When Penelope pointed out that Otto’s attitude probably had more to do with his past as a thief, Crow just shrugged. He knew she was right, but it didn’t change the fact that he was getting tired of letting the baron order him around. Whether Otto liked it or not, Albin had appointed him as Brerra’s next viceroy, and that title wasn’t going to change as long as his father didn’t strip him of it. He doubted the king would do that too, since it had sounded like he didn’t want to bother training someone else to learn about the languages and customs of the neighboring kingdoms. As far as he knew, he was going to hold the position for as long as he lived.

“The latter sounds more fun,” he grinned back at Penelope when she said he would either change the baron’s mind or drive him insane. “I’ll let you know how it goes after I get back from Younis.”

As the knight wrapped her arms around his middle, he slipped an arm around her shoulders as well. “If you didn’t, it would be a lie,” he said cheekily. “Darling, I used to make my living on stealing and selling jewelry just like that. I have [i]amazing [/i]taste.” Teasingly, he pressed another kiss to her temple before they continued on their way to the inn. When they reached it and stepped inside, he let out a quiet sigh, disappointed that their last getaway before he left for the northern kingdom was coming to an end. He was going to miss spending time with her for the next two weeks while they were apart.

“No,” he answered honestly when Penelope asked if he was ready to head into their room. “But it’s better than driving Sir Whines-A-Lot to come looking for us, so here we are.” Reaching for the handle, he pushed the door open and entered the room first, bracing himself for Otto’s chastisement. He didn’t have to wait long before the baron took notice of him and the knight and spoke up.

“Where have you been?” the older man scowled irritably, sitting upright on his bed where he had just been putting on his boots.

“I think something in my supper disagreed with me,” Crow replied with a wrinkle of his nose. “If I were you, I’d steer clear of the privy for a few days.”

Taken aback by the viceroy’s tawdry reply, Otto faltered for a moment before he was able to pool enough thoughts together to realize that he was messing with him. “I suppose you think you’re funny,” he grumbled, crossing his arms in a disgruntled posture.

“Very much so, yes,” Crow confirmed nonchalantly, shrugging his cloak off his shoulders.

“His Majesty appointed all of us to protect you while you’re on your way to parley with the Younisian king, Collin,” the baron reminded him curtly. “We can’t do our jobs if you insist on being difficult. You’d do well to stop wandering off as if this was merely a holiday.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” the viceroy rolled his eyes. “Penelope and I just wanted a moment to ourselves because she’s leaving in the morning. I don’t plan to do anymore ‘wandering off’ after she’s gone.”

“Good,” Otto’s shoulders relaxed as if he was relieved to get a straightforward response from the obstinate former thief.

With the subject dropped, Crow turned back to the knight and kissed her briefly. “I’ll see you in the morning, love. May the gods protect you from Naida’s feet.”

“I heard that, imp,” his sister shot him a glare from the bed she was already sitting on across the room.

He glanced at her with a wry smirk. He hadn’t had siblings for very long, but he was already enjoying the level of comfort he and the princess had developed over the past few weeks. As high-maintenance as she could be sometimes, he was glad that she was coming with him to Younis. The trip would be more bearable with someone else to banter with during their down time.

Turning back to Penelope he lifted a hand to his mouth to cover a yawn and then casted her an affectionate smile, “Anyway, I actually do hope you sleep well. I love you.”