A day and a half later the ship reached the shores of the Sacred Isle, home to the Fire Sages' impressive collection of records.
The location was an impressive site: it was a mountain rising from the sea, with little in the way of a beach, and no vegetation in sight. Its gray-black facade was a stark contrast to the azure sky and cobalt water.
Zuko and Katara departed from the ship and hiked up the side of the dormant volcano along the narrow and winding path leading to the crater under the mid-morning sun. Zuko gave her a brief description of it as they went.
"It's kind of like Capital City but on a much smaller scale," Zuko told her. "The temple is in the crater of the dormant volcano, although the records are kept below ground, in the old magma channels."
Katara frowned. "Isn't that a bit dangerous? What if the volcano erupted again?"
He smiled mysteriously at her. "You'll see why that's not possible when we get up there."
It took the rest of the morning to reach the summit. When she and Zuko finally crested the top Katara couldn't help but gasp at the beauty of the site. Zuko's description did not do it justice.
Inside the volcano's crater was a crystal blue lake, so clear she could see far into its depths. In the center of the lake was an island on which a towering red temple similar in appearance to the one she, Aang, and Sokka had traveled to on Crescent Island. But the most impressive part of the entire scene was the sheer depth of the crater: she and Zuko stood hundreds of feet above the water. It was a dizzying drop.
"Oh wow," she said breathlessly. "This is the most beautiful place I've ever seen."
He offered her a small smile before he looked back down at the water. "Thousands of years ago this volcano erupted so intensely that the entire Fire Nation was covered in a cloud of ash and smoke for months. The plumes of smoke reached the shores of the Earth Kingdom and could be seen as far away as Ba Sing Se," Zuko explained. "It completely blew out the inside of the volcano, leaving only this crater. It filled with water from an underground source, and became a lake in the middle of the ocean. The island is what's left of the volcano's core. In the histories, it's known as the Summer without a Sun."
"That's incredible." Katara felt dizzy looking at the distance. "And slightly terrifying."
Zuko took her hand and pulled her along. "Come on." He shot her a lopsided smirk over his shoulder. "Now we've got to walk all the way down to the bottom and row a boat across."
"Man, I really miss Appa."
When they finally reached the bottom of the crater, they stood on a narrow shelf of obsidian rock. Two small boats were docked there, and a bronze gong stood on a table. Zuko picked up the mallet and hit the gong once. The sound reverberated across the lake and against the craggy sides of the crater, echoing in the vast space. A few moments later, a Fire Sage dressed in red appeared in the doorway to the temple. He waved them across.
"Let's go," Zuko said.
He set his bag into the bottom of the small craft before climbing in himself. He held his hand out to Katara. She took it and carefully stepped into the boat. Once she was seated Zuko picked up the oars and began to row across the Great Lake.
She peered down into the crystalline water. Hundreds of feet below the water grew dark, but she saw no signs of life.
"Is the water safe?" Katara asked with a curious frown.
"Sure. It's probably some of the purest water in the world." Zuko shrugged as he continued to row them across.
"There aren't any fish or anything."
Zuko studied the water thoughtfully for a moment as if he had just noticed that. "Well, it came from underground. I guess there aren't any fish down there."
"Mm-hm." Katara dipped her fingers into the water. It was crisp and cool and clean against her skin, a stark contrast to the warm sun beating down on them. She cocked her head at him, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Do you think the Fire Sages would get mad if I went swimming in the lake?"
"Probably." His eyes sparkled with amusement. "They're on the old and strict side, you know."
The Fire Sage was waiting for them when Zuko finally got the boat docked at the island. The Fire Sage bowed to his unexpected guests.
"I am Fire Sage Shu Yin. How can I help you today?" he asked in a soft voice. He straightened up, and his eyebrows lifted high when he saw who his guest was. The Fire Sage dropped to his knees in a kowtow. "My apologies, Fire Lord Zuko. We were not anticipating a visit from his lordship."
"It was unplanned, Shu Yin. There's nothing to be sorry for," Zuko said courteously. Katara did not miss the way he subtly stood straighter or the neutral look on his face, all traces of amusement gone as he automatically stepped into the role of Fire Lord. "My companion, Princess Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, and I need some information. We were hoping that the Fire Sages might have something that can help us."
Shu Yin got to his feet. He bowed respectfully to Katara. "Yes, of course, my lord, whatever knowledge we have is at your disposal. May I ask what it may be about, or from what time, to point you in the right direction?"
"We're looking for information regarding a person known as the Conduit. Does that help at all?"
The Fire Sage's eyes widened fractionally, but he covered his surprise with a quick dip of his head. "Yes, my lord, I would be happy to escort you and the princess to the records we would have regarding that...matter."
"Thank you," Zuko said. He and Katara shared a sigh of relief. Maybe this trip wasn't a waste after all.
The Fire Sage led them into the temple. Inside the air was cool and dark, a stark contrast to the outside. Katara and Zuko followed Shu Yin down a series of corridors until they reached the heart of the temple. A great spiraling dragon was embossed in gold on the floor, ending in a small pedestal with a fire emblem on its top. Shin Yu placed his hand over the emblem and with a burst of fire the ground beneath them groaned. The spiraling dragon sank into the floor to reveal a curving stairway led down further into the temple.
"Follow me if you would, please," the Fire Sage said.
The trio went down the stairs into the belly of the temple. Shu Yin lit sconces that hung along the wall as they went until they reached the end of the stairs. The room opened up into a large cavern that seemed to be carved directly into the volcano. Katara thought it might have been the old magma channels from when the volcano was active. The air had a faint sulphuric tang to it.
Shelves upon shelves lined the room. More passages led further out, and Katara assumed there were more scrolls, tomes, and artifacts in them. The collection of the Fire Sages rivaled Wan Shi Tong's library in the desert.
"Wow, this is amazing!" Katara whispered reverently as she took it all in.
"This is thousands of years of record keeping," Shu Yin told her with a proud smile. "The Fire Sages have been collecting knowledge since the first Avatar, Wan, was formed."
"Do you guys have a lot of knowledge on the Conduit?" she asked.
Shu Yin pursed his lips. "I am not too sure of that, but if you would like I would be happy to get Wu Yen. He has spent years dedicated to the history of Avatars, which as I'm sure you know goes hand-in-hand with the Conduit. If anyone will know, it will be him."
"Yes, that would be helpful," Zuko answered.
Shu Yin took them down one of the passages. Down the hallway, it opened up into a sizable chamber that had more shelves lining the walls and set up in the center of the floor. There were hundreds, if not thousands of scrolls present.
"This is where we keep records in relation to the Avatars. I will return shortly with Wu Yen," Shu Yin said with a bow before disappearing.
"We better hope that Wu Yen knows his stuff or we're gonna be here until we're they're age," Zuko muttered as he ran one finger along a shelf.
"I can't believe how many scrolls they have here. There is so much knowledge packed into this one room," Katara remarked, awestricken. She slowly walked down the rows, admiring it. She would have to tell Aang about this later—it didn't matter that they had broken up, she knew he would appreciate it, and would likely want to visit the Sacred Isle someday.
For a commoner from the Southern Water Tribe, Katara's formal education had been given to her by Gran-Gran, which was mostly a retelling of the history of the world and their tribe as well as a basic lesson in reading, writing, and arithmetic. History in her tribe was passed down orally, through generations. Seeing so much history compiled in one place was nearly overwhelming.
"It's nice, but if we can't get a good starting point, we'll probably be here awhile," Zuko huffed pessimistically as his eyes combed the stacks.
Katara scowled at him. "Don't be such a grouch. I'm sure that the Royal Palace has a library nearly as big as this one that's been at your disposal nearly your whole life, unlike some of us."
Color rose in his cheeks. She was right. His expression softened. "Sorry, Katara." He gestured apologetically. "I'm just ready to really get started on the task at hand. We've already lost almost an entire week."
"You're forgiven." It was impossible to stay mad at him in such an incredible place.
Eventually Shu Yin came back with an even older Fire Sage who shuffled along with a wooden cane in his gnarled hand.
"Hello," he said in a hushed, whistle-like voice. He stiffly dipped his head. "I apologize, my lord, for not bowing, but these old bones aren't what they used to be."
"That's alright, Wu Yen." To Katara's surprise, Zuko bowed to his elder. "We are honored to have your assistance in this matter."
"Thank you kindly." Wu Yen stroked his white whiskers with his free hand. "Ah yes, Shu Yin tells me you are seeking some information regarding the Conduit." There was a mysterious glint in his eyes. "It has been a long time since anyone has asked about that particular fellow. Follow me, then."
With that Wu Yen shuffled at a turtle-sloth's pace down one of the many rows of shelves, muttering beneath his breath. "No, no, not Avatar Kyoshi...not Kuruk...not Wan...I know it's around here somewhere..."
Katara and Zuko followed him. She could feel his impatience, but Zuko kept his cool as the Fire Sage searched for the records he was looking for. At the end of the final row Wu Yen finally stopped. He pointed with one shaky finger.
Wu Yen turned toward Zuko. "Young man, could you get it for me? I'm afraid I may drop them."
"Of course, elder." Zuko stepped up and grabbed a small wooden box and pulled it from the shelf. He blew dust off the top of the box, and the aged Fire Sage chuckled.
"It's been a while," Wu Yen tittered. He waved them along. "Come, come, let's take it to the workbench and sit a spell."
Zuko and Katara trailed him back across the room to a table, where they all sat down. Zuko slid the box across the table to Wu Yen. The elder took the lid off of the box and revealed a handful of scrolls.
"I'm afraid it's not much, you see. Many records regarding the Conduit have been lost to the ages," Wu Yen told them dismally. "What you see here is what the Fire Sages have collected, and some of my own written accounts, from things I heard, how do you say, by word of mouth."
"Thank you. This is incredibly helpful," Katara said kindly. She could feel the frustration and disappointment rolling off of Zuko. She felt it too, but really, what did they expect? "We appreciate your help."
"What has the most useful information?" Zuko peered at the contents of the box.
Wu Yen popped his wizened lips as he thought. "Either my own records or this bit here. It came from the Warriors Guild oh about...a hundred and fifty years ago, before they were wiped out."
"The Warriors Guild?" Katara inquired. "Who were they?"
"They were an elite group of warriors. They used to have connections to the Avatar. Not much is known about them, I'm afraid," Wu Yen answered. He pulled out a thick sheaf of paper and then a single scroll and set them on the table top. Zuko took the thicker packet and passed the thinner one to Katara. Wu Yen dusted his hands off on his robes. "I wish there were more, but alas, this is what we've managed to find."
Zuko appraised the roll of parchment in his hands with a grim look on his face. He looked up at the Fire Sage. "Is there anything you can tell us before we start?"
Wu Yen considered this. "Hm, probably nothing you won't find in this here box. The Conduit is an ancient being, almost as old as the Avatar. He hasn't been seen or heard from in over a century, but I believe he is still out there."
"What makes you say that?" Zuko asked earnestly.
The old man's eyes twinkled mysteriously. "A powerful being like that does not go quietly into the night, son. He is out there...waiting. Biding his time, I presume."
Zuko and Katara exchanged a nervous glance.
Wu Yen clapped his hands together sharply. "But I do need to get back to my duties, if you'll excuse me."
"Of course. Thank you for your help, Wu Yen." Zuko bowed again.
"If you need me, just send one of those young whippersnappers up yonder to get me." With that Wu Yen shuffled back out of the room.
"Seeing him go down those stairs must be frightening," Katara remarked as she watched him go. She looked at Zuko, one eyebrow arched in amusement. "I think he forgot who you are."
"I won't hold it against him. He's probably a hundred years old." Zuko snorted as he untied the ribbon holding the papers closed. "Let's get started with this. Hopefully we find something useful and we can be on our way by sundown."
'Yes, my lord," Katara teased, but she opened hers as well. The scrolls felt ancient and fragile beneath her fingers, as if they might crumble into dust if she handled them improperly. Carefully she laid them out. The ink was faded but still legible. "Someone really ought to copy these records to preserve them," she murmured. "These scrolls are invaluable."
"Perhaps when I get back home I'll get a committee to do just that." He looked up at her, eyes twinkling. "That's one of the best parts about being Fire Lord. I can see something that needs to be done and I make sure it happens."
Katara smiled brightly at him. "That's wonderful, Zuko." The smile dissipated as her brow furrowed in contemplation. "After this journey, I hope I can find a way to help the world too. I've spent too much time holed up in Yu Dao. It's time to put my skills to some use."
Zuko wasn't sure he liked the idea of Katara leaving as soon as they were through. He had forgotten how much he liked her company. That was assuming, of course, that all went well on their mission. He cleared his throat. "You know…" he started. Katara peered up at him and he swallowed hard as he continued. "You're always more than welcome to represent the Southern Water Tribe as an ambassador at the Palace."
Katara was puzzled by his offer. "But you have Alasie as a representative for the tribe already. Do you really need another one? I wouldn't want to impose on anyone."
Heat rose in his cheeks at the mention of his former lover. Zuko swallowed again. "Well...she may not want to be there forever. And I'm sure I could find other things for you to do within my government as well. There's always the Great Route to think about. And besides…" He met her curious eyes then. "I could really use your optimism on a daily basis. It would be a nice change." He offered her a small smile that she readily returned. "And I know you'll be the first to put any minister that steps out of line in their place."
Katara couldn't help but grin as she imagined herself tirading against some stuffy minister. "I appreciate the offer, Zuko. I really do and I'll be sure to keep it in mind. But first," she sighed. "We have to figure this problem out." Zuko nodded in agreement.
They fell into concentrated silence as they read over the scrolls Wu Yen had given to them. Katara poured over the information left behind by the Warriors Guild. She had never heard of the organization before and the scroll didn't offer any detail in that regard, but there was a lot of useful information. Katara looked up and saw parchment and ink sitting on the desk. She grabbed some and started to jot down notes. Zuko watched her curiously for a moment before he resumed his own reading.
As far as she could tell, the Warriors Guild had been some sort of expert on the Conduit. The scroll gave a brief history up to the time the scroll was written. From what Katara could glean, the Conduit had been somewhat of an elusive villain. They wreaked havoc from the shadows, an assasination here, a deadly rumor spread there. Direct violence wasn't in their repertoire for the most part, which was how they managed to remain anonymous. And, according to the page, the Conduit completely vanished shortly before the scroll was written.
"I think I figured out why no one remembers the Conduit.," Katara remarked, breaking the long silence that had stretched easily between them. "They were subtle in their destruction, sowing seeds of treachery and malice from the sidelines and letting others do their dirty work. They never soiled their own hands."
"Hmph, that seems to be about what Wu Yen's account is saying too," Zuko mused. "Listen to this: 'The Conduit is a shadow in the night, an expert at avoiding detection. Apparently he is an expert of evasion as well: no one has seen hide nor hair of him for over a hundred years. The last known Conduit was a man named Tatsuya. He is believed to have died, but no known reincarnations have been seen since'."
"The Conduit really is like the Avatar then, with reincarnations." Katara digested that fact. "I wonder what other similarities they have?"
"A habit of disappearing, apparently," Zuko muttered.
Katara pursed her lips. "So if the Conduit disappeared a hundred years ago, how are we supposed to find them now?" She rested her weary head in one hand while she drummed her fingers across the tabletop with the other. This was starting to give her a headache.
Zuko looked up and saw she was staring at him expectantly. His cheeks grew hot and he scowled. "What are you looking at me for?"
"Well...you did track Aang around the world for the better part of a year." She shrugged. "You're kind of the tracking expert."
Zuko gestured to the crumbling old scrolls. "And what do I have to work with? Outdated, one-hundred-year-old information?"
She didn't rise to the bait. She knew he was just as frustrated as she was. "It would be nice to know if the Conduit follows a reincarnation cycle like the Avatar does," Katara said dryly. "Water, earth, fire, air. But it doesn't say anything about it in my scroll."
"These scrolls don't really seem to say much at all." Frustration was seeping into his tone. He was beginning to wonder if this was a waste of time after all. "Maybe the Conduit doesn't follow a cycle at all." He pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers and let out a low growl. "This is irritating."
Shu Yin appeared in the doorway suddenly, a thin box in his hands. "I apologize for the intrusion, my lord, but Wu Yen remembered he had this item that belonged to a former Conduit and thought you and Princess Katara may be interested in it."
Zuko looked up earnestly. "Yes, bring it in." Zuko waved the Fire Sage over impatiently.
Shu Yin brought it forward and set it on the table before bowing respectfully. "Wu Yen says you can take it if it will aid in your journey." The Fire Sage frowned. "Though I'm not sure what he meant by that…"
Zuko and Katara exchanged a curious glance. It seemed like Wu Yen knew more than he had let on. Did the ancient Fire Sage know about the prophecy?
"Thank you, Shu Yin," Katara said. "You and the Fire Sages have been more than helpful."
Shu Yin left, and as soon as it was just the two of them Zuko lifted the lid of the box. Inside was black silk cloth. He pulled it back and revealed a necklace. He carefully took it out and held it in the palm of his hand.
Katara gasped as her fingers flew up to her throat, to her own necklace. "It's a Water Tribe necklace," she breathed. Gingerly, she took it from Zuko and inspected the stone closer. The dark blue silk was frayed at the edges, but the blue stone still shone. She set it gingerly in the box. "It's from the Northern Water Tribe, Zuko."
"So Tatsuya was from a water tribe." Zuko leaned in closer to get a better look. "If that's the case, maybe he was a waterbender. The Conduit reincarnation cycle might be similar to the Avatar's after all."
"Either he was from the water tribes or he was in love with somebody from one." Katara gestured to the necklace. "That's a betrothal necklace, like my mother's." She fingered the stone on her throat.
Zuko stood up suddenly, his eyes widening. "Katara, that's it!"
She looked up at him, confused. "What is?"
"That necklace will lead us right to the new Conduit!" He pointed at it. "Tatsuya had to handle that necklace, which means his scent would be on it."
Katara processed what he was saying. "But Zuko, this thing is over a hundred years old. And we can't be sure the Conduit actually handled this. Besides, would it really lead us to the new Conduit?" She frowned. Did the scents of past lives follow them into their new life? Katara didn't know.
"Well, right now, it's the best lead we've got," Zuko pointed out. "So we can either try this, or we can hope that one of the other air temples has a better clue. Personally, I'd rather try this." He arched a brow at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Who do we know that can track this?"
Katara knew he was right. She nodded in agreement as she locked eyes with him. "June."
Sokka and Suki hesitated outside of the sturdy doors of the Fire Lord's study. Princess Ursa had summoned them and they weren't sure why. The others had departed a week ago, and while they had seen the acting regent of the Fire Nation in passing during that time, neither had spoken directly to her.
They also hadn't received word from their friends.
"You ready?" Sokka asked. Suki nodded, and he knocked lightly on the heavy door.
"Come in," came the soft and melodic voice.
Sokka and Suki entered. The Water Tribe prince took in the room. The grandeur of the Fire Nation Royal Palace never failed to amaze him, and Zuko's study was no different. The room was shaped like a rectangle, two of the walls lined with shelves that were filled with neatly organized scrolls and parchment. A low table and cushions were in the center of the room, a tea set waiting. The large desk sat at the far end before floor-to-ceiling windows that looked down into some of the gardens of the palace from a private balcony. The heavy brocade drapes had been pulled back and mid-morning sunlight filtered in. One wall had an impressive hearth in it; cool and empty at this time of year.
Suki and Sokka bowed. "Princess Ursa, how may we be of assistance today?" Suki asked.
"I would like to speak to you both regarding the missions your friends and my son have embarked upon." Princess Ursa stood up from the desk and walked to the tea table before kneeling down and settling her robes around her. "Please sit."
Sokka and Suki obeyed. Ursa poured tea with a grace Sokka found both admirable and quite the opposite from her son. Once everyone had been served, she spoke.
"How much did Grandmaster Iroh inform you of what your friends are doing?"
"Not too much. He said he sent Katara and Zuko off to find someone called the Conduit, and that Aang has to fight them or something," Sokka answered. "I trust him or else I would've killed him for sending my sister off like that. My dad, too."
A small smile curved her lips. "Yes, Chief Hakoda came by to see me about this the other day. He offered to stay, but I told him he and the other members of your tribe should return home before the weather gets bad."
"Yeah, he told me. They'll be leaving tomorrow," Sokka sighed. "Grandmaster Iroh asked me to stay here until the Fire Lord and my sister come back, but he didn't say why. You wouldn't happen to have an answer, would you?"
Ursa smiled wanly at them. "I want to apologize for not seeing the two of you sooner." Her eyes fell on the sturdy desk. "Unfortunately the duties of a Fire Lord are a bit consuming."
"That's okay, Princess Ursa. What can you tell us about what's going on?" Suki asked.
"As I'm sure you know, Iroh mentioned a prophecy. There are four parts to it, all connected but speaking of different happenings," Ursa explained. "Iroh has been focusing on only two parts of the prophecy, believing that the third part is related to the first two. But I believe he may be looking at it the wrong way."
"What does the prophecy say?" Sokka asked.
Ursa stood up and went back to the desk. She opened a drawer and removed a scroll and carried it back to the table. She handed it to Sokka, and he and Suki leaned in together to read it over.
"The first part of the prophecy talks about Aang and the Conduit. The timing is right for it. A century ago, the Grandmasters believed it was referring to the comet Fire Lord Sozin used to commit genocide against the Air Nomads. They waited for the Conduit to make an appearance, but they never did." Ursa's honey-colored eyes were dark and cold. "Iroh believes that the prophecy truly meant that it would be happening now. At first I wasn't sure myself but he was able to convince me."
"The second verse, it talks about dreams," Sokka said thoughtfully. "Warning about it. That's what it means, isn't it?"
Ursa nodded. "That's correct. It's why Iroh believes the prophecy is unfolding now. He and the other members of the White Lotus have been having dreams about the spirits." And I believe Kiyi is having premonitions too, Ursa thought darkly.
"I've had dreams about the spirits too," Sokka admitted quietly. He averted his eyes from the others. "Well, one spirit. Yue."
"That's your ex girlfriend, the moon spirit, right?" Suki asked.
He nodded. "She told me in my dream I had to protect the princess, but I don't know what that means."
Ursa's eyebrows lifted in surprise.
"Was she talking about your sister?" Suki wondered.
"I don't know." Sokka lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "But she's off with Zuko. How am I supposed to protect her if she's not even here?"
Ursa smiled knowingly, but the two young lovers didn't see it. "I want you to look at the third stanza. What does that mean to you?"
Suki read from the scroll. "'Treachery in the midnight hours, Who will be the saviors? The keepers of the White Flower will foresee the dangers.'' Suki looked up at Ursa. "That's talking about the Order of the White Lotus, isn't it?"
"It is."
"But what kind of treachery is it talking about? That's what's got me stumped." Sokka considered the prophecy with an expression like he had tasted something sour. "It could have something to do with the Conduit, I guess. Maybe Aang?" He huffed out a breath. "It could be about anyone, about anything."
"It could even mean Zuko and Katara," Suki added, her brow furrowed.
"I think you're going in the right direction, Suki," Ursa said. "I think Iroh is thinking like Sokka. But I don't think that part has much to do with Aang or the Conduit."
Sokka peered up at her, his mouth downturned in confusion. "Then what do you think it's about?"
Ursa considered both of them then looked at Suki. "I'm not sure how much you know about the goings-on of the court here, Suki, but I have reason to believe that Zuko's rule is being threatened. I don't have any concrete evidence. It's just my mother's instinct. But something is not right."
Suki frowned deeply. "Zuko has said a few things to me that I thought were odd. I thought...maybe he was a bit paranoid because when I looked into it, I didn't find anything."
That piqued Ursa's interest. "What sort of things did my son say to you?"
"He mentioned that he felt like someone had gone through his desk." Suki gestured to it. "I told him that didn't make sense because he locks his desk and his study every night and my own warriors patrol this area each night, but he insisted that some of his papers had been moved. So I hid in here overnight for three nights, but found nothing."
"My son can be a little paranoid at times, but do you think it's at all possible there was some truth in that?" Ursa looked at her expectantly.
"I don't know. Maybe." Suki's frown deepened. Sokka gave her hand a squeeze, knowing she would blame herself if it did end up being true. "I suppose it could be. Just because I didn't see anyone that time doesn't mean that it didn't happen at all. But I don't know how."
"Was there anything else he said?" Ursa pressed. "Anything at all?"
Suki hesitated. She didn't like talking about Zuko behind his back, even if it was to his mother, and in his best interest. "He has trouble sleeping, a lot. I know because I often catch him wandering around," she said slowly. "When I've asked him what he's doing, he says he's just getting some air, but I think he's actually checking for assassins." She bit her bottom lip. "I think the previous attempts on his life have really stuck with him."
"Can't say I blame the poor guy," Sokka remarked. "I don't think I'd sleep easy knowing people were out to kill me either."
"It got a lot worse after Azula escaped," Suki said quietly. She looked at Ursa with wide eyes. "Do you think—"
"Yes, I do think Azula may be involved in this, if there is anything going on at all," the Fire Nation Princess said darkly. She grimaced. "I believe she will stop at nothing until her brother is dead or deposed."
Sokka held up his hands, confused. "Wait, wait, wait, let me get this straight: you think Zuko's crazy sister who shoots lightning from her hands might be plotting to assassinate him?" Sokka looked back and forth between the two of them.
"Yes," Suki and Ursa said together.
Sokka shrugged. "Well, I believe it." His brows knit together. "But Zuko is gone. How is she gonna kill him if he's not even here?"
Ursa winced. "She doesn't have to assassinate him right away. Zuko never revoked her birthright. She can stage a coup and efficiently take over as Fire Lord."
Sokka's blood ran cold. "Like she did in Ba Sing Se." He didn't like the sound of that at all.
Ursa nodded solemnly. "My daughter is cunning and intelligent. I wouldn't doubt that she found out about the prophecy somehow and figured out what it means, and is going to find some way to use it to her advantage."
"She's in the wind. We haven't had a report or sighting of her in almost a year," Suki said. Her lip curled in contempt. "She could have been plotting this whole time, just biding her time."
"That's alarming," Sokka muttered. He felt terrible for Zuko. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if Katara was out for his blood, and he suddenly felt a new level of appreciation for his sister. "So what do we do?"
"We remain vigilant. We can't let our guards down," Ursa told them. "Ozai still has his loyalists. If Azula is out there, she will have rallied them. With Zuko gone, taking the throne wouldn't be a challenge at all. I would be the only thing standing in the way."
Sokka's eyes widened. "That's it! That's what Yue was trying to tell me!"
"What are you saying, Sokka?" Suki wanted to know.
"My dream," Sokka elaborated. "The princess I'm supposed to protect isn't Katara at all." He locked eyes with Ursa. "It's you."
Zuko stood on the bow of the ship in the early dawn light. Grey fog formed a blanket over the calm sea, and pink and orange streaked the underbellies of the low-hanging white clouds in the sky. The sea breeze was cool against his face.
He had a newfound love for the sea, that which had once been his own personal prison. He suspected a certain waterbender might have something to do with that.
The Fire Navy ship cut through the flat water with ease. It was going at full-speed, leaving behind a plume of black smoke. They would be on Earth Kingdom soil by mid-morning after a week of travel. Zuko held the small box with the necklace in his hands. He rarely let it out of his sight.
He flipped open the lid and pulled back the silk to study it once again. He was trying not to handle it much because he didn't want to lose whatever lingering scents might have been on it, but he was curious about it.
The carvings etched into the ice-blue stone were intricate and unique. He saw the symbol of the Water Tribe, but around it, lined in a thin trickle of gold, was the outline of a two-headed dragon. Zuko couldn't figure out what that meant. He had to resist the urge to touch it. He didn't want to risk snuffing out any possible remaining scent.
Is it Fire Nation? Or something else?
Her hand on his shoulder startled him. Zuko closed the lid and slipped it into his tunic before he turned to Katara.
She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders to ward off the damp chill of the sea, and her loose hair billowed around her shoulders. Her eyelids were still heavy with sleep, but in the golden dawn, she looked absolutely beautiful.
"Good morning," he demurred as he turned back to the sea. "What are you doing up so early?"
She shuffled beside him and rested her head against his arm, yawning into the blanket gathered on her shoulder. "I had another bad dream. It woke me up and I saw the sun was coming up, so I figured you would be awake." Katara nuzzled her head deeper against him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He didn't say it, but he'd had another nightmare too. He'd had one every night since the night they had spent together. Zuko had entertained ways of getting her to sleep beside him again, just to see if it was a one-time fluke or if there really was something more, but he couldn't think of a plausible way to do it, and had abandoned the venture all together.
Katara shook her head. "No, I don't. I'm just glad it's over."
Zuko put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him, looking out at the foggy sea. They stood together like that in peaceful silence, each lost in their own thoughts. It was tranquil.
A matter of weeks ago, they never would have imagined they would be here. Zuko would never have thought he would stand so comfortably with her, with his arm wrapped protectively around her. Yet somehow, it felt right.
As he stood there with her, he tried to sort through his feelings toward the Water Tribe princess. Of course Zuko felt the depth of their friendship; he had sacrificed his life for her, and she had saved his in return. The star-shaped scar on his stomach was a daily reminder of that. Theirs was a bond deeper than any other. And he cared for her, and he trusted her and valued her thoughts and opinions. I should've made her the Southern Water Tribe diplomat, he thought, looking down at her.
He wished he had. Maybe...maybe then things would have been different. Their friendship could have progressed into something more.
And what would happen when they returned home? Would she and Aang make up? Would she go back to Yu Dao with him, and leave Zuko alone again? If she and Aang didn't get back together, would she accept his offer of becoming an ambassador? He couldn't help but hope she left her relationship with the Avatar behind. The thought of her returning to him made his heart ache fiercely, and Zuko felt a desperate longing for her.
"I think I see the coast," Katara said. She pointed. "There, through the fog. We'll be there in a few hours."
He saw the distant outline of the Earth Kingdom's shore. "Yes, we will."
She turned her face up to him. "June's tavern is a week's march over the mountains by foot."
Zuko could sense the question she was thinking but didn't say. "We'll take a komodo rhino then," Zuko said. "Admiral Jee has a few on the ship, but I don't want to take all of them from the crew in case they need them." He didn't add that he just wanted to be close to her.
"A komodo rhino?" Katara mulled that over. "Well, it beats walking over a mountain, I suppose."
Zuko smiled crookedly. "It's a smooth ride, I promise."
The two noblewomen lounged comfortably on the plush cushions in the suite they had been given for their stay in Capital City. The last two weeks had been almost like a vacation, with days spent getting massages and manicures at the royal spa, having servants wait on them hand and foot, and going into the city to shop at the best marketplace in the Fire Nation.
But beneath the life of luxury was a thread of anxiety: the Fire Lord was gone, and that put them in an uncomfortable position. If he wasn't there for them to win over, what were they supposed to be doing? The only instruction they had received was to be courteous to their hosts, and if they could, try to win favor with Princess Ursa. Those instructions had come from Mal-Chin, and Akemi and Saura assumed he had gotten them from Ukano, who had arranged for them to be presented to Fire Lord Zuko in the first place.
"I wish they would give us something else to do," Akemi mused as she sharpened her emei daggers. She almost always had the small blades on her. Lady Mai isn't the only one with knives up her sleeves. "I'm growing bored of sitting here."
Princess Saura was running through forms with her kubotan. The small, blunt-ended weapon didn't look deadly, but Akemi knew better. Similar to Ty Lee's ability to block someone's chi, the small weapon was effective at chi-blocking and hitting pressure points. She looked up at Akemi with placid eyes.
"It would be wise to have some patience, Akemi," the princess said curtly. " Let's just be grateful we've managed to part ways with Lady Kemeko for a moment."
Akemi sighed, but she nodded. The unsuspecting final addition of their trinity was proving to be too inquisitive for her own good. Akemi and Saura were certain that the katana-wielder wasn't suspicious of them yet, but they didn't want to take any chances either. "Yes, yes," she muttered unhappily.
Princess Saura finished another form, her eyes following the line of her kubotan. "When we are needed, we will be told."