sparrow and lion

Interim 8: promise

They both knew Wren had done the right thing in coming after her. It would be in Leo's own best interest to return to the household. Wren had not understood the agreement he was making, but he had made it just the same. It was he who had changed Leo's path from possibility to destiny. He had made his own decision in this.

But only one of them knew that it was this decision that would kill him.

It was Leo who knew this, of course. But that didn't bother her. Sadness was not a thing she had experienced in quite some time. The only pain she could feel was physical. Wren's death would do her no more harm than losing the final piece of a puzzle or having the word she sought come no further than to the tip of her tongue. She had no emotions left for the giant in front of her.

All Leo had left was her own stubborn will. And that is why she said, "You need to go home, Wren."

"Only if you do," Wren said.

He had always been such a stupid boy. He never took the moments to wonder why. It was important to be rational, but Wren had never learned that. One could never be too hasty in making decisions. One must create a plan and stick to it. Wren had never been able to do that. Only Leo had. She had spent these last years planning while he had been consumed by angst. She had been putting together the clues since he had told her about the cave. All he had done was feel unnecessary guilt over nonsense.

She should just go back with him. If he wanted to die so badly, then so be it. But she didn't say it. It was best not to be unreasonable. It was just an untoward as being too hasty. And it would be dishonest.

She had told him to go home. He had demanded she go home, too. She could agree to that. Easily.

"Do you promise to go home if I do?" Leo said.

Wren nodded.

"Then I agree," she said.

He looked relieved in the instant before she slammed the rock into the side of his skull. He collapsed to the ground. He was still breathing. He was bleeding. Leo had killed enough people by now to know that this bleeding wasn't serious. He would wake up. He would be confused and in pain. He would keep his promise.

She turned away. She was so close to the end now. She felt no shame in the actions taken here. The most important thing in the world, of course, was to keep your word. And she had done so beautifully, openly, and honestly.

Leo left the mountain temple then. Off, next, to kill her very own mother. It was sure to be a most interesting adventure.