They made their way to the horses, arms still intertwined, praying that the magic would last a little longer. He helped her onto her horse, before finally parting from her.
The moment that his hand finally pulled away was the moment Brennan caught up with them. Riding his horse over to where Chris and Zeven were.
"Do you need to let your sister know where you are going?" Zeven said.
"I shouldn't, if she knew you were out here, she would invite you in and then you'd never get home." He looked at Chris when he said the word home. He knew the deal they had made and he knew that she would be leaving soon.
"Good plan. I have some things to take care of at… Zeven's home."
"Do you still want me to come with you?"
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble," she smiled a smile that held back tears. "I think it would be better if I got my things and left tonight. I have so much to do."
Brennan looked at Chris and then at Zeven, trying to see if there was anything else. But Zeven did not say anything. In fact, he wasn't even looking at her. Wondering if maybe all that was needed was a push Brennan turned to Zeven.
"Is that alright with you?"
"The deal was that she would leave when she figured it out, for all I care she could leave right now. But I think that Gunter would want to say goodbye before it was too late."
No one was happy with that answer.
They rode to Zeven's in silence. When they got there, he was the only one who put his horse in the barn. The other two knew they wouldn't be staying long enough for it to matter.
Upon his insistence, Chris would take the horse and Brennan with her. And once she got back to her country she would let him bring it back.
Chris and Brenna waited while Zeven put his horse away.
"Is this really what you want to do?"
"Don't question me. My mind is made up."
"At the very least… would you… do you… will you ever come back?"
"Here? It's not likely. I'm sure I'll see Zeven again at peace meetings and such, but in several years this will be no more than a memory."
"Maybe he won't say it, but I'm sad to see you go."
"You could come with me."
"I don't think that would solve the problem."
They made their way inside the house, leaving Zeven to finish up with his horse.
"Gunter," Chris called, "Gunter!"She walked further into the common room, trying to see up onto the second floor landing. The door to Zeven's room was left ajar. She began to walk up the steps to meet Gunter.
The floor creaked behind her. Turning, she saw Brennan emerging from the kitchen. As soon as they made eye contact she could tell that something was wrong. She rapidly descended down the stairs without asking any questions.
He turned and looked back at the kitchen, eyes wide and mouth drawn tight. She didn't wait for him to say anything, instead she brushed right past him.
What she saw inside made her stomach flip. She swallowed hard as she approached the figure hunched over the table. Backlit by the moon, she couldn't see clearly but in the unnatural silence, she could hear the low tapping of blood hitting the floor.
It seemed to echo louder and louder as she continued to get closer. With each step the form became more clear. And as much as she didn't want to believe what she saw, it was undeniable that it was Gunter's body.
Other than the dagger sticking out of his chest and the blood that dripped down, he looked like he was only sleeping. He was sitting in his usual chair, but his head and hands rested on the table.