Crow had almost reached the door to the tavern when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He flinched slightly and spun around, still on edge from Gavin’s appearance. When he saw that it was only Penelope, he relaxed a bit, but remained tense. Even though he was fairly confident that she hadn’t expected her suitor to show up any more than he had, he couldn’t help taking out some of his frustration on her. He knew it was irrational, but at that moment, he found it difficult to be anything but.

As she explained that she hadn’t known he was following her and confirmed his suspicion, Crow silently reprimanded himself for how coldly he was acting towards her. It wasn’t her fault. He knew he shouldn’t blame her for the interruption. However, part of his bitterness did have to do with the fact that she had chosen this man over him. He was trying to move on, but her rejection was still recent. It would be hard enough to face her future husband even if he had come to terms with their separation, but to see him now, while he was still wrestling with the pain of losing her, was too much for him to handle.

He listened wordlessly as she went on to tell him that her conversation with the barons had been fruitful. It was the news he had been hoping for, but in that moment, he couldn’t bring himself to feel happy about it. Instead, he simply nodded, “Good.”

At her following question, Crow took a moment to think. He glanced over her shoulder to see Gavin watching them from a distance. The sight of the man observing them so closely made his skin crawl. Though it wasn’t Penelope’s fault, he knew he was going to need some time away from her to process everything that just happened. “We can meet again in one week,” he answered curtly. It would hopefully be enough time for him to move past running into Gavin.

Not wanting to linger to negotiate the time with her, he tipped his head in a silent goodbye to Penelope and walked out of the tavern, making his way briskly towards the forest.