Chapter 34 – The Second Betrayal

"Why wasn't I informed of this?" Admiral Kuzon said, fuming quite magnificently. Even his usual red color had turned an extraordinary purple, and Himizu marveled at how calm he was being despite his obvious rage. The Admiral knew there were answers he needed out of Himizu, and he was willing to leash in his tantrums until he had them.

"I suppose the Fire Lord felt the matter should be kept as confidential as possible." Or at least Himizu had. Kuzon kept his eyes trained forward, and it was apparent he could hear the message under his words. Though controlling the Navy had until this point proven to be Kuzon's strongest asset, Himizu didn't need to have the Admiral's permission to use his men.

All he needed was Nizan.

"What does he expect to get out of the woman?" They both strode with purpose, Kuzon a little faster than Himizu, as he was quite a bit younger and weighed down only by his red leather armor. Himizu, on the other hand, struggled with the heavy crimson ceremonial robes of his post, and once again, he cursed his decision not to wear the casual robes of a lower rank. But the next step would take intimidation, and all the regalia his office required.

"I think he only desires to use her as a tool. Nizan has a nasty habit of kidnapping people for bargaining pieces."

That seemed to take a little fire out of the Admiral's belly. As well it should. Himizu knew that it had been Kuzon's implications, in addition to the War General Royokan's plots, that had brought the Water Tribe prisoners into play. Now, though, Himizu was using the abduction ploy for his own gain.

Himizu stopped short at one of the dozens of ornate doors that lined the marble hallway, lit by both lamps and skylights. It was hard to tell why this one was so different, but that was the specific reason he chose it. The room was unique in its total commonality.

He politely opened the door for his companion, signaling for Kuzon to enter. Distrustful, the Admiral eyed Himizu, straightened the hem of his mantle in irritation, and strode into the room. Though he had no reason to doubt Himizu's intentions – the chamber was normal in every respect, furnished only with a low-set table placed in the center of its sunken floor. The four sourwood columns were too narrow to hide enemies, and the skylights high in the ceiling made sure there were no shadows to creep through. Nothing that could threaten Kuzon.

Himizu was very particular with his assassinations, anyway.

What was different was a young woman seated at the table, her legs folded primly under her. And even though she was dressed in the elegant red robes of a Fire Nation noble, anyone could tell from her wide brown eyes and short stature that she was hardly a native. She looked up at their entrance, her expression warping into one of displeasure.

"Consul Yan-lin," Kuzon said in greeting, bowing almost in the entryway. Himizu slipped in around him, also giving a polite bow, but she didn't return the welcome to either. "I hope you've been treated well since your arrival."

"As well as can be expected for a political prisoner."

"Currently, your status is that of a guest," Himizu said as he removed his sandals and slipped further into the room. "And that's how we intend to treat you."

"I did not know, Master Himizu, Fire Nation hospitality included abducting guests and holding them against their will." She lifted her chin disdainfully, and he threw a glance back to Kuzon. Unfortunately, such a thing was becoming a trend. But he plastered a smile across his face and took a seat on a pillow across the table from her, intent on making the situation as amiable as possible. Kuzon followed suit, though he hadn't done a very good job of hiding his anger, his glower blending into his short brown beard.

"Has my father been informed of my capture?" The moment of displeasure gone, she settled herself into the red cushion, smoothing the robes across her knees. Now it was business, and Himizu suddenly felt more comfortable dealing with her. Women in general were unpredictable and unreliable, but diplomats – particularly Earth Kingdom ones – were shrewd and practical. He was much happier to work with her consular role.

"Your father has been working very closely with us," Kuzon said slowly, and Himizu darted an annoyed glance at the Admiral. He knew little of what was going on, but now he was trying to manipulate the conversation to his advantage.

Yan-lin also seemed aware of this fact, her eyebrows climbing in visible disbelief. "My father has been working with you? Indeed."

"What Admiral Kuzon meant to say," Himizu began uneasily, frowning at him in admonishment, "is that your father has been working very closely with us in many matters, and he will be informed immediately of your presence here."

Kuzon was not happy about being corrected, but he was at least prudent, aware that he had quickly gone over his head without true knowledge of the situation. Thus he silently gave the interview over to Himizu, folding his hands in the large red sleeves of his uniform.

"Then to what do I owe this visit?" Yan-lin pushed an errant hair back into her bun, though it was in her face again a moment later. "An audience with the Fire Admiral or the Great Sage alone is rarely granted, but with both together is nearly unheard of."

"I think you're well aware," Himizu said, but didn't continue. She managed a smirk and a soft humph, though her tone was still professional.

"As you knew exactly where to find me, I assume it's because of my travel companions. What I don't understand is why I'm speaking to you and not the Fire Lord."

Himizu knew the question was supposed to annoy him – supposed to point out to him his paltry standing when compared to Nizan. What Yan-lin underestimated was his disinterest in being anything more than what he was.

"The Fire Lord has other concerns." This was a session for his questions, not for hers, and he reached for the blue porcelain pot among the tea set placed between them. "I see you haven't been served yet." Without even asking her, he poured her a cup.

"Then you know," Kuzon tried his hand again while Himizu poured, his color lightening as his temper calmed, "that we have no issue with you, Mistress Yan-lin. You had the mere misfortune to be associated with the Avatar. In fact, this could be a blessing. You've been removed from harm's way."

"Strange that the only time I was in harm's way was when you were trying to take me out of it." Yan-lin took the tiny porcelain cup from Himizu, but she didn't drink, her eyes never leaving Kuzon. "However, you're right. We're playing around with formalities, trying to avoid the actual reason you kidnapped me two days outside of Gaipan." Now her gaze shifted to Himizu. "You want to know what the qu-dan said."

Himizu was both relieved and irritated. Cutting to the chase meant that he would spend less time cajoling her into revealing what he needed to know. It also meant, however, that being oblique in front of Kuzon would now be difficult, if not impossible.

Of course, he knew he would have to contend with this at some point. Though Himizu may have ordered Yan-lin's capture, Kuzon knew about it even before she had reached the bay. Such was the consequence of using naval ships to accomplish his goals. And to preserve transparency, he had 'invited' Kuzon along for the questioning, as Kuzon would have insisted on speaking with her, anyway. Now, he had to work around the Admiral without giving him too much information.

"The qu-dan is a myth," Himizu said coolly, feeling Kuzon's eyes on him, knowing that he wondered whether or not the qu-dan really was the purpose for the kidnapping. "A simple charlatan, nothing more. We have no interest in her."

Yan-lin was unconvinced. "Then what? You wish to lure the Avatar here using myself as bait?"

"And you believe that plan is flawed?"

Yan-lin made a sound deep in her throat, then turned her head to stare out the open shoji screens, toward a coral dusk that set the red tiled Palace on fire. "I was leaving the Avatar's company anyhow. I don't see how it's a plan at all."

A knock at the door startled her, and Himizu looked up to see a servant stick his head in. The man's skin was just about as white as his head-covering, his terrified expression indicating he wished he was elsewhere.

"Master Kuzon? I have a message for you."

Kuzon looked from the messenger to Himizu, who trained his face hard toward bored curiosity. But the Admiral seemed to know something was up, and his cheeks turned pink with aggravation. Obviously, he was fighting a mental battle – tell the servant to go away, have the message announced here in front of untrustworthy company, or take the message in the hall.

Deciding that it may just be too important to pass up, he pushed himself to a stand. "Mistress Yan-lin, if you'll excuse me." And he gave a stiff bow as well as a glare to each of them. Striding out, he closed the door with a sound click, and Himizu let his curious expression fade.

"Your doing?" Yan-lin asked with more than a little sarcasm. He grimaced, but then smiled.

"The Admiral has a lot of demands on his time. Let's enjoy our tea, shall we?"

"And perhaps you could explain to me why you lied about the qu-dan?" Finally, she sipped at her cup. "I had the impression Admiral Kuzon was uninformed of the subject."

"And that's how I imagine you would like to keep it, would you not?" Himizu also took a moment to try the black tea. It was light and a bit sweet, infused with jasmine. Refreshing, though his mind was elsewhere. "Your father has gone to great lengths to keep her location concealed. I thought you would like a little more discretion."

"So why do you want to know about the qu-dan?"

Feigning indifference, Himizu sipped his drink again before answering. "I imagine that if General Gi-Luon has put you to the task of taking the Avatar to the qu-dan, he thought she could provide some invaluable information." When she didn't respond, he pressed, "Did she?"

"And why do you think I would give you any information against my father's will?" Yan-lin said with an incredulous laugh, drawing away. "Surely the Fire Nation has more honor than that!"

In turn, he leaned forward, his voice hushed. "The Fire Nation honors its people before it honors individuals. You know how your father intends to use that information. Eventually, he'll give it to us, but not before he manipulates the situation to benefit him."

"And how would you use the information, Your Eminence?" Yan-lin narrowed her eyes, and suddenly, she looked vicious, her political demeanor gone. "What do you intend to do?"

"How long were you with the Avatar, Yan-lin?" He straightened, making his tone casual. Best not to antagonize her any more than necessary. "Two weeks? Three? Perhaps you came to know Hikoshu in that time. Perhaps you came to understand how powerful he is." Her expression abruptly clouded over, and he realized that he had found a weakness to exploit.

"Perhaps you saw through to what he really is. A child, unfettered and ill-disciplined. Someone with enormous power but little understanding of how his power can do great harm to others." There wasn't much time; Kuzon would be back at any moment. "The Fire Nation has suffered at the hands of an Avatar with unrestricted power. As has the Earth Kingdom."

"You haven't answered my question." But he already knew he had her. She listened to every word with growing ire, hatred born out of a painful national history. Indeed, Omashu had just as much reason to dislike the Avatar as the Fire Nation. And he could use that inherent bias now.

"You know what my answer is. You know exactly what I intend to do with that information. You know it because you want the same thing. A world where we don't have to live in constant fear of one man's anger. A world where we determine the rules we live by."

"Where 'we' determine the rules? Or you, Your Eminence?" She now directed her wrath at him, her eyes flaring at the suspected deception. "Do you favor yourself to be our savior? The creator of a new world?"

Far from it, and the accusation made him smile grimly. "Whether or not I'm remembered a generation from now doesn't matter to me, and I have no interest in changing anything about the nations. With the Avatar gone, we will still be who we are now. No stronger, no weaker. But at least it will be us."

Yan-lin's anger seemed to cool at that, and her eyes sunk to the table. He knew she was considering his proposition, so very slowly. She could see the sense in his words; she understood how her knowledge would be used, whether by Himizu or by her father. And so her last protest was almost perfunctory, as if something inside her insisted she make one last attempt.

"There can't be peace without him. It will destroy the balance." Her eyes fell closed as she shook her head. "There must be an Avatar."

"And there will be. An Avatar who can't hurt us again."

Just then, the door creaked open, and Himizu quickly sat back, hiding his earnest expression. Yan-lin disguised hers more slowly, the angry, pensive look still on her face as she stared at her tea.

"My apologies," Kuzon said, entering only a few steps into the chamber. "The Fire Lord Nizan requires my presence. I will have to depart early." The frown he shot Himizu indicated he blamed the Sage for this.

"Something not too urgent?" Even if Kuzon suspected he was behind it, Himizu played innocent.

"His Lordship is commissioning a new ship as well as appointing a new captain. I had scheduled the event for next week, but His Lordship has demanded the launching be moved to the day after tomorrow." Yet another accusatory glare at Himizu.

"That's fine. We can continue this meeting with Mistress Yan-lin later. Please do not let us keep you."

Kuzon left reluctantly, apologizing once more to Yan-lin and vowing to speak with her another time. Yan-lin, distracted, merely nodded. Then they were alone again, and Himizu tried to think of how to pick up where he left off.

Yan-lin did that for him. "You still expect me to betray my father by helping you."

Himizu allowed himself a small, indulgent smile. "Your father stuck you in the middle of nowhere and expected you to take care of yourself. He then demanded – on more than one occasion, I'm sure – for you to help him in whatever political machinations he put into play. And finally, he asked you to follow the Avatar, even manipulate him, when all you probably wished to do was stay at home. So you ask me, do I expect you not to have your father's best interests in mind? I ask you, when has he ever had yours?"

It seemed a perfect note to leave on, and he gave her another, kinder smile as he pushed himself slowly to his feet. "Please forgive me, but evening rituals will begin soon and my duties await. Perhaps we should meet to discuss this again. Or, if you prefer, you're welcome to leave us whenever you'd like and return home."

"I'm no longer your prisoner?" she said bitterly. He gave her a polite bow as he started to leave.

"My dear girl, you never were."

"Wait," she called, just as he reached the door, and hidden from her view, Himizu whispered a quick prayer of thanks. But his knees were tired, and he didn't walk back into the room, instead turning to her curiously.

"I can't tell you what the qu-dan said." Yan-lin studied her palms with a sad purse to her lips. "That would be betraying my father, and I can't do that."

"I understand." He silently cursed his bad luck.

"But," she began again, glancing up at him, "I think I can tell you something else. And I think it's what you're looking for."

Himizu hesitated, then took a couple of steps toward her, trying hard not to sound too eager. "Please, continue."

"The qu-dan often doesn't give us the information we want, and more often gives information we don't want." Her voice had turned hard, practical. "I think this is the case for you. I think you'll be sorely disappointed in what you learn."

"I ask you to let me be the judge of that, Mistress Consul."

She looked away as she took a deep breath, then began to explain. But as she spoke, Himizu realized with relief that she was very much mistaken; it was exactly what he wanted.

Exactly.