Ursa was always a quick study back in the troupe, and likewise was confident she had learned enough of the court's ways to tell when something big was going to happen. She just didn't expect to see it over lunch. With her brother-in-law. Who was the paragon of quick thinking and decisiveness and a well decorated general of the army. Who also had the healthiest appetite in the family she was dealt.

And now hadn't so much as touched his salted pork crisps with a thousand-li stare. Add that her father-in-law deigning them worthy of his presence today over food was just as ominous.

She didn't dare break the wire thin silence.

Her children likewise knew there was something amiss. Azula's eyes regarded the awkwardness with careful deliberation, a word here and there to keep what little and unobtrusive small talk there was between her and Lu Ten. Zuko took refuge in his food, giving it his full attention and ignoring the tension as expected of any proper noble's child. Raizu, however, was too busy mumbling to himself and scribbling down whatever it was he had on his mind.

The most peculiar of the current situation, however, was how her husband was absent at such a time. Ozai was many things but he never sat on his thumbs when there was a measure to be gained or something to be taken, and now was as ripe a situation as any.

Azulon cleared his throat. "Raizu, do you know where your father is?"

"He was really interested in that hot air contraption the sages finally got working, he said it would 'revolutionize' the way war was waged and not to wait for him and eat since he would be spending the rest of the day with minister Qin." Her boy didn't bother looking up from where he was hunched over still writing with that pencil of his, a capital sin had that been anyone else—had it been either her Zuko or Azula.

The Fire Lord chuckled, the Crowned Prince was snapped out of his stupor, Azula narrowed her eyes at her brother, and Lu Ten swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Good lad."

Then the Fire Lord dismissed the servants in the room with a casual wave. And thus, they were finally at the precipice of the matter. Raizu looked up and stopped his writing, then her boy met Azulon's gaze.

And smiled.

The Fire Lord brought his hands above him and the very air shimmered into a heat haze before expanding outward and washing over her with a gentle wave of dry heat.

"A precaution," the Fire Lord said, meeting her questioning look, and reassuring the children save for one who was more curious than surprised. "I trust everyone here can keep a secret well?"

Secrets were the lifeblood of nobility; it need not be said especially for the royal family. That it was spoke of the immensity of what his next words would be. There were no objections or questions, not in front of the Fire Lord even from his own family.

"I have already told Iroh and Lu Ten, and I must tell you all as well: Ursa, Zuko, Azula, Raizu."

The Fire Lord met them each as he said their names. But not Ozai, was left unsaid. Her stomach had already fallen even when she hadn't yet heard what eruption would come shattering the earth.

"I will be leaving my throne to Iroh at the soonest that I can, and no doubt this will… likely not be met well by Ozai."

Zuko looked up. "Are you alright, grandfather?"

"You always were more like your uncle than your father." The Fire Lord chuckled again. "No, Zuko, all is well with my health, thank you for asking."

Azulon… thanked Zuko?

After that her daughter wasn't as tense anymore. And Lu Ten's shoulders weren't as hunched up.

Taking that as his cue, the Fire Lord explained his plans, about Iroh coming back from the front lines and staying in the palace and of the necessary steps for succession. He further spoke about Iroh's most likely allies and enemies but always there was no mention of Ozai. Zuko was just as happy as Lu Ten, and Ursa wondered just how much this would change their lives.

The twins' reactions were more grounded. Azula asked her clarifications, always skirting around the fact their father was openly treated as a problem—even if he weren't an enemy outright. Not yet at least. Raizu gave his inputs and suggestions on the matter at hand, and some predictions on where the nation might stand and how things could go depending on whom was on whose side. Economic implications and the political climate from the aftermath aside, such things were clearly beyond what anyone expected from a child so young.

It was so easy to sink into the fantasy that Raizu was simply a phenomenally brilliant boy, but time and again he would destroy the walls she'd placed in front of her. Just like the dragons from the stories, he was honorable, but he would never permit any lies be told in his presence—especially not any lies to oneself.

She once hated having to give birth to that monster's children a second time, but her being a mother tore her heart and fire more times than she could count. Ursa knew she could never truly wish ill on her own. Not like Ozai.

Never like Ozai.

And it was thanks to a bundle of letters she'd found on her bedside, eaten to ruin by ladymoths for countless years, long neglected and barely holding together. Letters that finally found their place in her parents' hands, tucked away amongst the innocuous nonsensical scribbles of a boy who wrote a palace's worth of paperwork all on his free time.

Even if she didn't know if she could ecer truly call Raizu her own with her whole heart, he would at least forever have her respect.

"I know I can't truly send Ozai away from the palace for any long periods of time," Azulon said. "But I believe we are presented with a good opportunity… and perhaps a long overdue apology as well."

The Fire Lord, apologize?

"Ursa," Azulon said, "I have brought you an unfair burden as your fire lord, and I have come to see that it was wrong of me that your children know nothing of your life before here. If it pleases you, would you please bring your children and Lu Ten here with you and take a long and relaxing vacation in your hometown for a while?"

She could finally go home?

"Although sad to say Ozai will not be going with you, or catching up at all since he will be very busy for a good long while."

All eyes were now on her. But any words she could have turned to all failed her. Ozai was a threat, and the Fire Lord was pleading—pleading! With her to keep the royal family safe. She was finally going to see her family… but it was going to come at a very steep price, just as her life always had.

"It would be a great honor for me," Irog finally said, "if Lady Ursa would help my son understand what it is like to live with the land, I'm afraid my boy has been much too pampered in the palace." He was asking her to keep his one and only son safe from harm, from Ozai's jealousy.

And she trusted Iroh would sooner fall on a blade than let any harm befall his flesh and blood.

Perhaps, had she been a stronger person, she could have answered the veiled pleasantries with her own honeyed and measured words—but Ursa had long been on the cusp of the precipice, balancing on a too thin ledge for so long, and what should have been thanks instead only came out in incoherent sobs.