Chapter Thirty-Eight: Cutting a Deal.
–
The Assassin.
"Sokka, wake up!"
Oh, how often have I been shook awake by those words? Too many, really. Am I not entitled to at least one full night's rest on this wonderful bed?
"Sokka!"
I hauled myself upright, rubbing my eyes.
"What is it, Aang?" He looked worried.
"Sokka, the house is surrounded! By the Palace Guard!"
"What? Why?" I stood abruptly, and fished around for my trousers.
They were somewhat worse for a month of prison's wear. I went to the closet instead, and grabbed some green robes that looked serviceable enough.
Aang spoke as I hastily dressed.
"I don't know what they want- all they would tell me when I went and asked them is that the Earth King wants to see me at once."
Sword or no sword? Hmm. I'll just take my short sword. Just in case. I don't like going unarmed to anything.
"What happened to just sending a letter?"
Aang shrugged. "Do you think this is about those two you brought back yesterday?"
Oh damn. That's probably it, isn't it?
–
The walk to the palace was more tiring than I had remembered, and I was soon out of breath. I hated not being in shape any more.
Aang noticed, and slowed down without a word. Our escort seethed behind his black armour, but Aang seemed not to notice.
–
I had to catch my breath twice before we were ushered into the council room. With two guards flanking us, and the eyes of more on us, it felt like we were walking into the stockade.
The Five were sitting at their places, with the Earth King on a raised chair behind them, overseeing the table, opposite the door. There was no one else in the room. The table was bare.
General How was the first to speak, once he had dismissed the guards with a wave and pulled up two rough chairs for Aang and myself, at the table.
"Would you mind explaining your logic behind bringing two people who, last time they were here, attempted to murder the Earth King?"
–
The Guardian.
"It's a beautiful day!" Ty Lee exclaimed, with usual aplomb.
It's times like these- times sort of like these, since I can't recall any times that were actually like this- that I wonder if I've actually got Ty Lee all wrong.
Most of the time, I'm convinced that she's a cheerful, obscenely flexible (in every sense of the word) girl who's considerably more intelligent than she appears. She doesn't really strive to improve her station, because she can be happy right where she is. It rarely occurs to her to attempt to change the world around her; she changes to suit it, regains her balance, and goes her merry way. On some days, I suspect that either she's secretly an opium fiend or she's discovered the meaning of life.
On a day like today, however, I have to wonder if I'm reading too deep. Perhaps she's just oblivious and very, very stupid.
I mean, who can stop to consider the roses in circumstances like these?
But that is exactly what she has done. She climbed out of the window- I guess doors take too long, or are out of style, or something, and is walking in the garden, admiring the flowers.
How tranqui-
There's someone there.
–
The Assassin.
"Well, one of them was locked up with me-"
Xiaohong raised an eyebrow.
"On what charge?"
"High treason. She attacked Princess Azula."
The Earth King nodded.
"It's true, I was there."
There was a silent ripple around the table. No one said it, but I could tell the consensus was that no one who tried to stab Azula could be entirely lacking merit.
"And the other?"
"Was the one to actually break me out of jail. Since she was going to be a wanted criminal for that, I guessed it was only polite to offer her a place to stay."
General How is not pleased. "Polite? Do you realise what this means? Your sentimentality has put everyone's lives in danger, bringing them back here. You didn't guard them, you didn't alert anyone, you just gave them a room and let them be! Who knows what they could have done, what they might well have done!"
"Oh? And what of General Iroh?" Aang is on his feet, angry. "You were perfectly happy to take advice from him, and he is far more dangerous than these two! Are you just annoyed that Sokka didn't bring back anyone more useful?"
"Gentlemen! Please!" The Earth King's voice is sharp. "The Avatar does, however, bring up an interesting point." He nodded to the table in front of him, brows furrowed. "The reasons are irrelevant. The facts of the matter are this- we have four, yes, gentlemen, four, Fire Nation citizens living in the Upper Ring. Each claims to have forsaken their homeland, or have their home forsake them. Can we afford to believe them? Can we afford not to? What are we going to do?"
–
The Guardian.
There's not enough time for thought. Just enough to grab a flower of throwing knives and leap out of the window in a very dramatic fashion.
Now I'm outside, I'm starting to wish I had taken another moment to observe the situation.
There are, in fact, five men out here. And I only have three knives.
Bollocks.
–
The Assassin.
Aang and I sat outside, waiting while the Five and the King conferred. We had presented the case as well as we could, now all we could do was wait and see.
"Thanks, by the way. Thanks for sticking up for them back there."
He smiled. "It's not a problem."
I sat back on the bench, resting my head against the wall. I closed my eyes.
A question came, out of the blue.
"You care about her, don't you?"
"Who?" As if I didn't know.
"The pink one. Ty Lee."
Well. Do I?
"Yeah. I do."
Simple enough answer.
–
The Guardian.
What now?
Ty Lee starts up, finally noticing the guys hiding in the shrubbery. Spinning, she's back by my side in an instant, hands at the ready. Well, I can't fault her reaction times, anyway.
The men don't move. They're wary, shifting, but they've stayed in place.
I won't draw. Not until one of them twitches.
–
The Assassin.
I sighed.
"It's just... I've screwed things up pretty nicely, pretty much all over. Everywhere but the war, really. So I'm trying to make things right."
"And you think this will do the trick?"
"It's a start."
The door opened. We got up. We went inside the council room. We sat down.
The Earth King cleared his throat, genteel.
"We have reached a decision. Hopefully it is one that everyone can work with." His tone changed, as he reached for a blank scroll and began to write, dictating as he went. "By decree of the Earth King, the two Fire Nation exiles known as..." he trailed off, twirling the brush slowly between his fingers, and glanced up. "Known as?"
"Mai and Ty Lee," I supplied.
"Thank you. Mai and Ty Lee, shall be allowed free movement of the Upper and Middle rings. They shall not go within one hundred paces of the Palace grounds, and shall go nowhere alone. For the period of one month, they are to be accompanied by either the Avatar or one of his companions at all times. It is to be noted that this does not include Prince Zuko and Former Crown Prince Iroh of the Fire Nation."
"But-"
I grabbed Aang's shoulder, and shook my head. This is going to be annoying, it's true. It's going to be a phenomenal waste of time, but it's going to be what it takes to keep the Five happy. And we're not going to get a better deal.
After a moment, he nodded, and exhaled.
"May I continue? Thank you. Where was I? Oh yes. If, after a period of one month, there has been no cause to doubt their sincerity, then these terms will be re-negotiated. I hereby declare this legal binding, and affix it with the seal of the Earth King." Wax and his ring were applied to the document, and he placed it aside, where General How took it.
"I, General How, senior General of the Council of Five, witness this and declare it legal an binding." He placed his seal to the document, and passed it on, and one by one, each member of the Five stamped the document.
"Now, before we move on to the other item of business, a word of warning to you both." The Earth King leant forward. "People won't be happy about this. General Iroh and the Prince have stretched people's tolerance merely by being here, but it was known that it was in no small part through their efforts that Princess Azula's coup was thwarted. "These two are your responsibility. If they cause any trouble, it'll be on your head."
I had to speak up. "They won't be a problem, your Highness. I can vouch for them both."
"Good. Now, on to the next order of business. We have decided, in light of the fact that we will be mounting a fresh assault on the seventh- yes, we received word of the eclipse, and I am assured that that has been taken fully into account- that you should be given some material authority. While being the Avatar or the Avatar's companion should be all the authority you would need, it never hurts to have a title to back it up."
Ooh, I like the sound of this.
"Therefore," he flourished a scroll "Avatar, I am offering you the position of Honorary Major of the Earth Kingdom Armed Forces. Your companions shall each be given the honorary rank of Captain."
Oh, awesome.
"Well, uh, thanks, your Majesty." Aang looked kind of flummoxed.
"Any chance we could have that in writing?"
Written proof is always handy.
–
The Guardian.
Okay, they're just standing there, not actually doing anything. So what we're going to do, is we're going to back slowly into the house. Via the window. Okay. I'm going to start walking backwards now.
The door slammed and there were running footsteps. I automatically span to meet this new threat.
And suddenly there was a crack.
Ow.
Ow.
Ow.
Bitch.
–
The Assassin.
I was feeling in a fairly good mood as we headed back to the house. Things had settled down fairly quickly, and I could concentrate on getting back in shape for the assault. Two weeks should be enough time, right?
Aang seemed a little down, though.
"You alright?"
He looked up. "Hmm? Oh, well, I'm just thinking. It seems... wrong, somehow, that I've basically joined the Earth Kingdom army. I know I'm basically winging this Avatar stuff, but I'm pretty sure that you're not supposed to do that."
I shrugged. "Don't look at it as having joined the army. I mean, you haven't been given any troops or anything, it's just that you get to boss Earth Kingdom soldiers around now, and they have to listen to you."
"Huh. I guess so."
We made it back to the house in good time, and dismissed the bored-looking guards outside with our new-found authority and impressive pieces of paper. I was looking forward to breakfast.
The house was empty.
"Okay? Where's everyone gone?"
Suddenly, I heard voices outside, in the garden.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Why is Katara apologising? Who is she apologising to? Why does she sound so frantic?
"You bitch! You broke my hand! Hey, what the- get away from me!"
Mai?
Aang and I shared a glance, before rushing outside. I almost tripped over Toph.
A quick glance told me a lot. Mai was cradling her hand, swearing quite loudly. Ty was to her left, trying to get her to calm down. There was a trail of water on the floor between Mai and Katara, who was raising her hands in supplication. Toph was stoic.
To my left, I could see several Palace Guards, pretending they weren't there.
"Aang, could you deal with the guards, please?" He complied. "Thanks. Everyone else? SHUT UP. Thank you. Right. Toph, you're not hysterical, please tell me what is going on."
She shrugged. "I have no idea."
"Oh."
Okay then.
"Anyone else?"
"Your crazy sister attacked me! Look! You can see the bone!"
"Mai, please stop waving your hand around. It'll only damage it. Katara, did you attack her?"
"Well she was waving a knife around! What was I supposed to think?"
I sigh. "Okay. And why you were wav- no. Fuck it. I don't care. Katara, can you heal her finger?"
"Sure."
"Good. Mai, stop grumbling. Don't think I can't hear you, and my parents were happily married, thank you. Now, we're all going to go inside, and once Mai is healed up, we're all going to have a nice chat. Now, I'm going to go over to the Jasmine Dragon, and I'm going to get General Iroh and Zuko, and we'll all have a nice cup of tea. Is that clear, children?"
A reluctant chorus of yesses floated back at me.
"Wonderful."
Politicses. Send these troopseses only.