Page 43 of Fox of Fox Hall

Domvoda was at the center of the box, with thePotentials and their families and friends in three small groups tohis right. Several of Domvoda’s advisors were on his left, in frontof Fox, which would have told Fox where he stood with the king,except Fox was no sort of advisor, and anyway, four byr were alsoseated there, near the front. They were all older knights, too agednow to compete or fulfill any of a knight’s other duties. Two ofthem had been in the king’s box on previous years, and had eitherbeen asked to explain finer points of the competitions to thosewithin the box or had appointed themselves to the task.

Fox took several moments to study the agedknights as he hadn’t in past years. One had a chunk of his tailmissing. Another had a cane propped against her chair. The cane wasnot lacquered and the handle held no silver or jewels. Only one ofthe knights had any jewelry, and beneath the embroidered surcoatworn in memory of his youth and service he was dressed in thepopular fashions of the court in the capital. The other three werenot. Two wore some armor despite being seated in the king’s box,their armor likely still the finest thing they owned. The remainingknight dressed much like Conall did, although all of these knightshad surcoats with their family crests or some personal symbol onthem.

The byr did not treat their knights well, nomatter how much they would fete them over the coming days. Thatknights were also byr truly meant nothing. Fox wondered if theseknights would admit to that. Three of them must have had someawareness of the truth, keeping their heads together for quietconversation unless asked a question.

Those questions seemed to mostly be from ByrDin. Matlin Loriloft and her family needed no answers or wanted toseem as if they didn’t, and Byr Falnya, with his cousin a knight,must have known a great deal already. Fox thought curiosity was agood quality, but Domvoda’s tail tip flicked against the leg of hisseat each time Byr Din’s sweet voice was heard.

That was more proof that Fox wasnotDomvoda’s advisor. Domvoda did not seem to be taking Fox’s adviceto heart by getting to know any of his possible consorts better.Fox tried to turn his mind to that problem so he would not thinkabout the clashing of swords and armor, or whatever was happeningin any of the events before them that made people hiss in sympathyor shout encouragement.

Archery was the one event he could watch withouttoo much tension, at least, the event when it was held on theground. Once the knights got on horseback to shoot, Fox took tostudying the spectators, and then the Potentials when he could getaway with it. They had been looking Fox’s way since Fox hadarrived, so he had to be careful.

Byr Din was eager to learn and, Fox suspected,more innocent than he first appeared, with no one in his familywise enough to offer him better counsel. He did come alive whendiscussing plants, but that was not an interest Domvoda shared.

Matlin Loriloft was not here to merely serve asa fertile of noble blood. She wanted to be consort to a king. Foxdoubted she would have left her home otherwise. Yet nothing she haddone had won over Domvoda as she had clearly expected it to. Shewas beautiful and accomplished but Domvoda only seemed to like herwhen she was visibly annoyed. If Fox were being generous, he wouldsay that her accidental but revealing honesty in those moments waswhat Domvoda was interested in.

Unfortunately, the easiest way for Domvoda toirritate her was to bring Fox with him wherever he went. MatlinLoriloft was now sitting stiffly, speaking with her family or onceor twice with Byr Falnya, the most tactful of the three. The onlyone of them with any real chance with Domvoda, although Domvodamight not agree.

No one expected a great passion to spring upbetween Domvoda and these fertiles, but there should at least besome feeling to draw them close to one another. Domvoda had variedtastes, and Byr Falnya was quiet but pleasant to look upon.

Maybe too quiet. Attraction was still necessaryfor a knotting to take place and Domvoda might not feel that forreserved Falnya. Although Fox couldn’t find any common trait amongDomvoda’s many bed partners to indicate that Domvoda wouldn’t wanta lover with a more contained, private nature. Perhaps Domvoda wasattracted to one or all of them but refused to allow himself toshow it. That was what Conall would say.

With Conall on his mind, Fox thought he imaginedthe sound of Conall’s name, but then he heard it again and raisedhis head.

Conall was in armor and a surcoat of plainwhite, which made Fox frown slightly when he compared it to whatwas worn by the other knights. No matter the number of events aknight was in, they wore the crests of their families, seeming toview the acquisition of dirt and sweat as an honor. Not that Conallwas in every competition. No one was in all of them. That wouldhave been impossible, and even if someonecouldhave managedit, the knights would stick to the events they were good at. No onewas going to risk an injury for an event they had no chance ofwinning.

Conall seemed to be acting as a judge for theevent starting around him, which was… fights with shorter knives,as opposed to fights with longer ones, like the one Conall oftenwore. Fox assumed that would happen next and looked away.

“For a moment, I thought you were finallyinterested enough to watch,” Domvoda remarked, bringing Fox’s gazeto him. Domvoda was smiling faintly. “You were actually facingforward, but I see it’s become too much for you again.”

Everyone except for Matlin Loriloft and two ofthe older knights were now glancing to Fox.

Fox shrugged delicately and tossed his head,sending his curls over his ears and into his eyes. “I canappreciate the skills involved without needing to watch thedisplay.”

Domvoda tracked the bounce of one of Fox’sshorter curls before moving his attention to Fox’s face. Unlikewhen Domvoda had first seen him that morning, his gaze started afamiliar, startling burn in Fox’s cheeks before Fox glancedaway.

It had been all stares and coldness when Fox hadbeen led to the box, the last of the group to arrive. Every personalready there, even the members of the Loriloft family, had turnedto him, and Fox had kept himself motionless except to nod politelyto the servant leading him to his unexpected seat as though hecould not feel all the attention upon the pink and red of hisclothes, and the hair that—as Conall had said—made Fox look asthough he had just been bedded and bedded well.

Domvoda had been still. Fox had hoped he wouldbe pleased at Fox’s daring, but those eyes had not lit up. Notuntil now.

“Fox has no taste for violence,” Domvodaexplained although Fox hadn’t heard anyone ask. “Even assport.”

“It’s going to get worse for you,” Byr Falnyasaid, startling Fox and apparently Domvoda as well, who turned tolook at him. Byr Falnya continued to study Fox. “Will you be allright?”

Fox froze, taken aback by the concern. Then heconsidered Byr Falnya might have said it to appeal to the king… orto encourage Fox to leave. But since it could have been genuine, hefinally ducked his head respectfully.

“Thank you. I’ve learned to look away at thecrucial moments, but it’s very kind of you to ask. When is ByrShine to compete? I hope she does well.”

Byr Falnya startled him again with an excitedsmile. “Soon. I caught a glimpse of her earlier and she was pacing,the dear.”

It was like watching Byr Din come to life whilespeaking of healing herbs. Fox smiled back, then looked over to theicicle that was Matlin Loriloft before resettling in his seat andturning his attention elsewhere. If the others returned theirattention to the events around them, Fox didn’t look up to see.

Byr Falnya might have possibly decided totolerate the king’s strange relationship with a commoner formerlover. A sensible course of action, all things considered. Falnyaand Domvoda would not be a love match, so there was no need tofeign jealousy or even to feel threatened. Fox didn’t know exactlyhow Domvoda viewed him, but he and Domvoda were not a love matcheither. Nor had Domvoda indicated they should be. Fox was not athis side, or in his bed back at Saravar. Domvoda did not dote onhim.

There were knights near the edge of the fieldsbeing caressed and fussed over by those that loved them. One couldmake feelings clear even without giving favors. Although, ofcourse, plenty of favors were visible.

Some of the knights had strips of ribbons tuckedinto gloves or their belts. When Byr Shine appeared, she had onesuch ribbon fluttering from her arm. Odd, unless knights gave themto each other too. Perhaps if they weren’t competing against oneanother. Though what did Fox know? He wasn’t even sure Conall hadhis. He might have dreamed it.

A small lock of Fox’s hair would not grantConall good fortune. Favors didn’t actually do anything except showsomeone was worrying for a particular knight or hoping they wouldwin. Favors might even be dangerous, inspiring knights to actrecklessly in order to please their beloveds with a victory.

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