Chapter 3 – What Happened
"REN!!!!" I hurried inside to the drunken demon's lair, praying and hoping that he didn't notice my leave.
"REN?!"
"Yes, papa, I'm here!" I gasped out as I closed the door from the rain. My hair was wet as my clothes were drenched.
"Where've you been?"
"Ah, well – I -," I began.
"And were's tha' butt tule of 'Arth Kingdim wiiine?"
"Coming! Coming!" Without the hired hands, it was difficult to find the bottle he specified but soon I had the red flask in my hands and was slipping and sliding through the many halls until I found father on the steps struggling to walk down the steps. I halted, slowing my pace to find that he was indeed as dizzy as a new born fawn.
"REN!! - "
"Yes?" Startled by how soft and close the voice was to him; he spun around and looked at me drowsily. I waited for another command along the lines of "get me another glass!" or "where's that bottle?" but none came. Instead, he slumped down to the floor and had succeeded drinking his cares away to sleep. What a shame for the fire nation.
As my father slept in his chamber in the rare peace and quiet, I had managed to change out of my wet clothes and into dry, clean ones. Sitting on my bed, staring out the night skied window, I combed my hair as my thoughts had wandered from my rage I had for my father to my mysterious friend. Hrm, Zuko, where have I heard that name before? Suddenly a quiet knock interrupted me from wondering more.
"Lady?" It was another night maidservant. She opened the door timidly.
"Come in, what is it?"
"There is a letter addressed for you and your father."
"Where is it from?" She handed me the roll of paper.
"It was handed to me from the royal family's carrier." The letter had been bound clearly with expensive cloth and had been marked with the seal of the red dragon, the seal of the royal family that rules the Fire Nation. Humph. More work for father?
"Thank you Olla."
"Good night Lady Ren."
"Good night." I took the roll of parchment to my night stand and slipped out the paper from the binding cloth. It had read this:
Zhao Family,
You have been honored to attend a formal gathering at the grand palace hosted by the Royal Family and Fire Lord Ozai held in three nights. Please bring all your family members able to attend.
At the end, the stamp of the red flying dragon signaled that it was indeed a legal document.
So, the grand Zhao family was to be invited to a wonderful feast hosted by the most honorable fire lord and his family. I hoped General Koran wasn't going to attend.
Sorry, this is so short! Meh.