Chapter eleven: Deception in Chaozhou
The rumbling of the tank caused Sokka's head to pound louder and the wound on his brow to pulse with added pain. The cold metal of the machines floor was just as forgiving as the soldiers who had thrown him in the cell he was currently occupying.
Why am I such a fool? Sokka thought to himself angrily. She is the daughter of the fire lord; of course she couldn't be trusted. And to think I listened to her wonderful lies all last nigh, thinking that she could in fact have the ability to hold some sort of kindness.
Unfortunately the large gash on his head was a painful form of evidence that he was in fact wrong about her.
Reaching a shaking hand up to his head, his fingers slid over the warm fresh blood that was still trickling down along with the dark crusts of older blood that clung to this hair and skin.
Flashback
It was mid day when they crossed the borders into the lands her father still had control over. Sokka found it odd that there wasn't even a wall or an outpost to mark the border; perhaps it was some unspoken agreement between the two feuding sides that this was the line. Whatever it was each second was making him feel more and more uncomfortable with the situation.
Azula had assured him that once the soldiers patrolling this area found them she would have total control, and his safety would be certain. She was the princess of the fire nation, no one dared ever look at her without her saying they could, let alone have control over her prisoner.
Sure enough five soldiers had surrounded them within seconds, swords drawn faces scowling at Sokka like he was some filthy animal.
Azula looked the men over; sure enough they were from the fire nation army. Now it was her time to play her role in this.
"About time you found us! It's been nearly four days since my caravan was attacked," her voice was stern and echoed off the trees and rocks scattered around them.
Sokka even jumped a little hearing that tone stain her voice once again. He had become accustomed to her smooth voice that spoke to him gently as they made love.
One man sheathed his sword and bowed deeply, "Pardon your majesty but search parties have been looking for you for days. They located the attack site and found some of the men accountable."
Azula raised a brow at this news, lucky no one came across her last night. "And have these men been dealt with?"
"Hung yesterday morning, my lady," The gruff man replied bowing again. Straightening up once again he looked directly at Sokka. "And I see you have captured the leader responsible for the attack; even in the confusion of battle your majesty still is able to keep calm. Your father will be pleased."
Sokka felt his stomach lurch suddenly, the burning liquids threatening to come up at any second. If Azula didn't explain quickly that he had nothing to do with the attack he was a dead man.
"Well at least some of us can do more then stand around with our thumbs up our asses," she retorted stepping past Sokka without even looking in his direction, purposely avoiding his frantic stare.
"I apologize again, but have no worry we will deal with this filth right now." Unsheathing his sword he signaled for the other four to surround Sokka.
Swallowing back the lump in his throat, Sokka grounded himself, cursing all the while for letting Azula talk him into discarding the sword he had been carrying. Heart pounding wildly he was sure the men standing around him could hear it as it pounded against his ribs. Sweat rolled down his face as adrenaline rushed into his system, preparing him either to fight or run, both of which would probably end up with him dead.
"On your knees boy!" The one soldier ordered, kicking him in the back of the leg when he didn't budge. Leg collapsing under him Sokka crumpled to the ground, the wet dirt soaking his pants within seconds.
Looking over at Azula he desperately searched for any sigh or indication that this was in fact what she had planned and that he wasn't seconds away from being killed. Unfortunately his eyes searched in vain. Scanning her cold face over and over again he would have found more reassurance in the rock protruding next to her.
The snapping of the twigs under the soldier's feet alerted Sokka to how close he now was.
"You have the wrong man!" Sokka yelled out, knowing that now he was left to save himself. "Those men that attacked us tried to kill me as well. I saved the princess just ask her!"
All five soldiers eyed Azula questionably, faces blank not sure what to do next.
Her golden eyes locked with his and held them. A shiver ran down his spine at her cold stare, this was not the woman he had fallen asleep with peacefully last night; this was the warrior that didn't think twice about killing.
"He did not have anything to do with the attack. He is the prisoner my father ordered to keep alive to trap the avatar." Azula responded, hands resting on her hips looking down at him like he was nothing.
The head soldier stood still, sword still drawn it hung only inches from his neck, "I'm sorry princess but your father has ordered us to kill him whether he was involved in the attack or not."
The sound of the blade being raised caused a lump to form in Sokka's throat and anger to burn within his heart. How could he trust Azula, what a fool he was.
Sokka watched her eyes. He made no declarations and no pleads to save his life. There was nothing in his gaze that told her he was angry, only that he was hurt from being deceived.
Taking a deep breath he waited for the blade to fall, his eyes never leaving hers. If he was going to die he wanted to make sure she saw the look in his eyes when the blade fell.
"Wait!" she cried out suddenly. Birds flew into the air from the sudden noise taking flight in fear.
Sokka let out the breath he didn't even know he was holding and raised his head slightly but stopped at the feeling of cold steel touching the fine hairs on his neck.
"Princess what it is?" the soldiers questioned.
"He may still be useful, remember he has information that could help us. Allow me to question him only a few days then my father can have his blood." She replied calmly as if merely talking about the weather.
The soldier sighed loudly, "Very well my lady, but only a few days. Remember that these are your father's orders and even you do not hold power over them, he will be killed under the law of the fire nation."
Relief flooded Sokka but was soon replaced with pain as the hilt of the sword made contact with his head stealing light from his eyes and engulfing him in darkness.
End Flashback
The tank stopped suddenly lurching him forward into the hard metal wall. The brakes screeched loudly as metal grinded loudly against metal, and the sound of muffled talking replaced the loud rumbling of the wheels.
Light flooded the small metal compartment causing Sokka to squint against the brightness. The silhouette of two men filled to doorway; even without being able to see them clearly Sokka could tell they were soldiers.
"Get up peasant," The one man ordered his voice gruff sounding.
Shielding his eyes Sokka slowly got up, legs a little shaky they almost gave out on him. Before he had time to think four strong hands gripped him tightly and dragged him out into the open air.
The cool fresh air felt wonderful in his lungs, but that feeling was very short lived when he was met with the sight of hundreds of soldiers some mounted of rhinos others on strange beasts he had never seen before. Most didn't ever notice he was there.
Sokka looked down when large cuffs were placed on his wrist and ankles, reminding him of his first few hours among the fire nation when he woke up.
Looking around Sokka saw a great wall just a few miles in the distance, its great vertical stones so high they could rival that of some mountains. Realization dawned on him once he saw the great wall. He was in Chaozhou the legendary trading city of the old fire nation. Buildings loomed overhead like great giants, stones and wood worn smooth from hundreds of years of abuse from the weather. Great red flags bearing the fire nation symbol adorned almost every structure whipping wildly in the wind.
Temples dotted the streets, dragons and phoenixes caved into the wood and stone accenting the symmetry of the architecture that was unique of the fire nation. If he wasn't being held prisoner he would have enjoyed the sights.
Judging by the position of the sun it was late noon almost dark; he must have been unconscious for a few hours. Scanning the people around him he spotted Azula speaking with her two companions, both listening to her intently never even bothering to look over when he was shoved into the ground when he failed to move fast enough for his captors.
When he swore loudly at the soldier who had pushed him Azula looked over for a second, her hair once again pulled away from her face held back with a golden hair pin much like the one she had before.
Walking over dust rose from the ground as she stepped gracefully towards them, "What seems to be the problem?"
Grabbing his hair roughly the soldier pulled his head back forcefully, "He's not being a modest prisoner."
Her gaze slipping to him Azula bent down to be eye level with him, "I suggest you cooperate, or your time will be even shorter in this world."
Snorting loudly Sokka spit on her feet, "I guess what my father says is true you never really know your friends from your enemies until the ice breaks."
Azula only stared back; the maddened hate glowing in his eyes like wildfire was causing her to feel slightly intimidated. "Take him down to the dungeon I will deal with him later."
Two men led him into a large complex and down a set of stairs lit by dim flames that flickered and swayed against the movement of air as the three walked by.
Being led down a narrow hallway Sokka was brought to a large metal door that he guessed would be his cell. The door creaked open noisily from years of rust that had built up due to the water that dripped down the stone walls.
The cell was smaller then the one he was first given in the first complex and was just as inviting, on the far wall was two very large metal rings that were bound to the stone. A lone lamp that flickered dimly by the door cast long shadows along the cold grey walls and water and mold covered floor.
Dragging him across the cold stone floor his chains around his metal cuffs were attached to the metal rings on the wall restricting him from moving only halfway across the room.
Light flickered off the soldiers armor and helmets as they stood before him, their eyes boring into him just hoping he would try something so they would have and excuse.
"Try anything and the princess will deal with you personally," The soldier threatened.
Slumping to the cold floor Sokka rubbed his hands against his arms in an attempt to stay warm as a cool breeze of the closing door chilled his skin and blew out the lamp and his only source of light.
Darkness filled the room and the only sound was that of the men walking down the hall eventually being replaced by the dripping of water from the walls and ceiling.
Leaning his head back against the cold stone wall Sokka closed his eyes, his brain trying to understand and take in all that had happened. He felt like it wasn't real that the cold prickling his skin and the water soaking his clothing was just an allusion and the pain in his heart wasn't real, it was this allusion that lulled him into and uneasy sleep.
