Chapter 26: Red Ink
"Zuko. I have something I need to tell you." Iroh approached his nephew, who was reading a scroll while sitting outside the tower.
Zuko looked up, and immediately noticed Iroh's very serious expression. "What…what is it?"
"I received news from one of my friends in the Fire Nation…" Iroh let out a sigh and shook his head, clearly distressed.
"Is it my mother?" Zuko asked, worried. He stood up.
"No…no, it's something your father did." Iroh continued with a pained expression, "Your father has murdered Katara's father, Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe."
"What?!" Zuko's voice sounded strangled. He could only listen in shock as Iroh explained what had happened.
After Iroh had given Zuko the details, he added, "The news has spread quickly, and is still spreading. The leaders in the Earth Kingdom, Water Tribes, and Air Temples have all heard about it. It is causing a lot of anger and chaos, as is expected. But no one has taken action…yet. The people are afraid of Ozai. They are too terrified to do anything that would draw his attention to them. That is all I know as of now."
Zuko stared at the ground, still looking completely shocked and horrified. "…Katara…she needs to know…"
"I need to know what?"
Katara walked up to them, holding a basket full of berries. She glanced at Zuko, then at Iroh.
Zuko couldn't bring himself to say it. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Iroh spoke up. "Katara…" He began. "Your father travelled to the Fire Nation with some of his men. He believed that Zuko was holding you captive there, and he was trying to bring you back home."
"What? But I sent a messenger hawk to him, telling him that I was safe. And I didn't mention anything about Zuko…" Katara said, confused.
"The message might have never reached him. My messenger hawk hasn't returned. They usually come back after they've successfully delivered a message." Zuko told her.
"Either the message was intercepted, or perhaps they thought that someone forced you to write that letter." Iroh frowned. "Using a messenger hawk probably isn't the best for delivering important information. Sending a person to deliver a message would be more reliable."
"But what happened to my father?" Katara asked. "Is he okay?"
Her question was met with silence. A sickening feeling washed over her, and she looked at Zuko.
Zuko could only look back at her, feeling helpless.
"Your father was wrongly accused of treason." Iroh told Katara, as gently as he could. "…He was sentenced to death. He's gone, Katara. I'm so sorry."
Katara stood completely frozen for a moment. Then her body started to tremble slightly, and she dropped the basket she'd been holding. Choking back tears, she asked, "How…how was he killed? What did they do to him?"
"Firelord Ozai…used his firebending…" Iroh paused. It was all he needed to say.
Tears now spilling down her cheeks, Katara couldn't stop shaking. The pain and anguish in her eyes made Zuko's heart hurt. But when Zuko took a step towards her, she took a step back.
Katara couldn't think straight. Looking at Zuko, and his golden eyes…The same color as Firelord Ozai's, she thought, and she was suddenly filled with fury. Fire. Death. Murderer.
Zuko reached out to her. "Katara…"
"Get away from me!" Katara screamed.
The next moment happened in a flash. Using her waterbending, Katara pulled the water from the grass, plants, and trees around her. It was something only the most powerful waterbenders could do, and it was the first time Katara had ever done it. Zuko and Iroh watched in shock as the greenery turned withered and brown in an instant. Katara then lashed out at Zuko with the water. The blast knocked him to the ground.
Doused with water, Zuko stared up at Katara, eyes wide. He hadn't expected her to attack him. Her fists were clenched, and more tears spilled from her eyes. Her expression was a mixture of anger and grief.
Your father killed my father. Katara couldn't bear it. She turned and ran, not knowing where she was going. Everything hurt, and she wanted to run from it all.
"I am so sorry, Sokka."
Piandao had just finished reading aloud the letter he had received from a Fire Nation official. The letter contained the news of Hakoda's death.
Sokka and Jet stood in front of Piandao's desk. It was only the three of them in the room.
Jet was furious. "Every member of the Fire Nation Royal Family is complete scum." He spat out. "First they kidnap Katara, and now this."
Sokka was silent. His face was ashen. He turned and left the room without a single word.
"…Should I go after him?" Jet asked after a moment, worried for his friend.
Shaking his head, Piandao replied, "I think he needs some time alone right now, to grieve the death of his father. It is a shocking and unexpected tragedy."
"It's madness." Jet clenched his fist. "Firelord Ozai's tyranny needs to end. He needs to be removed from his position before he kills more innocent people!"
Piandao sighed. "He is a very powerful person, Jet. It is best not to underestimate that power."
"So we're just going to do nothing about this?!" Jet said incredulously. He slammed his hand down on the desk. "We have to avenge Chief Hakoda's death! And save Katara from that crazy family!"
"I am not saying that we do nothing. But we have to carefully decide our next actions." Piandao told him.
Jet let out an exasperated groan. "We already know what we have to do! We have to kill every member of that detestable family!" With that, he stormed out of the room.
Piandao gripped the letter in his hands tightly. Hakoda had been a trustworthy friend and an honorable man. It was a huge loss for him, Sokka, and both of the Water Tribes.
He looked at the letter again. There had been a part that he had not read aloud to Jet and Sokka. It was the part where the Fire Nation official had written about Firelord Ozai's request. It was more of a demand than a request.
Firelord Ozai had ordered Piandao to hand Sokka and Jet over to him. The Firelord believed that Hakoda's son and future son-in-law were also guilty of treason, and that they, along with Hakoda, had plotted against the Fire Nation Royal Family. Piandao knew that Ozai would kill Jet and Sokka the moment they were delivered to him.
Sokka and Jet had become like sons to Piandao. Sokka was an honorable young man, who reminded Piandao of Hakoda. Both Sokka and Jet were diligent workers and excellent swordsmen. They definitely had the potential to become great leaders in the near future. Piandao cared for both of them, and he knew that he could never send them to Firelord Ozai. It would be sending them to their deaths.
But disobeying the Firelord's command was unheard of. The consequences would be very serious. Piandao had no doubt that the Firelord would want him dead if he did not do as ordered. He would be labeled as an enemy of the Fire Nation.
Piandao's butler knocked on the door, and entered the room. "Have you made a decision? The messenger is waiting to deliver your reply to the Firelord."
Piandao let out a sigh. He knew that there was no third option. Taking out a sheet of paper, he splashed some red ink onto it. He signed his name at the bottom of the paper, and handed it to his butler. "This is my answer to the Firelord's order. Give it to the messenger."
The butler gasped. "The red ink…that's a symbol of rebellion…" Terrified, he stared at Piandao. "Are…are you sure you want to do this? Firelord Ozai will be furious! And it will put you in great danger!"
"It is the only way." Piandao replied. "I refuse to be a part of the Firelord's senseless acts of violence. I will protect Sokka and Jet from him—no matter what."
The butler stared at Piandao. "…The Fire Nation is your home. Even if you are not killed for your disobedience, you will at least be banished!"
"I know of the consequences." Piandao's voice was calm but firm. "And I will not change my mind." He stood up. "I need to contact some close friends of mine in the Earth Kingdom. There are a lot of things we need to discuss."
"Your close friends in the Earth Kingdom…consist of powerful rulers and army generals." The butler said, realization dawning on him. "Is…is this the start of a revolt? A revolt against the Fire Nation?!"
"It may be." Piandao said grimly. "Send messengers to the Water Tribes and Gaoling as well. We have a lot of work to do."