The Frost Child by Eoin McNamee

said, looking worried, "has Owen come back yet?"
    "I haven't heard," Wesley said. "I'll go to the battlements and look."
    "I'll come with you," Rosie said, faintly ashamed of squabbling when Owen was in danger.
    "Come on, then," Wesley said. His tone was less sharp and she wondered if he was feeling the same way.
    Together they climbed to the battlements, Rosie pulling her coat tight around her. Wesley seemed immune to the cold.
    "Do you live in the Workhouse?" Rosie asked, trying to be polite.
    "No," Wesley replied shortly, then added, "us Raggies live in the warehouse down by the sea. But Dr. Diamond, he reckons there's a big attack coming and we wouldn't be able to defend ourselves, so we had to come to the Workhouse."
    Wesley gave a longing look toward the sea, and Rosie's heart softened toward him. She was starting to miss her home in Hadima.
    "Wonder what the doc's up to," Wesley said, looking up at the Skyward. Dr. Diamond had disappeared into his lab at the top of the brass tower a day ago and had not
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    come out since. Rosie followed Wesley's gaze. The windows of the Skyward were steamed up, so you couldn't see in.
    "I'd love to see him again," Rosie said.
    "No disturbing the doc when he's working," Wesley said. "Look!"
    Far below them, in the snowy fields, Owen's mother was leading a party of Rutgar's men from the shop. They were carrying what looked like a grandfather clock with great care.
    "Wonder what they're doing with that old thing," Rosie said.
    "Why do you want to know that?" a sharp voice came from behind. Samual had come up on them so quietly that they hadn't heard.
    "No reason," Rosie said, "just wondering."
    "I wouldn't do too much wondering around here if I was you," the man said, his thin lips drawn tight.
    "She can do what she wants," Wesley said.
    "You'd be well advised to stay out of this, Raggie," Samual said, his eyes fixed on Rosie. "I wonder how many of her rat friends from Hadima came through the tunnel with her and are out there spying."
    It was more than Rosie could bear. She thought of how her friends had suffered during the attack by the Harsh and the misery that they were enduring in the frozen city. Without thinking she felt in her hair, and a long sharp hairpin appeared in her hand.
    Samual's eyes narrowed and he took a step closer to her, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
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    "Drawing a knife on an officer of the Workhouse guard, that's a serious offense," Samual said.
    "So is being rude to guests of the Workhouse, Samual." The voice came from above. Rosie turned to look. To her great surprise and delight, Dr. Diamond was standing on the top of the Nab staircase.
    "And it's not a knife," Wesley said, "it's a hairpin."
    "She's a spy," Samual snarled.
    "I appreciate your suspicious mind, Samual," Dr. Diamond continued in the same mild tone. "In time of war and intrigue being alert could save lives. But I can vouch for the young lady. She helped and guided us bravely in Hadima."
    "Hello, Doctor," Rosie said.
    "Good afternoon, Rosie. I'm glad to see you, although I hear that things are not good in Hadima. Now put the hairpin away, and let's not see it again in the Workhouse--unless, of course you are showing it to one of the Harsh. Samual is a generous man, and I don't think he would bring charges against a refugee."
    Rosie put her hairpin away, blushing. Samual snorted but took his hand from his sword.
    "I would be careful whom you vouch for, Doctor," he said coldly, and then, with a dark look in Rosie's direction, he turned on his heel and stalked off.
    "Bleeding twit," Rosie said.
    "He's been a faithful soldier for the Workhouse," the doctor said, "and I did mean what I said. You have to be suspicious in times of war, sadly. But how are you, Rosie, and what are you doing here?"
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    Rosie opened her mouth to speak, and as she did so music mingled with pain swelled in her head.
    There was a shout from Wesley. He had caught sight of a movement in the clouds. Far above their heads,