Chapter 2: Part 8 - When The Time Is Right

Taria Valpari was almost exactly as Erin had expected. She was tall, regal, and as commanding as a battlefield general. She also had grey hair and very pale green eyes, with high cheekbones and perfect teeth; she looked, in other words, exactly like Marissa would look in fifty years time.

She certainly wasted no time in ordering everyone around. Before a word could be spoken, she waved her cane and her guards formed a tight cordon around Erin and Amber. There was no point fighting ‒ but that wasn’t what they’d come for.

“Perfect,” Amber murmured, as the guards led them away and the gamblers around them pretended not to notice.

It was perfect, in an odd way. They’d wanted Taria’s attention and now they’d unmistakeably got it.

They arrived in a small room off the main gambling hall, with a single card table in the centre and armchairs in the corners. Taria positioned herself beside the fire, both hands resting on the head of her cane.

More surprisingly, the guards nudged Erin and Amber into the room ‒ and then left.

There was a long silence, finally broken by Amber. “Aren’t you scared we’re going to rob you?”

Taria’s smile had no real amusement in it. “You are welcome to try.”

Frustration bubbled up in Erin’s chest. She recalled all their different conversations with Ruby, Artair, and Yinn ‒ all the veiled threats and dancing around in circles. That seemed to be how thieves and mesmers talked and she was sick of it.

“Lady Valpari.” Erin didn’t bother holding out a hand; she knew Taria wouldn’t shake it. “My name is Erin and this is my guild mate, Amber. We’re from Light’s Memory, based in Lion’s Arch.”

“Yes, I know.” There was a hint of sourness in Taria’s voice. “I had your guild hall burnt to the ground and I still haven’t managed to get rid of you.”

“So that’s what the fire was about.” Amber folded her arms. “A warning.”

“A warning you ignored.”

“Perhaps you should have been more obvious.” Amber tapped Erin’s elbow; Erin supposed her shoulder was out of reach. “My friend here is an obvious sort of person.”

“You’re not, I see.” Taria raised an eyebrow. “Very well. I thought my warning was perfectly clear the first time, but I am happy to reiterate it. Whatever takes place between myself and Archon Artair ‒ and I mean absolutely whatever ‒ you need to stay well away from it.”

“It’s too late for that,” Erin said. “Artair spent weeks trying to find recruits during Yinn’s game. He has your grandson already.”

Taria’s expression only grew sourer. “Yes, Jean always was too soft-hearted to be a true Valpari. There’s steel in him, of course, but he keeps it too deeply buried for it to be useful.”

“He’s done what he can to help us,” Amber pointed out. “Having a man on the inside has its uses.”

“Only if that man isn’t obviously a spy,” Taria replied. “Artair will have been keeping a close eye on Jean from the day they met. There’s nothing Jean could tell you that I couldn’t have told you myself.”

Erin wished, quite suddenly, that she could reach for her greatsword. “Once you’d finished burning down our guild hall.”

Taria gave a long, weary sigh, which made her sound much less like a Valpari. “Everything I have done has been for the good of Tyria ‒ and for the good of my family, but Tyria comes first. Artair must be defeated. You know that better than anyone.”

Erin nodded slowly. “That’s why we’re here. My people are missing and Ruby is with them. If you know where she is…”

“I do, as a matter of fact. I keep very close tabs on Ruby. She and your guild mates have been taken to a meeting with Artair, on the outskirts of the Grove. I’m tracking them, of course.”

Alarm made Erin’s chest squeeze tight. “Taken to a meeting? You mean they didn’t have any choice?”

“They could have fought, I’m sure,” Taria said, “but you know your guild mates better than I do. Would they really have passed up an opportunity to confront Artair?”

Oska certainly wouldn’t. Perhaps Caolinn wouldn’t, either. Auri would have had no choice but to follow. What were the three of them going to do against Artair, though ‒ and whose side would Ruby be on?

“Then what’s the plan?” Even Amber sounded strained. “Do we intervene?”

Taria nodded. “I am making arrangements, but it is vital that we do not act too hastily.”

“But we do need to act,” Erin said. She could already imagine Oska trying to get close enough to Artair to stick him with a dagger ‒ and getting killed in the process.

“We will,” Taria replied, “when the time is right.”

There was a pause in which Erin could hear shouts of elation from the gambling hall, accompanied by the chink of drinking glasses. If Taria wasn’t willing to be rushed… “What is this all about?” she asked hesitantly. “You and Artair… Ruby said you’re fighting over some kind of weapon.”

When Taria didn’t immediately reply, Amber began drumming her fingers on the card table beside her. “Care to enlighten us?”

“If you are asking for details of the weapon in question,” Taria said stiffly, “I am afraid I will have to disappoint you. Some things are best restricted to those who need to know.”

Erin wanted to grind her teeth in frustration. “We’re part of this now. You haven’t given us any choice.”

“I tried, I can assure you. Some people are simply too stubborn to take a hint.”

“So coming here was pointless?” Amber asked, sounding more curious than angry.

“Nothing is ever ‘pointless’,” Taria replied crisply. “If you wish to save your guild mates from Artair ‒ and potentially apprehend him ‒ there is no better place you could be.”

Erin exchanged a look with Amber. She could see the thief was trying to twist the situation to her own ends, but what more could they do? Taria didn’t seem like a woman who’d give up her secrets easily ‒ and no matter what she said, it felt like they were rapidly running out of time.

Amber seemed to be thinking the same thing. “The longer we stand here, the longer Ruby and our guild ‒ and three of your family members ‒ are in danger. Why don’t you tell us what we want to know so we can get on with saving them?”

For a moment, Taria’s face softened. “You are right that I fear for my grandchildren, thief. They are all very dear to me ‒ but, unlike their parents, they all possess the true Valpari spirit. Which means, whether we intervene or not, they can take care of themselves.”

It was no use, Erin could see. Taria wasn’t going to reveal anything about the weapon ‒ and perhaps that was for the best. Erin found herself picturing Spark and wondering if Taria had the right idea. The fewer people they brought into this war, the better.

“Fine,” Amber snapped. She was practically bouncing with impatience. “Keep your secrets ‒ but let’s get a move on. If anyone’s going to ‘apprehend’ Artair, it’s going to be me.”