Chapter 12: An Eventful Evening

Sho felt sweat run down his brow and tried not to breathe. The stink of ostrichorse and manure was heavy in the already thick, humid air. Hay poked him in uncomfortable places and made his nose itch. The wound in his back throbbed in time with his heartbeat. The ache in his head pounded and demanded attention. But Sho was a soldier and discipline held him still.

"Ah, I see," Sai Lin said to the old woman. She hefted the jar in her hands. "Thank you for the honey, Oba."

From his hiding place, Sho watched the old woman give a gummy smile. "It is nothing, Little Sai. Old Oji got lucky when he found that hive and I wanted to share our blessings."

Sho held in a frustrated sigh. This was the fifth time the old woman was telling her story. Sai Lin gave a pleasant smile, however.

"Yes, Oba," she said. "Thank you."

"You should find yourself a man, Little Sai," the old woman said with a sly smile, "someone to share it with."

"I'll try, Oba," she replied.

Oba's gummy smile widened. "Ah, but I keep you too long. Why do you let me ramble on?"

"Nonsense," Sai Lin protested, "you're always welcome."

"Don't be silly, Little Sai," Oba replied. "Young girls should be in the company of other young ones, not an old prune like me."

Sai Lin laughed a little and walked Oba out of the stable. Sho counted his heartbeats till she came back. She fussed a little over nothing before casually closing the gates. She stayed still for a moment and then: "Clear."

"Finally!" Khan said, bursting out of the hay, "I thought that old wolfbat would never leave."

Sho emerged from his hiding spot and shook his head. He watched loose hay fall from him. He brushed a hand over his head, pulling out more of the same. His hair had been cut short in an effort to disguise him; Khan had lost his moustaches, too. Without his tail, though, Sho felt like a little boy all over again.

Sai Lin glared at the General. Sho saw the signs of another argument beginning and quickly spoke up. "You did well, Sai Lin. You have more patience than I have."

Sai Lin opened her mouth angrily, and then shut it again without saying a word. In the end she settled for a scrutinising frown over Sho, trying to spot any condescension in his manner.

Khan looked at both of them and seemed to dislike what he saw. "Hmph," he grunted, "just how much longer do we have to keep hiding like this?"

"Yes, Sai Lin," Sho said, "we can't keep staying here. Sooner or later someone will catch us out. We have to go rescue the Avatar."

"You can't rescue him," Sai Lin said, "that would be suicide."

"Then we should get help," Khan said.

Sai Lin shook her head. "We have been over this. It's too dangerous. You only just escaped; let tensions die down a bit."

"It's been four days girl," Khan retorted. "I'm all for waiting for the opportune moment but I know when to be decisive. Who knows what your friendsare doing to him. We can't wait any longer!"

"No!" Sai Lin threw back. "It's too soon. You'll be caught and killed."

"Then I die by my own terms," Khan sneered, "not here like a chickengoat on a tether."

"If that's your attitude then maybe I should have left you to die on the mountain," Sai Lin replied.

"Maybe you should have," Khan agreed and walked out the stable's back door.

Sai Lin watched him go and spat in his direction. "How can you stand to be around him?"

Sho shrugged. "He has a point, Sai Lin. If the Avatar's life is in danger then we have a duty to do everything we can to help him."

"We don't know if he's in danger," Sai Lin said guardedly.

"You said he's a prisoner?"

She nodded. "He must be. There was gossip all over the manor about it. I haven't seen him, but Tonshi and Bokku must be keeping him under the mountain."

"That place is a maze," Sho said. "If only we had some idea where he is being kept then we'd stand a better chance of rescuing him."

"But we don't know," Sai Lin stated, "so forget about it for now."

Sho eyed her troubled face. "Sai Lin, it's not that I'm not grateful for you saving me but the Avatar's life comes before my own."

She looked at him with sullen eyes and finally sighed. "You're as stubborn as an Earthbender, you know that?"

"Thank you," Sho said with a smile and bowed.

"It wasn't a compliment," she huffed.

"Ah," Sho replied awkwardly.

Sai Lin frowned for a moment then stepped closer to him. Alarmed, Sho took a step back but she grabbed him by the collar and pulled his head down. Her other hand reached for his head.

"Sai Lin," Sho panicked, "what-?"

Her hand went to his head and above it, pulling something from his hair. Her hand came away to reveal a straw. She released his collar. "Hay in your hair," she said simply.

"Oh," Sho stuttered, "right."

She frowned at him again. "What did you think I was doing?"

"I..." Sho fumbled, "I don't..."

She sighed and tossed the stalk away. "I have things to see to, Lieutenant. Good day."

Sho watched her walk away, his mind fuddled. "Good day."

Sho had drifted into unconsciousness after his rescue and had woken up in the stable some time later, his wounds dressed, his mind completely disorientated. He couldn't see Khan so he had stumbled onto his hands and knees and crawled out of his stall. It was night but whether it was the same one he had escaped on or days later he hand no way of knowing. Sai Lin had walked into the stable then and Sho had hid behind a water barrel. When she had walked past he mustered up his strength and jumped her. She squawked in fright but his hand went around her throat and squeezed.

"Where is the Avatar?" his hoarse voice made him sound that much fiercer, "and the General?"

The maid groped at his hands and gasped for air. He shook her. "Where are they?"

"Let go!" Sai Lin managed weakly, "I'm…help…let go!"

"You poisoned Khan!"

Her head shook violently. "No! No!"

"I don't trust you!" Sho shouted, "I don't-!"

Her hand darted out and grabbed a wooden mallet lying near them. Sho had time to blink before he was knocked unconscious.

When he had next woken, Sho had found himself lying on a pallet and back in his stall. He had a pounding headache but when he had turned over he saw General Khan lying next to him.

"I thought it might do for you to wake up next to him this time."

She turned his head back to Sai Lin, who sat a cautious distance away from him. In the dim lamp light he could see bruises making an appearance around her neck. He studied her carefully as she, in turn, kept a wary eye on him.

"Where are we?" he asked finally.

"Yamamachi," she answered. "I hid both of you in the wagon and took you back to here. We're in my own stable."

"Yours?" Sho asked. "I thought you lived at the manor?"

"I do," she answered. "My family owns this, though."

"Family?" Despite himself, Sho was curious.

"Yes," she said, and then quietly added, "They're all dead."

Sho could think of no appropriate reply to that. Instead he asked, "Why isn't Khan awake?"

Sai Lin shrugged. "Whatever happened to him has taken a toll on his body. He is an old man after all."

"Whatever happened to him?" Sho sneered. "You would know since you poisoned him."

"I did not," Sai Lin protested. "I didn't poison him."

"You gave him his tea!"

"That's all I did!" her shout came so loudly that the ostrichorses jittered in the neighbouring stalls. She visibly calmed herself before continuing. "That's all I did. Bokku and Tonshi are responsible for what happened to both of you. I had no idea they planned to kidnap you, let alone the Avatar."

"The Avatar," Sho demanded, "where is he?"

"Under the mountain," she replied. "But you can't go there, it is too dangerous. Tonshi has people combing the jungle looking for you."

"They won't expect me back so soon," Sho stubbornly rebutted. "That'll give me the element of surprise."

"You are not going out there, Lieutenant," Sai Lin said flatly.

"The Avatar needs my help," Sho threw off the blanket covering him. That was when he saw that his hands were bound.

"I did it so you wouldn't attack me again," Sai Lin explained.

"Sai Lin, untie me," Sho commanded.

The maidservant did not move.

"Sai Lin, untie me or I'll burn off the ropes," Sho said.

She shrugged. "Then burn them."

Sho frowned and concentrated on his chi. He pulled as much of it as he could but all he could manage was to make some smoke. After a minute of so he gave up. He was appalled to see his pitiful attempt had caused him to sweat and pant as if he'd done a day's hard training.

Sai Lin laid a cautious but gentle hand on his arm. "You need to rest, Lieutenant."

He tried to raise himself up. "I need to…"

"Rest," and Sai Lin pushed him back down again with one hand and little effort. Rather than shame himself further, Sho finally relented and lay down, where he soon promptly fell asleep.

And that was how things had been since their hiding here. Khan had woken the next day and was even more suspicious than Sho had been. But he too had eventually agreed to stay where he was, even if he didn't believe Sai Lin. Recently, since their efforts at disguising themselves, Sai Lin had let them come through the back entrance to her home. It was a musty, old thing and it seemed to trouble her to have both of them in there. There had been some close calls, too. Guards from the manor had come to speak with her and almost made to inspect the property but somehow she always managed to turn them away.

His feet itched to be away, to save the Avatar. He did so hate waiting, but it wasn't just the danger of being caught by Tonshi's guards that stopped him from attempting a rescue. Ever since he had woken in the stable something had felt…wrong with him. At first he had blamed it on being injured badly and then on Sai Lin clubbing him on the head. But the more days that past since his escape the more his disquiet grew. If he was honest with himself it was fear of being caught and brought to Bokkuthat made him afraid to go out and save the Avatar. That man had done something, changed him in some way, deep in his bones. If he was ever back in the healer's grasp who knew what more the man would do to him.

Sho left through the back door and spotted Khan. The old man was dressed in rough but clean clothes of red and green hues and he had a large oiled cloak over his shoulders, the hood pulled over his bald head. The rain was heavy for the day and the water ran off his cloak like a waterfall.

"Khan," Sho called, "where are you going?"

Khan turned sharply and looked surprised to see Sho. He pulled him closer. "Keep your voice down. I don't want your girlfriend to hear."

"She's not my-"

Khan waved him off. "Never mind that, grab your cloak and get a move on."

Sho went back into the stable and returned with his cloak, the hood pulled up against the rain. "Where are we going?"

"We are going for help," the General replied and pulled the gate open. "Now's as good a time as any and the rain should keep most people from looking us too long in the face."

"What if we are caught?" Sho asked.

"You want to be doing something, don't you?" Khan replied critically. "I can see the way you itch yourself to be on the move like a flea-bitten beggar."

Sho chose to ignore the insult and asked instead: "Where are we going to find help?"

Khan squinted at the road like he could see something out there. "I think I might know a place where we can get some. Quickly now, though, it's turning dusk and we want to be back before the night watch come out."

They hurried along the near empty boardwalk, heads bowed against the pouring rain. Khan led them through narrow passages and board streets alike. Sho's back itched to be so exposed in broad-daylight like this but Khan had been right. Hardly anyone paid attention to two men hurrying through the rain soaked streets. Once Khan pulled up short and pulled Sho into an alleyway. A small patrol passed by them, trying to keep to the sheltered edges of shops. They paid no attention to the narrow side-streets.

After a time, Khan finally led them to the town's centre. Most shops were shuttered and closed but the inns and taverns glowed with a welcoming warm light. Sho shivered and pulled his cloak closer.

"Alright," Khan said, his face dripping with rain, "with any luck, we'll find help in one of the inns."

"Mercenaries?" Sho asked incredulously.

Khan grimaced. "Something like that."

They made their way through the taverns and inns. At first, Sho relished the warmth of stepping inside the common room, but that soon wore off. The common rooms were small places and crowded with people, people who had ample opportunity to scrutinise their faces. Walking into the inns soon became something of a trial and made Sho tense up every time they crossed the threshold. And the worst part was that they couldn't just come in, search and then leave; that would have made them too conspicuous. At each tavern and inn Khan bought them a round of drinks and the General made it clear that they were to finish their pints. Completely. And it couldn't be just one drink, it had to be at least two or even three. And so by the fourth tavern they crawled into, both looking liked drowned squirrelrats, Sho found himself tripping over himself and finding the most trivial things hilarious. But he wasn't drunk, he couldn't be. A Fire Nation soldier could hold his liquor with anyone. He was simply…what was he thinking again?

"What are we looking for, honestly Khan?" Sho slurred.

The General was annoyingly sober in appearance. He scanned the room and his face lit up. "Not looking for, Sho; found. Come on."

Khan led them to a gaming table, where a lone player sat playing a game of Pai Sho. It was an elderly woman and, for some strange reason, familiar to Sho.

"Care for a game, dear?" the woman asked.

"Pai Sho?" Sho asked blithely as he sat in a chair, "Thisis our help?"

"Shut up and learn," Khan replied.

"Are we playing for coins?" the woman asked.

Khan turned cold eyes on her. "Does it look like I'm interested in gambling with you, old woman?"

The woman's shrunken eyes went hard. "I see. Then we have nothing to speak of then."

When the old woman made to leave Khan put his hand flat on the table. "I do not play games, old wolfbat. I know who you are."

The old woman gave a gummy smile and Sho felt a chill run through him. It was the same old lady that had visited Sai Lin this morning, Oba. Except the smile she now gave did not seem nearly so charming.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, General," Oba replied.

Sho's fuzzy head suddenly dropped into clarity. "What did you just…?"

Oba looked at him and cackled. "What was that, Lieutenant?"

"Fine," Khan growled, "we both know each other…"

"I don't," Sho grumbled.

"…so why don't we stop these little dances around the actual topic," Khan continued, "and get to the point."

Oba frowned. "I heard you were difficult. Rejected membership the three times it was offered you."

Khan's smile was a hard line. "I do not join boy's clubs."

"Do I look like a man to you?" Oba scowled. She brushed off the comment almost immediately, though. "Never mind that, you've come for help. But we cannot talk here; there are too many ears."

There was a raucous shout, a burst of laughter and someone fell backwards onto the table. The man's drink flew all over Sho and gaming pieces scattered across the room.

The man picked himself up and laughed. "Sorry, grandma, didn't realise it was seniors' night."

His group of friends sniggered. Sho wiped his face in an exaggerated manner. "Hey."

The man took a laughing swallow of his half empty mug. Sho stood and grabbed the man by his shirt. "Hey!"

"Sho!" Khan took hold of his sleeve but the young lieutenant shrugged him off.

The drunk man turned a lazy eye over Sho. "You want something, pup?"

Sho felt anger swell up in his head, mixing with the alcohol already addling his brain. "Apologise!"

The man frowned. "I already did," the man replied angrily. "Now let go or you'll get a right spanking, boy."

"Sho..." Khan warned.

But Sho did not hear him. His honour had been slighted and that was all that mattered. The drunk got out one more insulting laugh before Sho punched him squarely in the face.

Khan knew things were about to get exponentially more difficult when Sho broke the man's nose. Spirits help us.

The drunks turned on Sho as soon as the shock wore off. The young lieutenant was ready for them and took them all on, single-handed. That plan worked fine for a while and he managed to knock out three men. But then one of them clipped Sho around the head and the tables began to turn rapidly. Khan watched this all with a look of mixture of disappointment and boredom.

"You going to help your friend out?" Oba inquired mildly.

Khan sighed and stood. He walked a pace of two up to the fight; it had gathered quite a crowd of onlookers. Then, at random, he pulled a bystander out, punched him and threw him into the brawl. Khan's action had the desired effect. The bystander swung a retaliatory punch at the first available face, who countered just the same to another until the whole thing well and truly erupted into a complete bar fight.

Oba nodded in approval. "Well done." She ducked her head to one side as a bottle flew past her. "Very well done."

Khan simply inclined his head graciously and went off to search for Sho.

Sho's whole body shuddered as a fist smacked into his jaw. He landed heavily on a table, lying on his back. The world spun crazily and blood seeped into his mouth. He tried to raise himself up but crashed back down again. His vision doubled and his attacker suddenly gained a twin. The man held a bottle by its neck and thumped it menacingly into his palm.

"I'm gonna mess you so bad you'lll have a face only a mother could love!"

Panic popped up all over Sho's mind. He couldn't get up, what could he do? The man raised his bottle and a revelation flashed through Sho. Bend, you idiot! You can bend! Bend!Sho threw up his hands in a wild gesture and bent.

The ground opened up and a column of earth smashed Sho's would-be attacker and sent him flying across the room.

Sho shook his head and blinked. He pulled himself upright and stared at the stone column. He didn't… He couldn'thave…

Someone grabbed his shoulder and Sho almost lashed out before he saw who it was. Khan's eyes were hard and unreadable.

"Khan, did you…?" Sho gulped and swallowed what he was about to say.

"Come on, Lieutenant," Khan said impassively, "time to go."

Sho swallowed again and gave a shaky nod. Suddenly he felt dreadfully sick.

The old general dragged him along and they joined Oba outside. It was now dark and the rain had gotten even heavier. It pounded like a hammer on the anvil that was Sho's head and he put his hands to his temples and groaned.

"Come on!" Oba shouted above the storm. "The Watch will be here soon. We've got to get away."

Khan nodded grimly. "Lead the way, old wolfbat."

They ran along the roads, their feet thumping on the wooden boardwalks. The way was lit occasionally by the flash of lightning and punctuated by the responding thunder.

"Khan," Sho moaned, "I feel sick."

"You can throw up soon, Lieutenant," Khan replied sympathetically.

"Here," Oba called and she pounded her fist on a door. The house looked familiar but it was hard to tell in the dark.

Sai Lin opened the door. She looked like she was just about to head out dressed as she was with a cloak on and a lamp in her hand.

"Oba?" she said, surprised, "what are you…?"

Oba pushed her way in and Khan and Sho followed her. Sai Lin watched them march through the door and her eyes widened. "Where have you two been? What are you doing with Oba?"

Sho pulled off the hood of his cloak and Sai Lin paled. "What happened to your face?"

Oba patted the maid gently. "Calm yourself, Little Sai, it is alright."

"Oba," Sai Lin asked urgently, "how do you know these people?"

Oba smiled, a twinkle in her eye. "The General and I are…acquaintances."

Sai Lin gave Khan a hard-eyed look and the General returned it with a knowing grin. "Unfortunately, she's right. Don't you know, girl, that all old people know each other."

Sai Lin glared at him for a moment longer before asking Oba: "What is going on here?"

"Trust me, Little Sai, I have just as many questions as you," Oba replied. "But we can't get them tonight. I must make sure the Watch is not on to us."

Sho chose that moment to quietly throw up.

"I will clean that up," Oba said with a frown, "and see you all tomorrow. In the meantime, Little Sai, you'd better see to your friend. I'm afraid he's had a little too much to drink."

Sai Lin sat Sho down on the bed that had once been her brother's. Before, when things were happier. Before the war took him. Tonight's drama had made little sense to her. How in the world did Oba know Khan? Why hadn't she said something earlier? Khan had hinted that Oba was part of something much bigger, some sort of organisation even. If that was true did she know about her? What if Oba told the other two about her, that she was keeping secrets? Sai Lin shook her head. If the others knew then they would have confronted her about it. Besides, there was no point scaring herself over something that might not have happened.

Sho winced as Sai Lin cleaned his face with a cloth. "That hurts," he mumbled; his jaw was starting to swell.

"Well, it's more than you deserve," Sai Lin scolded, "getting into fights and putting us all in danger."

"I'm sorry," he replied.

Sai Lin stopped her cleaning and looked at him. His eyes, bruising as they were, told her he was sincere. She sighed and continued cleaning, this time with a gentler hand. "It's okay," she muttered.

They were silent for a moment before Sho asked, "Sai Lin, do you hate me?"

She blinked. "Why would you ask a question like that?"

He gave a small shrug. "I can't tell. You confuse me so much. Do you like me or hate me?"

Sai Lin stared at his blank features and glassy eyes and found no reply. When she didn't respond Sho only nodded. "You're confused too."

"You're drunk," Sai Lin stated. "And you stink."

"If it helps," Sho said and leaned in closer, "I like you."

Sai Lin jerked her head back from him. Sho only smiled stupidly at her.

"On second thought," she said heatedly, "your face is fine. Goodnight."

"I earthbent today," Sho said.

Sai Lin snapped her head back to him. The Lieutenant's features were still a blank. "What?" she asked.

When Sho said nothing she grabbed his head in her hands. "What did you say, Sho?" she demanded.

Sho winced in pain. "Oww, someone must have knocked me around really hard because my head is really…"

And then his head fell on her shoulder as he promptly fell asleep.

Sai Lin sat, stunned. She did not move for a long time, unable to think. Then, carefully, she laid Sho down on the bed and covered him up. She still didn't leave, though, and just sat watching the Lieutenant sleep. Hesitantly, almost fearfully, she touched his face gently. Then a moment later she snatched her hand away, blew out the candle and left.