Page 34 of Fox of Fox Hall

“Many of the older knights travel the same,”Conall remarked quietly. “Although they have less need of fineclothes, and if they do, it’s because some have families who willwelcome them for the odd visit.”

The less distinguished knights would travel withall they owned, or so Fox imagined. The ones who hadn’t earnedtheir fame and fortune but nonetheless defended whoever neededdefending and played in plenty of tournaments to entertain the byrwho were supposed to be their caring families. Some did have caringfamilies, like Byr Shine. But if what Conall said was true, mosthad to fend for themselves. Unless they also had the choice ofbegging for a place to stay from their wealthier friends orrelatives.

“I meant what I said earlier,” Conall said,pulling Fox from his sad thoughts. “You know I desire you, but youcan just sleep here. Nothing is required or expected from you.Well… I don’t suppose you could arrange your belongings to put allthe items you rarely use into one trunk that I could stack beneathone of others?” He raised his head before gesturing at himself. “Iwouldn’t ask you to get rid of any of your pretty things. But it’sa small room and I’m rather large.”

“Rather,” Fox agreed faintly, once againdistracted by Conall although this time he didn’t think Conall hadintended to put Fox on edge. Fox stepped forward—not far, becausethere truly was not a lot of space left on the floor. “Just sleep?”He clucked his tongue. “Only if you want to. I’ve been wet sinceyou picked up the first trunk, and not from the rain.”

Conall trailed a hand through Fox’s hair, downnow and combed out so it could finish drying.

“Oh, you may have whatever you like of me,”Conall promised like a rash fool from a passion song who had heardthe charming voice of a prince and had no choice but to find him.“But I don’t want you to think…”

“You are not Domvoda, Conall,” Fox shut him up.“Which is why I am here, and also why I would like to sit on yourknot now.” He paused to bite his bottom lip and gaze imploringlyinto Conall’s eyes. His tail slid around the small of Conall’sback, curling tighter as Fox inched that much closer to him.“Please.”

“Whatever you like,” Conall offered again, areckless hero from a story, and lifted Fox off his feet to kisshim.

ChapterThirteen

Staying in bed with Conall had been moreappealing to Fox than adhering to his usual nighttime routine.Unfortunately, that choice to do nothing had left Fox with hairthat had dried badly and no other option but to braid it and pin itup again come morning. This time, he had foregone roses and stuckwith ribbons, leaving several to trail down the side of his neck.The effect would have worked better if Fox’s neck were completelybare, but since the marks from Conall’s mouth were steadilydarkening, Fox thought it best to keep them hidden and againbuttoned his doublet all the way to the top.

An idea that seemed wiser and wiser as the rainlessened but continued to fall and Domvoda’s mood grew worse.

The air remained hot but was now damp as well,and all the nervous energy and anticipation that the tournamentshould have taken care of had nowhere to be spent. The byr wouldhave been miserable and mean even without a sullen Domvoda there tomake them anxious.

Nothing pleased the king and he did not seem tocare that his potential consorts could see his temper. If there wasone consolation to be had, it was that Fox was not the only onevexing him. Nonetheless, Fox had spent the morning standing tenselyin his usual place and sending surreptitious longing glances towardthe open doors and whatever breezes might be found there.

He was not told to play and neither was he toldto stop playing, so he played but did not sing, and the assembledbyr grew increasingly tense with every irritated flick of the tipof Domvoda’s tail. Someone had brought in tables and chairs,probably the day before during the worst of the rain, as if to makethe receiving rooms a vast withdrawing room. When Domvoda did notindicate what anyone should talk about or do, several of the byrhad sat down to play games or read or simply drink tea and eatcake. The Potentials each had their own table, including chairs forfamily or friends. Each had left a seat empty, presumably ininvitation for the king to join them.

Domvoda stayed where he was. He was so restlessand dissatisfied with any amusements presented to him that itspoiled even small moments of gaiety.

Some of the byr kept glancing to Fox, as if Foxwas supposed to soothe and settle the king for them. Fox would riskas much for them as they’d risk for him, which was exactly nothing.But when the end of Domvoda’s tail began to regularly twitch backand forth and Fox found Domvoda’s gaze steady on him, he bracedhimself and spoke.

“If not for the lightning, I’d suggest a hunt,”Fox called out merrily enough. “Or if not that, a hard ride.”

Domvoda was no knight but he did like to beactive, and Fox privately thought his moods were better when givensomething to actuallydo. However, one of those activitieswas also the reason Domvoda had so many ex-lovers. Once he had saidit, Fox realizeda hard ridemight be seen as a reference toDomvoda’s bed, or as an invitation to have Fox there.

Domvoda stared at him, his eyes nearlyglittering, before easing back against his seat and slowing histail. He glanced out at the rest of the people in the receivingrooms, pausing on each Potential before looking back to Fox.

“I hear that is how the knights occupythemselves before a tournament,” he remarked. Fox did not think itwas said idly.

Fox was grateful that the heat already had himflushed so no blushes would give him away. “Kaladas is not a quiethall,” he answered, tactful and delicate. Someone in the crowdsnickered.

Domvoda spared them not even a second’sattention. He didn’t let Fox look away. “You seem rested, despitethat,” he observed. “Has the Fox found himself a cozy den?”

If Conall had heard that Byr Din had worn hishair the way Fox had, then it was equally possible that Domvoda hadbeen told that the knights were sharing rooms and perhaps evenwhose room Fox was currently in.

“Truthfully, is a bit tightly packed in Kaladassince the rain yesterday brought in the rest of the knights fromthe fields.” Fox’s playing didn’t falter although he did not feelwell with everyone listening to him speak. “But spirits are highand it’s not altogether unpleasant.”

Which was not how Fox would describe his nightwith Conall, but did well enough to sketch the situation in therest of the hall.

“Like your childhood, you said,” Domvodacommented, nearly startling Fox into letting his tail drop becauseDomvoda had remembered Fox’s words from yesterdayandbrought them up publicly. “Rooms in Saravar would be far morecomfortable for you.”

A fine thing to say now. And still not followedwith any orders to find Fox a place. Perhaps he expected Fox to askhim for one. Perhaps he wanted Fox to.

Fox smiled. “And far more crowded,” he repliedlightly. “No space for a den here at the moment,” he added with agraceful but vague gesture toward the byr and the Potentials.

Domvoda’s tail was still. “Wary of them, my Fox?A bold creature like you? Come nearer to me, if you please.”

An order, though a nicely phrased one.

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