Crow nodded thoughtfully when Penelope spoke about her next project. They had brought up the state of the outer villages a few times before, but this was the first time it truly felt like hope was on the horizon. He couldn’t wait to see how much they would be able to do to help the villagers recover and possibly even give them enough gold to get their feet on the ground after decades of debt to the crown. He didn’t know much about economics, since the subject wasn’t a priority to his father at the moment, but he still remembered how much better off the peasants of Younis had been compared to his own people. If they could offer the resources the Brerratic villagers needed to do more than just till land and raise livestock, everyone in the kingdom would probably be better off for it.

At Naida’s excitable suggestion that they should visit a tavern together, he hesitated briefly, considering the idea before he smiled back at her. “You know what? Why not?” he agreed. They had never gone out together as a group, and after all the work they had put into the party, unwinding with a drink or two sounded great. He just made a mental note to keep an eye on his wily sister, since he wouldn’t put it past her to try and get him and Penelope drunk for her own amusement. He may have been willing to get out of the castle with her, but he still didn’t enjoy losing his inhibitions.

“Yes!” Naida squealed victoriously. “Let’s go after supper. There’s a lively tavern not too far from the castle called The Grumpy Dwarf that I think you’ll like.”

“Okay,” Crow chuckled, finding the name amusing. He parted his lips to add more, and then paused when he remembered that Percival was still sitting with them. Suddenly uncomfortable making plans in front of the taciturn knight, he offered him a friendly smile. “You can come too, if you’d like. I’m sure a mug of ale would taste heavenly after all that standing around you did on your shift.”

Percy stared at him, seeming surprised to have been included, and then shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but I work the morning again tomorrow,” he said. “I was going to retire to my bedchamber as soon as I finish eating.”

“If you say so,” Crow didn’t push the matter. Having only wanted to make sure that his acquaintance hadn’t felt excluded while they spoke in front of him, he turned back to the others with a smirk. “Taverns in the inner kingdom had better be good. I’ve been to the best of the best in the outer villages, so I’ve got high standards.”