“Aye, it’s time we took a break,” Magnus agreed. “The lass could probably do with some food, too.”
Oskar said nothing. They were probably right. Lily had dozed most of the morning and his right side was numb where she’d been slumped against him, but he’d made no effort to wake her. She obviously needed the sleep.
He clicked his tongue at the horses and guided them off the road and into the shelter of the copse that Emeric had indicated. Sure enough, a burn ran down the eastern side of it, gurgling and laughing as it rushed over rocks. He pulled the cart to a halt and then gently shook Lily.
“Wake up, lass.”
Her eyes flickered open. They were a smoky brown color and she had long, curled lashes.
“Have I been asleep?”
“Aye. Most of the morning.”
“I have?” She looked around. “Where are we?”
“At a rest stop.”
He tied off the reins then jumped to the ground. It was hard from the overnight frost and the dead bracken crunched when he stepped into it. Magnus and Emeric had already lifted down Alfred Brewer and carried him deeper into the copse where they were busy tying him to a tree.
Lily stood up and climbed gingerly to the ground. Again, there was that grimace of pain, gone in an instant.
“This way,” he said gruffly, and led her over to where Emeric was busy building a campfire. He spread a blanket on the ground for Lily who sank onto it gratefully, holding her hand out to the flames.
Oskar didn’t sit. Instead, he stalked off, made a circuit of their camp, his hand resting on his sword hilt. All seemed quiet. He found no tracks to indicate that anyone had been up here recently and the only indication of life he found at all was a few pheasants who burst noisily from the brush as he neared. Satisfied, he returned to camp to find that Emeric was dishing out strips of dried meat to everyone. Not the most appetizing of meals, but for a warrior on the road, soldier’s rations were the best they could hope for.
He slumped to the ground, took the food Emeric offered him, and began to chew mechanically. It was like eating boiled leather.
“Wow,” Lily muttered. “Where did you get this stuff? Did you cut it off the horses’ harness?”
Magnus laughed. “Aye, it’s a bit tough I’ll grant ye. Here, soak it in this. It’ll soften it up a bit.” He handed her a beaker of ale.Lily dipped her dried meat in it and then popped it in her mouth and chewed.
“Nope,” she announced. “Still tastes like one of my old shoes.”
Oskar had to agree with her. What he wouldn’t give for a slice of hot roasted beef right now swimming in gravy. Of course, dried meat would once have seemed like a banquet to him.Anyfood would once have seemed like a banquet to him. He was getting soft.
“I think I’ll go have a wash,” Lily announced, nodding towards the burn. “The cold water might help wake me up a bit.”
“Dinna go far, lass,” Oskar warned.
“I won’t,” she replied, climbing to her feet. “Just beyond those trees.”
“Hey!” Alfred Brewer shouted from his spot tied to a nearby tree. “When are ye gonna untie me? I thought ye said I was gonna be allowed to walk around! My leg’s aching something fierce!”
Oskar turned to glare at him. “Shut yer hollering! Ye’ll be untied when we say so!”
“He’s right,” Lily said. “He needs to keep exercising.”
“We’ll see to it,” Magnus said before Oskar could respond.
Lily nodded, then turned around and walked off towards the burn.
“Come on, then,” Magnus said, walking over to Alfred and crouching down to undo his bonds. “Let’s get this over with before the Lady Lily gives us all a talking to.”
He grabbed Alfred’s arm and hoisted him to his feet whilst Emeric handed over the man’s crutches. As Alfred began hobbling around the clearing, Oskar turned away in disgust. He picked up a stick and began pulling it apart, tossing the pieces into the fire one by one. He looked over in the direction Lily had gone, but he couldn’t see her through the screen of trees.
Something didn’t feel right, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was. He looked around, eyes scanning the copse. Nothing seemed out of place, but he felt...something.
Then he realized. The birds had fallen silent. There was no sound other than what they themselves were making.
