Fable: The Balverine Order (Fable) Read Online Free Page B

“I mean . . . come on, Dad! How else? The way you talk to me every day, you make it pretty clear how disappointed you are in me. Even though I’m there, every day, down at the market, working as hard as any employee.”
    â€œYou’re supposed to be working harder! You’re supposed to be working like someone who’s going to own it all one day! You’re—”
    And James could take it no longer. Tossing aside decorum, uncaring of his relative status in the world, losing sight of who he was and what he was supposed to be, James’s voice rose above both of theirs, silencing them with his outrage: “For crying out loud, a woman has died here today! Will the two of you please knock it off ? Show a little damned respect!”
    Thomas and his father were both stunned into a brief silence. It was Thomas who found his voice first as he said, very softly, “You’re right.”
    â€œHe’s right ?” Thomas’s father was now speaking once more, but he was reacting very differently from his son. “ He’s right? He’s a servant!”
    â€œEven servants get to be right now and then, Father. I’m sorry I spoke so harshly to you. I know that you’re doing the best you—”
    His father wasn’t paying him any attention. Instead, his gaze was fixed upon James, and James felt his knees going slightly weak. “Your services will no longer be required here. Get out.”
    â€œJames, stay put,” Thomas said immediately. He turned to his father. “James is my servant. More than that, he’s my friend. He’s two years younger than I am, but he’s a yard smarter. He’s not going anywhere.”
    It looked as if half a dozen replies danced across his father’s lips. Ultimately, he said nothing at all. Instead, he turned and strode out without a word. Thomas, who had been standing, sank back into the chair with a low sigh. He slumped back, putting his hand to his forehead. “I’m sorry you had to see that, James.”
    â€œI’ve seen worse,” said James. “You want to tell me what happened?”
    â€œWhy not? Who else am I going to talk to?” he said mirthlessly. “You’re pretty much all I have in the world right now.”
    James chuckled at that. “I’ve been telling you for a while, you need to find a girl.”
    â€œThere are plenty of girls interested in me,” said Thomas, and he sounded more annoyed by it than anything. “They see me as the son of a wealthy merchant and figure I’ll be able to provide them a lifestyle they’ll find pleasing. I want a girl who loves me for me, not for my father’s purse.”
    â€œThat’s fair enough, and I’ll wager you’ll find her.”
    â€œReally.” It was not a question but rather a flat assertion of skepticism. “James . . . even my mother wasn’t in my corner. So I think you’ll understand if I don’t hold out a lot of hope in that regard.”
    â€œShe wasn’t in her right mind, and you know that.”
    â€œShe may not have been in her right mind, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t speaking from her heart . . .”
    â€œYour mother loves you . . . loved you,” said James. “You must know that. So does your father, although I imagine it’s hard to—”
    â€œDo you believe me?”
    The question caught James off guard. “Believe you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œYou know about what.”
    â€œI swear to you, Thomas, I really don’t.”
    â€œThe balverine.”
    â€œOh. Well, I—”
    A dagger was hanging at Thomas’s hip. James had grown so accustomed to it that he had paid it no mind, but now Thomas pulled it out of the scabbard and held it up in front of him. “Stephen’s dagger,” said Thomas, his eyes fixed upon it as if it were a hypnotic flame. “He dropped