Crow nodded when Penelope said she had been more careful to make sure she was alone this time. He was glad to know that his encounter with the other knight seemed to be a one-time thing. If Gavin had shown up again or any other knights had made an appearance that night, he would have been quite hesitant to meet with her again. The information she offered wasn’t worth revealing himself to anyone else and risking being caught or killed—or worse, leading them back to the hideout and causing his companions to fall with him.

As she went on to apologize for her carelessness the last time, he shifted slightly in his chair, unsure of what to say. Her words sounded genuine. He lowered his gaze as he thought over their last meeting again. Perhaps he was being unfair to her by being so distrusting. After all, she hadn’t known her suitor would follow her into the woods in the middle of the night without warning. It wasn’t her fault that he had interrupted their meeting. He supposed he was still just bitter about the fact that she was with someone else now, and he was taking it out on her by accusing her of things she hadn’t done.

Crow frowned as Penelope told him that Gavin was trustworthy. Even though he knew she was trying to reassure him that their secret was safe, all he could think about was the fact that there was another man in her life that she was confiding in now. He knew he should be happy that Gavin was a reliable confidant for her, but he wished he could have been that for her instead.

[i]Stop hoping for things that can’t be,[/i] he silently rebuked himself. [i]It’s over. She’s moved on, so I need to do the same.[/i]

He was relieved when she changed the subject and told him about the knights’ plans for the next battle. Thinking over the information, he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, “One week, huh?” Grimsby was one of the northernmost villages in the kingdom, so it would take at least two or three days to get there. Even though the knights from Brerra had agreed to avoid the peasants, he still planned to go to make sure the villagers of Grimsby would be safe from the Younisians.

“Thanks for the heads up,” he said, meeting her gaze again. “I’ll be sure to tell the others that we’ve got quite a walk ahead of us.”