“It’s not a soft spot,” Crow mumbled defensively, still kicking himself for the slip up of admitting his respect for Gavin to Penelope. “I just think he’s not [i]quite[/i] as unbearable as all the other knights here. That’s all.” He was glad she agreed not to say anything to her former suitor though. He really didn’t want the other man to know he held such thoughts about him. It was already embarrassing enough that the admiration was even there. If the knight found out how he felt, he didn’t think his pride as a thief could take it.

As Penelope went on to agree with him about her ex suitor, Crow nodded, softening slightly at her kiss on his cheek. “Me too,” he said with a tired sigh. “I’m tired of being flirted with and accused of being untrustworthy all the time. If you’re right about both of them, it’ll be a nice break.” If Rikki and Gavin really had decided to accept that he and Penelope were staying together, it was going to be a huge weight off his mind. He had already seen the change in Gavin for himself but, having not seen Rikki since before the fight with Jaxon, he still had some doubts that the stubborn thief would be so quick to let it go.

[i]But who knows?[/i] he thought, studying Penelope’s face with interest. [i]Maybe she did get through to her after all.[/i]

“With both of them out of the way, all that’s left is to figure out how I’m going to get out of this place before your barons decide to cart me off to prison,” he mused, tugging thoughtfully at the chain around his wrist. Despite Mia’s agreeableness, he still didn’t think the knights’ leaders were going to let him off with anything less than another prison sentence, and even that was the best-case scenario. As long as people like Layth were still screaming for his execution, he was going to have some sort of penalty for his crimes. He shuddered at the thought of being sentenced to have his hands cut off or otherwise mutilated. It was something he’d heard of happening to other thieves in Brerra, so it wasn’t impossible for the barons to decide it was a fitting punishment.

Crow shifted on the bed, leaning a little closer to Penelope as he sought comfort in her touch. “I just hope I’m well enough to get away before they come to any final decisions,” he muttered nervously.