Chapter Three
"You're going to sabotage this?" Anik said, tilting his head in disbelief.
"I don't want to marry him Anik. I want to be the one who picks who I marry."
"Sakari, they just want to-"
"Make sure I'm well cared for, I know, I know. But that doesn't mean I should just marry Aklaq."
"Sakari, it's-"
"Tradition? Anik we've been breaking tradition since we were FIVE. I'm not about to give in now." I said, crossing my arms. "It's simple. You tell Mom that I forgot something at the market, and I'll come back when I know Aklaq is gone."
"Sakari, just sit through the dinner."
"Anik, no." I huffed. "I'm going to choose who I marry. Even if it's a FIRE bender." I said, emphasizing my stance on the subject. He stared at me, shocked that I would even consider saying something so brash.
"Seriously? A FIRE bender? Sakari, have you lost your mind?"
"No, I was just exaggerating." I said, shaking my head. "Besides, how happy do you think Aklaq'll be when he realizes that it's me whose been kicking his butt at training not YOU?" Anik flinched at my harsh tone.
"He won't know."
"Anik. I am NOT going to hide this from a man who's supposed to be my HUSBAND." I sternly said. "So, I would prefer to marry a man who'll encourage me to bend, not just have me be a healer or homemaker." My brother sighed as I pulled on my coat and headed towards the kitchen. Walking past my father, I headed outside, claiming that I had to step out. Hiding underneath the back window, I listened for Anik to tell my mother my excuse. Satisfied when I heard him mumble that I was going to the market, I began to sneak off. I didn't get very far though.
"Sakari? Is that you?" Aklaq asked as he appeared from around a corner. Mentally slapping myself, I turned and smiled widely.
"Yeah, it is Aklaq." I said through my slightly gritted teeth. "I was about to go get something at the market before the stalls close up for the night." My lie slipped through my teeth more naturally than anything I had ever said to him.
"I'll go with you!" He grinned, offering his hand to me.
"It's sweet of you to offer, but my brother wanted to talk to you. He said something about Pakku's lesson today and I told him he should talk to you about it since you were coming over. Besides, I'm meeting up with Yugoda when I get there. She's going to help me catch up on some healing powerful healing techniques while the moon is out." I said, inwardly panicking. Why won't he catch the hint that I don't want him to come? I silently smiled as he nodded. Hopefully he bought my lie, and didn't say anything to my parents about Yugoda. The last thing I need is my mother questioning me on advanced healing techniques when I barely know how to heal a paper cut. He shrugged and headed inside my house. Through the window I heard him greet my parents and brother, before asking Anik what he wanted to talk about. My twin stuttered before quickly saying that it was embarrassing and mumbling something about how he needed help with the advanced octopus form they had learned (I told him about it and that I had been having trouble with it so it was a perfectly valid thing to ask about). I quickly snuck away, heading to the market. Exchanging a bag of sea prunes for a couple of coins, I sighed. I had to go find Yugoda and ask her for some advanced healing help, otherwise my lie to Aklaq would fall apart (I just KNEW he'd tell my mother and she'd quiz me on it) so I turned towards the healing huts. I didn't get very far though. As I rounded a corner, I saw the Avatar and his female friend standing in a darkened area. They seemed to be…waterbending. Or at least I overheard him telling her how to do what Pakku had said in class today while she practiced it. She seemed to be good at it as well, until the water suddenly started moving in a swift fashion. Silently throwing myself behind a corner, I froze as a chilling voice echoed down from the bridge.
"You have disrespected me, my teachings, and my entire culture." Pakku's voice carried down and I felt my spine tingle at the chill in his words. My breathing was fast and quiet as I heard Aang apologize to the master, trying to explain himself before Pakku cut him off. "You are no longer welcome as my student." I felt my feet carry me away from the scene as I began to run away from the avatar and his friend. Panting as I made my way back to the house. Aklaq looked up as I entered, his face breaking into a grin. My mother looked at me then to the bag in my hand.
"Sakari, what did you go buy?" She asked, curiosity mixed with skepticism laced in her tone.
"Sea Prunes. I saw we were running low and Anik really likes them so I went to get some more and to talk to Yugoda. I couldn't find her though."
"Did you go to her house?"
"I was on my way there when I remembered that we had company!" I quickly lied, my neck starting to feel warm. Anik flushed a little as our mother rounded on him. Finally her eyes softened and she smiled.
"Well I'm glad you came back." She said, smiling as she served up another bowl of food and seated me next to Aklaq. I noticed how he blushed when I sat and I snickered in my head. He's cute but I'm not interested. Plus, if he knew about my fighting habit he wouldn't be into me either. As we ate I felt Anik's eyes boring into the back of my head, a signal that could only mean I would have to tell him everything later.
