Crow listened as Penelope explained that her baroness had chosen to send a different lieutenant in her stead. He was mildly surprised to hear the pride in her voice as she spoke. When he had known her before, she had seemed to care much more about what her equals and superiors thought of her, but now it sounded like she was indifferent to their opinions. He was glad she had started to be more independent. It was a freer way to live.

He smirked as she went on to call him a bad influence. “Darling, you fell in love with a man who lives outside of the law,” he teased, lacing his fingers with hers when he felt her take his hand. “What more did you expect?” Shifting to walk a bit closer to her, he thought about all the ways he had noticed her change after being around him in the beginning. Though she called his habits and skills a bad influence, he didn’t consider them to be bad at all. His ability to lie in particular had saved his life on numerous occasions. If anything, he felt like he had done her a favor by teaching her how to do the same.

As Penelope mentioned how she had continued to use the tricks she had picked up from him even while they were apart, he squeezed her hand proudly. “I have plenty more tricks where those came from,” he said with a grin. “Maybe I’ll teach them to you… if you make it worth my while.” He winked at her coyly before glancing up at the sky. Noon had passed, and the sun was already starting to sink westward. The rendezvous point was still far from where they were, so he doubted they would arrive before nightfall.

“In all seriousness, I do hope you’ve gotten as good at lying as you say you have,” he said somberly, turning back to meet her gaze. “The place we’re going is about a full day’s walk from your camp, if not longer, so you won’t be back for quite a while.” He frowned, thinking something over before going on, “Are you sure you want to come with me the whole way there? I mean, I appreciate the company, but at this rate, you’ll be up all night to travel back to the other knights, and even then, you won’t make it until tomorrow. It might be best for you to leave now, so they don’t get too suspicious.” He offered her a small smile. “I’m sure I’ll be fine to walk the rest of the way alone. You should go.”