“Did you actually want to visit this place because of the drinks?” Nadia asked as she, Crow and Rayner approached the Black Dagger.

“In part,” the viceroy replied vaguely. He didn’t want to tell her about Evelyn before they got inside the building. Knowing his half-sister, she would just pester him for more information, wanting to learn more about the tavern keeper he was going out of his way to visit near the border. Although he didn’t think she would be rude to the older woman, he was already out of his comfort zone by showing up to Silverpool in a full nobleman ensemble. He preferred to be the one to tell Evelyn about everything that had happened in his life recently without any input or questions from the princess. It would be easier to slip away from her if she didn’t know about his old acquaintance in advance.

Stepping inside the tavern, he was greeted by the hum of voices and the scent of musty wood and liquor. Almost immediately after, he felt a twinge of discomfort. The peasant patrons in the room were already beginning to glance his way and whisper as they took notice. Most of the people in Silverpool knew him to some degree, so he would have been more shocked if they hadn’t recognized him. Their baffled stares made him draw a steeling breath, acclimating to the fact that word of his appearance would spread through the outer villages like wildfire. He just tried not to dwell on the rumors that he knew would travel along with the news that he was passing through in the company of decorated knights. Hopefully the things he planned to say to the keeper would help to offset the worst of the gossip at least a little.

Catching sight of the very person he was looking for across the tavern, he turned back to Naida and Rayner, “You two should go and get a table for us. I’ll join you in a moment.”

“What are you going to do?” Naida frowned.

“I just need to talk to someone alone,” he answered.

“Why?” the princess pressed.

“Don’t be nosy,” he rolled his eyes, prodding her in the side. “It doesn’t have anything to do with you if that’s what you’re concerned about. I’ll meet you both at a table when I’m done.”

Naida was quiet for a moment as she seemed to contemplate pushing her luck again, but ultimately decided against it. “Okay,” she sighed exaggeratedly. “Just don’t keep us waiting too long or else Otto might come looking for us, and I don’t think he’ll leave you to talk to your friend alone.”

“I’ll make it as quick as I can,” he assured her.

While the knights took a seat at a nearby table, the former thief made his way through the center of the room towards Evelyn, who didn’t seem to have noticed him as she gave directions to one of the serving wenches. His heart raced with a mixture of eagerness and apprehension, and he reached up to tap her on the shoulder, bracing himself for whatever her reaction might be as she turned around.

--

Penelope’s reply that Crow was in Silverpool cleared up nothing for Hazel. She took on a puzzled expression as Alistair questioned the knight about it, equally confused by the revelation. However, as she went on, the herbalist gathered that quite a lot had happened since the last time they’d received word from the new viceroy. All of it was good news too. Like the rest of the villagers, she and the two thieves had been longing to see the war finally end, so if it was really happening soon, she was relieved. She could see that Rikki was focusing on a different part of the message though.

Glancing her way, Hazel noticed the female thief’s shoulder fall slightly when Penelope relayed that Crow was on his way to Younis. She could guess that she was disappointed that he hadn’t stopped by to see them in person rather than sending the lieutenant in his place. Subtly, she reached out to give Rikki’s hand a squeeze in silent reassurance. She hoped the heartbroken woman would move on soon, since it was apparent that she could never have the man her heart pined for.

Turning back to Penelope, she was about to thank her for sharing the news with them when the lieutenant added that Crow had sent her to give them the location of a meeting point to see them. That brightened both of the thieves up considerably. “Fallen tree?” she echoed curiously.

“He has to mean that big one in the middle of the woods to the west,” Alistair’s eyes widened. “You know the one I’m talking about, right, Rikki?”

“Yeah,” she nodded, seeming dazed. “It’s impossible to miss it.”

Hazel’s eyes danced between the two of them. She wasn’t sure what they were referring to, but as long as they knew where the meeting point was, that was all that mattered. “Well, thank you for coming all this way to tell us,” she said to Penelope. “We’ve all been hoping for a chance to see him again.” In the next moment, another thought crossed her mind, and she added: “Are you hungry? I just made stew for everyone, and we should have enough to feed one extra mouth if you need something to eat after coming all the way here.”