Hina was in her office when Qin arrived. She bowed as best she could without actually getting up, putting her just-finished paper neatly on top of the appropriate stack. "How can I help the Regent today?" she said, smiling politely.

"The food shipment is gone," said Qin.

"Yes, it shipped on the first tide this morning. It should arrive in Ba Sing Se about two weeks from now, assuming decent travel conditions."

Qin's face darkened slightly, and he took a deep breath, but his voice remained calm. "I should let you know that policy on the shipment of food to Ba Sing Se had shifted, by vote of the War Council this morning."

"Indeed. I have just been informed of that, but the ships had already set sail, according to Fire Lord Zuko's previous instructions on the matter." Hina spread her hands. "I obey my orders, my lord Regent, but I can do so only as they are given." Ignore the Civil Council and see what happens...

A wry smile appeared on Qin's face. "Very true. Know that there will be no next shipment. The War Council and I have determined that the Fire Nation cannot afford it."

"I see. Perhaps I can change your mind? We did fully cost out the Ba Sing Se relief programme, and even Yoichi agreed it can be done." Hina reached towards the relevant file in its pocket on the wall beside her desk.

"That will not be necessary. The programme is now at an end. Your service is appreciated, and I regret having to put aside your hard work."

"Thus it is to be in service to the Fire Lord," said Hina, bowing.

Qin gave a slight bow of his own, and left.

Hina let her smile become a little vicious for a second before going back to her paperwork. It had not been easy to get everything ready and the ships gone so soon... but it had worked and Qin had nothing.

She had at least managed that for their Fire Lord, even if she could not free him from Qin. It would have been a shame to have people starve after all the work put into this, even if they were only Earth Kingdom peasants. It would have been nice to see her country bring life rather than death for once. And... Zuko wasn't wrong that this situation was the Fire Nation's fault, and that they had a responsibility to fix it.

All that fuss about how the War had been for the other nations' benefit, and the first time she was told to fight a foreign famine, it was by the person who called off the War. Then a warhawk killed the project. The situation would be funny if it weren't so sad.

This shipment would delay famine for a month or so, if Kuei and his people rationed it carefully. The political situation in the Fire Nation was so unstable right now. Agni willing, and some careful work behind the scenes to reduce the damage Qin was doing... it might be enough.

Chimon was called to check Zuko the afternoon after the Fire Lord woke. Zuko was sitting up in bed, propped up against pillows. He had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders despite the warmth of the sunlight streaming in, and the scowl on his face deepened when he saw Chimon.

"How are you feeling?" asked Chimon.

Zuko shrugged and looked away. Chimon asked him some more questions and got shrugs or slurred one-word answers in response. The servant answered many of the questions when Zuko did not. Chimon determined that Zuko remembered very little of the incident with the Dai li, and was still sleepy and confused.

Zuko allowed himself to be examined. His body temperature was still lower than normal for him, but not by as much as it had been, and he suffered from severe dizziness when he moved. This looked kind of like the aftermath of a high dose of karedis, but even then Zuko was too dizzy – perhaps an idiosyncratic side-effect related to his recent lightning injuries?

"What happen... now?" Zuko asked, blinking like his catowl.

"You rest," said Chimon. " You should feel a lot better tomorrow, though." Probably. Chimon wished bitterly that he had never told Kage about Zuko's mental health problems.

It was late at night two days later when Chimon was able to finish analyzing the dregs from the cup. He stared as the bubbles confirmed the presence of derin. Added to earlier tests that had confirmed the presence of high levels of karedis, and ruled out selar, or kitan, it was obvious that the Fire Lord had been intentionally rendered unable to fight effectively, or call for help. He should have been in a heavier-than-average sleep, with no nightmares, but able to wake up and fight just fine.

Kage lied to me. He lied to me, and drugged my patient. Why? Surely he can't have been working for the Dai li. Kage is a patriot. This makes no sense. Could someone else have replaced the medication with something else? How? Kage handed it directly to me. Chimon rubbed his forehead.

The Dai li knew he could safely kidnap Zuko for mindbending, and was working with a firebender. Probably a local. Azula had Dai li working for her when she was in power. Someone else could have found one of those Dai li, and turned them to their own ends with threats or promises. I already know Kage told Qin confidential medical information about Zuko. And Qin is now Regent of the Fire Nation and Zuko's guardian.

Sun in eclipse, what have I done? He felt sick.

Qin, the Dai li, and Kage had to have been working together to remove Zuko from power. Nothing else made sense. Mung and Sung were probably in on it, too. And if they realized Chimon knew, he was dead.

Had anyone seen him take the cup? Only the kitten. And the replacement cup was similar. Thank Agni. He should be safe for now. Probably.

What in the world did he do now? Put the lab equipment away before anyone saw it, and hide the cup somewhere no one would find it, for a start. Chimon got up and began to collect his dirty glassware.

Beyond that, was there anyone he could tell with both the power and the motivation to put things right? He didn't know the politicians very well, not well enough to know whom he could trust with something like this.

As he walked through one of the less-travelled corridors, he was accosted by a girl with her hair in twin buns. Chimon wasn't quite sure who she was for a moment, then recognized her as Mai, Zuko's girlfriend.

Mai raised a delicate eyebrow. "Since our dear Regent is refusing to let me see Fire Lord Zuko, and I understand you saw him this afternoon, how is he?"

"Awake," said Chimon. "Mostly." Chimon wondered if Mai were someone he could trust to look out for Zuko. He'd never actually spoken to her before, but Zuko seemed quite taken with her.

"Mostly?" asked Mai. "Has he been mindbent or not?"

Chimon made a face. He'd love to tell her everything, but... "I have never seen a victim of mindbending. Dr. Kage has, and believes it likely. Something has clearly happened to the Fire Lord, but whether it is mindbending or drugs I can't speak to."

Mai nodded, face impassive.

Chimon thought back to her original question, and frowned. "Regent Qin has forbidden you to see him?" Another piece of the puzzle, if Qin were actively keeping those who cared for Zuko away from him. Not a good sign.

"He's not letting anyone in," said Mai. "Except the doctors, himself, his hand-picked servants and guards, and that Fire Sage. You did not recommend this for medical reasons, then." It wasn't a question.

"Zuko is not fully himself at the moment, but I think he would benefit from seeing a friend."

Mai nodded. "Can you suggest this to the Regent?"

"I already have," said Chimon. "I shall do so again, and louder, but I cannot guarantee success. The Regent is... somewhat possessive of the Fire Lord."

"Try anyway," said Mai. She tilted her head. "Why is the Regent so possessive, do you think?"

"You'd have to ask him."

"I'll pass," said Mai. "Just try to get him to let me – or someone else Zuko trusts – in. I worry."

"I'll do my best. But I doubt Zuko's health is at the top of Qin's reasons." Chimon felt himself wince. He wasn't good at these games. Why had he agreed to be Royal Physician? He should have realized it would be like this!

Mai nodded as if she'd just confirmed something, and turned and walked away.