What is it this time? he asked them wearily. What can you possibly be doing?
We’re curious about these secret drawers, they said. Is there a hidden latch?
Why would you need to know if there’s a hidden latch? he said. Did Quona Varana send you here to steal?
No, they said loftily. Just to poke around.
He didn’t believe them. Why?
She didn’t say! Just for fun!
You should tell her you won’t! Humans aren’t supposed to ask their foxes to trespass!
You are NO fun, they said. You should’ve bonded to Quona, like we did. You could do it now, if you faked your own death. You know she lets us ride in her airship, don’t you?
He did know that, though he always tried to forget it. So?
So, our lives are much less stressful than yours! We never have to worry about sad humans in our attic who are dying or going insane.
That’s great, he told them, pretty sure they weren’t picking up on his sarcasm. Congratulations. Have you told Quona about the queen in my attic?
No.
I’m relieved you don’t just tell her everything, by default.
She hasn’t asked us about the queen in your attic, they said.
Wait, but if she did, you would?
Why not?
Well, how would you explain that you knew? Would you tell her about my heat ducts?
Oh, we’d find some innocent way, they said. Calm down, Ad.
If she asked, would you tell her I’m disloyal to my human?
Of course not!
HAVE YOU TOLD HER THE SECRETS OF FOXKIND?
OF COURSE NOT!
Are you sure she hasn’t figured them out on her own?
Listen, they said. Even if she had, it would be safe.
WHAT?!
She’s safe! they said. She’s not like your human! She’s not a danger to foxes! You’re the one who should be more careful!
She’s completely bewitched you! he said. She has you here, poking at a desk for no reason she cares to explain! And if she knows our secrets, then she’s a danger! Don’t you know the kinds of things foxes have done to humans in the past? Humans who know too much? He was referring to the stories of foxes who’d killed humans who’d learned the secrets of foxkind. All foxes knew those stories.
Those stories are apocryphal, they said. How could a fox ever kill a human? And anyway, NOW what are you suggesting? That we should kill the human we love most? That we’re capable of murder? What do you take us for?
He took them for a bunch of sloppy kits who were possibly drunk on too much love and happiness, and consequently capable of anything, but there was no point in saying so. They wouldn’t be able to see it.
Even if Quona spoiled me night and day, he contented himself with saying, I wouldn’t want to live in her house.
We don’t all, you know, they said.
Don’t all what?
Live in her house. She has more foxes than us seven.
What?!
She has one who lives at the Cliff Farm, they said. One who lives at the Keep. One who lives at the Varanas’ airship hangar. One who lives in the dormitories.
Why does she have a fox who lives in the dormitories?
Because she worries about some of the students. Especially one named Nev. Also her niece, Ta Varana. Also Lovisa Cavenda. The fox keeps an eye on them all.
What?! said the fox. Quona is especially spying on Lovisa Cavenda?
Yes.
The fox didn’t like this, not at all. Why?
Maybe because Quona is a student of human nature, they said airily.
But not just any human’s nature? Lovisa’s specifically?
Well, aren’t you also a student of Lovisa’s nature specifically?
That’s because I’m trying to keep her alive! he said. I have a reason! Will the fox in the dorms talk to me?
She’s a kit, they said dismissively.
The fox didn’t know what that was supposed to mean, but he’d sensed Lovisa creeping onto the Cavenda grounds these past few nights. He knew Lovisa suspected the queen was alive. What he didn’t know was if she appreciated how much danger she was in.
He told his siblings that the hidden drawers in Benni’s desk contained nothing but boring love letters from Ferla. It was a lie, of course, but he didn’t trust them with the truth that they contained the queen’s rings. Then he waited for them to leave the house. After that, even though it went against every part of his nature to scamper across an icy city in the dark, the fox visited Quona’s kit in the dorms.
* * *
—
The kit lived with a girl named Nev, who was an animal medicine student.
The fox stood on the pavement outside. Did you see Lovisa Cavenda today? he asked, while the kit perched in Nev’s window, bouncing, knocking things over, excitedly peeking out at him.
Yes!
How is she?
Worried! Depressed! Gloomy! Wait! There’s a bug!
Then the fox had to wait while the kit disappeared, presumably having it out with the bug. He stood, shivering, with the tired pads of his feet in the snow. He could just barely feel Lovisa in a different part of the building, if he strained his mind. But she was asleep. That was good, at least, that she was able to sleep. The fox himself wasn’t getting much sleep these days.
I’m back! yelled the kit.
Could you tell me what Lovisa has been worrying about? he asked.
No, but can you believe that Nev has sex with a boy I don’t like? Almost every night! At the Cliff Farm! I don’t know why she likes him!
I’m sorry, said the fox. Humans can be very aggravating.
I wish he would get impaled by an icicle! said the kit. I wish he would get trampled by a horse! I wish someone would bite off his penis while he’s sleeping!
You’re not . . . going to do that, are you? said the fox, briefly diverted from his purpose.
Of course not, said the kit. I’m not supposed to know what’s going on. It would be a betrayal of the secrets of foxkind.
Indeed, it would.
I tried to convince a goose at the Cliff Farm to do it, but she was too stupid.
The fox, who considered a disinterest in biting off a human penis to be a mark of intelligence, tried to refocus the conversation. Is there nothing you can tell me about Lovisa?
Nothing really! Wait! I smell a biscuit!
Wait! Wait a moment. Why does Quona want you to keep an eye on Lovisa?