Page 35 of Fox of Fox Hall

Fox’s shoulders tensed, probably visibly, but hestopped playing, making the rooms quiet and the air a hundred timesmore strained, then stepped up onto the dais and did not lookanywhere else as he went to Domvoda’s side.

Domvoda swept a look over Fox that had to be forshow since he hadn’t glanced away from Fox for some time now. “Noroses today?”

Overly warm and already flushed he might be, Foxnonetheless worried that another dusting of pink would fall overthe first. He didn’t have an excuse for his thoughtless crown offlowers the day before. But Domvoda seemed satisfied with thesingle pointed remark, at least for now, because he didn’t pressthe issue when Fox shrugged and waved toward the door to thegardens and the rain.

“As for the other matter,” Fox went on softly,leaving the byr in the room to inch forward and hope to hear him,“all reasonable creatures would be wary of the situation, bold ornot.”

Domvoda leaned forward. “You claim not to be afighter, but you’ve shown teeth on more than one occasion.”

As any cornered animal did. Fox kept his smileand shrugged again. “Even a rabbit will kick.”

Domvoda heaved a sigh and leaned back again,playing at being bored but his tail was unmoving and his gaze didnot waver. “Have you been worried, my Fox, as you watch all ofthis? Waiting is what makes people worry, and that can be useful.But to me, it’s mostly a tedious business.”

Domvoda could wait months or longer to make adecision. At least, toannouncehis decision or signanything. Fox suspected Domvoda actually made up his mind almostimmediately but acted when he deemed the time was right. Hisdecisions, often eventually shown to be correct, were presented tothe public long after whatever counsel his advisors gave him toensure the edicts were well received. In that sense, waiting mightindeed be tedious.

Fox allowed himself a slight frown. Domvoda wastelling him not to worry, as if a decision had already been madeand the king was simply biding his time before announcing itinstead of getting more intimate with his Potentials or beginningto court any or all of them. Playing the eager lover should havebeen anything but tedious, unless Domvoda had chosen a fertile butdid not care for them. Or possibly he’d decided but the Potentialand their family were reluctant to agree, and his advisors weredebating the matter in private.

“I don’t understand,” Fox admitted at last.

He felt as young and inexperienced as Byr Shinewhen Domvoda clucked his tongue and replied with fond amusement,“Of course you don’t, unfamiliar with the ways of the byr as youare.” The amusement faded quickly. “None of it really matters andit will be over soon enough.”

Fox had known the meetings were arranged.Everyone knew that. The families had been negotiating about thisvisit for over a year beforehand. He’d also known that Domvoda wasnot obligated to make any of them consort, although favors and somepower certainly went along with bearing an heir for the king. Buthe had expected something more than this.

“You don’t seem…” he stopped, about to befoolish again, but Domvoda watched him with interest and waved himon, so there was little else to do but stumblingly add, “interestedin even a breeding, much less a mating.”

“A mating?” Domvoda was astonished. He said itloud enough for it to carry across the rooms before he settled downto study Fox anew. Everyone was likely studying Fox now. Fox couldimagine the speculation afterthat.“I speak of finding aplace for you and tell you not to worry, and you speak of a mating?Isthatwhat has been on your mind?”

Fox held still, not even risking moving histail, although the pleasant Daffodil-in-the-Wind seemed ridiculouswith the tension in the air.

Domvoda ought to have mocked him or dismissedhim. He did neither, sharpening his focus on Fox. “No, this wouldnot be a mating for me, my Fox. A mating…. Is that you have beenwishing for with your change in hairstyle to bare your neck more?”He nearly smiled when Fox gave a start and raised a hand to histhroat. “Or is your hairstyle truly about its origins and you arereminding us of where you came from?”

“I doubt anyone has forgotten.” It was snapped.Fox didn’t apologize.

Domvoda only seemed to grow fond again.

“The Loriloft family in particular find yourpresence irksome.” Which clearly entertained him. “Although Matlindid comment favorably on your music in her first days here. Tellme, is it my selection of possible consorts which has turned yourthoughts to matings? Or were you considering the subject before?Are you romantic by nature and have kept your tender yearninghidden all this time?”

He could have been teasing. It was just aslikely that he wasn’t.

Fox did not have tender yearning for Domvoda. Ifthat had ever existed as more than the fantasy of someone who knewevery passion song by heart and expected kings and ancientchieftains to fall in love with their enemies, or commoners, or theconsort of another—and it might have, because Domvoda had been theone to gently teach Fox tail poses and gift him the books andpaper—that yearning had withered in the time since Fox had beenshut out from Domvoda’s bed.

Since Fox couldn’t say that without gettingthrown onto his ass in the rain, he gestured vaguely again.

“I think everyone is thinking of it.” He was acareful, tactful fox. “I know it’s calculated for you and for thefamilies of those you are considering, but everyone should have achance for affection and love, perhaps a mating. Even a king shouldbe happy there, if he can.”

For a moment, Fox thought Domvoda’s eyes wentwide.

When Domvoda spoke, he was quiet. “There areother paths to a mating beyond the one from songs and stories.People dream of passionate couplings, but even an arranged meetingcould grow to that.” If Domvoda dreamed of it, any version of it,he did not say. “If those presenting themselves were not doing sofor position and favors, that is. But a true breeding is thetraditional way to go about it, if one needs an heir.” He smiledcoolly, though his eyes were gleaming and fixed on Fox. “Theemotions of a mating need not be there. They are unlikely to be inmy case. Which I don’t think surprises you.”

Fox pushed his lute to his back beforeanswering. “Real life is not a passion song. Those songs arefanciful tales. Falling in love is certainly real for most, as isdesire. But generals throwing battles because of a single glimpseof someone else?” Fox scoffed, making Domvoda’s eyes go wide again.“A queen marrying a blacksmith because no one can deny a truemating? That doesn’t happen and I wouldn’t expect it to. But youcould get to know the Poten… that is, your potential consorts. Youmight find more than tedium.”

“Clever Fox,” Domvoda said under his breath,then finally looked away. He studied the other byr, or perhaps hestudied the three carefully selected fertiles waiting on him. Buthe kept his voice low when he spoke, still only addressing Fox.“What do you think of them, then? As someone who knows me and whatI want.”

He couldn’t see Fox’s sharp glance at him.

“I don’t know them well enough to say,” Foxdemurred. “What are your thoughts? Yours are the ones that matterhere.” Along with theirs, but it didn’t feel wise to say sonow.

“Din seems to admire you.” Domvodahadnoticed the rose in Byr Din’s hair. “Which is not unexpected.”

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