Cindra scrambled up the stairs hoping to warm herself with the exertion. A cool breeze had sprung up and it was damply grabbing at her hair. Her feet were freezing, but she only had to make one more circuit after this and then the stupid thing would be done. She puffed as she ran, almost out of breath. Goodness, having Atholt had really gotten her out of shape. She would have to get outside more often. It might be fun to go and see what was happening with the construction of the castle, or even the church. They must have made a lot of progress since they had renewed building when the snow thawed, she mused as she puffed her way up the stairs.

Luckily there as noone around to witness her efforts, she was thinking, as she came to the top of the stairs and collided with a solid body.

“Ooof”, said the body as they both went tumbling down onto the deck.

It was Lochan, and now she was lying on top of the poor man while he blearily peered up at her.

“Oh my goodness! Lochan! I’m so very sorry, are you alright”, she squeaked in dismay.

“Mmmphf…”, he blinked a couple of times, “Cindra?”.

“Yes, yes it’s me, have I hurt you badly? Can you move at all?”

“Hmphf”, he tried to shift weight and when he found he couldn’t he laughed.

“Perhaps I could move if you weren’t lying on top of me! At least somebody got a soft landing. These poor old bones are getting too old for you to tackle me you know”.

“Oh, oh I’m so very sorry!” Cindra cried scrambling to sit up and get her weight off Lochan’s chest, “I forgot I was squashing you”.

“And you have gotten a damn sight bigger than the 5 year old who used to launch herself at my knees and try and topple me”, he replied, gingerly sitting up himself, “but don’t worry, I seem to be intact for today but I don’t recommend you repeat the process or you might have to ask Hepsie how to put me back together”.

He grinned suddenly, noticing her attire, “Well then young lady, what on Earth are you doing running about in your nightgown? I thought those days were over too.”

Cindra blushed, remembering how as a child she had often interrupted important meetings, tearing in on her stubby legs in nothing but a nightgown and demanding her father’s attention. Everyone had laughed at her but not him, he had only reached down and placed her on his big strong knee, letting her play with his beard until she fell asleep in his arms. Her heart gave a sharp pang at the thought of him and she had to choke back an unbidden sob.

Lochan noticed her distress and gently stroked her arm, “Now then, I didn’t mean to upset you. You can run about in whichever outfit you choose, I only ask that I not be the target of evening nightgown clad offensives”.

He always knew how to make her laugh and she giggled as she helped him to his feet.

“No it’s alright. You see, the reason I am running about like this is that I lost a bet with Lisbet and this is my punishment… oh blast!”

“What’s wrong?” Lochan asked his smile falling.

“Oh it’s just that now it’s gone and begun to rain and I still have to run around this ruddy ship one more time or I will never hear the end of it”, she gazed up at the sky in dismay.

“Well then I guess I had better send you on your way”, he was shaking his head slightly with a knowing smile, “It just like you to make a bet like this Cindra. But don’t be too long out here or you’ll catch a chill. You’re not even wearing shoes!”

“Well I don’t wear shoes to bed do I?” she replied with a laugh, “And wouldn’t I look silly clomping around in boots and a nightgown”.

“Only slightly more silly than you look now dear”, he said affectionately, “Now come here and let me pinch that chubby cheek of yours for luck and it’s off with you. I’m going inside, it’s too damn miserable out here for me”.

He reached up and gently pinched her wet cheek with a tender smile.

“Off you go!”, he cried with a chuckle.

She trotted off down the stairs, trying to run in a delicate way to minimise the jiggling, knowing he was watching.

Once out of sight, she ran fast to the opposite side of the ship, the cool wind whipping at her face, the fat raindrops splashing down onto her flushed cheeks.

It would be nice to get inside she thought, away from the cold where Lisbet was surely waiting for her with a cup of mulled wine and a nice warm fire.

“Only one more time to go”, she sang as she rounded the corner, stopping abruptly as a man she had never seen before emerged from the shadows.

“Bonsoir ma belle fille”, he crooned in a voice as icy as the sleet that pelted her face.

Murchadh, Tadhgar