Once they were far enough away from Silverpool that the dim glow of candlelight had faded beyond the trees, Percival asked Crow again where he was going, and the viceroy finally caved. He admitted that he used to be part of a small band of criminals before he’d come to the inner kingdom and that he’d secretly arranged to meet with them before he crossed the border. Naturally, Percy seemed perturbed by the fact that they were on their way to rendezvous with thieves in the dead of night, but to Crow’s surprise, he didn’t try to change his mind. Instead, the knight assured him that even though he didn’t like it, he trusted his judgment and wouldn’t say anything to the others when they returned. He was turning out to be very different than the image the former peasant had had of him when they’d first met.

Crow remembered that when he’d initially talked to Wayne, Robyn and Percy, the latter had been more sympathetic to the people of the outer villages during the war. However, he hadn’t thought that the nobleman would put his faith in a man who used to be a wanted criminal. Tonight, Percival had not only asked for his input about an important concern of his, but he was also willingly trudging through the foliage at his side to meet with people that, for all he knew, could be dangerous. He was quickly proving to be someone that the viceroy felt like he could trust on the trip to Younis and even in the inner kingdom when they returned. He was glad that he’d convinced his father to let him come, even though he didn’t have as much experience as the knights Albin had originally selected. He much preferred to have someone watching his back whom he knew wouldn’t stab it when he turned around.

The two walked for a long time before they eventually neared the fallen tree that Crow had designated as the meeting point, and he slowed his pace to a stop. Beside him, Percy halted as well. “Is this the place?” the knight asked, to which the former thief immediately lifted a finger to his lips to hush him.

“It’s just up ahead,” he whispered in return. Shifting his weight, he added, “I stopped because I wanted to ask you to wait here for me to come back.”

“You don’t want me to come with you the rest of the way?” Percival frowned, though he lowered his voice obligingly.

“It’s better if you don’t,” Crow answered honestly. “I let you come with me this far, but I arranged this meeting to speak with them openly, and they aren’t going to talk if I have a chaperone. If it makes you feel better, you can keep an eye on the area to make sure there’s no one suspicious around though.” He nudged the knight’s arm. “You did say you were here to make sure I’m safe.”

Percival contemplated it. “Are you sure these criminals won’t hurt you if you’re alone?”

“I trust them with my life,” he nodded.

The knight thought for a moment longer before he sighed, “Fine. I’ll wait for you here.”

“Thank you,” Crow smiled appreciatively. “I’ll be back soon.”

Percy grunted in response, and the viceroy made his deeper into the woods alone until he located the fallen tree. At the sight of it, he smiled again, feeling a surge of eagerness bubble up in his chest as he made out three silhouettes standing around the log. He’d expected the thieves to beat him there, since he’d had to wait for his guards to fall asleep before he could sneak out, but he was still excited to see them. And it seemed like they were excited to see him too.

As soon as he stepped into the clearing, he heard an energetic voice cry out his name.

“Crow!” Rikki squealed, leading the charge as she, Alistair and Hazel rushed over to greet him with open arms.

He met them with equal enthusiasm, grinning broadly even though they practically smothered him in their tight embraces. Attempting to wrap his arms around them too, he felt a swell of fondness for the thieves he’d left behind when he’d moved to the citadel. “I missed you all,” he said, foregoing formalities as the words slipped out of his mouth. They didn’t have time for polite exchanges anyway.

“I can’t believe you’re really here,” Rikki shook her head in disbelief. He could feel her trembling as she pressed herself against his torso. Out of the trio, she seemed to have missed him the most. Or at least, her reaction to seeing him again was the most emotional.

“Yeah, we thought you were going to be too busy to visit us,” Alistair agreed, equally as constricting at the viceroy’s side.

“Alright, you two, we should give him some space,” Hazel said, stepping back first and shooting him a wink. “He’s important now, so we can’t suffocate him.”

“Thanks,” Crow rolled his eyes at her snide comment, though he was a little relieved when they gave him room to breathe again.

Once they had put a little distance between them, Alistair whistled. “Wow, you even look like a nobleman now,” he observed, looking over the viceroy’s ensemble with round eyes. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen fabric that expensive. How much do you think it’s worth?”

“I try not to think about it,” Crow admitted a bit sheepishly.

“Who knew you would clean up so nicely too?” Hazel gibed with a smirk. “What did they do to convince you to groom yourself, scamp?”

“They said that if I didn’t do what they wanted, they’d come after you instead,” he said dryly. “You should be grateful. I took one for the team.”

“Forgive me if I withhold my thanks,” she replied, though the smile didn’t leave her lips.

“What do you think of… well, everything?” Rikki asked tentatively. She wore a curious expression, but he could see a hint of concern in her eyes. He guessed she was still holding out a little hope that he would change his mind about the decision he’d made and come back to them.

Offering her a soft smile, he replied truthfully, “It’s a lot to handle, but the pros still outweigh the cons.” Walking with them over to the fallen tree, he went on to tell them about everything that had been going on since he’d left them a month ago. They knew a few of the details because of the letters he’d sent to them, but there was quite a bit that they hadn’t heard. He told them about his training, about the things he’d had to learn about assimilating into noble life and the lessons he’d had with his father and with John. He also talked about his family, how Naida was the only one who had openly accepted him. Subjects of the other affairs at the castle came up as well, including the time the Fischbachs had tried to frame him, the trip he’d taken to Bellmare with Penelope, and the party she had thrown to convince the other nobles to sign her petition. Of course, he also told them that they were officially courting and planning to get married now that he had her father’s blessing. Lastly, he explained that he was in the outer villages because Albin had agreed to negotiate with the Younisian king about ending the war, and he was the representative assigned to make the treaty.

By the time he was done talking, a brief quiet fell over the group while his companions took in the news. “At least it sounds like you never have to worry about a dull day at the castle,” Alistair shook his head incredulously. “I can’t believe so much has happened in just one month.”

“Me either,” Crow exhaled. “But it’s mostly good things. I never expected this to be easy, and now, Penelope and I can finally be together. I’m happy even though we’ll probably have a few more bumps in the road to get past.”

“I’m happy to hear it,” Hazel said supportively. “And I’m happy to hear that you’re already being given opportunities to make a difference. It’s what I was hoping would happen when you told me you were going to be taking this title.”

“It does feel good,” Crow mused. “I’ve never had the power to end a war before. I’m still getting used to the fact that I’m not a thief anymore too. I still flinch whenever I see knights.” He chuckled amusedly. “One of the men I’ve gotten to know at the castle invited me into the barracks outside the castle once, but I couldn’t do it because I still feel like they’re going to pin me to the ground and throw me in a cell.”

“I’m sure you’ll adjust to it soon,” Hazel assured him.

“Maybe,” he shrugged and then smiled at her with interest. “But enough about me. I want to know what the three of you have been up to since I left. Now that I have to at least pretend like I’m an upstanding citizen in this kingdom, I have to live vicariously through all of you.”

The thieves laughed at his joke and proceeded to take turns filling him in on their lives in the outer villages. For the most part, things hadn’t changed. Rikki and Alistair had backed off from the war a bit to focus on making sure they had everything they needed to get through the winter season while Hazel had been gathering herbs before the first snowfall to make and distribute poultices for the people of Myrefall. Once they had finished catching up with each other, they sat for a little while longer, simply chatting and enjoying each other’s company. For a moment, Crow felt like he’d been transported back in time. He and the other thieves rediscovered their rhythm so easily that it almost seemed like they hadn’t been apart for a whole month. It made him nostalgic for the past, but he knew he could never go back. As much as he missed his companions, he had something—or someone—better waiting for him when he returned to the inner kingdom.

So, even though he would have stayed all night if he could, the viceroy eventually forced himself to get up and say his goodbyes.

He embraced each one of the thieves in turn, all of whom were visibly disappointed about parting ways again. “I promise I’ll come back to visit the second I have another chance,” he swore as he wrapped Rikki in a firm hug and then stepped back to look at all of them.

“We’ll hold you to it,” Hazel nodded.

“Yeah,” Alistair agreed with a grin. “You and I still have to have that next wrestling match, and I’m not letting you off the hook.”

“Well, I’m not letting you chicken out either,” he grinned back at his old friend.

“Don’t go away for too long, okay?” Rikki frowned. “I miss seeing your face around here.”

“I’ll do my best,” he promised her. “In the meantime, you had all better stay safe, so I can see every one of you the next time I come back.”

“You don’t have to worry about us,” Hazel quipped. “Now that you’ve moved away, there’s no one around to drag us into any dangerous endeavors.”

“Ha ha,” he rolled his eyes.

After saying a few more parting words, he turned around to head back to Silverpool, while they made their way off to their hideout near Myrefall. As he walked through the woods, he found Percival who was, true to his word, standing almost exactly where the viceroy had left him. The knight was studying the starry sky until he heard the former thief’s soft footsteps in the dried grass. “How did it go?” he asked, turning his head to meet the other man’s gaze.

“Good,” Crow replied, stifling a yawn. He’d been so caught up in talking to his old companions that he hadn’t realized how much time had passed. Belatedly, he felt a twinge of guilt for making the knight wait for so long. “Sorry for keeping you out this late,” he apologized as the noble quietly fell in step at his side. “I wasn’t paying attention to the time.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Percy shook his head. “I was the one who decided to come with you. You had every right to take as long as you needed.”

[i]How is someone this accommodating a knight?[/i] Crow thought, baffled by his guard’s congeniality. Percival was certainly the warmest person he’d met since he’d moved into the inner kingdom. “Well, thanks for waiting anyway,” he insisted.

“Of course,” he replied curtly.

Both tired from the late night, Crow and Percy headed back to Silverpool in silence, ready to return to their beds to get what little sleep they could before they left for the border the next morning.