Chapter 5: Part 2 - Honesty and Humility

Kneeling in a very public area of the Black Citadel was not comfortable. Erin was acutely aware of the eyes watching her, the rumbles of laughter, and of just how large the hulking charr were when you weren’t much taller than an asura.

Weir, on the other side of the table, folded his arms. He looked like he was trying to think of something sarcastic to say, but Erin could see him wavering. He was used to Spark, after all. The engineer would never beg, not even to get something she wanted.

But Erin’s humility wasn’t feigned. She’d give up anything ‒ pride included ‒ if it brought Auri home.

Finally, Weir grumbled something under his breath that Erin suspected wasn’t very complimentary. “Get up, Erin.”

“I’m not getting up until you agree to help me. Tell me where Spark is.”

“What if I don’t know?” Weir said, but he reached across the table and hauled Erin back to her feet. They both returned to their seats, staring at one another for a moment. “I need another drink.”

Erin called for them, two ales this time, and downed half of hers in one gulp. Charr ale tasted like engine oil as well as looking like it, but she was starting to feel like she needed it.

Weir finished his drink in one go with a sigh of satisfaction. “You’re asking me,” he said after a long silence, “to betray my commander. And not just my commander. My friend.”

Erin finished her ale to give herself more time to think. She could cajole and plead with Weir ‒ or she could be honest. “Is she your friend, Weir? In all the years you’ve been with Spark, has she ever treated you as anything more than a bodyguard?”

“Of course she has,” Weir replied, but he sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

“We all know Spark… has her own way of doing things,” Erin said. “I admire her commitment. I admire how driven she is. But this time she’s chosen the wrong enemy, because…”

“Because she knows what she’d do with Auri,” Weir said heavily. “She knows, if she was Artair, she wouldn’t be able to own a weapon without using it.”

Erin winced at the description of Auri as a weapon to be owned, but she knew Weir was right. That was exactly what Spark was thinking. Ironic, then, that Artair had in fact wanted to protect Auri from exactly this situation. He’d seen a future where Auri was nothing but a possession and whilst Erin didn’t agree with his methods, she had to admit he’d been remarkably prescient.

“I’m not asking you to go after Spark.” Erin leaned across the table, pushing the empty glasses aside. “I’m not going to put you in that position. But you know she’s kidnapped Auri. You know she’s gone too far this time. And you know, as long as she believes she’s doing the right thing, she isn’t going to stop.”

“Neither is Artair.” Weir studied her face as though a realisation was overtaking him. “And neither are you.”

Erin nodded slowly. They all wanted different things for Auri, but not one of them was going to back down.

Weir tapped one claw on the table, apparently lost in thought. “If I do this, nothing will ever be the same.”

“I’m sorry for that, Weir. I really am. But Auri’s caught in the middle of a war she had no say in and I’m not going to leave her there to be manipulated.”

She wasn’t sure Weir was listening. He struck one of the glasses with the same claw until it rang like a bell. “Maybe,” he rumbled, “it would be better if things changed.”

Erin was silent, holding her breath. She couldn’t force Weir to answer her. She wasn’t even sure she could beat him into submission. But Weir knew Spark better than anyone else alive and she had to hope that would be enough to make him see sense.

“Fireheart Rise.” Weir’s head came up so suddenly that Erin blinked. “She’s headed north, deeper into Ascalon. She wouldn’t tell me exactly where she was going, but if I had to guess, it’ll be Fireheart Rise.”

Erin let out her breath in a rush. “Thank you.”

Weir showed his teeth. “I don’t want your thanks, Erin. When you appeared with the Valpari twins all those weeks ago, you tore my life apart. It’d be better if we never saw each other again.”

Erin nodded in understanding as she got to her feet. “I won’t argue if that’s what you really want. There’s a place for you in Light’s Memory, though. There always will be. Spark, too.”

Did Weir catch her hesitation? It seemed impossible that they could return to normality and welcome Spark back into the fold as though nothing had happened… But Erin had seen stranger things in her life. Maybe there was forgiveness to be found yet.

But Weir just waved a paw at her. “Get out of here before I decide I’ve made a mistake.”

Erin went, heading straight for the asura gate. She itched to set out north at once, to go racing after Spark, but she was under-equipped and unprepared. More importantly, she didn’t think sending a whole army after Spark would do anything but spook her into hiding, or possibly even murdering Auri on a whim. What this called for was a subtler approach and she knew just who to call upon.

She wasn’t surprised to find Oska waiting when she entered the guild hall. He was practically vibrating with energy, spinning a dagger in one hand as though he hadn’t even noticed it was there. He must have seen something in her face, though, because he gave a savage grin. “You made him talk.”

“Fireheart Rise,” Erin said, then held up a hand to stop Oska rushing off. “It’s somewhere to start. Weir wasn’t sure of Spark’s exact location.”

“A lead is all we need.”

Erin caught Oska by the arm. “Oska, listen to me. Spark won’t react well if the whole guild goes after her. I’m sending you alone.”

Oska’s eyes widened. This, Erin knew, was a calculated risk. She truly didn’t know if Oska could take Spark down ‒ but his bond with Auri was unmistakeable and there was every chance they could work together. There was even a chance Spark would listen to the thief and it wouldn’t come to a fight.

But above all, what Erin saw when she looked at Oska was a weapon, perfectly honed and ready to be used. He’d shown his loyalty, both to her and the guild. He deserved to have this chance to get his sister back.

“I’ll be sending reinforcements,” Erin said, “but they won’t reach you right away. Are you sure you can handle this?”

Oska’s eyes, one green and one blue, glittered. “You know I can.”

Erin let him go, remembering once again what Amber had said to her. “I won’t ask you to spare Spark. You might be faced with a choice, but I can’t make it for you. Do you understand?”

For the first time, Oska looked uncertain, but no less determined. “I do.”

“Then you have your orders, Oska. The rest is up to you.”