Penelope enjoyed a quick breakfast with Olivia, the two talking quietly as she told Olivia what had happened between her and Gavin. Olivia had never been very fond of her suitor so she didn't seem to share much sympathy for him. However, Penelope noticed her hold back a couple snarky remarks so she hoped that meant the other female knight wouldn't get too involved with their split. The last thing Gavin needed was Olivia's tendency to meddle or tease.
After they finished eating, Penelope parted ways with Olivia and headed to the large tent at the center of camp to meet with the barons and other lieutenants. As she stepped inside, she glanced around to notice she was the last to arrive, but luckily she didn't seem to be late as no one commented on her timing. She stepped over to an empty chair besides her brother and sat down, listening as the group seemed to already be in a heated discussion. Layth sat rigidly with his gaze locked on the barons.
"With the new supplies coming in, there is more of a need to stop those damn thieves than ever before. We've lost too much to them already. I say we increase patrols now. Catch them before they even get a whiff of the supplies." Layth insisted.
Too late for that.. Penelope thought with a hint of amusement as she listened her brother try to call for focus on the thieves again. Ever since seeing Crow, capturing him and then losing him, the male knight seemed solely focused on trying to pin down the thieves. It made her wonder if he was even aware that the war was still going on. Perhaps it was also due to how many seasons he had spent out in Wellspring with their father that had caused him to go chasing after thieves. That and he's still trying to live down losing to Crow in that battle.. She thought. Though not many knew about it, she was sure that his pride was still hurting from having to be saved by her.
"While I understand your concern Layth, I don't think running around chasing thieves is wise." Tomas responded first with a small frown. "We're supposed to be preparing for our next battle. It wouldn't be good for us to waste our time like that. Our troops should be focused on learning battle plans and working to make sure we're able to take back Grimsby."
"We won't be in any shape to take back anything if our supplies keep getting stolen." Layth growled.
"Layth is right." Edward agreed crossing his arms over his chest. "It would give the Younisians a terrible advantage if we continue to lose supplies. The thieves must be dealt with. I say we strengthen our patrols immediately."
"We'll send them to every nearby village, search every inch of the forest, and track them down." Layth rallied.
Penelope watched uneasily. She looked across the room towards Mia. The baroness looked uninterested, even a bit annoyed with the two. A sigh escaped her lips and she sat up a bit taller in her chair, making Penelope feel a little relieved as she caught on that she did not approve of their plans. If anyone could intervene and change the current course of ideas, it was Mia.
"Lovely. Let's send out all our troops to waste time scouring the forest for a couple of petty criminals." Mia mused sarcastically. Her eyes narrowed coldly at Layth. "Have you any common sense, boy?"
"Excuse me?" Layth curled his lip up at the baroness.
"Our patrols will remain minimal. The thieves are nothing more than simple pests.. Our focus must be on the real threat, the Younisian troops." Mia stated, glancing from Edward to Bennet. "Chasing around criminals will weaken us and leave us far too open to attack. I understand your frustrations but we have far bigger problems."
"So do you suggest we just keep letting them steal from us?" Edward said accusingly.
"We should figure out some way to deal with them. Surely even you can agree with that right, Mia?" Bennet piped up now.
Mia pursed her lips together and leaned back in her seat for a moment. "We'll send out a couple knights to make sure that the supplies are well guarded. If they dare to try and steal from us again, they'll find themselves with an unfortunate surprise." She responded. "Is that enough to satisfy you two?"
Bennet nodded his head. Edward hesitated, clenching his jaw as he looked over at Mia. "For now." He responded gruffly.
Penelope didn't bother to get involved but was pleased with the outcome. Even though she knew Crow would be traveling to Younis, she hoped that this would at least keep them from finding the other thieves or running into Crow on either his way to or from the other kingdom. With a small group focused on protecting the supplies, patrols would continue to be only a few, likely just the ones lead by Layth. The female lieutenant relaxed slightly as the barons came to an agreement and began to move on to the topic of preparation for when the supplies arrived.
After they finished eating, Penelope parted ways with Olivia and headed to the large tent at the center of camp to meet with the barons and other lieutenants. As she stepped inside, she glanced around to notice she was the last to arrive, but luckily she didn't seem to be late as no one commented on her timing. She stepped over to an empty chair besides her brother and sat down, listening as the group seemed to already be in a heated discussion. Layth sat rigidly with his gaze locked on the barons.
"With the new supplies coming in, there is more of a need to stop those damn thieves than ever before. We've lost too much to them already. I say we increase patrols now. Catch them before they even get a whiff of the supplies." Layth insisted.
Too late for that.. Penelope thought with a hint of amusement as she listened her brother try to call for focus on the thieves again. Ever since seeing Crow, capturing him and then losing him, the male knight seemed solely focused on trying to pin down the thieves. It made her wonder if he was even aware that the war was still going on. Perhaps it was also due to how many seasons he had spent out in Wellspring with their father that had caused him to go chasing after thieves. That and he's still trying to live down losing to Crow in that battle.. She thought. Though not many knew about it, she was sure that his pride was still hurting from having to be saved by her.
"While I understand your concern Layth, I don't think running around chasing thieves is wise." Tomas responded first with a small frown. "We're supposed to be preparing for our next battle. It wouldn't be good for us to waste our time like that. Our troops should be focused on learning battle plans and working to make sure we're able to take back Grimsby."
"We won't be in any shape to take back anything if our supplies keep getting stolen." Layth growled.
"Layth is right." Edward agreed crossing his arms over his chest. "It would give the Younisians a terrible advantage if we continue to lose supplies. The thieves must be dealt with. I say we strengthen our patrols immediately."
"We'll send them to every nearby village, search every inch of the forest, and track them down." Layth rallied.
Penelope watched uneasily. She looked across the room towards Mia. The baroness looked uninterested, even a bit annoyed with the two. A sigh escaped her lips and she sat up a bit taller in her chair, making Penelope feel a little relieved as she caught on that she did not approve of their plans. If anyone could intervene and change the current course of ideas, it was Mia.
"Lovely. Let's send out all our troops to waste time scouring the forest for a couple of petty criminals." Mia mused sarcastically. Her eyes narrowed coldly at Layth. "Have you any common sense, boy?"
"Excuse me?" Layth curled his lip up at the baroness.
"Our patrols will remain minimal. The thieves are nothing more than simple pests.. Our focus must be on the real threat, the Younisian troops." Mia stated, glancing from Edward to Bennet. "Chasing around criminals will weaken us and leave us far too open to attack. I understand your frustrations but we have far bigger problems."
"So do you suggest we just keep letting them steal from us?" Edward said accusingly.
"We should figure out some way to deal with them. Surely even you can agree with that right, Mia?" Bennet piped up now.
Mia pursed her lips together and leaned back in her seat for a moment. "We'll send out a couple knights to make sure that the supplies are well guarded. If they dare to try and steal from us again, they'll find themselves with an unfortunate surprise." She responded. "Is that enough to satisfy you two?"
Bennet nodded his head. Edward hesitated, clenching his jaw as he looked over at Mia. "For now." He responded gruffly.
Penelope didn't bother to get involved but was pleased with the outcome. Even though she knew Crow would be traveling to Younis, she hoped that this would at least keep them from finding the other thieves or running into Crow on either his way to or from the other kingdom. With a small group focused on protecting the supplies, patrols would continue to be only a few, likely just the ones lead by Layth. The female lieutenant relaxed slightly as the barons came to an agreement and began to move on to the topic of preparation for when the supplies arrived.