Crow quirked a brow in amusement when Penelope suggested they knock Hartley out and leave him while he was unconscious. It was a surprisingly vicious remark, coming from her. Normally, she was much better about keeping her tempter in check, but it seemed that the boy’s last comment had really set her off. He laughed quietly, “Wow, I never thought I’d hear you come up with a plan like that.”

Penelope went on to give a more realistic suggestion of simply parting ways with the young thief. Crow nodded thoughtfully. It was possible that Hartley had just helped them out of kindness or some strange attraction to Penelope, but he doubted it. The boy must have had a bigger reason for saving them and leading them back to the market. He just wished he knew what it was.

[color=fff79a][b]“Too bad we couldn’t just have William work his magic and scare him off,”[/b][/color] Penelope said with a sigh.

“Somehow, I don’t think even William could scare this kid off,” Crow shook his head. “He’s even more hardheaded than I am, and that’s saying something.” He looked back at Hartley, who was watching them with his arms folded impatiently over his chest, and frowned. “I guess we could try to shake him by telling him we’re leaving. I don’t know what to do if he keeps trying to tag along though. Something tells me he’s going to find a way to follow us even if we tell him he isn’t welcome.”

At last, they reached the end of the sewer. Daylight flooded Crow’s eyes, causing him to squint as his vision adjusted. Hartley trotted ahead of them and spun around on his heels, “Here we are!” He swept out one hand extravagantly. “Not a single knight in sight. Do you want to thank me now, or…?”

“Yeah, thanks,” Crow said reluctantly. He averted his gaze, looking for their wagon. “I guess we’ll be going now. We can’t keep our companions waiting much longer.”

“Hold on,” Hartley said. “I never said I was leaving you both here. I want to come with you.”

 “We’re in a hurry,” Crow objected. “We can’t just pick up extra travelers.”

“I just saved your asses though,” Hartley pressed. “You owe me one, and this is how I’m cashing in.”

“But—”

“Where the [i]hell[/i] have you two been?” Crow was interrupted by William’s furious voice. He spun around to see William and Abraxas marching towards them. The former went on angrily, without even bothering to attempt a Younisian accent, “Do you know just how much time we’ve wasted in this place?” He caught sight of Hartley and faltered. “Who is this? What’s going on here?”