Chapter 9

Lily was determined to keep up. If not for the boots that Hamish had provided for her, her feet would have been soaked through and freezing by now. As it was, the hem of her dress and cloak were already wet with snow and the wind sent it eddying so that it stung her face and gathered in her hair.

But she wasn't about to let the weather dampen her mood. Since waking up this morning, she'd felt better than she had since she'd ended up in this crazy time. She wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was the beautiful sight of the snow-covered landscape, perhaps it was the thought that they might make it to Edinburgh today and bring her one step closer to getting home.

Or perhaps it was the red-haired man striding in front of her.

She halted and Oskar carried on walking a few paces before realizing she'd stopped. He turned and looked back. "What is it?"

"Do we have to go so fast?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips. "This is like doing cross-country at school!"

"I thought ye wanted to get to Edinburgh."

"I do, but if we keep up this pace, you'll end up carrying me!"

His eyebrows rose and a flicker of something passed across his face. Amusement? "Well, if ye insist, lass. I'm already a little burdened but I'll do my best."

"Not funny," she said, jabbing a finger at him. "The snow is making this hard going that's all."

That wasn't the whole truth. Her back was already aching and she had a stabbing pain going down the back of one leg. She'd neglected to do her morning exercises, an oversight she would remedy as soon as they stopped for a rest.

Oskar sighed and put down their bags. Crossing to a nearby tree, he reached up and grabbed one of the branches and shook the snow off it. Appraising it critically, he drew his sword and chopped it down then stripped the side branches and shortened it a little before bringing the pole over to Lily and holding it out.

"Here. That should help."

Lily took the staff, a little surprised. "Oh. Thanks."

"Anything to stop yer complaining."

He walked off. Taking hold of her walking staff and frowning at Oskar's retreating back, she set out after him. The staff did make walking much easier and she considered asking him to cut her another so she could use two of them like a cross-country skier but didn't want to make them stop again.

So instead, she studied the landscape as they walked. It was breathtakingly beautiful. From the road along the escarpment the land fell away in a series of ridges and folds, all carpeted in a blanket of white. Here and there, stands of tall fir trees poked up from the snow, their boughs heavily laden. In the distance, something sparkled and Lily made out the surface of a frozen loch, looking like a sheet of polished glass.

She had spent the winters of her youth in landscapes like this—her parents had been skiing instructors and taken her to most of the ski resorts of Europe at one time or another. A pang of longing swept through her so strongly that she gasped. Those days seemed so distant it was almost like they'd happened to another person. Once, landscapes like this had brought her a sense of freedom, a sense that anything was possible, that nothing was beyond her grasp if she could only see what lay beyond the next horizon.

But the next horizon hadn't brought what she thought it would.

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

"Lily?"

She looked up. She hadn't realized she'd stopped walking or that she was staring, unseeing, at the ground by her feet. Oskar was looking back at her with a concerned look on his face.

"Sorry," she said, waving a hand. "I was daydreaming."

She smiled weakly at Oskar, attempting to shove the memories back into the recesses of her mind where they belonged.

They set off again and as they reached the crest of a hill, something caught Lily's eye—a vibrant burst of color against the pristine white canvas of the hillside. Drawing closer, she realized it was a gaggle of children from the village they'd left, busy sledding down the steep slope.

"Look at them," she whispered, her voice filled with a hint of longing. "They seem so carefree."

"Bloody idiotic if ye ask me," Oskar replied. "They could break a leg."

"Oh, come on! Didn't you do anything like that when you were a kid?"

"No. I didnae." His voice was flat, distant, and Lily got the impression that it wasn't something he wished to discuss.

"Hey, mister!"

Lily turned to see a boy and girl coming up the slope towards them. Their cheeks were red from the cold and both were wrapped in flimsy sack-like clothing. This didn't seem to bother them at all though and their eyes sparkled with mischief.

Oskar frowned. "Ah, it's the snowball thrower."

"I'm sorry?"

"We met in the village earlier." He lifted his chin towards the boy. "Ye need to improve yer aim, lad."

The boy, a lad of around ten with a thick shock of blond hair, looked a little sheepish. "Aye. Sorry, mister." Then he brightened. "Do ye want a go?" He indicated the sled he was dragging behind him. It was little more than a large piece of board with a rope handle on the front.

"I most certainly dinna want a go—" Oskar began.

"Yes, we'd love to," Lily cut him off. She was suddenly filled with a wild kind of recklessness. The last few days had been fraught with so much fear and tension that she suddenly needed to let go, if only for a short time.

The boy's face lit up, and he handed Lily the rope handle. "Hold on tight, miss!"

Lily sat on the sled and gripped the handle firmly as the boy positioned himself behind her. With a gleeful shout, he pushed her off, and she was off down the hill in an exhilarating rush. The wind hissed past her ears, drowning out all other sounds as she flew through the winter air.

A delighted laugh escaped her lips as she felt the sled gliding effortlessly over the snow and for those fleeting moments, she was transported back to her childhood, when worries and responsibilities were distant fantasies.

As the sled reached the bottom of the hill, she skidded to a stop. The other children were laughing and pointing, and Lily felt an exhilarating rush pulsing through her veins.

"That was a good one, miss!" a girl called, grinning widely.

"Not bad, was it?" Lily agreed. "I'd forgotten how much fun this is!"

She climbed to her feet to see Oskar standing at the top of the hill, glowering down at her.

"Oops," she said to the group of children. "I think I'm in trouble."

She grabbed the rope handle of the sled and began dragging it back up the slope, the children rushing ahead on either side. By the time she reached the top, they had gathered around Oskar, firing questions at him.

"Is that a real sword?"

"Can I have a look?"

"My da says I can start training with a sword next year."

"Ye are a liar, Brian, yer da said no such thing!"

"He did so!"

"Are ye a soldier, mister?"

"How many people have ye killed?"

Oskar was weathering this with ill grace. "Happy now?" he said when she reached him. "Can we go?"

"No, actually," she replied. "I don't think I'm quite done. What do you think, children? Do you think Mr Soldier here and I could beat you in a race?"

The children erupted into cheers and laughter at the prospect of racing against Lily and Oskar.

"We'll race down that hill and whoever wins gets bragging rights!" Lily said.

The children squealed with excitement, eagerly accepting the challenge. Oskar's scowl deepened, clearly unimpressed.

"This is ridiculous."

"It's just a bit of fun! What's the matter? Scared you'll lose?"

"Fine," he grumbled reluctantly, eyeing the slope. "But dinna come crying when I leave all of ye eating my snow dust."

The children wasted no time in lining up at the top of the hill to prepare for the race. One of the girls leant Oskar her sled and the boy who had offered Lily the sled stepped forward, acting as the self-appointed referee. Lily and Oskar sat on their sleds.

"Ready? Go!"

With an almighty heave, Lily pushed off. As she flew down the slope, a surge of exhilaration flooded through her. Around her, the children laughed and whooped and glancing back, she saw Oskar closing in on her, a fierce competitiveness burning in his eyes.

Oh, so he thought this was ridiculous did he?

The finish line was in sight, marked by a large tree at the bottom of the slope. She glanced to her right and saw that Oskar was level with her. She met his gaze and saw something dancing in his eyes that she'd never seen before. Joy. It made his eyes sparkle. This, along with the boyish grin that curled his lips, and his fiery hair whipping out behind him, made him so handsome that for an instant, Lily's breath caught.

Then one of the girls came racing past and crossed the finish line ahead of them both. Lily skidded to a stop in a flurry of snow.

The children erupted into cheers and applause, surrounding the victorious girl and patting her on the back.

Oskar climbed to his feet and held out his hand for Lily. She took it, and he pulled her up. She found herself looking up into his face. He was breathing heavily, his broad chest rising and falling. Lily couldn't help but notice the warmth radiating from Oskar's hand as it held hers. It was a stark contrast to the frigid air around them, sending a gentle tingle up her arm.

He released her hand slowly, his eyes lingering on hers for a second before he turned away and strode over to the excited children.

"Well, it seems we were beaten fair and square," he said, tousling the winner's hair. "Well done, lass." Oskar reached into his pocket and took out a small coin which he tossed to the girl.

She snatched it out of the air, grinning delightedly. "Thank ye, mister!" The other children crowded around Oskar and the girl, eager to see her prize.

Lily watched, a soft smile playing on her lips. Despite his gruff demeanor, there was something undeniably charming about Oskar when he let his guard down.

As the children began to disperse, he came over to her. "All right," he said. "I'll give ye that one. That was more fun than I expected."

Lily smiled, pleased with herself. "I knew you'd enjoy it," she said, playfully nudging Oskar's arm. "You aren't all seriousness and snark."

"Maybe just this once," he admitted. "But dinna get used to it."

They said goodbye to the children and trudged back up the hill, their footprints criss-crossing the tracks made by the sleds.

As they reached the top, Lily paused. "Thank you," she said softly. "For this. I haven't had this much fun in ages."

Oskar shrugged. "Dinna mention it. It was...nice to let loose for a while."

As Oskar stooped to gather their packs, Lily took a firm hold of her staff. She turned to wave down at the children and then set off, feeling a little lighter than she had before.

OSKAR SQUINTED AT THEsun, trying to gauge the time. It was difficult to even find the sun behind the thick overcast that blanketed the sky from end to end, but he guessed it was nearing midmorning.

Damn. They weren't making very good time and their little distraction hadn't helped. Sledding for Heaven's sake! What had gotten into him? What had he been doing throwing himself down a snowy hill with a bunch of children? He shook his head. He must be losing his mind. Although, he grudgingly had to admit that it had been fun.

Fun?he thought. You aren't supposed to be having fun! Do you think Emeric and Magnus are having fun chasing down Alfred Brewer?

He glanced at Lily. She was striding purposefully, one hand clasped on the staff, her thick cloak swishing out behind her. Strangely, she looked like she belonged here in this wild landscape, which was not something he'd expected to think about a lass from the twenty-first century.

"Ye seem at home here, lass," he observed.

She looked at him. "What do you mean?"

He gestured at the snow-covered landscape around them. "I'm not sure. It's just the cold and the snow doesnae seem to bother ye as it would most pampered ladies."

"Pampered lady?" she said incredulously. "Is that what you think I am?"

"Aren't ye?"

She opened her mouth for an angry retort and then narrowed her eyes. "You're just trying to wind me up."

He gave a lop-sided smile. "All right. I apologize. What I meant was, ye seem unfazed by the weather and ye have clearly been sledding before. I dinna know many ladies who could handle a sled the way ye did. I even thought ye were going to win for a second"

She laughed lightly, a sound that sent a thrill right through him. "Pipped at the post, eh?" She looked at him sidelong. "Yes, I've been sledding before. Many times. And snowboarding. And tobogganing. And lots of other things. I even tried bobsleigh once although that was a total disaster." She gestured around them. "My parents were both ski instructors and I used to be a skier too."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Lass I didnae understand most of what ye just said. What on earth is bobsleigh? Or a skier?"

She laughed again. "Sorry. They are winter sports. Skiing is where you strap skis to your feet—two long flat planks—and use them to travel across the snow very quickly."

"Why would ye want to do that?" he said dubiously.

"Because it's fun! You use poles to guide yourself and have to navigate a course downhill between lots of little flags. Whoever can do it the fastest is the winner."

"So it's a competition?"

"That's right."

"And ye take part in these competitions?"

The smile slid from her face and she looked away. "I used to. Not anymore."

"Why not?"

Lily hesitated before answering. "It's a long story," she finally replied. "But let's just say that life had other plans for me."

Oskar didn't press further, sensing that it was a painful topic. Instead, he walked in silence beside her, the crunch of their boots against the snow filling the void.

"So that's me," she said. "How about you? What do you do to relax?"

Oskar blinked, caught off guard by the inquiry. Relax? That wasn't something he often indulged in, not with his responsibilities constantly weighing on his shoulders. He hesitated, searching for an answer that wouldn't expose his vulnerability.

"Well," he began, trying to sound nonchalant. "I suppose I find solace in practicing my swordsmanship. A good sparring session helps clear the head."

Lily curled an eyebrow. "That's your idea of relaxation? Fighting?"

Oskar shrugged. "There's something satisfying about the clash of blades and the physical exertion."

"Fair enough." She glanced at the sword hanging at his waist and then back up to his face. "Do you often have to use that? When you're working for this Order of yours, I mean?"

Oskar's mood grew somber, his gaze drifting towards the horizon. "More often than I'd like," he admitted. "The kind of enemies we face dinna often listen to polite speech. Steel is the only language they understand. Ye saw that first hand when Alfred's rescuers attacked ye."

She shuddered, passing a hand over her face. "Yes, I did. It must be difficult to live like that, knowing the dangers that await you."

Oskar started, surprised by her insight. "It is," he replied, his voice tinged with weariness. "But it's a burden I willingly bear. The Order gives me the chance to protect Alba and all her people."

"But who protects you?"

She suddenly stumbled and gasped, gripping the staff with both hands to keep her feet. Oskar was at her side in an instant.

"What is it, lass? Are ye all right?"

She closed her eyes, breathing slowly. She gave a weak smile. "I must have trodden on a loose stone under the snow and jolted my knee. It's fine. I'm fine."

She set off again without waiting for him and Oskar hurried to catch up.

"Perhaps we should take a break. Rest a moment."

Her brows rose. "Weren't you the one saying we need to make up time?"

"Aye, but not at any cost." He gave a wry smile. "Magnus would kill me if I bring ye to Edinburgh injured."

"I'm fine," she insisted. "Come on."

They carried on walking, but Lily's struggle became increasingly evident. Oskar watched her closely, seeing how she winced with every movement, her face contorting in pain.

"All right," he said after another half mile or so. "That's enough. Lass, ye canna keep going like this."

"I think that's up to me, don't you? It's just a muscle spasm. It will wear off."

He moved to stand in front of her. "It isnae just a muscle spasm, is it?" he said quietly. "I saw the scar down yer back."

She stared at him, backing away a few steps. "How?"

"At the inn."

Lily looked away, her eyes filled with a mixture of vulnerability and defiance. "It's an old injury," she said, waving a hand. "It barely bothers me anymore."

"It doesnae look that way to me. It looks like ye can barely walk."

Sudden tears welled up in her eyes and she dashed them away angrily. "I hate this!" she cried suddenly. "I hate it!"

"Hate what, lass?"

"This!" she gestured to herself. "Being so weak! I've got no right!"

Oskar had no idea what she was talking about but her voice echoed with something like self-loathing.

"Lass," he said softly. "There's no shame in being hurt."

"Yes there is!" she cried, her hands balling into fists. She wiped a hand across her face. "I'm fine. Honestly."

He shook his head. She was as stubborn as he was. "Ye dinna accept help easily, do ye, lass?"

How many times had his sword-brothers accused him of the same failing? Perhaps now he understood a little of their frustration when he insisted on doing everything himself.

"I suppose we have that in common, then."

Oskar snorted. "Aye, it seems that way." He cocked his head. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Are ye going to let me help ye or not?"

She let out a long sigh. "Help me how? We're still a long way from our destination and we don't have any other means of transport. I'm just gonna have to suck it up and walk."

"Suck it up?"

"It means put up with it."

Oskar narrowed his eyes. "There is one other form of transport available." She wouldn't like it. If he asked her, she would refuse. Best not to ask her then.

"What way?" she asked dubiously.

"Here. Hold these." He unslung the bags and handed them to her.

She took them cautiously. "What are you—"

He bent, grabbed her around the waist, and lifted her into his arms. She yelped in surprise.

"Put me down, you idiot!"

"Ye said ye needed transport, did ye not?"

"I...I meant...I didn't mean..."

He grinned at her embarrassment. "Ye didnae specify which kind of transport. Now hold on tight, we're going to move a lot quicker this way." He adjusted his grip on her and began to walk briskly, carrying her in his arms. She didn't weigh very much and having her in his arms felt somehow...right.

"Put me down this instant!"

"Not a chance. Ye are just going to have to... what's the phrase? Suck it up."

Lily's face turned beet red as Oskar carried her through the snow. She squirmed in his arms, trying to free herself, but Oskar held her securely.

"Oskar, this is absurd! You can't just carry me like this!"

"Why not? We'll never get to Edinburgh with ye hobbling along like an old woman, will we?"

Lily huffed. "You really are the most annoying man, you know that?"

Oskar nodded. "Aye, so I've been told."

As they made their way through the snow-covered landscape, Lily's initial protests gradually faded into silence. She seemed to relax against him, her tense muscles easing as she surrendered to his embrace and she laid her head against his shoulder.

It felt good. It felt ridiculously good, even though his shoulders and back soon began to ache with the strain of carrying her.

Lost in his thoughts, he almost missed it when Lily spoke again, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you," she murmured.

He glanced down at her. "For what?"

"For everything," she replied. "For offering to help when I was too stubborn to ask for it. You're not what I expected."

"I'll choose to take that as a compliment, lass."

They walked for a few miles until Oskar suddenly spotted a croft in the distance. Smoke curled lazily from the stone chimney, dissipating into the crisp winter air. An old plow horse grazed in a field nearby, its breath forming clouds in the cold air. Oskar felt his heartbeat quicken. Finally, a bit of luck.

As they reached the croft, Oskar carefully set Lily down on her feet, and gave her a reassuring nod before approaching the sturdy wooden door of the house and knocking. Moments later, the door creaked open to reveal an elderly woman, her eyes crinkling in surprise at the sight of them.

"Good day to ye," Oskar greeted her with a respectful nod.

The elderly woman returned his greeting with a curious look, her gaze flitting from Oskar to Lily and back again. "Good day, travelers. What brings ye to my humble abode on such a chilly day?"

Oskar coughed, casting a quick glance at Lily. "We are in need of a horse to continue our journey. Would ye be willing to sell us yer fine steed there?" He gestured towards the plow horse in the field.

"Fine steed?" the woman snorted. "He's a fat, lazy old thing is what he is. But he's the only beast I've got."

"Aye, but one ye willnae need until planting season comes around," Oskar countered. "For the rest of the winter ye'll have to keep feeding him and that will cost ye. I can offer ye twice his price and take him off yer hands so not only will ye not have to feed him, but ye can get yerself a new horse come the spring."

"Twice his price?" the woman exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Ye must be desperate indeed to offer such a thing."

"Aye," Oskar agreed. "I am. What do ye say?"

The elderly woman's gaze lingered on Oskar for a moment, considering his offer. She then turned to look at Lily, who stood by Oskar's side with a determined expression on her face. After a moment of contemplation, the woman nodded slowly, obviously pleased with the unexpected windfall that would ensure her comfort through the remainder of the harsh winter.

With a final exchange of coins Oskar and Lily went out into the field and spent the next half hour trying to catch their new steed. A bucketful of oats finally coaxed him to within catching distance and Oskar saddled and bridled the reluctant beast.

Finally, they mounted their newly acquired steed, Lily sitting in front of Oskar, the reins held firmly in his hands. The plow horse snorted softly, not impressed by having to carry passengers, but he was easily strong enough to carry them both.

They left the croft behind and Oskar was glad to be riding, even if their steed wasn't one he would have chosen. The fat plow horse plodded along the snowy path, his breath forming misty puffs in the chilly air, the only sounds the creak of leather reins and the crunch of snow under the horse's hooves.

They made better time now and as they journeyed, the landscape began to change around them. The snow-covered fields gave way to patches of bare earth peeking through the white blanket, and crofts and farmsteads became more common.

Finally, around three hours later, they topped a rise and Oskar pulled the horse to a halt. He looked out at a rocky crag rising from the earth almost directly opposite the hill on which they stood. An imposing castle dominated the top of the crag and narrow streets clung to its sides, winding down the spur of rock upon which the castle sat.

"We made it," Lily breathed. "We actually made it."

"We did," Oskar agreed. "Welcome to Edinburgh, lass."