The tension broke in a War Council Meeting two weeks later. "There's another matter," said Zuko, turning very grim. "This touches on the honor of the Fire Nation, and my personal honor. General Mung, why does Constable Sung tell me you've been taking political dissidents and petty criminals for the coal mines? I gave orders to stop imprisoning people over trifles before I was even crowned!"
"You said nothing about the mines, just the prisons," said Mung.
"I would have thought that was implied! And you could have asked me if you were confused."
Qin spoke. "I believe he did not mention it because the mines must be staffed somehow, and he feared, rightly, that you would place the 'rights' of criminals above the safety of the Fire Nation."
"We could pay them," Zuko said. "What we're doing right now looks awfully like slavery."
"With what? The country is deep in debt, and all your high-minded policies are going to beggar us." Qin glared at Zuko. "You should listen to your elders, your Majesty, if you want to keep your throne."
"Is that a threat?" said Zuko, glaring right back. "Because I'm sick of your backbiting, scheming and veiled half-threats. Either come out and say it, Qin, or shut up!"
"I make no threats, I only foretell," said Qin in a sanctimonious voice. "Weaken this nation in front of the Earth Kingdom, and they will tear us apart," he said more harshly, his hands now flat on the table. "If it were just you, I'd sit back and eat fireflakes while watching you fail. But it's not just you at stake. I've spent my life serving the Fire Nation, and I will not watch a child-puppet of the Earth Kingdom ruin everything I've spent my life building."
"Get out!" said Zuko. He pointed a hand at Qin. "You too, Mung. You can both sit back and eat your fireflakes while I succeed in turning the Fire Nation around. Which is going to be a whole lot easier without you sabotaging everything I do!"
No one moved.
"Fire Lord, are you sure?" said Shinu. "You still haven't replaced Generals Taiyo or Bujing."
"Get out!" said Zuko, half-rising, spitting sparks, and gesturing at Qin and Mung again.
Qin bowed icily, and left, Mung on his heels.
Zuko watched them go, and sat down again, feeling drained. Looking down at the table in front of him, he could see a hand-shaped scorch mark on the pale wood. Oh. Oh no. He hadn't done that in years.
"Perhaps we should ajourn the meeting for now?" said Chan tentatively.
"Yes," said Zuko shakily. "That would be a good idea." He paused. "Admiral Chan, you are now War Minister, effective immediately."
Admiral Chan's eyes widened, and he bowed his head to the table. "I thank the Fire Lord for the honor you have just bestowed upon me," he said formally.
Zuko's eyebrow rose. "It's a lot of work," he said.
Chan nodded.
Everyone got up and left. Zuko rose slowly, the door seeming far away. Guard-Captain Kumaro appeared at his elbow, wordlessly offering his arm. Zuko shook his head, and walked unaided out the door and down several hallways back to his bedroom, where he shut the door on the universe.
He rested against the closed door. He should talk to Hina, he should try and do damage control. He should talk to Chimon, if he'd started handburning things by accident like some angry child... Zuko slid down the door and put his head in his hands. "Why am I so bad at this?" he said. Why had he ever thought that things would get easier once the War was over? When had his life worked that way, ever? He laughed bitterly. He was such a fool.
"Meowhoot!" said Fluffball, newly-awakened from a midday nap. She jumped out of her nest and ran over to Zuko, demanding attention. Zuko stared blankly at her for a moment, then picked her up. She purred at him and butted her head against his face, and he stroked her, then started helping her get those itchy bits of pinfeather sheathe off her wings. Just a few moments of peace, then he'd go and face the world again...
He relaxed, and they both fell asleep still leaning on the door.
Hina almost gave in to temptation and facepalmed when the scribe told her that the Fire Lord had just fired half the War Council, including the War Minister. He didn't have the political support to pull a stunt like that! What had Qin done for Zuko to react so strongly? Zuko had a temper, certainly, but he'd agreed they should leave Qin in place for at least the next six months. His collapse at Mak's wedding had weakened his position since then, and he knew it.
She went in search of the Fire Lord. One of the guards informed her that he was in his quarters, and had asked not to be disturbed. Great. "I really need to talk to him about what just happened in the War Council."
"Councillor Hina, the Fire Lord is not seeing anyone right now," said the guard.
"This can't be left for tomorrow." They needed to do damage control, now. Starting with replacing the War Council members with new ones, and arresting Qin. He couldn't be left loose, still an Admiral even if no longer War Minister, and newly enraged by his loss of status.
"I don't think disturbing him would be a good idea, Councillor," said the guard. "He's in the worst mood I've seen since he was crowned, and he ordered us to keep everyone out. Come back in a few hours. He might be willing to see you then."
"I will be back," said Hina, going in search of Chan. He'd know what had gone down in the War Council. And when she next saw Zuko, she was going to have words with him about being available in urgent situations. Though she had to wonder what state he was in right now. He had been erratic lately, and obviously unwell.
She tracked Chan down in his office, leafing through piles of paper and looking stressed. "I need to borrow you for a few minutes," she told him. "What happened at the War Council? I need to do damage control."
"Oh Agni, what a mess," said Chan. "The Fire Lord found out General Mung had been blatantly ignoring and evading his orders with regards to prisoners and the coal mines, and got angry. Then Qin tried to defend Mung, and Zuko exploded, and kicked them both off the Council. While spitting sparks and singeing the table. Qin was offensive and disrespectful, but he had actual points as well. Now I'm War Minister."
Chan shook his head, sighed, and raised his eyebrows. "I'm trying to come up with replacements for Mung, Taiyo, Qin, and Bujing right now that he'll accept, because we can't operate with half a War Council, not with troops still retreating and being moved all over the map."
"Was Qin treason-level disrespectful? What did he say?"
Chan hesitated. "The problem is that much of what he said are things most of the officer corps has thought, even if they're not saying it out loud. If the Fire Lord arrests Qin right now, a substantial portion of the military will stop obeying his orders, and there's a good chance that everything he's tried to do will fall apart."
Hina shook her head. "I had not realized that the situation in the military was so bad. And if Qin's left to run around loose, he'll cause no end of trouble." Although if I give Qin enough rope, might he be persuaded to hang himself with it? His pride is a weakness, and he's becoming a menace we can't afford.
"Quite possibly. Hina, is there any way you can get the Fire Lord to back off on some of the changes he's making? This situation reeks of trouble the Fire Nation doesn't need right now."
"I'll try talking to him, once I can get hold of him. He's downright popular with the Civil Council, and is showing signs of growing into being a good Fire Lord."
"He may not have time."
Curse Qin. "What about the remaining War Council members?"
Chan sighed. "I just want a functioning government that keeps the Fire Nation safe. That's all. You know Mak."
Hina nodded. Mak was Zuko's single biggest supporter among the higher officers.
"Shinu?"
"I don't really know about Shinu. He doesn't confide in me."
Hina nodded grimly, and took her leave.
She spoke to Guard-Captain Kumaro next, and found out he was already on alert for trouble.
Then Suki of the Kyoshi Warriors, whom she finally tracked down in one of the practice areas, doing some sort of drill with that acrobat of Princess Azula's who always wore pink. Ty Lee, wasn't it? "Suki of the Kyoshi Warriors?" Hina asked. The identically-painted faces turned to look at her. "There's been a development. I am Councillor Hina, and we need to talk."
One of the girls stepped out of formation. "That would be me. What is the problem?"
"I'd like to rest my leg, if you don't mind," said Hina, gesturing to a bench near the wall.
Suki shrugged, and followed her over. "What's going on?"
"Fire Lord Zuko just fired half the War Council." Hina then explained the situation.
"That doesn't sound good," said Suki. "I take it the loyal military isn't enough to put down the disloyal if they were to revolt?"
"I should hope it will not come to that. Very few troops will be willing to move against the Fire Lord for a deposed War Minister. The Fire Sages would declare them anathema, and they know it. But the situation is very fragile. Can you keep your eyes and ears open, and get Ty Lee and Ukano's daughter to spend time around him too?"
Hina regretted she had to ask for the latter – she didn't much like the idea of the Fire Lord marrying a nonbender from a new-money family like that, but the girl was fantastic with knives and would be excellent non-obvious protection. And she might be able to help his obvious distress, too.
"You mean Mai? Yeah, that's a good idea. She has better access to him than we do."
"You and your warriors need to stay low-profile," said Hina. "Having Zuko surrounded by foreign bodyguards would give the wrong impression."
"And Mai and Ty Lee don't have that problem," said Suki, before turning wide mock-innocent eyes on Hina. "The rest of us are just keeping an eye on a friend who's having a hard time. What could anyone object to in that?"
Hina smirked. I like this one. I must remember not to underestimate her.
After that, Hina attempted to talk to the Fire Lord and got rebuffed again, though she did manage to worm out the information that the Royal Physician had seen him, and he was under doctor's orders to rest. Tired, sore, frustrated and getting hungry, she decided to try again tomorrow. She'd come to the limits of what she could do today, and Qin was unlikely to do anything major before tomorrow morning. She hoped.