As soon as the servant had told the group that they would be allowed to visit Iroh, Zuko was dressed and out the door. The others opted to have some breakfast first, not only because they were hungry, but also so that the forlorn prince could have some time alone with his uncle.

Zuko fretted as he was led to an inner corridor of the palace, wondering if Iroh was being treated properly. Had they kept his hands bound? Were they feeding him? Was he allowed to have any tea? At this last thought, he almost smiled to himself and it calmed him if only a little. But when he finally arrived at the guarded door, all his fears came flooding back in a bitter wave of doubt and pending loss.

He noted that there were only two Dai Li agents standing post, and it occurred to him that it would be so simple to just knock them both unconscious, grab his uncle, and run. But the thought had no sooner taken shape before angrily cast it from his brain; even if he managed it, he knew that Iroh would not flee. The old man was determined to face his fate and Zuko knew that nothing would deter him once his mind was set.

One of the guards knocked lightly on the door.

"You have a visitor," he said in a businesslike tone before sliding the wooden panel open without waiting for a reply. He then stood aside to let the young fire bender pass.

Stepping inside the room, Zuko came to the realization that he needn't have worried about whether or not his uncle was being well cared for. The room was extravagantly appointed with a soft feather-mattress bed, a stone tub tucked behind an intricately carved dressing screen, and several pillow-laden benches nestled beside and around various teakwood chests along the walls. And there in the center of it all sat a smiling Iroh, kneeling at a wide table with a steaming teapot at his elbow and a Pai Sho board spread out in front of him.

"Nephew!" he exclaimed happily. "Quite the accommodations they've set for me, don't you think?" and he raised his arms up, gesturing at the rich surroundings.

"Just because it's comfortable, Uncle, doesn't change the fact that it's still a prison," Zuko replied morosely as he sat down across the table from Iroh.

"Even so," he retorted lightly, "I really can't complain. It's much better than the dungeons. Care to play a match with me?" he added, indicating the game with a wave of his hand.

"Uncle, you know I'm no good at Pai Sho," Zuko answered glumly, but moved a piece onto the board nonetheless. Iroh chuckled softly.

"True, you've never been able to see past the moment and plan ahead," and he moved one of his own tiles into an opposite position. When he looked up at Zuko after placing his game piece, he noticed that the boy had a pained look in his downcast eyes, and Iroh winced as he silently cursed his choice of words. He hadn't meant it as a reprimand, but the prince apparently took it as one. As Zuko placed another tile, Iroh opened his mouth to try and smooth things over, but his nephew spoke first.

"Uncle, what are we going to do?" he asked desperately.

"We aren't going to do anything," Iroh replied calmly as he looked carefully over the board. He picked up a tile, "I am going to stand trial and face with honor whatever judgment they pass. And you are going to train the Avatar in my stead," he finished as he finally placed his piece. He looked back up to see Zuko staring at him in disbelief.

"You can't be serious!" he gasped.

Iroh sighed sadly.

"Zuko, you and I both know what the verdict of this trial will be. And while I do not expect the Earth King to be merciless in his punishment, we must face the reality that I am guilty of the charges and plan accordingly."

"But, I can't teach the Av-"

"You can, and you will," Iroh interjected firmly. "I saw you with him the other day, and you showed great aptitude for the task. In fact, if I didn't know better," he continued slyly, "I'd say you rather enjoyed being the teacher much more than you ever liked being a student."

"That's not the point," he growled, sliding another tile onto the board.

"Then what is the point, Zuko?" asked Iroh gently. Zuko bowed his head and sat there for a moment as if trying to find the courage to speak.

"I don't want to leave you behind again, Uncle," he whispered.

"Prince Zuko," Iroh began compassionately, "you are a man now, and you have started down a path that you must see through to the end. You can not let my fate keep you from following your own destiny."

"And what is my destiny, Uncle?" he asked pleadingly as his head snapped back up. "I…I thought I knew, but now…" He slumped forward, leaning his elbows on the table and resting his forehead against his hands as his words trailed off in confused silence.

Iroh stared broodingly at the small round tile in his hands. I should tell him, he thought, tell him what I know: what I saw. He glanced back up at the troubled young man sitting across from him. I should have told him long ago, he decided. His resolve made, he took a deep breath and held it for a moment.

"You have more visitors," said a voice from the other side of the door.

And the air whooshed out of him as he lifted his head to smile at his guests.

General How looked up from his papers to greet the man walking into his office.

"Captain Heng," he said stiffly before returning back to his paperwork, "Did you find the…witnesses?"

"I have," answered Heng with a small frown.

"And you have ensured they will give the proper testimonies?" the general asked, intently focused on setting a seal onto one of the many pages spread out before him.

"They have all agreed to it."

"Good, good," How said a bit distractedly before looking up and adding, "you didn't have to...um..."

"No," the captain interjected, "there was no need to use any Dai Li…methods of persuasion. As you suspected, they were more than willing to say what you want them to," he explained grudgingly. At this, How let out a breath of relief.

"That will make this much easier," he said as he rubbed his left temple tiredly. Heng regarded the general coldly for a moment.

"I still don't see why we must go through with this charade of a trial. The sentence has already been decided, so what is the point of further pretense?" he asked crossly.

"We've already been through this, Heng," How growled trough gritted teeth. "The people of this city need to know that the Earth King is on their side and that he can lead them as he was destined."

"But, this…this borders on cruelty. After all that man has done to save this kingdom, to restore the King to his throne, how can we just-"

"I don't like doing this any more than you do," How snapped, as he slammed down the metal seal he was holding. "I happen to have a great deal of respect for General Iroh, not only as a worthy opponent but as man of honor. But we are at war with the Fire Nation, and if we are ever to succeed in driving them from our land then the Earth King needs the support and trust of his subjects. The people must be placated. And this is the only way."

"And what of the Avatar and his companions?" pressed Heng, "What of Prince Zuko? Do you really expect they will stand idly by for the next three days and do nothing to stop this?"

"You just stay focused on your tasks, Captain," How replied calmly as he picked up his stamping seal again, "and leave the Avatar and the others to me."

"You'll have to go easy on me," Aang with a decidedly sly grin as he placed another tile on the Pai Sho board, "After all I haven't played in a hundred years."

"So this is some sort of strategy game?" asked Sokka with interest as he peered over Aang's shoulder.

"Pai Sho is many things," said Iroh cryptically, holding up a red flowered piece before setting it on the board, "a game being only one of them."

Toph sat down next to the old fire bender, and laid her palm flush against the table, fingers spread across the surface as she tried to figure out something more about the game as Aang moved a piece onto the board. Unfortunately, all the tiles looked the same to her and she gave it up to take a sip of tea.

"You didn't make this," stated Toph with a mild grimace of distaste.

"No, it was brought in earlier," Iroh chuckle as he took his next turn, sliding one of the small round tiles forward.

"I can tell," she said, wrinkling her nose. "Yours is much better."

"I've had worse," he replied with a furtive look over at Zuko, but the boy didn't notice. In fact, Zuko didn't seem to be paying much attention to anything. Instead, he sat despondently on a bench as far from the others as possible, apparently absorbed in studying the elaborate carvings on the dressing screen.

"Is it a difficult game to learn?" asked Katara, as she idly stroked the contented lemur sitting in her lap.

"Not at all," replied Iroh cheerfully before assuming a more enigmatic tone. "But there are many secrets to the game which can take years to master."

"So how do you play?" Sokka asked as he sat down to watch.

As Iroh launched into a brief explanation, Zuko looked over at the group of them with a glare. It infuriated him that they could be so calm and happy, so seemingly unconcerned that his uncle was actually a captive here. And when the sounds of laughter echoed throughout the room, he finally stood up and made his way to the door.

"Where are you going, Nephew?" Iroh called.

"Just drink your tea and play your game. I'm going for a walk," he replied disgustedly, not bothering to turn around and look at any of them. Without another word, he left the room.

"What is his problem?" griped Katara to the closed door once he was gone. And then turning to Iron in exasperated confusion, she asked, "Would it really kill him to spend a little time with you considering all that's happening?"

"My nephew is a complicated person," Iroh answered slowly, "and my predicament troubles him much more deeply, and for different reasons, than you can imagine."

Iroh looked around at the four teens, and saw that they were clearly unconvinced. He took a long slow breath before he spoke again.

"I think perhaps it is time you all learned exactly how he came by that scar."