Crow didn’t have to wait long for Penelope to return. After a few moments he saw motion between the trees, and soon the knight was back by his side. When she asked what his plan was, he shook his head and gestured for her to follow him back to the rebel camp. “You’ll see,” he said quietly, turning to walk through the trees. As they got closer to the camp, he crouched down to hide behind a cluster of bushes and peered between the branches. So far, it seemed like none of the guards had noticed their absence. He smirked to himself. Good.

“So here’s what I’m thinking,” Crow murmured, turning to look at Penelope again. “We have no flint or fire steel, so the only place to catch these sticks is in the fire pit at the center of the camp. Of course, in order to do that we would have to blatantly walk in front of the guards. No matter how incompetent they are, a move like that would be practically suicidal, especially with that wounded shoulder of yours. So,” the thief turned back to watch the guards roaming around their camp. “Here’s what I’m planning instead. We’ll split up and go around to opposite sides of the camp. I’ll take the sticks and run to the fire pit to light them, and then I’ll start setting the tents on fire.” He cast Penelope a playful grin. “I figured it would be better if I act as the diversion since you’re still injured, and I have more experience outwitting guards.

“Anyways, I’ll keep them distracted so you can sneak over to William and Abraxas without getting caught. Get them out of the camp and I’ll meet up with you on the way back to the village,” Crow tossed her the keys to the knights’ chains. “Sound good?”