As Otto addressed Penelope, Crow took a moment to marvel over the group that would be accompanying him to Younis. It was just hitting him for the first time that all four of the knights and his personal attendant were here for [i]him[/i]. They weren’t begrudging guards, assigned to babysit a petty thief as he was dragged off to a foreign land to burgle a castle. They were a decorated entourage, protecting and looking after the wellbeing of a royal envoy. He shivered. If they hadn’t been planning and preparing for this moment for the last month, he would have thought it was a dream. What other criminal in Brerra’s history had flown so close to the sun without burning his wings? He certainly couldn’t think of any, even in the old stories he’d been told by the elders in the outer villages.

When the baron announced their departure, Crow ambled over to Baine and climbed up onto his back while the others did the same with their horses. Once everyone had mounted, Otto and Rayner guided their steeds to the front of the procession, and Preston rode close to the viceroy’s stallion. Since his saddlebags had been packed with the scrolls and other supplies he would need for the negotiation in Younis, the servant’s had been filled with a large portion of the food stock, which he had requested early on to make sure he would be well-fed on the journey.

“Princess Mannering and Granger, take the rear,” Otto fluidly instructed the two novices of the group. It was clear from the patient yet commanding tone of his voice that he was comfortable doling out orders. Crow eyed the baron’s son with quiet bemusement. Contrary to his father, Rayner seemed like a passive individual. He had yet to speak a word to any of them, letting Otto take full control instead. Idly, the viceroy was reminded of Abraxas, who had been just as soft-spoken during his first trip to Younis.

As soon as everyone was in position, Otto and Rayner clicked their tongues and set their horses in motion. Crow fell in line behind them, easily coaxing Baine into a steady walking gait after all his lessons with John. Behind him, he could hear the others follow suit by the sound of clopping hooves that echoed in the courtyard, and his heartbeat quickened with excitement. They were finally on their way to end the war that had been going on for the last year.

“So,” he turned to Penelope, sidling his stallion closer to hers as they headed toward the castle gates. “What are you going to do when you get back to your battalion?” He casted her a teasing smirk. “I know you’re going to miss me, but I hope you’ve made some plans other than moping until I come back.”