[i]What did she say?[/i] Hazel stared at Penelope with widened eyes. She said nothing as she processed what the knight had just told her. Not only was her husband’s murderer dead, but Crow was alive too. She felt lightheaded with relief. After believing their leader was dead and that Jaxon had won, this was the best news she and the others could have received. She was just about to thank Penelope for coming to tell them, but before she had a chance to speak, the other three went at the knight in a flurry of shock and excitement.

Rikki was the first to move. She had been standing at a distance with a broken expression on her face at the sight of the woman Crow had given his life for, but upon hearing that he was still alive, she perked up right away. “[i]What?[/i]” she practically squeaked in her elation, hurrying across the cavern to take Penelope’s hand as she held the knight’s gaze. “You’re telling us the truth, right? H-He’s not dead?”

“If he’s alive, why hasn’t he come back yet?” Alistair added with a concerned frown. He had followed Rikki over to the entrance of the cave and was now standing a little behind his friend with a wary look, as if he didn’t fully believe the news. Occasionally, his gaze flickered to Olivia, but he didn’t move to greet the other knight while his attention was focused on finding out what was going on.

“How did he survive?” Hartley was the last to chime in, studying Penelope with innocent curiosity. “That sword went all the way through him! I’ve never seen [i]anyone[/i] recover from something like that.” The three thieves stared expectantly at the knight as they waited for her response to their rapid series of questions.