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!