Chapter 10

Katara awoke to the sounds of whispering. She lazily lifted her head, vaguely wondering who could be talking.

Opening her eyes, she flinched in surprise. Ty Lee was standing right in front of her, face inches away. "What?" she groaned, lying back on the bed. "This had better be important."

Ty Lee grinned, not noticing Katara's discomfort. "Zuko's bedding someone today! And he gets to pick!"

Katara shot up to a sitting position. "He's what?" So soon? They had only been here for… not even a week!

Ty Lee was bouncing with excitement. "Isn't that great?"

Katara's heart sank. With the events of yesterday, she wasn't feeling excited to know his choice. Did she even want to sleep with him? Could she stand knowing that he's sleeping with someone else?

She thought of her bet with June. June had been the last one to see him. That couldn't be a coincidence, could it? That he's picking someone to bed right after their visit?

Ty Lee leaned in again. "Who do you think he'll pick?" she whispered conspiratorially.

"I don't really want to think about it," Katara responded curtly. But she was.

Ty Lee straightened and nodded. "Alright." Then she leaned down to whisper again. "My bets are on Mai, ten gold, take it or leave it."

Katara eyed her skeptically. If her money was already going to June… "You're on."

Ty Lee gave her a look. "You have to bet on someone if you're going to join in." She grinned. "Who is it?"

Katara glanced around the room, her eyes falling on the still dressing June. "Probably June," she whispered. "But please don't tell anyone."

Ty Lee pouted. "But that's the best part…." She consented to Katara's glare. "Okay, but you've got to hear everyone elses."

Suki and Ty Lee had bet on Mai, while Kya (Katara was surprised to discover) had voted for Katara. Mai thought it would be Suki, and both June and Katara thought it would be June. Ten gold on the table all the way around. Winners split the pot with whoever was chosen.

Katara fetched the ten gold from her money bag, with an IOU. At least she might get something back if June won.

Ursa arrived in the midst of the chaos, and went entirely unnoticed. She looked at Menolda, who gave a sharp whistle, silencing the girls.

Ursa cleared her throat. "Breakfast time."

The girls were almost entirely ready, having gotten dressed an hour prior. Ursa led them through the halls, and Katara thought she could almost remember the way. She missed only one turn.

Zuko rose as his harem entered, Ursa in the lead. He was shifting uncomfortably, far more dressed up than he would like. Katara thought he looked charming.

They all took their seats, this time with Ursa at the far end of the table. There was no scramble, a silent arrangement being reached.

June sat on Zuko's left, eyeing him hungrily. Mai took the spot on his other side. Beside her was Tai Lee, then Suki. Kya sat diplomatically between June and her daughter.

Zuko gestured for the food, and the servants administered it as they had before. Katara was grateful that she was now at least somewhat familiar with the food.

When no one moved, Zuko gestured to it. "Eat." His voice wasn't demanding in the least, and Katara almost laughed, catching his eye. He quickly looked away.

Katara frowned. That wasn't a good sign. She loaded her plates with some of the more familiar dishes, only taking from a couple that were unfamiliar.

They ate in absolute silence, even Ursa not attempting to talk. Eventually, neighbors began making small talk to each other.

Ty Lee pressed Mai into a conversation about what she thought of Zuko. Mai dodged the question for the most part, but her eyes betrayed her true feelings. She retaliated with the fact that he would eventually bed her, and Ty Lee shrugged. "I'll figure that out when I get there."

Ursa began questioning Suki, and Suki quickly warmed up to her. Ursa had visited the Kyoshi islands when she was younger, and they talked about home, and very briefly about Zuko and his trip there. Suki was surprised to realize that at least Ursa had remembered her. That gave her a bit of hope.

Kya and Katara talked – really talked – for the first time in a while. They, of course, didn't discuss Zuko in the slightest, but they were hard pressed to find anything else worth discussing. They finally settled on discussing the girls and what they thought of their backstories.

June's was the most mysterious. She hadn't said anything about herself, and that scared Katara. Everyone else (except maybe Mai) was pretty open with their past. They knew the least about June.

In the meantime, June was establishing her claim, unabashedly flirting with Zuko. He was very resistant, but his face grew hot under her ministrations. She took encouragement from this.

She reached over obviously, and grabbed his crotch. All conversation ceased immediately, as she looked Zuko dead in the eye.

His blush was gone, replaced by something akin to fury. He met her gaze and grabbed her wrist firmly, slowly pulling her hand away from him. She resisted, but there was no sign of it. Shock registered on her face. No pandered palace prince was that strong. It was her turn to have arousal in her eyes.

With her hand returned to her lap, he focused on his plate once again, cutting open what appeared to be a steak with his knife. June gasped, her hand flying to her right wrist. Zuko watched her calmly, taking a bite off of her knife.

The other girls were confused, even Ursa. What just happened? Did he hurt her? Conversations started up again, this time on other subjects.

June was furious, but a little scared too. She hadn't felt a grip that strong for more than ten years, half her lifetime ago. Her eyes narrowed as she watched him. The pandered prince thing was an act then. He was a warrior.

The conversations died down as the food on their plates slowly disappeared. The air became thick with tension, as Zuko ate his last bite. All eyes were on him.

Ursa gestured to him encouragingly. He took a deep breath and rose to address them.

"As you all probably know, I have to pick one of you to…" he hesitated, "bed tonight."

The girls made no noise as the tension in the room heightened. Ursa gestured for him to continue.

"Whoever I pick will not only receive whatever bonus I decide, but will also be gifted with 100 gold pieces." That was new information. Adding the bets in, plus Zuko's bonus…. A small fortune would be had.

Zuko waited for them to quiet. "This was not an easy decision for me. I needed counsel, and I took my mother's advice." He looked each of them in the eye.

Katara's stomach twisted with anxiety. June didn't seem on his good side. What if he picked her? She shifted in anticipation.

Zuko stepped around June, approaching Katara. How did he expect her to respond? Would she even agree? She thought of her mother's words once again. We must all adapt. Her stomach did a somersault.

He knelt down next to Kya, and she glanced at him in surprise. "Kya, would you be my first?"

Murmurs crept around the room. Katara just stared in shock. He was going to sleep with her mother? She groaned internally. This could not possibly get any more awkward.

Kya thought for only a moment. "Yes," she responded softly. She held his gaze for a few seconds, before turning away.

Ursa rose. "Very well, that is his decision. Kya, you will now be prepared for your meeting with him tonight. Zuko, you're going to be late for yours."

Zuko cursed and stood up. He gave Kya a grateful nod and exited the room quickly.

Mai was livid, eyeing Kya with newfound rivalry. Ty Lee was surprised, but didn't hesitate to bound over to congratulate her. Suki gave her a real smile and wished her luck. June, for her part, just smirked at Katara.

Katara wondered at it, until she recalled June's earlier claim about men. Kya did have the best rated figure. Katara's face flushed hot. That couldn't be why he had chosen her, could it?

Ursa escorted Kya out with several guards, and Katara watched as her mother was taken. Kya gave a look back and mouthed We'll talk. Katara watched until she was out of sight.

Meanwhile, the girls were escorted out of the room by Menolda. She stopped to speak with Katara. "Don't worry, your sister's in good hands."

Katara sighed.

If only it were that simple.