Crow settled down against the trunk of the tree while Penelope divided up their food. It was strange, but he was beginning to appreciate Hartley’s company. Of course, he had encountered other thieves before, but he had never travelled with one, since most people who shared his occupation preferred to work alone. He found that he enjoyed being able to talk to someone who understood the unpleasant side of life, and who had experienced similar hardships.

[i]But peasants like us aren’t the only ones who go through tough times,[/i] he thought as Penelope began to share her family story with Hartley. He eyed her discreetly, [i]She’s been through her share of adversities as a noble, too.[/i] He contemplated again how similar their pasts were; how they were both the offspring of noblemen and peasant women; how both of their mothers had died; how the paternal sides of their families looked down upon them. He wondered if that was why they got along as well as they did. He may have grown up as a poor villager while she had been adopted into wealth and prestige, but they still came from the same unlikely romance.

[i]Would we have crossed paths if our situations were reversed?[/i] Crow mused as he popped another bite of cooked rabbit into his mouth. [i]If I had been raised by my father, and she by her mother, would we have even met?[/i] Of course, there was no way to answer the question, but he didn’t think it was likely. If he had lived with Albin, he probably would have gone into training to become the next ambassador after his father. The job would have included quite a bit of travel, but even if he somehow ran into the hypothetical peasant Penelope, would he have even spoken to her? He wanted to say that he would have remained above the pettiness of nobility, but if he was honest with himself, he didn’t know how he would have turned out in a life of luxury. He was just glad they had ended up on paths that brought them together, if only for a short while.

After Penelope had finished speaking, Hartley broke into a grin, “Don’t forget, you have us too.” He gestured to himself and to Crow. “You may not get any of your family’s money, but we can get you anyone else’s!”

“Or, if you really want your rightful inheritance, I could work something out,” Crow gave her a devilish wink. “Just say the word, and it’s yours, love.”

“Hey,” Hartley glared at him. “Don’t show up my offer.”

“Not everything is a competition,” Crow rolled his eyes. He turned back to Penelope. “All joking aside, the kid’s right. I think there’s too much weight to family. Family can be good or bad, and you’re still stuck with them. Your friends see the good and bad in you and choose to stick with you regardless. You know, I learned that from this woman I met last week. She was pretty weird,” He smiled at her teasingly. “But she was also an amazing friend and the most loyal person I’ve ever met. I’m glad I ran into her.”