Chapter 16: Shattering, Part 2
The tension in the throne room was palpable. Surma sat under the scrutiny of both Chieftain Atana and Ambassador Saruk. Though Yakkul had presented his case for the Shorewatcher's innocence, there was still no trust for the Shorewatchers. Not that there was anything left to trust.
The remnants of the Shorewatchers that Surma had led to the North had been attacked the moment they'd stepped into the city. Surma and a handful of others were the only ones who'd managed to surrender and make it to the capitol intact. Letho and the others were already gone. So far as Surma knew, she was the last Huntsman; the only leader of a mutilated army.
Not every Shorewatcher had been present at the Hall during the Energybender's attack, but even those who had been out and about across the North had come under attack. Being generous, Surma figured that the Shorewatchers were down to less than half their previous strength, and the attacks on local security had reduced the North's official army by about the same amount. The North had been crippled.
"I do assume that Surma is trustworthy," Ambassador Saruk began. He was the representative of the South, and he had to speak for Chief Kesuk in this matter. The Energybender's men had sabotaged all communication out of the North. "But the Council of Elders is heavily biased against your Shorewatchers, Chief Atana. Trust alone can no longer prevent this conflict. We need solid evidence that the Energybender was involved, not hearsay."
"Anyone who saw the Energybender attack is dead," Surma groaned. "The ones who survived did so by fleeing."
"So you didn't even lay eyes on him," Saruk said with a sigh. He turned back to the chieftain.
"Kesuk could have his armies set to march through the Portals in a matter of days," Saruk said. "The last message sent to the South said that the Shorewatchers had launched a coup. The South will arrive ready for war."
"It might be for the best," Chief Atana muttered. "Preferable to the blockade, at least."
It had only been a few hours, but the Energybender had already set a solid barrier around the North Pole. Previously he had been using only waterbenders to better impersonate the Shorewatchers, but now Sarin had called out his soldiers of other elements, effectively tripling his standing army. With the Shorewatchers in disarray, there was no force in the North strong enough to break the blockade.
"We can't risk Kesuk's armies coming for war," Yakkul interjected. "If the Energybender manipulates the truth again, it could spark a fire we can't put out."
"Well then we have to find some way to end this con," Saruk said. "We need proof!"
"You want your proof," A haggard voice shouted. "Here I am."
Tinaaki stomped his way into the throne room, looking like a hollow shell of a man. His Shorewatcher uniform had been torn to shreds, either accidentally or intentionally. He was a shadow of the proud Huntsmaster he had once been.
"Huntsmaster," Surma said humbly. "How did you escape?"
Tinaaki bit his lip and looked away from Surma for a moment.
"Kyros gave his life, so that I could escape," Tinaaki said quietly. "But his wasn't the only price paid."
He held up his hands to the Chief and the Ambassador, his fingers twitching feebly.
"My bending –it's gone," he moaned. "Who else but Sarin could do that?"
It was a brutal winter day in the North, but Tinaaki's words made the air turn even colder. The hollow space in Tinaaki's soul echoed with a discordant note.
"If we can-," Ambassador Saruk began, before stopping himself briefly. "I am truly sorry, Tinaaki. If we can confirm your condition, it should be enough to give Chief Kesuk pause."
Chief Atana nodded solemnly. At least that could be prevented, but it brought her little solace. One war had been prevented, but it was still clear that war was upon them. The collapse of communication in the North had prevented word from spreading to other nations just yet, but the Energybender had finally crossed the line. Small raids on minor cities could be ignored, perhaps, but a full blockade of a major city was an act of war, there could be no doubt. The tipping point had been reached. War was upon them.
A guard, one of only a handful left standing in the North, approached the throne room cautiously.
"Master Yakkul, several children are seeking access to the keep," The guard declared. The courtyard of the palace was an open refuge for those seeking asylum from the attacks, but the palace itself was being kept locked tight. "One named Ariak is leading them?"
Yakkul nodded. Surma was quick to rise to her feet. The last words Kyros had ever said to her were a command to seek out Ariak –or rather, one of his companions. Tinaaki lurched slowly to follow the guard as well.
Ariak and the rest of the group were relieved to finally reach the safety of the palace. After regrouping, Sen and his team had made a sweep through the city to assure its safety. Now they finally had a moment to breathe, but not a moment to relax. They needed a plan of action. Tlun had broken off from the group to help the wounded, and Yakkul quickly returned to the chief, so they were left on their own. Until Surma arrived, at least.
"Sen," She said desperately. "Which one of you is Sen?"
The Avatar was quick to step forward. Surma limped over to him and looked him in the eyes.
"Kyros said you could stop this," She sobbed. She had watched too many of her friends fall in the past few days. It had to end. Sen was her only hope, and she didn't even know why. "You have to stop this."
"I'm going to," Sen assured her. Tinaaki spat, and it made a sickening sound. He had followed Surma out of the throne room, to see the Avatar's arrival.
"You should have stopped this before it began," he said, choking on his own anger. He cleared his throat and continued. "You wasted time when you should have been-"
"You!"
Ariak stepped forward, slamming his arm into his fathers chest and pinning him against the wall. Ariak had kept his calm surprisingly well given the events of the day, but seeing Tinaaki snapped something in him.
"You read the family records before you came to fight the bloodbender! You knew there was a third sister! You knew about Kida!"
When Ariak had been held captive by Kida's sister, Tinaaki and Kyros had tracked Ariak down by connecting his kidnapper to the first Red Moon sister. They had to have discovered Kida in the process, and yet Tinaaki had struck down the bloodbender all the same, repeating the exact same mistake that had started the conflict in the first place.
"I knew," Tinaaki admitted. He knew that Sen could see lies. There was no point in resisting.
"You knew there were more, but you still struck her down," Ariak said. "You repeated the exact same mistake."
"I repeated your mistake," Tinaaki said venomously. "You started this."
"I know what I've done," Ariak said. He released Tinaaki and allowed his father to fall to the floor. "But I tried to make it right, I tried to make her understand, and you stabbed her in the back!"
"To save you, you ungrateful-"
"I didn't need saving," Ariak shouted back. "She was surrendering, and you struck her down like an animal. You are a murderer, Tinaaki, and Kyros, and Letho, and everyone else that died today died because of you!"
Ariak bent over and leaned into his fathers face. Tinaaki refused to look him in the eye. Ariak had expected that much. He sighed all the same. Standing and turning his back on Tinaaki, Ariak returned his attention to Sen.
"I believe we have a mess to clean up," Ariak said firmly. "Could you take care of him, Surma?"
There was anger apparent on Surma's face as she grabbed Tinaaki and dragged him away. He had a great deal to answer for, and what remained if the Shorewatchers would see justice done. Sen turned to Ariak as his father was forcibly pulled away.
"You're good?"
"I'm fine, Sen. We need to focus on the existing problem, not the idiot that caused it."
"Alright then," Sen said awkwardly. "We need to break the siege. The North relies on outside trade to keep its citizens fed. If we don't end the blockade, people will start to starve."
"A good idea to start with," Ariak said. He looked over his shoulder cautiously. Most of the refugees in the area had turned to their own matters, and were not paying particular attention to Sen and his friends. That meant they could speak somewhat openly.
"Maybe we should let Atana try to handle it," Ariak said. "Getting more involved right now might not be the solution."
"Getting more involved is exactly the solution," Sen said. "This is what I talked about, Ariak. All of you! This the opportunity-"
"No, Sen," Ariak said with stunning firmness. He'd never objected so strongly to one of Sen's ideas. "This is not the time for that."
"The Energybender's already here, Ariak, I'm the only one who can-"
"We are lucky that Sarin has moved for a stalemate," Ariak said angrily. "If he knows where to find you he will send every soldier he has to fight you, and innocent people will be caught on his warpath! I will not let you turn my home into a war zone again!"
Sen clenched his fists. Ariak felt some small amount of guilt, but he stood firm. They were sitting in one of the most populated cities on earth. It was not the time or place for Sen and Sarin to clash. Innocent people would be put at risk, even more so than they already were.
"Hate to say it, but Ariak might have a point. It was a good idea to go public on your terms, but Sarin controls the situation now," Suda said. "Finding you is exactly what he wants right now. It'd be dumb to hand yourself over."
"I don't hate to say it, because I say it frequently, but I think you're both idiots," Whistler said. "If Sen has to hide the fact that he's the Avatar, then the Energybender's the biggest guy on the playing field. He'll be able to do whatever he wants."
"This stalemate we have is temporary," Ada said. "Sarin will make a move to draw Sen out sooner or later. The conflict is inevitable, we might as well start it on our terms."
"We want to not start it at all, Ada," Ariak objected. "We need to move quickly before-"
"We'll never organize anything meaningful in time," Ada interrupted.
Whistler then added her opinion into the debate, and as usual, her abrasive habits turned a debate into a full-blown argument. Sen's four friends split down the middle as Ariak and Suda loudly argued their points against an even louder Whistler and Ada. Sen took a step back from the debate and leaned against a wall, near a window.
The battles of the day were over, for now, but the damage was still visible. There was not much to burn in the icy north, and yet there was still smoke rising on the horizon. From atop the hill Sen could see most of the North Pole, even through the coming darkness. The sun was setting, and the lights in the city were gradually coming on. Most of the light was centered around Yakkul's home and the Police Station, the only two established safe zones in the city besides the Chieftain's palace. Beyond those two clusters of light, there was an encroaching circle of grey lanterns; the markings of the Energybender's blockade. Between the dim lights of the blockade and the sharp illumination of the citizens refuges, there was a great blackness.
Sen looked away from the city and towards himself. He rolled up the sleeve of his thick shirt to examine some things he hadn't looked at in a long time. A circular scar around his wrist that had long since begun to fade, and a metal bracelet with a rectangular stone as its centerpiece. The only signs of Hanjo and Miyani he carried with him. He had thought himself so close to reuniting with them, but he'd been proven wrong.
Sen pulled his sleeve back down and crossed his arms. The argument carried on around him, as two sides battled back and forth over whether Sen should reveal himself as the Avatar. As the debate raged on, a thought occurred to Sen.
"Everybody shut up," Sen shouted. His friends immediately shut up, as did several completely unrelated people. Sen talked very loudly when he had an idea. "I just came up with part of a plan!"
"Part of a plan?"
"It's been fifteen seconds, Whistler, you see how much you can come up with in fifteen seconds," Sen shot back. Whistler shrugged idly.
"Anyway, I have part of a plan," Sen said triumphantly. "And it's one that doesn't require me to do any Avatar stuff to save the North. We can all agree on that, right?"
The group nodded as one. Sen nodded back. While they would argue all day about whether Sen should show himself as the Avatar, they all agreed that something had to be done to save the North. If Sen could accomplish that incognito, all the better.
"Alright, I'm going to put the rest of the plan together, and I need information. Ariak, Ada, I want you to go scouting around the warehouse district downtown, see what the barricade is like in that area."
Ariak and Ada saluted sharply. It was good to have a clear mission again.
"Whistler, I want you to go with them," Sen said. "Except instead of scouting, I need you to steal as many of the enemies radio's as possible."
"Yes! Hurting people and stealing stuff all in the same day," Whistler said excitedly. "Man, this is-"
She froze suddenly and looked around at Ariak, Sen, and the confused and frightened crowd of people that was in the Chieftains palace.
"…The worst," Whistler said hesitantly. "Today is terrible."
"Thank you for pretending to care about our misfortune," Ariak said. Whistler nodded solemnly.
"Okay, Suda, I need you to find that room where they keep all the architectural records and look up the docks for me," Sen said. Suda was quick to nod and be on his way. He didn't usually do the research, but he was always happy to help.
"I'm going to go deal with the Chief," Sen said. "I need her to cooperate too. And don't worry, no Avatar stuff at all."
"Not even a little," Ariak warned. "Atana's desperate. If she finds out who you are, she's going to insist on making a big deal about it."
"I know. I'll be careful."
Ariak and Ada broke off, with Whistler following close on their heels. Suda likewise went off to finish his own mission, while Sen headed for the throne room.
"I've lived here my entire life," Ariak said quietly. "I've never once seen it like this."
The city was thick with misery and pain, but thin on any signs of human life. Occasionally Ada saw some trace of life nearby, but any light or motion was snuffed out when they came near. The people that remained in the North were paralyzed by fear.
The circle of grey lanterns imprisoned them all in dim light. Ariak and Ada moved in shadowed ways as they approached the barricade. They snuck to a rooftop near the Energybender's barricade and found a good vantage point on the barricade. The moon provided little light, but through her binoculars, Ada managed to get a good glimpse of the soldiers manning the hastily constructed walls.
They wore the same colored robes and masks that they had always worn. The masks, marked by grey circles around the eyes to mimic their master, looked out over a city paralyzed by fear. Ada swept her binoculars along the line of the barricade, and quickly a worried frown crossed Ada's face.
"I've never seen this many before," She mumbled.
Long ago the Harrier had attacked Gai Zhu with sixty men, and Ada had thought that an army. Today she saw hundreds, perhaps thousands along the entire length of the barricade. They had vastly underestimated the size of the Energybender's army, and the Energybender had ceased to underestimate them. He was no longer being cautious or careful with his resources. He had thrown all his strength against the North, to ensure escape was impossible.
"I'd hoped we might be able to fight through this on our own," Ada said. "But this would take an army."
"I know Sen's clever," Ariak said. "But I hope this plan of his is really good."
Ariak paid close attention to every possible detail in the area, watching the entire region with a hunter's eye. Sen would need as much information as physically possible. The width and breadth of the barricade and all its soldiers fell under Ariak's observation. He didn't miss a single detail.
"Now we just need to wait for Whistler to finish stealing the radios," Ariak said.
"I did that five minutes ago," Whistler said. Ariak jumped slightly as her voice came seemingly from nowhere. Whistler had, unheard by either Ada or Ariak, joined them on the rooftop and was reclining with a pile of handheld radios in her lap.
"But we've been looking at the barricade this whole time," Ada said weakly. "We never-"
"Pickpocket," Whistler said. "I used to do this for a living, remember?"
Ada groaned and decided to stop questioning it. Whistler grabbed her stolen bounty of radios and followed them back to the Chieftain's palace.
"I admire your initiative, stranger," Chieftain Atana said. Sen had managed to talk his way into her company and present his plan. "But I will have to know who you are before I put the fate of my people in your hands."
"I'm…the detective, that solved the Sparrow Construction case," Sen said. Even without mentioning that he was the Avatar, he still had a few worthwhile accomplishments under his belt.
"Yes, I heard of that," Atana said quietly. "You are, by all accounts, a clever individual, but I can't simply sign over my armies to a detective, not in a time of crisis."
Sen froze. That was not the answer he had been anticipating. Atana had actually seemed impressed with the plan of action he'd suggested.
"You could enact it yourself, chieftain, I'm not asking you to hand me control of the North," Sen said. It didn't matter whether he had full control of the situation, as long as somebody competent was running things.
"It's a good plan, detective, but it's simply too risky," Atana said. "The safest bet is to wait for Southern forces to come to our aid."
"Our last communication with the South said they were already preparing," Ambassador Saruk said firmly. "The North can outlast this siege long enough for a real army to arrive."
"Not well enough," Sen protested. "You know the North Pole can't be self-sustaining. Without access to the docks, to fishing and trade, people will starve!"
"With careful planning and usage of resources, we can…minimize the impact," Saruk said guiltily. He knew the consequences of waiting, but he also knew the consequences of moving too quickly. Invoking Sarin's wrath could reignite the conflict, causing much more damage in the long run.
"You're welcome to remain and help manage the situation," Atana said. "We could use someone like you."
Sen grit his teeth. He could probably do something to minimize the troubles caused by waiting, but he still believed that acting quickly was the best course of action. He'd be better off trying to act on his own.
"I'll think about it," Sen said sullenly. "But I'm not sure you do need someone like me."
Sen was becoming more and more convinced that the Avatar was the solution to this problem. He couldn't commit to such a revelation recklessly, though. He would need to regroup with his friends first.
Suda was the first to find him, and he was in a much better mood than Sen was.
"I found the stuff you were looking for," Suda said. "That giant anchor statue is really-"
Suda was quick to notice the look of frustration on Sen's face and pause his own speech.
"You alright, buddy?"
"Atana turned me down," Sen moped. "Without her and her army, we have nothing."
"Did it ruin your plan that badly?"
"We can't be in two places at once," Sen said. "We need a distraction, a big one, just for a little while. We'll need an army to do it."
It had been a long time since Suda had seen Sen quite so dejected. His plan had been almost completely dismantled by one failure. Suda waited in silence while Sen considered his options. It took long enough that Ada and Ariak returned from their mission, with Whistler just behind.
"I got those radios you wanted, Sen," She said proudly, dumping the entire stack at her feet. Sen wasn't quite paying attention. He was staring at Ariak with an odd intensity.
"I cannot believe I forgot about them," Sen mumbled under his breath.
What was left of the Shorewatchers had all gathered in a single large chamber, sitting in silence and guilt. Though the deception had been revealed, there was still a great deal of animosity towards the Shorewatchers.
The most damaging blow to the Shorewatchers collective ego had been how easily people believed they would attack the North Pole. Few had stopped to question why the Shorewatchers would turn to violence so quickly; they had simply accepted it as if it had been an inevitability. Knowing that the people thought so little of them was a blow to the soul. One Sen was looking to give them a chance to repair.
"It's a good plan," Surma said. Sen had explained the details of his scheme, and Surma seemed more receptive than Atana had been. Ariak and Tlun had also spoken in support of Sen; they were known to the Shorewatchers, and their word carried some weight.
"I know I'm asking you to risk a lot," Sen said. "But this is the best course of action, I promise."
"I know there's a lot going on right now," Tlun said. "But the Shorewatchers were founded to take the risks that others wouldn't. TO protect the North, sometimes you have to take drastic action."
Surma nodded. Under Tinaaki they had lost much of their original direction, but the Shorewatchers were still meant to be a force for good. Surma
"Kyros trusted you, and I trust you," Surma said. "But I don't know if I can rally these men-"
"Of course you can't," Tinaaki said. Sen rolled his eyes as he insisted on shoving his nose into a conversation he had no part in. "I am-"
"You don't get an opinion," Sen said, pointing an accusing finger at Tinaaki. "You started all of this!"
"I am still the Master of the Hunt, and I will not be overruled!"
There was a very loud and very satisfying cracking noise as Tinaaki's knees were kicked out from under him. Ariak planted a firm foot on Tinaaki's leg to make sure he stayed down. He would have been perfectly happy ignoring Tinaaki, but if he insisted on making a nuisance of himself, Ariak was more than glad to stop his father.
"Surma, give him a vote of no confidence," Ariak said, pointing at Tinaaki.
"I…have no confidence in Huntsmaster Tinaaki," She said hesitantly.
"Look at that," Ariak said, removing his foot from Tinaaki's leg. "The entire Council of Huntsmen just voted you out of office. Now we need a replacement. Surma, nominate yourself."
"I nominate myself as the new…Huntsmaster," She said.
"Then the vote is unanimous," Ariak said, with just a hint of bitter sarcasm. He stepped over to Surma and bowed shallowly. "Congratulations, Surma. You are now Master of the Hunt."
Tinaaki had a look of panic and confusion in his eyes that stated quite clearly that he did not understand what was happening. It would sink in soon enough.
"Your previous leader maintained our strength in peace, but collapsed when faced with a real battle," Ariak said, casually ignoring his father. "Hopefully you will be more composed."
"You can't do this to me," Tinaaki protested. The look on his face said that he was not done talking, but in contrast, the foot on his face said he was very much done talking. There was a slight imprint of Tlun's boot left over when Tinaaki fell face first onto the floor again.
"Are we just taking turns hurting him, because if so, I call next," Whistler said.
"I deserved to do that," Tlun said, defending himself.
"If we're all done kicking a man while he's down, I still have things that need to get done," Sen shouted. Tinaaki was very low on Sen's list of priorities right now. "Surma, if you would please talk to your men."
Tinaaki made a slight groaning sound. Sen rolled his eyes.
"Would someone please get him out of here," Sen begged. He could not deal with Tinaaki's drama and saving the North at the same time. There was such a thing as too much too fast. He had to compartmentalize. Suda dragged Tinaaki out of the room.
"I'll need some time," Surma said. She was still coming to grips with the fact that she was the new Huntsmaster. It would have been overwhelming in normal circumstances, and this was an especially strange circumstance.
"It's fine," Sen said. "There are a few things we need to do anyway."
Sen dismissed them, and his allies went about their business. Ada, Suda, and Whistler started talking over their roles in Sen's plan, while Sen went on his own side mission, and Ariak began to talk to Tlun.
"At the end of this, I'll be leaving the North," Ariak said. "I don't know what you plan, but if you want to come-"
"I'll be staying," Tlun said. "The North Pole will need good healers in the next few days."
"I thought you might say that," Ariak said. "Stay safe."
"Keeping us safe is what heroes like you are for," Tlun said. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ariak in a rare hug. "Don't forget that, Ariak. You are a hero."
It was hard to feel that way, with the part he'd played in creating Kida. Ariak reluctantly returned Tlun's embrace, but gradually held him tighter. It might be a long time before they got the chance to see one another again.
Sen wound his way through the halls of the palace, passing by the rooms packed with scared and wounded refugees. Too many people had been put at risk. He was close to giving them salvation, but there was one thing he had to put his mind at ease about first. A chance that had been cut off at the very beginning of this horrid affair.
The doors of the throne room were opened for him, and Atana seemed glad to see him return. Despite her refusal to help him with his plan, she still thought highly of his intelligence, and would be happy to see him help.
"Actually, I'd like to speak to the Ambassador privately," Sen said.
Ambassador Saruk reluctantly stepped aside to answer Sen's questions.
"Ambassador, about the Southern forces," Sen began. "I've heard rumors about a combustion bender. Is there any chance that she will...?"
Saruk rubbed his chin, but he stopped thinking about it quickly.
"It's meant to be classified, but I suppose under the circumstances," He sighed. "Yes, there is a combustion bender. One of the last messages I received before Sarin destroyed the radio towers was that she was aware of the situation, and had her own plan of action. She will be arriving, but most likely not with the main force."
Sen sighed. It was meaningless, he supposed, since he would hopefully be out of the North long before Miyani even had the chance to arrive. It was nice to know that at least one person was safe in this mess. Maybe Miyani could help the North when this was all over.
Sen left the room, and returned to his allies. The Shorewatchers were rallying. It was time to move.
It was under the scant light of a narrow sliver of moon that the army marched. There was an uncomfortable tension amidst the troops. What remained of the Shorewatchers marched shoulder to shoulder. They were still weighted by guilt and sorrow at their own failures and the loss of their comrades.
Sen's plan was directing them to a weak point in the Energybender's blockade, yes, but the plan was for them to attract far more attention. Sarin was here for the Avatar; if he knew that the Avatar was in a certain location, every single one of his soldiers would descend upon that place. They would lure in the Energybender's army and break the blockade, allowing innocent civilians to escape.
The soldiers believed they were on a suicide mission, but they still clung to hope. Rumors had been spreading. Some schoolchildren among the refugees claimed that the Avatar was truly in the North. It was nothing but a rumor spread by young children, but it was a much-needed glimmer of hope on a dark night.
It was more than a rumor, but not in a way that any of them knew. If the Avatar rescued them, it would not be in the way they were expecting.
There was a moment of hesitation when the front line laid eyes on the blockade. There were not many men present here, comparatively speaking, but there was a deadly force waiting all the same. Charging now would be a commitment to a war that none of them wanted.
But Sarin had made the first move. War was upon them, whether they wanted it or not. They might as well strike first this time.
The mismatched horde Shorewatchers was quick to hammer against Sarin's blockade. Here at its weakest point, a true victory might have been possible, but there was more to the plan.
Amidst the chaos of conflict, a few chosen soldiers took out radio sets and prepared to activate them. Stolen just hours ago by Whistler, the radios were still broadcasting to the enemies frequency.
"Avatar spotted," one soldier cried, making sure to capture the sounds of battle in the background.
"The Avatar is on the battlefield," Another soldier chimed in. The false reports of the Avatar scattered across enemy radios, spreading the word to every soldier of the Energybender. Sarin, sitting in the cabin of the Blade Ship, heard every word.
Dei Sensheng and regarded the radio messages carefully, as did Kida. She had considered abandoning Sarin's forces after they had failed, twice, to deliver her the promised vengeance, but she had been persuaded otherwise. With Suda having intervened in her attempts to kill Ariak, it had become apparent that Ariak and the Avatar were in league, which meant they now had a common goal.
"I'm surprised the Shorewatchers managed to rally," Sensheng said. "There can't be more than a few hundred left."
"Could they truly manage to break our blockade?"
"In the long term, it's unlikely," Sensheng said. "But they could create enough of a distraction that the Avatar could slip through."
Dei Sensheng was still not fully convinced that the Avatar was really present on the battlefield. The Avatar was notorious for avoiding direct conflict, a habit which infuriated the Energybender.
"Here I am, Sarin," Sen's voice declared, echoing out over every radio. Most of the soldiers of the north took it for just another soldier faking a report of the Avatar, but Sarin recognized the voice. It was indeed the Avatar, taunting him from afar. The grey rings around Sarin;s eyes furled as he narrowed his eyes in anger.
"You don't have enough soldiers to hold this barricade forever," Sen said mockingly. "Give me a few minutes and I'll slip right through your fingers one more time."
Complete radio silence. Sen muted his radio and waited. The silence continued for a few more minutes. Sensheng looked at his commander.
"Converge on the battlefield," Sarin finally ordered. Everyone aboard, even Kida, readied for a fight. "We're going after the Avatar."
Sen smiled triumphantly. Sarin's forces were taking the bait, and converging on the attempted breach of the blockade. The funny thing about radios, though, is that they said nothing about where the speaker was located.
Sen and his friends had tunneled right underneath the blockade, riding on Gun's back under the soil. Whistler had spoken all the while about how Gun's tunneling was actually helping them avoid trouble for once. The Badgermole had carried them all the way to the decks, where they were forced to emerge. The docks sat on a massive ice shelf, not solid land, so Gun could not tunnel to the edge of the water. They were still about a hundred feet from shore. Sen could see the Blade Ship bobbing on the water's surface from here.
In contrast to the chaos further inland, the dock was oddly calm. The waves pushed slightly against the icy docks, creating an almost soothing rhythm as they lapped against the coast. A massive iron statue of an anchor reflected the moonlight, adding a little more illumination to the area.
The night fell silent for a moment after Sarin's radio broadcast, and Sen's group dared to peek out from behind cover. The dark of the night would obscure them, but it also obscured their view of the Blade Ship. They barely noticed as a few dozen black silhouettes emerged from the Blade Ship's cabin.
Ada saw nothing in the distant figures that caused her alarm, but Sen was clearly affected. His eyes narrowed, and his heartbeat grew so rapid she could practically see the blood pounding through his veins.
"It's him," Ada said quietly. Sen nodded.
He could feel it from here, the void that was Sarin. Sen could sense body, soul, and breath, but he felt none of these things from Sarin. He was emptiness, a hollow space where life should be. Was it some intentional cover, Sen wondered, a shield to block Sen's extra senses, or was it merely Sarin's nature? Was he so cold as to lack even a heartbeat?
Sen turned away from Sarin's cold void. He didn't want to look. He let his friends keep watch over the Blade Ship while they waited for the plan to work. Sen flexed his fists tightly while he waited -for now.
"No, no, no," Ariak mumbled under his breath. Sen scowled heavily and turned back to the view of the ship. Of course something was wrong.
One by one Sarin's subordinates charged away from the ship, towards the scene of the battle, where they believed the Avatar to be. Kida was one of the first to leave, eager to head off to where she believed Ariak to be. Sensheng was one of the last left on board.
"Will you be leading the charge, commander?" Sensheng asked curiously.
Sarin looked out over the forzeon North, encircled by the grey light of his armies. There was a cold chill in the air, unnatural even for the North.
"No," Sarin said firmly. Sensheng cast a leery eye at his master, though he hid it from Sarin. "Confirm that the Avatar is here, and report to me."
Sensheng obliged, abandoning the Blade Ship and proceeding into the cold and quiet of the North Pole. Sarin was now alone on the deck of his captured vessel.
"That coward," Sen grunted.
"We should have seen this coming, he fell for a decoy Avatar once before," Ada said angrily. She clenched her hands tight around the grips of her swords.
"If he doesn't move, we can't get that ship," Suda said. Sen's plan had hinged on them capturing the Blade Ship. Once aboard, Sen would reveal that he was sailing away, and Sarin would be dragged into a pursuit, forced to abandon the North. But if Sarin still held the Blade Ship, that was impossible. It was the fastest vessel on the water; any other ship they tried to escape in would be quickly overrun.
"If we don't move quickly the Shorewatchers will be overrun," Ariak said. He looked to Sen in desperation. His plans had brought them this far. They needed one more stroke of genius.
Sen stared out at the empty space where Sarin should be. He was waiting, watching, a quiet figure cutting a hole in the night sky. Sen's eyes narrowed. All he saw in Sarin was nearly three years of anger. The destruction at Shen's Post and Tunuk Bay, the loss of Hanjo, the battle at Gai Zhu, the hunting Fogbender, and now this brutal attack on the North. All that anger and misery concentrated into a single point, in Sarin.
And they'd never even seen each other before today. They'd exchanged words for the first time earlier. Sen's ears still burned with Sarin's taunt: "I'll be waiting." Waiting just a few yards away, and yet they were an entire world apart.
But Sen had been from the Earth Kingdom to the Fire Nation to the Spirit World to the North Pole. He had crossed worlds before. Sen's pounding heart steadied.
"How long will it take to get the ship running, Ariak?"
"A few minutes," He said. "Ten, at most."
Ten minutes, Sen could handle that much.
"Signal me when the ship's ready," Sen commanded.
"What's the plan?" Ada asked curiously. Sen never spoke, but the look in his eyes said more than a thousand words ever could. Ada tried to protest, but never got the chance.
Sen vaulted out of cover, out from his hiding place in the shadows and on to the icy docks. Sparse moonlight illuminated his sudden charge towards the Blade Ship. Even though the obscuring darkness blocked his sight directly, Sen could still feel it as Sarin's grey-ringed eyes turned to look at him. It sent a chill down his spine, but did not slow his steps.
"Sarin!"
Sen punctuated his shout with a lance of fire. The jet of red flames soared upwards towards the deck of the blade ship, briefly illuminating Sarin's hooded face. The flash of brilliant light lasted only a moment before Sarin was shrouded by darkness yet again.
With a sweep of his arms, Sen called up the waters of the ocean to lash out at Sarin. There could be no doubt. Sarin had to know exactly who he was facing.
"Is he insane?" Suda shouted.
"He's a distraction," Ariak retaliated, quickly catching on to Sen's plan. "We need to get to the ship and get him out of there!"
A quick blast of air from Sen was the final straw. Sarin dove from the deck of the blade ship onto the ice below, cushioning his landing with a slight spiral of air. Sen held his hands at the ready, waiting for Sarin to strike. The Energybender seemed content to stand there for a moment.
Here, just a few feet apart, the dim moonlight was enough to illuminate them both clearly. For the first time Sen saw his rival clearly. They were nearly equal in height and build, evenly matched at least in the physical regard. Sen could still sense nothing of Sarin's spirit. That was dangerous. Sen had come to rely on his extra senses in combat. Fighting without them would be difficult.
Sarin's grey robes shifted slightly as the winds changed course around him. He called upon the cold air, readying himself for the battle to come.
"Finally you stop running," Sarin hissed.
Sen didn't respond with words but with a quick blade of fire cutting through the air, diving towards Sarin's heart. The Energybender made a quick dash to the side, propelled by cutting winds that enhanced his speed. He unleashed a quick cyclone as retaliation, which Sen likewise sidestepped. Their probing of each other's defenses paused and they began to circle one another once again.
"Hanjo's told me much about you," Sarin taunted. "Your fury in combat, and especially your skills of observation."
Sarin abandoned his defensive stance and held his hands wide, mocking Sen.
"So tell me, Avatar," He said, making the title sound like a curse. "What do you see in me?"
Hatred. It was an easy question. Sen could not look at Sarin and feel anything but rage. After all the things he'd done, there was nothing else Sen could feel. Sarin was a cancer on Sen's life, a source of nothing but misery and suffering.
"You've been trying to kill me for three years, and now you want to talk?" Sen growled. "All I see is an animal I'm going to put down."
Sarin seemed disappointed by Sen's crude anger.
"What you should see, Sen," Sarin roared. "Is inevitability."
Sarin spun his hands, summoning a broad circle of spiraling air, too wide and tall for Sen to dodge around. Sen called up a massive shield of ice and pushed it forward, charging through the heart of Sarin's miniature hurricane. Coming out the other side of the roaring cage of wind, Sen threw a punch forward, and a blade of ice ripped out of the ground towards Sarin.
"There is only one way this ends, Avatar," Sarin taunted as he deflected the blow. A sweeping hammer of air descended from above, and Sen was forced backwards. Sarin began to walk forward slowly, launching a relentless barrage of small, swift strikes from the air.
"I was born, raised, and trained for one purpose," he shouted.
As Sen danced around the rapid blows of air, Sarin raised his hands and focused his mind.
"To be the end of the Avatar!"
Sarin's hand slammed down, and the sky fell with it. Sen was hit by the descending pillar of air and knocked to the ground, unable to avoid the crushing skyfall. Sarin attempted to strike while Sen was disoriented, but Sen was quick to recover. He shielded himself from the blow at just the right angle, using the gust of air to push himself backwards, launching a few retaliatory strikes at Sarin as he moved backwards. With some space to maneuver, Sen planted his feet.
Sen dug his heel into the ground and spun it right, raising up the ice into a pillar and sweeping it toward Sarin. In the same spinning motion he sent out a line of fire to Sarin's opposite side, intending to trap him between ice and fire. Sarin jumped up and backwards, allowing the two conflicting elements to crash into each other.
There was no hesitation in Sen's action. Sarin dodged, and Sen went after him once again, trying to force him further from the Blade Ship. He couldn't risk Sarin getting too close to his friends. Sen was the only one who stood any chance of resisting Sarin's Energybending. Anyone else fighting him could only end in disaster.
With that in mind, Sen took a few steps back. Sarin followed, attacking in kind with a lash of wind. Sen, used to having a few seconds of warning before an attack, only barely managed to dodge the first strike. He felt the air rush by, just inches from his face. He'd need to keep a better eye out for Sarin's attacks.
The ice cracked and shook as Sen pulled up two circular disks of ice to shield himself. He needed to focus on defending himself. He had Sarin's attention now, all he had to do was hold his ground until his friends got the Blade Ship working.
Blasts of air bounced off Sen's icy shields as Sarin closed in on his prey. When the Energybender was a safe distance from the ship, the rest of the group set out. Suda kept a close eye on Gun. Sen's animal guide was confused to be crossing ice, but that was perhaps a good thing. If he sensed the battle his master was in, Gun might have rushed to help.
Ariak called up a ramp of ice to the deck of the Blade Ship, wide enough for them all to climb up. As soon as they were aboard, he began shouting orders. Sarin's lieutenants had abandoned the ship earlier, so they at least didn't have to fight for control of the ship, but there was still a lot of work to be done getting the ship ready to launch.
The air was filled with the sound of shattering as one of Sen's shields was broken by Sarin's blows. Sarin's attacks were surprisingly relentless. His airbending was strange, different even from Whistler's aggressive airbending. Sarin wielded air like his own hands, occasionally using it to grip and control an object, occasionally hammering it down like a fist.
With one of his shields broken, Sen decided to abandon the defensive approach for a moment. He threw his remaining shield like a spinning saw blade through the air. Sarin deflected it by redirecting the flow of air, causing the spinning shield to veer off course. Sen sparked a fire in his hands, illuminating the dark night with red light.
Sen slammed both his hands together and let out a continuous stream of flame, following Sarin as he evaded the jet of fire. Sen focused on maintaining the attack, forcing Sarin to remain on the move.
With a quick motion, Sarin threw out his hand and clenched his fist. Sen felt the air close tightly around his torso a second too late. He was pulled backwards, thrown off his feet, and slammed against the ground. He hit the icy ground hard, and then was lifted up again, before being slammed right back down. Sen felt shards of ice against his back as the ice shattered beneath him.
He felt another motion in the air, and this time he managed to disrupt Sarin's attack. Sen flipped to his feet and turned to face his adversary once again. His skin was burning where he had slammed against the ground, but he was still ready to fight. He had to keep up the battle for just a little while longer.
The air roared as a blast of wind passed by Sen. The Avatar dodged again and again, staying only two steps ahead of Sarin's blows. Eventually, two steps became one, and then none. Cold winds ripped Sen's legs out from under him, forcing him down on to his face.
Sarin readied himself for another blow, and he took a step back with his left foot. Sen's eyes zeroed in on that one slight step. He was robbed of many of the tools he used to predict his opponents motions, but he still had his eyes and his wit. He was not completely disarmed.
The blow hit Sen in the chest, pounding against his ribs painfully, but Sen endured. He braced himself for the next strike. Sarin prepared, and once again stepped back slightly with his left foot. The burst of air that followed was once again aimed right at Sen's chest. Sen stepped to the side and twisted the ice, raising up a row of spike's to Sarin's left just as he prepared another attack. The icy spikes caused Sarin to hesitate in adjusting his stance, and the blow that followed was weaker, more sluggish, easy to dodge.
Sen smiled to himself. Sarin was still human. He had weaknesses, flaws to be exploited. All Sen had to do was learn to exploit them. Sarin saw the smile on Sen's face, and, surprisingly, smiled right back. His smile was a wicked thing, completely joyless and sadistic. Sen ignored the toxic grin on Sarin's face and continued the fight.
It was a brutal thing to go through. Sen endured a dozen blows, and landed few in turn. Sarin held the advantage –for now. With every step, with every blow, Sen learned more and more about Sarin's fighting style. Every footstep, every gesture, every turn of his head betrayed more and more about Sarin, and gradually, the tide began to turn.
Sarin planted his feet and threw his hands forward. Sen recognized the move. Sen lunged forward to dodge the hammerlike blow of air that came from above, and retaliated in kind. A cyclone briefly spun in front of Sarin's chest before exploding outwards, launching Sarin back. Sen exploited the advantage while Sarin was still caught in the air. Water struck him from below, launching him higher into the air, and fire descended upon him from above, knocking him back to the ground with a meteoric impact.
The Energybender was quickly back to his feet, ignoring the pain of the blows and returning his attention to his prey. The Avatar tried to press the attack, striking with all four elements in a relentless offensive, but Sarin evaded every blow. It was enough for Sen that he had put Sarin on the defensive; that was the first step to gaining a real advantage.
Even after all Sen's effort, Sarin was not helpless. He noticed the Avatar's tendency towards quick, vicious strikes, intending to keep him off balance. The forward inertia of the charge gave strength to Sen's blows, but it created vulnerabilities in kind.
Sarin's grey-ringed eyes narrowed as Sen stepped forward quickly. With a quick thrust of his hand, Sarin launched a cutting blade of air. Still charging forwards, Sen could not change direction in time to evade the blow. The razor of wind cut through Sen's sleeve and skin, scattering small droplets of red blood across the ice. Sen let out a small cry of pain as the bladed wind cut through him.
Suda had only just barely managed to get Gun aboard when the badgermole heard his masters cry of pain. He was prevented from moving by the railings of the Blade Ship's deck, but Gun still let out a cry ofdistress as he heard his master in pain. A cry that Sarin heard.
The Energybender turned his eyes to the Blade Ship, and his fists clenched tightly as he saw activity on the deck. He turned his greyed face back to the Avatar, anger clearly twisting his already altered features.
"You're still trying to run," He roared loudly, cutting the cold night with his anger. The winds around Sarin began to howl as he warped them with his anger. Sen had a sinking feeling that this was not going to end well.
Sen's fears were confirmed as a black blade cut through the darkness of the night. A winding trail of shadows signaled the Hssk's advance across the icy plain of the docks. The Hssk sprung from the ground, its blue eyes indistinguishable from the distant stars as they hung in the black void. The Hssk's body was nearly invisible set against the black night sky, but Sen could still see the four jaws flexing with arcane hunger.
For only a brief moment the Mind-Eater stopped to examine the Avatar. Then it crawled along Sarin's skin, sinking into his flesh, crawling through his eyes. Sarin shivered like cold ice ran along his spine as the Hssk dug itself into his soul. For a moment it seemed that the two were one; Sarin had the four jaws and the blue starlight eyes of the Hssk. Then the illusion faded, and there was only Sarin, yet darker, emptier than he had ever been before.
"There is no escape," Sarin hissed.
Cold grey energy crawled forth from Sarin's hands like hungry worms slithering through the air. Sen stepped backwards. The tendrils of air searched through the air hungrily, seeking prey. Sarin held his hand towards the Avatar, and the cold energy zeroed in on its target.
Sen ran as fast as he could, and the hungry grey light just barely missed him, instead crashing into the ice behind him. Where it was struck, the ice did not melt or shatter: it simply ceased to be. Where ice had once been, there no longer was.
"You think the Hssk can save you? He doesn't trust you, Sarin" Sen taunted. "He came to me, begging to be spared. He even offered to give up all your secrets!"
Sarin shook his hands, and the hunting tendrils vanished. There was a moment of hesitation, as perhaps Sarin and the Hssk had some internal argument. Sen took the moment to catch his breath. Energybending was a new threat, one he had no idea how to combat. He hoped that Ariak and the others would get the Blade Ship running soon. He might not be able to hold out much longer.
Sarin finished his internal debate, and he clenched his fingers into a clawed grip, grasping out at Sen with arcane power. Sen briefly felt an unholy grip on his body, but a surge of power from within shook it off. Sarin was clawing at his spirit, but Sen could fight back. He felt the energies of Raava and Vaatu coursing through him, protecting him from Sarin's Energybending.
"You should have taken the Hssk up on his offer," Sarin said calmly. "You might have survived."
The failed grasp at Sen's soul was not the end of Sarin's attempts, however. He could not attack Sen's soul directly, but he would go through the skin if he had to. His hands briefly glowed with grey light. Sen began to run.
Destructive rays of cold grey light followed him as Sen ran. He felt a deadly crackle through the air, and he swerved sharply. The cutting ray of cold light just barely grazed his arm. The sleeve of his coat was burned away. Sen put as much distance as he could between Sarin and himself, and then dove behind a wall stacked with crates, probably meant for shipping. The wall would offer no cover against the utter annihilation Sarin was capable of, but it would at least offer him a chance to hide.
Sen's coat was charred as if by fire, but the heat Sen had felt was not of any fire. Sarin was unwinding the energy that ran through all things. Sen's spirit was strong enough to resist, but anything else would be completely destroyed. The now-useless sleeves of his coat were stripped away as Sen removed the damaged garment.
With his arms bare, Sen's eyes flickered briefly to his hand, to the scar and chain he wore on one hand. Memento's of why he fought this battle in the first place. Sen turned away. Those could not help him now. Salvation, perhaps, could be found on his other arm.
The armband that Korra had once worn was still wrapped around his bicep. He needed her now. Sen had nearly been on even footing with Sarin before the Energybender had called on his spirit ally. Sen had his own spirits on his side. If Sen could connect to Raava's power, if he could go into the Avatar State, then he would be able to stand a chance. He might even be able to win.
Sen pulled the armband down to his wrist and clenched it tightly. He had spoken to Korra, to Raava, even to Vaatu. He had to be able to connect to the Avatar State by now. But he wouldn't do it by running.
With the armband around his wrist, Sen turned around to face the Energybender. He focused everything on the power inside himself, and closed his eyes for a brief second, putting all his faith in the power he held inside.
Sen's eyes opened, and there was nothing. No light, no power. Only Sen, standing like a fool before the Energybender.
The first blow struck his hand. The grey energy passed through him and around him, burning every nerve in his body as it struck, though it caused no physical damage. The furious power caught Korra's armband, and before pain blinded him, he saw the fabric start to burn, then burst into flames.
The second blast struck him in the chest. His shirt similarly caught fire, though only briefly. The cold energy caused no physical injury to Sen, but it set his heart alight with searing pain as it knocked him to the ground.
Focusing through the pain was difficult, but Sen managed. There was only one thing on Sen's mind anyway. As he clenched at his chest with his one good hand, Sen wondered why. Why he could not tap into his power, why he couldn't fight. Why, even through all this pain and suffering, could he not be a real Avatar? Even if he couldn't control the Avatar State at will, it should at least protect him from agony like this. Another pulse of pain through his heart burned any thoughts from Sen's mind, and his drawn-out cry of anguish filled the night.
Sen managed to pull himself to his feet, though pain still clouded his mind. Sarin closed his grey eyes and took a deep breath. He spared himself only a moment before he walked over to the Avatar, approaching his fallen prey. Sen was only vaguely aware that the Energybender was approaching. Pain still screamed in his mind as agony wracked him.
"You did- you fight well," Sen said. Maybe the right words could hold Sarin away long enough. He had to delay, somehow. It was near impossible to speak through the burning fire that devoured his every nerve, but Sen forced himself.
It accomplished nothing. Sarin was still approaching, wordless and unflinching. The closer he got, the more keenly aware Sen was of his impending fate. If Sarin laid even a single hand on him, it would be over. He would die.
"He taught you well," Sen stammered, letting out one last desperate word. "Kalden."
At the name of his brother, an icy chill ran through the air, and for only the briefest moment, Sarin hesitated.
A loud metallic groan cut through the air, followed by the sound of tearing steel and cracking ice. Sarin looked up and to his right. The mighty anchor statue that stood over the docks was being pulled downwards, slowly descending towards the ground. Suda was standing on the deck of the Blade Ship, straining under the effort of dragging the statue down.
The metal statue collapsed completely, crashing down on to the icy docks with thunderous force. The center of the structure collapsed immediately, shattering into icy dust in seconds. The cracks spread outwards, breaking the docks into fractional pieces that began to drift away from one another. Sarin was set off balance as the wave of destruction spread outwards, shattering the ice between him and the Avatar. Panic set into Sarin's grey eyes as he realized the deception.
As the docks shattered, Whistler dove to Sen's side, lifting him off the ground and throwing him over her shoulder. She bounced across the rapidly collapsing docks, hopping across the broken chunks of ice towards the Blade Ship. Sarin gave chase, but the ice did not cooperate with him. Ariak stood on the deck of the Blade Ship as well, churning the water and ice to destabilize Sarin's pursuit. The Energybender abandoned the icy ground and rose into the air, riding a cyclone in his pursuit of Sen.
A metal reel grabbed Sen and Whistler both, entangling them and drawing them in, just as Sarin's blow crushed the iceberg they had been standing on mere seconds ago. Suda's metal reels pulled them in quickly, slamming them onto the deck of the ship.
"Get inside," Ada commanded. She was at the controls, ready to take the Blade Ship out of port at a moment's notice.
"No time," Ariak shouted back. "Submerge now!"
Ariak readied himself. Ada knew what he intended. Slamming her fist down on the Blade Ship's controls, Ada drained the ballast tanks and sank the ship beneath the waves.
They all had one brief moment to look Sarin in the eyes as he descended from above, intent on reclaiming the prey he had been hunting for so long. Then the icy waves crashed around them, encircling them in frozen water as they descended into the depths. Ariak managed to keep the water at bay, keeping a bubble of air around them. He breathed a sigh of relief as the submarine sank deeper and deeper. Sarin could not pursue them through this icy water. They were safe.
The ship sat idle at the bottom of the arctic sea for a brief moment as Ariak led them all inside to the safety of the Blade Ship. Suda carried Sen, still unmoving, to the cargo bay of the ship. Gun whined loudly as he saw Sen laid flat on the floor of the room. Ada stripped away his coat and looked over the sites where Sen had been struck.
"There's no injuries," She said, confused. There were some slight burns where his clothes had caught fire, but Sen himself seemed untouched. That only made her more afraid. She could bandage cuts and salve bruises, but a wound she could not see made her helpless.
Sen was oddly quiet, although a rapid movement of his eyes said he was conscious –for now. He looked around at his friends. They had come through, even when he had been unable to save himself. With a slow, mournful nod, his head dropped to the side, and he fell into unconsciousness.
Gun forced his way through the circle of concerned friends and laid his head down close to Sen's. He let out the deep, slow sighs exclusive to a loyal pet whose master has been taken away. Sen's hair was ruffled slightly by the heavy breaths, and that was the only motion the Avatar made. They all watched Sen for a minute, waiting for him to move.
"We should…move. Get out of the North. Sen would want us to lure Sarin away from the North," Ariak suggested. Sen had knowingly thrown himself into danger to keep his plan from failure. The North was still swarming with Sarin's men, and they were all at risk.
Quietly, they all left Sen in Gun's care and returned to their posts, setting the Blade Ship on its course. They put some distance between themselves and the shore before they rose to the surface. They needed to make sure that Sarin saw them leaving.
Ariak took the lookout post as they raised the Blade Ship above the waves, looking back on the city that had been his home. The docks swarmed with activity. Sarin was preparing a pursuit. From the movement of lights across the dark city, Ariak guessed that he was ordering a full retreat. The plan had worked. Within hours, the North would be safe.
Ariak could only hope that it was worth the cost.
END OF BOOK 4