Six
The day had come. For several weeks, they had been studying stolen rutters, and planning the perfect strike on one of the light assault ships.
"You've never done anything like this?" Sano asked Corin.
"No." The young swordsman replied.
Sano opened the door to his room, and lit a lamp. Corin waited in the doorway as Sano walked over to an armor display in the corner of his room. Well-worn but sturdy firebender armor sat there, and Sano quickly strapped it on.
He took down a sword similar to the one Corin now carried. "What's going to happen is the water benders will bend a mist to hide our actions before the enemy spots us. The ship will pull up along side, and the waterbenders will then freeze the ship in place."
Corin nodded, glad Kari would be remotely safe. "And then?"
Sano stepped out of his room, shutting the door. "I'll lead the boarding party. It will be composed of swordsmen mostly, and another other decent fighters. After that, our only job is to kill as many as it takes for them to surrender."
Corin swallowed, and Sano stopped. "Listen, Corin, unless you learn to love it, killing a man isn't easy. Do not learn to love it, it will keep you sane. But remember what their comrades did to your family and friends, and use that anger to get you through this."
Corin nodded. "I'll see you there, then."
"I hate these cold days." A sentry said to his companion.
The man snorted, laughing. "I know what you mean. There's no place like home, with weather you're used to."
"Great." The first sentry looked out at the ocean. "There's a fog rolling in. we won't be able to see anything."
His companion suddenly grunted, and fell to the deck. The man didn't even have time to check his friend before a second arrow planted itself in his neck.
The six other sentry teams were killed as quickly and efficiently, then men shouted in surprise and confusion as the engines stalled, and finally quit.
"There's ice overboard!" Some shouted. "And…oh spirits!" As silent as ghosts, Sano led the warriors onto the ship.
"They're fighting." Yaeko said, staring at the smaller ship. She stood with the waterbenders, who were struggling to hold the new iceberg in place.
Kari, distracted, asked: "Why aren't you down there with them?"
Yaeko frowned. "I promised Sano I'd stay here."
"When…why did you talk to Sano?" Kari asked. And when don't you call him Sparky?
"I…we…um…"
Kari's eyes lit up. "You can tell me later." She said, trying not to laugh.
Sano spun, striking with his sword at the same time he fired a burst of flame, piercing two men's hearts. He jerked his blade free of the second man's chest, and moved on, running to where he was needed.
He slashed low, dropping an enemy, and kicked out, knocking the man unconscious. He looked up, and waiting there was a tall armored fighter in a skull mask. Sano sheathed his sword at his back, and crouched low in a fighting stance.
The firebender calmly attacked, a wide burst of flame soaring toward Sano, who dove below the attack, and stepped forward, striking with his pointer and index finger. A thin dart of flame flashed with lightning speed, searing the man's mask. Sano struck again, a wide arc of flame slashing toward the man.
The firebender danced through the attack, and kicked, a flash of bright flames almost blinding Sano.
He dove forward, flame spiraling around his hand, and Sano stepped aside, smirking. The firebender gasped when he realized he was being toyed with. Finished, Sano sent an arrow of flame through the firebender's heart.
Corin felt numb. Sano had warned him it would happen, but the man's eyes were burned into Corin's memory.
It had happened quickly. They were over the side, and already engaging the Fire nation soldiers. Corin had easily overcome one of them, and slid his sword through the man's stomach.
He had dropped his weapon, and clutched Corin's arm, his eyes wide as he died. Corin looked at his sword, and finally pulled it free of the dead soldier. He swallowed, and attacked the nearest enemy.
"Sano, a group has sealed the doors to the engine rooms!" A graying warrior called. "We think it's the last cell!"
"All other decks have been cleared." Sano sheathed his sword. He spotted Corin, looking pale. "How are you?"
"Numb." Corin replied.
"You'll be sick later." Sano promised. "Everybody back from the door!" Warriors scattered to follow his order, leaving a wide area cleared.
"What are you going to do?" Corin asked.
"Something my Dad taught me. That hatch is too thick for even firebending or explosives. Fortunately, that will work to our advantage. I won't damage the engines."
Sano took a deep breath, then balanced lightly on his heels. He brought the tips of his index and pointer fingers almost together, facing opposite sides. He stepped carefully, and Corin watched as white, sparking energy gathered. Sano spun, raising his right arm in a wide arc, and as he dropped his arm, a bolt of lightning blew the blast doors apart.
Immediately, the fighters rushed in and within minutes, it was over.
"What was that?" Corin asked, stunned.
"Cold fire." Sano said softly, catching his breath. "Lightning bending."
"I'm glad you're on our side." Corin told the older boy.
His training was going well. Ryu almost had his new techniques mastered, and Mei put him to the test every day.
More, she had the soldiers discuss tactics and their experiences with the boy, trying to teach him what he would need to know to lead men into war.
Ryu's favorites were the soldiers who described bending moves they had seen. He was always ready to try something new, and had managed to adapt his bending to that.
He knew that much of what he was teaching himself was not what his grandfather would call real firebending, but Ryu had made himself a small promise to keep his mind open.
He wrapped himself up in a blanket, and sat down to wait for the moon to rise.