A long time ago, the Avatar disappeared without a trace, and with the absence of any successor, the world was gradually thrown into chaos. Governments became unbalanced, spiritual and natural disasters spread, and war sprang everywhere.
In the face of this unprecedented crisis, Fire Lord Kuni declared that he would assemble a party to search for this Avatar, but the Earth Kingdom feared this as a prelude to more aggressive actions, and moved to subdue this threat. Amidst the chaos, two young women managed to escape, and with their allies, embarked on a long journey that would hopefully lead them to the new Avatar, the only one who could restore order to the world…
AVATAR
The Celestial Sailors
BOOK ONE: CHAOS
11: Shadow Conspiracies
Suo squinted as the torchlight of his jailer pierced the darkness of his cell. Having been transferred from one prison to another several times, he knew what was expected of him and went along quietly. The pain in his ribs and his right knee reminded him to be obedient, or else worse would follow. Suo was never clear on why he had been moved around so much—the first time he asked, there had been a...disagreement with the guards—but he used these sojourns to his advantage, memorizing as much of his surroundings as he could. Finally, he was shown into his new cell, which he would be sharing with three other people. He didn't recognize two of them, but he'd never forget the face of his king, the Fire Lord Kuni, as long as he lived.
"Sire! Thank the dragons, sir, you're all right!" He knelt down; Kuni laid in a bed, his every need tended to by the other prisoners. Suo had heard rumors of the king's demise during his incarceration, and though he hadn't wanted to believe them, keeping the faith had grown tiring. Now he was glad he had been so optimistic—even if, at the moment, Kuni didn't look all that well.
"Yes, alive," the man smiled, "but not yet in any condition to return to service. I've been provided with some accommodation in the meantime, though. It seemed necessary after an altercation caused our royal body some painful inconvenience."
"Oh, sire," was all Suo could say. Kuni smiled and asked his name; Suo gave it. He then wondered if the other man had any information for him—anything at all. Suo regretted that he had little to share, save that he had ferried the Priestess Hino and a civilian out to Wu Song, where they had been separated by earth-benders. Suo couldn't say whether or not the two girls had been captured or were still free; for his own part, he had fought briefly but bravely, having no skill in battle save the strength a boatswain naturally acquires.
"I did make account of myself, sire, in my own way."
"Good. That's good. It frustrates me that I know so very little of the current situation. There was a time when the least scrap of news from the farthest corner of the world didn't escape my ear."
"Forgive me, sire," Suo murmured, lowering his head. Kuni grunted sympathetically.
"There's nothing to forgive; even that little bit is better than nothing. But I do have one thing to add, if you'll hear it."
"Of course, sire." Kuni closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath. There was physical pain, in his body; and mental pain, by being left in the dark, humiliated, imprisoned, and separated from his family. The pain he was about to share went on an even deeper level, a spiritual pain.
"General Jaedite has betrayed us."
"Sire!" Suo gasped, "Are you certain? I...I mean...forgive me for doubting you..."
"No, I understand your feelings. I wouldn't have believed it myself if it hadn't been confirmed for me. But the facts are indisputable: Jaedite is working with the enemy."
"That lowlife," Suo growled, clutching his fists. "How could he? I didn't know him personally, but I knew he wanted for nothing, and my liege has always been fair with his Generals..."
"It isn't like that, Suo," Kuni said firmly. "Listen to me: Jaedite is working with the enemy. He has betrayed us." At first, Suo didn't understand how this was any different. Kuni had been staring at him very intently, though, nodding his head as he emphasized the words. Suo considered what they could really mean, a long ponderous session where his mind entertained radical possibilities.
"So...you are saying, my lord, that Sir Jaedite...is working for...the enemy."
"'For' is...a bit misleading. But essentially..." Kuni nodded intently again. Suo was beginning to understand.
"For them...or with them...and there is a difference."
"A considerable difference. I think you understand, Suo. Jaedite has betrayed us." Kuni nodded once again, and he even jerked a little with his head and eyes, indicating those who might be listening in.
"I see, my liege. Yes, Jaedite is clearly working with the enemy. But one thing puzzles me, sire. I am but a humble boatswain, with no knowledge of politics, war, or fire-bending. I...I have been transferred many times, my king, and I always wondered why. Now I must wonder why I, of all people, was led here, to your side. As much of an honor as it is, sir, it mystifies me."
"That's easy, Suo," the king grumbled, smiling just a little. "You aren't special. Nobody would give you a second look. Why, if you got wind of something as scandalous as Jaedite's betrayal, who would listen and who would believe you? Understand?"
"Perfectly, sire," he said with hushed awe. "No doubt I will be deprived of your majesty's presence in the near future. I must ponder how I should best serve you in the days that follow."
"I'm glad you feel that way," Kuni smiled. He then produced a discarded bandage and waved it subtly before balling it up. Suo caught the coded message instantly; it had been in semaphore, the communication shared by most sailors. It said, simply, "spread word".
…...
There was absolutely nothing going on inside the cell until old Oboro gave the signal. It hadn't taken them long to figure out the guards' patrol schedule: every day around this time, their keeper marched down a long hallway, exchanged his shift with another man, and went off to watch over a new section of the prison. This new guard would then patrol the hallway, but he was compelled to crisscross his way to eight other hallways that intersected it, each of them presumably leading to different cells. By Oboro's calculation, it took the guards an average of two minutes to walk back and forth down each hallway, and ten minutes to inspect each cell, plus another ten to inspect theirs. This meant that Lord Ittou and Lady Kotono had eight twelve-minute intervals of complete privacy—about an hour and a half, all in all, per guard. They were quick to invest that time wisely.
It was Oboro's turn to watch for outside changes as well as keep time; everyone else gathered in the middle of the cell. As soon as this lapse had been discovered, Ittou and Kotono had started holding meetings in small groups to plan an escape. Some of the more long-standing members of this committee, aside from the royals, were Lark, who had quickly become Ittou's best friend and a source of levity and support; Kartti, one half of the twins who had participated in the tournament; old man Oboro, who had known the previous Avatar well; a lithe and sprightly rogue called Salamander, and a massive but soft-spoken martial artist, who could neither read nor write. Ittou had astutely observed that many of his cellmates had also participated in the Fire Lord's tournament—coincidental, perhaps, but surprising all the same.
"We've got two new prisoners today," Ittou began, keeping his voice low, "and we've lost three. But those three were instructed to tell everyone that my mother, sister, and I are alive and well, and that the safety and freedom of all Fire Nation citizens is our top priority. They were also informed about the Tears of Apsu, and Queen Beryl's involvement, but we were careful to warn them about General Jaedite. Kotono and I have been talking in private, and we both agree it's not yet in our interest to reveal he's a traitor. As far as the mass public is concerned, Jaedite was not involved in the attack."
"I'm not so sure I agree with that, highness," Kartti said, burying her fist in the palm of her other hand. "Don't we all have the right to know who's behind this?"
"Yes, which is why we're telling them about Beryl. Pinning the blame on a famous fire-bender like Jaedite will be bad for morale. Of course, we may just be delaying the inevitable, but for right now, we'll keep it a secret. Now, about those two new prisoners..."
"A man and a woman," Salamander said, playing with a discarded chicken bone. "Strangers up until now. A carpenter and a seamstress. Came to the tournament to watch history unfold, just like any good citizen. Spent a big hunk of dough getting there, too. They were as doleful as abandoned cow-pups when they first came in here."
"I can't blame them," Kotono sighed, glancing over at the two. They seemed anything but downcast now, though, and smiled back reverently when they noticed the princess looking their way. "It's bad enough when respected members of the nobility are treated this way, but there are so many innocent commoners... They had absolutely nothing to do with this. What an ugly fate, to be caught under the wheels of war we so-called higher-ups drive..."
"Yes, well, they perked up when they learned they were in the presence of royalty." Salamander snickered and started scratching the floor with her bone. "They considered it a great honor, the chance of a lifetime. And they're great gossip-mongers, so once we're done..."
She stopped talking immediately when Oboro gave the signal. Everyone had just enough time to return to their original places and wait while the guard went from one hallway to the other. He briefly glanced their way before resuming his march. Oboro gave the signal, and they resumed their meeting.
"Once we're done, I say we share some wealth with them. By your leave, of course."
"The Queen seems to be improving," Lark said, peering over the group at Iku. She was still very withdrawn and unresponsive, but with her children here, and these regular meetings, hope was starting to flicker in her glassy eyes. Lark had very kindly attended to her whenever Ittou or Kotono could not; in fact, many other prisoners had taken turns caring for the queen, considering it an honor. Oboro seemed to get across to her the best, since he had so many stories to share about the previous Avatar, and of the Fire Lords and Ladies he had served before. Both Ittou and Kotono had pressed him about information concerning the Avatar's whereabouts, but he simply told them the same thing he told everyone else:
If the Avatar was alive, they would know. And if he was not, then his successor must be found.
"I'd like a turn at caring for the Queen next," Kartti volunteered. Kotono smiled at her.
"That's very kind of you. If only we had news of your sister." Kartti rubbed her nose shyly, causing the ring embedded in it to flicker.
"If I survived, then Keya did, too. People say that twins have a unique connection, and that may be true...but even if it's not, it's still how I feel. Besides, I'm the eldest, and there's no way she's dying before me."
"Do you think..." Ittou glanced over at his mother, then lowered his voice. "Do you think that applies to...parents and their children?"
"But didn't Jaedite say your father was alive?"
Kotono shook her head. "He vaguely implied it. All the same, we must believe it. Now, I believe we—" She cut herself off again as the guard made another crossing. Wait...wait...wait. Now. "I believe we last left off thinking of different ways we could use those guard changes. Now, the enemy may think we're at a disadvantage with those Tears of Apsu, but there are two sides to that coin. In other words, if we can't use our bending, then neither can they. We definitely have enough numbers to overpower a guard or two, and with, uh...this one on our side... I'm sorry, what was your name?" She looked at the martial artist, a creature so tall and massive that even the Fire Nation's most decorated officers looked like silly children next to her. She was gentle as a lamb, though, soft-spoken and contemplative, slow to move and slow to think. The guards had treated her like a stupid brute; the prince and princess welcomed her gladly.
"Oh, uh, beg yer pard'n, majesty, I din mean t'be rude. M'folks dun ga' me a fancy name on account o' settin' higher expectations than what was produced, if y'take m' meanin'. Jus' gimme any name t' yer likin' n' I'll be all right."
"What name did your parents give you?" The woman blushed and stammered.
"Chiao T'ing, yer highness."
"They named you well," Kotono said, laughing politely. "In olden times, Chiao T'ing was a mighty female warrior who helped Avatar Sung Chiang and his bad of outlaws overthrow their oppressors. She wore a completely blank mask to frighten her foes, which is why people call her 'the faceless'."
"I dunno nothin' about that, yer highness," Chiao grumbled. "But if that's true, I think it fits me less'n b'fore. Gimme a simple easy name so's folks can r'member." Kartti, who had taken a liking to the simple-minded woman, scooted closer to her and smiled.
"How about Ku Sheng instead? It's derived from the Goodwife Ku and the Goodwife Sheng." Chiao blushed even more, but couldn't erase the beaming pride on her face. It seemed they had found a winner.
"I, I, I ain't married yet, Miss Kartti, nor do I think I oughta be until all this's sorted out. But...I really like it all th' same, if that's okay with e'r'one else, beggin' the pard'n of maw n' paw." Everyone approved, of course, though Ittou and Kotono had to stifle a chuckle. According to history, the Goodwife Ku was a female tiger, and the Goodwife Sheng was a female savage.
"As I was saying," Kotono said, her grin gradually fading, "with you on our side, Ku Sheng, we'll be able to overpower a lot of guards. Ittou and Lark have been discussing how to pick the lock, and once that's done, we could steal some keys and free more prisoners. But Oboro didn't like that idea." Oboro was in no position to speak, so he just shook his head. Salamander raised her hand.
"I wasn't in on that. Mind going over it again for me? I'm pretty good at picking locks."
"In short," Kartti said, "even if we could pick that lock, which I doubt is even possible, we're bottled in here. The layout of these hallways means that they could keep one or two guards at the exits and use three, maybe four to push us all back, or even just to keep us at bay. We know they have spears and archers, so it wouldn't be difficult to pick us off—and aside from milord and miladies, they'd have no reason to spare us if we attempted an escape." Salamander scratched her cheek, flummoxed and glum. Ku Sheng looked up at the cell window. It wasn't very broad, but it allowed a generous bit of sunlight and air into the cell. Besides the barred door, this was the only other visible way out.
"Couldn't we climb up there n' bust'r selves out?"
"I tried that already," Salamander said. "There's a thick metal grate in the way. We can't even budge it, and the only thing that could squeeze through those slits is a mouse."
"Which is where I've been coming in," Lark said. "I've tamed a few of the rats in here and sent them out, but I haven't had much luck. The grate's too thick for them to chew through, so I've had them dig around it. At the rate they're going, though, it'll be at least a year before we can get out."
"A year?!"
"That," Kotono said grimly, "has been our best option so far. If we could bend fire, we could just melt our way through."
"Andja really can't?" Ku Sheng insisted. "Haven't'cha tried? Ain't royalty s'posed to be a cut above, if ye'll pardon me, yer highness?" Kotono pursed her lips and clenched her fists tightly. She hated being reminded of her inefficiency, and she hated keeping it a secret, and she hated what people would say and think of her if they ever found out. Maybe she should just admit it and be done with it...
"We've all tried," Salamander said, sprawling on the floor with a yawn of defeat. "General Jaedite even came by a few days ago with a torch to 'help' us. Nothin' doin'." They all explained what the Tears of Apsu did, but Ku Sheng still didn't understand how a couple of "tiny blue sparkles" could inhibit a fire-bender. Oboro signaled for them to disperse, but when they came back, they were no closer to a plan.
With nothing else to discuss, Ittou invited the two new prisoners into the circle and prodded them for information. They learned there were several other prisons like this: not just in the Fire Nation but in the Earth Kingdom as well. Prisoners were transferred and relocated on a fairly regular basis, evidently in an attempt to curtail meetings such as these. The logic was that strangers have a much tougher time cooperating and coordinating than people who had been living together longer—plus, any plans concocted in one prison would undoubtedly get mixed up with plans from another, then everything would go to pot. Ittou and Kotono conceded to this sensible approach, but were quick to observe that it also helped spread news and information around. The two newcomers were then given a list of things to remember if they should ever be transferred again—and above all, to assure everyone that their leaders were alive, well, and toiling for their safety and freedom.
"But there's something that concerns me," Kotono muttered. "I can't understand the reasoning behind keeping my mother, brother, and I all in the same cell. Ittou thought they wanted to keep an eye on all the royals, but if that was true, then why separate us from father?"
"Unless he's really..." Ittou choked up before he could finish his thought. Kotono squeezed his shoulder, glancing at their mother. If she had heard, she made no response.
"Unless their plan was to make us think he was...that he was not with us anymore. Just the knowledge of our father's safety could mean the difference between rebellion and complacency. They could also be using him as a kind of hostage—as in, 'behave and we won't kill him'. But why keep the three of us together..."
"Ye shouldn't question good luck, yer highness," Ku Sheng said. She blushed and added, "Beggin' yer pardon, I mean."
"We're all in the same prison, Ku Sheng," Kotono smiled. "You can speak freely with us. In fact, I'd like to insist on it. We all have to work together now, so keeping anything to yourself, be it information, grievances, or just stray thoughts, is detrimental." Ku Sheng nodded slowly. Kotono was positive that it was more than mere happenstance that three members of the royal family all shared the same prison cell, and trying to unravel the reason for this oversight possessed her thoughts. Not questioning "good fortune" was not good enough. This left her silent for most of the planning and debating, which left Ittou and Oboro to take charge. Ittou, despite being much younger than his sister, was turning out to be a capable leader and strategist, with charisma to spare. He was always willing to listen to new ideas, and he loved bringing as many people in on the debate as possible, so as to get the widest range of opinions. Kotono noticed this, and it warmed her heart to see her little brother coming into his own. He was still a child, though, she reminded herself with a forlorn smile, and he still needed guidance and protection. Just not so much anymore.
The next day, while Kartti stood on guard and Oboro was back in their circle, Lark decided to study one of the Tears of Apsu. There was one the size of a walnut smack dab in the middle of the cell floor, so while the coast was clear, Ku Sheng dug it out. For all intents and purposes, it was nothing more than a sparkling bauble that might have been mistaken for a pebble or gem. It couldn't be broken, marred, or ground down, at least by anything they had with them; exposing it to sunlight or water did nothing; it had no odor, made no sound, tasted like tangy metal (Salamander volunteered for that service), and felt rough and cool to the touch. Removing it was out of the question, since the guard would notice its absence; and in any case, they were all along the ceiling, walls, and floors of the entire prison. Salamander counted at least eight of them that were visible, but the prison likely had dozens. Nobody had ever heard of them before, so their origin, discovery, and capabilities were a mystery. One thing was certain, though: as long as they were around, benders had no control over the elements.
The day that followed all these scientific inquiries saw Lark keeping watch, Ittou taking care of the Queen, and Kotono asking Oboro to share his stories and knowledge of the previous Avatar. While most of what he said was common knowledge, there's always a public side and a private side to a person's life, and Oboro had seen it all.
"Kalkin was a great man," he began, as he usually did when asked about the last Avatar, "but he was also a strange one, even by Avatar standards. Not that I ever held him being born an earth-bender against him." This line usually garnered a soft chuckle from whoever was listening, and it worked even now. Oboro's smile became weary as he shook his head. "He wasn't born into war, you understand, nor to humility. He would've been the first to tell you that he spent most of his youth as a sheltered, spoiled brat, the wealthy son of wealthy Earth Kingdom politicians, and not only did he never want for anything, but his father made sure he never saw anyone want for anything, either. He was already an accomplished earth-bender before he turned ten, which his parents saw as not only a good omen, but his natural birthright, and they even made plans for him to marry into the royal family. All that turned sour the day he sneezed his birthday cake into oblivion and nearly set the entire party on fire soon after. It was a freak accident, but it changed his life forever. The next year, when he turned sixteen, Kalkin was identified as the Avatar.
"Naturally, his father was acutely torn and distressed over this news. On the one hand, being the father of the Avatar should have been the greatest honor any man could've asked for. After all, politicians and kings come and go, but Avatars? They change history just by living. Their power and influence is immeasurable. The problem was that Avatars travel; they mediate, arbitrate, and negotiate. They are the bridge between the physical and the spiritual, the means between every extreme, the voice of every living creature in the world. They don't rule, they don't govern, and they don't live for a single nation. So Kalkin's father locked him up in his own home and did everything he could to keep his son from doing anything or going anywhere. This actually worked for a little while, because it's difficult to change your life overnight, especially if you're going from luxury and indolence to adventures, hardship, and frequent poverty. But as we all know, Kalkin didn't stay locked up for long.
"Wars have a way of tearing up roots, after all."
"A truth we've all discovered recently," Kotono murmured. Oboro nodded.
"It was just another one of those minor conflicts that sparked way back in the day, when the northern and southern kingdoms were at odds with each other over territory and resources. There were plenty of other factions back then as well, ranging from bandit or pirate kingdoms to straight-out splinter monarchies. There were revolts, of course, and then a famine hit. One war ended and several others sprang up as a result of it. Anyway, long story short, Kalkin's entire family was deposed, they were declared traitors—just for being born on the wrong side—and were either exiled or executed. Kalkin escaped with the aid of some soldiers, and I was one of the squires in training. It was a hard way to meet, and it didn't get easier when he started to flaunt his title in our faces.
"First off, he had the notion that being born in the upper class made him a better person. I made sure to correct him, and I'm ashamed to say that I used violence. We both got in trouble, and then he told me that he was the Avatar, and that I should doubly obey him. I hit him again, a lot harder this time, and my superiors really let me have it, subjecting me to grueling, awful work for two weeks. But I never let him forget that in spite of all his so-called advantages, I could still whip him in a fight."
"Oh, Spirits, you're kidding me!" Kotono chuckled. "Did you really pick two fights with the Avatar?" Oboro nodded, his sad smile returning.
"Yep—and both in the same day, too. We even got to have a rematch, where I told him he could use any bending technique he wanted. Needless to say, a lifetime of sitting on padded chairs counting money doesn't prepare you for real-world combat. I wish I could say we became friends after that, but it was a long time before that happened. I'll tell you that story later." Oboro glanced up, noticing Lark's signal. Everyone dispersed as a patrolman approached the cell and opened the door.
"Telling stories again, Oboro?"
"Yeah, you got a problem with that? We don't have much else to do in here. Don't wardens usually put their prisoners to work?" The patrolman sneered and entered the cell. He was armed, and he made sure everyone knew it.
"Hehn, do you want to break your back doing hard labor?"
"No, just thought I'd suggest some options, is all. So who's being transferred today?"
"Not you, so don't get your hopes up. I'm taking the Princess and the Queen. The boy stays."
"No, you can't!" Iku cried, rising up from her slump with a wild expression. It was the first outburst she had had since being brought here, and it surprised a few people. "Please, I'm begging you, don't separate me from my children! They're all I have left!" The patrolman stared back coldly.
"You're not the one giving orders down here, Fire Lady. Come on, just make it easier on yourself."
"Leave her alone, you scum!" Kotono shouted. She took two steps to defend her mother but was stopped by the point of a sword. It was then that she noticed two other guards just outside the cell, one with a mace and the other a bow. Slowly, she backed away, closed her eyes, and submitted. The patrolman smiled and cuffed her.
"That's better. There's no need to be dramatic, it's just a transfer. Come on, your highness, you too. I'm authorized to use force if I need to." Iku trembled where she stood, her physical and mental well-being already teetering. Losing her husband, being hunted, and imprisonment was one thing, but being cut off from her daughter and son...
"Please...at least tell me if my lord is safe and well. I haven't heard any word of Kuni since..." She shook her head, not caring if anyone saw their Queen so broken.
"Oh, he's alive, all right—but not for long." Iku, Kotono, and Ittou all gave a start.
"What do you mean by that?!" The patrolman chuckled cruelly.
"You really have been out of the loop, haven't you? He's going to be executed in a week."
The end of "Shadow Conspiracies"
Next time: "The Taku Ruins"
Author's note:
The name of the previous Avatar, Kalkin, comes from Hindu mythology, and is appropriately one of the avatars of Vishnu (the tenth, to be specific). Avatar Sung Chiang's name is lifted from the classical Chinese story, Shui Hu Zhan, otherwise known as The Water Margin (or Suikoden in Japan). Many other names, locations, and astronomical constellations in this story are also derived from this work.
