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 predatoryabout 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.”
