Convergence
by PhantomChajo
(A/N: Sorry for the slight delay in posting, I got drug into spending a weekend at a friends babysitting her niece for her as she worked and ended up getting sick. I blame her, she blames her niece. Thank you all for following along on this unplanned journey. That being said, I stand by my claim that all chapters are not created equally..
If I have plotted the course correctly, Zuko is currently at Pohuai Stronghold and Iroh & co are at Wuwei port. It is the end of summer, beginning of fall in the year 98AG, there's still more than a year to go before Aang unthaws.
Yuyan rum courtesy of Kahuna Burger's story "A Learning Experience" which is listed amongst my favs. Guardian is translated as "Hogo-sha" according to google. Again via google in Japanese-Chinese, "Hono-Yingzi" is Flame-Shadow aka shinobi which is a term that I feel is overused so I made my own.)
~~(-)~~
Gen. Iroh stood in the prow of the steamer. "We should be back in a week, the trip upriver will take the longest because of the currents."
"Yes sir, I'll hold you to the one week deadline. If you're not back in ten I'm mounting a search and possible rescue." Lt. Jee held up a hand to forestall the general. "We lost Prince Zuko, we don't need to lose you as well sir."
"Be careful yourself then," Gen. Iroh replied. "Remember, this is an unsecure village that our presence here is being tolerated only."
"Understood sir, I don't think the men will mind too much for restricted shore leave." The Lieutenant saluted. "Safe journey sir."
The old General nodded in return as he signaled the man at the wheel to head them upriver. A sense of foreboding trickled through him as he watched the ship he called home for the last two years vanish around the curve of the land near the mouth of the river. He shook it off as he settled himself on one of the benches inside the cabin, "So, anyone for a game of Pai Sho?"
~~(-)~~
The trip up river to Jindo was an easy, if somewhat monotonous one. Luckily the steamer was large enough that all five of the men aboard had enough space for themselves. The routine was simple, have sea rations for lunch, in the evening they would beach the steamer along the river shore making sure it was secure, set up tents and cook dinner, and the night watch was split between the four men (they politely refused to let Gen. Iroh take a shift). When dawn rolled around, breakfast would be cooked, camp broken down and everyone back onto the steamer for the next day's trip.
When they reached Jindo, all they found was a pair of docks, one for larger cargo carrying riverboats and the other for smaller fishing boats. The village itself was hidden from view by the trees and a curved path. There was a minor debate as to how many should go with Gen. Iroh and how many should stay with the steamer. In the end it was split, two and two, one bender and one non staying with the steamer the other to accompany Gen. Iroh. While he was amused and knew he could deal with most issues, he understood the need for guards.
When the trio arrived at the edge of the village, from the northern side as opposed to Zuko's western arrival, they were meet with some stares and a general wariness that comes from war. Two groups of guards arrived fairly fast, thankfully neither was Aigou and his two bullies.
"What do you want?" demanded the highest ranking guard in the group.
"We are merely seeking someone. A young man, still a boy really, who may have passed through your village. If he came this way, it would have been several months back." Gen. Iroh said, one hand at the small of his back, the other flipping a lotus tile nimbly between his fingers.
The guards spoke quietly amongst themselves for a moment before the same one spoke again. "What did the boy look like?" he asked. If these Fire Nation military were truly just looking for information, it was best to give it to them and see their backsides than to antagonize them and have Wuwei's fate befall them.
"He's about this tall," Gen. Iroh held up his hand to demonstrate, "Pale skin, golden eyes and hair so dark brown it borders on black." He stopped a moment in thought, looking through his memories of his nephew for anything he missed.
Head shakes all around.
"The scar sir," Cpl. Lao said softly from the side. "Don't forget the scar."
"Ah, yes. Thank you Corporal. I had grown so accustomed to the scar I forgot it was there," Gen. Iroh replied as he glanced back to the Corporal then turned to face the guards again. "He has a scar. Here, on the left side of his face, that extends back past his ear," he lifted his hand covering from his left eye, up just past where the eyebrow was and down to just below his cheekbone before sweeping it back over his ear.
The lead guard's eyes narrowed. "How did the boy get the scar?" he'd been there the day the boy came into the village. Any child, no matter what nation they were born in, didn't deserve to be scarred in such a way by a parent.
Gen. Iroh did not have to fake his reaction. "His father."
"East end of town is the village blacksmith. Talk to Tatsuya, he'll tell you more about the boy," the guard said. "We will tolerate you in the village as long as you don't cause any trouble. Move along."
Gen. Iroh nodded his thanks and started walking in the direction indicated. The trio ignored the looks they got as they walked, having become use to such stares as part and parcel of being Fire Nation military in a neutral Earth Kingdom village. As long as no one made a move to attack them, they didn't bother anyone in return. The plume of smoke from a chimney and the rhythmic clang of hammers on metal announced the smithy better than any sign could. While Cpl.. Lao could tell there were firebenders present, Gen. Iroh could pinpoint each one and get a good idea of how good of a firebender they were. Their non-bender party member stood by the wide open doors watching the movement of people all around as they stood just inside and watched the blacksmiths at work.
"Can I help you?"
"I am looking for Tatsuya the Blacksmith," Gen. Iroh said, folding his hands behind his back. He really did miss wearing his robes instead of a uniform, it was much easier to hide his hands as he fiddled with his lotus tile.
"You've found him," the large man said as he shoved the piece he was working on back into the forge before turning around. He crossed his arms over his chest after putting down his hammer and tongs. "If you're looking to recruit me, don't bother. I served my time and got out with an honorable discharge. If you are looking for a spy to tell you what's going on in the area, turn around and leave now."
Both Cpl. Lao and the other soldier bristled at the tone of voice the blacksmith used when speaking to the elder prince. Gen. Iroh on the other hand wasn't bothered at the least. The man was being honest and putting forth his stance, like any good firebender would. Attack first before you can be attacked was a universal concept with most trained firebenders in this day and age.
Gen. Iroh held up a hand, "I seek neither. If you were honorably discharged as you say, I thank you for your service." He bowed his head then raised it again. "No, I seek information on a young man, a boy really, who passed through this area earlier in the year. I was told you have the information I seek."
Like the guards, Tatsuya narrowed his eyes. "And what information do you seek, General?"
Gen. Iroh smiled, "Information that would best be spoken of elsewhere rather than out in the open for it could do more harm than good for the boy."
Tatsuya thought about it for several minutes, the continued hammering of metal a background noise. "Kenji, Seiji.. watch the smithy. You both know how to deal with customers. I'll be back when business is finished. And make sure you get started on old man Niu's wagon fittings."
"Alright dad." and "Yes Uncle." were the replied as Tatsuya motioned for the General to follow him.
The General instructed his two guards to stay and either wait off to the side out of the way or assist with anything if asked.
An hour later saw the return of both Gen. Iroh and Tatsuya. The general was quite please, grinning happily as Tatsuya had a disbelieving look, not sure exactly what to do with the information he gained in return. The pair found Gen. Iroh's guards working the forge bellows, or rather the non-bender was working the bellows and Cpl. Lao was keeping the forge fire at a steady heat needed for the two apprentices to work ingots of steel alloy into the required parts.
When they left the village, Cpl. Lao and the other soldier were both sore and tired, neither use to such strenuous work even if it hardly seemed like they did anything. ("But all I was doing was pumping a bellow," and "I was just using a meditation form.") Arriving back at the docks they found their other two members alert but relaxed and the delicious smell of broiled fish wafting from the steamer. The return trip down river back to the port of Wuwei was a happy one for all aboard the steamer. Gen. Iroh was practically singing he was so happy that he finally had confirmation that his beloved nephew was alive. Everything else could be dealt with at a later point once he had Prince Zuko back with him.
~~(-)~~
Pohuai Stronghold, Colonel Shinu's quarters, late evening on the day Gen. Iroh left for Jindo….
There were very few people who were allowed in Shinu's personal quarters without a private invite. The Stronghold's physician was one, Iwao was another and the third was now Zuko, thus by extension his companion Kasai simply due to the fact he was currently occupying the Colonel's bed until further notice.
The three men were sitting around a table in the was well lit front room. The remains of dinner set aside as they enjoyed small cups of the infamous Yuyan rum and unlike the younger generations, the older men knew how to savor their drinks. As they enjoyed their rum, they discussed everything under the sun, from the gossip the men were passing around to the state of the nation and the status of the war. Their current topic was what to do about the boy in the Colonel's bed.
"You know, even with the cot set up for you to sleep on, if anyone at all caught sight of that boy in your bed, scandal would be the least of your problems Shinu," Nyao Yen, Pohuai Stronghold's physician, commented softly.
Iwao snorted, "The only ones that know are those that are loyal to Shinu first and foremost and myself second. If we tell them to stay quiet on the subject of the boy, they will. Even under heavy torture." He turned his head as he caught the slightest of movements near the door to the bedroom. The silence that emanated from that room was as telling to him as it was to the others.
"How many does that make now?" Shinu asked to no one in particular.
"His third, even with the combination of a heavy sleeping draught mixed with a splash of rum," Nyao Yen replied as he watched the creature jump up on the end of the table where a small plate and matching bowl sat. He was both amused and amazed at how she ate with better manners than many a noble he'd seen. He shook his head before broaching the other subject concerning the boy. "So, have you given thought about my suggestion?"
The Pohuai Stronghold Colonel sighed then took a sip of his rum. "If he was any other noble's child, yes, in a heartbeat I would do it. But he is the Fire Lord's son, banished or not. To invoke the Hogo-sha Law against the Fire Lord himself…."
The Yuyan leader nodded, a small smirk on his tattooed face at the warbled trill that came from Kasai. "The Hogo-sha Law is an old law that has yet to be revoked. In its simplest form, it gives military authority the right to remove a child from its home if there is evidence of abuse, be it physical, sexual or emotional, and place that child into a foster family best suited to care for said child. Many times, the child ends up with a well established military family and enters the service when they come of age, but not always. It all depends on the child and the nature of abuse."
"Why do you speak to her as if she understands?" Nyao Yen asked. He knew the creature was smart, but to say it had the intelligence equal to that of a human was pushing it. It was just very well trained and smart.
Iwao just laughed quietly. "Because she does," he replied, offering his cup that still held some rum to Kasai.
Shinu and Nyao Yen both watched as the creature took a sniff of the cup, then a taste before taking a long drink. They grinned as they watched her sink back on her haunches and let out a low warble followed by a hiccup, a tiny lick of flame, followed by another hiccup and smoke curling up from her nostrils.
"You just got another devotee of Yuyan Rum there Iwao," Shinu said with a chuckle then turned serious again. "But yes, to invoke the law against the Fire Lord himself would show to everyone that not even the Royal Family is immune and would face justice. The problem, is that he could revoke the law leaving many a child without hope of escape from abusive households, or he could remove us from position of authority. At best, we would be demoted, more likely though we would be either imprisoned or executed. He does not care for any challenges to his authority. The boy is ample proof of that, if what someone had bragged about, is even close to the truth."
"So, we do nothing then?" the physician asked, making a face of distaste. "Just let the wrong keep going and return the boy back to his family for the abuse to continue?"
"He is banished so technically he already is out of his immediate family's grasp," Shinu pointed out.
"So he was turned out, at the age of thirteen, with no resources, and guardian at all?" Nyao Yen asked in dismay.
The Colonel shook his head. "No, he had his uncle with him, so he did have a guardian. As for resources, I don't know."
"Some guardian." The physician made a noise of contempt. "And just how does said guardian lose his ward, in the middle of the southern ocean between the Homeland, Southern Water Tribe territory and Earth Kingdom's Western shore?" Nyao Yen asked in his usual probing manner. "There is more to the story than just an 'unfortunate accident during the putdown of a mutiny', that was in the official report and request to keep an eye out for the missing boy." He finished off his cup of rum before placing it upside down on the table. "Yes Prince Iroh, (Ret.) General and famed Dragon Of The West, may be a great man and Prince Zuko's paternal uncle, the only man who has been searching for him with no obvious ulterior motives, but that doesn't tell me what happened aboard that ship to cause the boy to react in such a terrified manner at the mere thought of returning to said Uncle, let alone his father. Not just fearful of being lectured, or punished like any child would be, but so terrified that he almost snuffed his inner fire completely out. For a firebender that is a slow agonizing death because there is no way to reignite it again. Not without the help of Agni himself." He slapped the table with an open palm to make his point. "I have seen what happens to a firebender when that happens. If they don't go mad first, they fall into an icy pit of depression and eventually commit suicide. Why do you think the Hogo-sha Law was created in the first place." He hrrumphed as he stood up. "I'll check the boy one last time before I call it a night gentlemen." He didn't bother taking a lamp with him as he entered the darkened bedroom. A glance had the room's lamps lite. The physician was classified officially as a low level firebender, with only enough talent for menial tasks like lighting or putting out fires. In reality though he didn't have a lot of 'power' he had years of experience to hone his skills. The boy was curled on his side, legs pulled up close and a look of distress on his face. The physician flipped the covers back and set to work massaging tense muscles and warming exposed skin that was still too cool for his liking. That task completed, he re-warmed the bricks before tucking them once more between the thinner top mattress and the thicker bottom one. By the time he was done, the boy's companion had returned and was curled up next to him. The physician extinguished the lamps as he left, bidding the Colonel and the Leader of the Yuyan Archers good night.
The pair bid good night as well then exchanged looks and shrugs as their cups were once more filled with rum.
"So.. what are we going to do with the boy again?" Iwao asked absently.
"See what he knows, how good he is in both firebending and weapons (those swords were not just for show) and go from there," Shinu said with a grin. "I'll be damned to a the darkest depths of the icy northern ocean before I let that boy out of here without knowing he can take care of himself in all but the absolute worst situation."
"And if his uncle comes looking?"
"Unless he has somehow come out of retirement, he no longer outranks me so I do not have to tell him anything." A shrug.
"And if he has and does outrank you?" Iwao was playing Koh's advocate here.
"What boy?" Shinu asked, looking directly at the Yuyan Archer. "There's no one here that matches Prince Zuko's description." He smirked. "Besides, I'm sure you are just as curious as to how good the boy is with weapons. Who knows, maybe you can teach him something about archery."
The Yuyan just snorted in amusement. "Maybe I do, maybe I can and maybe I will." He stood after finishing off his last cup of rum, taking the skin with him as he bid his own goodnight before leaving as well.
Shinu didn't bother cleaning up, he'd see to it in the morning. Extinguishing the lamps, he shed his armor and crawled into the cot, moving around till he was comfortable. "I'm getting too old to sleep on army cots anymore," he muttered before sleep took him.
~~(-)~~
Over the next few days Zuko was up and moving about finally. Even though the physician kept a close eye on him and insisted he take it easy, he was still tired and felt drained. Most of his afternoons since waking consisted of napping in a patch of sunlight on the Colonel's balcony out of view of the rest of the fortress, as the Colonel dealt with the usual paperwork of running the place. Mornings were spent reading through various scrolls on laws and local history and evenings were spent being questioned about what he read that morning. It was after the boy woke from his nap that day, that Col. Shinu spoke with him.
"Prince Zuko, I will make you a deal," Col. Shinu said as he picked up one of the many scrolls that were piled in a basket on his desk. "Should Gen. Iroh come here, I will not inform your esteemed uncle where you are, but in return you will stay here until I am satisfied with both your health and your level of training. Do you agree?" he asked.
Zuko, from his sun warmed spot on the balcony, curled forward some, wrapping his arms around his legs and resting his chin on his knees. "If I don't agree, what will you do?"
"I will keep you here until your uncle can come and retrieve you, though you could try and leave. You'd be on foot, without anything except what you have on you. Everything you had with you is currently locked away. Your ostrich horse is too conspicuous to sneak out the gates and too big to go over the walls without harming itself."
"So I'm your prisoner." It was a statement, not a question.
"No, you are a guest currently," Col. Shinu replied as he glanced over his shoulder at the boy. "A guest who is still considered a child and who is not in the best of conditions, therefore is a danger to himself and must be supervised."
The young prince let go of his legs to run his hands through his shaggy, unkempt hair. "I don't have much of a choice do I?" he sounded resigned.
"You have plenty of choices, but not all of them are the best nor will they gain you anything except more hardships, heartaches or stress." The Colonel rolled the scroll back up and set it aside then picked up another one and opening it. It gave the boy time to think things through and make a decision.
A heaved sigh from the direction of the balcony as Prince Zuko gave in, "Fine… I accept your offer." He just wanted his freedom back. He wanted to be able to travel again, without the oppressing weight of responsibility that came with his title. He didn't want to be 'Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, son of Fire Lord Ozai, Heir to the Dragon Throne' anymore. He wanted to be just plain Zuko, or better yet 'Xue the scarred traveler'.
"Good. Tomorrow morning, you will start your training with Sgt. Mako and Sgt. Akira. Both men are Hono-Yingzi and have consented to teaching you what they can," the Colonel stated as he glanced over a scroll one last time before affixing his seal to it. "In the afternoons, Iwao has decided to take you under his wing and instruct you in the basics of Yuyan Archery. And in the evenings, you and I shall go over what you know about the Fire Nation, it's laws, politics and where it stands currently."
Zuko jerked his head up, eyes going wide. He was already self taught at sneaking around, but to be taught by someone trained in the art of stealth would be a huge leg up. Add in whatever he could learn from the Yuyan and he would rarely have to worry about being caught or not being able to escape. A thought suddenly occurred to him when he realized what he and the Colonel would be going over. "What are you getting out of this?" he asked suspiciously.
The Colonel smiled to himself before turning his full attention to the boy out on the balcony. "I am getting old Prince Zuko. I have been a military man from the time I came of age, so all I have seen is this war and the casualties it has caused. When I started, the average age of a new recruit was in their mid twenties. Today, the average is between eighteen and twenty. Like many, I have grown tired and wish to see an end to this war." He stood up and walked out onto the balcony to survey the fortress. "To be honest, since your father took the throne, things have gotten worse, not better. Your Grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon was a great man. At the start of his reign, he truly cared for his people. At the end he at least pretended to care while he allowed your father to sit upon his council and start directing the state of affairs. Your father cares for nothing but power."
The prince's eyes widened again. "That's… that's.."
"Talk of disloyalty or dare I say treason even?" Col. Shino supplied. "Perhaps, but the general consensus is that if we can remove your father and place someone else on the throne who has seen what this war has done to not only our people but to the other nations as well, then maybe we can see an end to the war."
Zuko swallowed several times as he let the words sink in. "You want to put me on the throne don't you? Why me? Why not uncle Iroh? It's his rightful place." It was a scary thought, the responsibility and power that came with ruling the Fire Nation. "I couldn't even command my own ship so what makes you think I could rule the Fire Nation? I won't be anyone's puppet."
"If we wanted a puppet ruler, your family would never have survived past Prince Lu Ten's death. As for Prince Iroh... to be honest, he is too old. He also refused to remarry and sire more heirs after his wife's death so if something happened to him if he became Fire Lord, the Fire Nation would face civil unrest because his bloodline was terminated."
"My sister?"
"Too much like your father, power hungry, only concerned about herself and her place as Ozai's favorite if my intelligence is correct." Col. Shinu knew that if any of this conversation ever came to light he was as good as dead and so was the prince. There had been a slow build up of discontent within the military ever since Ozai became Fire Lord. When he banished his son for speaking out against the senseless slaughter of new recruits it had grown even more. It did not help that the ones counseling the Fire Lord in the war chambers were also out of touch with what was truly happening on the front lines, only concerned with their comfort and so called prestige.
Zuko couldn't hide his flinch at Col. Shinu's brutally honest description of his sister or his father for that matter. He brought his thumb up to his mouth and started nibbling on the nail till it was down to the quick. Before he could start on another fingernail, Kasai nipped him hard enough to distract. "Sorry," he muttered as he reached over and started scratching her head, working his way down her neck and back. In her opinion this was a much better use for his fingernails instead of being treated like chew toys. "So…. I may not be your only choice, but I am the best choice is what you are saying?"
"Indeed my prince," Col. Shinu replied. "Now, why don't you go introduce yourself to the two men who will be your teachers tomorrow. You can meet Iwao this evening at dinner." He left the balcony to return to his desk and the ever-breeding paperwork that it spawned. "Oh, to avoid suspicion from anyone else in the fortress, please refer to me as either 'Sir' or 'Colonel'. In private you may use my given name. In return, I will treat you with respect you deserve."
The young prince cradled his companion against his chest as he stood before the Colonel's desk. "Thank you Colonel," he said with a polite bow. "Unless Sgt. Mako and Sgt. Akira have me starting on anything, I will be in my quarters until dinner."
"You're welcome my Prince. I will see you at dinner."
By the end of the third day, Zuko was already regretting making the deal with Col. Shinu. He was drug out of his bed well before sunrise by one or the other of his new instructors who were way too cheerful and happy so early in the morning, prodded through a series of exercises that forced him to contort into almost inhuman positions before he was allowed breakfast and an hour of meditation. Once meditation was over, he was again taken through even more calisthenics as Sgts. Mako and Akira took sadistic seeming pleasure from throwing small, very hard, leather balls at him as he went through the workout. By late mid-morning, he was shooed off to take a hot soak, allowed to eat lunch followed by a midday nap in the sunlight as his tortures took up their scheduled duty posts. When afternoon rolled around, he was once more put through a series of torture like exercises that tested the limits of his stamina, strength and above all else, his non-existant patiences with people in general. A bath followed by another hot soak, an hour or two of studying under Col. Shinu's watchful eye, then dinner rounded out his day. He was asleep within moments of crawling into the bed.
~~(-)~~
Late afternoon on the seventh day, Gen. Iroh and company rounded the final curve of the river's mouth, and Wuwei's docks were within sight once more. As they got closer to the ship, they noticed that there was no smoke or steam rising from the primary or secondary stacks. Even with the engines on standby there would be a trickle of smoke and or steam. Gen. Iroh didn't need to encourage the current pilot of the steamer to increase speed and make all haste to the docks. The steamer had barely been moored before Cpl.. Lao had the gangplank extended so Gen. Iroh could scramble up onto the dock to meet Cook and Toru.
"What happened?" Gen. Iroh demanded.
"We don't know sir. Hajima is still trying to piece everything together. The only good news is that the ship's hull wasn't compromised," Cook said, wringing his hands together.
Gen. Iroh patted the distressed man on the shoulder, "Where is everyone?"
"I made a deal with the village's mayor. We're using the warehouse down next to the dock right now." Toru gestured in the direction of the building as they started in that direction. "Everyone has a bunk and we have men guarding the ship to prevent anyone else from boarding until Hajima figures out what cause the explosion."
The general nodded at the right moments as they walked. "What about the men?"
Cook caught up with the two, followed by Cpl. Lao and the other three men that had accompanied Gen. Iroh to Jindo. "There were casualties and… and.. one fatality…"
Gen. Iroh stopped, paling somewhat. "Who?" The loss of a crew member due to accident so close on the heels of the loss of Prince Zuko was hard. He didn't know if he could take the loss of any of the men he'd brought aboard those two years ago and keep going.
The helmsman rattled off a list of those injured. "All of the injuries are minor compared to what they could have been if Lt. Jee hadn't arrived there in time. He managed to block or redirect most of the heat from the boilers, giving us time to pull all the men out of the engine room before he was caught in a steam blast when the main pipes exploded from pressure built up."
"Was it Lt. Jee that we lost?" The general asked stopping before the warehouse door.
"No! No.. Lt. Jee suffered injuries. It was one of the new men we picked up at the repair facility," the helmsman reassured. "Toru, Cook and myself… we think….well Gen. Iroh, sir… we think he may have been working for Zhao." The General nodded before entering the warehouse.
The back half of the warehouse was curtained off and divided up into sections much like the ship's crew quarters were and the front half was set up as an open area with a temporary cooking area off to one side. It wasn't hard to find the Lieutenant once back in the 'sleeping area' of the warehouse, he had his own private 'room'.
Just as Gen. Iroh was about to announce himself, the curtain that acted as a door for Lt. Jee's room was moved aside and an older man exited. "How is he?" he asked.
The older man looked the general up and down a moment. "I am Kyon Bae, the local healer for this area."
"Apologies, I am just concerned about the Lieutenant. I am General Iroh. How bad are his injuries Healer Kyon Bae?"
"Awake at the moment and in pain though he will deny it. He has scald burns across his left shoulder and down his arm. When the pipe exploded a large chunk caught him in the same shoulder lacerating the skin and breaking the collar bone. I am also afraid that the steam caught him across the upper left side of his head. I don't know if he will have the full use of his left eye once it heals. I am sorry," Healer Kyon Bae said.
Gen. Iroh let out a long sigh as he placed a hand over his eyes. "It is not your fault, you have done all that you could for him. I know that the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom are at war, but the oath of a healer transcends those boundaries. I thank you for that." He bowed low in respect.
The healer became a little flustered at the respect. "Yes, well.. as you said, my duty as a healer is to see to all, not just the men and women of only one nation." Kyon Bae reached up and scratched his chin. "I left medicine for him. If you need more, the apothecary can supply you."
"Thank you. What do we owe you?"
"Nothing, Cook already settled my bill," the healer waved a hand as if to shoo someone off.
"Helmsman Toru will show you out then," Gen. Iroh smiled, gesturing to the helmsman to show the healer out before he stepped past the curtain, letting it fall closed behind him. "Lt. Jee, it seems you do not need to mount a search and rescue for me after all," he said with a slightly forced chuckle.
"Good…. to.. see...sir," Lt. Jee said with faint half-smile.
Gen. Iroh settled himself on the stool next to the cot, his warm golden eyes taking in everything before him. The Lieutenant was laying on a koala-sheep fleece, his left arm swathed in bandages from fingertips to shoulder and strapped to his chest to immobilize it. More white swathed the left side of his head covering his eye as well. "I know you wished to understand my nephew better, but you didn't have to go to such extremes to do so Lt. Jee…."
A pained grunt that may have been a laugh. "Maybe… sir…." Lt. Jee muttered. "I'm.. afraid I won't.. be able… to make… music night, sir." As a firebender, he felt he should be able to have negated the worst of the injuries but it seems that wasn't the case. The scald burns throbbed with each beat of his heart, unnatural heat radiating from his arm and the side of his face. The medicine did little to negate the pain, it only dulled the sensations. Hemp-poppy seed extract was addicting and he knew it so he refused it once he had regained consciousness enough to know what was going on. "My eye…. sir?"
The general sighed, looked away a moment then back to the Lieutenant. "The healer wasn't sure if you will regain its use," Gen. Iroh knew the value of an honest answer. "I am sorry."
"Don't be… not… your fault… sir," Lt. Jee said, his one uncovered eye closing as the latest dose of medicine was starting to kick in. "It… was all that.. bastard Zhao's… fault… the man… admitted it before… he.. died…." The pauses between words were getting longer. "Sorry.. sir… tired…."
"Do not worry Lt. Jee. Just rest and let yourself heal." Gen. Iroh patted the injured man's right arm. "Rest, I'll take care of everything while you do."
"Thank.. you.. sir…."
Once the Lieutenant was asleep, Gen. Iroh stood up and stepped out into the open area where everyone not on sentry duty was waiting. He looked around at the men, mentally counting heads and taking note of who was whole and who was injured. The later seemed to be every one of the engineers and mechanics, the men who would normally be in that area of the ship in the first place. "Gentlemen, I would like to know what happened, starting at the beginning, after I departed for Jindo in the steamer." He held up a hand as he settled down at a table. He nodded to Cook, accepting a cup of tea. "One at a time please."
And so the crew of Prince Zuko's ship did. One at a time each man sat down with the General and told their tales of the past seven days. Nothing was left out. Of the seven men who was new aboard the ship, one more came admitted he was there on orders of Commander Zhao. He also admitted that unlike the dead man, he started doubting the tale the Commander told about why he wanted them to join the crew of Prince Zuko's ship. The man threw himself onto the mercy of the General, knowing that Commander Zhao would make his life beyond miserable should he return. In turn, Gen. Iroh turned the decision over to the rest of the ship's crew.
Next Gen. Iroh took Hajima aside and discussed how fast the steamer could make it up the coast to Pohuai Stronghold. It turned out that the steamer wouldn't need much, just a full load of coal and at least two firebenders alternating between them to keep the engine at its peak to make the greatest time. He ordered the steamer to be prepared to depart at the earliest possibility in the morning. He would write the missive to send with the steamer after speaking with the village mayor later that evening.
~~(-)~~
On the morning of the eleventh day, the steamer was within sight of Pohuai Stronghold's southwestern facing harbor. Those aboard were exhausted and glad they made it faster than anticipated. As a matter of standard procedure they were challenged before they reached the doc by one of the warships farther out near the mouth of the harbor, and considering the sheer size difference, they answered promptly. The message of an incoming request for emergency assistance was passed via fire signaling to the fortress itself. When Col. Shinu was informed, he left his office and headed towards the harbor docks to meet with the steamer crew before they accidently came across Prince Zuko. The Colonel had sent a message via one of the Yuyan to the Sergeants to keep the boy out of sight until further notice.
Col. Shinu meet with a young man with corporal pins on his uniform collar. He also noted the fire-red stripe around the collar indicating he was also a firebender. "Report Corporal."
"Sir! Gen. Iroh is requesting emergency assistance. The ship's boiler was sabotaged resulting in catastrophic failure of the system. The ship is dead in the water, Sir." The Corporal held out the scroll Gen. Iroh entrusted with him.
"Your name Corporal." The Colonel took the scroll, breaking the wax seal and unrolling it to read the missive.
"Lao, sir. Corporal Lao, sir," Cpl. Lao bowed respectfully.
Col. Shinu said nothing, just raising an eyebrow slightly before gesturing to one of the men with him. "Captain Tsutomu, prepare the Shori for retrieval of…." he glanced down at the scroll a moment. The ship was so old that it no longer had a name, or even a number. "Prince Zuko's ship and crew. The ship is to be towed back here. There are injuries involved." He turned to a soldier, "Inform Physician Nyao Yen, I need him to accompany Captain Tsutomu on this mission. Scald burns." The soldier saluted then left to find the physician and pass the message on.
"Sir, I request permission to accompany Captain Tsutomu on the mission," Cpl. Lao said.
Col. Shinu turned to look at Cpl. Lao a moment. "Your reason?"
"One of the komodo rhino's is quite temperamental sir. The only ones able to handle her is Prince Zuko, myself and the ship's beastmaster."
"Was the beastmaster one of the ones injured?"
"... no sir," Cpl. Lao said.
"Request denied then. Your beastmaster can handle the komodo rhinos," Col. Shinu said, tucking his hands behind his back. "You hold key information that will help my quartermaster to see to it that every member of Prince Zuko's ship is properly quartered until the issue is resolved." He nodded to the Captain, dismissing him so that he could start his mission. Turning he started back towards his office, the Corporal in tow.
Several hours later, Col. Shinu summoned Zuko and Iwao to his office. He didn't say anything, just handed the scroll to Zuko to read, waiting on the boys reaction to the information it contained. He was pleased that the boy didn't outright panic, even though he did go wide-eyed and pale.
"Are you going to tell him?" Zuko asked as he shakily handed the scroll to Iwao.
"No. We made a deal and I am not going back on my word," Col. Shinu said, accepting the scroll back from Iwao. "Unfortunately you will need to be moved to different quarters until everyone from your former ship has departed."
Zuko nodded, arms crossed and white knuckled fingers gripping his elbows as he concentrated on his breathing.
"He can be put down with my archers."
"Won't that catch their attention?" Zuko asked as he glanced over to the Yuyan's leader.
Col. Shinu was pleased the boy was paying attention and thinking instead of reacting like a frightened sparrowkeet. "No," he said leaning back in his chair. "The crew from your ship have no reason whatsoever in being anywhere near the Yuyan Archer section of the fortress. As for the reason why you would be permitted is simple, it is known that many young men and women come here to try and make it into the Yuyan Archers. As long as no one sees you firebending, you're just another hopeful."
Iwao chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "One that has so far shown more potential than many I've seen in the last year."
The look Zuko gave the Yuyan's leader was one of skepticism. He knew he wasn't that good at anything when compared to others. He shook his head slightly deciding to think on it later. "What about Lt. Jee's injuries? Can Physician Nyao Yen do anything to save his eye?" he asked, looking down at the toes of his boots. "He… as much as I didn't get along with most of my ship's crew, he.. Lt. Jee is a good officer and ship's captain. I don't want to see him forced out of service because it." He looked up at the Colonel, missing the subtle look of approval and pride on the older man's face.
"Well, short of having a Water Tribe waterbender work their healing skills…."
Both men saw the sudden change of expression on the young prince. This was the first time either of them had ever seen his streak of unthinking impulsiveness that tended to get him into trouble. "That's it! If we can find a Water Tribe healer.. I can pay them…and even if they won't come willingly… I'm sure… "
"Prince Zuko… Stop!" Col. Shinu barked.
"What?!" the boy snapped back.
"Stop and think. Plan and organize before you make such wild leaps," Col. Shinu said, leaning forward and clasping his hands together on his desk. "We have at the least, four days before Capt. Tsutomu and the Shori return."
Zuko winced, drawing back in on himself again, but this time in thought rather than fear. "I…I need to locate a Water Tribe Healer first. Second, I need to know how much they will charge… no, wait. I need to know if they would be willing to travel second, then I need to know how much to pay them. After that I would need to make travel arrangements."
"Good, you're thinking instead of leaping blindly." Col. Shinu praised. "After lunch, I'll ask Sgts. Akira and Mako to help you move to your new quarters. We'll have to postpone your evening lessons when Gen. Iroh and your ship's crew arrives, but I'll see to it you have the scrolls to study still."
"Yes Colonel Shinu," Zuko said. He chewed on his bottom lip as the Colonel called for one of the morning shift guards to have lunch brought up. Once the man was gone, he took a deep breath then let it out. "Colonel Shinu, I wish to apologize for snapping at you. It was uncalled for."
The Colonel nodded his head, "Apology accepted My Prince."
During the process of moving, Zuko encouraged by Kasai to talk with the two Sergeants. When he was first introduced to the two men, he had been given permission to address them by their name instead of rank. He rarely did so though, feeling it wasn't his place to be so familiar with the men. "Mako? Akira? Do either of you know of any Water Tribe Healers in the area? Or know anyone that might know of one?"
The two traded glances, shrugging. It was Akira that answered the Prince. "We're both from the homeland and have only been here about a year now. You'll have more luck asking someone that's from the colonies."
Mako set down the portable lap desk and bundle of scrolls he'd been carrying where indicated in the small room. "Try amongst the Yuyan Archers. Some of the younger ones are from the colonies originally and may know where to find a waterbending healer."
Zuko nodded his thanks, then paused in thought. "You don't have to answer me, but... how did you both become Hono-Yingzi?" He'd been curious but neither had seemed very approachable even if they did treat him like a younger sibling most of the time.
"We were born into it. Even those who are non-benders are given a place within the Hono-Yingzi," Akira said as he placed what he had been carrying down on the bunk. "Only in the rarest of times will a new bloodline be added, so if you're looking to become one kid, you're out of luck."
"Don't get us wrong, you're good but you have a different path than ours," Mako added.
Zuko nodded, both pleased and disappointed at the same time. To be called 'good' by men who were raised in the discipline was indeed praise, but to be refused just because of who he had been born to stung his pride. "Thank you again, Sgt. Mako, Sgt. Akira, for your assistance in seeing me moved to my new quarters." He bowed to the two men.
"You're welcome My Prince," Sgt. Mako replied with a bow as well.
"No problem kid," Sgt. Akira said as he reached out and ruffled the boy's hair playfully which earned him a hard jab to his side from his partner as well as a scolding as they left.
It took less than an hour for Zuko to arrange his quarters to his liking. Everything was clean, neat and well organized for easy location. Changing into one of his Yuyan training uniforms, he grabbed his gear and headed off to meet with Iwao. The uniforms were a form of high praise and gentle let down. The Yuyan Archer's Leader had told him he was very good for a beginner and showed a nice improvement in a short period of time, but he would never become a Yuyan no matter how good he was for the simple fact he had been born a firebender. It showed how determined he was that he had not only learned but became highly skilled with weapons even as he learned and improved upon his firebending, something no other firebender had done since Fire Lord Sozin's time at least. When he arrived at the current designated practice area, he bowed to Master Iwao and the group of men with him in apology for being late.
Iwao nodded, indicating the boy should take his place and begin. The man walked slowly up and down the line, watching with a critical eye, those young men and women who were vying for a coveted position within the Yuyan Archers. It was sad that Zuko, who was not only younger than everyone else as well as being a firebender, was already better with so little training. But being a Yuyan was more than just knowing how to shoot an arrow from a bow. One had to know everything there was about archery, the bow as well as the arrows and how they were crafted. He stood behind Zuko for several minutes, watching as the boy placed five arrows in a very tight grouping. Just as the boy was about to take a sixth shot, he quickly and quietly stepped close and covered the boys eyes. He heard the startled indrawn hiss of a breath and felt the boy stiffen. The longer he held his hands over the boys eyes, the more tremors he could feel. "Breath…." he whispered. "You are safe. Just breath."
The panic induced tension slowly drained from Zuko's body as he went through a mantra 'He won't harm me, I'm safe, he will let me go if I ask, I'm safe' over and over. "Master Iwao?" he finally asked after what felt like forever, relieved his voice didn't crack.
"Good. Very good, you did not drop your stance this time," Iwao spoke quietly. While experienced Yuyan would mentor the initiates normally, Prince Zuko was neither an initiate nor was he at the point of trusting anyone else yet. "Still yourself, listen and remember. Take your shot when you feel ready."
Slowing and taking deeper breaths, Zuko did as he was instructed. He stilled and listened as he had been shown. The thudding of arrows into the practice targets, the sound of a slight breeze rippling across still vibrating fletching and arrow shafts ahead of him. The creak of bow staves bending, the twanging of bow strings being released and the instructor giving orders in a firm, yet quietly confident voice droned to his left. If it wasn't for the hands covering his eyes and the solid presence at his back, he might not have even noticed Iwao. In his mind's eye he pictured the target, his five arrows already in a tightly packed. A deep breath in and out as he released the arrow followed by a smooth unhindered draw of another one. The bow did not get a chance to stop vibrating before he had the arrow seated, drawn back and let fly once more. He repeated the pattern over and over until his quiver was empty, only then did he slowly lower the bow.
If the boy had been born non-bender nor the son of anyone but Fire Lord Ozai, there would have been a serious fight between his Yuyan Archers and the Hono-Yingzi for who got to claim the boy as their own, Iwao thought as he slowly lowered his hands to Zuko's shoulders and squeezed lightly. "You have done good. Keep it up and you may one day give my Archers a serious bit of competition."
Zuko opened his eyes and looked at the target. There was a cluster of white fletched arrows so tightly packed that several of them had had their fletchings sheared off. His good eye widened in surprise. He wasn't even sure he'd hit the target let alone group the arrows like he had, with his eyes covered. Tilting his head back and to the side, he grinned at the Yuyan. "I did it," he said.
"You did," Iwao confirmed with a pleased smile. He turned his head nodding to the men who were instructing this group. Calls of "Hold! At ease!" echoed loudly as the men and women froze before lowering their bows, stepping back and turning around. When he got the confirming nod that everyone was in their place, he lead Zuko to the target for closer examination. "You still hit to the right and up some due to the difference in the vision between your left and right eye. There is nothing that can correct that except continued training to compensate," he explained as he pointed out where Zuko should have hit and where he actually hit. "Your placement otherwise is very good for your level of training." He used a combination of praise and critique that he had found worked the best when dealing with the young prince. "Now, retrieve your arrows and follow me." He let the boy go and stepped away, not bothering to wait around as he headed towards one of the workshop and supply sheds.
"Yes Master Iwao," Zuko said as he grasp the shafts and tugged, pulling the group out of the target as one bundle. He bent down and gathered up the sheared fletchings as well before trotting off after the Yuyan.
"Tao," Iwao called out as he entered the large shed.
A middle-aged Yuyan made his way through the stacks of barrels, crates and other assorted items. "Yes Mater Iwao?"
"You will show this young one how we make and maintain our equipment. Release him in time for supper." Iwao gestured to Zuko who had caught up with him finally.
"Yes Master Iwao," he said with a nod. "This way boy," he motioned for the young teenager to follow.
"Thank you Master Iwao," Zuko said with a bow before following after the other Yuyan. Kasai had joined him again and was once more perched on his shoulder. He smiled as he reached up with his free hand to scratch her head. When he reached the back area which was the workshop, she hopped off his shoulder, onto a lidded barrel out of the way. "Thank you Master Tao for taking the time to impart your knowledge to me," he said with a bow. He could remember a time when he would be the one demanding everyone bow to him instead of the other way around.
"Just Tao will do boy, I'm no master," he commented as he settled on a tall stool in front of his work space. "Your name boy?"
"Zuko." He debated for a moment about using the other name but somehow it didn't seem right.
"And what are you called?" Tao asked shrewdly.
"Xue."
"Show me how you take care of your gear then Xue," Tao ordered, watching the boy with a critical eye. He only had to correct him twice. The first was showing him a trick using the toes of his boot when un-stringing the bow and the second was the proper way of coiling the bowstring. "Better than most," was the only comment the man made. "Now, let's see what shape your arrows are in." He was grueling and meticulous teacher when it came to the care and crafting of the Yuyan's equipment. He was also quite persnickety when it came to the fletching of the arrows. Not just any feather would do. The primary and secondary flight feathers along with the tail feathers of turkey-geese were the only feathers he would use. The feathers were easily and readily available, could be dyed the proper color without compromising the feather itself and were uniform between birds.
"Tao?" Zuko asked as he sorted the feathers by size. "You've been here for a while now right?"
"Aye Xue, that I have. Why do you ask?"
"Do you…. do you possibly know of any waterbending healers in this area?" Zuko tried not to get his hopes up, but his expression betrayed his feelings.
The master fletcher tilted his head to the side, looking at the boy for several long moments. He had a sneaky feeling the only reason Iwao assigned the boy to him was due to where he was from. "I might. But I can tell you, that if you are looking to be rid of that scar-"
"No!" Zuko shouted then winced. "No…." he said much quieter. "In the next two to three days, my former crew will be arriving. There are several men who are injured. The worst is Lt. Jee, the captain of the ship." He looked up at the ceiling a moment then to Kasai as she came to perch on his shoulder again, rubbing her head against his scarred cheek, crooning softly as she did. "I.. never got along with the crew for various reasons. It was mostly my own fault." He swallowed, reaching up and scratching his companion's head. "To find a waterbending healer and hope they will consent to travel here to heal those men. It's the least I can do as an apology for the way I've acted and all they have been through because of me." He looked down and away as he fiddled absently with one of the discarded feathers. "The sooner they are back on their feet, the sooner they can get on with their lives as well."
Tao raised an eyebrow at the boy. Very few kids would admit to being wrong, especially those of the nobility, they always seemed to have an attitude that said 'I'm never wrong, its someone elses fault'. "Even if your mind is confused and your spirit is in turmoil, your heart's in the right place." He reached over and patted the boy in his hand, mostly to get him to stop fiddling with the blasted feather. "Mind the feather, it might not be up to par for the main archers, they can still be used for the trainees."
"Sorry," Zuko mumbled, still not use to being touched let alone shown approval by those in charge. He'd been on the receiving end of disapproval far too long.
"Have you ever been to Xilin Gol?"
"Yes." The corner of Zuko's mouth lifted in a partial smile. "I spent Summer Solstice there and enjoyed the celebrations."
"Good," Tao commented as he picked up the tray with the sorted feathers, moving it to his place at the bench then put another tray with unsorted feathers back in front of the boy. Prince or not, he wasn't going to let the boy mope, angst or slack off. "Ask to be allowed to go back. My niece lives there. She can provide you with more information about healers in the area. Especially waterbending healers. Last I heard, she works with the town guard."
"Thank you sir," Zuko said in honest appreciation.
Tao just grunted and continued working, showing the Prince how to select the feathers, how to clean them, the bleaching and dying process as well as how they are trimmed and cut. By the time the horn announcing dinner sounded, he had imparted plenty of information. Now how much of that the Prince would remember and or even use, well that was up to the boy.
For Zuko, dinner was spent as usual with Col. Shinu and Iwao. He presented what he had found out, his plans and what he could offer in payment as well as protection against the standing order to capture and imprison waterbenders. Both men approved of his plans and helped him fine tune one or two issues. By the time dinner was over with the Colonel was sending for his gear, which had been stored away in one of the locked and guarded storage areas. The look of amused disbelief from both as he pulled the jade tablets out of his travel pack had him blinking in puzzlement as he scratched his head. Iwao was snickering as Col. Shinu just shook his head at the folly of children. Zuko put back six the tablets on the Colonel's recommendations, instead he took the pouch full of coins as well the remaining five tablets. Iwao received a note from Tao along with a message scroll while he was sorting through the rest of his gear. He took both as they were handed to him, taking time to read the note. The message scroll was for Tao's niece, Hoshi, vouching for his sincerity and stating this was not an attempt to entrap a waterbender.
Early the next morning, just before sunrise. "Remember My Prince, I am giving you four days. That's one day there, one day back and two days to locate a waterbending healer and broker a deal. If I have not received any message explaining a delay by sunset on the fourth day, I will order my men to find you and bring you back." Col. Shinu said. "Do you understand?"
Zuko was a little annoyed about being given such a short span of time, but he also understood the reasoning behind it. "Yes Colonel."
"Good. Safe Journey." Col. Shinu gestured for the gates to be opened for Prince Zuko. He watched as the boy's ostrich horse took off eagerly as soon as it was allowed, for like the boy, the animal had been cooped up as well. "Leave the gates open, supplies are scheduled to arrive today. Just post extra until shift change," he ordered to his sub-commander as he turned and headed back to the tower for breakfast and his own work.