His seven siblings didn’t have a lot of sympathy for his plight.

Very, very late on the same night he’d brought the small envelope to the queen, he sensed his siblings entering the Cavenda house, then making their way to Benni’s library. All seven of them: Rascal, Rumpus, Lark, Gladly, Sophie (short for Sophisticated), Pickle, and Genius.

With a heavy sigh, the fox dragged himself out of bed again. In the library he found them perched together on Benni’s desk, gathered around the little drawers.

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.