Chapter 11

Lily did not sleep well. After a restless night in the rickety, lumpy bed, made worse by her constant thoughts of a certain red-haired Scotsman, she was woken just before dawn by the sounds of the waking city just outside her window.

She cracked her eyes open and lay for a minute listening to the sound of people arguing, children crying, dogs barking, and a whole host of other noises. Add in the honking of car horns and the growl of engines, and it could have been a modern city outside her window instead of a fifteenth century one.

She stared at the ceiling. Unbidden, memories of last night came crowding into her mind. Oskar had kissed her. Kissed her! And it had been...amazing. She could not deny that she'd wanted it. She'd been worried about him when he'd been gone from the townhouse, and the way her heart had soared when he'd returned was a testament to her growing feelings for him. And then...oh God, and then!

Her toes curled and heat grew inside her as she remembered his lips on hers, the hardness of his body, the way his fingers had tangled in her hair. She had lost herself a little, had given in to the sudden need for him, a need that she'd been denying for so long...

And then he'd rejected her.

The heat in her belly cooled, replaced by hurt and not a small amount of confusion. He'd wanted her, she knew he had. What she'd felt from him was real. So why had he pulled back? Why had he said the things he did?

I canna do this, Lily.

What was he not telling her? She sighed, thumping the mattress in irritation. This was all so god-damned confusing. She should be lying here trying to figure out a way home, not thinking about how much she'd enjoyed Oskar kissing her, of how much she'd like him to do it again—

Stop it!

She sat up, wincing as shots of pain slid down her spine. She should have done her exercises before sleeping last night, but she'd been so flustered by what had happened with Oskar that she'd slipped straight into bed. She had a feeling she was going to pay the price for that now.

Tentatively, she wiggled her foot, unsurprised when hot lances of agony shot up the back. She gritted her teeth and kept up the movements, just like her physio had taught her, until the pain began to subside. Then she did the other foot, grimacing.

Gripping the edge of the bed, she managed to pull herself to her feet in a slow, carefully calculated series of movements. She winced as she stretched, every muscle protesting the movement, but as she moved through the practised routine, her aches slowly began to recede. Finally, she got dressed, then descended the wooden staircase, the steps creaking.

At the bottom, she took a deep breath and steeled herself. She didn't know what she would say to Oskar. Better to get it over with. She pushed open the door and found him in the kitchen, seated on a stool in front of the fire, staring into its depths. He seemed deep in thought, but looked up as she entered. A mixture of emotions flashed across his face, quickly subdued.

"I didnae expect ye up yet," he said gruffly. "It's barely dawn."

"But you're already up," she pointed out. "And have been for some time by the looks of it." The fire was roaring heartily and a platter on the table held the remains of some food.

"Aye, I couldnae sleep."

You weren't the only one,she thought.

She glanced at the table where a pottery bottle stood. It smelled of whisky, and Oskar looked a little bleary-eyed.

She lowered herself onto the bench. "Oskar, about last night—"

He stood abruptly. "I have to go out. The Order is meeting with the king's justiciars today. I need to be there." He strode to the door, but paused and looked back at her. "Stay here until I get back. Dinna open the door to anyone but me, aye?"

Lily smiled wryly. "Aye, captain."

"I mean it, Lily. It isnae safe out there."

"Fine," Lily snapped, suddenly angry. "Whatever you say." She swiveled on the bench and stared at the fire.

Oskar opened his mouth as though to speak, but snapped his mouth shut. With one last glance, he turned and left.

In a fit of frustration, Lily picked up a log from the basket and threw it after him. It clattered into the door with a satisfying thump. Bloody infuriating man!

She moved over to the leaded window and gazed out at the streets of the waking city.

I've probably walked those exact streets out there,she thought to herself. Hundreds of years from now.

It was a very strange feeling. How could something so familiar be so utterly different?

She cut herself some slices of coarse dark bread from the loaf that sat on the table, slathered them with butter and then dragged the bench over to the window and perched herself on it while she ate her breakfast, watching the activity outside as she did so.

The people going about their day were dressed nothing like what she was used to, but for all that, it could have been any modern city waking up. People were rushing around on errands, children were zooming around getting under people's feet, and there was that background chatter that seemed to fill every street where there was human habitation.

She took a bite of her bread and butter and chewed mechanically. Across the street, three men were busy rolling barrels towards a trapdoor that led down to a cellar. One of the barrels had caught on something and sprung a leak. An amber colored liquid that she guessed was ale was leaking onto the street while the men tried their best to plug it, all the while shouting at each other.

Two women, each holding the hand of a small child, gossiped in front of the open door of a wooden house and laughed uproariously. Neither seemed to notice the two small children pulling faces and trying to kick each other. A large man with thinning, brown hair and sallow skin hurried up the street, hobbling around the men with the barrels on an errand of his own.

Lily leaned forward. Something about that man looked familiar. Where had she seen him before? Then it hit her like a slap.

Alfred Brewer!

She was off the bench before she could think. She must be mistaken. Alfred Brewer couldn't be here. Could he? She grabbed her cloak from the peg, threw it around her shoulders, and hurried out into the street. There she paused, shielding her eyes against the shafts of sunlight pouring through the gaps between the buildings. She could just make out the shape of Alfred Brewer disappearing up the street. It was him! He was even using the crutch she'd had Oskar make for him!

Her heart was suddenly racing. What was he doing here? Where were Magnus and Emeric?

She pulled the door shut behind her and dashed across the street after Alfred. Urgency simmered in her belly, drowning out the warning in her head. Part of her knew that following Alfred was not a good idea but she ignored it.

He was perhaps a hundred meters ahead of her and going downhill. Wrapping her cloak around her and pulling up her hood, Lily followed. She kept close to the buildings as much as possible so their shadows would hide her if Alfred happened to glance back. Luckily, he didn't. He seemed intent on a destination.

As she moved further downhill, Lily found herself descending into a maze of narrow alleys and crooked streets. The buildings here were aged and decrepit, their exteriors weathered and worn. The streets were a patchwork of uneven stones, worn smooth by countless feet over the centuries. The air grew thicker, with the scent of wood smoke and unwashed bodies.

Her unease grew. Perhaps she ought to return to the townhouse and wait for Oskar. But if she did that, they might never find Alfred Brewer again. This labyrinth of closes and lanes would be an easy place to lose a person in and then they'd never know what he was up to.

Suddenly, Lily stopped in her tracks. Alfred Brewer was standing in the entrance of a narrow lane, talking to a tall man in a heavy black cloak. The man's face was obscured by the shadow of his hood, so she could make out no features.

Lily quickly ducked behind an old stone wall and crouched low, peering over the top. The man in black whispered something to Alfred, and Alfred pulled out a small pouch and handed it over. The black-cloaked figure nodded, then turned and disappeared down the alleyway.

Lily hardly dared to breathe. What was going on here? Nothing good, that's for sure.

With her mind racing, she slowly eased herself around the wall and followed as Alfred Brewer set off again. Up ahead, he turned a corner out of sight. Cursing under her breath, Lily picked up her pace. She turned the corner and stopped. The alley was empty. She spun around quickly, looking in all directions, but there was no sign of Alfred Brewer.

Here, tall, rickety buildings leaned together, all but cutting out the light, and the narrow alley was strewn with filth and refuse. Behind her, a small close opened out with doors around a courtyard and washing strung on lines between the walls.

She bit her lip, unsure what to do.

"Are ye lost, little lady?"

Lily spun to find a burly man standing behind her. It was not Alfred Brewer. This man had a shaved head, a thick neck, and a scar through his lip. His expression was not friendly.

"I...um...no...I'm fine," she stammered, backing away.

She bumped against something and spun to find another man standing behind her. He had lank black hair and a leering grin.

"Careful, darlin," he said. "Ye need to watch where ye are going."

She tried to take a step back, but found herself against the wall of a nearby building, cold and unyielding.

Three more men materialized out of the shadows, stepping up to form a ring around her. Her eyes darted between them.

"Get out of my way," she said with as much courage as she could muster. "If you come any closer, I'll scream."

The man with the scar laughed, and for a brief moment, Lily thought she saw a glint of recognition in his eyes.

"Go ahead. Ye think anyone will come running?"

"What do you want from me?" she demanded, trying to sound braver than she felt.

The man with the scar smirked. "Just a bit of fun. And to teach Oskar Galbraith a lesson. We warned him. He chose to ignore that warning."

"What? You know Oskar?"

The man laughed. "I see he's not told ye everything, has he, my darlin?

"What are you talking about?"

"Street-scum, that's what he is. A villain and a bully. Did he not tell ye he was once the scourge of these streets? That everyone was afraid of him? No? I didnae think so. And he isnae coming to save ye this time. If he had half the brains he claims to have, he should never have left ye alone at his townhouse. He knows how dangerous this city can be."

Lily went cold. "You've been watching the townhouse?"

The scarred man grinned. "Of course. We have interests to protect, after all. Canna have any rivals threatening those, can we?"

"Oskar's no threat to you and neither am I. Just let me go!"

"No threat?" the scarred man hissed. His grin had disappeared and now he stepped forward menacingly, one hand going to his throat where there was a long cut. "No threat? Who do ye think did this? Ye dinna know him half as well as ye think ye do, Lily."

She tried to shrink away but the wall was already up against her back. "How do you know my name?"

"Like I said, it's our business to know who comes into our territory. I tried to speak to Oskar man to man, all polite like and point that out, but he wouldnae listen. Maybe he'll listen now."

His voice echoed through the narrow alley, its darkness swallowing any light from the courtyard behind her. The scarred man reached into his pocket and pulled out a long knife, the wicked blade gleaming.

As he lunged at her, her self-defense classes came rushing back. She ducked behind him, wrapping her arm around his neck, and yanked him backward. With an ‘oomph' of surprise, he stumbled, dropping the knife on the filthy ground.

Lily turned and ran. She darted around a corner, and the alley twisted into a tangle of narrow passages. She could hear the men's footsteps echoing behind her, gaining. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps, her thoughts only on escape.

Ahead, she saw an iron gate leading to a small courtyard, with a few draped bits of laundry fluttering in the wind. Grabbing the gate, she pushed with all her strength, and it finally gave way, hitting the wall with a loud clang. Lily stumbled into the courtyard, panting heavily, throwing the gate closed behind her and pulling the bolt across.

Behind her, the men crashed into the gate with a thump, but the bolt held. She glanced around frantically, looking for a way out. There were no other gates or doors leading from the courtyard. The only way out seemed to be a winding staircase leading up the side of a rickety wooden building to a window at the far side.

Suddenly, the gate behind gave with a crash and the men came stumbling into the courtyard. Lily gasped and ran for the staircase. But before she reached it, a hand closed around her ankle, sending her toppling to the ground. With a cry, she twisted and kicked at the man holding her, landing a blow against his arm.

He grunted but didn't let go. While his companion gripped her ankle, the scarred man advanced on her, knife held in one hand.

"Ye shouldnae have done that," he hissed. "Now ye have just gone and made things worse."

She squeezed shut her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable pain. But instead of the cold steel of the knife sinking into her skin, she felt a sudden jolt and the crushing weight of the scarred man's body landed on top of her. It was there for only a second before it was yanked abruptly away.

Lily opened her eyes to see the scarred man lying on his back next to her, a dazed expression on his face as he blinked slowly. Oskar was towering above them, his eyes blazing with fury.

He bent over Lily, his hands cradling her head gently. "Are you all right?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. She nodded and sat up, trying to catch her breath and push the adrenaline-induced shock away.

The scarred man recovered from his stupor and climbed to his feet, wiping a line of blood from his lip. "Ye are really starting to get on my nerves, Galbraith."

Oskar's eyes flashed with fury as he straightened to face him. "I warned ye," he snarled. "I warned ye to stay away from her. Ye are a dead man."

"One of the things I've always admired about ye is yer optimism," the scarred man said with a smirk. "Or is it just arrogance?" He waved his hand. "Take him, boys."

The men advanced on Oskar, their faces twisted into expressions of hate and bloodlust. The first man lunged, his knife flashing in the dim light. Oskar dodged the blow and then punched the man in the temple with an almighty thud. The man reeled back, clutching at his head.

Oskar spun, facing the second man who slashed at him with a dagger. In a swift motion, Oskar grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it. The man let out a scream and Lily heard a sickening crunch as the bone snapped. Oskar released him, and the man crumpled into the mud, clutching his arm in pain.

"Is that the best ye can do?" Oskar snarled. His eyes were wild. His lips had pulled back from his teeth in a rictus-grin.

The third man charged at Oskar with a blade held high, howling wordlessly. Oskar side-stepped the blow, and then with a powerful punch, knocked the man flat on his back. The force of the impact echoed through the courtyard, sending a wave of dust and debris flying.

Lily scrambled back, appalled and terrified. Her back hit the wall and she cowered there, unable to escape, unable to look away from the violence unfolding in front of her.

The fourth man, a muscular brute with a fuzz of white stubble covering his head, charged at Oskar with a war cry, a large ax in his hand. Oskar stood his ground, feet apart, fists clenched. The big man swung the ax with all his might, but Oskar deftly dodged the blow, bringing his elbow up to catch the man across the jaw. With a sickening crack, his knees buckled and he collapsed, unconscious.

Oskar's eyes flashed with something dangerous as he turned to the scarred man, the only one left standing.

"Ah, there he is!" the scarred man crowed. "There's the Oskar Galbraith we all know and love! How does it feel, my old friend, to finally let yerself go? To show yer true colors? I bet it feels good, doesnae it? I bet ye enjoyed every second of that!"

He was trying to make Oskar angry enough to make a mistake. But Oskar was already angry, already furious. Lily could feel it rolling off him in waves. He looked crazed, beyond reason, as he faced the scarred man, shoulders heaving, hair sweat-stained and tangled around his face.

The scarred man's laughter rang out, as if mocking Oskar's fury.

"There, ye see this, Lily?" the scarred man snarled, gesturing at the fallen men. "This is who Oskar really is. He brings naught but pain and suffering."

"Shut yer mouth!"

Oskar dashed at the scarred man, his eyes ablaze. The two men collided, grappling for dominance in a brutal exchange of punches and kicks. The courtyard echoed with the sounds of their struggle, the wind whipping around them, carrying the stench of sweat and blood.

The scarred man's face was a mask of pure hatred, while Oskar's face was twisted into a snarl of anger. His knuckles were raw and bleeding, but he continued to strike with a savage ferocity.

The scarred man swung his knife again, but this time, Oskar was ready. He blocked the blow with his forearm, the blade slicing through his skin and drawing blood. As the scarred man lunged again, Oskar grabbed his wrist and wrenched it, causing the knife to slip from his grasp. Oskar clung on, twisting the man's arm behind his back. The scarred man let out a muffled scream.

Oskar released him then swiftly grabbed the fallen knife and raised it two-handed above the scarred man's chest.

"Oskar!" Lily screamed, throwing herself across the courtyard and grabbing his arm. "Stop!"

Oskar hesitated, his eyes flickering from the knife to Lily's face. The scarred man lay at his feet, writhing in pain, but still alive.

Lily's voice was hoarse, but steady. "Please, Oskar, don't."

For a moment, Oskar seemed lost, a distant glint in his eyes. But then he nodded and tossed away the knife. He passed a hand across his face and seemed to come back to himself.

"Are ye all right?" he asked Lily urgently. "Did they hurt ye?"

"I'm fine," she said, her voice cracked and shaky. "They scared me is all."

Oskar glanced down at the scarred man, then rose to his feet. He looked around, seeming to see the carnage he'd wrought for the first time. His face twisted with an expression Lily couldn't quite place.

"Let's get out of here."

They started walking in silence, Lily trying to process what had just happened.

The sky above them was a deep shade of purple, with the faintest hint of pink on the horizon. The air was still, heavy with the scent of impending rain.

Lily shuddered, trying to banish the memory of the scarred man's laughter and Oskar's rage. She glanced sidelong at him as he stalked silently by her side, eyes fixed ahead. He had changed. The man she had known was gone, leaving something dark and dangerous in his place. She couldn't help but wonder if she had ever really known him at all.

"Who were those men?" she asked at last.

He glanced at her and away again. "They hold territory on the south side of the river."

"And the scarred man?" Lily pressed.

Oskar hesitated, a flash of pain crossing his face before he met her gaze. "He's their leader. Bryn Fletcher."

Lily was silent for a moment, processing this information. She knew that Oskar had a troubled past, but she had never heard him mention anything about being involved with a gang like this—especially one that employed such violence.

This is who Oskar really is. He brings naught but pain and suffering.

She had thought she was beginning to know him. But now? Who was Oskar Galbraith really? She was no longer sure she wanted to find out.

The streets were muddy as the snow turned to slush, and the puddles reflected the dim, orange light of the sun that was beginning to break through the clouds. The rumble of carts and the distant cries of vendors created a melody that seemed to mock the unease in Lily's heart.

Oskar was silent, his eyes focused on the ground before his feet. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the muscles in his arms taut and ready for any threat.

Then he stopped so suddenly that Lily walked right into the back of him.

A burnt-out house rose before them, its charred timbers standing stark against the pale sky. The windows, long ago shattered, gaped like toothless smiles, and the roof had caved in, leaving a jagged wound in the center.

A single gust of wind sent a shower of burnt debris floating through the air, which swirled around Oskar and Lily as they stood in silence. The absence of any smoke, evidence that the fire had been long extinguished, only added to the eerie silence that seemed to cling to it.

Oskar stared at the ruin, his shoulders hunched and his fingers flexing, as though wanting to reach out and touch it.

"Oskar?" Lily said. "What is it?"

He didn't answer. His lips were parted and she could hear the breath whistling in and out of his chest. He seemed to suddenly be somewhere else entirely, caught up in thoughts or memories that left his expression ravaged.

"Oskar?" she said again. "Are you all right?"

She placed her hand lightly on his arm and he jumped as if he'd been stung.

He scrubbed a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. "Let's go."

As they continued their climb up the hill, there were a hundred different questions Lily wanted to ask Oskar, a hundred different things she wanted to say but she didn't seem able to form words. She was relieved beyond measure when they finally reached the townhouse and the door closed behind them, shutting out the world.

She sank gratefully onto one of the benches in front of the fire and raked a shaky hand through her tangled hair then clasped them in front of her to keep them from shaking.

Oskar knelt by the fire and began feeding in sticks until it was roaring once again. The tension in his shoulders hadn't eased, and he didn't look at her.

Lily licked her lips and took a deep breath. "Oskar, there's something I have to tell you—"

"Why did ye do it?" he demanded, cutting her off. He turned to look at her and she could see anger burning in his eyes.

"Why did I do what?"

"Leave the house when I told ye not to."

"Yeah, sorry about that. But when you hear what I have to say, you'll understand—"

"Do ye have any idea of what would have happened had I not found ye?"

"I didn't mean for that to happen! I had to go out. I saw—"

"Of all the brainless, idiotic things to do! I told ye to stay put! I told ye!"

She'd had one hell of a morning and the last thing she needed was this. He was having a go at her? How dare he?

"I didn't know they were watching the house!" she cried, jabbing a finger at him. "None of it would have happened in the first place if it wasn't for you! It was you there were really after! And perhaps if you'd warned me about them, warned me about the kind of man you really are and the friends you keep, I might have been a bit more careful!"

Oskar flinched as if her words had cut him, but he didn't back down. "I vowed to keep ye safe! How can I do that if I dinna even know where ye are?"

"You vowed to catch Alfred Brewer as well!"

"What has that got to do with any of this?"

"If you shut up and listen for a minute I'll tell you!"

She glared at him, fists clenched at her sides. She was so angry she could slap him.

"All right," he said at last, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm listening."

Lily blew out a breath, trying to calm her anger. "I didn't just go sightseeing you know? I do have some sense. I spotted someone through the window, someone I didn't expect to see." She met his gaze. "Oskar, it was Alfred Brewer. He's here, in the city."

THE SILENCE STRETCHED. Oskar's brain seemed to be struggling to process the words Lily had just spoken. Alfred Brewer? Here?

"Nay, lass, ye must be mistaken—"

"I know what I saw!" she snapped. "It was Alfred Brewer I tell you! He even had the limp and was walking with the crutch I had you make for him!"

Oskar turned to stare into the fire. He was sitting too close to the flames and he could feel heat prickling up his skin, but he ignored it. In fact, he barely felt it. His thoughts spun in a whirlwind, tossed like leaves on a breeze.

Alfred Brewer was here in Edinburgh. That meant Alice, his wife, was likely here too. Which meant, in turn, that other members of the Disinherited—the Order of the Osprey's most hated enemy—would be here as well. But why? What were they planning? Whatever it was, the Order had obviously misjudged their intentions badly. And now, he and Torvik were the only ones here to deal with it.

He was no tactician, no strategist able to weigh up options and determine plans. He was hired muscle. He was the one you sent in to do the bloody work nobody else had the stomach for. Hadn't he proven that by what he'd done today?

Bryn Fletcher had the right of it. He was street-scum.

"Was he alone?" he asked at last.

"Yes," she nodded. "I followed him into that scummy part of the city you found me in. He spoke to a man in a cowl and gave him some money. Then I lost him and ran into that scarred man and his gang."

"Bryn Fletcher. The scarred man's name is Bryn Fletcher."

"Right. That's when I ran into Bryn Fletcher and his gang. Do you think they're in on it? Do you think Alfred Brewer saw me and set those men on me?" She was pale and frightened-looking.

"No," he said, his jaw tightening. "I dinna think they had anything to do with Alfred Brewer."

But they had everything to do with me,he thought. Bryn Fletcher attacked ye because of me.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. How close they'd come to hurting Lily... If he hadn't found them when he did...

"Did ye see anything else?" he forced himself to ask. "Did Alfred speak to anyone else? Go anywhere else?"

She shook her head. "That's all I saw."

"So Alfred Brewer arrives in Edinburgh the same time we do," he breathed. "Which means Magnus and Emeric clearly didnae catch him. So where are they? Where is Alice? And what are they up to?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with implications, and Oskar felt a chill run up his spine. It was dangerous in the extreme for Alfred Brewer and his associates to come to Edinburgh. They must know the risks, so why would they come here?

Only if the benefits outweighed the risks, he thought. So what they are planning must be big. Very big.

"I have to tell the Order about this," he said, heaving himself to his feet. "And they'll want to speak to ye. We need to go to the guild house."

"The guild house?"

"It isnae far."

He held out his hand to Lily, an invitation for her to take it. She hesitated for a moment before placing her small hand in his, and he pulled her up to stand beside him.

"Let's go," he said with a nod.

As they stepped outside, Oskar's senses instantly went on alert, his eyes scanning the busy streets for any sign of danger, any face that didn't fit in with the usual crowd. But how was he to tell? He'd been away so long he didn't recognize many people any more. Any one of them might be an enemy.

As they walked, the air smelled of wood smoke and damp earth after the recent snow. The city was alive with its own heartbeat, but underneath the hum of activity lurked an unsettling tension that sent shivers down Oskar's spine.

It was bad enough when he'd thought he only had his old acquaintances to contend with, but now he learned that the Disinherited were here as well? Did they know where his townhouse was? Did they know about Lily? Were they a threat to her?

The questions swirled in his mind as they walked, and he didn't come up with any answers. As they turned a corner, a gust of wind tore through the narrow alleyway, biting through their clothing with chilling intensity. Lily shivered, and Oskar had to resist the urge to put his arm around her. Instead, he stepped closer, using his larger frame as a shield against the harsh winter elements.

She pushed a stray strand out of her eyes. There was a firm set to her lips, a fierceness in her gaze. The same fierceness that had stirred something deep inside him last night.

His mind wandered back to that stolen moment yesterday; her soft lips on his, the heat of her body against him. It was as if time had stopped for that moment when their lips had met. But then reality came crashing down and he'd pulled away.

She'd been hurt by that, he knew. But better that than the danger she'd be in if it went any further. If anyone should learn how he felt about her... The thought sent dread tingling through his veins. What had happened with Bryn Fletcher and his gang was evidence enough of what she would face.

Finally, the guild house loomed in the distance, its walls etched against the ashy blue sky. As they neared, an unexpected sight caught Oskar's attention. A throng of horses were clustered around the entrance, stamping and huffing in the chill air as though newly arrived and a group of armed men was busy dismounting.

Oskar's steps slowed as his gaze flicked over them, but then sped up again as he recognized his sword-brothers, Kai Stewart and Conall Sinclair among the group. Relief swept through him. Finally!

Kai spotted them first. He jumped off his horse and hurried over, grinning, Conall following closely behind. Both men wore the same uniform—dark breeches, leather jerkin adorned with the insignia of their Order, long swords hanging from their belts—but their faces were as different as night and day.

Kai Stewart had white-blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and a cocky grin. Conall Sinclair wore a serious expression and his wolf-gray eyes missed nothing.

"Oskar," Kai greeted him with a hearty clap on the shoulder. "It's good to see ye, my friend."

Conall, ever the more serious of the two, simply nodded in acknowledgment before turning his piercing gaze to Lily. "And who might this be?"

"This is Lily," Oskar introduced, placing a protective hand on the small of her back. "Lily, meet Kai Stewart, my commander, and Conall Sinclair, my sword-brother."

Kai gave her a charming wink while Conall simply bowed his head.

Lily's gaze sprang to Kai. "Kai Stewart?" she asked. "Rory Stewart's brother? The one who can open portals through time?"

Kai blinked, looking startled. "How do ye know about that?"

Oskar looked around to make sure nobody else was in earshot. "There's a lot to tell ye," he said under his breath. "We'd better go inside."

Kai nodded, recognizing the tone of Oskar's voice. "Aye. Come on then."

As the rest of the men who'd arrived with Kai and Conall were escorted to the barracks, Kai led the four of them through the corridors of the guild house until they reached the small room Kai used as his study when he was in Edinburgh. He ushered them inside, pulled off his riding gloves, and tossed them onto the desk.

He strode to the fireplace then turned around and faced Oskar and Lily. "All right, Oskar," he said. "What's going on? Where are Magnus and Emeric?"

As he had done with Torvik, Oskar recounted everything that had happened from the time himself, Magnus and Emeric had left Dun Saith with Alfred Brewer. This time though, he left nothing out. He explained Lily's origins and how Irene MacAskill seemed to have had a hand in bringing her here. Finally, he explained that Lily had spotted Alfred in Edinburgh earlier today.

When his tale was finished, Kai and Conall exchanged dark looks.

"The Brewers," Kai breathed. "Is there no end to their schemes? We thought we'd seen the last of them when we finally dealt with Leif Snarlsson."

Conall's gray eyes flashed with anger. "We should have known that eliminating their commander wouldnae have broken them. Only made them more desperate."

Kai nodded and then looked at Oskar. "This changes everything. If Alfred and Alice are here in the city, we have to find them, and fast."

"Aye, we do," Oskar agreed. "Torvik has people out scouring the countryside looking for Magnus and Emeric but I suspect we've been looking in the wrong place. We need to be searching the city."

"Without alerting the Disinherited that we know they're here." Kai sighed, running a hand through his white-blond hair, then turned to look at Lily. "I'm sorry ye got caught up in all this," he said. "When this is over, I'll take ye to my brother, Rory. He'll send ye home."

"Thank you," Lily said softly. "I appreciate that."

Oskar's gut twisted at the hope in her voice. Was she really so desperate to get home? Was she really so desperate to get away from him?

Of course she was, and Oskar couldn't blame her. And he would do all in his power to see that she got home safely.

Even if it broke his heart.