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?”
