When Azula woke, it was dark. She was lying on an overstuffed pastel-green sofa, and she was covered by a decoratively-woven wool blanket. She was still wearing the heavy velvet dress Sally had given her. She raised her head and looked round. The room was wallpapered in red and had heavy green curtains, making it impossible to say what time it actually was. The furnishings were…comfortable was really the only word, with a great deal of that white embroidery that had been on the nightdress she'd been wearing…
A door in one wall opened and Sally herself came in. She was wearing her Watch uniform and was carrying a pair of steaming teacups.
"Ah! You are awake, good. How are you feeling?"
Azula considered this question. She sat up, took one teacup from Sally, and breathed in the steam. It was definitely tea. Something familiar, although she didn't recognize this blend. Then again…
The revelation at the University came back to her and her hands trembled for an instant. She quickly raised the cup, which had a handle, unlike the teacups she was used to, and tried to sip the tea with dignity. It was shockingly sweet but not bad. Azula was taken aback when Sally sat down companionably beside her and took a sip from her own cup.
"Sorry," said Sally pre-emptively, "I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable. If it helps, I promise I won't sit too close or touch you without permission."
Smiling a little at Azula's inquisitive glare, Sally said, "You said you were a princess, of course. But I can tell, you know. When you walk into a room and everyone stays seated, you feel as if you were walking over familiar ground and an earthquake happened."
Azula turned away from that amiably smiling face. It made her feel…understood.
"I'm sorry," she said again, "I can relate. Vam – people where I come from are used to that sort of treatment.
"And now on top of that we find you're, well, out of this world!"
"I don't care about that," Azula said sharply, glaring into her teacup, "I had nothing left there. But," she fumed inwardly, this was such a weakling thing to say, "But this place is so different! I can't even read the writing in this city! I need…help."
Azula glanced at Sally, then did a double-take. The young lady was smiling broadly. Was it Azula's imagination, or were her canine teeth unnaturally long?
"I have good news, Azula," Sally said, "You wouldn't know it, but Commander Vimes was impressed with your eye for clues. Captain Carrot and I spoke with him, and he says you can enlist in the Watch if you want!"
Azula perked up, "He'll let me investigate the explosion?"
"I don't know about that," said Sally diplomatically, "but you'll be able to make a living and one way or another, your fighting skills and wits will be put to work!"
Azula considered this. It seemed…promising. After all, it could be like Ba Sing Se. Get inside the system, become part of it, and she could go far.
With that in mind, she set down her teacup and said, "I accept! I'll soon show Vimes that I'm not just a lost waif. I shall be the finest of his officers!"
"Ah yes," said Sally, grimacing, "About that…"