Stay

[Bjorn]

Bjorn blinks, blankly, and then shrugs.  "Think I told you all this before.  My other-self was a slave to the Church of Hamar, and had been since fairly young.  Lower-class citizen, basically only respected for battle.  That's about it, really."

[Ginrai]

"Hmm?  Actually, I didn't know this.  So you've known Mirella and the former High Priestess for some time, then?  Do you know anything else important of yourself?  Possibly others who you've met throughout the years there or possibly about the priestesses?"

[Bjorn]

"She's a priestess of Hamar.  She wasn't all that high-ranking, I gather, and she really doesn't want this job.  That's about it."  He frowns.  "Look, this is a pretty useless way of asking me about these things.  If you have a specific question, it might jog my other-memories, but this sort of vague, general stuff..."

[Ginrai]

"I see.  Was hoping that you'd know of the events around the time when the priestess died.  If you do discover anything else about your other-self *please* tell me immediately since it could be important with regards to us making it out of here alive."

Ginrai sighs.  "Anyway, we also wanted to talk in private with Mirella."

[Bjorn]

"All right, wait a second," Bjorn says.  "Why are you all of a sudden so sure that our pasts may be the key to success?  We've all been worrying about it, so why, right now, are you suddenly making such a big deal out of it?"

[Ginrai]

Ginrai nods.  "I have a feeling that someone from the Church of Hamar was tied with the Pax Arcana and was wondering if either you or Mirallia know of anyone suspicious around the time of the Priestesses death."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn shrugs.  "I don't know of anybody, any more than you do, and for the same reasons.  No memories.  But I'll go get Mirallia.  Wait here."

Without waiting for a reply, Bjorn heads to the bedroom.  Knocking on the doorframe, he says, "Mirallia?  It's Parthipan and Durant.  They would like to ask you some questions about the death of your predecessor, if you're willing."

[Brian]

Mirallia comes out of the bedroom, and takes one of the seats at the main table in the front room.  "I suppose," she says, looking the slightest bit annoyed.  "What would you like to know?"

[Bjorn]

Bjorn follows Mirallia back to the main room, but chooses to stand close to the door, one ear cocked for sounds in the hallway outside.

[Ginrai]

"Quite a few things, to be honest.  First thing being, do you know the cause of her death?  Was it something that happened all of a sudden?"

[Brian]

"Perhaps," Mirallia says thoughtfully, looking distant.  "She was wandering in the garden ... alone, though.  I remember it because I was busy at the time with Bjorn."  She coughs quietly.  "We were discussing his appropriateness as a candidate for the ceremony.  There were twelve potential vassals there, but of course, only four can be chosen.

"While she was in the garden, she fainted.  When we investigated, we found no sign of ilness upon her ... nor any wound.  But she would not recover, even with our prayers.  She did not wake to speak of what happened, and passed away that night."

[Ginrai]

"And everyone there came to the immediate conclusion that her death was through natural causes?"

[Brian]

"There were no wounds, and Hamar would not heal her.  We hardly assumed it was natural," Mirallia replies levely.  "Though ... it may have been poison.  We cannot heal that."

[Ginrai]

"I see....  Other than yourself, who else was considered to be her successor?"

[Brian]

"I was third in succession," Mirallia replies, frowning.  "Though, in truth, I did not expect to be chosen for this task.  I thought that it would go to Grizelda ... but she insisted that I go, and that she would take care of Winterhaven until Gatemaster Eske arrived."