The next morning, Crow was awakened by warm morning sunlight that filtered down through the makeshift roof of the thieves’ makeshift shelter. He sat up and yawned, looking around tiredly. Alistair and Rikki were still sleeping soundly, but Simon was nowhere in sight. He blinked, wondering where he had gone until the smell of cooking meat wafted into the hut, giving him his answer. He was mildly surprised that Simon was preparing breakfast. Usually, the anxious thief woke up early to scout the area for knights, not make food.

Still waking up, Crow didn’t feel like getting up just yet. He continued to sit in the shelter beside his still-sleeping companions, slowly recalling the events of the previous day. However, as he did this, he remembered his brief encounter with Penelope, and he winced, feeling a fresh stab of heartache. He ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes. Had that really happened? It felt so surreal. Penelope was really alive and in the outer villages… and she had chosen not to be with him anymore.

Another stab of pain.

Suddenly feeling antsy, he climbed quietly to his feet and exited the shelter, stepping out into the ravine and stretching his back to shake off the last bit of weariness. His green eyes swept over the campsite, and he spotted Simon sitting by the fire pit, squinting down at a ragged old book. The blonde had a strange affinity for literature that Crow would never understand. Back when they had been living in the inner kingdom, he had often picked up books and scrolls when they stole from noble families. It was unclear how much he was actually able to understand, since he was only somewhat literate, but he seemed determined to improve his ability to read and write.

Simon caught sight of Crow from the corner of his eye and looked up, “So, one of you decided to come back from the dead, I see.”

“Long night,” Crow shrugged as he walked over to sit across from Simon by the fire.

“Please, spare me the details,” Simon shook his head.

“You sure?” Crow smirked at him, taking the opportunity to prod at the other thief. “We did it twice this time.” He snickered as Simon hurriedly brought his hands up to cover his ears.

“Stop now, or I’m literally going to hang myself.”

“Alright,” Crow raised his hands in defeat. “Your loss.” He leaned a bit closer to the fire, trying to get a better look at the food the other thief was preparing. “So, what’s for breakfast? It smells great.”

“Chicken,” Simon answered, visibly relaxing at the change in subject. “But I managed to steal some spices from the knights we raided yesterday, so it won’t be nearly as bland as usual.”

“Way to think ahead,” Crow nodded appreciatively.

Simon sat up a bit straighter at the compliment, “Thank you. I’m glad at least one of you tunnel-visioned thieves pays attention.”

Crow snorted at his haughty remark and opened his mouth to reply, but stopped short as he suddenly felt an all too familiar tingling sensation rise up in his chest. He swallowed and stood up, moving to grab an empty leather water flask. “I’m going to go refill this. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” Simon nodded, busying himself by checking on the chicken in the fire pit.

Crow hurried out of the hideout, following the length of the ravine as he walked towards the river that flowed down the far side. However, instead of going to refill the water as he had said, he slowed to a stop as soon as he was out of sight from the camp. After casting a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure he was alone, he doubled over as a violent fit of coughing seized his body. Unable to move, he let it take its course for a short time before it finally passed, leaving him panting as he caught his breath.

[i]It’s getting worse,[/i] he thought concernedly, leaning against a tree and closing his eyes as he slowed his breathing. If he remembered correctly, his mother had only lived for two or three more years after her coughing fits had begun. For the illness to have already progressed this far in his body was worrying. He sighed. Perhaps it had been for the best that Penelope had turned him down after all. It was starting to look like he didn’t have many more years left.

Once he had recovered from the brief episode, Crow walked the rest of the way to the river and filled up his flask before turning around to go back to the hideout. When he returned, he found that the others had woken up and were gathered around the fire, eating the chicken that Simon had prepared.

Rikki looked up when he came into view, and called out through a mouthful of food, “Good morning!”

“Not so loud,” Alistair hissed, clutching at his head with one hand.

“You were the idiot who decided to get blackout drunk last night,” Rikki rolled her eyes. “I have no sympathy.”

“Morning,” Crow greeted Rikki with equal enthusiasm when he reached the fire pit, causing the hungover thief to grimace.

“You’re both jerks,” Alistair groaned. “I’m going to eat in the shelter.”

Crow and Rikki laughed as he got up and took his food into the hut. Once he was gone, Rikki scooted closer to sit beside Crow, “So, how’d you sleep, boss?”

“Fine,” he answered, tearing off a wing from the freshly cooked chicken. “You?”

“Slept like a rock,” she answered with a wink and then clapped her hands together. “Okay, business time. Who’s going to check the tavern in Norcrest for our ransom money today?”

Crow shifted his weight slightly as Rikki and Simon turned expectantly towards him. He knew that as the elected leader of the group, a job like this would usually fall on his shoulders, but this time, he was hesitant. Traveling to Norcrest would mean traveling past the knights’ campsite again, and he didn’t want to risk running into Penelope after what had happened the previous night.

“I think Simon should do it,” he suggested tentatively. “I’ve been meaning to check in with the villagers in Myrefall about a few things, and the whole trip might take up most of the day.” He met the blonde thief’s gaze from across the fire pit, hoping he wouldn’t oppose the idea. “What do you think?”

Simon stared at him for a moment before a pleased grin crossed his lips. “Of course. Being the most level headed one here, I’m the most natural choice to go on this trip alone. You were wise to think of me.”

Rikki stuck out her tongue, but the prideful thief just rolled his eyes in response.

“Great,” Crow smiled, glad that the matter had been settled so quickly. “I’ll go to Myrefall, and Simon will go to Norcrest. Rikki, you and Alistair should spy on the knights. See if you can find out when the next battle will happen so we can prepare.”

“You got it,” Rikki nodded and stood up, marching into the shelter as she called loudly: “Alistair! Get your lazy ass up. We’ve got a job to do.”

“I should get going as well, since Norcrest is a bit of a walk, and I want to be back by nightfall,” Simon rose to his feet, slipping his book into a pocket on the inside of his shirt.

“Alright,” Crow nodded. He hastily swallowed a few more bites of chicken before standing to join the others. Grabbing his cloak from off of a tree branch that he had hung it on the previous night, he turned to them with a nod. “See you all tonight.”