Chapter Fifty-Four: Bring on the Night.
–
The Assassin.
I had dozed through the rest of the afternoon, and took the long watch again. I was getting used to staying up most of the night by now, so it didn't bother me that much any more. Tea eased the transition to a creature of the night too.
The message had been sent, the villagers had been kept busy, and it was too late to make a break for it. Now it's just time to wait.
We had decided that separate rooms were too dangerous, so Katara was bunking down with Ty Lee. I was in the bar again, in the dark again, just... listening. Again. And occasionally having a cup of tea. Tea was helpful.
This room was good. All the main corridors lead onto it, meaning that as long as I'm very quiet with my breathing, I can hear a lot. The wind blowing through the cracks in the building, the occasional flutter of a nocturnal insect. Occasionally, I could even hear the rustle of bedsheets through the open door down the hall, as someone turned over in their sleep.
I tried not to think about anything but what I was hearing. Last night I had been lax, and we'd been lucky. I couldn't rely on luck again.
A creak, from upstairs. Too quiet for a footstep, probably the building settling.
Five minutes later, a buzzing, as a fly drifts crazily through the room, before settling down somewhere.
A minute later, the wind blows down the hall.
A creak. Another.
I'm on my feet before I know what I'm doing.
The wind picked up because someone opened the window!
I whirl down the corridor, my short sword materialising in my hand. I should be quiet, but there's no time, no time at all.
I burst into the room. There's a figure, looming over one of the beds. Steel flashes in it's hand.
It takes me two seconds to disarm them. Another two to twist their right arm behind them at a painful angle. Half a second, and my sword is at their throat. My foot kicks the knife under Ty Lee's bed.
The two sleep on.
A gasp of pain, and I actually examine my new captive.
It's a man. About twenty, best guess in this light.
"How many of you are there?" I ask.
He grimaces, and struggles. Not smart. I tell him as much.
"You going to kill me?" Defiance, and fear. He's certainly no Fire Nation commando.
"Well, that all depends. How many of you are there?"
"Just me. I came alone." He's trying to keep the fear from his voice, and for the most part, he's successful. For the most part.
But he's telling the truth, I think.
"Hmm. Well, that's good to know." I don't move.
"So... what now?" he manages.
A novel idea crosses my mind.
"Well, you've told me no one's going to come looking for you right now, I'm here with a sword, it's the middle of the night, the desert is wide out back, so..."
How about we solve this without resorting to violence?
"Would you like some tea?"
–
Drinks are good for diplomatic talks. They give people something to do with their hands, prevents fidgeting.
Reinforced tea helps calm people down a surprising amount, too.
My short sword is across my knees, but the table keeps that from his view. In the light, it seemed I was wrong earlier- he actually looked closer to my age. Just tall.
I grinned inwardly, recognising the look of stoic defiance on this guy's face.
"So," I said, drinking unconcernedly from my cup. "How are you doing?" I tried not to grin.
He stared, wide-eyed. Oh, I was definitely having flashbacks.
"What?"
"How're you doing? I mean, how's life?"
In the face of utter confusion, he chose to remain silent. Hardly surprising, really.
"Um..."
I waved my hand, silencing him.
"Okay, enough chit-chat, let's get down to business. I assume you aren't a particularly overenthusiastic barber with a truly terrible business plan, so what were you doing here?"
He avoids my eyes.
"You know."
Oh, I do, buddy. Three months ago I would have gutted you like a fish where you stood. Let's see what's changed.
"Assume I don't. Enlighten me."
"I didn't fall for all that bullcrap you were telling everyone earlier, about how we were going to get rid of the Fire Nation for good. You can't do it. There's only three of you."
"So you were going to..." go on. Say it. Grow a pair.
"I was... I was... I don't know what I was going to do! I just know that I'm not going to let my family get killed because of some oh-so charismatic Water Tribesman!"
"So you were going to murder two unarmed teenage girls in their sleep?" I asked, surprised at how much effort it took to stay nonchalant.
"I- I didn't want to, I thought maybe I could hold one of you hostage, threaten you to get out of town, or something, but... I would have. I would." He's angry now, daring me to call him out on his determination.
"I hear you, buddy."
"You- you do?" Wow, the guy sounds so lost.
"You have no idea. Weird feeling, isn't it? The first time you realise that you're weighing lives, that this person is worth so much more than that person. It's scary when you realise just how far you'll go to protect the people you love, isn't it?"
"Y- yeah," he stammers, but there's something familiar in his brown eyes, and it's making me uneasy.
I don't want to have this conversation any more. It's not fun any more.
"Then you'll know I'm serious when I tell you that if you come anywhere near either of them again, I will kill you without a moment's hesitation. I will kill any number of you to keep them safe. Do you understand me?"
He backs up, tripping over his stool.
"Yes."
"Good. Now leave."
He did. With remarkable speed.
–
The Guardian.
The dawn came, and for possibly the first time in the history of ever, I was up to see it. No real reason, I was just up.
So was Zuko, but that was just coincidence. Everyone else was sleeping on.
"Morning," he said, sounding abominably perky.
"Rnf," I replied.
"Nice morning, isn't it?"
"Hmn."
"Yeah," he carried on, unperturbed. "I have a good feeling about today. I mean, Aang's got to go, but I really could do with stretching my legs anyway."
Oh Great and Wise Lord Agni, if you in your infinite wisdom have any mercy for this ignorant and wayward servant, please, descend from the heavens in Your chariot of parrots and smite all early risers with Your seven rays of light.
No, I don't know why Lord Agni decided that the most appropriate beasts of burden to pull his chariot should be parrots, but then I'm not an immortal Fire Spirit, am I? You might as well ask why he has seven tongues and only two heads.
–
The Assassin.
"Sokka! …You look like you stayed up all night."
I glared at the giant talking pink blur with Ty Lee's voice.
"Something like that," I replied, guardedly, in case I was talking to something else instead. Like a potted plant. It doesn't do to take chances.
"Sokka..."
"I'm fine." I blinked, and everything came back into focus. "Is Katara awake?"
She shook her head. "Still sleeping."
"Okay. How's your back?"
She beamed. "Fine, thanks. It was kinda painful yesterday, but today I feel great!" She twirled for inspection, and I couldn't help but smile. It seemed like it would take a lot more than a life-threatening injury to keep Ty Lee down.
But I wasn't going to let that theory get tested again.
–
The Guardian.
Aang departed by a river. Apparently, we had to follow it until it meandered to the south, and keep walking until we found a path that would take us out of this forest. Luckily, I had the map.
Everyone else waved until the bison was out of sight. I was too busy wondering how long it would take for the strap of this bag to start digging into my shoulder. I'd give it ten minutes at the outside.
I hate hiking.
–
The Assassin.
"See anything?" I asked, as Katara used my spyglass to look out of the first floor south windows.
"No, Sokka. If I see something, I'll tell you, alright?" She was getting annoyed, so I wandered off.
The morning was wearing on, and there was no sign of any Earth Kingdom forces. I was getting worried.
Ty Lee was in place. I had been firm, and had not allowed her to wait until our enemies showed up to get in position on another rooftop. I had made her go up there as soon as the sun was up, and no manner of wheedling had managed to convince me otherwise. I was as surprised as she was.
But Ty Lee was our ace in the hole. As far as these guys knew, she was dead already, and I saw no reason to correct them ahead of time.
I figured, if it came to it, we could take them without assistance, if Ty Lee got the drop on them. I didn't want to have to, though. If I'm going to win, it might as well be overwhelmingly. It's safer that way.
I sat down next to a window on the ground floor, my back to the wall, hidden from the street, and began to wait.
–
The sun was high. No sign of anyone. Too hot to think.
–
Getting hotter.
–
Really, really hot now. Need water. Don't want to bother anyone, though. I should have got some earlier, but to get up and move now could quite literally be suicide.
I'll survive.
–
Noon. No sign of anyone.
Bugger.
"They're here!"
My heart jumped, and I looked up the stairwell where Katara was keeping watch on the south.
It hadn't been her who shouted.
Oh no.
I can haz oneshot? ...Why, I do believe I can.
