Penelope looked around the large dining room as the servants from the kitchen set up the various tables. She placed down a couple bowls before stepping back as the preparation was nearly complete. Already other servants and staff began to filter in, taking seats at the table and talking amongst themselves. She busied herself with helping the other servants finish up and before long they were bringing in the food. 

The knight looked around nervously as she noticed that Dotty had yet to return with any of the guards. If they came in last minute and saw what was happening to the others, it would mean bad news for her and Crow. She gulped, worrying that she might have made a grave mistake. Luckily, her worries were put to rest as she noticed Dotty coming in through the doors, followed by Emeric and a couple other knights. There certainly weren’t as many guards as she had hoped for but she supposed it was better than nothing. [i]Now I just have to get out of her without Dotty seeing me...[/i] She eyed the doors and watched as Dotty and Emeric began to part ways. With the servant’s attention focused on the guard, Penelope moved for the door and slipped out. 

She nearly thought she had made it out successfully. “Farah!” Dotty’s voice sounded from behind her, making her cringe. She put on a smile and turned to the shorter girl as she scampered up besides her. “Where are you going? Dinner’s going to be served any minute now.”

“I was just going to the bathroom first,” Penelope lied. “I’ll be right back. Save me a seat ok?” 

“Oh, ok! Hurry otherwise your food will get cold!” Dotty smiled and then turned to head back into the dining hall. 

Penelope nodded her head and watched as the servant left. She moved to head down the main staircase, pretending to head in the right direction. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure Dotty had gone before she quickly turned around and began to make her way back up the stairs. Slipping away from the main crowd of staff that were filtering into the dining hall, she headed down the eastern hallway towards the staircase that would hopefully take her to the window where she was suppose to meet Crow. She paused as she reached the base of it and glanced over her shoulder to make sure she was alone. Doing a quick survey of the area and finding no one nearby, she knelt down and drew her dagger. [i]Better keep this ready..[/i] She thought as she slipped it under her sleeve to hide it from plan sight. 

She turned and began to head up the staircase to the third floor, trying to keep alert for anyone unexpected coming down them. The coast seemed clear until she reached the third floor. She heard footsteps and the voices of two men. The knight paused in the shadows casted by the wall and peaked out to see two guards patrolling the hallway with bored expressions. [i]Of course they had to be on this floor right now.[/i] Penelope thought bitterly. Her grip tightened on the dagger. She had to deal with them, otherwise there was a chance they’d run into Crow sneaking in. As they drew closer, Penelope tensed and waited until they were slightly past her as she kept near the shadows of the wall. 

She leapt out from behind them and brought the hilt of her dagger down on one of the guard’s head. He dropped upon the impact and it caused the other knight to whirl around, throwing a punch at his unknown attacker. Penelope was caught off guard by the knight’s sudden attack, not expecting him to respond in such a way. His punch landed rather squarely against her jaw, sending her  to the ground almost immediately. Penelope groaned, dazed from the hit. 

“What the hell!” The guard spat as he looked down at her, now shocked to find a servant had attacked them.

Clenching her teeth, Penelope swung out a leg to knock the knight down to her level. In a burst of energy, she launched herself at him and swiped her dagger at his arm. Unable to defend himself quick enough this time, she managed to leave a cut along his arm. The knight looked enraged and was nearly about to draw his sword when the effects of the henbane began to kick in. He faltered and narrowed his eyes at her. 

“What..did you.. do?” He forced out. He swayed for a moment and tried to tighten his grip on his sword but wasn’t able to. Instead the knight fell over, unable to move as the poison coursed through him. Penelope let out a sigh of relief and slowly stood up to her feet. She glanced around, worried that the commotion may have drawn unwanted attention. The hallway was empty aside from her and the two immobile knights. She looked down at the two and tried to figure out what to do with them. [i]I can’t just leave them out in the open...[/i]

Penelope wiped away some of the blood that was trailing down the corner of her lip that was caused from the punch she had received. She looked around until she spotted a supply closet, something she had gotten used to noticing after seeing them all over the first and second floor. They often had doors smaller than normal rooms so they were rather easy to spot. Thinking quick, she moved to grab the legs of the knocked out knight and dragged him over to the supply closet. She struggled a bit due to his weight but managed to get him inside. She proceeded to locate some rope and tied up both his arms and legs. The quality of the knot was debatable but she figured it would at least buy time when he eventually did wake up. She repeated the process with the poisoned knight, who nearly threw up when he was being moved. 

Once that was done, she closed the door on the two and stepped back out into the now empty hallway. The only evidence in sight of the scuffle was her lightly bleeding lip. [i]Now to figure out where that window is...[/i] She continued on down the hallway in hopes of figuring out where Crow had said to meet him.