Chapter 75: Tidings From the Desert

A Ba Sing Se messenger entered the Jasmine Dragon.

Iroh looked up from where he was pouring tea and smiled at the man. "Lano! What a wonderful surprise; I wasn't expecting. Let me make you some tea."

She smiled at the old tea-seller, but shook her head. "Sorry, Master Mushi, it isn't a social call. I'm doing my rounds."

She reached into her bag and removed a battered envelope. She said, "This got here about an hour ago addressed to you. Its from outside the city. I figured it might be important. Most of your mail has been internal."

Iroh's eyes shot up. "Really? Does it say where it is from?"

Lano nodded, glancing down at the letter. "It's from near the Si Wong Desert, I think."

Iroh nodded in realisation. "Ah yes. I have a great many friends, and since moving here I've been letting them all know where I am so we can keep in touch. This must be from one such correspondent."

She smiled and passed him the letter. "You have friends near the Desert? You must have travelled across a lot of the Earth Kingdom in your time."

Iroh smiled back at the girl, chuckling slightly. "I travelled a lot in my youth, it's true. Made a great many friends and had some adventures."

Iroh slipped the letter into his pocket. He made a show of looking around his shop.

He said, "I should probably return to my customers; I see some thirsty faces. And I should let you get back to your rounds. I hope you have a pleasant day, Lano. And do be sure to stop by sometime, I'll give you a good price on a pot of mint tea."

He winked at her, smiling. She gasped, "How did you know my favourite tea?"

He just grinned. "A good tea seller always knows. A pleasant day to you."

He ambled off, clearing empty tables as he strolled past. He made his way into the kitchen.

He said to his one of his assistants, Mu, "Could you see to the front? I would like to oversee the brewing for a little while."

Mu nodded and smiled. "Of course, Master Mushi."

Iroh was left alone in the kitchen.

He slipped out the letter and broke the seal. It had been a while since he'd heard from Fung.

In fact, on the whole, the Si Wong Chapter of the Order was often left to its own devices, though they were few in number. While they had their Duties, and they were important, matters rarely got out of hand or spilled over into the rest of the world.

He squinted at the letter. Fung's handwriting remained as small and scratchy as ever and Iroh's eyes weren't getting any younger.

The information was heavily encoded; far more so than was standard for Order business.

He read,

Grand Lotus,

Less than an hour ago, for me, the Avatar entered the Misty Palms Oasis with his companions. I believe it began as a social visit, but they made contact with a man, a 'Professor Zei of Ba Sing Se University', and are now headed into the Desert, searching for the Great Library.

I have notified the Watcher. I told him of your orders not to interfere too heavily with the Avatar's path. I asked only that he ensured they made it out of the Desert.

By the time you receive this, I hope the matter will have been resolved, and the Avatar's group will have left Si Wong. When I receive confirmation from the Watcher, I will pass it along to you.

Your humble servant,

Fung of the Si Wong.

Iroh frowned in thought. He wandered over to the oven, absently keeping an eye on the many teapots that were boiling. He exhaled, altering their heat as needed.

He then walked over to the fireplace and let the letter be devoured by the flames.

Why would the Avatar enter such a perilous region? What could he be looking for in the Spirit Library?

He'd visited the Library only once, over a handful of years ago. Wan Shi Tong had reluctantly allowed him access, but he hadn't found what he was seeking. Since then, the Knowledge Spirit had become much more strict about who was allowed inside; he'd gained a strong dislike for humanity and barred all but a few from entering.

He prayed that the Avatar knew the appropriate way of approaching a Spirit as egotistical as Wan Shi Tong.

He sighed.

It wasn't the first time that he'd thought of making direct contact with the Avatar. He'd always decided against it. While the Avatar had been in contact with a great many members of the Order of the White Lotus in the past few months, it had always been unknowingly and, more often than not, he'd initiated it.

Their job was not to interfere, just to observe, to guide, to assist. A good Master points a student in the right direction; he doesn't tell them what they should see.

He sighed again. He hoped to meet the boy one day; by all accounts he was a fascinating young man. Iroh couldn't wait to play Pai Sho against him.

He shook his head and went back to his customers, slapping a large smile across his face.