The next two days went by relatively fast. Though she wasn't able to see much of Crow again, she was able to convince Mia to let her go. It took a long discussion and quite a bit of persuading but the baroness finally gave in. While she seemed to buy her lie of wanting to go for purposes pertaining to her arranged marriage, Mia still seemed to remain suspicious about the nature of her relationship with Crow. Penelope guessed that was one of the main reasons why it took her so long to convince her. Once she did get approval though, she spent most of her time getting ready for her departure and helping out Tomas as much as she could.
She never did make it to visit the thieves again but luckily Olivia was willing to do so for her. The other female knight was quick to try and get some information out of her about why Crow was lying to them in the first place but unfortunately for her, Penelope refused to say anything. Realizing she wouldn't get anything out of her friend, Olivia eventually gave up and just followed through with her promise to visit the thieves to tell them about Crow.
The day had finally come for them to leave for the castle. It was early morning and John was busy himself with finishing packing their supplies. Gavin had come to see them off, knowing it was necessary to bid a farewell to Penelope in order to keep her father thinking they were still courting. So while her father finished packing, Penelope took the time to step over to Gavin, letting the male knight take his hands in hers.
"Guess you'll be leaving soon, huh?" he mused quietly as he looked down at her.
"Yeah.." Penelope mumbled glancing over her shoulder before she shifted her gaze back to him. "Listen.. I know we probably won't be gone too long but I told Tomas and Mia they should use you as my replacement if things get hectic around here. I figure it might give you a good opportunity... maybe for after the war."
Gavin blinked and studied her for a moment. "You want me to take your position?" he asked in a hushed voice.
"Only for the short time I'm gone... And maybe after the war too." Penelope offered her former suitor a soft smile. "Someone has to keep people like Edward and Layth in line while I'm gone. And I don't know anyone else better suited for the job. Just remember it's only temporary for now though." Penelope winked at him jokingly. She saw it as a chance to give him a bit of experience that would hopefully help him rise in rank in the future. She'd eventually be leaving her life as a noble behind so she wanted to make sure that the work she had done or was planning to do didn't go to waste. If it was under Gavin's supervision, she knew she could be at ease knowing the male knight would continue to be a fair voice who helped the outer villages like she was trying to do.
"I'm not sure I can replace you... But I'll try my best. Thank you, Penelope." he smiled down at her with an appreciative gaze. Gavin did a quick glance at her father, noticing he appeared to be watching them, before resting a hand against her cheek and pressing a quick kiss to her lips. The female knight tried not to tense too much from the gesture, knowing that he did it just to make their goodbye seem a little more believable. She was just glad he made it short.
"Be safe... and good luck to you and Crow with facing the king." Gavin added before he stepped away from her to say a more formal goodbye to her father. Penelope gave him a small nod before walking off to grab her small bag of supplies, subtly wiping her mouth once her back was turned to her father and former suitor.
She never did make it to visit the thieves again but luckily Olivia was willing to do so for her. The other female knight was quick to try and get some information out of her about why Crow was lying to them in the first place but unfortunately for her, Penelope refused to say anything. Realizing she wouldn't get anything out of her friend, Olivia eventually gave up and just followed through with her promise to visit the thieves to tell them about Crow.
The day had finally come for them to leave for the castle. It was early morning and John was busy himself with finishing packing their supplies. Gavin had come to see them off, knowing it was necessary to bid a farewell to Penelope in order to keep her father thinking they were still courting. So while her father finished packing, Penelope took the time to step over to Gavin, letting the male knight take his hands in hers.
"Guess you'll be leaving soon, huh?" he mused quietly as he looked down at her.
"Yeah.." Penelope mumbled glancing over her shoulder before she shifted her gaze back to him. "Listen.. I know we probably won't be gone too long but I told Tomas and Mia they should use you as my replacement if things get hectic around here. I figure it might give you a good opportunity... maybe for after the war."
Gavin blinked and studied her for a moment. "You want me to take your position?" he asked in a hushed voice.
"Only for the short time I'm gone... And maybe after the war too." Penelope offered her former suitor a soft smile. "Someone has to keep people like Edward and Layth in line while I'm gone. And I don't know anyone else better suited for the job. Just remember it's only temporary for now though." Penelope winked at him jokingly. She saw it as a chance to give him a bit of experience that would hopefully help him rise in rank in the future. She'd eventually be leaving her life as a noble behind so she wanted to make sure that the work she had done or was planning to do didn't go to waste. If it was under Gavin's supervision, she knew she could be at ease knowing the male knight would continue to be a fair voice who helped the outer villages like she was trying to do.
"I'm not sure I can replace you... But I'll try my best. Thank you, Penelope." he smiled down at her with an appreciative gaze. Gavin did a quick glance at her father, noticing he appeared to be watching them, before resting a hand against her cheek and pressing a quick kiss to her lips. The female knight tried not to tense too much from the gesture, knowing that he did it just to make their goodbye seem a little more believable. She was just glad he made it short.
"Be safe... and good luck to you and Crow with facing the king." Gavin added before he stepped away from her to say a more formal goodbye to her father. Penelope gave him a small nod before walking off to grab her small bag of supplies, subtly wiping her mouth once her back was turned to her father and former suitor.