Chapter 7 – Trevon's Report

Trevon was a non-bender. Even better, he was a gifted. He was in his early thirties, apparently, but he was still as strong and youthful as he was when he was a teenager. He wore a gray pair of army pants, a silver t-shirt, and a gray army jacket. He was a very high-ranking member of the Resistance, sometimes even referred to as the second-in-command by others. He was also a member of the High Council, a group of the highest members of the Resistance.

Right now, Trevon was mourning the loss of his beloved apprentice Coralin. The two had been quite close, and now all he had to remember her by was her necklace, discovered at the scene of the explosion. He was also on his way to deliver his report to the leader of the Resistance. He reached the top of a winding flight of stairs and knocked on a very large metal door.

"Come in!" croaked in old voice, and in Trevon went.

As always, the leader lay on his bed, hidden in the shadows. Trevon bowed his head. "My master, it is an honor to serve you."

The leader shook his hand. "I'd prefer it if we skipped the formalities, Trevon. Just get on with your report. The boy that found out – is he dead?"

Trevon was choked up a little. "I sent Coralin after the child… And… My master, she perished in battle!"

The leader seemed surprised, something that didn't happen very often. "What? But I thought the boy couldn't bend!"

Trevon bowed his head so the leader would not see the tears in his eyes. "He can't, your majesty. But there were traces of an Earthbender battle, and of Firebending."

"Well, this is most tragic. Unfortunately, we must move fast. Did you recover her body?"

"No, my liege. We assumed it was destroyed in the explosion."

"No. I fear worse – I fear that it might've been taken to the Necromancer."

Now it was Trevon's turn to be surprised. 'The Necromancer? I thought that he was only a myth!"

"He was, Trevon, until some twenty years ago. On a scouting mission, we had lost an apprentice in combat – a young girl. Her body was taken by soldiers of the Masked Man. Days later, she returned to us alive. She relayed a message to us: The Necromancer lives. And than the body collapsed, once more a corpse."

Trevon was aghast. "So he could raise Coralin… and have her fight against us?"

"Yes, Trevon."

"That is… unsettling."

"Yes, quite. Now where is Werm? Was he not to appear with you?"

Trevon squirmed. "Werm was captured by the Masked Man."

"Shame on him! He will probably be dead by now, and that apprentice is left without a master."

"Actually, a message was left. It said that if his apprentice was released than we would give Werm back."

The leader chuckled. "Oh, that coward? We leave him, obviously! Not nearly worth it. That frees up a spot on the council, as well. Trevon, a thought occurred to me – you are now without an apprentice, and Jango has been left without a master."

Trevon was aghast. "You can't be suggesting…!"

The leader chuckled. "Of course not! I realize that the two of you do not get along very well. And I was planning on promoting him to his master's old spot on the High Council anyways – he has proven himself time and time again, that boy! No, I was merely suggesting that the two of you work together. After Coralin's failure, he still need to capture the boy and whatever accomplices he has."

There was a knock at the door and a young apprentice walked in. He whispered something in Trevon's ear and than left.

Trevon turned towards the leader. "They were last seen boarding a boat."

"Well, than have them followed! Have them killed! They cannot reveal our plans, not when they're so close to fruition!"

"Yes, your majesty."

"And send Jango to track them. The Resistance's members are at your disposal to use as you deem necessary."

Jango snorted. "Wow. You actually believe that Coralin is dead?"

Trevon was not laughing or smiling. "Yes. Her necklace was found; her body was not."

"As a newly appointed member of the High Council… I deem this idea stupid."

"NO!"

"Yes. We all knew that Coralin had doubts. She takes the necklace off, walks away, and we think she's dead."

Trevon calmed himself down. The young firebender could get on his nerves very easily. "Your new assignment is to track the boy."

"Great! Adventure! I'll be gone in ten minutes. And the boy will be back here within a day." Jango headed off to his quarters, and as he did, a messenger hawk pecked at the window.

Trevon opened the window and took the letter the hawk was carrying. The hawk than flew away. Trevon read the letter, muttering pieces of it to himself. "Earth… island… pirates… shipments… Avatar…"

Trevon looked up from the letter and smiled. Everything was falling into place perfectly.