CHAPTER 2 — ZAHEER
"Zaheer. You're needed in the war room."
Zaheer looked up from where he had perched himself on the edge of the watchtower, closing his book. His friend Lee stood in the doorway to the stairs, leaning casually against the door jamb. His dark hair had been cut recently, and shorn too close to the sides of his head. A scab was forming at the top of his left ear, angry red.
"Hello Lee. Did a platypus-bear give you a haircut?"
Lee ruefully ran his hand across the back of his scalp, nose wrinkled in disgust. "Might as well have been a platypus-bear. They still have Isa on barber duty. I swear, that man is blind in both eyes."
Zaheer laughed, and Isa joined in, although he checked his reflection critically in the metal door.
"Ah, what'll I do? What else do I have but my good looks?"
"I can always count on you to be profound."
"Not everyone can be as deep and spiritual as you, Zaheer. What the hell are you reading, anyway? You know you're not in school?"
"I think it's important to read to maintain our principles. Not forget our history."
"Bleh — I failed history. Who needs to remember that dusty shit? But you should hurry. The Shark of the South is asking for you."
"Varian?" It wasn't everyday that one of the highest generals of the White Lotus asked for you in the war room. Lord Kaito must have made another move.
Isa was still examining his hair in the door, but Zaheer knew his thoughts were following the same thread. "Do you think Kaito's made another move?"
"He must have." Zaheer pushed himself off the ledge. "Can you take my book? I should go straight there."
"Sure thing. What is this? Who's Guru Lahigma?" He pronounced it lah-hig-mah.
"A guru of the Air Nomads. And it's lah-hee-mah."
"Whatever. I'd do you a favor by throwing this in the trash. Might improve your prospects with the girls."
"Always looking out for me, Lee."
"I try."
The White Lotus compound of the Southern Earth Kingdom was one of the largest on the continent — it housed their best military strategists, the most renowned from all over the world. It was over a hundred-thousand acres and had barracks for nearly forty-thousand active White Lotus members, at capacity. Usually there was a festive energy in the air — members laughing over cookfires, playing music, some drinking, some dancing. But as the evening fell, bringing with it a cool breeze and a wave of bright fireflies, Zaheer could sense some anxiety among his fellows. People moved quickly and quietly down the halls and through the courtyards, everyone with a purpose, no lollygagging.
Whatever happened had been big. Zaheer quickened his pace.
The war room, name antiquated but still in use, was large with curved white walls covered in etched stone maps. Torches lit them at intervals, and the last gasps of sunlight filtered in through high windows. Seated at a low table in the center of the room were four of the White Lotus generals — Iruqoi, Shi Hui, Ishtaar, and Varian.
Varian was somewhat of an anomaly — he was the youngest general the White Lotus had had for forty years, but one of the quickest and smartest in their history. Son of a Southern Water Tribe mother and Earth Kingdom father, he had grown up in one of the Earth Kingdom colonies, where cultures clashed. His skin was tanned dark and his features were very reminiscent of the Water Tribe, but his eyes were a dark nut-brown. His vicious waterbending skills and strategy prowess had earned him his nickname — the Shark of the South.
Everyone looked up as Zaheer entered, clasping his hands behind his back.
"You sent for me, sir?"
"Zaheer. It's good to see you." Despite his words, Varian didn't smile. "Please, sit."
He took a seat at the foot of the table, directly across from Varian. For some reason his heart began to race, and he tried to will it back into slowness.
"You're probably wondering why you're here, Zaheer."
"A little. But I know if an emergency meeting was called on such short notice, it must be because of Lord Kaito."
Varian nodded, the creases in his face growing deeper. "Lord fucking Kaito. We've been monitoring him for several months now. He's always been a problem, as you know, but for the past half year he's been acting more aggressive than normal. He's consolidated some of the last remnants of the imperial Fire Nation, and his force grows by the day." He got up from his place at the table and paced towards one of the maps on the wall. Even with his back turned Zaheer could hear the frustration in his voice. "Last night, our intelligence came back with the news that he had conquered the last village in the Ren province. Do you know what that means?"
The Ren province. Zaheer's mind raced. "Only the Shin province stands between him and controlling the entire eastern Earth Kingdom."
Varian nodded. "With the upcoming coronation of the Earth Queen, we can't risk any more territory falling under his control. We must ensure that the Earth Queen is successfully crowned, and we must project a new era of strength and prosperity, if her reign is to survive."
Zaheer felt a sudden flash of alarm. "But he could take the Shin province any day now. We have to stop him, by force if necessary."
"Take it easy. Kaito isn't a stupid man." Varian traced the borders of the Shin province on the map with his finger. "There's a reason why Lord Shin's territory has remained untouched for over a hundred years. His army is powerful, and his cavalry unit is unmatched throughout the entire Earth Kingdom. But he also has a lot to lose. Kaito will approach him diplomatically at first, trying to appeal to his greed — they'll share the spoils of the region, and whatnot. If that fails, then they will go to war."
War. The word sent a shudder down Zaheer's spine, and it darkened the mood in the room even further. The last bits of sunlight disappeared as the sun slipped below the horizon. Only firelight remained, casting shadows on the walls.
"What is the role of the White Lotus, Zaheer?"
He answered without missing a beat. "To prevent war between the nations at all costs. To maintain balance and peace in the world."
"That is correct. We are launching a mission to take out Lord Kaito and behead his conquest before he becomes too powerful. A huge portion of his army are conscripts from the villages he's taken under his control. Without his leadership, our intelligence assures us it will fall apart." Varian turned back towards the table, and Zaheer realized that all eyes were on him again.
"Sir?"
"The plan is to go undercover as Lord Shin's political advisors while he meets with Lord Kaito. We'll drag out the negotiations as long as possible and capture Kaito before their tete-a-tete ends."
"We, sir?"
"Yes. I am the only general young enough to have never met with Kaito before his conquesting years — he has no idea what I look like, aside from poor artists' renditions that, in my opinion, never capture my nose right. And I have chosen you to be my partner. You have a perfect record. I've seen you in training — you're quick, and clever, and you're a devil with the javelin. I believe you have what it takes."
Zaheer stood and saluted. "You do me great honor. It would be my privilege to accompany you."
Varian grinned, and the firelight threw shadows in the hollows under his low cheekbones. Zaheer suddenly understood his nickname. "Then let's get started. We have a lot of work ahead of us."