Apparently, Albin had quite a bit that he had wanted to cover in regard to the trip. Crow did his best to pay attention and give input on his preferences about the size of travel rations, what kind of accommodations he would need—and how much to pay for inns versus sleeping in the woods—along with various other details he found incredibly unimportant. It was difficult to stay focused when his thoughts kept drifting back to the subject he really wanted to go over with his father. However, to his increasing impatience, a good time to mention Penelope didn’t come up. The king was too single mindedly concentrated on the items they were refining for the upcoming journey to tolerate any distractions.

The viceroy sank down tiredly in his chair, watching Albin write the three offers he and his advisors had come up with on six separate parchments. According to his instructions, Crow was to present the scrolls containing the accepted offer to the Younisian king to procure a signature. Each pair of scrolls contained identical treaties, one for his father’s archive and another for the foreign monarch’s. When he returned from the northern kingdom, he would then pass off the signed parchments to Albin, who would add his own signature. The copy for the other king would be delivered again to Younis by courier, and the deal would be complete. It was a tedious process.

“You don’t have to stay, you know,” Albin said without looking up. He had only started composing the second of the six scrolls, a replica of the first. “Your time would be better spent practicing your riding skills or your swordsmanship.”

At the mention of swordsmanship, Crow blinked, suddenly reminded of the promise he had made to Naida. He’d gotten so caught up in his plan to talk about Penelope that he’d completely forgotten about his sister’s request. His eyes flicked up from the papers to his father’s face. Perhaps there was a way for him to slip in both of the things he needed to ask.

“I still need to talk to you,” he reminded the king, sitting up straighter in his chair and stretching his back.

Albin sighed and set down his quill. “We’ve made plenty of progress today, I suppose,” he decided. “What’s on your mind?”

“Well,” Crow shuffled his feet. “Firstly, I was wondering if you’ve already made up your mind about who will be accompanying me to Younis.” The king had mentioned before that he wouldn’t let him leave the kingdom without protection, since they were still in the middle of a heated war.

“I’ve assigned four of my best men to act as your guards,” Albin frowned. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s just that I would feel more comfortable traveling with people I know,” Crow explained. “I used to be hated by your knights, and there are still many who would be happy to let me die if we’re attacked. I don’t want to go to Younis without the company of guards who’ve earned my trust.”

Albin tapped his quill against the table in thought. “I suppose that request isn’t unreasonable,” he admitted. “However, I must insist that you bring at least two of the men I’ve selected for you. I cannot justify send you off with four guards who have never been tested. Who did you have in mind?”

It was Crow’s turn to think about the question. He didn’t know very many knights, and he hated most of the ones he’d had the displeasure of meeting. However, there was one man whom he felt was trustworthy enough to fill the spot next to Naida. “Percival Granger,” he recommended decidedly. “…And Naida.”

Albin stiffened at the suggestion of his daughter, “I’ll give you Percival, but Naida must remain in the citadel.”

“Why?” Crow pressed. “Out of all the people I’ve met in the castle, I trust her more than anyone. She’s a skilled knight, and I think she would make an excellent guard.”

“She’s second in line for the throne,” Albin answered curtly. “I can’t risk allowing anything to happen to her.”

The viceroy pursed his lips. His father sounded like he wasn’t going to budge on the issue, but he couldn’t leave without trying his best. His half-sister deserved that much. “She thinks you don’t have faith in her, you know,” he exhaled quietly. “She told me that in all the time she’s been a knight, you’ve never let her leave the inner kingdom. She’s been hoping for a chance to prove her mettle for years, and it’s starting to hurt her that you still coddle her like a child.” He met the king’s identical green eyes with a helpless shrug. “I think this trip would be a good opportunity for you to show her that you do think she’s a good knight. I mean, do you really think the Younisians would attack a negotiator right now? I paid attention during the council meeting, and I know they’ve been suffering in this war just as much as we have. It’s far more likely that the king will hear us out.”

Albin fell silent, and Crow held his breath as the monarch considered his words. “I didn’t know she felt that way,” he shook his head. “Alright. She may accompany you, but I will inform the other three that in the unlikely event of an attack, they are to protect both of you.”

“I’m sure she’ll be ecstatic when you tell her,” Crow smiled.

“Mmh,” Albin nodded noncommittally. “If that’s all, you may go.”

The viceroy’s smile faded, “Actually, there’s one more thing…”