Chapter 2: Hunters of Men
The headquarters of the Shorewatchers was every bit as imposing as Sen had imagined it. It was a massive structure, towering above everything else in view. The walls were shaped of a dark grey stone, which made it a prominent and threatening sight amidst the white plains of snow that surrounded it. It was a building designed to strike fear into the hearts of those who saw it.
The Blade Ship led the way to the docks of the imposing tower, and Ada pulled their vessel ashore. Several Shorewatchers lined up to watch their vessel arrive. The Shorewatchers were not used to taking in guests. They examined every one of the new arrivals curiously as they disembarked.
A few of the dock workers tried to corral Gun and lead him into the structure. He was actually fairly compliant when he was on the docks, but the moment Gun's feet reached the soil, he punched his way through the permafrost and vanished into the depths of the earth. Sen felt the vibrations as Gun got settled. Once he was a few dozen feet below the surface, the arctic cold faded and Gun was perfectly comfortable. The Shorewatchers who had been trying to corral him stared at the ground and then turned to Sen.
"Trust me, you don't want him to come back," Sen said with a shrug. "He's not very fond of strangers."
The Shorewatchers looked at one another. Offending an animal the size of a house was not on their to-do list. The commanding officer waved them down. She was concerned with people, not animals.
"It's a shame we had to drag you along," One of the Shorewatchers said. "The Blade Ship is the fastest ship on the waters. We could have made it back before nightfall."
Sen looked up at the moon. It was full, or nearly full, he couldn't quite tell. His sleep schedule still hadn't recovered from the strange lack of a day and night in the Spirit World, so it being the middle of the night did not exhaust him. He was glad of that. If it was a full moon after all, the Waterbenders would be very lively.
Sen was ushered inside the dark stone structure. It was just as imposing and utilitarian on the inside. Whatever architect had designed this place had clearly had no mind for artistry. Everything was square corners and sharp angles. Sen found the whole place oddly uncomfortable.
The Hunters escorting them led Sen and his friends to a side room with a large table. One Shorewatcher gestured to it.
"Any weapons go one the table," He commanded. "Anything metal or stone as well."
Ada looked to Sen. He nodded, and she began to unbuckle their sword belt. They were technically on the same side as the Shorewatchers. It would be pointless to cause trouble. The sooner they got in and out, the better.
Swords, staffs, and metal reels all lay upon the table soon enough. Last of all, and quite reluctantly, Sen placed his bracelet upon the table. One of the Shorewatchers began to look over the assorted weapons and trinkets as Sen was led to a secure room in another part of the building. A hooded figure in the corner of the room kept a careful eye on Sen as he was led away.
"They sure are well-equipped for a bunch of kids," One remarked. He took hold of Suda's metal reels and examined them. "These are the same kind of thing the Republic City Police use, aren't they?"
"Forget that," Another one of them began. "Take a look at these swords."
Ada's swords were held out, with a careful warning not to touch the trigger sitting just above the handle. The style of forging was very familiar to the Shorewatchers.
"That's Yakkul's work," The Shorewatcher holding the blades declared. Master Yakkul had crafted many of the spears used by the highest ranking members of the Shorewatchers. The fact that a young girl was carrying around a matching set of Yakkul's blades was strange.
"There's something odd about these ones," Somebody said. He fiddled with Whistler's staff, and accidentally unfolded the glider mechanism. Yet another surprise amidst the piles of gear. The Shorewatchers began to take a second look at even the more innocuous items. Somebody eventually noticed that a piece was missing.
"Wasn't there a bracelet here a moment ago?"
There had been, but there no longer was. A certain Shorewatcher had snapped it up, and was making a determined march towards their makeshift "guest" rooms. He didn't bother knocking. The person inside couldn't open the door from the inside anyway. He had a key, and he let himself in. Sen glanced up at his new visitor with concern and curiosity.
"My name is Ariak," He declared. He held out the small, rectangular brick attached to the chain. "You and I have a mutual friend."
The story of Ariak and Miyani's first meeting was a long one, and the fact that Sen asked numerous questions about his old firebending master didn't speed up the process. By the end of it, though, Sen was well-acquainted with the conflict of ideals between Ariak and the rest of the Shorewatchers. Tinaaki's frequent overstepping of boundaries was causing an irreconcilable tension between the North and South.
"After I turned Inok in to the Southern government, and explained my role in the events to Tinaaki, I was stripped of my rank. I no longer possess any sway in the Shorewatcher court, and there are no other Huntsmen on the council who are quite so opposed to my fathers views. I cannot rely on anyone inside the system, and there are few people outside the Shorewatchers who could demand Tinaaki's attention."
"So you need the Avatar," Sen said.
"I know it's presumptuous of me to ask for help so soon," Ariak said with a slight bow. "But I hope you can see the urgency of the situation. If I haven't convinced you, there is far more evidence of Tinnaki's-"
Sen interrupted Ariak by walking forward and extending his hand.
"Any friend of Miyani's is a friend of mine," Sen declared. "Whatever you have planned, I'm on board."
Ariak seemed a little surprised that Sen was so quick to trust him. Nonetheless, he took Sen's extended hand and shook it firmly. Ariak had been waiting a long time for a moment like this. Part of him didn't yet believe that he was standing before the Avatar. It was a strange experience. Sen was not exactly what he had been expecting.
Ariak put those thoughts at the back of his mind. For now, it was not so much about what the Avatar was capable of as what he represented. The Avatar was an ultimate authority. Tinaaki would not be able to dismiss the word of the Avatar as easily as he did everyone else who disagreed with him. Ariak elaborated on his plans.
"The first step, as you are an outsider, will be for you to earn the right to speak. Since the Shorewatchers are a martial organization, this will be done through a trial by combat."
"I'm not sure I agree with that," Sen said. He'd rather not fight anyone today.
"It's hardly worth worrying about," Ariak said. "You don't have to win the fight, or even finish it entirely. As long as you prove yourself an able warrior, you'll earn the Shorewatchers respect."
Sen shrugged. He could live with some sparring if it meant gaining the opportunity to enact change.
"Once you've done so, it'll be a simple matter of coercing the council of Huntsmen."
"Where do we stand on that? Are there any who'd already be sympathetic?"
"Only two that I know of. Surma and Letho are known to oppose my father on occasion. If the Avatar- you- call on them, they will most certainly sympathize."
Sen nodded. Winning over five people couldn't be too hard, depending on how many obstacles they had in the way. Sen wasn't completely sure he wanted to reveal himself as the Avatar to the entire host of Huntsmen just yet. He would only use that as a last resort.
"What about on Tinaaki's side? How many people would support him?"
"Most of the Huntsmen are at least passively loyal to my father, but I believe they can be convinced. There's only one who will stay with my father no matter what. Kyros."
Sen found those odds favorable. Two already on their side, one on the opposition, leaving eight to be persuaded, of which they only really needed five. They could work with this.
"Alright, so, what's the plan," Sen concluded. "How do we convince them?"
"It'll be a simple matter of challenging his authority. All you have to do is convince them that Tinaaki is misguided in his actions."
"It shouldn't be difficult," Sen said. "If Tinaaki's really breaking the laws of the South, it should be easy to take him down."
"Did I say he was breaking any laws?"
"You sort of implied it," Sen continued.
"Then that is my error," Ariak said. "My father is…technically within his rights in the way he acts."
That was certainly a speedbump in their plans. Ariak was treating Sen like an unbeatable trump card. Sen was not a skilled debater or even particularly knowledgeable about the political situation here in the North. If push came to shove, he might be unable to argue against Tinaaki properly.
"You know, we should have a backup plan," Sen suggested. "Something we can do if arguments fail."
"We do," Ariak said. "The Shorewatchers are a martial organization, as I said. If all else fails, you can simply challenge him to trial by combat. Defeat him, and he'll cede full control of the Shorewatchers to you."
Sen stared at Ariak for a while. The young Shorewatcher seemed wholly convinced that this was a sound plan of action. At least part of him did. Ariak seemed to be split down the middle. He wasn't entirely certain of anything, though he tried his hardest to act as if he was.
"I think we should talk to the rest of my group first."
Ariak managed to retrieve the others from their individual rooms without being questioned. One by one the team was reunited, until all had been gathered, and Ariak explained the situation once again. The reaction was less than ideal.
"I don't think we should be doing this," Ada began
"The sooner we leave this place the better," Suda agreed.
"I'm with them," Whistler concluded.
Ariak seemed frozen for a moment.
"I don't believe you've given this the proper thought," He said.
"The Shorewatchers are a very effective police force," Ada said. "They have the resources and the reason to expand into the South, and their presence would definitely lower crime. If anything we should be convincing Kesuk to allow them to expand. It would solve the problem and make the South considerably safer."
"I don't know anything about the politics here, but speaking as a former criminal, the sooner I get out of this place the better," Suda said.
"Same for me," Whistler said.
Ariak froze again. A look of slight concern appeared on his face.
"You're criminals?"
"Hey, I'm not proud of it, but I did what I had to do to get by," Suda said. "I'm on the straight and narrow now, though. Completely reformed."
"Not me," Whistler chimed in. "I'm still kind of a jerk. Not sure yet about the criminal thing. Still kind of in transition. You can trust me for now, though. Mostly."
Ariak shook his head. This was hardly what he had been expecting. Sen saw the way the disappointment sank in Ariak's heart. It was a good time to change the subject.
"Alright, just give me one minute," Sen said. "I want to ask Korra about this. She's been through this kind of thing before."
This was the kind of situation that the Avatar should be able to handle, but the more Sen heard, the more he doubted. Hopefully Korra would be able to provide some additional guidance. She had resolved a conflict between the North and South before.
The rest of the rooms occupants took a step back as Sen sat down to meditate. He found it much harder to connect with Korra nowadays. The enhanced energy of the Spirit World had been a great help in contacting her regularly. Back in the material plane, it became much harder to focus his energy. Sen slid the armband hidden up his sleeve down to his wrist, giving him a more physical connection to his past life.
With a last burst of intense concentration, Sen found himself alone with Korra. She offered a greeting, and then her wisdom. Sen explained the entire scenario with the Shorewatchers and the South.
"I'm not sure the situation is simple enough for you to solve right now," Korra said. "When I faced troubles between the North and South, it was all solved by me turning into a giant and punching an evil spirit. I assume that's not an option here."
"I think that's a safe assumption," Sen agreed. He was mildly amused by the notion. If only everything were so simple.
"But, in all seriousness, I think the best thing to do here might be nothing at all," Korra advised. "You're not informed or educated enough to know all the circumstances and how to deal with them appropriately. Trying to get involved before you're ready might only make things worse."
"I was worried you'd say that," Sen said. "This seems like the kind of problem I should be solving, doesn't it?"
"In some ways it is," Korra said. "But the Shorewatchers don't present an immediate threat –at least not to anyone innocent- and I think Tinaaki and Kesuk are both smart enough to keep the peace for now. Be patient, and act only when you're ready."
With a thankful nod to Korra, Sen severed the connection and returned to the real world. Ariak was looking at him with hope in his eyes. The rest already seemed to be planning what to do after they left. Sen stood up and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Ariak," Sen began. "But this just isn't the kind of situation I can deal with right now."
Ariak maintained a certain sense of stoic pride, but Sen could feel conflict boiling inside him. Ariak had a very personal stake in this, after all. For him it was a matter of family as well as politics. He gave a subtle shake of his head.
"I understand."
There was a moment of pause where Ariak seemed to be thinking about several things all at once.
"That said," He continued. "I think we can perhaps agree that we should convince my father to call off the kill order on Miyani."
"Yeah, that seems like a good idea," Sen said. His companions seemed to agree. The Shorewatchers and Miyani would both be very powerful allies in the coming battles against the Energybender's forces. It wouldn't do to have the two of them fighting each other.
Ariak and Sen left the others behind as they proceeded to the court of the Huntsmen. Sen was not knowledgeable on complex politics, but he knew Miyani very well. He would be able to argue on her behalf quite easily.
There was no hesitation in Ariak as he slammed open the doors of the Huntsman's council room. Their monthly meeting had been directionless up until now; the North Pole had been quiet recently. That was about to change.
The great meeting hall spread out in a grand circle, as much a coliseum as an auditorium. The Huntsmen sat on a high circle of stone benches, elevated on a wall of grey rock. The stone was scarred and pitted by duels that had taken place in the central ring. Ariak stepped into the midst of the makeshift arena.
"Huntsmaster Tinaaki," Ariak opened. "A friend seeks an audience."
The Huntsmaster of the Shorewatchers stood and observed his new guest as Sen stepped forward. The two looked over each other for a moment. Tinaaki was not perceptive enough to see the power that Sen wielded, but Sen could see quite a bit about TInaaki. He was imposing and proud, but it seemed oddly hollow. Like a wolf without fangs, all bark and no bite.
"If you earn the right to speak, then we will hear you," Tinaaki said.
The Huntsmen leaned forward to look at Sen, in particular the female Huntsman who had brought Sen here in the first place. At least there would be some entertainment tonight. One of the Huntsmen, a tall man with dark features, examined Sen with a peculiar predatory interest.
"Who would give this outsider the chance to prove himself?"
As Sen had anticipated, the dark-eyed stranger was the first to stand. Nobody else in the room seemed surprised. Ariak actually seemed a bit worried.
"Very well. Kyros the Blood will be your challenger."
That certainly explained his eagerness. Ariak had named Kyros as one of Tinaaki's most ardent supporters. The title he bore was a slight surprise, though. Sen did not want to imagine what kind of things Kyros had done to earn the title "the Blood".
Kyros slowly walked around the circular chamber and descended a staircase from his lofty post. He stripped his heavy robe away, exposing muscular arms scarred by all manner of blades and elements. Before he stepped into the arena, Kyros took his spear from the wall, muttering a short prayer as he removed the bladed weapon from its resting place.
At Tinaaki's signal, a grating in the wall was pulled back, and crystal clear water began to flow into a trench that surrounded the room. Kyros flexed his hands, and the water shifted visibly.
"We can do this man to man, if you'd like," Kyros declared. "I can see you're no waterbender."
"Firebender," Sen declared. It was his best option at the moment. Earthbending would dismantle this entire chamber, and his airbending was still unrefined. Plus, firebending would fit his narrative later on, when he had to convince Tinaaki of Miyani's good intentions.
Kyros seemed amused by the fact that Sen would wield fire against him. He gestured to one of his fellows.
"We have a firebender among us. It might be a more fair fight."
Sen looked over his shoulder at Ariak. He shrugged.
"The Shorewatchers don't discriminate," Ariak said. Sen shook his head. So they were a law enforcement organization and an equal-opportunity employer. Sen was finding it hard to dislike the Shorewatchers as much as Ariak wanted him to.
"The challenge stands. Fire versus water."
"Very well then. You are the challenger," Kyros proclaimed. "To you goes the first blow."
Sen took a deep breath and steeled himself. According to Ariak, he didn't really need to win this fight, but he sought to do his best all the same. The better he did, the more respect he would command from the Shorewatchers, and the easier it would be to convince them. With that thought in mind, Sen centered himself and called forth the flames.
No sooner had the first spark left his fingertips than Sen felt the water rise behind him. Kyros was taking advantage of the circular water trench; he sought to strike from behind. His actions were quick and stealthy, but Kyros was no Fogbender. Sen easily sidestepped the tendril of water and counterattacked in kind.
Kyros seemed surprised that his opponent had managed to avoid even a single attack, but he was not caught off guard for long. The Huntsman blocked Sen's attacks with a wall of ice and moved for a new angle. As Kyros ran, he sent out bolts of water and ice, trying to force Sen to split his focus. It did not work. Sen was more than capable of dodging Kyros' attacks and retaliating at once.
Kyros nearly stumbled and fell as a lance of fire from Sen roared in front of his feet, forcing him to a sudden halt. He used his spear to adjust his balance and recovered his footing. Sen worked with the momentary disadvantage to close the gap between himself and his opponent. Sen had the advantage at close range; his enhanced senses made it far easier for him to predict his opponents actions and react quickly. Kyros was forced backwards to keep the distance between himself and Sen, and Sen did not waste that advantage.
Kyros' scowled broadly, and Sen felt a slight shift. He had, perhaps, been holding back before. Now Sen had proven himself a legitimate threat.
The Huntsman put his foot forward and swept his hands in a broad motion, drawing more and more water out of the grating. The circular trench that surrounded the arena was flooded and then overflowed, coating the battlefield in a thin layer of cold water. Sen did what he could to keep the water back, but the flood was ultimately unstoppable. As the water rose, it froze in place around Sen's feet, locking him in place.
Kyros surfed atop the layer of shallow water, drawing closer to Sen, imagining now that he had the advantage. Sen would not let it be so easy. With a quick redirection of heat, Sen melted the ice around his ankles and jumped upwards, launching a bolt of fire at Kyros. The waterbender swerved to the side to avoid it and froze the flooded battlefield entirely. Sen attempted to find his footing, but the ice was slick and he found it difficult to balance.
Kyros pushed his advantage, and Sen was forced backwards, inevitably slipping on the ice and falling. As he fell, he tried to spin, and he managed to kick up a cyclone of fire around himself, enough to prevent Kyros from closing in until he regained his footing.
The ice melted beneath him, and Sen took a moment to retreat backwards. By pressing himself against the walls of the arena, Sen could probably manage to keep himself upright in the future. He kept his back to the wall and continued his battle with Kyros.
Ariak watched the battle with no small amount of stress. The Avatar had been winning for only a short time; now that Kyros was no longer holding back, he was rapidly losing the advantage with every step. Ariak had been expecting a decisive victory. Sen was the Avatar, after all, how could he lose to a mere Huntsman?
The frozen battlefield melted suddenly, and pushed forward as a single wave of water. With no way around it and no way over, Sen was forced to stand and bear the impact of the ice-cold wave. The surging water pressed him against the stone wall, and Sen felt the water freeze in place around his arms and legs. As the water passed, Sen found himself pinned to the wall. Kyros stood before him with a smug smile on his face.
"A respectable showing, I think," Kyros said. He turned his back on Sen and looked up to Tinaaki. "What say you, Huntsmaster?"
"I say you should not turn your back on an undefeated opponent."
Kyros looked over his shoulder suddenly. Sen took a deep breath. His arms and legs were frozen, but this did not disable Sen as easily as it would another bender. He had studied the firebending of the Dragons once. He was a good mimic.
Sen opened his mouth, and a jet of fire burst forth. It was not strong, but the sudden rush of dragon's breath caught Kyros off guard and forced him backwards. Sen wasted no time in melting his icy bond while Kyros was occupied with his retreat. Sen broke free from his icy bonds and rushed forward.
Kyros help up his hands, and Sen froze in place. His veins suddenly burned like his blood was on fire, and his muscles would not move with his will. Kyros slowly stood up. His fingers twitched slightly as he exerted his dark influence on the Avatar's blood.
All too familiar fear crept into Sen's mind in that brief instant. Bloodbending. A dark art with an unfortunate history, especially where the Avatar was concerned.
Sen pushed against the arcane hold that Kyros Bloodbending had on him. Bloodbending was potent, but it was not absolute. He could resist. He could break the hold. It took everything Sen had just to move his arms, but he managed to push against the burning in his veins and move his hands forward.
The grip suddenly released, and Sen fell to the floor, clutching at wounded veins. He felt a strong arm grab him by the shoulder, and he nearly pulled away in panic, but he soon realized that Kyros was trying to help him to his feet.
"I'm sorry," Kyros said, clearly apologetic. "I'm sorry. The full moon –instinct took hold, I-"
"You have nothing to apologize for, Kyros," Tinaaki said. Sen wasn't sure he agreed. There was no excuse for using bloodbending on an innocent.
"You've more than proven yourself, stranger," Tinaaki continued. There were few alive who could hold their own against Kyros, much less resist his Bloodbending. Sen was a rare breed indeed. "You may speak your piece."
Sen took a moment to compose himself. It took some time for his heart to regain a steady pace. Bloodbending did unnatural things to the body. The Huntsmen waited patiently for him to speak. Kyros backed away slowly, hanging his head low.
"My name is Sen. I've come to you about Miyani," Sen finally said. "The Combustion Bender. She's my friend, and I won't have her being hunted."
"We've had this discussion before," One of the Huntsmen said dismissively.
"Yes, months ago, when she first emerged," A male Shorewatcher, presumably Letho, said. "New reports have appeared since then. Perhaps this discussion is worth re-opening."
"As long as it has that tattoo, it's a threat," One of the others shot back. Surma stood up.
"She's been through more than a dozen Energybender bases at this point, and not a single civilian wounded," She argued. "How can we seriously call her a threat when she's fighting the same enemies we are?"
"The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend," Kyros said. "Do not forget what it did to Inok."
Kyros cast an angry glare towards Ariak. Tinaaki stood up.
"Inok was in defiance of my orders," He said. "In that case, its actions were justified."
Tinaaki turned his attention to Sen, still standing in the middle of the arena. The Huntsmasters eyes glanced briefly towards his son. Ariak did not meet his gaze.
"Come with me, stranger," Tinaaki commanded.
The master of the Shorewatchers took hold of his spear and led Sen out of the meeting chamber. Kyros nodded solemnly at their passing. Within moments Sen was taken into a very sparse office. Tinaaki sat down at a wooden desk stacked high with paperwork, and gestured for Sen to sit across from him.
"Did my son put you up to this?"
"Ariak brought it to my attention," Sen said firmly. "But Miyani really is my friend. I'm not going to let you hunt her like an animal."
"Mm. I thought this might be about his sister…It's irrelevant. If the combustion bender truly is your friend, speak on their behalf. I will listen."
Sen was beginning to realize that Ariak's vendetta against Tinaaki was a very personal endeavor. That was a matter to be settled another time, though. Tinaaki relaxed in his chair as Sen began his story.
"Miyani's been the victim before," Sen said. "She was taken from her home when she was young, and she was hurt, over and over, even though she had done nothing wrong. She would never do that to another. She would never hurt an innocent."
Tinaaki put a hand on his bearded chin and contemplated Sen's words. Sen continued.
"Blind hatred for her kind is what drove her to hide for so many years," Sen said. "It was acceptance and understanding that turned her into a force for good. I'm only one person, and look at all that she's done because of our friendship."
The Shorewatchers were highly critical of Miyani, but there was no denying that she had cut a considerable wound in the Energybender's forces, and his position in the United Earth Kingdom. If she kept up her actions, she would soon have done more single-handedly than all the Shorewatchers had done together.
"I suppose I can't expect you to understand this as I do," Sen continued. "Not right away. All I ask is that you wait, and watch. Give her a chance to prove herself. I know she won't disappoint you."
Tinaaki placed his hands on the small desk before him.
"Have you any more to say?"
"No."
"Then I will say my part," Tinaaki said. He carefully folded his hands on the desk. "You said that 'Miyani' was in hiding for many years?"
"Yes."
"Then tell it to go back," Tinaaki said coldly. "It does not matter what the combustion bender intends, whether it is good or evil. Their kind is dangerous and destructive by nature. We cannot let them run free."
Sen froze in his seat. Tinaaki leaned backwards and looked away from Sen, examining some trophy hanging on his walls.
"I will call off my hunters," He said finally. "On the condition that the combustion bender is never seen again."
Sen quietly leaned forward, placing a palm over his mouth. He looked around the room a few times, and made a few half-hearted gestures, trying and failing to begin a sentence. Eventually he gave up and placed a single hand on the corner of Tinaaki's desk.
"No."
Asking Miyani to go back to Hayao's island was the worst thing Sen could think of. She would never do it, and Sen would never ask her to. Tinaaki had a fundamental misunderstanding of Miyani's character, even after Sen's explanation.
"Then the hunt will continue," Tinaaki said.
"No it won't," Sen said. "You're going to go back, and you're going to call off the hunt."
"No."
There was a look on Tinaaki's face that said he thought he was being clever. Sen was not impressed.
"And I was so hoping I wouldn't have to play this card," Sen said. He rubbed his eyes for a moment.
With a flick of Sen's wrist, the grey stone beneath Tinaaki's desk sailed to the right, taking the desk with it. Tinaaki had barely a moment to comprehend the sudden movement before Sen pushed his hand forward, launching Tinaaki back with a surge of air. Sen stood from his chair and stepped forward.
"I am the Avatar," Sen said. "Miyani fights on my behalf. You will leave her alone."
"Yes, absolutely, understood," Tinaaki mumbled. His bravado collapsed quickly when faced with a higher power. He pressed his back against his chair and did not dare to look Sen in the eye. Sen crossed his arms. He was hardly impressed by the Huntsmasters behavior.
"Don't tell anyone who I am, or that I was here," Sen said. Tinaaki nodded nervously. Sen held his hand out.
"We're all on the same side, Tinaaki," Sen said. "You, me, Miyani, we can all work together."
Tinaaki grabbed Sen's outstretched hand, but not firmly. Sen pulled him to his feet all the same. The Huntsmaster was reluctant to move, until Sen gestured that he should do so. Tinaaki forgot that he was meant to appear in charge here. Tinaaki shook his head clear and led the way back to the meeting chamber. He took his seat at the center of the circular and placed his hands firmly on the small desk before him.
"The…Our guest has made his position abundantly clear," Tinaaki said. "We will no longer be hunting the combustion bender."
With the Huntsmasters judgment being absolute, there was no need to call a vote on the matter of Miyani. Some of the Huntsmen seemed confused by the sudden change of tone, but most were willing to accept Tinaaki's judgment. Ariak was the most visibly relieved by the news. His father had finally seen the truth. Perhaps there was hope for him to come around on other matters.
Tinaaki adjourned the meeting and dismissed his Huntsmen. Sen left the room first, returning to his friends, while Ariak remained behind briefly to speak with his father.
"I'm glad that you-"
"Leave. You are no Shorewatcher."
Tinaaki walked past his son without so much as turning his head. Ariak had gone behind his back one to many times. Tinaaki could not work with someone who was constantly trying to subvert his authority and undermine his goals. He said none of this to Ariak, though, and the boy was left behind, alone, without any understanding.
Silence choked the air, and Ariak. He had spent his entire life serving the Shorewatchers. Even his actions against Tinaaki had been for their benefit. His father had stripped all of that away in one sentence, and Ariak didn't even understand why.
The silence was suddenly broken by Sen pushing the door open.
"Are you coming, Ariak?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Well I assumed you were following me," Sen explained. "I was going to talk with my team about what to do next. You should be there."
"I'd be happy to help, but I assumed our business was concluded."
"Not hardly. I still need to learn waterbending, after all. Unless you don't want to teach me?"
Ariak clenched his jaw. Was he even worthy to teach an Avatar? He was apparently unworthy to be a Shorewatcher.
But no, Ariak thought, it was Tinaaki who was unworthy to lead. Once upon a time Ariak had blindly followed his father's judgment, but that had been a mistake. The Avatar, on the other hand, was a different matter. The Avatar was someone Ariak could always trust to do the right thing.
Sen led, and Ariak followed.