The Last One

ten

True as Wind.
It whipped through the air easily and hit its target, a hay dummy, right in the chest. I retrieved it from the dummy and tried again with the same result. I tried once more, and it landed again in the same place. This satisfied me, and I turned the knife over in my hand, inspecting its length.

"It's a fine blade." Uhtred's voice surprised me, and I took a sharp inhale. "Did your father make it as well?"

"He did, Lord." I rolled my shoulder softly. The ache from my previous stab wound was mostly gone, and yet when I threw the knife, it shot pain throughout.

"He was a fine craftsman," Uhtred complimented as he approached. He held his hand out as if to ask to see the knife. I handed it over cautiously, and he held it in his hands carefully, like it could break if he was not delicate enough. "True as Wind?" He asked as his fingers touched the inscription.

I nodded. "To ensure it always lands," I stated as I remembered my father's words when he had given it to me as a child.

Uhtred handed the blade back with a smile. "So it seems it does." I placed the knife back in its scabbard at my belt. "I heard what happened at Craven. I am glad you were able to retrieve your things and bury your family."

"Thank you, Lord."

"Erik eludes us for now," he continued, "But we will find him. I will grant you your revenge as promised."

"Yes, lord. I do not doubt you."

He seemed to be contemplating something else, and I waited for him to reveal it. Several moments passed before he spoke. "I have need of you. As a spy. Again."

I nodded. "Yes, lord?"

"You and Sihtric will go to Dunholm. You will listen for any talk of the King or Wessex, and you will meet me in Ceaster later."

A week? A week spent in Dunholm? Alone with Sihtric? The man I just kissed and fondled the night before. I tried to hide the heat burning up my neck by moving from foot to foot and looking at the ground. Which obviously made it even more apparent that I was uncomfortable.

Uhtred smiled. "I know he did not trust you before, but you are part of the group now and have proven your loyalty. He will not give you any more trouble."

I nodded and pretended this was my concern. "Good," I sighed. "When do we leave?"

"As soon as you can."

"I am ready." I was not ready.

"Then you may go. I will fetch Sihtric." He turned away then called over his shoulder. "Meet us at the stables."

....

The ride north towards Dunholm was uneventful. I felt incredibly awkward as I rode next to him, but he seemed to be unbothered by my presence in the least. I didn't speak on what had happened, and neither did he. Maybe he didn't even remember. I guess that was possible. We were both drunk..

We arrived in Dunholm and dropped our horses at the stables before heading towards the Inn. Already, my skin itched inside the walls of the town, and that feeling was exasperated by the stuffiness of the Inn. We rented a room and dropped most of our armor and gear off in the room before heading down to the tavern part of the Inn.

"Drink?" He asked me as we walked in. I nodded, and he went to the bar to order drinks. I sat down near the window and tried to calm the thudding of my heart. "You okay?" He sat across from me and slid the tankard across the table to me.