Chapter 3: Part 9 - A Time Of Peace

Erin’s dreams were full of frantic voices. Some whispered, others shouted, but all of them seemed to be on the edge of panic. She rolled over, trying to claw her way towards wakefulness ‒ and realised the voices were real.

Erin sat up, her heart hammering. Memories of Artair’s incursion into the guild hall flashed through her mind, but it wasn’t the middle of the night, nor was there any sign of intruders. Instead, half the guild were clustered in the middle of the room, whilst the rest peeled themselves out of bed.

Amber was the first to bring clarity to the confusion. “It’s Oska,” she said, hurrying over to Erin. “He’s gone.”

“He might be training,” Marissa said. She’d made it to the centre of the room, though she moved gingerly and leaned heavily on Jean’s shoulder. Her wounds, despite all attempts to heal them, still seemed to cause her pain. “Or he might have gone to the market for supplies.”

“I was on watch,” Caolinn put in. She’d arrived back the night before, greeting Erin with a shake of her head. She’d been vague about what leads she’d been following, except to admit they’d been unfruitful. “I didn’t see him leave.”

“Thieves move discreetly by default,” Jean said, sounding a little desperate. “He probably just wanted some privacy.”

“For what purpose?” Darr’s words made everyone else fall silent. “To rescue his sister ‒ or to join her?”

For a moment, the silence in the guild hall seemed to hang like a shroud, weighing heavy on Erin’s shoulders. She knew she needed to intervene, yet what could she say? How many times could she defend Oska, or go chasing after him when he made another rash decision?

“Do you really believe that?” Roan spoke in a low growl, cutting through the silence. “Does anyone here really think Oska is stupid enough to join the enemy?”

“Of course not,” Caolinn said, but even she sounded unconvinced.

Darr began to pace, his cane tapping out a rhythm on the rough stone floor. “We cannot rule out the possibility. We all know Oska is devoted to his sister. Where she leads, he may have followed.”

“Oska is no fool.” Marissa spoke sharply enough to make Erin jump. “He knows better than to go running towards an enemy like that ‒ or he used to, anyway. If he really has gone after Artair, then I think we know who to blame.”

Far too late, Erin realised Marissa’s gaze was locked on her. She straightened, pulling her shoulders back as though preparing for a fight. Marissa had been surprisingly easy to give orders to during her time as a guild member, but Erin had always suspected the mesmer was merely biding her time. She’d joined Light’s Memory because they were the only ones who hated Artair as much as she did, but the guild hadn’t been her first choice.

And now, it seemed, the claws were out. Marissa shook off Jean’s grip and strode forwards, despite the pain she was obviously in. “What do you think, Erin? Is Oska running wild because you can’t keep him under control, or is your incompetence rubbing off on him?”

Ivar made a strangled noise of protest, but he was the only one. Everyone else seemed completely frozen.

“Oska’s a Valpari,” Marissa went on, closing the space between them. “I know we’re not always easy to handle, but Oska’s practically a child. A strong guild leader would have kept him in line.”

Erin folded her arms. “If you knew your cousin needed more guidance, you should have come to me.”

Marissa gave a brittle laugh. “When I wasn’t risking my life to follow your orders, you mean?”

“We all agreed Artair has to be stopped‒”

“Yes, Artair. Our enemy, who’s been running rings around us for weeks. You even allied us with my bloody grandmother and we still haven’t caught him.” Marissa’s eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t privy to the decision that made you leader of this guild, Erin ‒ maybe no one here was ‒ but I doubt I’m the only one who disagrees with it.”

Erin’s gaze flicked to Amber. Neither of them had really wanted to lead; it was Amber who’d made the decision, in the days after their battle at Rata Sum. She’d seen something in Erin, she always claimed, that Erin hadn’t seen herself.

But the asura had drawn back until her face was hidden by shadow. Erin knew, with a piercing disappointment, not to expect any help from that quarter.

“What do you want me to do?” she said, eyeing Marissa again. “Are you asking me to step down as guild leader?”

For the first time, Marissa didn’t immediately respond. She looked, to Erin’s dismay, as though she was trying not to smile.

“Because I will, if that’s what everyone wants,” Erin said, the words spilling out of her. Was there a little twinge of relief, underneath the disappointment? “If you, as my guild mates, are asking me to step down, that’s what I’ll do.”

The silence that followed was even more stifling than before. It had started to rain, Erin realised, heavy drops splattering against the temporary roof that sheltered the guild hall. Somewhere in the distance, thunder boomed.

And still no one spoke. Roan was impassive, Darr thoughtful. Caolinn had her eyes closed. Erin wasn’t sure she deserved anyone in the guild leaping to her defence, but she wasn’t sure what to make of their silence.

“Really?” Her voice sounded loud in the stillness. She looked back at Marissa, whose eyes were narrowed. A bead of blood sat on her bottom lip, as though she’d bitten it. “Do you want me to go or not?”

“Why would you go anywhere?” The voice came from the doorway, almost drowned out by the sound of the rain. “Everyone else is right here.”

Erin swung, relief making her light-headed, to see Oska standing there. The rain had plastered his grey hair to his forehead, but he looked unharmed. “Where have you been?” she demanded, knowing she sounded like a strict parent.

“Out,” Oska replied. His gaze swept across the hall. “What’s going on?”

“We are making a decision about our future as a guild,” Marissa said crisply.

“No, you’re not.” Oska hadn’t moved, but he looked suddenly as imposing as a warrior twice his size. “You’re trying to force Erin out.”

“You needn’t concern yourself with this, Oska‒”

“Why not? Because I might stand up to you?” One moment Oska was beside the door and the next he was right beside Erin. “Erin isn’t going anywhere.”

Marissa’s nostrils flared. “And that’s up to you, is it?”

“More than it’s up to you,” Oska shot back. “You only put yourself in the middle of things when you can get something out of it.”

Someone ‒ Erin thought it might have been Ivar ‒ made a stifled noise of amusement.

“And can you honestly tell me you would have done any better?” Oska’s words were dipped in acid. “You joined Yinn’s game willingly, without once thinking of the consequences. You only led our team because no one else wanted to. Light’s Memory wouldn’t have lasted three weeks with you in charge.”

Erin could see how close Marissa was to lashing out again ‒ but Oska hadn’t finished.

“Erin has been here from the beginning,” he said firmly. “She’s led this guild without flinching, no matter what Artair has thrown at us. She’s never got distracted by her own troubles, or vanished because she found something better to do. Are you really going to tell me there’s a single person in this room who’s more steadfast and more reliable than her? Those are the qualities Light’s Memory needs.”

Erin found herself gaping at Oska in surprise. He’d been a constant, niggling thorn in her side for weeks, yet now he was defending her. She wasn’t sure what she’d done to deserve it, but the fact that this prickly, wounded boy had chosen her meant more than she could express.

“Thank you, Oska,” she managed, knowing she sounded choked.

Oska gave a single, sharp nod, then returned to glaring at his cousin.

Marissa wasn’t perturbed. “Dear Oska,” she said, a dangerous amusement in her voice, “I always knew you lacked a mother figure growing up, but I never expected this to be the result.”

Erin managed to catch Oska by the shoulder before he could launch himself at Marissa, but she couldn’t stop the snarl that escaped his lips.

Marissa met it with a sneer, before she swung to address the rest of the guild. “It’s clear Erin means a great deal to some of you ‒ but you cannot deny she’s made fruitless alliances, failed to capture Artair on more than one occasion, and even had a bounty on her own head. If this is a war, it’s one Light’s Memory won’t win without a change in leadership.

“I therefore find it necessary to make a proposition. Anyone who truly wishes to put an end to Artair should come with me. The rest of you can stay right here.”

Before anyone could argue, Marissa began moving towards the door. Erin wasn’t surprised to see Jean rush after his sister; he looked almost embarrassed by his choice, but no one would begrudge him it. Roan, too, followed her, shaking his heavy head in what might have been either exasperation or regret. Erin watched them go, almost feeling like she could breathe freely again ‒ until Amber stepped forwards.

“You’re the perfect leader for a time of peace, Erin,” she said softly, “but Marissa is right: this is a war we need to win. Maybe things will be different when Artair is beaten, but right now…”

Amber stuck out a hand. Erin stared at it for what felt like an eternity, only managing to lurch forwards when Amber started to withdraw. She grabbed the asura’s hand, clung to it for a moment, then finally managed to let go.

“Take care of yourself, Erin,” Amber whispered, too quietly for anyone else to hear. Erin could only stare at her, too dazed to do anything else ‒ and she was still standing there, as though she’d been turned to stone, when the guild hall door banged shut.