Protect Life

[Bjorn]

Bjorn hesitates.  "I might be able to return your Bjorn to you," he says, seriously.

[Brian]

Mirallia blinks at this, and frowns.  "You...."  She trails off, and takes one of the chairs, seating herself.  "He's not dead?" she asks, her eyes brightening somewhat.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn crosses his arm and frowns off into the middle distance.  "He probably did die in the ambush," he says, "but that doesn't have to matter."  He frowns, and begins to pace for a couple seconds, before collecting himself.  Letting his arms drop, he gives Mirallia a serious look.  In a voice he tries to make as gentle as possible, he explains.  "If I can accomplish his goals -- satisfy his drives -- while I am here, then even if he was dead before, he'll be returned when I leave.  To do that, of course, I need to know what he would have wanted -- another reason to speak with you about what sort of person he was."

He looks away, then, though his voice doesn't change.  "I think I should warn you, though, that if I don't meet my own goals, then even if I meet his, I will cease to be.  I hope that there will be no conflict, and I will do my best to meet both, but...." He shrugs, and meets her eyes again levelly.

[Brian]

"Oh," she says very quietly.  "I ... Bjorn spoke very little of his goals, other than eventually earning his freedom."  She looks thoughtful.  "Actually, he did say that some day he hoped to meet his family ... he told me he had an older brother or sister.  He couldn't remember which, though ... he remembered them, and wanted to someday see them again."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn half-smiles at that.  "I may have already earned his freedom," he observes, "which is a good start."  He sighs.  "I don't imagine he spoke much about his family, though?"

[Brian]

"He didn't know much," she says, shaking her head.  "He became a vassal at a very young age."

[Bjorn]

"He was born in the Upper Kingdoms?"

[Brian]

"Yes," she says.  "Near Heath, if I recall.  That's a farming community, mostly, but there's a town large enough to contain a slum, and so...."  She shrugs helplessly.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn sighs, then.  "Is there anyone who would know more about his past, in that regard?" he wonders.  "Perhaps Donovan?"

[Brian]

"Donovan never met Bjorn until he came to the temple in the Wastes," Mirallia says, tapping her fingers on the table.  "Answers ... if we had the crystal of Hammar here, we could ask it.  The Archonae...."  She trails off, and frowns.  "The Archonae use it as an oracle.  I'm sure if we used the crystal to speak with Hammar, he would know."

[Bjorn]

"Yes," Bjorn says, slowly.  "There's a little more to it than that, in fact."  He frowns, and takes a seat at the writing desk.  "I... was told that the Younger Gods are imprisoned."  He looks up at Mirallia.  "Bound in crystals."

[Brian]

"What?" she asks, completely stunned.  "How could ... but ... then...."  She shakes her head.  "Well.  We feel their power, but they haven't been seen by anyone living in an age," she finally says.  "I suppose anyone is possible.  How did you discover this?"

[Bjorn]

"I had a dream," Bjorn explains, a bit hesitantly.  "I spoke with a... sage of my world."  He scrubs at his eyes.  "That's not entirely accurate," he grumbles, "but an accurate explanation is difficult, and I think I'd need to be more awake than I currently am."  He snorts.  "The short of it, however, is that my goal is not satisfied unless the Younger Gods are freed, it would seem."

He eyes Mirallia with almost paternal sterness.  "If this is true," he points out, "and it turns out that the crystals of imprisonment are the same crystals we're using to ward the Keep, you might very well want to rethink the meaning of what happened at the ceremony."

[Brian]

Mirallia blinks slowly.  "That ... is something I must consider after sleeping," she says, shaking her head.  "This is ... very confusing."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn smiles faintly at that.  "Yes," he agrees.  "Sleep well, Mirallia."  He starts to turn to the writing desk, pauses, and then looks back over his shoulder.  "The only thing I can promise," he says seriously, "is to do my best.  But I do promise that."