Chapter 60: A Discussion Over Tea

Iroh approached the gate-guard with an amiable smile plastered across his face. He was stationed at the transition between the Middle and Lower Rings.

"Good morning!" He said brightly.

The guard nodded but said nothing.

Iroh continued, "I was just hoping to enter the Lower Ring. I have since moved but, silly me, I left some precious items and souvenirs behind."

The guard finally spoke. "It's against City Law for citizens to pass between the Lower Ring and those higher without proper permits or sanctioned escorts."

Iroh nodded. "I know, I know. It's so silly of me. I'm an old man, you see, and I left my things behind in the haste of moving. I recently opened a teashop in the Upper Ring and, silly old man that I am, left behind my favourite teapot at my old apartment! It's been in my family for generations, you see."

"City Law forbids citizens from passing between Rings without—"

"Without proper permits or sanctioned escorts. Yes, I know. I was hoping that you could make an exception for simple old seller of tea?"

He made a point of smiling wider at the gate-guard.

The guard sighed. He looked around. "The shift change is in two hours. If you're back before that, I'll let you back through. Get here after and you're on your own."

Iroh bowed deeply. "Thank you so much. I will be sure to reward your kindness as soon as I collect my treasured possessions. Thank you again."

He passed through the gate, into the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se.


Iroh slipped through the backdoor of Pao's teashop, loitering in the kitchens for the man to appear.

Pao entered with a tray of used teacups. He startled slightly when he saw the aging Firebender.

He put the tray down and hissed, "What are you doing here?"

Iroh said, "I wished to check in and discuss a few things. Things you mentioned in your last letter."

Pao nodded. He stuck his head back into the main shop and told his assistants. "Keep an eye on things, I'll be on break for the next half hour."

He gestured for Iroh to follow him to his office. They sat down, Pao behind the desk and Iroh in front of it.

Iroh asked, "How are your new hires?"

Pao chuckled. "Not as good as you. They stewed the tea three times each today. One of them has broken more cups and plates than I care to count."

Iroh laughed. "Such is the joy of the small business owner. A joy I am currently learning for myself."

Pao nodded. "How goes your new shop? The… Jasmine Dragon, isn't it?"

Iroh nodded and Pao continued, "The name is a little on the nose."

Iroh shrugged. "It's poetic and dramatic."

Pao warned, "If you think the Dai Li aren't watching you, you are mistaken."

Iroh sighed. "I know they are watching. It's why I am sure to give them a show every time I out of my apartment. Even there I amble around like an old man bordering on feebleness."

Pao laughed. "Iroh, you're younger than I am. You're amongst the youngest in the Upper Echelon of the Order."

The Firebender shrugged again. "The grey hair and the beard gives me a sense of age and wisdom. I let people see that more than anything else."

Pao nodded. "No doubt it will prove a wise decision. Now, why have you risked entering the Lower Ring?"

"In your last message, you said that you'd received word from your son. He said that he'd encountered the Avatar in Gaoling, and that he had found a teacher. Have you heard anything more since then? About the Avatar or the teacher? Or anything, really? It's so much harder to get news in the Upper Ring."

Pao sighed. "I'd heard that the Dai Li were censoring lines of communication just before the Master disappeared. I sent response back to Shi, my son, and he said that the Earthbender was a young girl, around the same age as the Avatar. Blind, but immensely skilled and powerful. He said that she single-handedly defeated the Earth Rumble fighters."

Iroh raised an eyebrow and began stroking his beard in thought. "Fascinating. To be so young but so skilled."

"A prodigy." Pao remarked.

Iroh nodded. "Indeed."

Pao cleared his throat. "Speaking of prodigies…"

"Yes?" Iroh prompted.

"There has been news. News that I've only just learned earlier today." Pao leaned forward and his voice dropped even lower. Iroh leaned forward too.

"There have been sightings of your niece here, in the Earth Kingdom."

Iroh frowned. "That is… worrisome."

Pao nodded. "My sources tell me that she is travelling with a relatively small contingent. Devoid of the royal procession."

Iroh mused, "She is pursuing the Avatar? She would need to be fast to do that. Easily manoeuvrable. A large force would be ill-suited. That was always Zhao's mistake."

Pao nodded again. "There was talk of a confrontation at an abandoned village. Hodizi Village. You know it?"

Iroh shook his head. Pao said, "It was a small mining village. The Fire Nation razed it about thirty years ago. It has been abandoned ever since."

Iroh asked, "What was the result of the confrontation?"

Pao shook his head. "Exact details were uncertain. A witness saw the Princess leave, alone, on an eel-hound, while the Avatar and his friends fled on their bison."

Iroh nodded. "They are free then, for the time being. This is good news, at least."

Pao said, "You have told us of her capabilities in the past. She is but a child, but a dangerous one. Deadly, especially when directed by her father's hand. What should be done about her?"

Iroh sighed and shook his head. "There is little that could be done. Of those in the Order that could match her power, they are otherwise occupied. The Deserter is beyond contact, and last I heard Pakku was heading to the South Pole. As for the King… Well, he is where he believes he needs to be."

Pao frowned. "It is a mistake to leave him there."

Iroh sighed again. "Maybe, but it is his to make."

Pao sighed as well but nodded. "You know, you could always face her." Pao suggested.

Iroh shook his head. "She is many things, but first and foremost she is my niece. I would rather not raise my hand against her unless I have no other choice. Besides, I have yet to conclude my business here in the city."

Pao asked, "Any news on the missing?"

Iroh leaned further forward. He said, "I am almost certain that the Dai Li is responsible. As you said, they move in shadows. Deeper ones than even the Order. I am still trying to discern where they were taken to."

"Be careful." Pao warned. "You know who commands them, don't you?"

Iroh raised an eyebrow. "It was my understanding that they answered to the Earth King. Gya's reports described him as a somewhat naïve young man, but otherwise harmless."

"Do the disappearances of my Chapter sound like the actions of someone harmless?" Pao asked fiercely.

Iroh raised his hand placatingly. "I am sorry, my friend. It was not my intention to offend. My point was, if not he then who?"

Pao answered, "One of the Master's last missives to me was to say that the Dai Li answered to another. Someone highly ranked in the Earth King's Court. I do not know who, though."

Iroh nodded. "I will look into it. I should probably be going. I need to get back into the Middle Ring before the guard changes."

Pao nodded. "May the Spirits guide you, Grand Lotus."

Iroh rolled his eyes at the name. "And you as well, my friend."

He departed the teashop.