"I'll show you some other time," she replied with a grin.
The other patrons slowly returned to their tables, leaving Rose alone with Lennox. He stood and nodded toward the fire. "Sit with me."
Taking the chair opposite him by the hearth, she looked down at the dog which opened one lazy eye before closing it again. There were worse places she could be, she mused.
"What's the plan for Tynemouth?" David asked, dragging a chair over to join them.
"We should be there by tomorrow evening," Lennox replied. "We go as pilgrims to pay our respects to Oswin. No fighting unless we have to."
Rose glanced at Lennox. "I thought you were all about the killing."
"Maybe you’ve taught me there may be alternatives. I will be back soon." He got up and headed over to the bar.
Aodh took Lennox's seat by the fire. "He likes you," he said, nodding to Rose. "You ken that, right?"
"Really? What makes you say that?"
"You made him smile. He never smiles."
Lennox returned with the food, piled high on trenchers of bread.
Rose listened as the men ate while reminiscing about last time they were at the inn. It had been the night after a fight with the English. Aodh began talking animatedly about the benefits of a mace over a sword in close quarters combat.
Rose dug into the food, surprised by how ravenous she was. Her plate of roast beef was followed by a massive mound of vegetables that tasted sweeter and richer than any she had ever known.
Rose stopped only when she could eat no more. The Highlanders continued to feast around her, time passing until she could barely keep her eyes open.
"Our guest tires," Lennox said, nodding toward her as she realized she'd been caught dozing. "Rodrick, is her room ready?"
"What about the rest of you?" Rose asked, stifling a yawn. "Where will you sleep?"
"Highlanders prefer the stars above them to a roof of thatch when near enemy territory," Lennox replied, draining his tankard. "Good night, my lady."
The Highlanders marched outside, leaving Lennox to lead Rose up the creaking stairs to a low corridor lit by a single candle on the far wall.
"In here," he said, getting his shoulder to the top of the door and forcing it open, the hinges protesting with a rusty squeal.
"There is only one bed," Rose said, looking past him into the room. "You should take it."
"I will be outside if you need anything."
He marched off without another word, pulling the door closed as he went. She felt disappointed and began trying to work out why. Was she getting attached to him?
There was no point thinking about it. She was going home soon. When they reached the stone circle, she would hopefully return to her own time and put all this behind her.
Back to showers and electricity and all the books she could want. So why wasn't she happy about it?
She lay back and tried to sleep but within minutes she felt an intense itch on her arm. The candle was spluttering, but there was enough light to see her arm was crawling with lice, more on the bed. At once, she was on her feet, squirming on the spot as she scratched frantically.
She ran out of the room and down the stairs, bursting out into the open as Lennox was settling beside his men. "What are you doing down here?" he asked.
She ignored him, running straight past to the water trough, plunging her arms into it and immediately recoiling. The dirty water stank.
"Lice," she said, scratching the green film from her arms as she shuddered. "The bed was riddled with them."
"You must soak your whole body in clean water to drown them. Come with me."
"Where to?"
