Book 2: Water
Chapter 3: Survivors
One Year Ago, Jongmu Air Temple, Patolla Isles
The breezy air blew through the valley below the mountain which the Jongmu Air Temple sat on top of. Flying bison were arriving and departing the air temple above it, the invasion of the Jongmu temple happened three days ago. Senlin's forces failed to kill Rong Yan, Avatar Kwan Chun manifested himself through Rong Yan to defend his home and blast Senlin and his men off the temple grounds.
They laid in what seemed like their earthy tomb but Senlin's quick reflexes created a bed of rock to which they can use to break their fall and not injure themselves too much. Senlin and Palartok laid in the dark protected by the weather outside by the ball of earth that Senlin created from chunks of the mountain. They didn't suffocate inside because Senlin poked a hole into the orb from to time and left it open during the night when they slept. Palartok had been more banged up than Senlin, he only had a couple of bruises while Palartok limped and clumped.
Senlin poked a hole through the ball of earth that surrounded them a light smell of decay suddenly made its way into the layer of earth that protected them. Palartok held his breath while Senlin burst the protective orb of earth all around them. Senlin used the mountain to help himself up. He covered his eyes from the sun's rays its been a few days since they've seen sunlight. Palartok still laid down he extended out his arm, Senlin grabbed it using his strength to help his friend to his feet. Scanning the entire area he could see the mangled corpses of the veterans and soldiers who fell to their death. The carrion birds were eating the remains of the men, Palartok was a bit disgusted he felt sorry that his men were left out like this. He wanted to give them a proper burial but there were too many bodies. He knelt on one knee with the support of Senlin giving a small prayer to the god of death, Anguta.
He tapped Senlin's leg so that Senlin could lift him to his feet, Palartok wrapped his arm around Senlin's back floundering toward the boats they used on the smaller island with the cove where they camped upon arrival to the chain of islands. After a few hours of walking back and taking breaks, they reached a boat, luckily it had a paddle to which Senlin stayed on his feet while Palartok got comfortable then he rowed the boat east to the province of Ziyun, which was a part of a larger island that was split into two states Ziyun on the east and Baoshan on the west. There were other island provinces near these two but he knew the village of Hyu Shi was in the heart of Ziyun.
It was one of the many places Senlin hid in during the Thirty Year War and where he met top officials of the Northern Water Tribe. It was a remote shanty village a place where no one would expect anything menacing going on. Far from its capital Hongliutan, not many soldiers passed by the village the governor most likely forgot of the village. It took them another three hours to cross the sea to reach the province of Ziyun instead of stopping by the capital Senlin wanted to keep a low profile surely the governors of the states near the Jongmu Air Temple would have been notified by the Council of Elders of the threat of Northern Water Tribe soldiers.
They keeled the boat onto land where it landed on its side Palartok sighed and winced in discomfort when he realized they had to go on foot to Hyu Shi. They spent another day traveling to the village in the center of the province. What Senlin remembered to be a village during the war was now an even bigger village. Hyu Shi expanded a bit, there were more buildings and homes than Senlin recalled. On the southern edge of the expanded village was a tavern.
The building was wooden with rice paper windows that dotted the building, it was only a single floored tavern. In the front stood a young man with his arms crossed, tan-skinned, dark brown hair in a topknot, he looked tough but not intimidating for Senlin or Palartok. He wore rags and had a tattoo of a serpent on his left forearm, the man pushed another who tried entering the tavern. Senlin grinned when he witnessed the scene ahead of him finally a place where it seemed like criminals like lowly thieves, thugs and that kind of ilk mingled about.
They approached the tavern the thug stood there eyeing both men up and down examining both of them. Noticing that the older man was helping a floundering middle-aged man he shook his head.
"You can go in but the injured guy stays out," commented the thug.
"Kick rocks, junior," ordered Senlin.
"That's not how this works, old man. I'm in charge here," protested the thug, Palartok rolled his eyes and opened the waterskin on his hip before Senlin could kill the stupid kid in broad daylight. Senlin bored his stare into the man's eyes to see through him, Senlin frowned showing an expression of grumpiness on his face. The thug tried underestimated Palartok who he discriminated against not too long ago for being injured, water wrapped around the thug's head and froze. The force of the water that jetted toward the man's head knocked him off balance. His head was frozen when he hit the ground.
Senlin and Palartok guffawed in laughter at the sight of the thug on the ground who thought he was tough but his spirit was broken under five minutes. They entered the tavern there where different types of people inside. The crowd remained largely unchanged there were still thugs and thieves that lingered within the tavern. It made sense the tavern's owner was a former Fifth Nation pirate, regular village citizens stopped walking into this place because they were being mugged or often jumped just for eyeing the wrong person.
They minced over to the counter which was positioned on the east wall of the tavern close to the door of the watering hole. The counter was made of old rickety wood, the shelves behind the former pirate displayed several glass bottles and clay jugs containing all sorts of spirits from wine to straight out baijiu the strongest drink in the Earth Kingdom. This drink has been around since the Earth Empire ruled by Emperor Qin, although now there are two different versions of it. One can argue the baijiu from the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se is stronger than the one from the Kingdom of Omashu.
"What will it be, gentlemen?" inquired the tavern owner.
"I'd like to order a mug of Gaoling liquor please," Senlin requested.
"Hmm do you happen to have some Shirozake?" asked Palartok, the tavern's barkeep nodded.
"That'll be ten copper pieces altogether," the barkeep replied. Senlin reached into his pocket grabbing a handful of coins counting them in his palm. A man steps forward to the counter breaking into the conversation and paying the barkeep the amount Senlin and Palartok owed, "I'll be paying for those."
The man wore a conical straw hat he sauntered back to his table in the corner, Senlin and Palartok exchanged looks and glanced back at the darker corner of the room where the man sat at. They plodded toward the table in the corner where the kind stranger paid for their drinks on the way Senlin chuckled at Palartok commenting about his choice of drink, "Shirozake? Really? I never thought you'd like Shirozake."
"Don't criticize me for my choice of drink I like the taste of it," sneered Palartok.
They approached the table where the man casually leaned back in his chair with his feet resting on top of the table. A commotion behind them was heard they looked back to see two men shoving each other a bar fight was about to commence. The barkeep pulled out a cutlass and pointed it at both men.
"Sui! Ping! You better take this outside, you know the rules I don't want a scuffle in my tavern," he yelled at the men. One of the men a lanky, tall thief raised his hands gesturing to the tavernkeeper he didn't want any trouble. He lumbered outside giving a taunting signal to the other guy he was about to fight, the other a short, stocky and hideous middle-aged man charged out the door. Senlin chuckled at the small scene that he witnessed and turned his attention back to the man at the table.
The man removed his feet from the table extending out an open palm gesturing to Senlin and Palartok to take a seat. Palartok was sipping his Shirozake, enjoying the flavor as he swished the spirits in his mouth. The man across the table from them wore a light brown sleeveless tunic, fastened in place by a dark brown sash, his olive slacks were stitched and had a few patches. He wore black shoes, his skin was a shade of light brown, his hair was kept short and was a golden brown color, his eyes weren't visible because of the lack of light in the corner, he had a small goatee on his chin and a fresh scar under his right eye. He donned a straw conical hat hiding most of his features and they understood why. Palartok examined the man further paying attention to detail he noticed the man carried a waterskin near his hip in his mind he gasped but remained with a stoic expression on his face. The man was a waterbender, he must've been wanted somewhere if he changed the colors he would normally be wearing.
"By now you're probably wondering why I paid for your drinks I was trying to get your attention," the man explained.
"Yeah, we caught on rather quickly, who are you and what do you want?" Senlin questioned the man.
"My name is Kimaru, and I know who you two are," he responded.
"Damnit he's a bounty hunter we should kill him and leave," Senlin growled.
"Kimaru? That's northie name," commented Palartok, adding to the comment he mentioned, "I also noticed your waterskin, you're from the Northern Water Tribe." Kimaru nodded to the observation Palartok made.
"I hail from the Northern Water Tribe as well, brother," Palartok revealed to Kimaru. They both chuckled shaking hands.
"Just like the wanted posters say angry and dangerous. I like that, I mean you no harm. I'm a friend, if I wanted to hunt you down I wouldn't have paid for your drinks or even give you my name," Kimaru addressed.
Palartok put his hand on Senlin's chest to hold him back, Senlin with his usual face of stoicism sat back down transitioning from his killer state back to his calm unreadable state of emptiness. Both of them ignored the stench of alcohol that rung in the air every time Kimaru opened his mouth it was obvious the guy had a few drinks today.
It was also obvious he didn't own a toothbrush. This tool was created by an inventor in the city of Omashu and patented by King Zhi Hong of the Ting dynasty of kings a few centuries ago, it beat chewing on a willow twig. This new form of brushing one's teeth made all other methods in the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation obsolete and kept your teeth clean and your breath smelled of whatever herb you mixed in with animal fats. The brush itself was made of ostrich horse tail bristles while the handle was made out of a boar ox's jaw bone.
"Your names have been echoing through the Tong and Wushan provinces, apparently they received word from one of the air temples that you invaded," said Kimaru.
"Yeah we lost, but that's not gonna stop us from our goal," Senlin replied.
"You're free men everywhere else," added Kimaru.
"Well at least we are but Senlin's wanted in the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se," mentioned Palartok, Kimaru was is in disbelief that Senlin was a wanted criminal on the top list of the Earth King. He scanned around the room seeing if anyone was nearby listening to their conversation he leaned in closer speaking in a lower tone he wondered, "You're wanted by the entire kingdom of Ba Sing Se? What did you do?"
"I killed the Earth King," disclosed Senlin remaining expressionless.
"Woah you? That's insane. Why?" asked Kimaru.
"I wanted my revenge he locked me in there for a long time, I escaped his prison and dispatched him. My vengeance hungers for more, I'm hunting down Avatar Ku Tei's successor," responded Senlin.
"Oh, the Fire Nation Avatar right? He's some kid that was seen traveling with an old monk about a few months back in the Fire Nation," reckoned Kimaru he pieced everything together now it explains why they attacked the air temple.
"That explains the siege of the air temple that's nearby, what are your plans now?" questioned Kimaru. Senlin grinned wickedly at his next malicious plan he asked Palartok, "What happens when you don't properly put out a campfire?"
"If left unattended the embers could start a new fire," Palartok answered then it hit him exactly what Senlin was insinuating. Palartok gave him a brief stare, "You're not planning what I think you're saying are you?" he questioned him.
Senlin simply nodded, "What does he mean?" asked Kimaru.
"He's saying he's going to spark the embers of war, I'm sure you're educated in recent events, brother?" guessed Palartok.
"Yeah didn't that end in a peace treaty?" wondered Kimaru.
"How are you going to get both countries to rip up their copy of the treaty?" inquired Kimaru.
"Key assassinations, boy," Senlin decided.
"You mentioned you saw them in the Fire Nation, what were you doing in the Fire Nation, Kimaru?" wondered Palartok.
"After I escaped the Northern Water Tribe I fled to the Fire Nation I lived there for about two years before I ended up murdering my neighbor over a minor issue, I became wanted that's when the Avatar and the old monk captured me and had me arrested by the guards," recalled Kimaru.
"They told me they were taking me to the Boiling Rock, the most dangerous and infamous prison in the Fire Nation, the prison is built in the center of a dormant volcano surrounded by a boiling lake, the only way in or out of the prison is by the gondolas," described Kimaru.
"Fascinating a prison built inside a dormant volcano those Fire Nation people are clever, reminds me of the royal prison in the North," remarked Palartok.
"How'd you escape?" questioned Palartok now wondering how Kimaru escaped the prison.
"This was about a few months ago after they released me from the jail cell in the village of Jiangsu. They chained me up and placed me in an iron cage, it was being transported on a large carriage being pulled by eel hounds," Kimaru recalled.
His conical straw hat that Kimaru wore was strapped to the back of one of the guards who was escorting him to the Boiling Rock. He and his co-worker were giggling about taking Kimaru's hat and even it put it on his head. Kimaru's deep ocean blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight his hands were bound by rope he was pulled into the iron cage on the platform. He was going to the prison where they held the most dangerous criminals of the Fire Nation from serial killers to traitors of the country. They locked the iron prison while the guards mounted their eel hounds.
"Hey Shu, do you like my new hat?" asked one of the guards to the other who looked at him and then laughed at his co-worker.
"Kaolan you look like an idiot with that thing," replied the other guard, Kimaru gave them the evil eye he was not content with the men wearing his favorite hat. He grinned wickedly devising a plan if they neared a stream.
"How many days is the Boiling Rock from here again?" inquired Kaolan.
"We're talking about five days tops," Shu responded.
"Five days?!" exclaimed Kaolan, Shu nodded mounting on his eel hound, Kaolan groaned as he mounted the creature. They snapped the reins of the animals of burden, the transport cart was off to the Boiling Rock.
Kaolan jerked his head back to look at Kimaru who was sitting nomad style with his head dropping below his shoulders he shouted at the prisoner, "This is all your fault if you hadn't killed your neighbor than maybe we wouldn't have to take you to the Boiling Rock and you would still be free."
Kimaru said nothing he didn't want to anger the guards further he was waiting for the right moment to strike. Kaolan shook his head at Kimaru who did not react to anything Kaolan was spewing at him.
"You're going to the Boiling Rock, snow savage. You're going to die in the Boiling Rock!" taunted Kaolan. Shu, his partner punched him in the right shoulder, "Ow what was that for?" wondered Kaolan covering his right shoulder with his left palm wincing in pain.
"Leave the prisoner alone we were told not to talk to him," Shu reminded Kaolan.
A few hours went by they continued to travel down a small narrow road that continued through one of the northern provinces of the Fire Nation named Kansai. They needed to reach the province of Kyoto and take the ferry to the Boiling Rock. The skies were darkening, the moon was present and the sun was setting Kaolan the guard yawned turning to his partner he sighed sheepishly mentioning, "Shu we've been riding for several hours and it's getting dark I think we should set up camp."
Shu looked at him then back toward the road answering to Kaolan, "Quiet you."
Kaolan whining and making annoying noises to irritate his partner, Shu's facial expressions showed him clenched his jaw getting angrier by the second he shouted at Kaolan, "Alright! Alright, we'll set up camp!"
"Yay!" cheered Kaolan. The carriage pulled to the side of the road a few yards from the carriage was a creek with a bit of water running by. They hopped off the eel hounds to set up camp while putting up the tents Shu mentions, "Remember to put your tarp over the tent," Kaolan looks at him with a confused look on his face, "Why? I want to use it as a blanket."
"Because the magi at Jiangsu said to expect rain tonight!" Shu argued.
"But there hasn't been a cloud in sight today, Shu! C'mon, I could use this as a blanket," Kaolan reasoned.
"I said put it up as a tarp if the magi says we're getting rain we're getting rain," Shu maintained.
"But I want to use it a bla-" Kaolan was cut off by Shu he conjured a whip of fire and struck the ground near Kaolan's feet. Kaolan was terrified taking a step back he put his hands in front of him gesturing to Shu that he'll listen as long as he doesn't hurt him. He sets up the tarp over his tent, "What about the prisoner?" he asked his partner.
"Let the prisoner rot in the cell, he could get cold and die for all I care," barked Shu. It was a few hours later that they've fallen asleep inside their tents there was indeed no rainfall as Kaolan suggested but he was cold inside his tent now. He wasn't a firebender like his partner Shu he hugged on of the edges of the tent to keep warm. Kimaru awoke to the sounds of nature and the creek's water flowing by the cell which he sat in he was barefoot and his hands were tied he sat in the corner scanning the area to make sure there was no one around. His hands might have been bound but his fingers were still free.
Kimaru was a resourceful young man and knowing survival skills helped out while he roamed foreign lands. He gathered enough saliva in his mouth spitting it out in front of him wiggling his fingers the saliva encased his right index finger and froze into ice which he used to cut the rope around his wrists enough that's weak for him to use his strength to tear it. He realized there was moisture in the air while one of the guards was partially right that it was going to rain the other was also right there were no clouds in the sky. The carriage itself was a few yards from the tents the guards slept in. Enough to remain out of earshot where Kimaru could break out of the prison.
Kimaru stretches his limbs out before trying the method he learned from his father he jogged in place for a few minutes hoping to sweat enough to use the saliva from earlier combined with the sweat pouring out of his pores. It was night time there was no sun, it was more difficult to excrete sweat. He brushed the sweat off his forehead now having an ample amount of it he bent the water into the lock of the cage freezing it and controlling the temperature freezing the lock past its breaking point. The inner lock mechanisms froze and shattered. The door slowly creaked open, Kimaru exited the cage bending the ice out of the lock, it unhinged off the hoop hitting the floor with a softening thud.
The water he pulled out of the lock was once again frozen this time into an icicle he crouched and skulked over to the tents where the men were sleeping. Entering the tent on the right was where Shu slept, he towered over the sleeping man piercing the icicle into the man's throat. A silent yelp escaped the older man's mouth, now prowling over to the left tent where Kaolan soundly slept he dug his icicle into his throat too. Taking his conical straw hat wiping it off of any dirt or dust he places it back onto his head. He cut the reins off both creatures mounting one of the eel hounds he leaves the crime scene like a ghost in the night.
"I killed both men and fled the campsite, stealing one of the eel hounds. I then stole money from a commoner I mugged in an alleyway. Enough for a ship to transport me to the Earth Kingdom," remembered Kimaru.
"I stole damp clothing hanging on a clothing line from a nearby village I needed new threads and I knew the guards would eventually catch on if I continued to wear a prisoner's tunic and slacks. I took the trip that lasts about three weeks and was dropped off here in Ziyun. From Hongliutan I wandered off here to Hyu Shi keeping my head down," said Kimaru.
"Wow quite the fascinating tale thanks for sharing," thanked Palartok.
"So if the Avatar's shooting air out of his hands, water's the next element on the list," Kimaru mentioned, Senlin nodded pulling out a map and using his hand to flatten it.
"Which tribe do you think he'll go to?" asked Palartok.
"The Jongmu Air Temple is in the south, it'd make sense if he went to Iqaluit since it's closer," Senlin answered.
"But he wouldn't be safe in the South Pole," Kimaru commented.
"How so?" inquired Senlin.
"The Fifth Nation fleet has a blockade on the ocean there's no way the Avatar will be safe in the capital. I've heard rumors of the Fifth Nation making raids on the regions near the city-state," Kimaru responded.
"They're just rumors though," Palartok said.
"Precisely but if you guys ask me we should stick to your plan, Senlin. If your plan is, to take out key assassinations and start a war between the North and the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se, we should start in the Ba Sing Seian provinces. Gather the information we need on key targets, you're the person who holds all the information," Kimaru said.
Senlin nodded his head, "I'm sure there are different people in office for the held positions I want to take out but you're right I do know where all these are located," stated Senlin smiling.
"We'd need to pay the local scribe visit so I can mark the map of the locations," Senlin added.
"What's your story?" Kimaru questioned Senlin.
"I was a boy when I join the army I met a guy who was older than me named Ku Tei, we became friends. After five years of service, he was removed from active duty after we won the Battle for Beipan,"
There were a few carts and animals of burden that were traveling down from the state of Duryaja, a squadron of men had defeated a company of snow backs that raided the city of Beipan adding support to the battalion that was stationed there. It was like the chiefs send their men to die. Many men were gone, casualties to the war while they defeated the company of the northies, the army lost their front line defense to a tsunami created by the waterbenders of the north.
Two boys sat in the cart one was much younger than the other they finally arrived in their base back near the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se. There had been three earth sages that stood waiting for the men to arrive usually the sages were there for religious purposes to bless the men before they headed off to another battle. When Senlin and Ku Tei hopped off their cart the sages approached them.
"It took us a long time to locate you," the head of the sages said approaching the young men. Senlin pointed at himself, the sage shook his head turning his attention to Ku Tei. The sage continued, "We're so glad you're still here with us, Avatar Ku Tei."
Senlin coughed then took a step back his eyes wide with shock that his new friend was the Avatar. The sages bowed before Ku Tei so did everyone else all the soldiers who considered him a fellow warrior bowed before the new Avatar. Ku Tei turned his head to the left to stare at Senlin who slowly went on his knees and bowed before Ku Tei as tradition stands.
"While Ku Tei mastered the four elements I survived each battle, taking names and climbing the ranks. When he returned to Ba Sing Se he was a fully-realized Avatar, I was thirty-seven years old finally a general in the Council of Five. The Earth King anointed Ku Tei as a general, I was infuriated that the Avatar was handed the rank while I and my colleagues had to fight tooth and nail for it,"
The gargantuan and impressive size of the throne room of Ta Po always fascinated Senlin he kneeled before his king. To his right sat his son Prince Chung-Po, Senlin didn't know if this was the last time he'll ever see Chung-Po because the prince was assassinated a month later. Senlin rose to his feet handing Ta Po a report from the province of Chaopin, Ta Po opened the scroll reading the contents of it.
"Thank you for this report, General Senlin you are a great asset to my military, your plans helped Chaopin's fleet leading them to victory. You should be proud of yourself," Ta Po congratulated Senlin.
The doors creaked open a short, stocky man walked in with a group of other men, he was tanned skin, dark green eyes, his hair was black held by a sangtuwan and he grew a thick bristly mustache. The man to his left was balding, his hairline had receded, he still had hair remaining on his crown while it was bushy and long on the sides of his head, he was pale and had brown eyes, he wore more sophisticated clothing than the man in the middle. To his right was another a Southie he was tall and muscular, olive-toned skin, blue eyes, black long hair. Behind him was an Air Nomad with tattoos all over tall, and lanky he was. Pale skin with gray eyes and brown fu manchu style facial hair. The man next to him was a bit older than the others he had strands of gray in his brown hair, he was pale-skinned with amber-colored eyes, and he wore red clothing.
Ta Po rose from his throne raising his arms into the air with surprise and beamed, "Ahh I've been expecting you, Avatar Ku Tei. I've heard closely of your achievements across the world. You make your kingdom proud, Avatar."
"Who are your companions?" inquired Ta Po.
"Thank you, Earth King Ta Po. These four are my friends, Sun Wu of Han Tui, Naartok of the Southern Water Tribe, Yong Ten of the Jongmu Air Temple, and Chunen of the Fire Nation," Ku Tei introduced his friends to the Earth King.
Ta Po walked forward with his scepter Ku Tei knelt before his Earth King while his companions bowed until they were told to stand. Ta Po placed his scepter on Ku Tei's shoulder and spoke, "From this point forth I grant you to access to the Council of Five as it's newest member, you will be our ambassador to the North. You may walk amongst the men now as Ambassador-General Ku Tei."
Senlin stood there shocked and upset but said nothing he lumbered out of the palace without saying a word returning to the council war room to tell the others. The others weren't so judgemental they understood why the king granted this rank to the Avatar. The other three generals were veterans and much older than Senlin, they knew and accepted the Earth King's decisions. They all respect the king and never opinionated against the Crown. They criticized Senlin for even speaking against the King.
"I'm so upset right now," Senlin mentioned, his colleague General Laojiang wondered, "Why?"
"I was reporting to Ta Po when Ku Tei returned from all those years traveling around the world. Finally a fully-realized Avatar I was proud of him, then Ta Po just handed him the rank of ambassador-general. Only the rank that was handed to him doesn't exist in our military," explained Senlin.
"If you're friends with Ku Tei you should congratulate him don't be angry, it makes sense to give him a high rank in the army. The King can make all the ranks he wants he's the king for a reason. You need to calm down, Senlin. Look at it from another perspective, Ku Tei might have limited power and duties as his rank. He's an ambassador now he'll be sent off to the North to create a peace treaty with Cupun," responded Laojiang.
"They were wrong it was exactly what I expected while he was used as an ambassador he also led armies. People reported to him as well but I'm sure his job was as difficult as mine, throughout the years I grew a hatred for Ku Tei six years after he was anointed by Ta Po I began betraying the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se. It was clear with the united Water Tribe they were losing. King Gao Zu pulled his troops out of battle and stayed in his territory. I went on until I was caught," Senlin remembered
Senlin marched forth bringing the report to the chief of the South, slightly bowing his head, Ku Tei walks into the picture. Surprised that Senlin was here in Iqaluit and surprised he wasn't killed by the chief's royal guards. Senlin was startled by Ku Tei taking a step back, Ku Tei sighed and spoke his mother tongue asking Senlin, "Senlin what are you doing here? The chief should've had you killed!"
"Didn't you hear? Ta Po made me the ambassador to the South, I'm here on ambassador business," Senlin lied to Ku Tei. All the chief could see was two men arguing in their native tongue. He thought they were planning something against the chief the guards held spears to both men and the chief ordered them to speak in Water Tribe tongue.
"Avatar speak in my tongue so I may understand the two of you!" he barked orders at both men.
"Senlin you need to get out of here, I'm the ambassador to the North. I'm the Avatar I don't side with anyone," Ku Tei pointed at the entryway behind him gesturing Senlin to leave. That's when it struck Ku Tei that Senlin is the reason why the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se was losing to the North. He had to return to Ba Sing Se and warn the Earth King.
"Later the war ended on a stalemate, a peace treaty was written and that ended the war I fought Ku Tei and lost. I stood trial but instead of execution was to rot in prison," Senlin recalled.
"Wait so if the war ended in 718 BG then how are you still alive?" wondered Kimaru.
"I had an old friend in the cell next to me, he was serving a life sentence but rumors had it, Buxiu, my friend had been in prison for nearly a hundred and fifty years. He looked at least a century younger than what the others talked about. I didn't believe anything he said until he taught me this ability. It originates from the Air Nomads most of the Council of Elders at the time used this ability to live a long time. They repaired their bodies, because as to what Buxiu said that your body fails to repair itself as you get older, but he found a way and passed this down to me," Senlin claimed.
Kimaru felt a little put off and thought Senlin's story was boar ox excrement there's no way on Tiandi's green earth that Senlin was over a century old. He looked to be more in his fifties he curiously guessed, "You're at least two centuries old then?"
Senlin shook his head, "I'm a hundred and thirty-seven-years-old."
"I don't believe this nonsense," Kimaru stated.
"I'm indeed a lot younger than Senlin and even I know this technique, and I'm using it, it greatly slows my aging," Palartok maintained the claim that Senlin made.
"No, no, no that's physically impossible," Kimaru denied shaking his head.
"It's possible," Palartok finished smiling turning his head to look at Senlin then back at Kimaru.
"Yeah and I'm Torngark's son," Kimaru chuckled, Senlin and Palartok remained silent and serious about the whole thing. Kimaru was still chuckling leaning back on his chair when he noticed the nonchalant looks on their faces he sat properly then gasped, "By the gods, you're serious!"
Senlin and Palartok exchanged looks and said nothing, Kimaru didn't want to push on further explanation so then he changed the subject asking Palartok, "What about you? What's your story?"
"I'd rather not share mine it's too painful to put myself back into those memories. I hope you understand," Palartok fretted. A thug suspected them of something he heard few words but pieced the stories together, he was with a band of his friends all bandits. The middle-aged bald man stood up shouting, "Hey everyone those men at the corner are wa-", his stupidity to spout that they were wanted criminals was a mistake he couldn't afford to regret, suddenly an icicle ran through his right eye killing him instantly, his body fell hitting the ground with a loud thud. The men he sat with, stood up readying their weapons, the owner glanced to where he heard the thud hearing the sound of gushing blood pouring all over the floorboards.
He facepalmed and pulled out his cutlass, "If you're going to kill someone kill them outside! Now I gotta clean up your mess and burn the remains!" The tavernkeeper was infuriated with Kimaru and the band of thugs. Senlin hit his ankle against the floorboards a small piece of earth burst through the floorboards exposing the earth below. It had been the size of his foot he stomped and slid his foot hearing the vibrations of the ground below. Senlin being a master earthbender and the careless person he was, he didn't care if he destroyed the tavern.
The tavernkeeper approached the men who were about to fight Palartok and Kimaru nodded at each other combining the water from their waterskins and taking drink out of the mugs of others using it to jet the tavernkeeper to the eastern wall. He slammed against the wall then wasn't able to move he was frozen in place. The other patrons stood up angry ready to fight as well but the bending prowess of Senlin scared them off. The bandits stood up and charged at Senlin he cocked his fists down to his waist before jutting them out and upward three stalagmites emerged from the floorboards impaling and halting each bandit in their tracks. Gurgling sounds in their mouths blood spilling out, everyone in the tavern scattered out of the watering hole like elephant rats.
The owner of the tavern flinched closing his eyes he knew his end was near, his cutlass laid on the ground beside him. Palartok stood in front of him saying, "You'll thaw out in an hour sorry that my friend over there had to destroy your floor. I hope you understand why we did what we had to do," Palartok winked at the man, Senlin, Kimaru, and Palartok all left the tavern mincing away quickly pretending like nothing happened.
One Year Later
Somewhere in the province of Han
There were tents near a forest just a few yards away from it the tents were a light brown color to avoid suspicion. Birds were chirping it was the wee hours of the early the sun wasn't even out yet it was slowly beginning to rise from the east. The darkened sky and it's stars were still visible the moon was nowhere in sight the evening before. A fire was burning and crackling a small lit campfire that was made there was barely any smoke being produced by the fire another tactic to avoid detection. Kimaru made tea to rinse his mouth of any bad breath he might've waken up with. Using local herbs from the forest nearby he let the herbs sit inside the clay pot filled with water that continued to boil. Palartok walked out of his tent soon after pacing behind Kimaru taking a brief gander to see who it was clenching the handle of the pot just in case it was an ambush.
Palartok sat next to him there had been a sack near the campfire inside it contained salted meats of the animals they hunted the week before. He handed Kimaru two cups to pour the morning tea in. After the tea was done Kimaru cooled the boiling pot to a more tepid temperature, so they wouldn't burn their mouths and throats. They each gurgled a specific amount of the tea that was made of mint and lychee nuts. So that their breath smelled of those fruits for the rest of the day. Senlin hadn't woken up yet and they preferred not bothering him.
Palartok began roasting the salted meats for both Kimaru and himself, Kimaru pulled out the map they had where they were going from place to place killing off key targets in the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se. They would assassinate an official from specific provinces each one dying and throwing part of the government into disarray.
"We killed that one guy in the province of Gongzhu, he was important. Who's next? " Kimaru recalled.
"Hmm, I remember when we were there some of the men were mentioning that a cousin of the current Earth King will be visiting Kunlun City which happens to be in the state of Kunlun," Palartok mentioned.
"How do we get to Kunlun?" inquired Kimaru.
"We have to take the ferry from Dahongpao in Wuyi to cross Full Moon Bay to get over to Kunlun City which is the port city that the ferry makes its stop at," Palartok answered.
"We have to travel east out of Han, across Gansu province and into Wuyi continuing east until we reach Dahongpao. Ask Senlin about the distance," Palartok added.
"Ask me what?" Senlin asked emerging out of his tent, Kimaru turned to look at Senlin as Palartok hands him his tea.
"How far is Dahongpao from where we're camped?" he questioned the man.
"It's about three weeks to a month of travel, why what's in Dahongpao?" he returned an echo question after answering.
"The ferry is Dahongpao, according to the men of what was his name?" asked Palartok.
"Mubiao," uttered Senlin.
"Yeah that guy, his soldiers mentioned something about a cousin of the Earth King being somewhere in Kunlun City in about two months or three months. The soldiers out there are preparing for the young royal to arrive not sure what he's going there for but it'd strike a nerve," Palartok implied, Senlin placed his hand on his chin thinking about the implying suggestion given by Palartok. Nodding to the idea except he never met the boy he must've been born around the time that he was in prison. He remembered about the birth of Chung-Po's son and after the assassination of Chung-Po, he remembered they sent Qiang Zhen to the Fire Nation.
"I don't know the boy's name but we'd have to grease it out of someone like a local in the kingdom," Senlin remarked.
Meanwhile, in the royal palace of Ba Sing Se, Qiang Zhen sat bored his head rested on his right hand supporting his head. His advisor Guwen stood there thinking about things when suddenly something interesting finally happened a soldier entered the throne room he removed his head from the support of his fist. The soldier bowed to the new king bringing forth a report from the capital of Gongzhu, Bu'Keng. The scroll was wax sealed with the lettering of Gongzhu on the light green wax, Qiang Zhen opened the scroll reading, "Your highest honor,
This is Governor Er Shi Wu from the province of Gongzhu, I regret to inform you that Mubiao your grandfather's Minister of Defense has been assassinated. Investigations so far have found no evidence of weapons used, the cause of death of the Minister of Defense was a slit throat. I have been sent to an undisclosed location that only you and my most trusted advisors know of until investigations have been completed in my state.
Regards,
Governor Er Shi Wu of Gongzhu"
He closed the scroll handing it to Guwen his advisor he was upset quickly getting up from his throne pacing back and forth with his arms crossed behind his back wondering why all these people we being targeted.
"Why now? Why are all these ministers being targeted? Who's doing this?" he wondered, Guwen finished reading the scroll closing it and placing it on the seat of Qiang Zhen's throne, "That's been about four men killed within this past year, Minister of Territory Intelligence, Minister of Immigration, Minister of Defense, and our Minister of State Intelligence was assassinated on his escorted carriage to the province of Pingyao to meet with Governor Ren. I'm closely keeping tabs on who the governors around our city-state choose to have those men succeeded," Qiang Zhen bellowed.
"Your majesty please allow the governors of the surrounding states to take care of this," Guwen advised.
"I don't know if I can handle another assassination, families are losing their fathers to some unknown force that wants to send a message to us. We got the message who do you think it is?" he questioned his advisor.
"It can be someone King Gao Zu sent, or it could be someone ordered by Chief Cupun, or Senlin, my liege," Guwen guessed.
"Gao Zu is too busy admiring his ego I highly doubt he'd be involved in this, Chief Cupun isn't a likely candidate we need to remind ourselves there is a treaty in place, the North won't break it, there's no way Senlin could have done something he's dead," Qiang Zhen affirmed.
"Are you sure about that? I can believe the other two, I've met both men," hypothesized Guwen before stating meeting both Gao Zu and Cupun in person. Qiang Zhen brushing off the ridiculous notion that somehow General Senlin survived, "No General Senlin was blown off the mountain by the Avatar. Hegumen Geetsan and his Council wouldn't lie about the results of their battle with the former general," assured Qiang Zhen.
"While the facts have been given we must keep our minds open, young one. Your grandfather said his soldiers got the best training both combat wise and survival wise. We can't be too sure-" Guwen continued before being interrupted by a wave of Qiang Zhen's hand, "No one could have survived that fall only an airbender could." Qiang Zhen shook his head and sighed sitting back down.
"I'll take your advice, I'll allow our governors to take action," Qiang Zhen agreed.