Crow was only half listening to Penelope and Hartley’s conversation as they walked along the road towards Hefn. With a bag full of stolen gold, he couldn’t help but be cautious. His eyes swept over the faces of the people around them as he kept watch for anyone who might have been helping that “Mr. Marshton” person look for his missing valuables. Of course, he knew it would be impossible for anyone to know he had been the one to steal the money. He just wanted to be aware of his surroundings as much as possible, in case something was to go wrong.

Fortunately, their trip to the next town was uneventful. No one stopped them or even glanced in their direction as they reached the small town of Hefn.

“See?” Hartley pointed at a nearby sign, which Crow, of course, couldn’t read. “What did I tell you? We made it just after high noon.”

“That sounds like a fancy way of saying we’ll be getting lunch,” Crow grinned.

“Good idea,” Hartley placed a hand on his stomach. “I’m starving.” He squinted as he looked up, trying to find a place to eat. “There,” he said after a moment, pointing at a stand where a street vendor was giving out plates of freshly-cooked food.

“Younis has merchants that prepare food for you?” Crow quirked a brow in surprise. “In Brerra, the only place you can find freshly cooked meals like those are at taverns and restaurants at the inns.”

“Yeah, we have cookshops all over,” Hartley said proudly. “They can make you one of their special dishes or prepare a custom meal for you with your own ingredients if you bring them some. They make great hot pies. Come on, I’ll show you.” He waved a hand, gesturing for the others to follow as he took off towards the vendor.

“I guess we’re eating at the cookshop,” Crow glanced at Penelope with a hapless shrug. He followed after Hartley, who was reading something off of a wooden sign near the vendor’s stand.

“Let’s see,” the boy crossed his arms. “Let’s get three hot pies, some pescods, and sheep’s feet.”

“Sheep’s feet?” Crow echoed.

“What?” Hartley smirked at him mockingly. “Are you afraid of eating an animal’s foot?”

“I’m not opposed to trying exotic dishes,” Crow shrugged. “I’ve just never heard of this one before.” He turned to Penelope with a challenging glimmer in his eye. “Think you can handle it, darling?”