Crow nodded gratefully when Penelope said she would try to slip out of camp as soon as possible. It had only been two days since the battle in Jaxon’s camp, so he doubted his companions would have moved yet. Chances were, they were still holed away in their hideout to mourn the loss of their leader. The thought made him feel a pang of sadness, and he was even more eager for Penelope to go to them, so they would know he wasn’t dead, and that he would be returning to them as soon as he could move on his own.

As Penelope went on to tell him about the knight who would be watching him that night, he frowned slightly, unsettled that there would be a stranger in the tent with him even though she vouched for his trustworthiness. He did believe that whoever this man was, he must have been a person of character to earn her approval, but he still disliked the idea of being guarded by someone he had never met before while he was going to be sleeping and vulnerable.

[i]It will be fine,[/i] he thought, trying to reassure himself. [i]Not all the knights here want me dead. I’m sure Penelope weeded out the dangerous ones already.[/i] Feeling a little better, he gave her hand an affectionate squeeze, appreciating the work she had already put in to keep him safe from her less accommodating comrades. If it wasn’t for her efforts, Layth probably would have stationed guards that would take advantage of the fact that he couldn’t defend himself.

Suddenly, Crow tensed slightly as he heard footsteps outside the tent. At first, he thought that Jane had come back again, but when he turned his head to see who was coming, he was surprised to see one of the decorated knights step inside. He studied her cautiously, unsure what to make of this unexpected visit. Apparently, this baroness—Mia, her name was—hadn’t come to retrieve her lieutenant, but to speak with [i]him[/i]. Somehow, knowing that just made his guard raise higher. What could someone of this woman’s rank want with a thief like him? Whatever it was, he didn’t like it.

The thief glanced at Penelope disappointedly as she complied with Mia’s request to speak with him alone. He wished she would stay with him but, not wanting to give away anything about the true nature of their relationship, he bit his tongue to keep from fighting against the order. Instead, he watched silently as she exited the tent and then turned back to the baroness with a guarded expression, preparing himself for whatever it was she planned to say or do to him.