Hina was in the middle of the first Civil Council Meeting Qin had called since his accession as regent, when a guard burst into the room. "Regent, the Fire Lord just tried to kill himself!"

What?

"What?" said Qin, going white. "Is he all right? What happened?"

"He's all right. He tried to climb out the window, fought like a wild animal when restrained, and tried to firebend. In a wooden tower."

"Oh Agni," Qin muttered. He looked at the Civil Council members. "Meeting adjourned. I need to go deal with this immediately." He rose and strode quickly from the room with the guard in tow.

The Civil Council members looked at each other. We let this happen. "Do you think the Dai li forced the Fire Lord to do that?" asked Ukano tentatively.

"He could be off his head from everything that's happened to him," said Mayumi.

"That we let happen to him, you mean," muttered Murasashi. "Hina, you know him best. What do you think?"

"I need more information," said Hina.

"Are Qin's policies that dangerous to the Fire Nation?" asked Mayumi.

"I don't know," said Murasashi. "He is being quite confrontational with the Earth King."

"I thought the Regent's missive was quite appropriate," said Sung. "The Fire Lord was under foreign influence, and was weakening the Fire Nation. If he's suicidal, well, that's just more proof he's unfit to rule."

"Military policy isn't something the Civil Council has much say in," said Hina, "and Qin has the full confidence of the military." And likely that of the police, judging by Sung. "But I think we can safely say that Zuko needs to be removed from that tower, and from Qin's custody."

"If not Qin, then who? You?" asked Murasashi.

"Almost anyone would be an improvement, if Qin is driving the Fire Lord to suicide," said Mayumi. "We might be able to get him to give up Zuko's guardianship to another, if we get the Fire Sages involved and don't protest his rule of the Fire Nation."

"Admiral Chan would be more acceptable to Qin and the military," said Hina. "He has a son Zuko's age, is good with teenagers, and no one hates him." Chan the Younger was a bit spoiled, but at least she could be sure Chan and Misuri wouldn't abuse Zuko. They would fuss over him. That might annoy Zuko, but would probably be good for him. Zuko might be good for the younger Chan, too. It would be good to see Chan make something of himself, instead of lounging around posturing for the girls at the beach.

"The Fire Sages need to know, if they have not already been told," said Hina. "Who will go and fill in High Sage Kenji on what has happened, and ask him to meet us at the foot of the Central Tower?"

"I will," said Mayumi.

"Should we talk to Chan about this?" asked Murasashi.

Hina thought for a moment, then shook her head. "There isn't time, and it's better if we surprise Qin. Chan will take Zuko in if he's asked, I'm sure. You saw his face when he spoke about how Ozai treated his kids." She also knew Chan.

By the time the members of the Civil Council had reached the Central Tower, she could see Mayumi, Kenji, and several other Fire Sages heading in their direction. Hina smiled grimly.

High Sage Kenji strode up to them. "I am going to have words with our dear Regent," he said. "Perhaps you would like to join me?"

"Of course, High Sage," said Hina, smiling.

The guards let them in as far as a meeting room on the lower level to wait. They sat down around the undecorated table, and waited in tense silence.

After a wait in tense silence, Qin came down, stopping at the door. "The Fire Lord is unhurt," he said. "He's sleeping off a sedative right now. I'm having him moved to a safer location that isn't made of wood."

"Just why did you need to do these things?" asked High Sage Kenji ominously. "And why do I hear about the Fire Lord's suicide attempt second-hand from these-" he gestured at the assembled politicians. "Prior to this, I have received complaints via Sage Daiki that the Fire Lord was being threatened with being drugged, that he was terrified of what Qin's rule would bring to the Fire Nation, and that he wanted 'anybody but Qin' as his Regent. Am I to assume his complaints are well-founded?"

"The one and only time we used a sedative on him was just now, after he tried to climb out the window while his servant's back was turned. I don't know what he thought he was doing, but he could easily have fallen even if he didn't jump. When pulled away from the window, he fought the guards to the point of biting like an animal, and trying to firebend in a wooden tower." Qin's voice rose a little. "He'd have been safer if we were drugging him! And I am not putting the Fire Nation in danger!"

"The Fire Lord needs to be out of your care, Regent," said Hina. "I warned you about this, and so did the High Sage!"

"I do not now dispute your Regency of the Fire Nation," said Kenji. "But as High Sage, I am rescinding your guardianship of Fire Lord Zuko."

"No," snarled Qin. "You are interfering in secular affairs, and have no power here."

"The Fire Lord is a Fire Sage. You are imprisoning him without charge, without trial!"

"There are others capable of being Zuko's guardian, while you run the country," said Hina. "Surely you would appreciate being free of the worry of caring for a suicidal teenager while you run the Fire Nation?"

Qin actually paused. Zuko must have really shaken him.

"Perhaps someone like Admiral Chan?" she suggested. "He has a son Zuko's age..."

Qin's face closed. "And is a good friend of yours whom you think you can influence against me. Forget it. I will protect the Fire Lord, from himself if I have to. His instability stems from the Dai li and his father's mistreatment. Giving him a different guardian will do nothing to solve it. I will move him out of the tower, and allow you more access, so you can see for yourselves how he is and distract him from feeling sorry for himself. But understand that he is mine."

Qin looked at Kenji. "You go too far, High Sage. We all remember what Azulon did to your predecessor."

Kenji went pale. "Azulon was the rightful Fire Lord. You can't get away with..."

Qin smiled. "I have the military, and I have the Fire Lord."

Hina swallowed. It was out in the open now.