A lucky escape

Kozar stood in the shadow of one of many bushes surrounding the clearing, unable to tear himself away from what he was watching. He was a clever kid for his age, far from innocent with a decent knowledge of goings on around him. Ozai was talking to one of four men there, a tall broad shouldered man with brown hair, large sideburns and a small topknot. Kozar had seen him in the palace a couple of times but hadn't taken any notice of him. It was only now he began to see some of the smaller details, there was a hunger in the man's eyes, a lust for power. He seemed devoid of all kindness and warmth. The hidden prince didn't notice all of this at the time, but there was still a cruel quality that the child did notice. And he didn't like it. The two men were discussing in low whispers.

"I'm afraid our plans will have to be put on hold Lieutenant, there is rather a serious complication." Ozai said

"But I went to great lengths to organise this all! I think we should continue, or months of planning and effort will be wasted! What could be so important that-"

"My Father that's what." Ozai interrupted, his voice dripping with venom.

"I was just as eager for this as you, but my Father has decided that I will travel for the next few years and search the world for the Avatar. Our plans will be put on hold until I return."

"But-"

"No buts lieutenant. The situation will be much the same."

"However if you find the Avatar...?"

"No one has seen the Avatar in going on 90 years, he is never coming back! I will return in a year or two and we can continue then." The lieutenant mumbled something that Kozar couldn't hear, but he caught his Father's reply easily enough.

"Your patience will be rewarded lieutenant, once I am Fire Lord you will have your reward."

"Thank you Prince Ozai, I will be patient."

"My advice is that you go now, I will speak to you tomorrow. I get the feeling that we are not alone. Take this letter you sent me. I don't want to risk anyone finding it. Zhao placed the letter on the inside of his belt. Kozar suddenly felt an urge to know what this was aboyt. He didn't understand everything being said, but his curiosity had been alerted, and his reckless streak surfaced for the third time in less than 24 hours. Kozar began sneaking round towards the Lieutenant, as he did so Ozai whipped round and sent a fireball powering towards the bush that had been concealing his youngest son moments before. Ozai walked over and said:

"No one was there after all, but we shall continue tomorrow anyway." One of the men accompanying the Lieutenant started to protest, but Ozai silenced him with a glare. The Lieutenant began to laugh at this, and as he did Kozar took his chance to reach out and steal the letter his Father had been so determined for no one to see. Kozar smiled, edged away from the dangerous group and sprinted back to the tree outside his bedroom window. He climbed it and sat down on his bedroom floor, straining his eyes to read the letter. It was brief but very revealing.

To the rightful heir of the throne

The plan is well under way, the poison was hard to get hold of but we've done it through the source I mentioned. He won't tell anyone, and I did not reveal the larger details of our plan to him anyway. We will pass it on to you at the meeting point we discussed. The poison leaves very little trace, however it might show up. This means that you will be required to tamper with the body and make it look like he died from a fall so to draw attention away from where the poison might leave its mark. I will discuss further tomorrow.

From Lieutenant Zhao

Kozar was struggling to work the letters meaning out. He felt like he had grown up in the night. As he lay awake in bed and pondered what to do it became increasingly obvious that the world hid many secrets. He decided he would figure this one out. The boy Prince was growing up very fast indeed, and someone's may depend on him. It was only as the first rays of sunlight came through the window that Kozar finally nodded off to sleep.