Here is the thirty-sixth chapter in Book 4 released on schedule, if a little later than usual. This is the first of four chapters in the current arc of the War as the war continues to rage on. However, there isn't much else to say here so just sit back and enjoy the 36th chapter in the fourth installment of Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 4: Family.
Disclaimer: As always I own nothing related to these two great works of fiction.
Chapter 36
Dominique stood on one of the many patios of the Northern Air Temple looking out to the south and thinking as she surveyed the breathtaking view. The bamboo garden for balance training was right behind her but no one was present to train in it. That was because there were no more trainees left at the Northern Air Temple.
After the Princeps's global coup, the Northern Air Temple had been one of the targets but the attacking force, mainly tasked with capturing or killing the Earth Prince who was studying at the temple, was small compared to the other attacks. They had been repelled and the Temple was one of the few areas that hadn't fallen to James, but the cost had been high to keep the Temple free. All that sacrifice meant was that it was still a target.
Remus, in his first act as the new Archabbot of the Air Nation, had ordered all airbender trainees, all master too old and those who weren't trained as fighters to leave the Temple. They were taken to the Northern Water Tribe and housed there as it was the safest place on the plant. The Temple had instead been turned into the southern outpost for the Coalition of Norther Free States and as such their first line of defense. As such it was manned exclusively by soldiers and volunteers who had stayed behind to defend it.
The bulk of the force were from the United Forces, primarily the United Air Force, but the entire Air Nation Defense Force, the closest thing the Air Nation had to a military, had also been stationed here. The forces were small, but they could manage.
The best asset of the Temple was its remote location and the fact that it could only successfully be attacked from the air. This hadn't saved it in the past but back then it hadn't been prepared for an attack, this time it had been.
While Dominique had either been recovering in the North following her desperate flight there at the start of the war, or while she had been behind enemy lines on her mission into the Principate, the Temple had been making preparations for James's arrival. This had only been possible because Remus had signed the pact creating the CNFS thus allowing forces from other nations to be deployed to the Temple.
As a result, Ron and Teddy had been stationed here to lead and coordinate the defense of the Temple due to their military experience and tactical acumen. Along with them was Marshall Inglebee, the leader of the Air Nation Defense Force who knew the area better than anyone else.
The three of them, all with military or law enforcement experience and tactical training, had taken over the defense preparations of the Temple. They were joined by Abbot Davies, the new Head Abbot of the Northern Air Temple as the last one had been killed in the global coup and the only surviving senior member of the Council of Elders was not mentally competent for the role.
Davies was a veteran of both the Battle of the Elemental Academy, so he had seen combat and had fought his way out of the attack on the Southern Air Temple so was the best choice for the role. The last member of the temporary ruling council of the Temple, the Air Nation always required 5 for the role, was Commander Fenwick, the head of the United Air Force.
Marshal Quirke, the highest-ranking officer and leader of the United Forces had wanted to be present, but Teddy had ordered her to remain in the Northern Water Tribe. This was because while she was an expert fighter pilot and leader, she was needed to maintain the defense of the only fully free nation, so she had to stay there. She hadn't liked it as she was an airbender, but she understood her role and followed Teddy's orders.
Teddy, as the President of the United Republic, was the Commander in Chief of the United Forces and as the former General of the United Forces he wanted to be at the front where he felt he was most needed. Dominique could understand and respect that, though she also knew that his wife and her sister Victoire was here as well, and Teddy wanted to be by her side for the coming battle.
Between the 5 of them, they had prepared the Temple as best they could. They had been aided by the fact that the entire Temple had been rebuilt by the World Leaders after Kuvira's defeat and the ISEK formed, the turmoil had delayed the process, so it was the most advanced of the Air Temples.
The new Temple was right where the old one had been before it was destroyed by Ghazan but with improvements. There were hangers built into the mountain beneath it that were used for airships, mechanized hummingbirds, planes, and bison. All were ready to go at a moment's notice. The rebuilders had wanted to add defensive armaments but Tenzin had refused to allow that but Remus had overturned that order for the duration of the Principate war so there were some ranged weapons on the Temple at the moment.
In addition to them, there was a permanent circling of airships, planes and bison that served to protect the skies around the Temple and to keep a look out for the inevitable enemy attack. Those not in the ships and in the Temple were all soldiers of the Coalition Army, the temporary army of the surviving forces loyal to the CNFS though each branch still existed as it had before, the forces had just been merged under the command of the Avatar.
The place was defended but it was also prepared for an evacuation should James show up with an overwhelming force, which they expected him to do so to ensure victory over them. Still, they would not surrender the Temple and its strategic value as a staging point without a fight that would cost the Principate dearly.
Dominique knew that she shouldn't be here, not after everything that had happened when she'd been behind enemy lines, but she knew she couldn't stay away either. She had to be here, fighting on the front lines to defend freedom.
It was what the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe would do, and she intended to show her people that she was worthy of her title, should she live long enough to claim it after she freed her nation. She knew that that test was coming and that was what she had been thinking about as she stared off towards the south and took in the beautiful scenery.
The last few weeks had been a blurry nightmare for her and her family. She still hadn't had a true moment to grieve for Albus, though there had been times when it had been possible, and she'd briefly allowed herself to do so. Most of the time though she was too focused on what they had to do and getting to the Temple that she had been forced to push her emotions down.
It had taken them 4 days of hard, almost no stop, flying to reach the Temple. In that time, they learned of James's lies and smears to avoid the outcry that he had been behind the illegal Spirit Weapon that had gone off in the Great Divide. They had learned of the memorials for the fallen Uniques and of how Albus and the Northern Rebels, as the Principate called them, had been responsible for the attack.
In that time they had also learned of the death of Gupta, the Plant Unique who had murdered her father in front of her eyes. Dominique had hoped that she would be the one to kill him but fortunately someone else had beaten her to it and done it right, she didn't trust herself to not do it honorably if she incapacitated but didn't kill him in battle.
The reports said that Gupta had died in Xidi while investigating an insurrection movement down there which could only mean one thing, Harry had almost certainly been the one to kill him. That was being kept from the media lest the presence of the Avatar cause problems for James as he blamed the death on the Xidi Militias and vowed to crush them.
This was confirmed when Harry had made it safely to the Temple a week ago and briefed them on his mission. He had stopped by on his way back to the North to check up, rest and recover from his journey.
The Avatar looked like shit and had been riding a motorbike hard for a while, but he was the Avatar and still functionable. He told them what had happened to him, his deal with the Xidi militia leader, Gupta's death and learning of Albus's on the way back. Clearly the death pained Harry but like Dominique he had put it aside and done his duty first, she knew he would grieve when he got back to the Northern Water Tribe.
Once Harry was recovered, he returned to the North under escort. While Harry had wanted to stay, Ron had ordered his best friend home. Harry had done his job in Xidi and now had to resume his role as the Lord Commander of the CNFS. He was needed in the North to run the show from there and prepare for the final battle where they all expected would take place. He also needed to be there for his wife and daughter while they grieved for Albus and held a memorial for him in the North.
Dominique had spoken with Harry about it but briefly, they would have to talk about what happened another time. Harry had been more focused on her overall report and making sure she was ok staying behind which she was. After that Harry had left and she hoped to see him again soon, if she survived the coming conflict that is.
Most of her companions from the mission had left before Harry's arrival. Lily, Rose, and Hugo had all returned as they all needed more skilled medical attention so they couldn't fight here while Scorpius had been too emotionally broken by Albus's death to remain.
Only the airbenders, Lorcan and Lysander, had stayed with the former joining the Defense Force and the latter staying with their mother as part of the evacuation team that was still around and would be in charge of that. Dominique had not wanted them to stay but they were airbenders, they were entitled to defend their Temple and as such she couldn't order them despite technically being their Chief due to their father.
However, all of this was still not what was at the forefront of Dominique's mind as she looked out over the mountains and plains laid out before her. No that had been reserved for what had just happened in the Fire Nation. Less than 2 weeks ago James had finally launched his attack there and swiftly taken control of the northern half, forcing the remaining resistance to retreat to the Capital. Now only the Caldera and the harbor were left out of his hands.
The attack had come from both the south and the west in a pincer movement and had devastated the limited resistance there. Reports were still coming in, but none of them were not good. James had lost few compared to the Fire Nation's losses and now they were cut off and being starved out. No one knew how long Druzok could survive but Dominique didn't think it would be as short as James's propaganda claimed as the Firelord was prepared for a prolonged siege.
Still, it was the losses that hurt the most. Reports had come in that General Seamus, the head of the Royal Fire Army, had been killed in battle after being overwhelmed by the Principate. As had Oliver and Katie, the other 2 heroes from the uprising against Hermione that had restored the Fire Nation, who had died on the western front. They may have died but all of them took many Principate soldiers with them in the process. However, they were not the worst for Dominique, no, that was reserved for her uncle Charlie.
They had not known about Charlie's status after the initial wave of coups as they'd lost contact with him. This had been because while the Dragon Sanctuary hadn't fallen, it had been cut off. During the latest attack, the Sanctuary had been hit, hard to ensure that it was taken down this time.
Many of the riders had fled, most heading north to bolster their forces as they couldn't go to the Caldera, but only because Charlie and his old dragon had stayed behind to ensure their flight. He had been killed along with his dragon, but only they had dealt the largest blow to James in the process. It was another in the long list of sacrifices that had dominated the war.
Charlie joined her father, Uncle Percy, Percy's family with the exception of his traitorous daughter Molly, and Albus on the growing rolls of dead. They had a large family, about 29 that were either direct descendants of Chief Arthur or had married into the family. 6 were now dead and a further 2 had become traitors.
The survivors weren't much better. Hugo had almost died from the infection he had suffered, Lily was still in rough shape and the loss of Albus didn't help, and Rose was also recovering though of the three she would be back in action first. It had not been good.
Still, Dominique knew that it would only get worse for them and she had to brace herself for it. That was why they were here, waiting for the inevitable attack. With the Fire Nation now almost exclusively under the control of James, the Capital only spared because of Hermione's intel that Harry had persuaded her to give up had prevented a sneak attack through the Caldera, the next logical target was the Temple. They knew the attack was coming, they just didn't know when.
"What are you thinking about sis?" A soft voice asked from beside her. "You are up here contemplating things again and not joining in the planning despite being allowed to participate. They could use your mind inside, you know that, right?"
Dominique hadn't heard Victoire approach, airbenders were sneaky like that and Victoire had been trained by their Uncle Ron on how to be extra stealthy the way a hunter would be so she could probably sneak up on anyone these days. Regardless, Dominique didn't mind her sister's presence, she drew comfort from having her big sister with her.
"What help can I be?" Dominique asked with a sigh still looking out. "I have spent at most a month here before the war due to my position, I barely know the Temple and the lands around it. I have also spent most of this war either in a wheelchair, behind enemy lines, or running from said enemy. I am not exactly in the best position to aid in planning. I will of course join in the fighting, but I am good at that. It's what I'm trained for."
"I see." Victoire replied and Dominique saw her stand next to her out of the corner of her eye but didn't look at her just yet. "And while I respect that but that will only fly here. When we return to the Northern Water Tribe and mark my words, I will make sure that you get back alive. even if I have to drag your ass back myself, because Spirits know the South needs our Chief to survive. Then you will resume your duties."
Dominique turned to look at her sister at her words. Victoire wasn't looking at her, she was still looking out like Dominique had been, her long blonde hair fluttering in the wind, and a steely look in her blue eyes. Victoire had always been more in touch with their airbending heritage but looking at her and her determination reminded Dominique that her sister was still of the South.
"Here you are just a volunteer, willing to stay and fight but also to follow orders." Victoire continued not looking at Dominique as she spoke. "Up North, you are, regardless of whether or not you accept the title yet, Chief Dominique, rightful sovereign of the Southern Water Tribe. You are our leader in what will be the battle to decide the fate of the world so show that and lead. Prove to us why we should follow you. Remind us what being Chief of the Southern Water tribe means."
"Yes, I am." Dominique said forcefully, her tone causing Victoire to look at her. "And I will show the world that I am worthy of my birthright. I will command our forces from the front just as the Chiefs of the past have. I will be there for them and I will fight until my last breath to defend the world from tyranny. Thank you, sis, for reminding me of what is important right now."
As Dominique spoke, she truly embracing her position for the first time. Her older sister's words regarding her status were especially powerful because Victoire was the one who should have been embracing them had she not been born with airbending and made the choice to renounce her claim. Despite this, Victoire had included herself in her statement to Dominique reminding her that even though Victoire was not the heir, she was still her subject and would follow her Chief as any Southern would, providing her Chief proved herself.
"A lot has happened recently, things we were never prepared for." Victoire said placing a hand on Dominique's shoulder. "We have suffered losses we never expected. We have been betrayed by our own blood, seen them kill their own and still we refuse to give up. There is a lot to think about and the Air Temples help with that as quiet contemplation is what we do here but we both know that soon we will be fighting once again. When that happens, we must be warriors and not philosophers. I know which one you are Dom."
"You ain't a fighter Vicky." Dominique said, not harshly just stating the obvious. "You never were. That is one of the many reasons why the Air Nation is your true home and why you made the right choice all those years ago. You do not have the weight of a nation on your shoulders like I do."
"True I made the right choice but that is also because I am not as strong as you are Dom." Victoire said gently as she smiled softly at her. "I would have crumbled if I had your responsibilities right now. As for a fighter, I may not be one normally, but this is war, and we need any and all able bodies to fight and I am trained in combat. It may be the airbending style, it may be for self-defense and it may be evasive, but I am trained, and I am good at it. Just because I refrain from violence doesn't mean I am not skilled."
"I know you're trained Vicky, you were supposed to be Chief, so you got the same early training as I did and that never leaves." Dominique said knowing it was the truth but still struggling to imagine her sister in combat, she had fully embraced her airbending after her decision. "But you have never seen combat, never killed in battle, never had that life-or-death struggle. I respect your willingness to stay and fight, we will use you, I just worry that's all. Not just as your Chief but as your sister as well."
"Dom, I love you and I love that you worry but we are past worrying now after all this war has taken from us." Victoire said seriously and for the first time Dominque saw her sister's eyes harden in a way that no airbender's eyes would harden but the way a Southerner's would before a battle. "We are at war and I will do my part. I will defend this Temple as any airbender should, that is my duty, and I will do it just as we all will."
Dominique opened her mouth to respond but a sharp look from Victoire stilled her tongue. In that moment, her sister looked like their father and not like their mother and Dominique knew better than to interrupt her right now.
"And unlike the other monks and airbenders her, I have something only 3 other airbenders have and even then, only one other has the same claim as me." Victoire continued. "Regardless of my bending, I am still a daughter of Chief William of the Southern Water Tribe and above that I am his firstborn, his heir had it not been for my bending. I am a child of the South and the blood of warriors runs through my veins just as much as it does yours."
Dominique just stared in amazement at her sister's words her eyes wide. She'd never heard Victoire talk like this even when they were kids and she was still the Crown Princess, she never fully embraced her heritage the way Dominique had done but Dominique was a waterbender so easier to do. Now, though, when they were at war with an attack coming Dominique saw the South come out in Victoire for the first time as she spoke.
"I may be an airbender, but I am still a Southerner and that means a lot." Victoire said locking her gaze with Dominique's. "I will not go down without a fight and if I can say that then our Chief sure as shit can do that. Don't worry sis, I will do what I must to defend the Temple, but you had better survive this battle. We need our Chief. Remind the world why I made the right choice and become your destiny. Rise up and lead Chief Dominique, show the world what the South is made of."
"Well said Victoire." A male voice said from behind them causing them both to turn to the new comer. "More should listen to your wisdom and convictions, you would have made a great Chief had you made that choice but given the trial of this war, Dominique is better suited for it. You would be a Chief of Peace, but we need a Warrior Chief, and no one suits that better than Dominique. This is what she was trained for and this is the true nature of being Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. Regardless, the warrior spirit exists in all of us born of the Tribe, as you showed, you are no exception Victoire."
Standing behind them was their Uncle Ron, dressed in traditional Southern Warrior garb complete with weapons minus his now destroyed hammer but he was carrying a sheathed sword in his hands. Ron was not alone, however, with him was their brother Louis.
Louis was a slender, fine boned man who took after their mother even more than Victoire did, which was saying something. His short blond hair was perfectly styled to both be the height of the current fashion and show off his airbending tattoo. While he was dressed in the usual glider suit of the Air Nation, he managed to make it look great on his lean, muscular, frame. He had been the heartthrob of countless girls in his youth, until he broke all their hearts when he came out as gay.
Like Victoire, he had stayed to help out but that was because was as gifted a fighter as any soldier and had to be present. Louis was a Captain in the Air Nation Defense Force having decided to join the force out of the Academy much to the surprise of his friends.
While his family status did give him some leeway due to responsibilities that came with being part of the Southern Royal Family, such as needing to be present at certain gatherings, for the most part Louis had made his own way in life. His decision to join the small Air Nation military had been because of his Southern warrior roots combined with his bending and skills. Dominique knew that their mother's nation needed warriors willing to defend it and Louis was the perfect candidate for it.
"Uncle, bro, I want to say that it is good to see you but in these times nothing is good." Dominique said with a smile as they joined her and Victoire. "Though we should at least be grateful in these moments because we can never know when they might be our last. The war has taught us that much so I will cherish them regardless of what happens."
"That is what mother said." Louis said with a nod. "She wishes she could be here, but she is getting a bit old and is needed by Remus in the North as one of his advisors and emergency defenders when the North is attacked. She will likely be named the Head Abbot of the Eastern Air Temple if we win so she needs to live. Plus, she still hasn't recovered from what happened to dad."
"I know but at least she didn't have to witness it." Dominique said sadly reminding them that she'd been there when their father had been murdered. "That is an image I will never forget, nor do I want to as it is driving me to win this for him. Gupta may have faced justice but not Molly and I want her taken alive, not that I expect her to fight to the death when we come for her. She will be tried for her treason and if convicted she will be executed in accordance with Southern law."
"Dom, you know that means that you must wield the sword, right?" Ron asked her a little concern in his voice. "Our law is clear on capital punishment. It is only available for treason, and the method is beheading by sword. Furthermore, we don't have an executioner because this is a job reserved for the Chief. Such a punishment is considered so great that only the Chief can carry out the sentence. It hasn't been done since the aftermath of the Second Purity War when my father executed the Purist traitors in the South who had planned to kill him and give the nation to Voldemort."
"I understand and accept it as my responsibility, and I will always do my duty when it is asked of me." Dominique said seriously. "It has to be done in this case and I will do it."
"On a slightly lighter note, why the Eastern Air Temple?" Victoire asked and Dominique realized that she was talking to Louis as she changed the subject. "Why not the Western? Mom is from that Temple originally so surely she'd want to run that Temple."
"Remus thought about it but in the end, mom decided that if she was to take the role, which Remus wants her to take, she would want it somewhere that didn't remind her of everything." Louis said with a shrug. "The Eastern Temple made more sense and its leadership, as with those at all the Temples, were decimated."
"How many are left?" Dominique asked. "Within the leadership?"
"Only Remus, Luna, Sybil, and Davies were on Temple Councils and are still alive." Louis said sadly. "Lockhart and Egwu survived but the former was dying from dementia and passed a month after the coups while Egwu was badly wounded in his flight and died a week after reaching the North."
"So that leaves Remus with 3 pre-coup Abbots." Dominique said. "Makes sense that mom would be appointed Head of one of the remaining Temples if we win."
"Actually, it's two left." Louis said surprising Dominique. "Sybil is in no condition to run this Temple which is why Davies is now in charge of it, but he will become the Head Abbot of the Southern Temple should we prevail. Luna will be given the West and Sybil will return to the North, but she will only be Head Abbot in name until she passes. That leaves Air Temple Island and the Eastern Temple vacant and Remus wants mother in one of them. East is more prestigious and further away from everything, so she wants that one."
"I see." Victoire said as Dominique tried to understand everything. "The internal politics of the Air Nation have always confused me. Thankfully, while mom can serve, we are ineligible for the position of Head Abbot due to our family. We can sit on the councils, but we cannot lead them and as such cannot become Archabbot. I already rejected becoming the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, I don't want to be Archabbot of the Air Nation."
"Yes, I am happy with my role in the nation and am content with it even if I can't become Marshall of the ANDF because the Marshall is one of 7 eligible for the position of Archabbot when the incumbent dies." Louis agreed. "Though until this war I never expected to actually see combat beyond air pirates."
"Few do when the world had endured a lasting peace for almost half a century." Dominique said with a sigh. "Even then, the Fire Nation Civil War at the end of Hermione's tenure was not global and barely a war as it only had one battle. Not since the Second Purity War has there been a global conflict like this."
"That is true, but such is reality." Ron said sadly. "All it takes is one charismatic, powerful and unhinged madman to throw the world out of balance and when that happens war is always a possibility. It has happened all throughout history, be it Chin, Sozin, Azulon, Ozai, Amon, Unalaq, Zaheer, Kuvira, Voldemort, Hermione, Delphini or now James, there will always be those of great power, cunning, intellect or charisma that take their views to the extreme and this is the result, though seldom on the scale of the Principate War."
"You would think that after so many wars and conflicts we would not want to fight anymore." Victoire said. "One of the things I love about the Air Nation is our pacifistic stance."
"Human nature doesn't work that way unfortunately so we must be prepared just in case." Ron said. "Because there will be another war after this one. It might not in my lifetime or that of the Avatar's, but there will be another one at some point, there always is."
"So how do we deal with it?" Louis asked their uncle. "If that is the case then it seems pointless as there will always be another enemy out there. I won't quit fighting for what I believe is right, but it could get tough to be in this seemingly endless cycle."
"Some see it as such, and it breaks them in the end." Ron agreed. "It was what jaded Toph and caused her to retire and move to live as a hermit in the Swamp for years. However, there is a reason why we have an Avatar. Wan became the first Avatar to restore balance and spend his whole life trying to achieve it but he couldn't. That was why Raava made sure to be reborn from that point on so as to always have an individual with the power to maintain balance in the world."
"I didn't know that was why the Avatar is always reborn." Victoire said. "Few understand it."
"This knowledge was almost lost to us when Unalaq permanently severed Korra from her past lives." Ron said. "However Wan had told her the story before then when she connected with him while in a coma. She told this story to Harry several years ago after he sought her advice in the wake of James's crimes, but he hasn't publicized it. So long as the Avatar does his or her duty, we can strive to maintain or restore peace and balance in the world. That is what Harry is doing now. Soon a final confrontation will occur, it always does, that will decide the fate of the world."
"But the Avatar will win that, right?" Louis asked. "And we will have balance again."
"Not necessarily." Dominique said shaking her head recalling the stories she'd heard. "While the Avatar has prevailed in the past, he or she has not always done so, and the results have been bad. Avatar Roku for example knew of his friend Sozin's expansionist ambitions but did not aggressively stop him. Instead, he threatened him and then sat back and expected Sozin to not act after his warning."
"Why would Roku do that?" Louis asked confused. "An airbender Avatar I could understand but not a firebender."
"Roku was best friends with Sozin from childhood and thought his old friend would respect his warning." Dominique said. "In reality, Sozin just bided his time and then when the opportunity presented itself, he let Roku die when Roku was incapacitated while the pair tried to minimize the destruction of a volcanic eruption. Though they never fought other than one brief scuffle that destroyed the Throne Room, Sozin still won in the end and for 112 years the world was out of balance until Aang righted it."
"Dominique is right." Ron said. "Harry is powerful, skilled, and will do what is needed to win but he is not infallible. He can be beat, especially given the fact that he is facing his son, and if he is then the world is James's, at least until a new Avatar rights it, if that is possible because James would do his best to find the new Avatar. We must be prepared, and we must aid Harry, but this war will come down to him and James, that is how it will be."
"And on that note, is that for me?" Dominique asked pointing at the sheathed sword that Ron had in his hands. "Is it what I requested before I left for my mission?"
"It is." Ron said with a nod as he passed it over to Dominique. "Made to the specifications that you requested, along with 2 small throwing knives that we could make with the left-over material. It wasn't easy but we managed it. I do not know how it will work in practice though."
"It just needs to work once, there is only one situation in which I will need this." Dominique said as she unsheathed the sword and admired it. "Though I expect to end up in that situation, so it is best to be prepared."
The sword was just as she requested. Dominique had always preferred a specific type of sword, a modified Jian sword. The blade was long, thin, and sharp with a standard point. Not as thick or as long as the usual Jian sword, made to be lightweight and maneuverable so as to be easy and quick to use with rapid strikes. The handle was just an extension of the blade and wrapped in hide from an animal killed by Dominique. It was leather and easy to grip, made just for her and her hands.
The sword Dominique used was designed such that a woman, who was naturally weaker than a man, even if she were stronger than most women any man with her level of training was naturally stronger, could wield it fluidly. If Dominique were to wield a standard Jian sword with her fighting style she would tire quickly, but with this she wield it for much longer.
Her usual blade, the one she had carried with her on their mission and that was now back in the North awaiting her return, was made out of platinum and the metal coated with a blue varnish that showed were it came from. However, James had proven that he could bend platinum which meant that any duel with blades against him was already to his advantage should he renege on his honor. As such her usual blade was not the best choice when an attack was likely led by James.
That was why she had commissioned a special blade made just in case the situation of her having to face James came up and it looked like it might if he attacked the Temple personally. The blade was made out of ivory from the tusk a Northern beast known for its durability and toughness. The ivory could stand its own against platinum, Dominique knew that first hand from when she had tried to stab it to kill it after wounding it and it deflected her sword with its tusks. That was why she had commissioned the blade be made from its tusks. It would be useful in a duel against James.
"I understand why you wanted this, but I still do not see the need for it." Ron said as Dominique sheathed the blade and strapped it to her back, she was wearing her usual warrior garb just in case of a quick battle, so the blade fit perfectly where she usually kept it. "It was not easy to forge but we got it just right and I don't know how it will hold up in a prolonged battle."
"That you did." Dominique said with a grateful smile to her uncle. "And it is lighter than metal so I can use it better with my style."
Ron opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by the sound of a loud klaxon ringing throughout the Temple. They all tensed, knowing exactly what that sound meant as they had drilled for this but this time it was the real thing.
"Attention! Attention!" A calm, clear, voice called out over the PA system. "The Principate forces are inbound, ETA half an hour at best. They outnumber us at least 2 to one based on reports but that is likely an underestimation. To battle stations! Defend the Temple. This is not a drill; I repeat this is not a drill. To battle stations! The war has come to the Northern Air Temple."
The message kept repeating itself, but it need not. Everyone left at the Temple was well drilled with what had to be done. At least all but Dominique was, she had not been there long enough to be able to participate in the drills. That didn't matter. She had her own plan for this battle because she was sure that James would be leading the assault.
"I have to go." Victoire said. "Teddy is with me on my bison for the battle, he needs to on the frontlines to coordinate the battle and I am his transport and backup."
With that Victoire ran off. Louis was about to as well, but Dominique grabbed her brother to stop him from leaving. She had a mission, and he was the only one she had the authority over to order to aid her in it.
"No, I need you right now." Dominique said as she led him back into the Temple and towards the radio room, Ron on their heels. "Come with me Louis."
"Er Dom, I have my own job to do." Louis pointed out. "I am needed on the front."
"Yes, but there is time for that." Dominique said as they reached the radio room which was thankfully near the patio they had been on. "I needed you for something first."
The radio operator was present, as was Abbot Davies as they were waiting for Ron to coordinate the defense of the Temple from the room. Davies was a tall, broad airbender a few years older than Ron with steel gray hair and the confidant, calm demeanor of a man who had seen combat before, which he had given the fact that he'd fought in the Battle of the Elemental Academy. They looked surprised at Dominique being present but didn't question her, her rank and status put her on equal footing with them, so they had to let her in.
"Ron, what is the meaning…" Davies began but was cut off by Dominique.
"I need the radio." Dominique demanded in her command voice knowing that they had to listen to her. "I have to make a broadcast."
"To who?" The operator asked confused, looking at Ron and Davies for help but they couldn't help him, Dominique had the authority to use it and only Ron could stop her if she abused to.
"James." Dominique growled. "Set it to broadcast on all frequencies so that he doesn't miss it. I want him to hear this."
"Do it." Ron ordered at the man's helpless look as the man followed Ron's order and then got out of the chair. "Princess Dominique has that right, though I disagree with it."
"It needs to be done." Dominique said as she sat down. "This Temple will fall if James is personally fighting, our troops cannot beat him, and he will slaughter them. I might have a chance in a one-on-one duel to at least injure him and buy us more time to prepare. At the very least I can distract him, and we can take out more of their forces before the retreat order is given."
"Will James listen?" Davies asked. "We have seen in the past people not listen to challenges issued by the Avatar and he is one of the few who outranks you Princess. What makes you think that James will do it?"
"Because unlike the others, James has honor and is known to lead from the front, he cannot refuse it without losing standing and he can't afford that." Ron said as he nodded at Dominique and she smiled at his support, he understood what she was up to. "Go ahead, it is all set up."
"Thank you." Dominique said before turning to the radio, taking a deep breath and began speaking.
"James, this is your cousin Dominique, Chief-in-exile of the Southern Water Tribe. I hereby challenge you to a one-on-one duel to the death against me on Lahima's peak. While I know that this will not stop the inevitable battle, this will at least force the two best warriors out of the battle and allow us to confront each other on a level plain as leaders should meet."
Dominique paused as she collected her nerves. James had been her best friend growing up, they had been as close as siblings because they were the same age and were inseparable in their youth. He had been her support through the Southern Constitutional Crisis supporting her in it and she had supported his military career. His crimes had been devastating as it showed she'd never truly known him. Now she was doing something she'd never expected to do, fight her cousin in single combat to the death. It terrified her but she ploughed on with her message.
"I challenge you, on your honor and mine, to a duel with blades, not bending, to decide this. If I defeat you then your forces retreat and leave the Temple alone while they figure out what to do when the Princeps dies. If you beat me, the Temple is yours and the only true threat to your Southern territory is removed because you know there is only one person in the line of succession who can truly succeed me and he's not my heir. I will be on the peak waiting for you. Come and face me, if you still have any honor left you will. I await you."
Dominique looked to the radio officer who nodded that it had been broadcast and sighed at what she had done. This had been her plan from the moment she'd decided to stay at the Northern Air Temple to help defend it. She had intended to challenge James and take him out of the fight as it was the best place for her to be. She also had no intention of dying at his hands. She knew that when the fight deteriorated both would resort to bending to win it.
"Dominique, you can't do this." Ron said. "If he kills you…"
"Then you become acting Chief until the war is over and Fred is freed from his current standoff and becomes the Chief, he's my heir since Charlie died." Dominique said bluntly. "But he won't. This duel is purely to distract him and keep him off the battlefield. We all know that the Temple will fall, this way more survive then having to fight James. Once the retreat is given, come and get me. I will hold him until then if I can."
"And what of your honor?" Davies asked her. "Will that not have violated it?"
"If it does then so be it, I will restore it later. Dominique said as she rose, she'd accepted that she'd have to restore her honor after this duel, if she survived it that is. "But this has to be done. I am trusting y'all to defend this Temple. We all have a duty to do in this battle, this is mine. Louis, take me to Lahima's peak and then return to the battle where you are needed. When the order is given, either you or Teddy will pick me up."
"Dom, I don't think that…" Louis began but Dominique was in no mood to deal with hesitation, this had to be done and it had to be done now so she regretted what she had to say to her brother.
"Louis, you are a son of the South, I am your Chief and I am giving you a direct order." Dominique said in a commanding, regal voice, the first time in her life she had ever used it or invoked her status. "You will take me to Lahima's Peak, you will leave me there, and you will come with our sister and President Teddy to save my ass when the order to retreat is given so that I can continue to lead our tribe. Is that clear?"
Louis just stared at her with a stunned look on her face at her words. Dominique did not know what her brother would do. Whatever it was, she had not expected him to fall to one knee and bow his head to her the way any citizen of the South would to their Chief in a formal setting, which this wasn't bur she guessed the way she'd given the order had produced this result.
"Yes, my Chief, it will be done." Louis said seriously. "It is good to have our Chief back. Lead us, Chief Dominique."
"Then rise and take me." Dominique said, the others in the room just looking stunned at her.
Louis did that and silently, before anymore objections could be made, they left the room. Dominique would deal with the fallout later if there was a later for her. Right now, she had a duel to focus on. She had to get herself in the zone and she had to do that fast.
Soon, she would come face to face with James and she would truly face death for the first time in her life. It terrified her but Dominique knew her duty and by the Spirits she would do that duty even if it killed her. It was time to truly become the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. It was time for the defense of the Northern Air Temple to begin.
Well the assault on the Northern Air Temple has begun and that is what the next few chapters will cover, various aspects of the assault and the roles of the main players. Dominique's role is just one of those chapters so stay tuned for that. However, that is all I have for now so as always, please follow and favorite both this and myself so that you can stay up to date with new releases (chapters and stories) and please keep the reviews coming as I do love to hear from y'all regarding my work, it means a lot to me. Until next time.
Stringdog