Once all the arrows had been gathered up and put away, Crow stood outside the knights’ barracks while Percival changed out of his guard uniform. Since they were already together, they’d decided to walk back to the castle in each other’s company rather than go alone. It had been Percy’s idea, and the viceroy had agreed to it eagerly since he’d spent most of the late afternoon and early evening by himself. He had a feeling he wouldn’t see much of Penelope at supper either, since his father had decided to meet with her that evening. Hoping to avoid any more unwelcomed encounters with the women he’d humored at the party, he was happy to take the knight up on his offer. Other nobles would be deterred from approaching him if he looked like he was already busy eating with someone else.

He shivered involuntarily, chilled by the cold air. Percival had invited him to wait inside the barracks, where it was warm, but Crow had declined. Given his history, the former thief didn’t feel comfortable surrounded by men who had been after his head not long ago. Even though his acquaintance had insisted that there was nothing to be worried about now, he had put his foot down and refused to step into the large tent. Ultimately, Percy had given up trying to convince the stubborn viceroy, and Crow had gotten his way, standing in the dark while snow began to fall overhead.

Not much longer, Percival stepped back out of the barracks, and Crow glanced at him. “Done?” he asked.

The knight nodded and stared at him for a moment longer before he shook his head, “It would have been more comfortable to wait inside,” he said again, having noticed the snowflakes that clung to the former criminal’s hair.

“And give them the chance to knife me in the back?” Crow scoffed belligerently, striding back toward the castle. “No thanks.”

Percy just sighed and ambled after him in silence, seeming to realize there was no point in arguing with the obstinate viceroy when he’d made up his mind. They spent the rest of the walk without speaking. Crow was distracted with thoughts of Penelope and her meeting with Albin, wondering if she was already with his father and if the discussion was going well. The king seemed to have been planning to shut her down when he’d said that he hoped their meeting would put an end to the voices that cried for peace. He hoped the lengthy petition she’d procured would be enough to change his mind.

When they eventually arrived at the Great Hall, his eyes swept over the room in search of the lieutenant, but of course, he didn’t see her. He had already expected her absence though, so he wasn’t overly disappointed. Perhaps it was even a good sign that she wasn’t here yet. It meant his father probably hadn’t denied her request right away, and might have even chosen to hear her out.

“There’s an empty table on the right,” Percival spoke up at his side, pointing at the one he had spotted. “Would you like to sit there?”

“Sure,” Crow nodded. He wove his way through the crowd with the knight until they reached the available seating. When they sat down, his gaze wandered again in search of Preston, though he also kept the entrance in the corner of his eye, in case Penelope came in.

Percy noticed his divided attention. “You’re distracted,” he commented, studying him curiously. “Is something wrong?”

“No, sorry,” Crow exhaled, shrugging his cloak from his shoulders. The thick fabric was too hot to wear in a room full of warm bodies. “I’m just waiting for some news. That’s all.”

The knight grunted and opened his mouth to say something else. However, he didn’t even speak one word before another voice cut through the hum of the bustling room.

“Finally!” Naida’s familiar tone chirped as the princess slid onto the bench next to her half-brother. “I’ve been looking for you all day, Collin! Where have you been?” Suddenly, she seemed to notice that the viceroy had company. “Oh, hey, Percy,” she greeted her comrade with a smile. Percival just dipped his head wordlessly in response, and she turned back to Crow, “Anyway, we [i]need[/i] to talk about what happened at the party! I know I saw sparks between you and Penelope, and don’t you dare try to deny it.”

“Not this again,” Crow groaned. He hoped Preston would arrive with his supper quickly, because he was going to need a drink to handle his sister’s rabid energy that evening.

“Do you want me to make a list? I’ll make a list,” Naida elbowed him in the side and began counting off on her slender fingers. “You were practically drooling over her when you saw her in her dress; you tried to wait for her when she was dancing with Cedric—who you’ve also been glaring daggers at every time you see him, I might add; you looked like the happiest person in the room when you finally did dance with her; [i]and[/i],” a mischievous look came over her face. “I saw you cozying up to her right before her big speech. I may have been drunk, but I know love when I see it.”

Crow blinked, surprised by all the observations the princess had been able to make during the chaos of the party. She must have been watching them for a long time to catch all that.

Across the table, Percival shifted his weight. “I can leave you two alone,” he muttered, seeming uncomfortable with the topic Naida had chosen to bring up.

“No, stay,” Crow waved his hand. The last thing he wanted was to be left alone with his sister when she was so certain she’d caught him. “Naida just had too much wine last night and jumped to conclusions.” Although John had just given him his blessing, there was still Albin to deal with, so he didn’t want the princess to know about his relationship with Penelope just yet. If their father was going to hear about his intentions for the knight, the information was going to come from him first.

He turned back to Naida and crossed his arms, “First of all, I did stare at her a little, but can you blame me? That dress she wore was seductive. Secondly, the rest of what you just said is all conjecture. I had already told you that I wasn’t waiting for a dance. I was trying the food. As for my expression during our dance, she’s my friend. Of course I was going to enjoy it more than the ones I was forced into by women I didn’t want to speak with at all. And when I was with her before the speech… well, you can ask her why I was comforting her if you really want to know.” He looked up, relieved to see the servants approaching with their plates. “And on that note, the food is here.”