They hesitated only long enough to pull on boots and cloaks and then joined Eberwyn and his men outside in the frigid morning air.
Lord Eberwyn nodded to Lily. “It’s good to see ye again, my lady,” he said. “I hope ye are well?”
Lily nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
Eberwyn’s gaze flicked between her and Oskar, and if he’d worked out what was going on between them, he was polite enough not to comment. In any case, any embarrassment she might have felt was swamped by her fear for Magnus and Emeric. What had happened to them?
They set off through the frosty streets, anxiety churning in her gut.
OSKAR STRODE SWIFTLYthrough the waking city. It was bitterly cold and his breath frosted in the air like a cloud. Impatience snaked through him and he had to deliberately slow his pace to keep from outdistancing his companions.
Finally, news on Magnus and Emeric. Images of his sword-brothers flickered through his head. It seemed an age since they’d parted ways on the road to Edinburgh and since then it seemed they’d vanished into thin air.
He glanced at Lord Eberwyn, walking by his side. The man’s eyes were fixed ahead, a determined look on his face. He wanted to demand the man tell him everything he had learned, but part of him didn’t want to know. If anything had happened to his sword-brothers, he wasn’t sure he could live with the guilt. He shouldn’t have left them. He should have been by their side when they confronted Alfred Brewer and his people.
But if he’d done that he never would have escorted Lily to Edinburgh. He would never have fallen in love with her and what had developed between them would never have happened.
He turned to look at her as she hurried along on his other side. She looked just as worried as he was. Would he sacrifice his love for Lily in order to make sure his sword-brothers were safe? If he could have his time over, would he have chosen differently?
By God, he would not. Hecouldnot. He could not give up Lily now, not even for his sword-brothers. What sort of man did that make him? He pressed his lips together and concentrated on the street ahead.
“This way,” Eberwyn said, turning left down a narrow lane.
Oskar followed, Lily a step behind, Eberwyn’s men ranged around them. It was only when they had traversed several more such narrow lanes that Oskar realized they weren’t going uphill towards the guild house. He’d been so preoccupied with his thoughts that he’d been paying little attention to their journey.
He blinked, looking around. He didn’t recognize where they were. Timber and thatch buildings loomed on either side, cutting out the early morning sun. It was bitterly cold in the shade of the buildings and Oskar saw frost glittering on the patches of ground the sun had yet to reach.
“Wait,” he said, slowing his pace. “Where are we going?”
“The guild house,” Eberwyn replied, turning. “Come on. Kai and the others are waiting for us.”
He turned to walk away but Oskar didn’t follow. He put out an arm to Lily, halting her as well. She turned to look at him, an enquiring expression on her face.
Oskar’s eyes darted along the lane. Something didn’t feel right. He looked up at the buildings. There was nobody in sight, none of the usual washing strung on lines, no children playing, no sound of people going about their lives.
Unease prickled down his spine. “Why have we come this way?” he asked Eberwyn. His hand went to the hilt of the sword strapped at his waist.
Eberwyn’s men, he noticed, had spread out around them. Three were in front, three behind, effectively cutting off escape.
“It’s a short-cut to the guild house,” the retired Order agent said. “It means we dinna have to go through the main part of the city and keeps us away from prying eyes.”
That was a reasonable response and Oskar might have believed it but for the sudden warning clanging in his head.
“Nay, it isnae,” he said. “How about we double back to the main thoroughfare and make our way from there?”
Eberwyn’s eyes shifted to Oskar’s hand gripping the hilt of his sword. Then he sighed. “I was hoping ye weren’t going to make his harder than it needed to be.”
Lily, sensing his unease, drew closer, looking around warily. “Oskar?”
He didn’t look at her. His eyes were fixed on Lord Eberwyn.
The lord nodded and his men suddenly drew their swords. Lily yelped and darted closer to Oskar. He drew his own sword in a rush and pushed Lily behind him, dropping into a fighting crouch and turning his head from side to side, trying to keep all of Eberwyn’s men in his line of sight.
“Damn it, Oskar!” Eberwyn snapped. “Why do ye always have to make things difficult? Ye are coming with us whether ye like it or not. I would prefer to do so without bloodshed.”
“What are ye doing, Eberwyn?” Oskar snarled. “Stand down in the name of the Order!”
Eberwyn sighed again, as if this was all too bothersome. “I dinna take orders from them anymore, Oskar. It’s been a long time since I have. I serve another cause now. Something greater.”
