Book 1: AIR

CHAPTER 12:

THE AUDIENCE

Zhong's ship cut through the water as if it were paper. The sails were full of wind and the men full of fear when they reached the volcanic waters. The men talked amongst themselves on what they would see and hear in these islands. It had been a couple of days at sea for them as they traveled to the west and headed for the tip of the largest island. The shore was visible and a large volcano could be seen from the deck of the ship. "Are we starting to chicken out now?" Zhong asked his men as he scratched his chin again. He had sent another hawk to the head of the global organization that was the army. He had requested an audience with him at the most convenient time to see about getting more troops for himself.

"Sir, what are we to do when we reach the islands?" one of the men said as he saluted.

"We are to find those mountain kids of course." Zhong said with a small hiss in his voice. "What did you assume we would be doing on this expedition? Chasing spirits?" The man gulped and returned to the other men, waiting in a small huddle in the center of the ship. The Captain looked at them and then turned to Zhong.

"You really are pushing your men." The Captain said nervously. Zhong gave him a look from the corner of his eye.

"I am?" Zhong said with a small undertone of disdain. "Tell me, Captain, how else would you get men to follow you?"

"I…well…I wouldn't push them for one." The Captain stuttered as Zhong turned completely to him.

"And how far will that take you?" Zhong asked as he leaned on the rail, one hand gripping it tightly, causing it to splinter.

"To…the end of our mission…hopefully." The Captain said. Zhong had a large frown on his face.

"So, you think that what is good and righteous will help you get to your goal? I'm touched. Do you also believe in the power of friendship or is that what your unicorn believes?" Zhong made to throw the Captain to the deck, but he avoided his arm and retreated a couple of steps. "If you want to go all goody-goody on these demi-gods then be my guest. I'll ship your bloody remains to your mother then?"

Before the Captain could respond a screech was heard from above. The ship docked on the black shore and men piled off of the ship, fearing that whatever the letter contained would upset Zhong even more. Zhong grabbed the letter and read it to himself. He smiled.

"I have an audience with the Master. Prepare a ship for me immediately and make sure there are enough provisions on it. I'm going to the mainland."

Kizu walked the streets of Pathigo with three parcels under his arm. He was making his wat quietly through the crowds, making sure not to jostle the packages too much as he made his way to the destination. He stopped again at Oma's house. He put the parcel on the ground and leaned through the bars of the gate to see her.

She was smiling and combing her hair as she stared at the mountain man again. A bird, the one that had once been in a cage, was now flying in the air above her balcony, singing its lovely melody. Oma laughed and caught the bird on one finger. She put her brush down and stroked it with the back of her hand. It twittered and fluffed its feathers. She gave it a kiss and released it. It flew up towards the man on the bench who reached out an arm to accept the bird.

"What in the…?" Kizu began as he pondered what this exchange meant. He heard someone come up behind him.

"So this is why you're late!" his boss hissed in his ear. Kizu turned to see the old man seething behind him. "I get complaints that you're late or the package is a little dented, or that you just seem careless and now I see that you are a peeing tom in the house of our governor!" The man thrust a finger to the mansion. He bent down and picked the packages up from the dirt and took them under his arms.

"You are fired!" he shouted as he turned on his heel. "And no payment for this delivery either." He shouted over his shoulder as Kizu stood there in slight embarrassment and disbelief. He turned to Oma, who was looking down at him. She gave a wave and then turned back to the man.

"Figures. Not even a word of pity." Kizu said. He dug into his pocket and took out the brooch she had given him a while back. He held it in his hand and he began to walk along the wall, away from Oma.

He turned it over in his hands and then dug it into his pocket. "Worthless piece of junk."

The hall was brightly lit with torches as Zhong entered the room, with gleaming armor and flowing cape. The Master was unable to be seen from the large fire wall that was behind him, only a silhouette could be made out. Zhong got down on his knee and bowed to his superior.

"I am sorry to keep you waiting this long, my Master." Zhong said with every intention of kissing up for this favor. "I have been on campaign to get rid of these benders that you are so fully learned on. My ship took about three days at sea to reach the nearest port and the docks hands were of no help to me when I tried to procure a ride of myself to reach this audience."

"Very drawn out for the likes of you." The Master said in a husky voice. Zhong's eyebrow twitched. "I know all about what your men think of you. Even I know what you're like. I did hand pick you for this job."

"And I am very grateful for it, my liege." Zhong butted in, a drop of sweat rolling down his forehead. "I would never disappoint you. Ever vigilante in my quest for peace, I will stop at nothing to ensure that it remains so."

"Even if more peace is unsettled for this cause?" the Master quipped. Zhong was at a loss for words. The Master gave a laugh. "Zhong, you are the only person blind to what is really going on here. Maybe that is why your men are so terrified of you." He moved forward, away from the wall of fire and strode over to a regal desk with ink pots and maps scattered across it. He picked up a large bundle of scrolls that were lying next to a fancy letter opener.

"I've received these messages every day from your soldiers. They speak of the plots you plan and the threats you make." He bounced the bundle of letters in his hands as Zhong bent his face towards the floor. "You've sent assassins after a fourteen year old boy. You shot rockets at a group of kids that have not even fought back yet. And you openly engaged a sixteen year old girl in battle. You could have killed her."

"She fought back." Zhong said as he raised his head. "She threw these crystals at me. It was self defense!"

"And what caused her to throw these crystals at you?" Zhong looked down again. The Master tilted his head to the side. "What happened to that bow of yours? And one of your special bombs we made sure were tucked in your armor?" Zhong looked further down, his nose almost touching his golden boot.

"They are kids, Zhong. No different from the riff raff that we see everyday out there. No different than what you were. But need they suffer because of what happened to you as a child? Must you enforce this brutal act of stalking and threat upon them?"

"You were the one who assigned me to lead this mission." Zhong got up, forgetting his manners in his growing temper. "You heard the cries of this world! You agreed with me that whatever must be done to suppress these monsters must be done!"

"And we did not know yet that they were mere children!" The Master threw the letters into the fire wall and they blazed up along with it. Zhong stood straight backed and proud as ever. "Now that we do know, you must at least give these kids some time to come down from their cloud. If they persist and begin threatening this world then I will allow whatever action must be taken to be fulfilled. But so long as they are running, cease this deadly fire."

Zhong head fell at these words. He was useless now. He would go back to his men and order a cease fire? They had them, he knew it. They couldn't be trusted. "But what of my request? It would be helpful to have some more men to keep the kids under control."

"I will still consider it for that purpose." The Master said as he nodded his head slightly. "But give these kids some time to get their heads on."

"It's been a month!" Zhong screamed. "Winter is almost here. How much more time can they need!"

"How much time did you need?" the Master attacked. Zhong stopped, hand raised in the air and hair messed on his head. "How long did you need to recover from their deaths?" The Master paced around Zhong in a circle, flooding him with his past. Zhong lowered his arm.

Kizu packed his things in his apartment. He would need to find a new place to live, no one would employ him now.

"How long did you need to revoer from your parent's deaths?" The Master asked as Zhong closed his eyes, their faces filling his memory.

There was a knock on the door. The old man was itching to get Kizu out of his house, pounding on the door every so often.

"How long did you need to get over their murders?"

"I'm coming!" Kizu shouted over the banging. He swung his pack over his shoulder.

"How long did it kill you inside to go looking for someone to help, and then being left alone with no closure?"

"I said I'm coming!" Kizu shouted as he opened the door.

The Master leaned in close to Zhong's ear. "How long have you wanted revenge for their unsolved deaths?" Zhong let one tear fall. "How long have you wanted to take out all your rage on the man who killed them and never paid?"

Kizu looked out into the hallway and dropped his jaw. A familiar hook was twirling in the assassin's hand.

"You want peace, Zhong. But from what?"

Kizu slammed the door shut as the hook dragged it off its hinges. He ran to the window and jumped out of it, airbending breaking his fall. He ran away, raising earth pillars to hide him. A spear missed his head but the arrow did not miss his shoulder.

"You want to live in a world where there is justice and peace and every villain gets what he deserves, but you seem to be the only exception. You treat these kids like every one treated you after their deaths. Like worthless animals."

Kizu screamed in pain as he tumbled to the ground, his arm reaching out for something to grab and touching cold steel.

Zhong screamed as he fell to his knees, that fateful day flashing in front of his eyes. The Master backed up and walked to his desk. He pulled back his high backed chair, with a phoenix engraved at the top, and put his fingers in front of his face.

"You may leave Zhong. Leave like the broken man you are."

The metal swung forward and Kizu felt something grab him. He could hear screeching from behind him as he heard something creak and cold hands grab him.

Was he dying? Was this it?

He opened his eyes one last time and saw the mountain in the distance, the man standing now and the bird twittering right above Kizu. He closed his eyes and fell into the darkness. He heard something else open and then he heard something scratching at metal. It was letting out a vicious screech.

Heavy footsteps could be heard and the shouts of men were almost thunderous. He could hear a weapon being thrown about and then, very faintly, he heard whispers as he was dragged over a warm rug. They sounded inquisitive. Then, he heard a commanding voice, although it sounded as sweet as a dove. Soft footsteps were now heard and Kizu felt himself propped up. He squinted through the pain of the arrow in his shoulder. He saw some girls trailing in front of them, opening some doors and clearing the halls of what looked like a palace. There was a fireplace in the adjacent room and he could feel its warmth as he was carried up some stairs.

He felt something hit the arrow and he passed out again. The last thing he remembered doing was reaching into his pocket and grabbing…something. It was seized within a moment he had first touched it and he felt himself thrown face down onto something oddly soft. Then the arrow was hit again and he passed out for good.