Page 15 of Fox of Fox Hall

Fox stared at him while considering the fuckingthat had apparently been going on around him without his knowledge.Then, because he was too tired to fight it and Conall had said‘fuck,’ he wondered about Conall and who he might be relievingtension with.

Conall watched him, probably patiently waitingfor Fox to say something sharp or to pick the fight Conall seemedto think he wanted. When Fox just blinked, Conall stepped closer.Heat rushed through Fox, his heart growing loud in his ears.

“You could find someone for that too,” Conallsaid while Fox could not seem to get his tongue to work. “If you’drather. Several someones,” he continued, oblivious to Fox’sdistraction, “if it takes a few knots to get you sweet.”

Fox was going to sputter. He was going to make acutting remark. Any moment now, he was going to do one of thosethings. Or remind Conall that what knots he did or did not takewere not Conall’s business… unless Conall was offering.

Fox blinked again, vaguely aware that Conall’ssuggestion was working because he was definitely no longer thinkingabout the day’s events.

Then, suddenly, he was again.

“If Domvoda wouldn’t mind,” Conall added. He waswise as well as sensible.

Nonetheless, Fox found it easy to sneer and stepback. “He has no say in anything I do.”

Bold words considering Fox had never testedthem. He had never needed to, either invited back to Domvoda’s bedor taking moments in the capital with strangers outside the castleand court. A regular, or semi-regular lover, a lover Domvoda mightknow, was something else.

Might know.Fox saved a sneer forhimself.Wouldknow. There was only one among the knightswho Fox wanted.

No, Domvoda would not react well at all if hediscovered Fox was fucking the Dragonslayer.

“But you still want him?” Conall was as carefulas ever.

He was right to be but Fox gave him a frownanyway. “Did I even want him then? Or was he the king and I was aflattered farmer’s child?”

He immediately slapped a hand over his mouth butit had been said and Conall had heard it.

Conall breathed in, a steadying sound, althoughFox didn’t know why he’d need to be steadied. Fox was the one whocouldn’t seem to control himself.

“Maybe,” Conall said, projecting calm again asif he really did think of Fox as one of his anxious baby knights,“you could do something else with your energy and to help you finda place here without relying on him as much. Write a new song forthe consort? Something nice and flattering to make them yoursupporter.”

The court had no idea how crafty Conall couldbe.

Fox narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know which oneit will be.”

“Don’t you?” Conall seemed surprised. “I bet youalready have some thoughts. It’s one of the reasons he keeps younear, to let you observe.”

Hewouldkeep bringing up Domvoda. Butsince he had, Fox tossed his head and sighed the answer Conallwanted. “He’ll want a bit of a challenge. Which means possiblyMatlin Loriloft, but since she traveled all the way here to subjectherself to this, she clearly wants the position of consort. So shewon’t betoomuch of a challenge. That leaves Byr Falnya,who is… cautious.”

Conall nodded, accepting Fox’s assessmentwithout any questions. “If you don’t want a fight,” he left Foxshivering but didn’t mention the second option again, “you shouldfind something. A task to exhaust you. I’d set you to helping withthe horses if I thought you’d actually be any good.”

“I don’t take orders from you,” Fox huffed inreturn. “Anyway, mucking out stalls takes strength and a weak nosebut no skill.” His mind would continue to run while he threw aroundshit and straw.

“And calluses that you do not have,” Conallagreed.

“Not anymore.” Fox’s hands were marked only bythe use of a lute.

“But you feel somewhat better now?” Conallpressed. “You can always speak to me, if that helps you. I don’tmind. I feel….” He looked away. “I feel as though you’ve neededsomeone to talk to. I’m not witty as those at court fancythemselves, but I can listen.” He turned back to Fox. “I am happyto help you, however I can.”

A few knots to get you sweet, Fox’s mindgave him those words again at the worst possible time.

A presumptuous thing to say, he tried to tellhimself, even if apparently the knights had a ‘the more fucks thebetter’ policy he had been unaware of. And he was not sweet. Thatwas one thing Fox had never been called.

Well, his mouth a few times, but not as Conallmeant it.

Fox swallowed. His throat was dry.

“I need to get some water,” he told Conall in arasping voice. “Food, maybe, also. But first water. It was a hotday and I… I am thirsty.”

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