mysterious Lord didn't say anything or even give an order. Then, a Dane brought forth a riderless horse. Two Danes got off their own horses and manhandled Finan up onto the horse, keeping him still tied. Finan only had his legs to grip with as then the Danes rode away with Finan in the middle of them.

One of Haesten's commanders came up looking at Haesten. "What do we do Lord? Brida was very clear on her instructions."

"We Pray to the Gods that we keep our balls and our dicks. I will ride to get reinforcements. The rest of you will follow this group as best as you can."

No one saw Sihtric watching the whole scene play out. He had been able to sneak up carefully as the Danes descended upon Haesten and his men, including Finan. He couldn't believe the other Danes had taken Finan with them. They either knew who Finan was or thought he was of some significance. He hadn't heard the conversation, but he knew how Danes thought. In the end, though it didn't matter, if they thought Finan wasn't worth anything, they would slaughter him without batting an eye. Yet as Sihtric kicked his horse to charge after this new group of Danes, he thought with a smile. He could infiltrate these men because they wouldn't know who he was, who Sihtric was genuinely loyal to, why he was there, and the most important thing, he would be able to rescue his brother.

TBC…