Getting to know the Egregore
2am....Brazen Paradour....Much alcohol imbibed....
A bit FOIPy I guess...
“Who cares about Liathaven when there's Druj to fight!” Screeched Kestral as Merryn and Brennos made eye contact with an identical, pained look of “Uh oh...”
Liaven, the Navarri Egregore roared in anger from the bench he sat on.
Merryn moved quickly to his side, anticipating trouble given the drunken state of everyone involved, as Kestral started desperately stammering apologies.
Another wince between Brennos and Merryn as Kestral went down on his knees, pledging to retake Liathaven for Liaven.
Brennos grabbed Kestral out of the mud and gave him a talking to as the mercurial Liaven talked in heart-broken tones about his family and his love back in Liathaven. That he couldn't be there with them because he was Egregore. That he was scared for them.
Merryn's heart went out to him.
With disgust Merryn realised that she'd never thought of the Egregore as being any more than the Egregore. There to facilitate national bonding. There to help all Navarr find their place in The Great Dance. There to serve the nation.
She was suddenly filled with shame at taking him for granted. For failing to acknowledge him as an actual person with feelings and family ties. A man having to do things out of a sense of duty. Compelled to do them because of the Egregore spirit that now lived within him.
She threw her arms around him and held him tight, whispering furiously.
“We'll retake Liathaven. I'm sorry. We will. We haven't forgotten it. We haven't forgotten the people there. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We'll retake it and make your home as beautiful as it ever was.”
---
The night wore on, people calmed down, drink flowed.
Merryn thought about Liaven's family. Thought about the Liathaven spy network. Thought about how to find out if his loved ones were safe. Thought about how to give something back to the man that had given the nation so much.