Chapter Eleven

Waking to the knocking upon his door, Yusen instantly woke, fully aware of what today was. If he was late, even for a moment, the consequences would be dire indeed. Leaping from his soft cushioned bed he was provided upon his arrival to the fire lord's palace, he quickly reached the door and opened it to see several servants all waiting for him.

"Master Yusen, the fire lord awaits you in the audience hall. You need to be there in one hours time and fully prepared. We are here to assist you" one girl spoke for them as they softly bowed to him.

Yusen was not used to being treated this way. He was no noble; he was just a commoner really. His father though was a powerful fire bender and served the fire lord faithfully all the way till his death and had passed on that training to his only son, marking him as a prodigy among their lands. It was this same quality however that drew the fire lord's attention and had him commanded to appear in the castle. Word of the cruelty that befell those who failed to perform their duties were legendary, one poor soul being burned to ash an inch at a time for falling asleep at a guard post.

"Thank you, I really appreciate the help" he spoke, barely forming the words before the servants moved into the room and swept him in their arms and began to disrobe him. Only being here for three days he had already become accustomed to being disrobed by the servants who had to frantically take measurements and sew garments for him to look presentable. His soft yellow eyes the color of the golden sun took in the sight of the servants handling the proper application of oils and wear of clothes as his wavy black hair was spun into a bun and tied back in the customary fashion of the nobility. His wiry build was quickly covered from head to toe in the finest silks in the land and he transformed from the commoner amongst the fields to a sophisticated aristocrat that stood before the mirror he gazed into, all in the span of half an hour.

"Quickly, we must not be late for the Fire Lord or there will be consequences" the servant spoke, trying her best to hide her fear, but Yusen could tell the poor woman was terrified. Their lives must be linked to how this meeting turned out, and Yusen could sympathize with that sentiment. As he was quickly lead out into the halls and through the corridors, he rehearsed every word in his mind of what to say so he wouldn't not only embarrass himself, but potentially be executed for. Upon reaching the audience chamber, the servants seemed to drift into the shadows, leaving him all alone to walk inside. With a deep breath and a slow but purposeful stride, he walked in and kneeled before the throne that was backed by blazing flames leaping to the sky.

"My lord, I Yusen, have come as you requested" he spoke, hiding the tremble in his voice the best he could, not lifting his head for fear of displeasure. He heard a soft feminine chuckle from the throne followed by the fire lords commanding voice.

"No need to fear Yusen, I won't harm you. I have in fact wonderful news for you" came the voice of Fire Lord Azula, the recently appointed ruler of the world since the subjugation of the earth kingdom and water tribe years ago.

"You have made quite a name for yourself Yusen, or rather your father made one for you. He taught you everything he could and you drank from it, becoming the strongest bender in our lands. Do you know what I plan to do with one with your potential?" she spoke as she stood from her throne and began walking toward him. Sweat not born from the intense heat of the room beaded on his brow as he listened to her every word, not daring to speak lest he anger her.

"With your potential, I plan to enter you into the academy of our finest teachers and instructors. There you will be trained, taught, and fortified with the knowledge of the one true ruler's of all our lands, the fire nation. And once your done your tutelage you will become worthy" she spoke as she walked down the steps.

"Worthy of what my lord?" he couldn't help but ask as he found himself staring at her feet that were a mere foot from his face.

"Worthy to be my husband of course" she spoke, draining all color from his face.

"Of course you are a bit young being sixteen while I am twenty years of age, but I view this as a chance to give you a few years to prove your worth to me. Succeed, and the world is yours and mine. Fail and I will make you wish you had tried harder to curry my favor. We have many ways torture a man without actually killing them you know" she spoke softly.

Just as Yusen felt like he was going to collapse, the doors swung open allowing an entourage of people to enter the room. Leading the way was Mai, the leader in a task force of assassins dedicated to rooting out insurgents and resistance forces wherever they cropped up. Daring to glance at her, he saw a face that showed no fear, no joy, no sadness. It was a face that was cold as stone and showed no emotion, earning her the title of "Iron Maiden".

"Mai, there had better be a good reason you are interrupting me right now. I am having a meeting with my potential husband to be as you can see" she spoke, drawing attention his way. Mai, turning to look at him with her eyes, surveyed him and took his measure. Yusen had no doubt in his mind if she really wanted to, she could slay him in a moment, even if he were ready and armed. She looked over him and as easily as her gaze came it passed, returning back to Fire Lord Azula.

"My lord, we have found several traitors but we were pushed back" she spoke nonchalantly.

"You have better have an even better reason why you were pushed back when you have the strongest assassin core in the world following you. Anything short of finding that water tribe whore who traveled with the late avatar will result in swift disciplinary action" she spoke, venom seeping through her voice.

"We found Ty Lee and the boy she disappeared with along with the water tribe bender" she spoke, allowing the full impact of the words to sink in. Yusen felt he was in the presence of some great beast as the fire lord fell silent and walked back to her throne to sit quietly.

"I see. Very good Mai, I knew you wouldn't disappoint me. We shall send a fleet to wipe clean the area you found them and flush them out" she spoke, the contentment in her voice apparent.

"There's more my lord. The boy…he single handedly pushed us back with an array of water bending that no master alive could muster. It is my opinion that he is the new Avatar" she spoke.

The words echoed throughout the audience chamber, and it was a long moment before the fire lord found her voice.

"Are you saying the Avatar has returned to this world in the form of that peasant boy that Ty Lee saved five years ago?" she spoke. With a nod of her head, Mai confirmed her statement. Fully expecting the fire lord to fly into a rage, Yusen braced himself for what he expected to be a terrible ordeal. When no angry shouting came, he chanced to look up at Azula to see what was she doing.

It was then for the first time he met her gaze. Her eyes pierced through his soul like an arrow throw parchment, breaking any and all resistance he might have possessed to resist her will. He found himself to be afraid and helpless, like a mouse before a mighty hawk.

"I believe that my late father has blessed my husband with a test to prove himself worthy of me. Yusen, you are to seek out the Avatar and slay him for me. Accomplish this task, and then we won't need the formality of sending you to the academy to prove your worth" she spoke, a wry smile across her lips. Yusen found himself trembling violently, held only in check by his fear of what would befall him should he offend her.

"Yes my lord, I will not fail you" he spoke, his words possessing the strength he knew he didn't have. He might have been capable as a bender, but he knew he was no match for an Avatar, especially one that was able to defeat the fire nations greatest assassin.

"Oh, one more thing. Mai, you will accompany him and aid him in this task. That is all, you are dismissed" she spoke as she stood from her throne and turned her back to him.

"Yes my lord" he spoke as he stood on shaking feet and walked out the room with Mai right at his side. Once the doors to the audience chamber were closed, Mai sighed to herself.

"Whatever. Don't get in my way and we shall have no problems, understand?" she spoke, looking him over once again.

"Of course my lady" he spoke, all the trembling and fear seeping out of him now since he couldn't unleash it in front of the fire lord. With a blasé shrug, Mai walked forward, leaving him to stand behind for just a moment to think. He now has to slay the Avatar to marry the most ruthless woman in the whole world, or die in the attempt. He couldn't even go into hiding since he had The Iron Maiden accompanying him on his journey.

This was not a good day…