As Albin spoke with the knights, Crow remained quiet, listening to the content of their conversation. It seemed that his father believed he really was innocent, whether there had been anything in his room or not. He was glad to have the king’s support, but he had to wonder why Albin was so confident that he hadn’t done it. He studied his father curiously. They hadn’t known each other for very long, and given his past, he would have thought the king wouldn’t believe him so easily. After all, he had been known throughout the kingdom as a criminal and a liar. It seemed like the wiser choice to take what he said with a grain of salt, but Albin seemed to trust him wholeheartedly. The thought made the viceroy feel warm.

When John and Penelope began to walk back toward the door, Crow turned to follow them. However, he didn’t get far before his father stopped him.

“Collin,” the king said, drawing his attention. “Before you leave, I would like a word with you.”

Crow swallowed, guessing that whatever his father had to say, it wasn’t going to be good. He glanced from Albin to the Vermillions and gave a helpless shrug, “I guess I’ll catch up with you later.”

John nodded wordlessly and gestured for his daughter to follow him as he continued to make his way toward the exit. Once the two knights were gone, Crow turned back to his father. “What did you want to talk to me about?” he ventured a bit sheepishly, still unsure what to expect.

“Come up here,” Albin waved a hand, gesturing for the viceroy to join him on the pedestal. “I don’t enjoy holding a conversation with you from such a distance.”

Crow wavered for a moment before he complied with the king’s request and climbed up the steps to stand by his father’s throne. Albin nodded approvingly. “That’s better,” he said with a smile.

“So?” the viceroy pressed tentatively.

“Don’t worry,” Albin sounded amused. “You aren’t in any trouble.” His expression turned more serious. “I want you to know that if you are receiving any threats from my subjects, I want you to come to me with them immediately. You are my ambassador, so any plots against you are also plots against me.” He leaned forward in his seat, his eyes darkening in a way that sent a chill up Crow’s spine. “I will not stand for treason within the walls of my own castle. If there is anyone at all who is making you feel unsafe here, I will make an example out of them. You will tell me if there are, won’t you?”

Crow bit his lip. His father was offering him the perfect opportunity to take down the baron who was trying to have him removed from his position, yet the viceroy couldn’t speak his name. As much as he disliked Adam, he didn’t want to be the cause of anyone getting punished by his father. By the look in the king’s eye, he had a feeling that whatever punishment he had in mind was going to be severe.

[i]He hasn’t done anything worth speaking out about yet,[/i] he reasoned with himself. [i]As long as my life isn’t in danger, I won’t say anything.[/i]

“There are none,” Crow lied after a pause.

Albin’s amused smile returned. “Why are you defending them?” he asked, once again seeing right through his son’s deceit. “I saw the dagger you’ve been carrying, Collin. If you truly felt safe here, you would have no need to arm yourself.”

“It’s a habit,” he lied again with a shrug. “I’ve lived my whole life on the run, so I never feel safe without a blade anymore.”

“Very well,” the king leaned back in his throne. “I’m not going to force you to tell me. However, I would advise you to think about it. If I find out someone has been threatening you, I will have him imprisoned.”

“Of course,” Crow shrugged. He had expected that much.

“I’m not finished,” there was something menacing about the smile on the king’s face. “I will have him imprisoned, because if he is left unchecked and something happens to you… I will have him drawn and quartered instead.”

The viceroy paled.

“That is all I have to say to you,” Albin’s expression turned warm again. “Please, think it over while you’re at breakfast.”

Crow nodded wordlessly, still unnerved by his father’s grisly threat. He turned to leave, but then paused as another thought came to him. “I’ve been wondering,” he said slowly. “How did you know I didn’t steal those men’s jewelry? You’ve seemed certain of it since the beginning.”

Albin chuckled. “Because you share my blood,” he answered in a low voice, standing up from his throne. “Stealing those belongings would have been a fool’s errand.” He rested one hand on the viceroy’s shoulder. “My son may have a criminal record, but he is no fool. I know you wouldn’t have done it.”

Crow wasn’t sure what to think about that.

“Come on,” his father waved a hand. “I’m sure you must be hungry after such a busy morning.”

“Starving,” Crow agreed. He followed after Albin as the king led him out of the room, putting his unease behind him at the prospect of breakfast in the Great Hall.