Crow lowered his gaze again as Penelope spoke. He was well aware of how dangerous it would be for him to go into the next battle in his condition. It was something he had been concerned about, himself. However, he also knew that he couldn’t just stand by because of the risks. Even if there was a chance he would pass out during the battle, he had to at least try to help the villagers. Besides, by now he knew the signs that led up to the point when he was too tired to stay conscious, so he could always slip out of the fighting if he felt too weak to continue. Surely it wasn’t as dangerous as Penelope thought… Right?

He looked up to reassure her that everything would be fine, but she spoke first, asking a question that he didn’t expect. Unsure what she was hinting at, he waited for her to go on before replying. As she explained that there were physicians in the knights’ camp, he raised a brow in interest. Even amongst the outer villages, it was common knowledge that the trained healers of the inner kingdom were much more skilled than any peasant herbalist could ever hope to be. It was a fact that often left a bitter taste in the thief’s mouth, since the villagers needed medical aid much more than the pampered nobles ever would, yet they were the ones who hardly received it. Noble physicians rarely traveled to the outer villages, and when they did, it was almost always to treat a sick or wounded knight.

The thought of turning to one of them for help was both intriguing and off-putting to him. He was drawn by the idea of getting treated by someone with so much skill in healing, since a trained physician would probably have a better understanding of how to approach his illness. Hazel was talented as an herbalist, but she was still limited to the knowledge of the few books she owned and the results of trial and error. A healer from the inner kingdom might be able to come to a conclusion about how to treat him much faster than she could, simply because of the formal education she lacked.

On the other hand, he disliked the thought of turning to a physician because of his hatred for nobles. He didn’t want to be healed by someone who was only willing to look for a cure because of the risk it might bring to the knights. Even if Hazel wasn’t professionally trained like they were, he preferred her help, because she was doing it for the villagers. Her motives lined up with his own, and he liked that about working with her.

[i]But still,[/i] Crow frowned. [i]Even if a physician wouldn’t intend to heal myself or the villagers, this could be a huge opportunity. If they’re able to figure out a cure for this illness, many people will be saved.[/i] He sighed. It seemed like he was going to have to lay down his pride and accept the help, whether he liked it or not.

“I think it’s not a bad idea,” he said thoughtfully. “The only problem is that Hazel might not be willing to work with someone from the inner kingdom.” He shook his head. “I honestly think she hates nobles even more than I do. It’s going to be hard to convince her to meet with one in person, let alone work alongside them.”