"Yes, we need to find out what she knows, but I think our primary concern is extracting information while preventing her from doing the same thing the attackers from your coronation did. She cannot suspect we intend to..." Li paused for a moment, then continued with the most menacing smile Zuko had ever seen, "detain her." Her pronouncement quieted all the other voices, quelling the debate over how best to interrogate Kaori.
Zuko and all the people he trusted most in the Fire Nation—Mai, Uncle Iroh, Li and Lo, and Admiral Liang (Shiro, Zuko corrected himself) sat around a stone table in an open courtyard. Outside where they could spot any unwanted listeners was the only place everyone felt comfortable discussing Kaori and what to do about her. This particular courtyard was ideal because the burbling fountains at each corner helped muffle the sounds of their conversation.
Shiro spoke hesitantly into the silence. "I have watched her and looked into her background as much as possible without raising suspicion. Nothing about her adds up. Her accent is clearly from Shuhon Island, but she claimed to be from the colonies. The amount of effort expended to create a believable backstory was very small; I think we'll find she's not highly placed in this organization. But perhaps we can use her to get to people who are."
Mai's firm tone cut through the resultant silence. "If we hope that she will lead us to other members of this organization, we need to make her feel absolutely safe. Zuko, you should promote her."
"What?!" he sputtered, "You want me to promote someone who was part of a conspiracy to kill me?"
She shook her head, mouth tensing in a way that suggested a suppressed smile. "It's not like you're promoting her for life. It's just until she's comfortable enough to make contact with someone."
Though he was still hesitant, Zuko slowly nodded agreement. "Okay, yes. I guess that would make her feel pretty sure we don't suspect her of anything. But to which position? I don't want her to have too much actual authority because, well, she's probably involved in a plot to murder me. I really don't want to reward that sort of behavior."
Mai snickered until he leveled an aggrieved expression at her. Why was she laughing about someone trying to kill him?
Shaking off his mild irritation, he thought for a few moments "I think one of the endless staffing updates I heard yesterday was that the new chief laundry attendant decided to get married and leave Caldera City. I could give that position to Kaori."
Saying her name set off a ping of uneasiness within him. They were talking about imprisoning a woman, and possibly worse, without much cause for suspecting her. He felt sure lots of people had secrets they'd prefer to hide from their employers.
He examined his companions, searching for signs of hesitation to match his own. He saw only sincere steady eyes meeting his. No one seemed to share his sudden doubt. Nevertheless, he voiced his concern. "How sure are we she's untrustworthy? Even under my father, it wasn't illegal to omit mentioning you're a bender. Is that our only justification for suspecting her?"
Mai released a disgusted huff of air. "You don't have to provide any reason. You're the Fire Lord!"
Zuko dropped his head. His heart sank a bit. He shouldn't be surprised Mai believed that being Fire Lord gave him the right to do anything he wanted. All his predecessors had done so. Once again he was grateful for the time he'd spent in his uncle's care. His instinct to protect his people had seen him punished, humiliated and scarred. But Uncle Iroh had encouraged his natural compassion and had taught him how to be a just ruler.
"That's not the sort of Fire Lord I want to be. I need to be sure she's part of this conspiracy before we move against her." He looked intently at Mai, a silent plea in his eyes. She gave a single slow nod and the worry squeezing his chest eased. She hadn't taken the same journey he had, but she could change her mind.
Silence fell again as everyone pondered how to achieve that goal. Zuko glanced around the conference table and nearly snickered at the various ways his ad hoc advisory group represented contemplation. Uncle Iroh drank his tea, seemingly unconcerned with the issue at hand. Eyes unfocused, Mai sat still as marble but for one slim finger tapping out some personal secret code against the polished wood of the table. Li and Lo, as usual, seemed to communicate a universe of ideas solely through lingering glances and eyebrow twitches. Admiral Liang steepled his hands under his chin and stared out the window.
Zuko realized he was watching the others more than he was trying to come up with a solution and slammed his eyes closed. Maybe his brain would work better without the visual stimuli. But then all he could think of was how weird it must look to everyone else that he was sitting with his eyes closed. Would they worry that he'd fallen asleep?
Shiro put an end to Zuko's vacillation by announcing "she has to hear something she'll want to convey to her contacts as soon as possible."
Zuko felt his brow crease as he blinked his eyes open. "Is this before or after I give her a better job?"
His uncle finally looked up from the apparently fascinating cup he held. "We should let her hear that Zuko has decided it makes him look weak to have a personal guard in addition to the palace guard." Meeting Zuko's eyes, he chuckled lightly and added "Within her hearing I can reprimand Shiro for allowing you to dismiss people who are dedicated to protecting you."
Shiro smiled and broke in when Uncle Iroh paused. "I will, of course, express my dismay, but refuse to disobey a direct order from the Fire Lord." He looked toward Zuko and added, "you should have her promoted as soon as possible. Iroh and I will give her a few days so we can learn her schedule. Then we'll make sure to have our confrontation somewhere she can hear us."
Li and Lo stood simultaneously and announced "We are still adept at remaining unseen when we wish. We will observe her closely. You'll know her schedule as soon as we do."
Lo continued on her own "and, as soon as she hears this spurious news, we will watch closely to see who she tells."
Zuko paced the thirty steps across the width of his bedchamber. Thick carpets muffled the sound of his feet. Frustrated at the wait, he shoved a pile of scrolls out of his favorite chair and flopped onto its brocaded cushions. He tapped his fingers against the arms until the movement increased his impatience rather than soothing it. Scowling, he hopped up and resumed pacing.
Over an hour had passed since Uncle Iroh told him the staged disagreement with Shiro went perfectly. And he had heard nothing. What was happening? Was Kaori rushing to tell people he was unprotected? Had they guessed wrong? Was she even now blithely ironing napkins, completely unconcerned with her monarch's purported vulnerability?
He groaned aloud and kicked the chair he'd just vacated.
His uncle, sitting calmly across the room, tsked. "Zuko," he reprimanded, "what did the chair do to you? Sit back down and have a cup of this delicious tea. It's a new blend I created to honor the peace treaty. I call it Harmony Blend." He motioned to a gilded teapot on the table beside his chair. Steam wafted gently from its spout.
Zuko snapped "I don't want tea!" He flopped into his chair again and mumbled "I only want news." Slouching further into the chair's rigid back, he growled "I guess I'll take tea, too" and held his hand out for the cup Iroh brought to him.
Iroh smiled and relocated to the chair beside Zuko. "Drink. It will settle your nerves."
The image of a nervous society lady, woozy with excitement at the prospect of an event at the palace, invaded his mind. The mental image transformed into himself, elaborately coiffed and gowned, gracefully drooping into a faint. Against his will, he smiled. The picture altered, Mai entering and catching him in her arms, then fanning his face. Though he tried to fight it, he was soon helpless with laughter. Catching his breath, he shared a reluctant smile with his uncle and saw that Iroh's eyes were twinkling and...was that a wink? It was! Zuko was suddenly very glad that he no longer resisted all of Uncle Iroh's efforts to lighten the mood during tense events.
Zuko opened his mouth to thank Iroh, but was interrupted by the door to his rooms crashing open. Mai raced inside, high spots of color in her face, eyes gleaming with excitement. In quick, low tones, she explained "Kaori went into the Fire Lady's suite and left a lantern burning in the window. We think it's a signal for her contact. Auntie Li and Lo are following her right now to see who she meets."
"Let's go!" Zuko nearly shouted as all his nervous energy zinged back into his limbs, forcing him up and out of the chair.
Before he could take more than a step toward the door, though, Mai's hand halted him. She smiled awkwardly as she shook her head. "Calm down and sit. One of them will come to us if anything happens."
Zuko, too keyed up to remain still, resumed his pacing with a put-upon sigh. Mai, back to her usual calm demeanor once her news was discharged, shrugged and sat in his vacated chair. She eyed his still-steaming cup for a moment before helping herself to the remaining tea.
"Oooh, Uncle Iroh, I like this tea. Is it a new blend?"
Zuko reminded himself that he didn't rage and throw fire around when annoyed any more. He tried to breathe evenly, counting slowly on each inhale and exhale as Aang had taught him. It helped. Some. He told himself that he would be a good leader and took a few more deep breaths to be sure he had control of himself and his reactions. Then he crossed to the window and stared out into the private courtyard facing his room. His gaze took in the orderly march of stepping stones and the lush greenery framing the edges of the space. Mai and Iroh's discussion of the merits of various tea leaves faded from his awareness. He focused carefully on what he could see, tamping down all his anticipation and, yes, nerves. Calm settled over his thoughts, allowing him to review what they knew and all the contingency plans Shiro had delineated.
When his door swooshed open again, his tranquility evaporated, replaced with all of his previous edginess. Lo swept into his rooms, quiet but for the hushed rustle of her silk skirts.
"Come quickly," she announced. "Someone is speaking with Kaori even now. My sister is watching and will follow the other person if they leave." She turned back toward the entrance, motioning for the others to follow.
Zuko snagged her hand, halting her progress. "If they leave, how will we know where to find them."
She glared at his hand until he released his hold, face heating with embarrassment. There were some boundaries even a Fire Lord would do well to mind. Then she laughed, a throaty sound that reminded him of stories he'd heard about the fire twins' many amorous admirers. "I can always find Li, anywhere and any time. Don't you worry about that."
Lo once again gestured for him to come along. She moved through the hallways of the palace with her typical age-belying grace and swiftness, somehow keeping even her gown silent in the hushed halls. Zuko and his entire entourage followed in her wake, like the strangest turtle-duck family ever seen. Zuko and Mai matched her silent stealth, but Uncle Iroh and Shiro had been on the strategic side of battles more often than not and lumbered along far less adroitly.
Down they went, into more populous and brightly lit passages as they descended. Palace workers bustled about their tasks until they noted the odd procession whereupon they gaped in stunned disbelief as one highly ranked person after another invaded the servants' realm. Uncle Iroh smiled and greeted some of the people they passed, but his amiable overtures inspired only further consternation.
Zuko's patience, already hanging by a thin strand, snapped when Lo rounded a corner and slid out of view. He shouldered past an old man carrying a basket of fig-pears, then stopped in horrified astonishment as the fruit tumbled out of the basket and rolled across the floor. Each piece of fruit landed with a gentle splat, then wobbled a slow track along the stone flagging, leaving wet smears on the rough gray stone.
His uncle's reproachful look was enough to stop him in his tracks. Iroh didn't say a word in reprimand, but he stooped and began gathering up the spilled fig-pears. Zuko felt his face heat. He glanced anxiously toward the corner where he'd lost sight of Lo, then heaved a martyred sigh and bent to help Uncle Iroh pick up spilled produce.
"Sorry," he muttered to the man with the basket as he dropped his handful of fruit on top of the pile. The man gawped at him briefly, then quickly ducked his head and mumbled an apology of his own before bustling away, eyes firmly downcast.
When Zuko faced the corner again, he was relieved to see Mai waiting for him. She pointed down the corridor where Lo had disappeared. Shiro must have already followed her because he, too, was out of sight. Zuko hurried to Mai, anticipation slicking his palms. She reached for his hand and together they moved at a near run, following the only available path.
The corridor ahead of them suddenly glowed red. Bright light leaked around the last turn, several strides ahead of them. As one, Mai and Zuko broke into a run. She dropped his hand and kunai sprang into each of hers, deadly edges gleaming in the eerie red illumination.
They rounded the corner just as the light dimmed and they stumbled forward into pitch blackness. Zuko slipped in something slick spilled across the floor, but Mai's lightning reflexes allowed her to catch his arm and right him before he fell. He glanced around helplessly, trying to make out anything in the gloom.
Fire bloomed from the space ahead of him and blanked his vision. He heard Mai swear, low and long, beside him. He blinked rapidly, trying to restore his vision.
"Zuko," Mai whispered urgently, "a little light?"
Oh! Cursing himself for twelve kinds of fool, Zuko held up a hand and kindled a flame in his cupped palm, casting light onto their surroundings. He was able to close his eyes to avoid the blinding effect this time. When he blinked them open again it still took a moment to make sense of what he was seeing.
The viscous liquid he'd felt underfoot glinted darkly in the firelight. It led to a crumpled form, cast in shadow by Zuko's firelight. Before he could absorb more than that single impression, fire burst forth from the same source as before. But this time, the flame he carried made a bright target for the wielder. Zuko dodged to the right, away from Mai. He barely got out of the way of the blast; the searing heat singed his hair as it passed.
A quick sidewise glance revealed Mai palming another knife while the one she'd held a moment ago whizzed a lethal path toward the source of the fire. It must have missed, though, as another burst of flame sped toward them. Zuko was better prepared for the attack and launched his own flame to meet it.
Where was Lo? Why was all this fire flying about when the Fire Twin should have easily stopped it?
The two streams of fire met and exploded into brilliant light that completely illuminated the space. And Zuko saw Lo crouched over the person lying on the floor. And the person lying there—dead? or merely unmoving? was clearly Li. He looked for Shiro but couldn't find him. His eyes rested at last on his opponent.
Kaori. She'd seemed so normal in their previous encounters. That smiling, round woman had been replaced by a harridan with a fierce glare and rumpled hair and clothing. She screamed wordlessly as she gathered her chi and launched a fireball wildly toward him. Zuko recognized that her aim was off and merely stepped aside. The fire flew wide and shed brighter light over the scene. He hesitated, longing to return her fire, but knowing they needed her alive if they were to learn anything at all.
A quick glance toward Mai revealed her silently circling wide of Zuko, moving toward Kaori. Good. Most firebenders, maybe even most benders, underestimated the prowess of non-benders. Underestimating Mai never ended well.
Kaori saw the direction of his look and twisted to cast the fire she'd conjured toward Mai instead.
"Mai! No!" Zuko tried to yell, but panic constricted his throat, compressing his words to a thin hiss.
Seemingly in slow motion, the fireball plowed into the floor in front of Mai and flames licked upwards from the hem of her red dress. Red dress, red flames, flickering light and choking smoke, Zuko took in all of these through eyes wide with terror. Heedless of anything else, he started toward her.
Mai danced back from the fire, trying to beat at the smoking mess of her dress. When her actions seemed to do nothing but fan the flames, she swore colorfully and used the knife in her hand to cut across the fastening of her overdress. She yanked it off and quickly wrapped it around herself from the waist down, smothering the flames.
The relief of seeing her safe weakened his knees and he stumbled slightly as he reached her. Mai stopped his instinctual embrace with a single flick of her fingers. She did allow the corners of her mouth to tilt slightly upward and her eyes smiled at him ever so briefly before she turned back to face Kaori.
He turned, too, only to see Kaori falling to the ground bonelessly. Zuko shook his head in wonder and absorbed the sight of Shiro standing over Kaori's crumpled form, the sword pommel he'd apparently used to lay her low still clutched tight in his hand.
Shiro slid his sword back into its sheath and bowed briefly. "Your highness." At Zuko's pained look, he amended "Zuko. I'm sorry. I chased the person she was meeting with, but I lost sight of them around a corner and they vanished. There must be secret passages I don't know down here."
Zuko laughed humorlessly. "So many secrets, Shiro. I doubt anyone knows them all."
"You might be surprised by what I know." Relief turned his muscles to liquid at the sound of Uncle Iroh's voice, coming from behind him. "There is an entrance to the catacombs not far from here. And from there the only way out is through the Fire Sage's temple."
"Uncle!" Zuko couldn't quite focus on Iroh's words yet, so relieved was he to hear him speak. Meaning penetrated his relief and he felt his thoughts and reeling emotions still. The Fire Sages? Were they involved in this?
"What does that mean, uncle? Are the Fire Sages behind the attack?"
Iroh looked around and finally noticed Lo crouching silently over her fallen sister, stricken beyond tears. His face settled into grim lines as he met Zuko's gaze. "I don't know, nephew, but this Kaori has a lot to answer for."
Zuko nodded somberly. "Yes, she does." Drawing his spine straight and attempting to summon an air of calm authority, draping it around himself like a perfectly tailored coat, he began to give orders.
A/N Thanks for sticking with me! I know my updates have left a lot to be desired and I'm so grateful for everyone who has stuck around. Anyway, did you know that the amazing CoyoteLemon launched the Kataang Writer's Awards and voting is going on now for the best stories completed in 2021 (not this one, obviously!) and you can vote for YOUR favorites now (until June 17) I don't think will leave a URL intact, but if it does you'll find it here: cg7468uc
If not, google "Kataang fanfiction Writer's Awards" and the official Tumblr with the requisite link will be the first result. I'm nominated for a few, which is humbling and has inspired me to write more!
