Chapter 12

The Jasmine Dragon

Leaving Piando to wait for the Master Waterbender, Iroh followed his waiter into the private room. He normally reserved the small room for those seeking private meetings, be it old friends meeting together for an afternoon tea or a business venture that was best not talked about in open air. These guests, if he wasn't mistaken were seeking both..

It was a comfortably furnished room with a pair of cane backed chairs arranged invitingly around a small table currently holding a tea tray. A narrow window was covered in waxed rice paper brightening the cozy room with late afternoon sunlight while keeping the cool autumn air outside- with the added advantage of a small, but quite noisy fountain conveniently placed right under the very same window.

The two fighters Derza had described watched silently as the retired general entered the room and secured the door behind him. Returning their gaze calmly, he studied their appearance with interest. The pair were equally long, lean and well armed. Between the pair he counted eight visible weapons alone and their armor was common well-broken in leathers. Just the type of armor any itinerant fighter or mercenary might wear. Cheap, easily replaceable and more importantly- easily overlooked in any sort of large crowd. What was two more fighters returning home from the wars?

Dismissing them for now, he turned his attention to the third member of their party- the woman who was indeed in a cloak as Derza had said. "Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon! How may I be of service?" He asked, smiling genially at the woman. There was a pause, as if the woman was gathering her courage. After a moment of silence she drew in a deep breath and slowly raised her hands, pushing back the hood from her face. Drawing in another deep breath, she raised her head and met his eyes squarely.

"It's good to see you again, Iroh." If the retired general was surprised by his guest's identity he gave no sign of it, but than she hadn't expected him too. Growing up at court, Iroh had learned to hide his thoughts and emotions behind a calm countenance years before. He nodded at the tray now, the same polite smile on his face. "I thought you might want some refreshment."

"You've always been so thoughtful." She said smiling slightly in return before pulling out a chair and sinking into it gracefully. Watching as he poured the tea and prepared it to his satisfaction, she sighed as she inhaled the steam wafting up from the cup he handed her. Sipping companionably at her tea for a minute before returning it to the table with sigh. "I owe you an explanation about how-"

"No." Blinking at his stern reply, she tried again almost desperately- "Iroh, please. Let me explain-" only to stop mid-sentence as he shook his head back in forth in disagreement. "I don't need to know, and would prefer not knowing my brother's actions that night. I'm all too well aware of what he's done since than to doubt his culpability in Father's death." His serious expression gentled slightly, "He has missed you."

"Has he?" Her voice was wistful as her brown eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hope. "He's changed so much."

"He has." Iroh smiled crookedly as he recalled the past few years. "But in many ways he is still as he was-"

"Before." She finished on another sigh, this one sad. He nodded in acknowledgment. "We have much to discuss, but before that- are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fi-" She was cut off by the guard who'd taken up a position behind her. "She fell during our departure a few weeks ago and has been limping ever since." At the rebuking look she received, the guard shrugged. "Well, you have."

"I've sent for a friend who will be able to see to that." Iroh assured the guard. "She be here in a few minutes."

"Iroh, really, you don't have too." Her protest was cut off by a hearty laugh. The familiar sound brought a true smile to her face for the first time in nearly five years. "Of course I do," Iroh stated firmly. "He'd never forgive me if I didn't- and Katara would be even worse." He chuckled again at the thought of the master waterbender's reaction and retaliation. She sighed, conceding the issue before asking curiously, "Katara?"

"A healer and master waterbender." He smiled serenely, eyes twinkling slightly. "Don't let her age fool you- she is very good."

"If you say so." She sighed again, before shrugging away the entire issue. "Now," she said than firmly, meeting her brother-in-law's eyes. "Tell me everything,"

***

Night had fallen by the time she arrived at the tea shop. It'd take far too long in Katara's opinion to leave. Sokka had walked into her telling their father about the message so she'd than had to explain everything to him as well- and convince him that he'd be of better use at the court assembly than instructing her in the proper methods of waterbending.

Thank Yue that Suki walked in or I'd have killed him Katara fumed, trying to hurry without breaking into a run since they were trying avoid attracting undue attention. La knows I attract enough attention with Jiro and his men always around me like a pack of tundra wolves. Not that it's a bad thing. Sometimes. Katara sighed at that. Just when she'd thought that they could finally leave, Aang had arrived and immediately demanded to know where she was going. Thankfully, Jiro had stepped- firmly- in at that point and they had left Aang sulking in the courtyard. I hate hurting him, but really! He knows I get asked to heal people all the time and like I'm supposed to say "No" to Uncle?! And him shouting that I should stop trying to be Fire Nation was just mean.

Since arriving in Ba Sing Se, she had spent several hours at the tea shop and had grown quite close to General Iroh, who had insisted on her calling him "Uncle." He'd said that since she had saved both his and his nephew's lives at least once, it was the least he could do to thank her. It'd felt awkward at first, but had quickly grown more natural. Now she seldom addressed him as anything else- much to his delight, Toph's amusement and Aang's irritation whenever he heard her doing so.

Still fuming, Katara would have continued on past the tea shop but for the lieutenant's raised arm catching her attention. Jiro nodded to her before turning back to his guards. Quick hand signals and nods had the guards melting away to take up stationary positions around the tea shop before Jiro was satisfied. Ba Sing Se had been quiet since the end of the war and King Kuei's return, but the Royal guard wasn't taking any chances. There had been rumors of deserters causing trouble in the outskirts around the city and Katara wasn't exactly unknown. Not that was the only concern. You didn't have to be a deserter or war criminal to be unhappy with the way the war had ended- or that it had ended at all. The dishwasher's cryptic message had the lieutenant more than a little on edge and his professional paranoia was making him edgy.

The door opened just then, spilling yellow light onto the cobblestones with a familiar shape appearing in the doorway. "Master Piando!" Katara hailed her brother's swordmaster. "I came as soon as I got Uncle's message. Is everything ok?"

"Everything is fine, Katara" He smiled reassuringly down at her. "An old friend of Iroh's dropped in earlier and seems to be in need of your aid." Seeing his charge about to rush into the tea room in search of her latest patient, Jiro stepped into the conversation. Eyes narrowing doubtfully, he stared at the sword master. "Wait, Katara." Neither noticing that he addressed her without the usual honorific. "If everything is "fine"then why all this secrecy? Certainly, any routine healing requests could have waited until morning."

Piando bowed his head slightly towards the younger soldier. "Normally, yes. We would have waited, lieutenant." He paused, turning slightly to address Katara as well. "The General's friend has been- let's just say, persona non grata in the Fire Nation for the past few years and only recently arrived in Ba Sing Se. You will have to ask Iroh for the rest of the details however.."

"Wonderful." Jiro's muttered reply was buried beneath his charge's voice asking where the general could be found. He followed her into the tea room thinking dark thoughts about whatever past sin he might be repenting to deserve his current assignment.