As Crow ran through the trees, his sadness about leaving Penelope behind started to give way to excitement. His heart pounded as it hit him that he was finally free—free from prison, free from responsibilities, free to go home and live his life as he pleased. He would have no more chains or guards to keep him tied down. He was really, truly free for the first time in over a year. He raced through the forest, picking up speed as he grew more excited about coming home. In fact, he was so caught up in his elation that he could hardly feel the usual burning in his legs and lungs that came from running long distances. In that moment, all he cared about was reaching Silverpool and solidifying his return to the outer villages. He was already getting close, and he couldn’t wait. -- [i]I’m home.[/i] Crow stared at the quiet village of Silverpool, breathing heavily from sprinting the whole way there. Not a single person could be seen in the streets, since it was late enough that all of the villagers were either sleeping in their homes or drinking in the tavern. However, he preferred it this way. With no one around to question his sudden appearance, he could take a moment to really appreciate the fact that he had made it back as a free man. After lingering at the edge of the village for a bit, he stepped into its bounds, his eyes wandering over everything that was so familiar, yet had become so distant over the past year. Fields and gardens, run down houses, old chicken coops… everything he looked at brought him a sense of nostalgia. He could hardly believe he was back. He gazed down one road toward the tavern he knew so well and smiled to himself. Now that he was back, he already knew the first person he wanted to see. Crow walked down the street that led to Evelyn’s tavern. When he reached the front door, he paused, taking a moment to look up at the building, before he pushed it open and stepped inside. Despite the late hour, there were still villagers in the Black Dagger, enjoying drinks as well as each other’s company. It was exactly the kind of atmosphere the thief had been hoping to find. He walked over to an empty table and sat down, looking around for the tavern keeper. It wasn’t long before he spotted her taking the orders of a group of rowdy young men at another table nearby. Evelyn wrote down their requests on her pad of paper and turned to approach Crow next. As she got close enough to see him clearly, she quirked a brow in surprise, “Look who’s back.” “Miss me?” Crow grinned, happy to see the old woman again. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Evelyn chuckled, although the gleam in her eye told him all he needed to know. “What brings you back to this village so soon, Crow?” “Your charming smile, of course,” the thief teased with a wink. He propped his elbow on the table and rested his chin in his palm, “If you really must know, I’m meeting a woman here in a few days.” “Is that so?” Evelyn’s mouth twitched upward in a knowing smirk. “If I recall, you came here with a pretty young thing not too long ago, didn’t you? This wouldn’t happen to be the same girl, would it?” “It is,” Crow answered, his own grin widening. “Well, good for you,” the tavern keeper nodded. “I must ask though: If you’re so smitten with this girl, then why isn’t she here now?” “She had some business to take care of with her family,” Crow shifted his weight as he told the half-truth. “But we agreed to meet here in a week once she’s finished.” “Hm, I have to say, I’ve never seen you so enamored with a woman before,” Evelyn chuckled again. “She must be something special to have caught your eye.” “She is,” Crow sighed a bit dreamily. He blushed and shuffled his feet beneath the table as he went on, “When she comes back, I’m going to ask her to marry me.” “Well, well, well,” Evelyn raised her brows in amusement. “I never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth, you rascal.” “Well, I never thought I’d meet a woman like her,” Crow replied with a shrug, though the flush in his cheeks refused to fade. The old woman’s features softened as she gazed down at him, “In all seriousness, I’m glad you found someone, Crow. I was always hoping you would.” She rested a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll bring you a honey mead on the house.” “Thanks,” the thief smiled back at her as she turned to get him his drink. Now sitting alone at the table, he sat back and watched the other peasants in the tavern chatting and laughing with each other. He still missed having Penelope by his side, but it also felt nice to be around other villagers again with no weight or responsibilities hanging over his head. For the first time in so long, he could finally relax and be with his own people. It was good to be home.