The longer Crow sat at the table, the more he could feel the effects of the alcohol slowly getting more prominent inside of him. Usually one strong drink wouldn’t inhibit him this much, but after spending the whole day interrogating villagers without any breaks to eat—Gavin had insisted that they could stop to rest after the questionings were over—his empty stomach seemed to have doubled its effects. He shook his head again. He couldn’t believe he had let Alistair and Olivia trick him so easily. It had been foolish of him to believe they didn’t have any ulterior motives when they had tried to convince him to drink with them again.

When Penelope rested her hand on his shoulder, he turned to look at her again with a frown. At her words, he felt a flash of worry that he would be left out of the remaining part of the interrogation now that he was intoxicated. He couldn’t stay behind, not as long as there was still a chance that the villagers would tell the knights about what he had done. Drunk or sober, he was going to finish speaking with the peasants in the tavern with her. He had to do it.

“I shoul’ be alright,” he said, wincing as a subtle slur escaped his lips. It was getting harder to act sober. At least he still felt self-aware enough to try though. He supposed that had to count for something.

“This is ridiculous,” Gavin suddenly growled from across the table. “All of you fools are too drunk to get anything done. Penelope and I are going to finish questioning the villagers.”

Crow shot the knight a glare. “No way,” he said stubbornly. “You had your chance earlier today, and you didn’t find out an’thing more than Penelope. B’sides, we all know I’m the best at sort of thing, so I’m more likely to get us s’m real answers.”

“Please,” Gavin snorted. “You can barely talk straight right now. What good will a half-drunk thief be in an interrogation?”

“Half-drunk or not, I c’n still out-lie your ass any day,” Crow retorted obstinately. He turned back to Penelope with a pleading look. “Let me go with you. I really don’ want to stay here with those idiots any longer th’n I have to.”