Chapter 9 - Compromise

"No more diplomacy." There was no softness in Nin-ma's voice. Her tone was made of iron, and just as cold. "No more games. You will tell me why your servant tried to kill one of our nuns as well as the Avatar."

Fire Sage Kui-yan had removed his headdress, which now sat snugly under his left arm. Despite the mild night, sweat beaded along his forehead, and he wiped at it unceremoniously with his crimson sleeve.

"Obviously a grave mistake was made, Mistress Elder." Nin-ma quirked an eyebrow at the response, unimpressed.

"Indeed."

They stood at opposite ends of the room, each attempting to stare down the other from a distance. Nin-ma had decided to take the matter to the Elders' study – the commotion caused by the explosion would only invite the kind of prying she wished to avoid just now. Thus she had pulled aside the head Sage and commanded the others be held in seclusion while they talked.

Kui-yan spread his right hand helplessly, managing a tone used by only the most neutral of diplomats. "The woman was unstable. She deceived us into believing she was just a mere Temple servant, unfortunately with dire consequences. We can only ask you to forgive our oversight."

"That excuse is unacceptable, Master Sage."

"It is the only one the Fire Nation is willing to allow."

They lapsed into stony silence, quietly assessing each other for some small break in their invisible defenses. Politics wore at Nin-ma. Yet ever since the arrival of Hikoshu, she felt the Western Air Temple once more being shoved onto a stage.

Kui-yan must have sensed her growing fatigue, for he pressed his advantage. "In fact, I would even posit that perhaps this would be a reason for the Avatar to return home, where our men can guarantee his safety."

"Funny. So far, your women seem to be the biggest threat to it." She couldn't prevent the sarcasm from seeping into her voice as she rubbed at her head. The man wasn't budging from his position, and short of calling him and subsequently his entire nation liars, possibly sparking an international dispute, she really had no recourse. "Can you at least tell me her reasoning for this attack? Or why she was in our Temple's library in the first place?"

Again, the man gestured helplessly, his sleek black beard curling with his lips as he smiled. "I wish to know just as well as you. But, unfortunately, being detained, I've had little opportunity to pursue the matter. Certainly, a full inquiry will be called before the courts in our home nation."

Such a trial would only result in a nominal punishment, Nin-ma knew. The woman was acting under someone's orders, though the nun couldn't discern the purpose nor the director. And releasing the young woman without determining her superior ran dangerously close to making the same mistake twice. Nin-ma felt at a standstill.

"You presume I will release this woman from our custody."

"I think we both know the answer to that."

"She destroyed our library and injured two people. She will remain here until we understand why. If you," Nin-ma added quickly, spying the objection already forming on his lips, "wish to protest this, I suggest your government submit a formal complaint, at which time we will consider returning her."

Kui-yan gave an incredulous chuckle, the smile never once leaving his face. "No slight intended, but this seems rather…direct for airbenders."

"No slight intended, Master Sage, but this behavior seems rather typical for firebenders."

Despite her words to the contrary, the Sage did indeed take offense. The pleasant, if strained, expression quickly dropped, replaced by obvious irritation at the sudden dictation of the rules.

"The Fire Nation does not approve of foreign control over its citizens. I assure you I act within my government's jurisdiction when I demand her immediate return." All diplomacy was gone from his voice. Now there was only a thinly concealed threat and a glare that characterized all of his body language. "You would do well not to take a stand on this issue."

The air felt like a furnace against her skin, the heat emanating from Kui-yan scouring at her face. A dim glow began around his fists, clenched closely at his sides, though he made no menacing gesture toward her.

"And you will find I do not respond quickly to intimidation, Master Sage." Just for his benefit, the heated air shifted around her, circling around her body, moving her shawl. For a moment, they stood there silently, the temperature rising as a breeze swept through the room.

"I'll remind you again, Mistress Elder," Kui-yan spoke, having to raise his voice some in order to be heard over the wind, "that debate on this topic will not bode well for relations between our nations, and so I suggest once more – for the peace you Air Nomads hold so dear – you refrain from pursuing the matter."

And just as abruptly, the wind died. Except for Nin-ma's tossed hair, it may not have occurred at all. "Fine. For the sake of peace, we'll relinquish the woman. However-" she added quickly, before he had an opportunity to gloat, "-no one else. Obviously the Avatar is at danger, and from someone from your nation. Therefore, he will be sent to the Northern Water Tribe for the next step in his training."

"Elder, I must obje—"

"And I must listen to your objection, but I can certainly promise I won't oblige." She then shifted her tone, marking a transition once more from diplomat to hostile acquaintance. "I may not willingly risk war over the freedom of a servant, but I will take my Temple to the brink of destruction for the life of the Avatar. Take that back to your Fire Lord."

There would be no argument. Stiffly, Kui-yan acknowledged this, bowing in tense politeness before he made his exit. As soon as Nin-ma heard the door click shut behind him in the anteroom, she gave a soft sigh.

"Silpa!" she called as she grabbed her staff, moving for the curtained door. "Please go accompany the venerable Sage. I have errands to run."

xXxXxxxXXxxxXxXx

Miyo's eyes were trained on the remains of the library. The nuns had arrived in time to salvage what scrolls they could, but against the starry sky, she could make out the black hole where the door once was, wispy trails of smoke still floating from it.

"Miyo…," Hikoshu's voice was quiet, as if worried about disturbing her from her reverie. Or perhaps worried about talking to her. She drew her gaze away from the building high above them, looking to her friend instead. There wasn't much to see in the dim moonlight, his smoke-smudged face starkly pale where skin showed through. But his eyes gleamed with the bizarre copper hue she'd come to associate with him. Quite unlike that eerie white from hours earlier.

He must've read the silent shiver in her shoulders, his expression dropping. "I…I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. I just—"

"Whatever, Hikoshu. It doesn't matter." She wished she could sound more convincing, perhaps even comforting. But she was exhausted, barely able to comprehend the events of the night, and terrified of what she'd feel if she did.

"I didn't want to hurt you." He sounded so regretful.

"You saved me," she said with a sigh, pushing her tangled hair out of her face. It still smelled of smoke, carrying unpleasant memories from the evening, and made her desperately want to bathe. "You may not have intended it, but you did."

Hikoshu nodded weakly, as if accepting her explanation. And they both looked away, studying the expanse of the training yard in the faint half-moon. There were nuns, even at that time of night. They gathered together in clusters of two or three, talking amongst themselves and occasionally glancing in their direction. Miyo imagined everyone was awake, and all for the same reason.

The only people missing were the Fire Nation envoy and the Elders. Where they went, she wasn't sure. They'd been abandoned in this spot with a terse, "Wait here." She could only guess what kind of trouble they were both in. Partially destroying the library was probably the least of their concerns.

As if in response to her apprehensive thoughts, the fluttering shadow of a glider slipped over them, and a breeze blew at her face as a nun landed. The wings disappeared almost immediately into the frame of the staff, but Miyo's attention was on the new arrival. Nin-ma, uncharacteristically using a glider for travel. Yet despite the rare scene she presented, the Elder seemed utterly comfortable with the staff in her hand, pausing long enough to straighten erratic brown hair before she approached them.

Miyo felt Hikoshu shift beside her, and she realized he was suffering the same onslaught of nerves that were currently attacking her stomach. In the moonlight, his mouth pulled tight and his back straightened. She could tell from his posture that he was already formulating his defense.

"Mistress Nin-ma!" Miyo said quickly, hoping to spare him. "We can explain every—"

Her attempts to save face were waved away as Nin-ma came to stand in front of them, her expression unreadable. Miyo fell silent obediently, her smoke-stained shoulders hunching in sudden fear as she turned her eyes to the stones.

"I don't care what happened." Those words somehow made Miyo feel even worse. "Hikoshu." Nin-ma's tone abruptly changed, causing Miyo to look up in surprise. He did the same, equally startled by the kindness now in Nin-ma's voice. "Are you all right?"

"I-I'm..." Hikoshu stuttered, glancing at Miyo uncertainly, "…um, yes. I'm fine." He brushed at the tattered hems of his burnt sleeves, as if trying to prove it. Nin-ma studied him for a moment, then rubbed at her neck, the staff tucked under her arm.

"And you, Miyo? Are you well?"

"Yes, Mistress Nin-ma."

Another pause, as Nin-ma looked them over again. Miyo could see now how exhausted she was, the often imperceptible wrinkles around her mouth and eyes deeply pronounced.

"As you both know, this incident has created…problems."

"I'm sorry, Mistre—" Miyo began again, but was halted by a glare this time.

"As I said, there are now complications. The servant, I'm sure you know, was no ordinary servant." Her gaze shifted to Hikoshu, and Miyo had the impression that she was no longer included in this conversation. "But she is being returned to the Fire Nation without issue."

"Wait, what?" It was Hikoshu's turn to object. "Mistress Nin-ma, forgive me, but she was looking for something in that library. Something important enough that she tried to kill us for it."

Nin-ma was unimpressed by the argument. "Do not think I make such a decision lightly, Hikoshu. I don't desire to release her without knowing her motivation. However, our tenets teach us not to seek retribution for wrongs against us. Surely, you appreciate that."

"But if you let her return home—"

"Then we maintain an already precarious peace with the Fire Nation." Nin-ma sighed, adjusting her grip on her staff. "I know you don't see this as fair, Hikoshu, but you must understand how the world works. You will have to work with it."

"The simple justice of the Avatar," an older, cracking voice said, and Miyo turned quickly to see the approach of Chian, her orange robes folded protectively around her despite the balmy night. Her face was almost a silhouette, hidden under the moonlit halo of her white hair, but Miyo knew that it had a displeased frown. Chian's expression was rarely ever happy. "He understands how the world should work, and not how it actually does."

The glare Hikoshu directed at her showed his natural dislike of the woman. Every time the two were in a room together, Miyo felt nothing but silent thunder, as if the hairs on her neck reflexively stood on end.

Nin-ma glanced at Chian, but her gaze returned to Hikoshu. "With this attempt on your lives, the situation has grown more serious. You will still leave here, and immediately." Miyo felt her heart sink. So he really was leaving. After that horrible night, and she'd still lose her closest friend. "But I have asked Chian to accompany you to the Northern Water Tribe, on the possibility of further complications."

It was apparent how Hikoshu felt about that, his eyes widening in horror. He looked between the two, as if assessing how likely it was that Nin-ma was playing a cruel joke. Chian merely watched him, her dark face showing little more than disapproval.

"Mistress Nin-ma, if I may!" Miyo didn't know what she was doing, nor if it would be allowed. But distress seized her for a second time that night, and she followed her gut instinct. "Please let me travel with Hikoshu to the Water Tribe."

"Miyo," Hikoshu murmured, his voice almost a question.

The look Nin-ma gave her was not reprimanding. Rather, it was almost sympathetic. "Miyo…I know how close you two have grown. But he has a far different road from you. His path leads him on to places you can't follow."

Frustration built inside her. They always talked of different destinies. Nin-ma, Hikoshu, all the nuns. Yet no one seemed to think that maybe they didn't really know her destiny. Hikoshu had his life laid out for him. She, on the other hand, still had control of hers.

"Mistress Nin-ma," Miyo began, and abruptly a knot grew in her throat. The past evening rolled over her again, everything turning hazy in its wake. Once more, Miyo saw herself stand idly by as Hikoshu was nearly beaten by the firebender. She then felt the moment of intense relief when she slammed a force of wind into the woman's chest, sending her flying. The feelings she had were skewed, inappropriate for a true airbender. And the self-doubt she'd been scared to face all night sprang to her mind.

"I am afraid," her words were deliberate, as if she were carefully choosing them. In reality, she was fighting the tears that hovered at the corner of her eyes. "I'm afraid that I've not lived up to the standards of the Western Air Nomads. I did things tonight of which I'm ashamed, and I…I ask that you grant me permission to leave the Temple. In order to clear my heart." She was afraid. The Temple was the only home she'd ever had. And though she had traveled the world, she still always came home. The self-doubt once more reared inside her, churning her stomach. Seeking support, she looked to Hikoshu. His expression was empty, but his eyes were understanding.

There was a very long, uncomfortable pause before Nin-ma answered. "I hold no power over the heart of an Air Nomad. You are free to come and go as you wish."

Nin-ma then turned, and Chian followed suit. "Arrangements are currently being made for you to leave – once more." Her last words certainly held an irritated edge. "Miyo, I suggest you pack quickly as this time, the bison will not wait." Nin-ma held the staff out to her side, and the glider snapped open, its orange wings immediately catching the breeze. But before she took to the air, she looked back at them. "The spirit of an Air Nomad is not determined by meditation and study, Miyo. I hope you come to understand that."

And then she was gone, her figure turning black against the night sky.

Chian watched her go, then snorted as she moved toward the still-gathered nuns. "Don't be late, Master Avatar." A moment later, and they were all alone once more. Awkwardly, Miyo turned to face him.

"Hikoshu, I hope—" but whatever Miyo was about to say was lost. Hikoshu had her in an enveloping hug, her head pressed against the crook of his shoulder. And without any further prompting, she felt tears slide down her cheeks. In mere seconds, she was crying, nearly inconsolable. But grateful at least that she was in the arms of someone she loved.