[The Princes XVII] [Discovery] Fox devoured every dish in sight and ignored the stares of the others at his table. An entire month of nearly no food in the Zoomie indoctrination center had created a very hungry boy. The table had started with the normal foods laid out for the Palace residents, but the servers had to bring more and more food and the table was now piled with mounds of food while Fox sampled everything. Cissa was chatting on with a woman that Fox assumed was also from House Magpie. “My my dear, he does eat a lot,” said the woman. “That’s why he’s so strong, Aunt Pani,” said Cissa beaming with pride. “I say, dear, we were all very concerned that you wanted an off-worlder mate, so very very unusual,” fluttered Aunt Pani. “But now, seeing the way he handled that boorish Rook, well, I do believe you’ve convinced nearly everyone.” “Isn’t he wonderful and beautiful and brilliant and strong and… “ Cissa started to say. Aunt Pani obviously had dealt with Cissa’s endless chatter before and patted her hand. “Yes Yes, dear,” said Aunt Pani, “but he doesn’t wear a collar, can you control him?” “No, she can’t,” mumbled Fox between huge bites of something that tasted like butterscotch with butter on it. “But I’ll peal the skin off anyone that touches her and impale them in front of the Goddess.” Aunt Pani paled and fanned herself while several girls sitting at the table swooned and fell off their chairs. “Oh my, oh my,” said Aunt Pani. “He is such a dashing romantic soul as well, I haven’t heard anything that romantic since a young Tol ripped the arms off that silly Grackle boy when he made advances on Aleni, and they weren’t much more than hatchlings then.” Fox stopped chewing and looked at Aunt Pani. “You’re insane, Aunt Pani,” said Fox. “Absolutely mad.” “Oh thank you dear,” said Aunt Pani. “You are such a sweet boy.” Fox rolled his eyes and went back to attacking the latest dishes the cook had just sent out. The Dining Hall grew hushed and Fox looked up as Rook and two other older boys entered the room. Rook didn’t look at Fox but walked passed silently and found his own seat at another table. Lord Magpie walked past the table and lay a hand on Fox’s shoulder. “Well done, young Fox,” said Lord Magpie. “You got that fool Rook to wear normal clothes, let us see how long that lasts.” After the evening meal Fox and Cissa went to meet with Lord Raven in his study. The room was round with a vaulted ceiling, a wooden desk sat in the middle and the walls were shelves to the ceiling lined with ancient books. Several comfortable chairs were scattered about for reading; Cissa hopped from chair to chair looking for one she liked. “You did well today, son,” said Lord Raven. “You established your dominance and did great honor to House Raven.” “Thank you, father,” said Fox. “For the last two years you have only been concerned with survival,” said Lord Raven. “Now you will pick up your studies.” “Where do I start?” asked Fox. “You will need to learn the Daraian native language, I have instructors arriving tomorrow,” replied Lord Raven. “And weapons practice?” asked Fox. “I believe there may still be practice in the gardens, you should go there before sunrise,” explained Lord Raven. “I like that,” said Fox. “I miss having a routine like it was before.” “You may go, we'll talk more tomorrow,” ordered Lord Raven. Fox spent the rest of the evening with Cissa exploring the rooms of the Raven Wing. The library was particularly interesting and Fox stood in the doorway for quite some time staring at the room. Finally he entered and pushed tables around until he had formed a single long table in the center of the room. “I’m going to set up my science experiments in here, and this is where I’ll take my studies,” Fox told Cissa. “You have to leave room for me you do you do,” said Cissa. “I get it, I’m never getting rid of you, fine, what part do you want,” asked Fox. “I want the balcony,” said Cissa sticking her tongue out at him. The balcony loft ran around the upper library and contained more shelves of books. Fox figured she like the loft because there were many fluffy chairs up there. They explored more rooms, all of the rooms were open except one room that was locked across from their room. Fox jiggled the handle a few times, the door looked oddly familiar but there were more interesting things to explore and they moved on. Cissa found a telescope under a bed in the next room they explored and Fox had just discovered a box of blank science journals in a closet. Lord Raven had left little treasures all over the Raven Wing for them to find. Fox saw Gil walking past the door and called out to him. “Hey, Gil, get in here,” shouted Fox. “Yes, my Lord?” “Do you know all the places where my father hid things for us?” “Umm… I have chores to do, my Lord,” stammered Gil. “You do know, and he made you promise not to tell,” accused Fox. “Please, my Lord,” begged Gil. “Okay, you don’t have to tell us where the stuff is, but you can help me look,” said Fox. “Check that other closet over there.” Gil knew exactly what was in the closet and opened the door and took down the fencing uniform and held it up. “Where’s the sabers?” asked Fox. Gil stayed silent. Fox laughed. “Okay, can you help us carry what we find out to the hall?” asked Fox. “Yes, my Lord,” replied Gil. The night was getting late by the time Fox finally got tired of searching for treasure. The hall looked like festival day, Cissa and Gil were asleep next to each other on the floor. Sleeping out in the open was probably a bad idea. The Goddess hadn’t intervened when Rook attacked and Fox figured it was because he was Kitsune. Fox nudged Cissa and Gil awake. “Come on, we shouldn’t sleep out here,” said Fox. “Where do you usually sleep, Gil?” “Servants quarters,” said Gil sleepily. “Alone?” asked Fox. “Yes, my Lord,” “Not anymore, Rook can get in here whenever he wants,” said Fox. “You sleep in our room from now on.” Gil tried to object but Cissa grabbed his arm and pulled him along. Fox threw some blankets and a pillow on the floor for Gil. “Tomorrow find a bed and we’ll drag it in here,” ordered Fox. Fox looked at the bed, and much to his distaste, Cissa was already there and she had the good pillow. “You’re molting.” “If I’m molting then your shedding.” “Why’s there feathers all over.” “You can go sleep with Gil if you want.” “Stay on your side.” The next morning Fox woke an hour before sunrise. Cissa was grumpy and didn’t want to wake up, but Gil shot up at Fox’s first command and stood waiting for orders, his eyes sleepy but pretending to be awake. “What are we doing?” mumbled Cissa. “I’m not sure,” said Fox. “I want a routine again.” Fox got them into a line with Cissa in front and Gil marching behind. Never be first and never be last; Fox remembered his fathers rule and smiled. “Where am I going?” asked Cissa. “I don’t know, just march, I’ll guide you,” replied Fox. “Aw, just like a real Zoomie,” said Cissa. Fox thought about that while they marched through he Raven Wing towards the Palace entrance. Maybe there were some similarities to the way Ravens did things and the Kitsune. Cissa followed Fox’s guidance and they marched out of the Raven Wing and through the Dining Wing towards the rear of the Palace. Fox thought the Palace was laid out strange, they had to go to the front to get out the back. Fox stopped them in the gardens and looked around for something to give him a clue where he was going. “If you just tell me what you are looking for then maybe I can help you,” said Cissa. “I’m looking for where the Palace hatchlings go to practice weapons and fighting,” said Fox. “Oh, you’re silly, why didn’t you say so?” asked Cissa. “The Shadow Raven practice ground is that walled section way over there, but nobody has used it since Lord Raven sent all the Ravens away. The other Houses practice everywhere, you just have to say you want to join the practice session.” “Say to whom?” asked Fox. “Do you want to practice with them?” asked Cissa. “Yea, I guess,” replied Fox confused. “House Raven to join morning practice,” shouted Cissa. “One advanced student, one intermediate, and one chirp.” “You’re late, practice starts two hours before sunrise,” an adult voice shouted back. “Hand combat today, no blades, you may begin.” “Wait,” said Gil. “I’m a servant.” “Obviously not anymore Gil,” said Cissa. “Haven’t you figured out Fox doesn’t want a servant, he wants a man-at-arms.” “A what?” asked Gil. “It’s a Kitsune thing, get down, we’ve started,” ordered Cissa. Fox looked at Cissa but she put her finger over her mouth and crawled along the rose hedge. Fox and Gil followed; Fox was just as clueless as Gil was. Cissa continued to crawl and stopped at a small pond and stared into the dark. “Stop, minus two points to House Raven,” said an adult voice appearing out of the shadow. “The chirp is scraping his knees and your lead didn’t see the threat in front of you.” A boy rose out of the shadow of a tree and approached. “Stand up hatchling,” instructed the adult Raven. Gil stood unsure what to do. The boy that came out of the shadows faced Gil and crouched into a fighting position. Fox guessed the adult Daraian was a combat instructor, this was an unusual training session, he didn’t understand the rules yet. “Match is for two points,” said the instructor. “Begin.” The boy facing Gil charged in and flipped Gil over his hip and pinned the confused Gil to the ground. “Two points to House Jays,” said the instructor. “Fifteen seconds to reset.” Cissa grabbed Gil’s arm and pulled him up. “Hurry, follow me,” ordered Cissa. Cissa ran towards a shadowy spot between two rose bushes and dropped down and crawled along the path until they were between some low shrubbery. A few minutes later Fox thought he saw a shadow move and pointed. Cissa nodded and motioned for Fox to go. Fox crept along the path until halfway to the next tree four shadowy figures jumped up from the darkness and surrounded Fox. “Stop, minus two points to House Raven for being led into an ambush,” shouted the instructor. A girl maybe two years older than Fox approached and assumed a fighting stance. “Match is advanced students for four points,” said the instructor. “Begin.” The girl glided towards Fox then rolled, Fox was already off balance, how had she glided? The girl struck out and Fox twisted sideways, she was fast and tried a foot sweep. Fox saw the sweep almost too late and jumped and kicked out, she leaned to the side and the kick missed. The two combatants tried to get a strike on each other. The girl jumped and twisted in the air; damn, Fox knew this move but didn’t know the counter-move, Tol had broken his ribs twice using it. The girl came down on Fox’s side but she pulled back instead of using her full strength. Fox felt the blow land lightly and knew she had won. “Four points to House Magpie,” said the instructor, “fifteen seconds to reset.” Forty-five minutes later the sun started to come up and the instructors called the students together. House Jays was up by 19 points, House Magpie up by 34 points, House Jackdaw up by 14 points, House Rook wasn’t represented, and House Raven was down by 22 points. The instructors called the students to line up and Cissa led them to the rear of the line. “This is a brilliant way to train,” said Fox. “It combines tactics training with hand combat skills and makes it fun, but is this all the House Noble hatchlings, I saw a lot more at dinner?” Cissa shrugged, “Practice isn’t mandatory, and without a Lady Raven the Houses are getting lazy.” “Why doesn’t Lord Raven just order them to practice?” asked Fox. “Fox love, Lord Raven might be the highest ranking in the Houses, but he’s still just a Zoomie,” explained Cissa. Fox had to adjust his thinking slightly with what he understood so far of Daraian culture, here on Dara they only respected the rule of the female and Lord Raven was holding everything together out of sheer will-power. Fox understood now why House Raven was in such trouble. The instructor called out a command and the line of students, Fox counted twenty-seven students, moved forward at a march and then broke into a run. Gil was looking much the worse for wear by the time they returned from the run through the mountains. Fox patted him on the back and assured him there was no other way past the initial brutal pain he would have to go through. Gil didn’t look convinced. Six weeks later Gil was looking much better but the Raven Wing was looking much worse. Fox wouldn’t allow Gil to do his chores, instead keeping him at weapons practice the entire day. Lord Raven brought in several more servants and the laundry finally got done, much to Cissa’s relief; the two boys she shared a room with were starting to smell, worse than usual. Lord Raven called Fox in and offered to assign Gil a mate since it was obvious Fox intended to elevate him to a Shadow Warrior. “No, father, do not give him a mate.” “I see, many others have already guessed what you are planning for Gil, does Gil know?” “Not yet, but I think Cissa does, she’s really smart and she likes Gil.” “It is not such an unusual solution and is very close to our established customs.” “Then you approve, father?” “You will need to promote him to a Lord, it would be an insult to Lord Magpie to have his daughter mating with a servant.” “I have to wait until he does something to deserve being elevated.” “What are you planning, little Fox?” “Nothing yet.” The next several months saw House Raven rise in points during the morning practice games. Gil was coming along nicely and no longer slumped his shoulders intimidated by the noble hatchlings. More and more House hatchlings were showing up for practice in the morning. Crowds of girls showed up in the gardens during the late morning when the sun would begin to warm. Fox would drop his shirt on the ground during sword practice and the girls would swoon; Cissa was starting to get annoyed. “He is so strong and lethal, I want to share a shadow with him,” said a young Jackdaw girl about Fox one morning. Cissa snapped and chased the girl all the way to the Temple where the girl begged the Goddess for sanctuary. The Priestesses smuggled the girl out of the Temple and sent her to the Jackdaw Province to live with an Aunt. The crowds of girls still gathered to watch Fox practice but kept their thoughts to themselves. Fox and Cissa and Gil continued their studies, alternating their time between the training in the hatchling tunnels and the gardens and the library classroom with many instructors. The next two years was uneventful and Fox enjoyed a time of relative peace. Rook was still a pain and tried to annoy them at every turn, but Fox deftly ran circles around him. Fox turned eleven. The end of summer was near and soon the warm days would be followed by cool autumn nights. Fox hadn’t explored the upper gardens and decided to wander up to the big wall enclosed practice grounds of the Ravens. The wall was perhaps seven feet tall and Fox walked the perimeter with Cissa and Gil. A large wooden double door guarded the entrance to the enclosure and Fox pushed it open and walked inside. Fox walked into the large enclosure, his mouth dropped open. Weeds had grown up among the hedges and cherry blossom trees and the winding little creeks was filled with algae covered water. A few not-so-fat goldfish still swam in the water and didn’t look very healthy. Fox knew this place well. He was staring at the old Imperial Gardens. “Cissa?” asked Fox. “I don’t know what this is, I’ve never been in here,” replied Cissa. “I know what it is,” said Fox. “But why is it here?” Fox led the trio along the path to a low wooden structure he recognized as a mock-up of the Imperial Palace, and next to it was the old Palace. The false-walls only rose up four feet but it was unmistakably the layout of the palaces. The main palace only had the Imperial Throne room completed, the rest of the palace was just a rough blocked off area. Fox didn’t see anything of interest to explore and headed for the old Palace. The old Palace layout was much more intricate and had markings on the wooden floor. Fox headed straight for his bed chamber and stopped. This was the only room that was complete with a roof; the door, he knew the door and realization hit him. Fox pushed the door open and looked around. Everything was just a wooden mock-up, but everything was there, and something extra. Fox walked over to a wall that shouldn’t have a door in it, but this one did. The door slid back and forth and he looked inside and Fox laughed, so this is where the Ravens hid and watched him. “Come on,” said Fox. “I need to see something.” Fox ran out of the old Palace mock-up and followed the garden paths. One of the hedges looked odd and Fox stopped and knelt down. The hedge had a section cut out of it and he crawled inside the hedge. A small tunnel was cut through the center of the hedge in both directions. Well, now I know how they were able to move around the gardens without being seen. They must have worked on this for years, but why? Fox backed out of the hedge and stood, Cissa and Gil watched him, confused. “It’s a training mock-up of my old home,” explained Fox. “You know, the horrible Lord Samurai that was going to kill me.” “That was just a story I made up,” whispered Cissa. “You mean you really were a Lord in a big Palace?” “Yes, I guess I was,” said Fox. “Tell us who you really were,” said Cissa. “We deserve to know.” “If it ever got out who I am, bad things would happen,” replied Fox. “No matter who you are, we’re on your side,” promised Cissa. “Aren’t we Gil?” “You saved me from a life of laundry,” said Gil. “I’ll crawl through hell for you.” “Okay, I trust you,” said Fox. Fox took a deep breath. “I am.. Si Fox,” said Fox grinning. Cissa slapped him and Gil rolled his eyes and laughed. “Boys are so immature,” said Cissa. “Fine, Sly Fox, if you ever feel like telling us, let me know.” Fox grinned, she had misheard as he thought she would, he had told her his name, but she heard the word ‘sly’ instead. Fox headed for the Raven Palace very pleased with his joke. The Palace had dignitaries arriving and Fox saw Lord Sparrow. Lord Sparrow saw Fox as well but didn’t acknowledge that he recognized him. Fox slipped past and headed down the Raven wing to his room. The chest that held his Gunslinger belt and clothing when he arrived also held the old Palace key on the chain. Fox retrieved the key and walked across the hall to the locked door. Fox put the key in the door and the lock clicked open. Cissa stood next to him but kept whatever thoughts she had to herself, which was rare. Fox pushed the door open and walked in. The room was his room, exactly as it had been on Kitsune. His toys lay on the floor still in their formations. The old telescope faced a false window. His notes lay on the desk. Even his clothes for the next day lay on the chair with the equipment bag next to it. Fox walked over to the bed and found a Talon dagger with a note under it. He lay the Talon dagger aside for a moment and crawled under the covers and curled up; even the good pillow was here. “Cissa, could you get in the other side and lay against my back?” asked Fox. Cissa paused for a moment, Fox never allowed her to lay against his back. She crawled under the covers and lay with her back to his. Fox lay there for a few moments before getting up. “This is a fantasy, this is no good,” said Fox. “Who were you pretending I was?” asked Cissa. “My cousin, we slept next to each other since we were born… I mean hatched… whatever,” said Fox. “Oh, a hatchling brother, now I understand why you wouldn’t let me sleep against you, that was his spot,” said Cissa. “You can sleep against my back from now on,” said Fox. “I can?” “Yes, this is a fantasy and I’ve been trying to hold on to a fantasy, my cousin is gone and will never be back,” said Fox. “I know you don’t really love me,” said Cissa. “You don’t have to.” “Cissa, I do love you, okay, now don’t make me say it again,” said Fox. “But I can’t… you know… and so… well… umm…” “You’re a silly Fox,” said Cissa. “Gil and I have already guessed you chose him as your stand-in, in our culture that is very normal. When a mate can’t fertilize an egg, because of illness or something, a trusted friend does.” “I know,” said Fox. “I read about it in that book, if you try skipping cycles you’ll have a dead egg inside you.” “See, you are learning to be a Daraian,” said Cissa. “We aren’t so strange. Now read that note, I’m dieing to know what it says.” Fox picked the note up and read it aloud. The paper was very old and crumpled: I was sent here to assassinate you. Much planning went into this mission, but, as I look down on your beautiful face, I can not take your life. I will watch over you and do all that I can to protect you. Lord Raven. “He must have wrote that when you were a baby,” said Cissa, “it happens, you look at an egg and you just love it, no reason, just happens.” “Yea, come on, lets get out of this fantasy,” said Fox. “This isn’t my life anymore.” Fox pulled the door shut and locked it.