Chapter 7

Lily missed the cart. She never thought she'd admit it but even that rickety, bouncing thing was preferable to this endless slog along a road that was little more than a muddy track. It didn't help that Oskar seemed to think he was on a forced march. The pace he set was grueling and it took all of Lily's efforts to keep up with him.

The pain in her back and hip was getting worse. But what choice did she have? She would not be left behind, and she most definitely would not admit to Oskar that she was struggling.

He was ahead of her again and he stopped and turned to wait, impatience written plainly across his face. This had been the pattern for the last hour, ever since Magnus and Emeric had mounted the cart horses and ridden off in pursuit of Alfred Brewer and his rescuers. She breathed deeply through her nostrils. She didn't want to think about what had happened at the copse.

When the two hooded figures had burst out of the bushes by the side of the stream, she had almost had a heart attack. Then, when they'd drawn swords, it had been all she could do not to faint right on the spot.

If Oskar hadn't come when he had...

She rubbed her hip. It was sore from where one of the men had knocked her to the ground and she knew she most likely had a bruise the size of an egg beneath her clothing.

She still struggled to process what had happened. One minute everything had been peaceful, but in the next, everything had exploded into terrifying violence. Oskar had killed people. Killed them! She still saw those bodies lying in the grass whenever she closed her eyes. Was violence such a normal part of everyday life in this century that people hardly batted an eyelid? Certainly Oskar, Magnus, and Emeric had barely reacted to what they'd been forced to do. They were far more concerned with the fact that Alfred Brewer had escaped than the bodies lying at their feet.

She wiped her hand across her brow. Despite the cold wind, she was sweating. She hadn't realized she'd come to a halt until Oskar suddenly spoke.

"What is it, lass? Ye look pale."

"What is it?" she replied. "You seriously have to ask me that? Violence might be second nature to you, but it's not second nature for me! I'd never seen a dead body in my life until an hour ago!"

She was trembling and it wasn't from the cold. Images played before her eyes. Cowled men bursting from the trees, swords glinting. And then those images morphed into something else.

The screech of tires. The blare of a siren. The beep beep beep of a ventilator.

A sob crawled up her throat and she doubled over, hugging her stomach. "I can't do this," she whispered. "I can't do it."

Suddenly, strong arms were going around her, lifting her gently upright and softly pulling her against a hard, tight chest. She was enveloped by the scent of wood smoke and open skies.

"It's all right, lass. I've got ye," Oskar's deep voice rumbled.

Lily's restraint snapped. She buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed until she was hoarse. She had no idea how long they stood there. Oskar didn't move and just held her while she cried, his arms holding her tight, his presence a rock that she clung to.

Eventually, she cried herself out. Her breathing steadied and a bit of strength returned to her limbs. Oskar didn't let her go and she had no desire to leave the warm cage of his arms. As her sobs died away, she rested her forehead against his shoulder and just breathed, letting his solid presence calm her a little, concentrating only on the rise and fall of his chest.

But finally she lifted her head and looked at him. She couldn't read the expression in his bright blue eyes. The usual scowl was gone and instead she read something else on his stern features, something she couldn't quite place. He almost looked...tender.

She felt the strongest urge to reach up and run her fingers through his hair. Flustered, she cleared her throat and stepped back, putting some distance between them. Slowly, she pulled the cloak of self-reliance she'd so carefully cultivated over the years back around herself, shutting Oskar out.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I don't know what came over me."

He smiled wryly. "Lass, it's me in the wrong here. I shouldnae have been pushing so hard. Ye may have noticed that I can be a little impatient at times."

Lily widened her eyes in mock surprise. "Really? You? I don't believe it!"

"I know, shocking isnae it?" A rare smile crossed his rugged features.

"Was it my fault?" she blurted suddenly.

"Was what yer fault?"

"That Alfred got away? If I hadn't insisted he had those crutches, maybe it would have been harder for them to snatch him. Maybe—"

"Lass," he cut her off. "Lily. It wasnae yer fault. If I'd been more diligent when I scouted the camp I would have found the ambushers. If Emeric hadn't taken Alfred to the stream to bathe two days ago, he could never have tried to escape and broken his leg in the first place. If Kai had sent more men with us, we could never have been ambushed to begin with. If the Order hadnae been so hard-pressed in the north, maybe he'd have been able to do just that. If, if, if. That kind of thinking will drive ye mad."

Lily sighed. The sun was beginning to fall towards the horizon and she guessed they only had perhaps a couple of hours of light left. Dark came early in winter.

"So what now? We are miles from anywhere and I don't fancy sleeping out in the open."

He barked a harsh laugh. "Nay, lass, nor will we. A few miles in that direction we'll come across somewhere we can stay for the night. It's not much but it should at least be warm. Are ye ready to go on?"

She wasn't. She wanted to sit down and not move another inch all day but she only nodded. They began walking again and this time Oskar kept pace by her side. Neither spoke but Lily found herself more comfortable in his presence than before and there was something reassuring about having him stalking along at her side, his blue eyes ever vigilant, his auburn hair blowing in the breeze.

The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink through a break in the clouds, when Oskar suddenly stopped and pointed.

"There it is," he said in his gruff voice. "Our home for the night."

Lily followed his gaze and saw a settlement squashed against the base of a hill, barely visible in the fading light. It was a collection of small, stone houses huddled together with a few protruding chimneys puffing out smoke that curled up into the sky like tendrils of fog. A stream ran nearby, its waters swirling and twisting around smooth stones, reflecting the colors of the sky in its depths.

It was the first sign of civilization since they'd left Lord Eberwyn's manor house. Oskar's expression was grim as he looked out at it.

"Dinna trust anyone while we are here," he said in a low voice. "We wouldnae have stopped if we had a choice but needs must in a pinch."

His tone startled her. "Why? What is this place?"

"I'm not sure it even has a name," he said, looking from side to side at the brush that screened the road. "It's a reiver village, a place where people can hide from the law. All around here is disputed land claimed by three different lords and so there are very few patrols. Vermin will congregate in such places."

"Reivers?" she asked, not liking the sound of that at all. "What are they?"

Oskar grunted, his eyes narrowed. "Raiders and thieves. Murderers when they have to be. In the border regions, it's an ongoing battle, tit-for-tat. They steal cattle and livestock, goods and whatever else they can find. When they're on the run from the law, they hide up here, try to lose themselves. They're like wolves, preying on the weak and unsuspecting. And they're cunning, too. That's why we have to be on our guard here."

Lily nodded, swallowing. She could feel her heart pounding, her breath growing shallow. They set off again but no sooner had they taken a few steps when a voice suddenly rang out behind them.

"No further, if ye please!"

Oskar froze. Then, so quickly she barely tracked the movement, he drew his sword and spun at the same time, bringing his weapon around in a flashing riposte that struck the sword of the man behind them and sent it spinning out of his grasp.

The man, large and barrel-chested, with lank black hair and beard was left staring at his empty hand for a second before his gaze flicked to his sword and then back to Oskar.

"Well, that's lost me ten coppers," he said, grinning suddenly. "Seems ye havenae lost any of yer touch after all, Galbraith."

Oskar did not smile. His eyes flashed dangerously as he held up his sword. "Ye should know better than to draw a weapon on me, Colin."

Colin spread his arms wide. "I had to be sure it was ye, didnae I? We canna let just anyone come swaggering in here, ye ken?"

Oskar glared at Colin and then slowly turned his head from side to side. "Ye can come out now!"

To Lily's surprise, four more men emerged from amongst the sparse vegetation along the road. They were all as large—and as scruffy—as Colin. Lily stepped warily closer to Oskar. She was disliking this place more and more by the minute. Why had Oskar brought them here?

One of the men, a pock-marked, shaven-headed man carrying several axes tied to his belt, swaggered closer. "Told ye, Colin! That's ten coppers ye owe me."

Colin spat into the dirt. "Aye, ye'll get yer money, Craig. Seems ye were right. Our old friend here hasnae lost his edge."

Old friend? Lily glanced between Oskar and the gang of men. He knew these people?

"The show's over," Oskar growled. "Now, unless any of ye wish to cross swords with me, I suggest ye stand aside and let us pass."

Colin shared a glance with Craig who shook his head slightly. The two men's gazes instead turned to Lily, looking her over appraisingly. She didn't like the expression on their faces. She clasped her bag tightly in front of her and forced herself to meet their gazes, even though fear was fluttering in her belly like the wings of a trapped butterfly. There was something predatory about these men, as though, like predators, if she showed weakness, they would pounce.

"Well?" Oskar snapped, stepping protectively in front of her. "What will it be?"

Colin cocked his head. "What business brings ye here? I thought these days ye were too high and mighty to consort with the likes of us."

"What brings me here is none of yer concern. My companion and I need lodgings for the night. Do ye have a problem with that?" He bristled like a cat, his shoulders hunched and his glare fixed on Colin.

Colin laughed suddenly, breaking the tension. "All right, all right, no need to get yer breeches in a twist. I'm sure Alan can find ye space in the bunk house." He gave a mocking bow. "Welcome to our humble settlement, my lord." He and his men stepped back, hands resting lightly on their belts.

Oskar sheathed his sword and took Lily by the arm. "Let's go."

She allowed him to lead her away but couldn't help looking over her shoulder. Colin and his men stood watching them go.

Oskar led her into the village and she soon realized that ‘village' was a very loose term for the place. It had a transitory look to it, as though it was only sporadically occupied, with patched roofs, make-shift hearths outside, and many living in tents as well as houses. The people they passed didn't look at them, and kept their heads down. The few that did, Oskar glared at until they quickly looked away.

It was clear Oskar knew where he was going. He led her unerringly through the muddy streets between the houses until they came out into a large space that she guessed was what passed for the village square. There was a well in the middle and a large, long building on the far side. It was towards this building that Oskar strode.

It looked like a barn. It had only one story and a thatched roof, although there were several chimneys belching smoke into the sky. It had windows along one side although they were all tightly shuttered against the coming night.

Oskar strode up to the door and pushed it open without preamble. Lily found herself stepping into something like an inn although it was small, dingy and dark. Planks set across barrels acted as tables and crude wooden benches were the only seats. The place was empty except for a skinny man lying across one of the benches, snoring.

He started awake as they strode in and leapt to his feet. He had long greasy hair and was going bald on top which gave the impression his hair was slowly sliding down either side of his head. His eyes widened when he saw Oskar.

"Lord Galbraith!" he squeaked. "What an honor! If I'd known ye were coming, I could have prepared our best room!"

"Ye can quit with the arse-licking, Alan," Oskar snapped. "Ye know it doesnae work on me."

Alan's large eyes flicked from Oskar to Lily and back again. Lily could almost see his mind whirring, trying to work out who she was and what was going on here.

"Would ye like something to eat?" Alan asked.

"We would," Oskar replied. "And none of yer leftovers from last night. Something fresh today."

"Of course, of course," Alan replied, bobbing his head. "We have venison brought in just this morning."

"That will do. And a room. Yer best. Send someone to clean it and make sure to change the bedding. I know what ye are like, remember?"

"At once!" Alan said with a sickly grin. He ushered them over to one of the benches and then disappeared through a door at the back.

Oskar indicated for Lily to take a seat on one of the benches and she lowered herself gingerly onto it. It creaked alarmingly as Oskar sat but held their weight. Lily looked around carefully.

"If I didn't know any better," she observed. "I'd say that Alan is afraid of you."

Oskar grunted. "Then he's not as stupid as he seems."

Lily carefully put her bag between her feet and tried to relax. They were the only people in here but that didn't make her feel any less conspicuous. She'd seen how Colin and his men had looked at her. It had been more than curiosity that had their gazes roving up and down her.

"You've been here before I take it?" Lily asked Oskar. "These people obviously know you."

"Some of them," Oskar agreed. "The population here changes all the time depending on who needs to lie low for a while but there are some like Alan and Colin and his boys who stay here permanently."

"Why would they want to do that?" Lily asked. "It doesn't seem a very inviting place to me."

Oskar snorted. "They dinna have much choice, lass. Every one of them has a price on their heads and will face the hangman if they're ever caught. A place like this, where no lord sends out his guards on patrol, is the safest place for them."

Lily swallowed. Wonderful. This was getting better by the minute. "Then why did you bring us here?" she asked, unable to keep the unease from her voice. "We'd be better off camping in some deserted barn!"

His eyes found hers. "Nay, we wouldnae, lass. Did ye not see the sky this afternoon? I suspect there will be snow tonight. This place might be as rough as a badger's arse but at least it will stop us from freezing to death."

Lily had no answer to that. Snow? She hadn't noticed the weather change at all but then she was no expert in that sort of thing. If she wanted to know the weather forecast she usually checked the app on her phone. She glanced to the window but could see nothing through the crack around the shutters. She shivered. This place might be grim but Oskar was right: having a roof over their heads would be infinitely preferable to spending the night out in a blizzard—if only just.

The innkeeper, Alan, returned and gave Oskar a weak smile, dry-washing his hands nervously. "Yer room is ready, if it please ye," he said.

Oskar heaved himself to his feet. With his broad frame, muscular arms and the way he was hung about with weaponry, Lily couldn't blame Alan for being afraid of him. After all, she ought to be afraid of him. She wasn't quite sure why she wasn't.

"Good. Show us."

Oskar indicated for Lily to precede him so she grabbed her bag, then followed the innkeeper through a curtain and into a long corridor with a flagstone floor and doors all along one side. He led them to the one at the end and pushed it open. Lily stepped into a small, low-ceilinged room, which would have been called ‘rustic' at home.

It had wide rafters holding up the ceiling, black with smoke and age, a stone floor that had obviously been hurriedly swept, and a narrow wooden bed with a straw-stuffed mattress, and a table and chairs. What it also had was a fireplace against one wall with a fire blazing in it, and that alone was enough to make this grubby little room seem like a palace.

The warmth swept over Lily like a blanket, chasing away the chill that seemed to have settled in her bones. She sank gratefully down onto a chair and held her hands out towards the fire. The flames cracked and popped merrily, casting cheerful light across the rough walls.

"It will do," Oskar said, looking around critically. He tossed Alan a coin. "We'll eat in here."

"As ye say, my lord," the man replied. He tucked the coin away and scurried out. Oskar unbuckled his sword belt and propped his sword in the corner. Then he crossed to the door, stuck his head out, and looked in both directions before closing it again.

"Expecting someone?" Lily asked, arching her eyebrow.

"Aye. And that someone is called Trouble," Oskar replied.

He prowled around, inspecting the room, checking the shutter across the window was firmly locked, and only when he was satisfied, did he sink onto the edge of the bed with a sigh.

"I think my bones have frozen," he muttered. "I must be getting soft. Time was when a winter trek wouldnae have bothered me. Now I long for a warm fire as much as any man." He fell silent, looking towards the shuttered window, his expression turning pensive. Lily guessed he was thinking about Magnus and Emeric.

"Do you think they've caught Alfred yet?" she asked.

Oskar turned to look at her. Firelight danced in his eyes and off his copper hair. "I dinna know, but I doubt it. I think Alfred Brewer is more cunning than we took him for. We always thought he was a small cog in a big wheel and that his wife, Alice, was the dangerous one. Now I'm beginning to wonder if we havenae been played for fools all along." His expression turned angry. "But we'll get him. One way or the other, we'll get them both."

"That sounds like a personal grudge to me."

She regretted the words the moment they left her lips. Anger flashed in Oskar's eyes and his nostrils flared.

"Dinna speak of what ye dinna understand!" he snapped. "Ye dinna know me!"

His temper flashed like lightning, appearing out of nowhere. But Lily stood her ground.

"No, I don't," she snapped back. "And yet here I am, having to trust you. You clearly know the people here and some of them are clearly afraid of you. Why is that, Oskar? Why would reivers—people who you describe as thieves and murderers— be afraid of you?"

She met his gaze, challenging him. It was something that had been bothering her since the first moment they'd arrived in this hovel. Why would a so-called soldier of this Order of the Osprey be acquainted with a place like this? And why would the people here be scared of him? Who was this man she found herself saddled with?

He glared at her and she could see his jaw working as he ground his teeth. But she didn't back down. If there was one thing she'd learned in her life, it was how to deal with difficult people. Her patients often didn't want to comply with her instructions. They were often in pain, often belligerent, often hostile to her regimens. She'd learned to let that all wash over her in order to get to the heart of what was causing it, and finding a way to get to the core of the person within.

She was gratified when he was the first to look away. "That's a long story," he muttered.

She looked around at the bare room and shrugged. "And you've plenty of time to tell it. Unless you have another pressing engagement?"

He scowled at her sarcasm and opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a knock on the door. Oskar jumped to his feet, pulled a dagger from his boot, and strode to the door, keeping the dagger concealed behind his back. He opened the door carefully, then relaxed and pulled the door wide, allowing Alan to come bustling in carrying a tray. A mouth-watering smell wafted from it.

"Supper is served, my lord, my lady," he said, carrying the tray over to the table. It contained two large plates of meat, vegetables and gravy, along with a platter piled high with little round flat breads and too large ceramic tankards of beer.

"Thank you," Lily said, giving the man a smile. "That smells delicious."

The innkeeper grinned, showing several missing teeth. "My wife's own recipe. She's the best cook in these parts, if I do say so myself." He glanced at Oskar and his smile faltered. "Well, I'll leave ye to yer meal. Shout if ye need anything."

With that, he hurried to the door, which Oskar closed firmly behind him. He tucked his dagger back into his boot and came over to the table, taking a seat opposite Lily. He speared a piece of meat with his knife and chewed it before nodding approvingly.

"Not bad."

Unable to restrain her growling stomach any longer, Lily tucked into the meal. Much to her surprise, she found it well-cooked and tasty. The strong, gamey taste of the venison was a little overpowering at first but she soon got used to it. The mashed swede and cabbage mix was delicious and the gravy topped it all off nicely.

For a few minutes there was silence in the room as they both ate and with the warmth from the fire and the cozy light from the flickering flames Lily could almost convince herself that this was some cozy log cabin up in the mountains and she was enjoying a freshly cooked meal with a friend. Almost.

She mopped up the last of the gravy with a piece of flat bread and sat back with her ale cup in one hand. "Ah, that was good," she said, stretching her feet out towards the fire. "I can almost forgive you for bringing us here with food like that."

Oskar wrapped his hands around his own cup. "Aye, Mildred is a fine cook. It's said she used to serve in the great houses until she was forced to flee with her husband when he found himself on the wrong side of the law."

"So now she lives out here in the middle of nowhere? The things we do for love, eh?"

"Aye," he agreed. "It makes fools of us all."

They sat in silence for a moment, the crackle of the fire filling the space between them. Lily could hear the distant laughter and chatter of the villagers who'd arrived in the common room, but inside this room, it felt like a world of its own.

Lily cleared her throat. "You still haven't answered my question."

"What question was that?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Don't play coy with me. You know what question: how do you know these people?"

He didn't answer. A faint commotion sounded through the thin walls. Shouting and arguing emanated from the bar, followed by the unmistakable sounds of breaking furniture and a scuffle. Lily instinctively tensed, her eyes darting towards the source of the disturbance.

Oskar, on the other hand, remained unperturbed. He glanced in the direction of the noise. "Just a normal evening," he said casually, a hint of amusement in his voice. "This place can get rowdy at times."

"Rowdy? It sounds like a war zone out there!"

Oskar shrugged. "Fights are common in these parts. The villagers have a passion for revelry and strong spirits that often leads to brawls. But dinna worry, it will soon die down."

Lily hoped he was right. "Your friends have an odd way of entertaining themselves."

"They're not my friends, lass."

"Oh? Then what are they?"

He pressed his lips together. "Ye dinna give up, do ye?"

She smiled sweetly at him. "Oh, so you've noticed?"

He sighed, pushing his platter away and leaning back in his seat. "Fine. Have it yer way. I do know these people and they know me. In my former life I had dealings with them."

"Your former life?"

"I wasnae always a member of the Order of the Osprey."

Lily studied Oskar's face as he spoke those words, and in that moment, she saw a flicker of vulnerability that she hadn't expected. The light from the fire danced in his eyes, casting shadows that accentuated the weariness etched upon his features. It was as if a mask had slipped, just for an instant.

Everyone had a past. Everyone carried the burdens of choices made. Lily knew that as well as anyone. She understood all too well how our histories could haunt us, shaping our choices and molding our futures.

"I know what it's like to carry the weight of a past," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "The secrets we keep and the experiences we endure can shape us in ways we often don't realize."

She hadn't meant to say that, but the words slipped out, and as soon as they did, Lily regretted them. The atmosphere in the room seemed to shift, becoming heavy with unspoken truths and shared vulnerabilities.

Oskar's eyes searched hers, a mixture of curiosity and guardedness. "Ye sound as if ye ken first hand of what ye speak."

How had the conversation shifted around to her? She'd been trying to find out about Oskar's past and now hers was being dredged up instead.

She stood up quickly, almost knocking her chair over. "I'd better throw another log on the fire. It's starting to burn down."

She hurried over to the fireplace and knelt to add another log. As the flames danced back to life, casting flickering shadows around the room, Lily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She needed to get a grip on this conversation. She had nearly slipped and revealed things she wasn't willing to reveal.

There was a knock on the door.

"Aye?" Oskar called irritably.

The door opened and Alan stuck his head in. "Have ye finished yer meals?"

"Aye. Take away the dishes."

Lily straightened and shot Oskar an annoyed glance. "Thank you very much," she said to the innkeeper. "The food was lovely. Please pass on my compliments to your wife."

Alan nodded with a smile. "I'll be sure to let her know, miss. Is there anything else I can assist ye with?"

"What's been going on in the bar? We heard a commotion."

The innkeeper's smile faded, and he glanced nervously at Oskar before answering. "Just a dispute between some patrons, miss. It happens from time to time. But dinna worry, we've managed to settle it down now."

Lily wasn't entirely reassured by this. Alan gathered up the dirty platters and cups and balanced them expertly on his arms as he made his way to the door. "I'll bid ye goodnight," he said. "Sleep well, miss, sir. Ye are the only guests so ye'll have plenty of privacy. And ye dinna need to worry about disturbing anyone." Was she imagining it or was there a mischievous glint in his eye as he turned and left the room?

Lily frowned after him, putting her hands on her hips. "What did he mean by that? Why would we disturb anyone?"

Then all of a sudden the meaning of the innkeeper's words dawned on her. Lily felt her face flush with embarrassment. Oh God. How must this look? She and Oskar, alone together in a room. What other conclusion could the innkeeper reach other than they were lovers? She hastily turned her attention back to the fire, desperately trying to ignore the awkwardness that hung in the air.

Oskar cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "I assure ye, Lily, I am not the scoundrel that the innkeeper seems to think I am."

She let out a nervous laugh. "I never thought you were." She looked around. "But...but...where are you going to sleep?"

He shrugged. "Elsewhere. Ye can rest soundly tonight. No harm will come to ye."

He watched her intently and again Lily felt that odd little tremor in her stomach. "Well, I suppose we should get some sleep."

Oskar heaved his bulk up from his chair. "Aye, I suppose we should. Good night, lass."

"Goodnight, Oskar."

He walked to the door, but hesitated with a hand on the handle and looked back. There was a look in his eyes as if he wanted to say something more. But instead, he simply nodded before opening the door and slipping out.

Lily went to the door, threw the heavy bolt, then crossed to the bed and sat down. With a deep sigh, she leaned forward and rested her head in her hands. Weariness settled deep within her bones. Her back ached so she arched it, kneading her spine with her knuckles.

She undressed and crawled under the blanket on the lumpy bed. It wasn't much more comfortable than the ground had been but as soon as she was horizontal, she felt a bone-deep weariness wash over her and was asleep in moments.

It was dark when she jolted suddenly awake.

She stared into the darkness, wondering what had woken her. There it came again: a loud thud, then another, followed by a low groan.

She bolted upright, heart racing. The fire had dwindled to embers, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Lily sat very still, but the sound did not come again. She strained her ears, trying to listen over the furious pounding of her heart.

Floorboards creaked in the corridor and then she heard a sound that made her blood run cold. The soft hiss of breathing.

Someone was outside her room!

She hurriedly glanced around, searching for something that could serve as a weapon. In the dim light, her gaze fell upon the fireplace poker standing against the wall. She jumped out of bed, wrapped the blanket around her shoulders against the chill air, and grabbed hold of the poker.

Taking a deep breath, she padded across the room and pressed her ear to the door. She heard nothing. Gripping the poker tightly, she slowly slid back the bolt and gently pushed the door open, peeking cautiously into the corridor. The flickering glow of a solitary candle revealed a figure sitting on the floor outside her room. She recognized the broad shoulders and copper hair immediately.

"Oskar?"

He jumped, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of her. "Lily! What are ye doing up?"

"I could ask you the same thing!"

He had his sword drawn and lying across his knees and had been sitting with his legs crossed and his back against the wall, blocking any approach to her door.

"I said ye wouldnae come to any harm," he replied with a shrug.

"Wait, have you been guarding my room?"

He shrugged again.

"What? All night? You've been sat there all night? Haven't you had any sleep at all?"

"Sleep is something I can do without for now. My concern lies with keeping ye safe."

She blinked in surprise. "You didn't have to do that."

"Aye, I did. I've told ye what this place can be like. I've already had to deal with a drunken letch who thought he might pay ye a visit in the night."

So that's what the commotion that had woken her had been. Lily felt her cheeks flush. She hadn't expected such devotion from someone she had only just met. She wasn't used to someone else taking such care over her welfare.

"I appreciate it," she murmured.

He gave her a nod, his gaze lingering on her. "Ye should go back inside and get some rest now. I'll keep watch here for a while longer."

"All right," she said. "Tell you what—I'll go back to sleep if you do something for me."

He eyed her suspiciously. "And what would that be?"

"Come inside and get some sleep yourself."

He raised an eyebrow. "That would hardly be proper."

"Oh? Why not? Are you saying you can't be trusted alone with a woman?"

A flush crept up Oskar's cheeks. "That's not what I meant." He scrubbed a hand through his hair. "I meant...it's just that..."

"I know what you meant," Lily laughed lightly. "I think it's too late to start worrying about propriety, don't you?"

"Fine," Oskar relented, pushing himself off the floor with a grunt. "I'll rest for a while—but only for a while."

Lily nodded, fighting back a yawn. She stepped aside and gestured for him to enter the room then closed and bolted the door behind him. She sat down on the bed, pulling the blanket tighter about her, then watched, bemused, as Oskar dragged a chair in front of the door and sat down on it. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the door, trying to find a position that was somewhat more restful than sitting on a hard floor.

Lily lay down and closed her eyes, pulling the blanket over her. She could hear Oskar's soft breathing from across the room. There was something about it that made her feel warm and safe and at ease. Listening to the sound of his breath, she fell asleep.