“True enough,” Crow smiled, switching back to his Younisian accent with ease. He slipped the dagger into his boot again and moved over to the food supply, taking an apple for himself and then sitting back down by the blankets. “Early lunch,” he explained simply to Penelope, tossing the fruit from one hand to the other. “You never know when you’re going to eat your last meal, so I believe you should have many.” He bit into the apple, smirking at her cheekily. “So, which part of the accent are you having trouble with?”

--

Despite his faults, of which there were many, Crow had to admit that William was efficient. The group reached the outer villages just after high noon, which would give them plenty of time relax and prepare for the crossover into Younis. The early arrival was a pleasant surprise, but that wasn’t why Crow was excited.

He leaned expectantly out the side window of the wagon as they approached the edge of the village, watching as a few small, rundown houses came into view between the surrounding trees. To most travelers, the border wasn’t a very breathtaking sight, unless one counted how strikingly impoverished it looked. The buildings were all small and pockmarked with weather damage, and the people all wore wool or low-quality linen in the dull shades of gray or brown. They toiled in fields or tended to their animals, working for money that would all be sent as taxes to the king. Overall, the outer villages were remarkably unremarkable, but to Crow they were home.

When the wagon rolled to a stop, he wasted no time in climbing out of the back. He was eager to see what had become of the villages since he had been arrested so long ago. However, as soon as his feet touched the ground, he was met by a scowling William. The knight stepped in front of him, glaring coldly, “You’re not going anywhere, thief. I’m well aware that you used to live in one of these border villages, so as long as we stay here, I’m keeping you in my sight at all times.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Crow narrowed his eyes at the accusation. “But for once, you’re wrong. I’ve come to terms with my assignment from the king, so I’m going to go through with it. I’m done running.”

“Do you really expect me to believe that?” William scoffed. “You have a reputation for lying. It’s in your blood, thief. There’s no way I’m going to turn a blind eye to a criminal as infamous as you.”

“You really are blind if you can’t tell when a man is speaking the truth to you,” Crow muttered under his breath, staring longingly at the village. He wanted to go explore, but he knew there would be no changing William’s mind once he had made it up. He sighed. It seemed he would be forced to stay with the knights after all.