Page 64 of Fox of Fox Hall

Fox looked from Conall to the king, wondering ifDomvoda had realized why Conall had stopped wearing the crest. Ifhe hadn’t before, he must have now.

Domvoda hadn’t lost his smile. “Acting defeatedto lure someone closer so you can strike?” His tone was admiring.His gaze was not. “I have spoken of your ruthlessness before, but Idon’t think I was believed. People should learn not tounderestimate you.”

The knights cheered for that. The rest of thebyr, more familiar with Domvoda and court ways, did not.

Domvodahadspoken of Conall’s nature andhe hadn’t been incorrect. Conall saw what needed to be done andthen did it. Like killing a dragon that had probably been about tokill him, or using deceptive tactics to win a tournament for thesake of his future.

Conall didn’t contest the descriptor. He brieflybowed his head again and said, ever-quiet and careful, “Thank you,my king.”

“It is a shame,” Domvoda continued, allowing hissmile to fall, “that you will not accept the position I haveoffered you. Your service would be great and your presence anhonor.”

Fox’s eyebrows flew up. That was practicallybegging… as much as Domvoda would ever beg. The others might nothave realized that, but Conall clearly did. He opened his mouth,then hesitated before answering.

“I regret that I don’t feel it’s the place forme.” Conall was measured and soft, how he was before he saidsomething that would hurt. “I will of course answer when you calland return to the capital as needed. But as things are, I could notserve you as you should be served, my king.”

Seemingly innocent words, but Domvoda lookedaway, his gaze falling on Fox as he turned to take the lastremaining purse from a tray.

“A pity,” he said, a sliver of ice in the words.“There is only one Dragonslayer and many at court will be upset tosee your back. But you have another future in mind and we will notkeep you.” He lifted the purse, demonstrating its weight and valueby making a show of hefting it higher before he handed it toConall. “For your remarkable display of skill, Conall,” he said,quieter, almost not to be heard among the applause and calls fromthe crowd. “You fought fang and claw to ensure this was yours. Youmust have something great in mind for it.”

“Yes, I do,” Conall agreed, then turned. He wasbefore Fox in another moment, scarcely making a sound as hemoved—which Fox would have heard, because the applause and cheersbecame strangled silence between one of Conall’s steps and thenext.

Fox tipped his head back, gaze skating overhard-used armor, the startlingly amused expression on the face ofthe standing fox, and Conall’s gleaming skin. He fixated briefly onthe hint of a love bite visible on Conall’s throat, then draggedhis attention up to stare uncomprehendingly into Conall’s face.

Conall held out the purse. “Your favor helped mewin this. It’s right that you should have it.”

Those at the far end of the receiving roomswould have heard him just fine.

Fox’s lips parted. He closed them at the firstmurmur from the crowd.

He sent a wide-eyed glance to Domvoda, anequally frozen figure, before looking at Conall again. “You can’tgive me this.” Fox couldn’t seem to raise his voice. “Conall,no.” He spoke even lower, a private, urgent whisper. “Youneed it.”

Conall took hold of Fox’s wrist before Fox had achance to pull away and placed the purse in Fox’s hand. He reachedfor Fox’s other hand when Fox staggered at the unexpected weight ofthe prize and placed both hands beneath the purse to supportit.

“I don’t need it,” Conall announced to Fox, tothose at the back of the rooms, to Domvoda who still had not said aword, “although I could certainly use it, as everyone here knowswell.” He ignored how Fox pushed the purse up higher in an attemptto get him to take it back. “This is for you, Fox of a littlevillage south of nowhere. Use it however you wish or keep itforever. I will not touch it again. Do you understand?”

The byr must have been holding their breath. Nota whisper reached the dais. Domvoda was a blue and silver statue inthe corner of Fox’s eye.

Fox stared at Conall, not even risking ablink.

He finally nodded, just once. “So that I havemore to start with if I have to start over. But it’s too much.” Theneeds of a commoner were not the needs of a byr. Fox didn’t have torebuild castles or replace armor or feed several horses. He wouldwant food and lute strings and sturdy shoes for walking. Room at aninn if it rained. A cart for his trunks, especially if he evertraveled far to the west. “I wouldn’t know what to do with this.Some would make a joke about a den but I don’t know what that wouldmean for me.” A home of his own had never once crossed Fox’s mind.“And don’t say I am welcome at your home. You might think so butyour family won’t. You know it. A feral animal in your ancestralbyr estate?”

Conall’s gaze went from warm to blazing hot. Hecontinued to speak for everyone to hear. “This money is yours tokeep and you will determine what you want to do with it. I don’thave much to give, but this is mine to do with as I please, and itpleases me to put it into your soft hands.”

Fox shook his head and frowned so deeply itneared a scowl. “Conall… I mean, Byr Conall, is this what youplanned? You didn’t need to.”

“Anythingis what I said.” Conall raisedhis head, watching Fox for a moment longer before partially turningto also face the crowd. “In front of these assembled byr andhonorable knights, I will tell you again, Fox, that I would doanything for you, and that includes welcoming you into my ancestralbyr estate.” A ripple went through the crowd, byr gasping orturning to their neighbors to exchange shocked whispers.

Fox stared pleadingly at Conall.

Conall gave him no mercy. “I was passion-struckat my first sight of you and that has not changed in the timesince. It will not. You take on challenges that would make a knighttremble, yet don’t seem to know your own power. You calmed theanxious fears of everyone in that tournament for no reason exceptthat you wanted to be kind. No matter what others think of you, youarekind, Fox. Don’t forget that. You charmed your rivalsand stepped in to stop me from doing something you thought I’dregret, although it cost you to do it. You’ve ensnared greaterfigures than me and never once thought to gain anything from thatexcept love.” Conall sighed, a peaceful sound despite the risingvoices around them and several nervously flicking tails from anyonenear the king. “No. You didn’t even expect love, did you? Which isa shame because you could have had it.” He didn’t bother to glanceto the king, his gaze burning Fox to ash. “You have it now. I loveyou, Fox. If you didn’t understand that from my words before, I’msorry. I didn’t realize how little you knew of love, that youwouldn’t recognize it when it was in front of you.”

Fox stared up at him in a daze, distractedlybrushing a curl from his eyes and then grunting when this meant hehad to hold the purse with one hand.

As if Fox had drawn it from him with one waywardcurl, Conall smiled. “If you were ever willing, I would mate you aspassion has demanded I do since that day you came to court andbarely glanced at me. You should understand that too. And that,even if you don’t desire me or such a life, that purse remainsyours—are you breathing?”

Fox sucked in a breath. He couldn’t even hidehis pink face without putting down the heavy purse, which heclutched tightly to his chest. “For me?”

“What kind of beast would I be if I didn’t tryto protect the one I care for?” Conall asked, leaving Fox to chestpains and panic and the glimmer of Domvoda out of the corner of hiseye. “What kind of fool would have Fox and not even try to make himhappy?”

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