#osfert

"You, come with me. We need a good Yule tree." Uhtred hollers. Finan and Sihtric jump up at once. "Yes Lord!" Sihtric calls. "On yer feet." Finan grabs Aethelstan by the scruff of his neck. Aelfwynn pushes Cynlaef after him. More men rise from the benches below the dais.

Osferth comes to his feet as well. "Won't you keep me company?" You ask. The former monk chuckles and sits back down. "Of course I will." He says gently. "The men will be gone for a long while, the woods are a ways off and knowing our Lord, he will want a good looking tree." You tell him. Osferth chuckles. "They will be lucky if they make it back in time for supper." He jokes.

Finan, Aethelstan, Cynlaef and Sihtric each lead a strong, big horse. "I am not sure what you have planned, Lord, but isn't four horses a bit overboard?" Finan asks. "Just wait and see, Finan." Uhtred replies. Finan groans, but submits to the order.

The men lead the horses to the woods. Sihtric vaults onto his horse's back. "Race you." He says. Finan laughs and clambers up onto his own horse. "Loser gets sloppy seconds." He hollers. "We will see about that." Sihtric replies. He leans forward over the thick neck of his horse and gives the mare his heel. The horse whickers and trots off. Finan follows close behind.

Cynlaef and Athelstand watch the two older men go with a hankering in their eyes. They want to race too. But they knew better than to just go galavanting off. Uhtred would never let them, they are too young. But the yearning is obvious even to a blind man. "No boys, your mother would never forgive me if you were harmed." He says, knowing you will be of the devil if one of them comes back with as much as a scratch.

"But our fathers can do it." Cynlaef complains. "They are grown men, now walk and look chipper, we are going to fell your first Yule tree." Uhtred tells them. Both glower at him, but raise no more complaints.

It's Sihtric who wins the race, standing at the foot of a young yet strong pine tree, grinning and stroking his horse's soft nose. Finan stands a few feet away, looking less than pleased. "Found something you could beat him at?" Uhtred teases. Sihtric chuckles. "I beat him at more than just horse riding." He smirks. Uhtred laughs loudly.