Chapter 10

He heard voices, as though from a distance. He blinked at a bright light shining in his eyes. He felt something warm wrapped around him and could smell…

Soup?

Gao Li shook his head a little and looked around himself. He was surrounded by a canopy of brown cloth, an opening revealing that he was somewhere in the wilderness. A small fire licked at blackened logs and crackling grass.

The spirit world is a campsite?

He tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes, but became aware that the dull pain in his left arm was now debilitating. He noticed the sling around his neck, and tried instead to use his right arm. From the shoulder to the elbow his arm was perfectly mobile, but his hand was… stuck. There was nothing holding it in that half-fist, but his muscles seemed locked in place. He tried to pry a finger away with little success. He picked up the sound of two voices whispering, and did his best to seem like he was in control of his own fate by sitting more upright, backing up and calling out with a dry voice

"Hello?"

Taia and Seyun entered the tent holding a bowl of soup and a waterskin. Gao Li accepted both with as much vigor as he could muster, trying to ignore their concerned looks.

"Thanks! I was parched."

The two girls nodded silently, Seyun with a half-hearted smile matched with sad eyes, Taia with pursed lips and ponderous movement.

She broke the short silence. "So do you remember what happened?"

"Do I remember what… I… yeah I was fighting Jheng. We went back and forth and I did the dynamic firebending thing—that really caught him off-guard by the way, it helped a lot—"

"At the end. Do you remember what happened right before you passed out?"

Gao Li followed the sequence of events in his mind until the realization struck him.

"I killed Jheng."

"Are you missing a part? Because there's a really important qualifier attached to that."

"I… I don't know. I just…"

"Lightning." Taia put a firm hand on her little brother's shoulder. "You killed Jheng with lightning."

"Oh. I did." He nodded before opening his eyes even wider. "Oh! Oh I killed Jheng with… with lightning. I bent lightning." He looked at his right hand, still locked in the same useless claw.

Seyun had to break the silence now. "Gao Li why didn't you just tell me about Jheng's plan? That he was going to exile the entire Poor District?"

"I—I didn't—I uh—"

"My brother's a bit of an idiot sometimes. That's why."

Gao Li was now staring at his hand again. His brow furrowed and he looked at Seyun.

"Wait why—what are you and Taia doing here? What am I doing here? How did I get here, why aren't you in Pailong, why am I still—"

"Slohoow down. One at a time." Taia sat on a rock, keeping her eyes on Gao Li. "When you passed out, I ran into the ring to save you from the guards. I kept 'em away for a bit, but then the crowd rushed on too. We got out—"

"Why did they rush on?"

"Some wanted to protect you, some wanted to kill you, most just wanted to get in a big fight. It bought us enough time to get you out."

"But—"

"Brother, think about it. You killed Jheng, a political rival, in an Agni Kai. What did you expect to happen?"

"I still don't—"

"You won the Agni Kai—well kind of—but you also killed Jheng. Apparently the council interpreted and presented it as an assassination attempt. We fled the city anyways, but apparently we're no longer a council family."

"But I still—"

Seyun fielded the next interjection. "I came because you looked like you needed the help. And, well… I'm not quite welcome in Pailong anymore either."

Gao Li grew very silent.

"They—"

"Yeah, they did. Seeing as Jheng was killed, they honored his memory by passing the law anyway… they figured that since you were trying so hard to subvert the thing, it should be put into effect immediately."

Gao Li felt his mind halt, every stumbling thought stop dead, the sentence repeating over and over in his mind. He mouthed "put into effect," his eyes spaced apart as he stared into nothing. The immensity of the thing had struck him, but what perturbed him the most was a fleeting noise he half-heard. Laughing. Jheng was laughing. He knew Jheng was dead and he knew that he didn't hear it only thought it, but the thought grew louder. Louder.

He placed both palms on his temples, as if he could force it out of his mind but the laughter grew louder and clearer and even more psychotic. It shrieked and howled and bayed at him, it stuck in his mind like a thorn dug into his arm that wouldn't budge, wouldn't come out as it shot fire up his arm as Jheng stood there, stood above him and just watched and the smell his burnt flesh made Gao Li gag and wretch. But now Jheng wasn't dead or laughing or standing over Gao Li but knelt next to him, placed a hand over his ear and whispered the thing Gao Li knew, he knew it like his own dead weak useless hand.

"Gao Li!"

He jolted, snapping his head away from the ground at Taia and Seyun. They looked worried but at the same time… fearful. His head snapped again as he realized that he was no longer in the tent but instead outside. He also noted his state of undress and seized at the loose bindings around his groin.

"What just happened?" A short double take to his waist. "And where are my pants?"

"Gao Li, you grabbed your head and rushed outside. Then you knelt down right there and started muttering. The campfire started freaking out so I tried to shake you out of it."

He shook his head, tried to make sense of what he saw. Or did he see it at all?

"Good fucking grief, Gao Li, you do realize that your left arm has a hole in it, don't you?" Seyun rushed over and grabbed him by his right shoulder, yanking him back in the tent before he could protest.

"Now sit down so I can properly examine you. I'm doing the best I can, but you need a real healer."

Gao Li sighed and sat on his bedroll as Seyun tested the muscles in both hands, poking and prodding to make sure all of Gao Li's nerves were still attached. She replaced bandages, applied poultices and instructed Gao Li on how to wash and treat his wounds.

She kept asking questions about Gao Li's right hand, and soon everything else was forgotten as she massaged his forearm, feeling every tendon and pressure point. Gao Li felt nothing below the elbow.

"Gao Li why on earth did you decide to keep this from us?"

"Well gee Seyun, I guess I was caught up in the whole 'we're banished' thing."

"Oh sure you were, Mr. Overcompensation." She rolled her eyes and smirked.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Just remember who's been applying your bandages."

Gao Li's brow furrowed until it clicked.

"Hey!"

Seyun's straight face quickly melted into mirthful giggling. Gao Li's blush deepened.

"It's not—I just—You pervert!"

"Oh I'm just messing with you, Gao Li! I don't mean to actively emasculate you." She let out another few stifled giggles. "Except when it's hilarious."

"Oh wow, yes Seyun, you're quite the jokester. Ha, ha, ha, ha. Ha. My sides are in serious, debilitating pain. With all this sarcasm and japery you might—"

"Would you two stop flirting and please tell me what's wrong with your arm?" Taia stood cross-armed at the entrance to the tent.

"Oh yeah Taia, I just saw Gao Li's gaping arm wound first-hand and it stirred my boundless lust. You know, for arm wounds. Especially the sexy ones. I was about to jump him before you barged in and killed the mood. He said he might let me keep the bandages for a souvenir-"

"Oh fuck, please stop." Taia shuddered. "You have the grossest sense of humor."

"No, I'm just ruthlessly sarcastic. Right Gao Li?"

Gao Li's mouth hung a little slack, his eyes wide and horror-stricken as he mouthed the words "arm wounds."

"So what's up with Gao Li's arm?"

"Well it looks paralyzed." Seyun held it up and presented it, digging her thumb into a pressure point for emphasis. "No feeling, no movement."

Taia nodded thoughtfully.

"Have you tried bending with it?"

He hadn't. Since a blast of fire seemed a little dangerous to use in a closed, flammable tent, he opted to create a short dagger of flame.

Or try to.

"Hm." He kept trying, kept feeling his chi dam right at the top of the forearm.

"That's more than a little distressing." Taia chewed thoughtfully at her lip. "Maybe if you-"

"Let's not worry about that."

"But your hand is paralyzed. That seems pretty important."

"Really, it's nothing. We'll worry about it when we have the time." Gao Li turned his eyes to Seyun. "So... where do we go next?"

Seyun pulled a scroll out she was keeping in her sash and knelt, rolling out a map of the northern peninsula.

"So Pailong is here, and we've set up camp here." She circled a small area with the tip of her finger. "There are plenty of towns we could find residence in, try and find a healer for your hand. I did the best I could with what I had, but your left arm is still seriously messed up. Not to mention your rib."

"Well Zorei's Triumph is under a day away from Pailong by carriage, maybe—"

"I don't think a Fire Nation town is a great place to go with a political criminal and his conspirators, do you?"

Gao Li hadn't thought of that. "Well where are we going to find a healer? Some bumpkin Earth Kingdom village?"

"Honestly, at this point that's our best bet. The most they'll do is run us out of town, and I'm sure they'll be more sympathetic to us than at Zorei's Triumph."

Gao Li grimaced. "I suppose some mud-caked Earth Kingdom peasant is better than nothing."

"Look on the bright side, little brother. At least you don't have to go to council meetings any more."

At this Gao Li's eyes widened, feeling the realization spread through his body, slackening some strange muscles long held tense. He smiled, and with the weight of a city lifted off his shoulders, he breathed a contented sigh. He couldn't even feel the pain in his ribs as he considered his newfound freedom.

Maybe things are looking up after all.


Jin Yao massaged the palm of his hand in his sleeves, rolling around a tiny knot of muscle for whatever distraction it could bring from the situation at hand. He and a few other councilmen sat in the waning light of a few candles, shadows flickering across their faces. Their new ally sat across a table, his arms folded.

"We can pay you, of course, but your reward may be… more meager than normal mercenary work. Given our current economic status."

"I think it's more than apparent that I'm not in this for money alone."

The councilman felt that he was the only one hesitant about the deal. The others seemed to relish in the idea that Jheng's vengeance would be meted out with such thrift. And such irony.

"I must admit, this is a rather unusual arrangement…"

An elder councilman raised a long, delicate finger. "Ah, but it is fitting, Jin Yao. A traitor deserves more than harmless exile; he must face justice. And who better to do so then our strapping young volunteer?" His crooked finger curled, lightly touching a knuckle to his lips.

"But justice is dealt to the living. A corpse will not stand trial."

"I know you held a certain kind of pity for the boy and his father, but really, Jin Yao. He killed Jheng in a non-lethal Agni Kai, not to mention his obvious subversive tendencies. Like father like—" He stopped and shot a quick glance across the table. "—like son, if you'll pardon the expression."

Raon shrugged. "You all know I'm nothing like my father. I act with Pailong's best interests in mind. To bring my brother to justice is an honorable duty I gladly accept."

"Of course, Raon, of course." The councilman glanced from side to side, looking at all of his fellows. He smirked and rose from his seat. "We'll pay your retainer. Bring some token of his death to us, and we'll gladly compensate you."

Raon stood up, bowed to the assembled councilmen, and strode out of the small office. Jin Yao followed the stream of councilmen out the same door, before jogging up to catch the newly minted mercenary.

"Listen, Raon. I'll pay you twice what the city will to bring Gao Li back alive. Better yet, just find a fake 'token' you can give them, that way you'll get—"

Raon's lips pulled back into a snarl, his eyes hard and unfeeling on Jin Yao. "No."

"Triple what they pay, and I'll pull some strings, get you a spot in an officer's academy. With your previous schooling I'm sure you'll make lieutenant—"

"I don't want your money or your favors, coward. In fact, you know what?" Raon stepped face to face with Jin Yao, their eyes separated by a hair's breadth. "I feel that after hearing word of such treachery the council would be eager for your head as well."

Jin Yao felt his reason fall aside as he looked into Raon's dark, hateful eyes. He only felt anger and disappointment for his old friend's namesake.

"You were right, Raon. You're nothing like your father."


"How'd your session with the healer go?"

Gao Li looked up at Taia from his bed. His sister took quite well to her new Earth Kingdom garb, simply replacing her crimson tunic for a tan one. He scratched at his new shirt, feeling a twinge of longing for the woven silk of his council robes.

"Well I couldn't tell her exactly how I got it, so she was a little confused. Said something about acupuncture and massage, but I think we should wait until we get to a big city before we start trying to…"

Gao Li stopped short as he watched his sister cast a furtive glance down the hallway before slinking in and shutting the door.

"Am I boring you?"

"A little, but mostly because I didn't come to ask you about your trip to the healer. Seyun had me out shopping for pretty new clothes," her voice took on a mocking tone as she described her least favorite of all activities. "But really, little brother, I'm here because…" She sat on his bed and leaned in close before whispering, "I want you to teach me to lightningbend."

Gao Li winced, drawing his gimped hand into his body out of some misplaced instinct. "I don't think I can really teach you that, Taia. If you didn't notice, I'm still recovering from the first time I did it, and I can't really do what I did on the spot. It was sort of… spontaneous."

Taia was undaunted. "Then just tell me how it felt, what you did with your chi, anything. I know enough of the basic theory to guess what it might take, but to talk to someone who's actually pulled it off…" Her eyes widened as she looked into Gao Li's, her hands rooted on the bed.

"Taia… it's all really hazy."

"Please, can you try and remember?"

Gao Li sighed and began to concentrate, his eyes looking down into the sheets. He followed every moment of the fight, trying to fill in what was between Jheng's final words and the warmth of the bedroll in the forest.

"I remember, lying on the ground, face halfway in a pool of my own blood…" He was surprised how weak his words sounded, how hollow they seemed. "I was sure I was going to die. I was so sure that this was the end- that I had lost. There was no more drive. There was no motivation. And I remember…" He swallowed and sighed, searching for the right words. "I remember that when all my chi was spent, there was something left over, something old and primal in the pit of my stomach and the back of my brain that was beyond prejudice or justice or hate or emotion. It was… cold. Very cold."

He looked back to Taia, who had turned her eyes down, scratching the back of her head.

"I'm… I'm sorry little brother. I shouldn't have—"

"It's okay. I don't mind" Gao Li tenderly lifted his left arm to wrap it around his sister's neck before drawing her into a close embrace. Taia was just as dumbstruck as before, managing to return the hug after a split-second of shock. There weren't many times before when either felt compelled to give the other a hug, but things were certainly different now. They released one another, and Taia planted a sororal kiss on his forehead.

"Good night, Gao Li. Thanks for… understanding."

"Good night Taia."

The door slid shut, and Gao Li extinguished the candle next to his bed. He closed his eyes, and let sleep take him.

His sleep was restless, and he awoke only once, drenched in cold sweat, a scream trapped in his throat and his eyes wide open.

He couldn't remember the specific nature of the nightmare. He didn't have to.