She gave him a flat look. “Flattery will get you nowhere.” She appraised him critically, head cocked to one side. “I think I like that color on you. It makes you look dignified.”
Oskar scowled. “Now ye are making fun of me.” He didn’t like his new clothes at all. They made him look too much like a nobleman for his liking and he’d always had an intense dislike of noblemen. But at least they were warm.
Lily widened her eyes in mock surprise. “Making fun of you? I wouldn’t dream of it.” She looked down at her old clothes which she’d folded into a pile. “What should I do with these?”
“Leave them. Ye willnae be wearing them again while ye are here. They make ye too conspicuous. In Edinburgh we will need to blend in.”
She hesitated a moment before nodding. “If you say so.”
“I do say so. Now, are ye ready? We need to get moving.”
“Aren’t you going to have any breakfast?”
“I’m not hungry. Come on.”
Lily picked up her bag and followed him from the room.
In the common room they found Hamish waiting for them, in conversation with Alan. Both men fell silent when Oskar and Lily walked in. Oskar narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like that. What had they been talking about? Were they planning something? He shook himself. Was he being suspicious again?
Hamish broke into a gap-toothed grin. “Ah! There ye are!” He hobbled over to them and eyed Lily up and down in a way that made Oskar want to thump him. “Delighted to meet ye, my dear. I’m sorry we havenae been introduced. I’m Hamish.”
“Hamish? A good solid Scottish name if ever I heard one,” Lily said.
“Aye,” Hamish laughed. “As solid as an old oak tree, just like me. And ye are?”
“My companion,” Oskar growled, before Lily could reply. “And that’s enough for ye to know.”
She scowled at him. “Forgive Oskar,” she said, stepping around him. “He’s not at his best in the mornings. I’m Lily Jones. Delighted to meet you.”
“Jones, eh?” Hamish said. “A good old Welsh name if ever I heard one.”
Lily laughed. “Yes, you’ve got me there. My family comes from near Swansea.”
Oskar threw up his hands. Bloody hell! Was she going to share her life story with the old man next? Didn’t she have the sense of a bairn?
“Did ye get us the supplies I requested?” Oskar snapped before the conversation could go any further.
Hamish’s bright eyes fixed on him. “Of course I did! Here ye are, lad.” He pointed to a rough sack sitting on one of the tables. “That will get ye where ye are going I’m sure. Plenty enough for two as long as yer journey doesnae last more than a few days.” He raised his brows, obviously wondering if Oskar was going to elaborate on where they were going and why. He wasn’t.
“My thanks,” he said, before Lily could reveal any more than she already had. “We’ll be on our way.”
He hoisted the sack onto his shoulder then took Lily’s bag from her and hoisted it onto the other one. She looked a little surprised but after the scar he’d seen this morning he didn’t want her carrying more than necessary. If she did, she would only slow them down and they needed to move as quickly as possible today.
He nodded to Hamish and Alan, then indicated for Lily to precede him to the door. She bid farewell to the two men and then went out into the dooryard.
It was blindingly bright outside. The snow sparkled all around them and the sky was white from end to end, threatening more snow to come. Oskar stifled a growl. Wonderful. That was all they needed. Could anything else go wrong on this mission?
“This way,” he said gruffly and stomped off in the direction of the road.
Lily kept pace with him and he could see her looking around at the white landscape, her eyes shining. She smiled as one small child came zooming past them on his backside, being pulled by a yipping yellow dog.
Oskar didn’t share her delight. He kept watch as they walked, marking the eyes that followed them, and the discreet looks aimed in their direction. Looking back, he saw Hamish and theinnkeeper standing in the doorway watching them leave. He loosened his sword in its scabbard.
They made it through the village to the road and turned south again, taking the trail that led along the top of the escarpment. It was windier up here and colder too, but the wind had whipped away most of the snow, making the going easier, although they both sank into their ankles with every step. Not for the first time, Oskar was glad of his stout boots. He glanced at the sky, marking the clouds that were gathering behind them. Up ahead, though, the clouds were beginning to break, giving glances of bright blue behind. If fate was smiling on them, they might just make it to Edinburgh today after all.
If fate is smiling on me, he thought sourly.Huh. That would be a first.
Pulling his cloak tighter about himself, he trudged on.
