Page 26 of Fox of Fox Hall

Fox curved his tail up into the Pouncing Fox andlet that say what it would, although he didn’t know if MatlinLoriloft would know the tail positions used in the capital. And ofcourse, she’d have to look at him to see it.

Without waiting for a response from her, Domvodalooked at Fox again. “I do wonder at your new fondness for theknights, Fox. I’ve heard of the chaos they create as they wait fortournaments and imagined you would not find it pleasant.”

But had done nothing to ensure Fox had a roomwithin Saravar proper. Although that was the least of Fox’s currentconcerns. Domvoda had not indicated he was inquiring for anyparticular reason. Nonetheless, Fox’s heart began to pound and hisgrowling stomach tightened. Domvoda didn’t notice everything, buthe noticed far more than he let on, and if he was jealous or angry,then this might be deliberate torment. The whole day might be, orFox’s future at court, or just this moment, depending on how Foxanswered.

Or Domvoda knew nothing and was tormentingMatlin Loriloft, using Fox as the whip.

Fox lifted his brows to seem politely interestedin the subject of knights and sidestepped the original question. “Ididn’t want to displace anyone here, especially if it storms.”

Domvoda moved the end of his tail in an airygesture. “How sweet of you.”

Fox didn’t freeze but it was a near thing.Strange enough to be called sweet several times in a few days,stranger still for Domvoda to say it.

But he couldn’t tell if it was deliberate anddidn’t want to stare at Domvoda as he tried to figure it out. Helooked at the back of Matlin Loriloft’s head and the side of one ofher ears. “Being around them actually reminds me of my youngeryears, when I worked on farms. There were a lot of brawny youths inbarns or bunkhouses and they often got up to mischief. So Isuppose, as someone common, I was already used to it.”

Matlin Loriloft acknowledged not a single word.Domvoda gazed at Fox with widened, almost startled eyes before heturned away again.

Fox thought Domvoda would mock him again forspeaking openly and fondly, of “the lesser classes” in front of hischosen few byr. But when Domvoda next spoke, it was about theoverpowering scent of roses in the heat. The party took the hintand moved elsewhere.

The wooing, if itwaswooing and notsimply more awkward conversation, paused for the midday meal. Foxsat to one side of the hall, trying not to stuff too much bread inhis mouth at once and watching Domvoda silently observe everyone,including Fox.

News came from the capital after that, newswhich might not have been urgent but was enough to take Domvodafrom his guests for several hours. Trapped, Fox had no choice butto stay among the byr, keeping to himself, until the eveningmeal.

If Byr Falnya minded his time with Domvoda beingpostponed and then combined with dinner, he showed no sign. Foxwould have not have expected him to at this point. Of the three,Byr Falnya was the cleverest. On that, Fox would wager,andthat Domvoda was also aware of it.

This time, Fox was too far away in the noisyhall to hear the conversation between Domvoda and his lastpotential fertile and consort, but close enough for his eyes tomeet Domvoda’s more than once and Byr Falnya’s twice. Then Fox benthis head over his plate to focus on his meal and save himself.

Whether Domvoda wanted Fox’s reaction or hisopinion, he couldn’t have either now, and while he was occupied,Fox took the chance to slip away for the night, stopping briefly totake a bowl of fruit from one of the tables and stack some honeyedrolls on top of that. The talk of the farmhands he’d known as achild had reminded him of how hungry they had always been, strong,growing, and forever energetic. The knights were byr, but most ofthem ate from the small kitchens for staff and servants, hardlywhat was served at the king’s table.

Chapter Ten

When Fox returned to Kaladas, he set the bowlnear the fireplace and waved for those present to help themselves,which many leapt to do.

Byr Drashnal was there with them although hewould have been readily welcomed at Saravar. Surrounded by knightspossibly younger than Fox, he smiled pleasantly when he caught Foxobserving him. Fox nodded in return but wasn’t in the mood to watchflirting or whatever those cubs playing at being knights wantedfrom Byr Drashnal that evening.

Conall’s other friend from Fox’s first night inKaladas grabbed some grapes before collapsing heavily onto one ofthe benches. “You appear to be searching for something,” heremarked idly, or not, to Fox.

Byr Rolfi, smoothly passing Fox to plop downnext to his friend—or more than friend, since he leaned over totake his grapes but stayed half in his friend’s lap as he ate them,added, “Last I saw, Conall was helping calm down one third of acrying…. Let’s say you might have a wait.”

“Oh,” Fox answered, although he hadn’t beenwaiting and didn’t plan to. Instead of explaining any of that, hestared at the two in front of him for a moment longer—they werescandalously close to Byr Rolfi sitting in the other one’s lap, notthat anyone in the entire hall seemed to care about that or howtheir tails were slowly inching closer to each other. Fox suspectedthat a whole day of witnessing stilted conversation had left hisconversation and his thinking equally stilted. He didn’t blush,doubting most of the others had heard Byr Rolfi’s comment or wouldhave understood what Byr Rolfi apparently did.

But then, Byr Rolfi had seen Fox wearing a shirtmade for a mountain after Conall must have asked him to wake Foxup. Anyone might connect those points.

Fox’s heart, which had only just started to slowafter finally leaving Saravar proper and being out of the king’ssight, began to pound again. But he was used to pretending andthanked Rolfi for the information before turning to head to hisroom.

He would prepare himself for bed and get somesleep without any activities beforehand to leave him exhausted. Itwas how he’d spent his nights for a long time now, and he hadnothing to say with certainty that tonight would have beendifferent even if he had encountered Conall. He was grateful toConall for the break in routine and the moments of pleasure, butFox had to start being smart again, especially with Domvoda askingabout Fox’s time here.

He got as far as washing his face and applyingcreams before undressing and putting on Conall’s large, comfortableshirt, which he had already worn to sleep so had no reason not towear again. He was about to start work on his hair when someoneknocked on his door.

Conall was in a loose shirt and breeches with nohose, and had bathed so recently that his hair was damp and thefabric of his clothing stuck to his skin. He had his mouth open asif ready to speak but silently swept a look all the way down toFox’s bare legs and feet before bringing it back up to Fox’s cleanand shining face. “You were looking for me?” he asked at last,coolly polite while his gaze started fires.

Fox was certain he had not actually admitted tolooking for Conall. He ought to have words with Byr Rolfi aboutdiscretion. But since Conall was there, Fox took hold of his dampshirt and tugged, walking backwards to bring Conall into the room.He left Conall to shut the door behind them, which Conall didwithout taking his gaze from Fox.

“You are late,” Fox informed him crisply, asthough they had a standing arrangement.

Conall gave in easily. “Sorry.”

No amount of trying to force a frown could pushthe smile from Fox’s mouth, so he lowered his head only to end upstaring at his hand, which he had presumptuously left on Conall’schest.

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