Namesake (Fable, #2)

by Adrienne Young

“I’ll do what I have to do.” He gave me the words I’d made him promise the night before. “That’s not what I meant. You know that’s not what I meant.” He had no reply to that. “How could you do this?” I said hoarsely. I started walking, but West’s heavy footsteps echoed behind me. He caught my arm, pulling me back. “I’m not going back to the Narrows without you.” I could see that he wasn’t going to concede. And he couldn’t now, anyway. He’d signed the contract. But West was already haunted. His soul was dark. And I didn’t want to know who he would be if he spent two more years doing someone else’s dirty work. I could feel it. If I lost to Holland at the Trade Council meeting, I would lose West. “You won’t have to. Neither will I,” I said, a tear falling down my cheek. “What?” “I signed one, too.” “Why? How?” “For Saint.” I stared at him. “Now we all get what we want. You, me. Holland.” I almost laughed at how ridiculous it all was.