Crow and Hazel continued to walk as they discussed his illness. In his focus on the topic, he didn’t notice how far they had traveled from the camp, nor did he notice Penelope running towards them until she waved to get his attention. At the sight of her, he froze in surprise, wondering what she was doing out by herself. However, in the next moment, he remembered their agreement, where she could come to find him at any time if she had urgent news. Judging by the pace at which she was sprinting, whatever she had come to say had to be important.

Hazel was quick to notice him halt. She followed his gaze to see the knight running towards them and bristled, reaching towards the pocket of her dress. Suspecting she was trying to get a concealed weapon, the thief grabbed her hand and shot her a warning look. She frowned and opened her mouth to question him, but she didn’t have time before Penelope caught up to them and explained hurriedly about the knights in the area. As he had guessed, the news wasn’t good.

“Damn it,” he muttered. “If there are as many as you say, they might find our camp… I need to warn the others.” Glancing back over his shoulder, he paled as he finally realized just how far he and the herbalist had wandered from the ravine. Given his recent history with his illness, there was no way he could make it back in time to alert his companions.

“Hang on for one minute,” Hazel growled, stepping defensively between Crow and Penelope and glancing at each of them in turn. “Would somebody please tell me who this is and what the hell is going on here?”

“This is Penelope,” Crow explained. “She’s the knight I’ve been meeting with.”

“What?” Hazel blinked, turning to the other woman curiously. “This is her?”

“Yes,” he said hurriedly, looking around the forest tensely for signs of movement. “I’d introduce you properly if we had time, but unfortunately, it seems we need to get out of here.” Turning to the herbalist, he went on sternly. “Go back to the camp and warn the others about the patrols. I’ll catch up with you all later.”

“No way,” she narrowed her eyes at him. “Have you lost your mind? I’m not leaving you out here by yourself!”

“We don’t have time to argue about this,” he pressed. Glancing at Penelope for a moment, he stepped closer to Hazel to whisper in her ear, “Somebody has to tell the others about the patrols, and we both know I can’t do it. Please, make sure they get to safety for me.”

“But what about you?” she murmured with a frown. “What are you going to do if the knights find you?”

“I’ll just have to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he smiled confidently. Stepping back from her again, he tipped his head in the direction of the ravine. “Get going. I’ll meet you there when I get back.”

Hazel held his gaze for a moment, seeming torn between her desire to protect him and her duty to protect his companions. Finally, she gave a curt nod. “Fine,” she spat. “But you’d better not be a complete dumbass and get yourself killed.”

“I’ll do my best,” he grinned at her.

The herbalist rolled her eyes and then turned, hiking up her dress as she ran back to the ravine.

Now alone with Penelope, Crow turned back to her with a grateful nod. “Thanks for the heads up,” he said. “I should probably get going too, since I don’t want to get spotted so close to my camp twice.”