“Crow, is that you?” Evelyn stared at him with squinted eyes as she took in the sight of his uniform. He shifted his weight awkwardly. Now was the moment when he would find out if one of the few people he respected in the world would approve or be disappointed in the decision he’d made to become Albin’s viceroy.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” he smiled at her sheepishly.

“Considering your usual patterns, it doesn’t surprise me,” a glimmer of amusement entered the tavern keeper’s eyes as she looked him over. “I have to ask, though. What on earth are you wearing?”

He swallowed. “That’s, err, sort of why I’m here,” he started slowly. “A lot’s changed since the last time I was in Silverpool…” And he filled her in on everything that had happened over the last few months. First, he told her about Jaxon and how he had allied himself with the knights to stop the murderous thief from handing the war to Younis; he explained that during the last fight, he’d been almost fatally wounded and had to recover in the battalion’s camp; then he relayed how a knight from the inner kingdom had sought him out to bring him back to the castle, where he met with the king of Brerra and was offered the position of viceroy. By the end, he confessed that he’d taken the deal and fell quiet as he studied the old woman’s face in wait to hear her thoughts on it all.

At first Evelyn said nothing while she processed the heap of news he’d just dropped on her. Then, she shook her head slowly. “Who would have thought our resident thief would be taken in by the king himself?” she mused with an incredulous chuckle. “You really do know how to get everything you want, don’t you, you rascal?”

“I wouldn’t say this is something I’ve always dreamed of having,” he smiled back at her, relieved that she didn’t seem disgusted with him for choosing noble life. “The offer came out of nowhere too.”

“Did it really?” Evelyn’s expression turned into a knowing one.

He furrowed his brows, “What do you mean?”

“Last year, when that courier gave me a letter to hold onto for you, I may have snooped,” the tavern keeper revealed with a sly wink.

“Evelyn!” Crow gawked at her, shocked that she’d invaded his privacy. “How much did you know?”

“Enough to realize that I’ve been giving free drinks to royalty for years without getting anything in return,” she huffed with mock irritableness and then rested a hand on his shoulder when he rolled his eyes at her. “I didn’t know the exact terms of the offer the king was planning to give you, but I’m glad it all worked out for the best, Crow.”

“If you knew all along, then why didn’t you say anything?” he asked with a frown.

“It wasn’t my place,” Evelyn answered simply. “Whether or not you opened that letter was your decision. Confronting your father was your choice to make as well. I didn’t want to influence you one way or the other.”

“So… you’re not disappointed that I chose to take the title?”

“Not at all. I’m sure you’re going to make a great viceroy. I must admit that I’m a little confused as to why you took the title if you didn’t want it though.”

“Penelope,” Crow summed the answer up in one word. “Do you remember her? The woman I was with a little over two years ago… She’s actually a knight, and now that I’m a nobleman, we’re finally going to be married.”

“Ah, of course,” she smirked amusedly. “I’d almost forgotten what a romantic you’ve turned into.”

“Shut up,” he snorted, turning slightly red.

The tavern keeper chuckled again, “I’m happy for you. It’s about time you got that girl you’ve been after for so long. I assume I won’t be able to make it to the wedding if it’s set to happen in the inner kingdom, but I wish the two of you a long and happy marriage.”

“Thank you,” he said appreciatively, warmed by her support.

“Now then,” a cunning look took over Evelyn’s aging features as she looked past his shoulder. “Why don’t you have a seat with those knights you brought with you and I’ll fetch you all something to drink? Noble travelers always bring in lots of money.”

--

Hazel shrugged when Penelope turned down her offer to share their stew, “Suit yourself.” They did have enough to feed an extra person, but she didn’t want to pressure the knight to stay if she was trying to get back to her battalion. Besides, she was right that they would need to leave quickly after they ate in order to make sure they had as much time with Crow as possible before he crossed the border. She was sure they were going to have plenty of catching up to do.

“It’s hard to imagine Crow with a baron,” Alistair mused with a shudder. “I’ll have to make sure he hasn’t changed too much when we see him later!”

“He’s probably surrounded with barons now, dumbass,” Hazel rolled her eyes. Secretly, though, she was a little curious to find out if the thief they all knew and loved had changed since he’d moved into the castle. Power had a way of corrupting people, so it would give her some peace of mind to see that he was the same man he’d been when he’d left. Turning back to Penelope, she returned the lieutenant’s smile, “It was good to see you too. Be safe on your way back. The war isn’t over yet.”

“And tell Olivia I miss her when you get back,” Alistair chimed in.