The next morning, Crow woke early, unable to sleep any longer as his stress about meeting his father continued to build up inside of him. However, even though he couldn’t fall back asleep, he also didn’t feel like getting up, so instead, he laid still, staring absently at the wall beside his bed. His mind was full of thoughts and worries about what was going to happen when he finally came face to face with the man who had abandoned his family. He didn’t know what to say to Albin nor what he should expect Albin to say to him. After all, this was his first time meeting the king. Everything was uncertain.

He wasn’t sure how much time passed, but eventually he heard one of the knights get up, followed a little later by the other. Still, he wasn’t in the mood to get up and greet either of them while his stomach was churning with apprehension, so he just closed his eyes in the hopes that they would assume he was asleep and let him lay in bed a little longer. Of course, that hope didn’t last very long. In the next moment, he could hear the sound of quiet talking followed shortly by creaking floorboards as someone approached him.

To his relief, it was Penelope, and not John, who had come to get him up this time. The thief opened his eyes and looked up at her for a moment before glancing at John, who seemed to be avoiding looking in their direction as he packed up his things. Suddenly longing to take comfort in her touch, he reached up to wrap his arms around her and pulled her down against himself in a tight embrace, burying his head against her neck. “Sorry,” he murmured, realizing that his abrupt actions might have taken her off guard. However, he didn’t move right away, lingering close to her instead as he tried to calm his worries.

After a short time had passed, Crow finally let go of her again and moved to sit up on the bed. He lowered his gaze to the blanket on his lap, fidgeting slightly with the fabric. “Do we have to go now?” he asked hesitantly. “Maybe we should get breakfast first… and also stop for lunch. I mean we don’t even need to reach the castle [i]today[/i], do we?”