Page 45 of Fox of Fox Hall

Conall would be pleased that he won, though hedidn’t get much time to enjoy his victory. He bowed his head to theking and those in the king’s box as all those competitors stillstanding did when their events were over, then hurried on to judgesomething else.

Fox left the box despite the glare of the sunand walked on shaky limbs until he could pretend to be fine,although he wasn’t sure he’d fooled anyone when he returned withwine he had no intention of drinking.

He couldn’t have anyway. The seat beside Domvodawas empty, the knight who had been there off speaking to someone hehadn’t seen in decades, and one look from Domvoda told Fox that hewas expected to fill the space.

“I can’t believe it,” one of the remainingknights told him. “They whisper that you’re vicious but look atyou, sick over nothing at all.”

Nothing at all. Fox nearly snarled itback at him. Instead, he shoved the wine at the smug knight, then,half a second from crossing his arms over his chest, lookedcarefully at Domvoda on his other side.

As if he’d expected that, Domvoda was watchinghim.

“Here he is again, your Dragonslayer,” he toldFox, so pleasantly that Fox was surprised into meeting his starebefore quickly turning toward the field. Conall was not far away,in an incomplete set of armor that was not what he and the otherswould wear tomorrow for the mock-battle. He was shining with sweat,as many knights were by now, and turned to the king’s box while hewaited for his event to begin. His eyes might have met Fox’s or Foxmight have only wished they did.

“So worried for them all, aren’t you?” Domvoda’stone was almost too friendly. Fox cut him a wary glance and Domvodadarted another look to Fox’s hair. “Allow me to ease your mind,” heoffered, and took Fox’s hand to pull Fox up with him when he stoodto signal for the event to start.

“Wave, my Fox,” he instructed gently. “How elsewill your knights know you care for them?”

Fox looked out over the field, skin pricklingwith the silence in the box and the stillness from those in thecrowd of byr who had noticed. The knights waiting to compete turnedto him. Fox couldn’t read Conall’s gaze but he could feel it, andforced a smile on his face before giving the knights he recognizeda graceful wave.

They cheered, startling Fox into a small laughand making Domvoda release his hand.

Fox did everything he could to sit in his seatinstead of collapse into it. Before Domvoda was back down, Foxglanced over to the people who should have been at Domvoda’s sidefor that. The three Potentials turned away from him at the samemoment.

“You should do better by them,” Fox insistedwithout looking at the king, hardly knowing if he meant the knightsor the Potentials.

“Soft for everyone,” Domvoda murmured in return,“but me.”

“Why would anyone expect softness without givingany?” Fox demanded in a whisper, then the clash of metal from thefield made him flinch and stare at the floor. Except for the soundsfrom the field and the occasional boo or cheer from the spectators,the box was silent.

Domvoda should have ordered Fox from the box orhumiliated him with a cool remark as he had done to so many others.Fox realized, far too late to do anything about it, that his tailwas in his lap, which anyone in the box could clearly see.

Domvoda exhaled slowly. “Do you want me to tellyou how the matches go to spare you having to watch?”

Fox wanted him to make sense. He wanted Domvodato explain himself just once or actually listen when Fox spoke.Domvoda kept Fox around for a reason. Fox would like to know whatit was, if it was more than teasing him with public cruelty andthen private gentleness.

He swung his tail to the side and let it fall.“You should discuss the matches with the fertiles beside you whowant to know you better.”

Domvoda raised his head, then said nothing. Foxsaw him gesture out of the corner of his eye. A few moments afterthat, someone handed the king a cup of wine, which Domvoda thenpushed toward Fox.

“Thank you,” Fox said without thinking, thenfrowned but had a sip. “Maybe it will settle my stomach.”

Domvoda sighed as if exasperated.

“If you don’t mind,” Byr Din’s timid voice madeFox and Domvoda turn to look at him. Byr Din, no longer wearing aflower in his hair, froze, then seemed to force himself tocontinue. “Wildpea and sweetmint tea is useful for the settling ofstomachs. I don’t have any with me, of course, but I imagine thehealers here will.”

“Thank you,” Fox told him with far more warmththan he’d given Domvoda, adding a small smile to show hisappreciation even if Byr Din had shared the knowledge solely toplease the king. Then he faced forward as though he intended towatch the rest of the events and ignored Domvoda by contemplatinghis wine.

ChapterNineteen

Though the events continued on, with the knightshopefully taking breaks between them, many in the crowd wanderedoff around the middle of the day in search of a meal. In the caseof those in the king’s box, a shade and a table were set up whilemost in the box took the time to visit with others in the crowd,or, as Byr Falnya did, visit with the knights themselves.

Later in the day, Domvoda would be expected totour some of the events that were less viewable from the box, butfor the moment, the king was surrounded by the Lorilofts. Foxalmost felt pity.

But he was not in a pitying mood. He was hot anddamp in unattractive ways, slightly drunk, and still too upset toeat, although food might have done wonders for his stomach. He didconsider finding a healer and asking for Byr Din’s recommended tea,but the cause of his troubles was not illness and would return inan hour or so when he was forced to observe more of the tournamentand Conall being nearly injured or injuring some of his closestfriends.

Domvoda’s words should not have lingered in histhoughts. But whyever Domvoda had said them, they weren’t untrue.Conall was more than capable of acting quickly to do what he feltneeded to be done. Ruthless did not mean cruel, but it did carry ahardness with it. The knights probably all understood that but Foxwas soft, as the knights themselves and even the king seemed tothink.

Fox kept his shade up to keep his face fromturning any pinker and walked without destination to burn away someof his nerves and keep his mind occupied with something other thanConall.

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