Page 187 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
“And then you broke your promise.” Momo tilted his head to the side. “So I should eat you. You’ve got nothing left to lose.”
“Momo,” Slake spoke, fulfillinghispromise to speak for us. “She did recently get engaged …”
“To adog,” Momo stressed, looking me over with disdain. “See, nothing left to lose.”
“Well, that was rude,” I stated.
Bronwynn sighed. “Rufus, Ididbreak my promise.”
“No,” I stressed, “Donnabroke your promise. Can she evendothat?”
“Minstrel Bronwynn feels responsible,” Slake explained. “Momo can feel it in her soul.”
“I could eat the horse?” Momo mused, but then shook his head. “No, that still wouldn’t change the way you feel.”
“Wait.” I realized something, lowering my arm. “Did you saythe way she feels?”
Slake and Momo exchanged looks. Slake was the one who finally spoke. “Yes. As long as she feels responsible for her bonded companion’s actions, her promise will be broken, and Momo’s soul construct will demand payment.”
“It is a shame; I really did like your music.” Momo’s tail twitched twice; the white butterfly was back and fluttering closer than ever. The grimalcat jumped up onto his hind legs and tried to grab it with his paw, batting a few times but not catching the butterfly. He landed on all fours and turned back to the bard. “Still, this is the end.”
“Actually,” I informed everyone, “it’s not.”
[You have activatedMediatortitle ability. +2 Charisma. Targets equal to or higher will recognize the title.]
[You have attempted to activate the Perk:Calming Effectagainst Minstrel Bronwynn. It was uncontested.Calming Effectwas successful.]
[You have attempted to activate the Perk:Inspire Honestyagainst Minstrel Bronwynn. It was uncontested.Inspire Honestywas successful.]
[Passive Perk:Empathystill in effect.]
CHAPTER 114
I’m Not in an Abusive Relationship with My Horse
Brownie
It was an hour later, a bit past noon, and she was technically supposed to be performing right now.
Or already eaten.
She knew it’d been an hour because [Calming Effect] had worn off.
“Repeat after me,” Rufus said, gently cupping her chin in his paw as they both sat facing the other on the bench. “Donna is her own person.”
“Donna is her own person.”
“I am not responsible for the actions of another.”
“I am not responsible for the actions of another,” she repeated, her eyes wandering off to the white butterfly as it fluttered about.
“This would be so much easier in a dungeon.” Rufus sighed.
“This would be—” Brownie cut herself off, smiling. “You can take me to your dungeon another day.Whyam I not at fault? I rode with her across the continent. I’m her bonded companion. I wasthere.”
“Youareher bonded companion and youwerethere, sure, and you can be responsible foryouractions and choices at that time. Namely, you didn’t do anything.” He tried again. As had happened for the last hour, Rufus would answer her question with a simple statement and then explain further using anecdotes. “When a person is in a healthy relationship, both parties give and take of each other. In atoxicrelationship, one partner puts their needs above the other without consideration. When it devolves into one persongivingpain, and the other partnertakingblame, then it’s moved into abuse. Youmademe do it. Youdeservedit.You should have been better.”
“I amnotin an abusive relationship with myhorse,” Bronwynn protested.
