Having been quite tired from the day prior, Penelope unintentionally slept later than she usually did. She likely would have slept even later if she could have but sadly the knight was rudely awaken as someone paced furiously outside her tent. "Penelope!" The female knight jumped at her brother's voice and let out a small groan, already guessing what must have brought him to her tent. It seemed she wouldn't get the luxury of waiting until their meeting to insist that she be the one to oversee the guards for Crow. 

"One second!" She called back and slowly rose to her feet. Feeling no rush to face off with Layth, she took her time in getting ready before reluctantly stepping out of her tent. As she did, her gaze fell on a furious looking Layth, who ceased his impatient pacing as he noticed her come out. He curled his lip and Penelope let out a quiet sigh. [i]Here it comes..[/i]

"Jane tells me that the thief is already awake and you've already taken the liberty of assigning his guards." he growled accusatively. "You have no right to do so. You haven't even reported this development to the barons yet!"

"I found out late last night. I figured there was no need to bother the barons over something that could wait until the morning. He might be awake but he can't move." Penelope responded with a shrug. She crossed her arms over her chest and met her brother's gaze challengingly. "I have plenty right to do so. Jane needed a guard on him and I'm the one who brought him here in the first place."

"You lost that right the moment you started working with a thief, traitor." Layth snarled. "I saw who you put on guard. Only others who'd be willing to work with a thieving bastard like you."

"I am not a traitor and you are not a higher rank than me so you have no authority to decide that." Penelope argued with a bitter edge to her voice. "I assigned the knights I trust, just like you would. I suppose you think Tomas is untrustworthy? Or perhaps Nina? I was planning on asking them to take up guard shifts with him but perhaps I shouldn't if you believe them to be unqualified for the job." She met his gaze challengingly and watched as her brother clenched his jaw in frustration. It would be difficult for him to argue against the choice of a well respected lieutenant and a knight who had close relations with two barons. Penelope bit back a smirk as she seemed to have successfully backed him into a corner. 

"The barons will see that you are unfit to be further involved in any such decisions." Layth growled with a flustered look before he turned and stormed off towards the meeting tent. She let out a soft sigh and trailed behind her brother. Now would come the hard part, which was convincing the barons to let her oversee the matters involving Crow.