As the meeting came to an end, Hazel moved to collect her things and get up from the table. As always, she was tired because of how late it was, and the thought of her warm bed back in the thieves’ camp sounded heavenly. Simon had also pulled his mat up next to hers since they had slept together five days ago, and she was eager to fall asleep in his embrace again. It would be nice to do so every night now that she didn’t have to worry about meeting with the nobles anymore. She appreciated their help, but she much preferred to have nowhere to go after the sun went down each day.

She was just about to stand up from her chair, when Penelope spoke up and told Jane to go on ahead of her. The herbalist eyed her curiously, wondering what she was so eager to talk about that it couldn’t wait. Whatever it was, she hoped the knight would make it quick, so she could get going back to her own camp.

Hazel tapped her foot impatiently beneath the table as Penelope waited for the physician to leave before launching into her question about seeing Crow again. She frowned and shook her head. “Gods, what is it with you two?” she grumbled. First Crow and now Penelope were begging her to mediate a time for them to see each other again. Didn’t they understand that he needed to put his health before their little romance? It was much more important that he finished healing before they started meeting up again in the dead of night when he was supposed to be resting.

“Look,” she exhaled, meeting Penelope’s gaze across the table. “I understand that you’re frustrated, but I can’t give a sick man permission to venture out by himself, no matter how well he thinks he’s feeling. It’s dangerous and unwise. Until I start getting some definitive results, he needs to stay close to the camp, where he can recover, and I can keep an eye on him.” She paused, pursing her lips slightly before going on through her teeth. “Although, if you two insist on being reckless and finding a way to meet up anyways, I suppose I can arrange something.”

She paused for a moment to think. “There’s a clearing in the woods to the north of our camp. If you follow the river from the waterfall, you’ll run right into it. I’ll tell him to find you there in three days on the condition that you will take him no further from that point, and he won’t stay out late enough to compromise his sleep.” With her arms still folded over her chest, she drummed her fingers irritably against her bicep. “Is that good enough for you, rat?”