Book 1: Civil War
Chapter 4: The Informant
As the explosion occurs, four guards move towards the Fire Lord. One grabs him and they begin moving him to a safe room. They go down a hallway and enter the room. The guards usher Moshu in, and one turns to shut the door. He locks it and turns to face the rest.
He lets out a gasp, as he sees two guards on the ground, bleeding out, and the other guard holding a sword across the Fire Lord's throat. He takes a fighting stance, ready to throw a fireball at this traitor.
"Don't move. I don't want to kill him, but I will," says the traitor.
Moshu's face turns into a snarl. "Jianchi. I should've known you'd attack the palace. I must have assumed you still had some sense of honor."
"You know nothing of honor," Jianchi hisses. "And don't try any firebending, or I will cut off your hands." He pulls down his bespoke, and grins at the guard. "Leave, or I will kill you where you stand."
The guard looks confused, and sinks deeper in his stance, refusing to listen to Jianchi. Jianchi's smile widens. In one swift motion, he kicks Moshu onto his knees, spins to his left and slashes towards the guard. The guard makes an attempt to throw a fire blast towards the swordsman, but Jianchi ducks, and swings his blade in a backhanded motion, and cuts across the guards chest and throat. The guard crumples to the floor, choking on his own blood.
Jianchi turns and puts his blade to Moshu's chin. "Now, we wait," he says.
Zhongfeng is jolted awake, but his vision is somewhat blurred. His head is pounding as he sits up. He takes a look around, and sees Shiwang sending fire blasts at forces Zhongfeng can't see. He feels someone grab under his arms and begin dragging him away. In his state, he is unable to fight against it.
When the two are a safe distance away from the fighting, Zhongfeng turns to see it was Fudo who was dragging him. Fudo looks at him, "The insurgents have attacked the palace, you were knocked unconscious. Shiwang and I have been fighting off whoever we can."
"What about Yinying," Zhongfeng asks.
"I had some guards escort her out of the palace, she should be fine. Are you good enough to fight again?"
Zhongfeng grunts and winces as he gets up. "I think so, where is my father?"
"I saw four guards take him to a safe room, we should probably get there quickly."
Zhongfeng and Fudo take positions beside Shiwang. They march forward, blasting fireballs toward anyone that dares to attack them.
"So, a little explosion was all it took to knock you out," Shiwang chuckles as he mocks his brother.
"I was a lot closer to the blast then you were, you would've been out a lot longer than I was," Zhonfeng barks back as he sends a blast to his right taking out another assailant.
"I think we should focus on getting to your father, not who would've been knocked out longer," Fudo hisses.
"He's right, we need to find him and protect him," Shiwang says. The fighting seems to have ended, and the three men find a locked door.
"This is the door they went in," Fudo says.
"Let us in," Zhongfeng orders, but no one answers.
The three men share a concerned look. They back up and send three blasts towards the door. The door is obliterated, and the hallway fills with smoke.
The three men walk through the doorway, and see a man, who Zhongfeng assumes to be Jianchi, holding his sword across his father's throat.
"Finally, you have arrived." Jianchi looks at Fudo, "It's good to see you again Lieutenant Zai." His eyes narrow, "Or should I call you Fudo?"
Fudo's face turns into a snarl. "You knew who I was the whole time, didn't you?"
"Do you think I am a fool? I knew who you were and what you were doing. I fed you the information on purpose. I may have had to rush my plans, but you sprung my plan perfectly."
Fudo lets out a yell and charges Jianchi. Zhongfeng tried to grab him, but Fudo was too fast. Jianchi simply side steps, and trips Fudo. He then hits Fudo in the back of the head with his hilt, knocking the young man unconscious.
"Now that he is unresponsive, it's time for the final piece of my plan to fall into place," Jianchi says.
"Not on our watch," Zhongfeng says as he takes a step forward. He hears movement behind him, and then, all he sees is black.
Zhongfeng wakes up, and his head is reeling with pain. He tries to move forward, but finds that his hands and feet are chained to a wall. He looks around, and he sees Jianchi standing with his back to him. "Let me out," Zhongfeng orders him.
"No," Jianchi replies. "If what my informant told me is true, there is a lot you need to learn, nephew."
Zhongfeng gasps, taken aback by what Jianchi has said. "That's impossible."
"So, it is true," Jianchi says.
Fudo jerks awake, as he is chained as well. "What's going on," he asks.
"This man claims he's my uncle," Zhongfeng tells him.
Fudo shoots him a confused look, "That's impossible, there is no way someone like him can be part of the Royal Family."
Jianchi swings his blade, but stops it right under Fudo's chin. "I would keep your mouth shut if I were you," he says sternly. "The only reason you're alive is-," he is cut off.
"Because of me," a very familiar voice says. Zhongfeng and Fudo both look up in shock.
"Gentlemen," Jianchi says. "I believe it is time you met my informant."
As his words leave his mouth, a man with black hair, and a stubble beard walks into the room wearing the insurgent's armor. "Hello brother," Shiwang says.