As Jomei strode out the door, his head down in thought, Siensao didn't bother turning to watch him go. He'll think it over and agree. Everyone wants to be a hero, especially people with a village to liberate. She took another sip of tea and waited for Dongzhou to speak up again.
"Do you wish to tell me what your game is?" the old earthbending master asked, his wizened features wrinkling in a frown, "Or shall I simply withhold permission for your embarking on the path?"
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Master," the merchant answered, keeping her eyes modestly lowered. "I've been quite clear about my goals and my reasons for them. As your friends in the Order have no doubt told you, my actions have done nothing but confirm what I've said. Why this continued suspicion when you believe as I do?"
"I believe that there are times when the Order must act overtly," Dongzhou said, steepling his fingers on the desk before him, "But it must be done only in a time such as this, when the fate of the world hangs by a thread. All your actions have done is tell me that you are still hungry for power. My opinion of you has not changed. You are still a criminal. That is all you will ever be."
"And yet the fact remains that you and all the wise men and women of the Closed Fist have been unable to persuade one Grand Lotus to change their mind and bring us into the fight," Siensao noted, setting down her cup and looking up to meet his eyes. "I am your last hope, unless there is someone else willing to walk the path all around the Earth Kingdom."
"If the choice is to put my faith in the currents of destiny and the wisest members of the White Lotus or trust in you, I think it is easy enough to choose the virtuous path," he scoffed.
Inside her sleeves, Siensao's hands tightened into fists. This righteous idiot will be the ruin of the world, not the Fire Nation. I knew I should've picked a different senior master to work on, but no, I had to go for the challenge of someone with actual integrity. I suppose there's nothing for it.
She lowered her head and when she next spoke, it was with the hoarse, choked voice of someone trying to hold back tears.
"What do you want from me?" she whispered. "Do you want me to kill my father? Destroy the syndicates? If I got myself executed, would you give me a posthumous pardon for having picked the wrong family to be born into? What? What do you want from me?" This last was in an angry scream as she stood up and flung her cup into the wall where it shattered, splashing tea across the stone. Dongzhou sat, open-mouthed in shock as she whirled back to him, the first tears breaking through her resolve.
"You talk about taking the Order to war, but you have no idea what that means!" she snarled. "You'd be making thousands of people into murderers, spies, and spirits know what else! So don't talk to me like you're some paragon of virtue! You claim the Order doesn't use people like the syndicate, but it does! You do! You pick talented people, promise them great reward if they'll just do a few things for you and before they know it, suddenly they're part of this huge organization and there's no way out, not without giving up on whatever they were looking for when they signed up! You think it's a coincidence that so many initiates wind up in positions of power? You can't tell me it's all wisdom and knowledge, it takes connections! Favors! A bribe is a bribe whether it's gold or words on paper! The White Lotus is already running this world, you don't need me to help with that! And even with all that, you know what?"
She came to a stop, gasping for breath, and knelt back down before the desk, weeping openly. Dongzhou had closed his mouth, but still remained silent, his eyes very wide.
"Even with all that," Siensao went on quietly, "You're better than the syndicates. You're trying to do the right thing. That's why I wanted to be a part of the Order, because it proves that people can be better than…me. I've been trying to be better, but it's hard. I don't always succeed. That's why I need to do this, to prove to you and everyone else that I'm not just another criminal. But if that's really what you think, then don't worry. You won't have to deal with me anymore."
"Wait!" Dongzhou managed to get out as she started to rise once more. "That won't be necessary! Perhaps I have…misjudged you."
She remained still and silent and he gathered his thoughts for a time.
"You are a hard person to know, Siensao," he said at last, looking at her as though they had just met. "I flatter myself that I am a good judge of character, but I have always been unsure about you. Perhaps I always will be. But…you are right. You deserve a chance to prove yourself, and you really are the last hope of the Closed Fist. You have my support to walk the path."
The same evening found Siensao putting the finishing touches on a letter when a tap on her shoulder from Zoukani told her their guest had arrived.
"Dare I hope that the night-blooming flower has shed her thorns and is willing to permit this lowly insect a mere touch of her silken shadow?" came the familiar, irritatingly smug voice.
"I would say your taste in poetry has improved, but I'm sure you've just finally run out of bad poems to quote at me," she replied, sifting sand over the ink. Then she turned around to see the perpetually grinning face of Kei Dao, assassin and thief among other things. He only laughed and shrugged.
"Damn! I was hoping I could find some really puerile stuff this time. So, how'd the meeting go?"
She smiled back at him.
"Perfectly, of course. I didn't even have to fall back on threatening his loved ones. Now that that's settled, I have a very important letter for you. It needs to reach the recipient as soon as humanly possible. I have a problem only she can solve."
Turning back around, she carefully folded the letter into thirds and sealed it.
Kei Dao affected a hurt look.
"There's no problem this person can solve that I can't, is there?"
"Not if you don't mind being killed by her afterwards. I need Karida al-Jita dead or catatonic and she's sworn bloody vengeance on anyone who does that besides her. You know the woman I mean?"
Kei Dao went pale and stopped shifting about.
"Oh," he said, "her."
"Yes," Siensao said grimly, "her. That's why I need you to take her this letter, you're the only one who I can trust to do it and survive the experience."
"No offense, but are you really sure you want to bring her in? It's like…trying to kill a mosquito with a keg of blasting jelly. Even if it works, it's a hell of a mess."
"Anyone good enough to make her death look like an accident is probably knowledgeable enough to both recognize her and know she's off limits," the merchant sighed. "Believe me, I am far from happy about this myself, but it's the only way. Now get moving."
Kei Dao took the letter, bowed without his usual fanfare, and left, leaving Siensao to hope she hadn't just made a mistake. I don't think Omashu is ready for Reki the Blood Drinker.
