Chapter 4

The palace was abuzz with the final preparations for the banquet that evening. The last the group saw of each other was when Aang and the girls returned from their shopping trip. Then the girls all went to Suki's room to get dressed. The guys went to their own rooms to dress. Zuko was met by a small army of servants to prepare him for the evening. He barely suppressed a groan as they stepped forward to help him out of his normal clothes.

"I can handle this part myself," he assured them, fending off their advances. Unconcerned, they stepped back and allowed him to disrobe before they descended on him again. He stood up on a stool that had been set out in the middle of his dressing room and held his arms out stiffly while someone slipped the linen under robes on him. That was followed by the plain long sleeved, black silk jerkin and pants and over top of that someone put another jerkin. This one was red and heavily embroidered in gold. This was where it got a bit complicated. The top jerkin had to be fastened with a series of decorative knots. One servant took care of the knots with deft fingers while another servant tugged the rest of his clothes straight and neat. Yet another servant was laying out combs, pomades, and the small crown that would secure his top knot. Zuko realized with growing annoyance that he'd have to deal with this every night before his actual coronation. The-in his opinion, ridiculous- outfits would only get more complicated until the night he was to be named Fire Lord when he would have to wear the traditional robes of the Fire Lord, complete with the heavy, obnoxiously huge shoulder epaulettes. It would too much to deal with on his own. With a heavy sigh he stepped down from the stool and the next servant began detangling his mess of hair.

"Hey, Sifu Hotman! Looking good!" Zuko frowned in the mirror. In the reflection, he could see Aang and Sokka poking their heads into the room. They had twin grins on their faces watching their faces that Zuko automatically didn't like. One of the servants moved to shoo them from the room, but Zuko signaled for him to leave them alone. Sokka and Aang took it as an invitation to come all the way into his dressing room. They lounged on a couple of chairs.

"This is a nice set up you've got here, Zuko," Sokka commented, looking around at the plush room. There was a large armoire of solid tea-oak on one end and a wall of mirrors along another. Zuko was seated at the large vanity table with an unreasonably large mirror. In that same mirror Zuko could see the grin on Sokka's face that let him know the water tribesman was about to say something he thought was clever.

"So now that we've seen where the princess is supposed to get ready, why don't you show me the men's dressing room?" Sokka burst into hysterical laughter at his own joke, and he didn't notice- or maybe just didn't care- that neither of his friends joined in. Aang had a bemused smile on his face and Zuko just gave him a dead-pan stare in the mirror.

"Funny, Sokka," Zuko retorted. "If you wanted the pretty dressing room, you should have just told me. We can switch."

That got a bit of a chuckle from Aang. Sokka pulled a face at him before turning to the mirror that was behind his chair and looking closely at his reflection. He rubbed his chin and studied his face intently.

"Should I have shaved?" he wondered out loud.

"You'd need something to shave, first," Zuko said with a smirk.

"Har-har," Sokka said sarcastically. He pointed to his ribs. "See my sides, how they split."

The servants working on Zuko finally put the finishing touches on his hair, securing the small flame-shaped crown on his top knot. Zuko examined his refection critically. The robes were slightly more ornate than the robes he wore normally and his hair had grown out. Now that it had been expertly arranged around his shoulders and it shined in the candle lit chamber. He was as satisfied with his appearance as he would ever be and he turned to his waiting friends.

"Let's get this over with," he said. Aang leapt up off of his chair and grinned. Zuko noticed for the first time that he was looking the Avatar in the eye. He was a tall, gangly almost 15 year old now, but just as exuberant and fun loving as he had been at 12. And right now, he was anxious to get to the banquet.

"I'll bet the girls are already waiting for us," he said, excitedly. Sokka looked at Zuko meaningfully from behind Aang, and Zuko suppressed a sigh. He really hoped that Sokka wouldn't be doing that all night.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

The girls, despite Aang's prediction, were not waiting for them when they arrived at the main landing of the place's private wing.

"Why do women always take so long to get dressed?" Sokka complained after they had been waiting for fifteen minutes.

"To teach men patience." Suki and Toph stood at the top of the stairway leading to their rooms. Suki had her arms crossed and her eyes were narrowed at her fiancé. Sokka for his part was struck dumb by the sight of her. Suki was dressed in a dark green kimono with flowers embroidered in lighter green, fading into yellow and then white. The colors played up the hints of gold and hazel in her eyes. Toph looked as regal in her formal hanbok, gold with a red overlay and blue and gold obi.

"Sugar Queen, hurry up!" Toph turned back over her shoulder and tapped her foot impatiently. "Wouldn't want you to be late for them naming you ambassador."

"Relax, Toph!" Katara huffed. "I'm right here." Aang and Zuko both straightened up when they saw her arrive on the landing, and even Sokka let out a low whistle.

"You clean up nice, little sister," he said. Katara flushed and smoothed the skirt of her outfit. It was in the style of the Fire Nation's south, though in a dark blue with gold embroidery, instead of the traditional red. The lehenga was form fitting to the waist where it flared to the end and a wide sari wrapped around her waist and draped over one shoulder. The edges of the sari and lehenga were gold with a red floral pattern.

"It's not too much?" she asked.

"No!" Aang answered quickly. He blushed a deep red when everyone's gaze fell on him. "Y-you look great. Really, ambassador-y." Katara frowned and scrutinized herself.

"I wasn't sure if I should wear red or blue," she admitted.

"She drove us crazy trying to decide," Suki told the guys.

"Is this cut too low? Are these sequins too sparkly? Does this make me look fat? What if someone gets offended that I'm wearing Water Tribe colors and protests by throwing red paint on me?" Toph mimicked. She snorted in disgust.

"I wasn't that bad," Katara protested. She looked at Zuko shyly and pulled a bit at the outfit. "Blue is ok, isn't it? Iroh didn't tell me if I needed to wear anything in particular when we were leaving…"

"It's fine," Zuko insisted. "You look…great." Toph snickered and Suki hid a smile behind her hand with an almost silent squeal of delight. Katara resisted the urge to pinch them and stood up tall, haughtily refusing to look at either of them. The girls walked down the guys and Suki took Sokka's arm. Aang moved to offer Katara his arm, but Toph jumped in front of her.

"Arm, Tinkletoes,"she demanded. Aang looked disappointed for a moment, but took Toph's arm, good naturedly. Toph turned back towards Katara and Zuko with a mischievous grin. "You'd better help Katara, Sparky. She'll probably trip in that get up of hers." Suki looked at her and winked. Katara would have loved to have been anywhere else just then, but Zuko didn't seem to notice. He offered her his arm and after only a moment's hesitation, she accepted it.

'I'm not going to trip," she told him. "I'm not as clumsy as Toph thinks I am."
"We know," Zuko said, patting her hand in a playfully condescending way. Katara glared at him, but allowed him to lead her down the rest of the stairs. All the way to the banquet hall, Katara fussed at her clothes.

"What's the matter?" Zuko asked finally.

"Um…It's a lot of cloth," Katara said quietly. "I'm not used to it. It feels weird." Zuko nodded in sympathy with a wry smile.

"I know what you mean." He pulled at the collar of his robes. "And I should be used to it."

Ahead of them, the doors to the banquet hall loomed imposingly. The doors were tall, solid oak doors carved with the symbolic flame of the Fire Nation. Suki and Sokka were leading the way, followed by Aang and Toph, and Katara and Zuko brought up the rear. Occasionally, Suki would glance back at Katara with an excited grin and Toph would snicker for no apparent reason. Katara did her best to ignore the silent teasing, and gratefully saw that their friends seemed to be oblivious to anything strange.

Men, Katara thought, rolling her eyes.

"Ahem!" Everyone's attention was drawn to a small alcove. Mai stood there looking at Zuko and Katara frostily. Katara dropped Zuko's arm as if it had burned her, and she dropped her eyes sheepishly to the floor.

"Mai!" Zuko said, surprised. "I thought we were meeting inside." Mai smiled tightly, she held her arms rigidly at her sides.

"I thought it would be nice if we were introduced together," she told him. "You know, because I'm your girlfriend." Zuko smiled and held out one arm for Mai and the other for Katara.

"I have two arms for a reason," he said. Katara looked from Zuko to Mai wide eyed in panic. Mai's face remained blank, but her eyes- now fixed on the waterbender- were alight with rage.

"That's alright, Zuko," she said, taking a step away. "Mai's your girlfriend. She should get to walk in with you."

"I don't want to make you walk in alone," Zuko insisted. Katara felt the blood rush to her face and tears of humiliation burned her eyes. She blinked them back immediately.

"It's fine, Zuko," she said firmly.

"I can escort her in," Aang suggested. He held his free arm out for her and Katara took it gratefully.

"See?" she said, forcing herself to smile cheerfully. "I'm taken care of." Zuko looked like he was going to protest more, but Mai slipped her arm through his.

"She's fine," Mai said. She couldn't bring herself to smile. Zuko looked at Katara, concerned. It was all Mai could do not to cry. She settled for looking bored.

Once everyone had settled themselves, Zuko motioned to the guards that they were ready to go in. They announced the entrance of Sokka and Suki- the future chief of the Southern Tribe and his fiancée- then Avatar Aang, Master Katara, and Master Toph Beifong of the Gao Ling Beifongs. Then it was Zuko and Mai's turn. The banquet hall went still when they appeared together in the doorway. The attendees stood respectfully. Zuko was stoic, as was Mai, and the servant announced them.

"Announcing Crown Prince Zuko and…" the servant glanced at Mai uncertainly for a moment. "Ms. Mai Kuroi." Mai walked with Zuko woodenly as he led her to the dais where his uncle was seated. They bowed respectfully and went to their seats at the head table. Zuko let go of the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding and smiled at Katara and Aang who were on the other side of the seat designated for Fire Lord Iroh. Mai couldn't relax, however. Zuko noticed, but he didn't ask her what was wrong. Mai couldn't blame him, of course. This really wasn't the time or the place. Still, Mai wished he would ask.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Zuko watched Mai from the corner of his eye through the night. She was being quiet, even for her. It was driving Zuko to distraction, but he knew what she would say if he asked her what was wrong. He also knew that it certainly wasn't 'nothing'. He would have to wait until they had some privacy before he could ask what was wrong. In the meantime, all he could do is try not to look too bored as he felt as the evening proceeded.

The banquet was an unbearably dull procession of ceremonies and speeches. By the time they reached the end when Katara would officially be named Ambassador, Zuko was in a daze. Fortunately, he wasn't needed for most of the ceremonies, so he was free to zone out. Every so often, Katara would lean around behind Iroh and toss a bit of bread at Zuko's head to bring him back to the present. Aang giggled at her antics, but Zuko was less amused.

"If you fall asleep, don't blame me," she hissed at him when he glared at her angrily.

"Mother goat-hen!" he muttered. Iroh looked from Katara to his nephew with an eyebrow raised.

"I know I'm sitting between you," he said only half-jokingly, "but do I need to separate you two further?" The two young people shook their heads, and Katara made a face at Zuko before she went back to her meal and watching the proceedings. Zuko rolled his eyes and did the same, but he was smirking slightly. At least he wasn't bored anymore. He glanced to his other side to make a comment to Mai, but one look at the frosty look on her face was enough to make him forget what he was going to say.

"Are you alright?" he asked her. He answered his own question even as Mai said tersely,

"I'm fine." Zuko looked back at his uncle and friends quickly before he turned his earnest gaze to his girlfriend.

"You're not," he said in a low voice. "I can tell you're not. So why won't you tell me what's wrong?" Mai's head snapped up at him and she glared at him ferociously. Just as Zuko was beginning to regret started what seemed to be yet another argument with Mai, his uncle stood up. It was time for the announcement.

"Forget it," Mai snarled. "I don't want you to miss your friend's big moment." She ignored Zuko's long stare. Iroh stood up before the council and bowed respectfully, and then he climbed the dais and stood in front of the throne to address the banquet hall.

"Katara of the Southern Water Tribe," he said gravely. Katara knew what to do; Iroh had discussed this with her earlier that day. She rose from her seat and with a nervous glance at Zuko and Aang she went to the dais and knelt at the bottom step, grateful that she had chosen to wear a lengha with a loose skirt. Iroh bade her rise and bowed politely when she stood.

"You have been chosen from among your people to represent the Southern Tribe as ambassador," Iroh said ponderously. There was no trace of his normal joviality and Katara had to fight the urge to shoot him a strange look as he continued speaking. "Do you accept?"

"I do." The words had a heavy feeling of finality to them that Katara wasn't expecting. She kept her head bowed respectfully as Iroh walked over to her and bade her to rise.

"Then before the council and the noble houses of the Fire Nation I name you the Water Tribe Ambassador. Does anyone oppose the appointment?"

There was a tense moment when Katara heard a chair behind her scrape across the ground. Her mouth went dry and she prepared herself for the inevitable. A powerful noble or council member would lead the rest of the court in objecting, strongly and loudly to Katara. She tried to hide the fact that she was shivering under the penetrating stares of the Fire Nation nobles. Quickly, she glanced behind her and saw her brother with Suki and Toph smiling at her encouragingly. After what seemed to Katara to be a small eternity, no one said anything. Iroh smiled broadly and shook her hand. He said some words of congratulations, but Katara's heart was beating in her ears too loudly for her to hear. She smiled woodenly, and shook the hands of some of the council members who came up to greet her, mouthing the some saccharine greetings and welcomes that she could tell they didn't mean. Suddenly she felt very drained.

Zuko didn't see the council members with Katara. He hadn't even heard his uncle officially declare her the new ambassador. His gaze was locked firmly on his hand on Mai's. Her hand was curled into a stiff fist. He couldn't bring himself to look her in the face, so afraid was he that the anger burning in his eyes would actually set her on fire. Mai had been preparing to speak against Katara's appointment. When Iroh called for any objections, she had moved to stand. Zuko had grabbed her hand reflexively almost before he had registered the sound of her chair scraping the floor. Iroh had looked towards them curiously, but Mai had kept mercifully quiet.

Soon the council members were done with Katara and Zuko saw Sokka escort her off the dais. The orchestra started playing and couples made their way to the ballroom floor. The formalities were done for the evening. Zuko stood as soon as he was sure no one would notice.

"I think we need to talk," he told Mai. His voice was low and just barely controlled, like rolling thunder before a storm. Mai met his glower defiantly and stood as well.

"I guess we do." She turned on her heel and led the way out to the balcony. There were a few people milling about, but Zuko dismissed them all with a quiet wave. They filed out immediately. One or two people winked at the couple. Mai's cheeks burned.

"What did you want to talk about?" she began abruptly as soon as they were alone. Zuko looked at her with a mix of anger and confusion.

"What's wrong with you lately?" he asked her, exasperatedly. "And don't say 'nothing'. I know there's something wrong." Mai folded her arms and glared at Zuko before she turned away from him.

"Nothing's wrong," she said coldly. She didn't have to look at Zuko to tell he was angry. Mai could feel the sudden rush of heat from him. When she did glance over at him, he looked ready to explode. His shoulders were tensed up to his ears and his fist were clenched at his sides. His nostrils were flared the way they did when he was ready to fight. Frankly, Mai was surprised he wasn't breathing flames. He looked like the old Zuko.

Good, Mai thought. She liked him better this way. He was easier to understand. The old Zuko was more like Mai. The old Zuko had shut out everyone but her. Mai could deal with the old Zuko.

Zuko stayed like that for a few seconds, and then he shut his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, he still looked upset, but the tension was gone from his shoulders. There was no sign that he was ready to breathe fire. He was rational and mature.

"Mai," he said, his voice level and controlled. "I can't do anything if you don't tell me what's wrong." Mai snorted in disgust and turned her eyes skyward. The stars burned brightly over the palace. Mai could feel Zuko's intense gaze on the side of her face. He was waiting for an answer. After a long stubborn silence on Mai's part, Zuko sighed resignedly. Mai heard his robes rustling and anticipated him at her side, but instead she heard him heading towards the doors heading back inside. She spun around wildly.

"You're leaving?" she asked angrily. Zuko stopped and looked back at her. He looked…disappointed.

"Mai, there is clearly something wrong," he said. "You won't tell me what it is. I can't force you to, so the only thing I can think of to do is to give you your space."

"We're having problems and you want to turn tail and run," Mai accused. "Typical, Zuko. Typical."

"What do you want me to do?" Zuko asked with a frustrated growl. "I've been trying to figure out what's wrong! I've asked you and asked you. All you want to do is fight with me. I can't do this with you now! Not this week. Not tonight."

"Of course not tonight," Mai said scathingly. "I'm sure you're just dying to go congratulate your friend, right?" Zuko stared at Mai, genuinely surprised.

"What's your problem with Katara?" he asked her. "You don't even know her!"

"Oh, I know plenty about her. I know all I need to know about that uppity, trampy little peasant."

"Don't talk about my friends that way," Zuko warned her darkly.

"Your friend," Mai scoffed.

"What's your problem, Mai?" Zuko was getting angry again. Mai scowled, feeling just as angry.

"Why haven't you asked me to marry you?" That took Zuko by surprise. He stared at Mai blankly and Mai stared back expectantly.

"I- I…that is, we're so…" Zuko stuttered. Mai rolled her eyes and turned away from him.

"Just forget it," she muttered. She leaned over the balcony railing and glared out into the night.

"There you go again!" Zuko huffed exasperatedly and threw his hands in the air. "You can't just say something like that and-and just shut down!"

"Why not?" Mai demanded. "It's not like deep talks are really our thing."

"Only because you won't talk!" Mai spun around to find Zuko standing behind her looking almost frightened.

"Alright," she said, tersely. "Let's talk. We've been together for nearly three years. You're being crowned Fire Lord this week, but we haven't even discussed marriage yet. So what are you waiting for Zuko? Don't you want to marry me?"

"I just think I'm –we're too young to get married," Zuko explained to her.

"Oh, come on!" Mai countered disbelievingly. "My parents were around our age when they got married. Your parents weren't much older either. Heck, your Water Tribe friend is getting married and he's your age! And most soon to be Fire Lords are married around the time they take the throne."

"I'm not most Fire Lords, Mai!" Zuko reminded her. "I'm dealing with a country that doesn't want me as Fire Lord, and a world that doesn't trust me. How could I handle being married and deal with all of that at the same time? Would you want to deal with that?"

"Well, that does sound difficult," Mai said sarcastically. "It makes me wonder how you're going to deal with having a girlfriend with all of that." Zuko was silent. Mai wrapped her arms around herself, but she stood tall. After a few moments, she spoke again. "Have you considered…"

"Considered what?" Zuko asked, curious despite himself.

"Have you considered that maybe the country would stand behind you if you pardoned your father?" Zuko gapped at Mai, stunned at her suggestion.

"Are you joking?" he asked incredulously. "After all he's done, all the people he's hurt, I'm still not convinced he doesn't deserve a death sentence."

"Was he really so bad, Zuko?" Mai was just as shocked by Zuko's declaration as he was by what she said.

"He has killed innocent people," he told her angrily. "He devastated countries so they would bow to him. He killed my grandfather because he wouldn't give him the throne and I still don't know what he did to my mother. He drove Azula insane! Or have you forgotten what he did to your best friend? What he did to me?"

"Fire Lord Ozai was a strong willed ruler," Mai said. "I don't agree with everything he did, but under his reign, the Fire Nation flourished, and the other nobles won't forget that. And he didn't drive Azula mad; she was always mad. I turned against her because I could see her going closer to the edge, but it was only a matter of time."

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Zuko said suddenly. He turned away from Mai.

"Now who's shutting down?" Mai taunted mirthlessly.

"I think it's best if we don't talk about politics," Zuko growled. "You clearly have no idea how serious it really is."

"Apparently not," Mai said quietly.

"But you think you want to marry me?" Zuko asked after a moment. Mai's eyes widened in surprise.

"What does any of that have to do with us being married?" Zuko's mood suddenly shifted again. He wasn't angry; he looked older for a moment.

"You would be the Fire Lady," he told her. "I need you to help me. To be on my side about policy-"

"You want me to be a Yes-woman," Mai cut in with a derisive snort.

"No," Zuko said firmly. "That's the last thing I need. But I need you to take more interest in world politics than the state of the Fire Nation. We have a lot to atone for and we might not flourish for a while. I need my wife to help me find the balance between taking care of my people and making amends with the other nations."

"And you don't think I could do it?" Mai asked. She looked as if Zuko had slapped her. He flinched under her hurt gaze.

"You want me to pardon Ozai even though he's guilty of genocide," Zuko reminded her. "It would make me look good to the Fire Nation, but how would the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes feel? Those were their people he slaughtered and enslaved."

"So who could help you with that, Zuko?" Mai's voice shook and her eyes filled with rare tears. "Someone like Katara?"

"Why do you keep bringing her up?" Zuko asked huffily. His shoulders sagged. He wanted desperately to be back inside with the two faced nobles and stuffy ceremonies. He wanted to be celebrating Katara's appointment with his friends. He wanted to be anywhere but on that balcony beneath the stars with his girlfriend.

"You really don't know, do you?" Mai sighed and looked down at her feet. "I know you two kissed." Zuko snapped his head back to Mai.

"What are you talking-"

"After you fought Azula," Mai explained. "I was there. I knew you were at the palace to face Azula. I came to find you. To see if you needed help. When I got there, I saw the water bender healing you. And then I saw her kiss you. And you kissed her back. Does that ring any bells?"

"That was three years ago," Zuko said quietly. "We haven't even spoken about it since then."

"But you have a thing for each other," Mai accused. "Admit it." Zuko shook his head disbelievingly.

"You're out of your mind." Mai grabbed the sleeve of Zuko's robe and looked at him with desperation and suspicion mingled in her eyes.

"Then deny it!" she demanded. "Tell me I'm wrong! Tell me there's nothing going on between you two."

"What could possibly be going on between us?" Zuko asked. He fought to keep his voice below shouting. "I can count the number of times I've seen her since the war ended on my hands"

"And now she's going to be living here," Mai pointed out. "How convenient."

"That kiss was a heat of the moment thing, Mai! It meant nothing to either…" Zuko cut himself off suddenly. They heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the hall. A guard stepped out onto the balcony and bowed respectfully.

"Fire Lord Iroh request that you and Miss Mai join the rest of the party in the courtyard," he said. "The firework display will begin shortly." Zuko blinked in surprise- when had it become midnight?- and dismissed the servant. Turning back to Mai, he hesitantly offered her his arm. She took it hostilely and allowed him to lead her inside. She made her face neutral as they made their way back to the party. After all, they still needed to keep up appearances.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Fifteen minutes before the changing of the guards began, five shrouded figures huddled at the door of the underground prison. Shrio glanced nervously at the men with him. There were four guards surrounding the ousted Fire Lord waiting their opening to escape. Shiro only knew one of them; Tan was the orchestrator of the whole thing. He had chosen Shiro because of his loyalty to Ozai, and Shiro could only assume that the other two men were chosen for the same reason. They were all similarly attired in plain black cloaks with wide hoods to hide their faces. If they kept to the shadows, they should be almost invisible. Shiro took a deep breath and went over the plan in his head.

The guards would be changing shifts during the fireworks display. The sounds of the fireworks going off hid the sound of the guards' footsteps. The guards switched shifts while the guests were occupied with the display so that they wouldn't be disturbed by the guards filing out. It also kept them in one place so that they could be easily protected if the palace was attacked while the guards were distracted. This, however, would not be an attack, and the guards would not be watching for anyone leaving the palace. The five escapees would sneak out through one of the smaller, more disused servants' doors and make their way quickly through the back streets of the town surrounding the palace. There would be a phaeton with two ostrich horses- all in dark colors of course- waiting for them once they had put a little distance between them and the palace. The phaeton would carry them on the first leg of their journey into the mountains. Their second leg would be completed with new mounts and they would make their way to a small, secret stronghold in the woods. There Ozai would gather his supporters and raise an army to attack the capital city and wrest control from his brother and son. Shiro had no doubt that the plan would work, but he couldn't stop his hands from shaking with nerves. He wiped his sweaty palms discretely on his cloak, and realized that Tan was giving the signal to move out.

The hall was as quiet as they could have hoped. The guards who should have been watching over the prisoners were all asleep at their posts. The result of a few bottles of wine, compliments of Fire Lord Iroh to celebrate the opening ceremonies for his nephew's coronation. No one could taste the heavy dose of sleeping medicine the bottles had been spiked with. The five men made their way down the hall as quickly as possible, doing their best to avoid anyone who might be in the halls. It was a good thing the palace was filled with the Fire Nation nobility, Shiro reflected. Had they not been there the guards wouldn't have been so concentrated around the walls of the palace instead of their normal posts interspersed throughout. Shiro didn't have time to consider this any further. Tan had stopped in front of a door hidden in the shadows. With some small bit of difficulty, he managed to get the heavy door open and led the way through a dark, dusty hall- an entrance from the days when the prison was the servant's quarters.

So far their plan was going without a hitch. Soon they were out in the cool night air. Their last obstacle lay before them- the outer palace wall. Tan led them, keeping close to the wall and as far out of any bit of light as possible, to a portion of the wall that was being renovated. There was a ladder leaning against the stucco and it was over this way that they would leave the palace grounds. Tan and the two other guards went first, then Ozai, and finally, Shiro clamored up the ladder. With a final glance around the grounds that had been his home for years, Shiro hauled himself over the wall and jumped down lightly on the other side.