After a moment of looking, Crow spotted Penelope at a table near the back of the Great Hall, eating supper with someone else. He narrowed his eyes slightly, quick to recognize Cedric. Though the nobleman hadn’t done anything suspicious yet, the viceroy still didn’t like seeing them eat together, especially after what Liz had pulled the night before. He was on edge around anyone who might be trying to get something from either of them, and the other man certainly seemed like the type to do that. Given his less than noble history with the knight, the former thief wasn’t about to believe he was just trying to be friends with her now. There had to be another reason why he had approached her years after their relationship had ended.

When Penelope gestured for him to come and join them at their table, Crow eagerly complied. He wove his way through the crowd, excited to see her again after spending a day apart and desirous to stay nearby just in case his guess about Cedric was right. Additionally, he craved to be close to the knight after Elizabeth had attempted to seduce him in his bedchamber. Even though nothing had happened between them, he disliked the fact that the image of her bare body was embedded so recently in his mind. Hopefully with Penelope at his side again, he could move on more quickly from the uncomfortable encounter.

Sitting down beside her, Crow noticed that the knight seemed more subdued than usual. It wasn’t too surprising though. From what he knew, she’d just gotten back from a long trip to one of the other cities in the inner kingdom. She was probably tired from the journey. “Evening,” he greeted her in return, offering a curt nod to Cedric with forced politeness. He didn’t want his hostility toward the other man to cause any more stress for Penelope if she was already feeling worn out, so he would be civil with her ex suitor if he had to.

“How was your trip?” he asked, turning back to the knight now that he’d made his gesture to her company. “Did you accomplish everything you wanted to?”