When Penelope told Otto that she would be staying with them for the night, Crow squeezed her hand in silent gratitude. On any other trip, he wouldn’t have minded sleeping in separate rooms, but until they could be sure that they were all out of danger, he preferred to rely on safety in numbers. Leaving her isolated from the rest of the group was just inviting trouble with mercenaries. Even if it was unlikely that she would be attacked, he wanted to make sure they all made it to their destinations safely and without any incidents.

Following Otto and Rayner into the room, he took a moment to look around. As expected, it wasn’t very spacious. All three beds were lined up against the back wall and looked like they were barely large enough to fit two full-grown men each. He lingered by the door, contemplating the arrangement while everyone else entered and began taking off their armor. Since Penelope had volunteered to sleep on the floor, Naida would have the leftmost bed to herself. That left the other two to be divided between himself and the other four men. He folded his arms over his chest. There wasn’t going to be enough space for all of them.

The viceroy blinked and turned to Penelope as he felt her kiss him on the cheek and wish him goodnight. “’Night,” he offered her a half smile before turning back to the others. The Therouldes had claimed the middle bed and were removing their uniforms, while Percival and Preston were on the right side of the room winding down as well. He stepped over to the latter and rested a hand on his attendant’s shoulder, “Take the bed with Percy. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“What?” Preston turned to him in surprise. “I’m not going to do that.”

“It’s fine,” Crow shrugged dismissively and casted him a smile. “I slept on the floor the last time I traveled to Younis, so I’m used to it. You two can share the bed.”

From the center of the room, Otto cleared his throat. “Lockton, I understand that you have a soft spot for peasants, but I would suggest that you don’t let your emotions cloud your better judgment.” He turned to the viceroy with a frown. “Your wellbeing is more important than anyone else in this room. I must insist that you sleep in a bed tonight.”

“It’s really not that important,” Crow insisted stubbornly. “The clothes I brought are warmer than what he owns, so it makes more sense for me to be the one to take the floor. I don’t want him to get sick in the cold overnight.”

“It would be far more detrimental for you to become ill,” the baron objected sternly.

“I’ll manage,” the viceroy narrowed his eyes.

“Collin, it’s fine,” Preston intervened. He shifted his weight between his feet, glancing at Theroulde nervously. “It’s just one night, and it’s my job to serve you. Let me do so by sleeping on the ground.”

Crow set his jaw, prepared to continue arguing with them about it, but before he could say anything, Preston dropped down on the floor beside the bed. He sat cross-legged and lifted a hand to indicate the empty side of the mattress, “Goodnight.”

“Fine,” the viceroy relented. He reached for the bottom of his surcoat and pulled the heavy fabric over his head so that he was left in just his undershirt. “But you’re taking this,” he asserted, proffering the clothing to the boy.

“Thanks,” Preston said under his breath. It was apparent to Crow that his attendant was still ruffled by Otto, but he wasn’t going to let the baron bully them into submission. After all, just because he had become a nobleman didn’t mean he had to adopt the nobles’ way of life. He planned to honor his word to Hazel that he wouldn’t let his new life change who he was.

Otto didn’t seem pleased with his gesture, but there was nothing he could say to prevent the servant from borrowing his master’s clothes, so he let the subject go, and they all finished getting ready for bed in silence. Crow took off his boots and climbed under the sheets next to Percival with a weary yawn. In the small bed, there was barely enough room for them to lay down side by side, but he was too tired to be bothered by the lack of space. He rolled onto his side to face away from the knight and closed his eyes, waiting for Rayner to finish taking off the last of his armor so he could fall asleep.