Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Avatar. And as a side note, please excuse the typos that I am sure you are likely to notice. As I get busier in life, I find that my proofreading skills are failing me. Enjoy.
Chapter 16
The mismatched party of travelers set off after later than originally anticipated. It took Sokka quite some time to extricate Azula from her earthen chains since Orso had mysteriously disappeared during the night. Azula had not bee quiet during the tedious process. She entertained herself with provocative insults about Sokka and his sister. Seven years in a mental institution did nothing to still her tongue.
She begged to know what had happened to the large captain. She seemed to have taken an immediate liking to him. The same obviously could not be said for Orso. Inara simply informed her that Orso could not stomach being hear her. This seemed to quench Azula's curiosity.
"He hates me more than he cares for your safety," Azula snidely observed.
"My safety is really none of his concern," Inara replied and walked away to leave Sokka alone in the tiring task.
But eventually they were on t heir way. They divided up the gear between the three ostrich-horses and set off in the direction that Azula pointed to. According to Azula, they were less than a day's travel to the abandoned fort. It had become a common stop for travelers who needed shelter. Sokka pitied the traveler seeking protection from the elements in times like this. Who knows the dangerous reception that they would receive when they knocked on the gates.
It was not a delightful travel. Before Azula had been added to the group, there might have been something considered peaceful amongst the travlers. With Azula, it was a small battle zone between her and Sokka. Inara had taken to riding behind them. She could avoid most of the artillery thrown between the two while still at a vantage point to stop them if things went too far.
"I hear that Zuzu hasn't married Mai yet," Azula said lazily as she swayed side to side to the ostrich-horse's rhythm. "I do wonder why. They seemed very much in love. One would only think that the seven years may have cooled their desire for each other."
Sokka ignored her. She was trying to provoke a reaction. He did not want to fall prey to her bait and to cause her any satisfaction.
"Then again, I am also surprised that you are not yet shackled to a wife of your own," she continued in her usual snide tone. "You seemed absolutely beholden to that little prisoner of mine. What was she? Was she of the Earth Kingdom?"
She paused and waited for his answer. She knew very well that Suki was Earth Kingdom but Sokka would have to answer.
"Yes," he finally muttered.
"I thought so. She was a leader of her own little band of warriors. They were all so gorgeous in their face paint and uniforms but that was really it. They were not much of a match for me and my girls." She had a sour note when she mentioned Ty Lee and Mai. "Is it that you do not love her as much as one may think?"
Sokka gritted his teeth at her prodding.
"Or perhaps it is that she finds your tribe undesirable. Your father rules a band of roving peasants. What women in her right mind would want to marry into that?"
Sokka bit his tongue to hold in the first insult that came to mind. "I don't know," he replied. "But what man would want a monster like you?"
He glanced over at her. He expected to see her wave the insult off but she had a distinctly hurt look on her face. It only lasted for a second before it quickly fell into indifference.
"I wouldn't suffer a husband," Azula remarked lightly but still with a twinge to her voice. "To marry is to lose everything. Wouldn't you agree Lady Inara?"
Azula turned to look back at Inara. Inara was pretending to ignore them but they both knew she was listening. They knew she was waiting for her cue to spur her ostrich-horse in between theirs.
"Suffering a husband is very different from suffering a man," Inara replied shortly and turned her gaze away from Azula.
This entirely amused Azula. She let out a low laugh that ruminated from her throat like a temptress. There was nothing tempting about her unless a man had a death wish or liked a walk on the wild side. Being a princess and Zuko's only sister, her hand would have been very much desirable in terms of politics if her mental disposition had been of a normal young woman. However, she was mad and there was that mean glint in her eye that foretold a rough ride.
"I will suffer none," Azula continued. "Fire Nation men are all the same. They want nothing but power and that is something I refuse to share."
"Not surprised," Sokka grumbled.
Azula pretended to not hear him. "Earth Kingdom men are too brutish. They are all brawn and always covered in dirt. And Water Tribesmen lack refinement. They are too brutish…too dull. They think nothing of killing animals and then eating them."
Sokka gritted his teeth at her statement.
"And there is only one Air Nomad left but we all know how weak they were," Azula continued her mockery of the world. "They were all weak and the Avatar is no different."
"You're entitled to your own opinions," said Sokka. "But what makes you so desirable? Why do you think that you would have to turn down any of these fools? You are bloody insane. You lost it." He made a gesture with his hand to indicate his point. "You think that all men are weak. Losing your mind—how weak do you think they would perceive that?"
Azula scowled at him. She actually then bore his teeth at him like an angry polar-leopard which both amused and worried Sokka. She drew her hand back like she was ready to attack when Inara quickly rode up between them.
"Ok, that's enough you two," she said sternly glaring at both of them. "Don't make me put your in the corner."
Sokka and Azula glared at each other around Inara. They did not react though. Sokka knew he would not win against Azula in their present setting and Azula did not want to be alone. They would have to suffer each other until they reached the fort. Once they arrived, it was open season. Everything depended on who had strategized the best and who was more prepared.
So they continued to ride along in silence. Inara kept her post between them like they were children and she was their overbearing governess. They even pouted a bit when they did not get their way. Here was a princess who was used to commanding an entire palace to her every whim. Here was Sokka who was considered the "man with a plan" during the war. Now they were reduced to the scrutinizing glares of a common sea captain.
Azula was right though. Dusk was upon them when they saw the tall walls of a small fort on the horizon. Inara pulled out a telescope from her gear and tried to get a good count on the men on the battlements.
"Are you sure there aren't any more forts in the area?" she asked Azula.
Azula looked at her awkwardly. "Have you been at sea that long? This is it."
Inara handed Azula her telescope and drew her sword. "Something's not right."
"Where are the sentries?" Azula demanded as she checked out her own battlements. "Where are the patrols? Has no one arrived yet?"
"Maybe," Sokka hoped.
Inara and Sokka pulled on black cloaks over their clothes. Azula still gazed in disbelief at the fortress when Inara snatched the telescope from her hands.
"Let's go," she said.
Azula asked, "Why?"
"If no one is there, then we have a small mystery on our hands. If someone is there, it will be fun to watch you berate the commanding officer."
Azula did not seem to like the compliment that Inara had bestowed upon her. "I'll make him eat his own heart for being so careless."
"That's the princess we all know and hate," Sokka muttered without being noticed.
Azula spurred her ostrich-horse. It galloped triumphantly towards the gates with Inara and Sokka behind her, flanking her. They both had their swords drawn like they were riding into battle. Perhaps they were. Perhaps Azula's forces were just waiting inside to waylay them as soon as they come into range. Yet they stirred up a dust storm behind them and their cloaks flying wildly in the wind. It looked like a tiny cavalry coming to besiege a forgotten fort.
Azula pulled hard on the reins causing her ostrich-horse to rear to a stop. Inara and Sokka pulled their ostrich-horses around Azula's and trotted in a circle to a stop. Azula looked wide eyed at the gate. Its thick doors seemed to be broken but the way they were damaged insinuated it was from the inside.
They all noticed and grew very quiet. Sokka was the first to dismount and he slowly approached the doors with his sword ready. It was quiet inside. He could not hear a single footstep or stir. He closely examined the gate. It splintered from the inside. Something had forced it opened like the men were desperate to get out. It didn't make sense.
Inara and Azula then dismounted with making only a whisper of a sound when their feet hit the ground. They all slowly crept up to the shattered gates. There was a small crack between the gates that allowed them to slip through. Sokka went first, then Inara, and then Azula.
When they entered, they were horrified by what they saw. Bodies of Azula's soldiers were carelessly thrown all about. There were men lying on the walls, in the battlements, on the ground. Blood was spattered everywhere but not a single man was impaled.
"What happened?" Azula demanded in a low voice.
Inara carefully inspected the carnage and the damage. There were several damaged catapults and storehouses. Debris was thrown everywhere.
"It looks like an explosion," she said.
Sokka nodded. "But there is no fire, no scorch marks."
"Everyone is dead," Inara finally concluded.
"NO!" Azula screamed with flames shooting out of her mouth and fists.
Sokka backed up quickly. The princess resembled an angry dragon and then some. A dragon would have probably flown in the opposite direction away from her.
"Everything destroyed," Azula said hysterically almost like she just realized it. "Everything is ruined. Edo's men will not be enough. This will…"
"Edo's men," Sokka repeated. "You have more?"
Azula nodded and laughed at him. "Of course I have more. I have very powerful allies who want to see me on the throne. After this, we were to go to the Western Air Temple. I have a small army of ships and airships waiting for me there, but this was where the bulk of my men were to meet."
"You were going to attack from an Air Temple," Sokka stated incredulously. "Do you have no shame?"
"Mad people don't know the meaning of the word," Inara remarked calmly but still quite disinterested into what they were saying. She had heard all she needed to know and was still examining the damage. The light was failing and it difficult to distinguish the evidence and details of the attack with the shadows creeping about. "Azula, make yourself useful and light some torches."
Azula balked at the order and grumbled, "And this is what I have been reduced to," as she stalked off to find some torches.
Sokka went with her. He did not trust her to be alone and there seemed to be nothing there to be of any harm to Inara. They walked over to the other side of the courtyard to where the torches were mounted on each side of a set of stairs. Azula sent two small fireballs at them and they burst into flames.
Just then, a shadow ran across the wall. Azula and Sokka both jumped.
"Survivors?" Sokka asked.
"I doubt it," Azula whispered.
Azula tried to shoot a fireball at the shadow as it passed again but was quickly swallowed whole into the ground. Sokka ran frantically away. Azula could deal with whatever fate had befallen her. He could see Inara turn towards him hearing Azula's shriek but was then swallowed up into the earth. Sokka skittered to a halt as two figures landed from nowhere in front of him. They had hoods pulled over their eyes masking their faces.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "Did you do this? Argh!"
Sokka remembered nothing else. Everything went black as he hit the ground.
***
Sokka could smell the sweet aroma of perfumes as his senses came to him. He slowly opened his eyes and a stone ceiling came into focus. Where was he?
"You are safe," he heard a woman's voice say to him.
He quickly sat up and then felt light headed. He immediately clutched his head between his hands trying to force the room to stop spinning.
"You should take it easy," she said gently. "You had a nasty hit to the head."
Sokka's eyes were turned down to the ground. It seemed like he had nothing but nasty blows to the head for the past several days. He calmly took in two deep breaths to steady himself. "Where am I? How did you find me?" he asked still looking down.
"You're at the Anhui Abbey. The Avatar and Master Katara founded us a few years back. We are supposed to have Healers come in a year. We aid travelers and the sick in the surrounding villages," she explained. "A group of us were returning from a small village on a medical errand. We heard some commotion at the abandoned fort. That is where we found you lying on the ground."
"And who are you?"
"I am a nun," she said. "They call me Sister Yun.
"Sister Yun," Sokka said the name to just try it out. He looked up at her. "Thank you for tending to my wounds and…"
Sokka's words trailed off as he got a good look at her. She wore the robes of a sister and the white hat that distinguished them in their position. What caught his eyes were her eyes, her lips, and her chin. They were all familiar features.
"You didn't happen upon me by accident," he realized. "You were keeping watch over the fortress weren't you Princess Ursa?"
The nun immediately blanched to have been found out. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you recognized me. You have come to know my children very well Sokka, son of Chief Hakoda."
"Yes I have," he concurred. "And you will probably know what I am doing."
"I sadly do, for I know the ferocity of my own daughter."
Her eyes were sad. Age had crept across her face with lines forming around her mouth and at the corners of her eyes. The years of worry did nothing for her looks. She even sounded broken knowing the nature of her only daughter and the needed outcome.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
The corner of Ursa's lips turned up in a flash of a smile. "I come to atone for the sins of my husband's family. I seek to save my children from the punishment of their forefather's sins with my own penance."
"But surely you have heard of the search parties for you. Zuko has been looking for you ever since the war was over. He wants you back."
Ursa shook her head and wiped away a stray tear. "No, he wants the mother he knew as a child. I really can't blame him. I would want the same thing. But the truth is that none of us are the same people we were on that horrid night."
"What happened the night you disappeared?" Zuko asked.
"Everything I did was to keep my son safe," she answered.
By the tone of her voice, Sokka knew that was all she would forfeit.
"Then why not come back?"
"Shame, sorrow," she answered. "There are hundreds of reasons and none of them are really substantial enough. All I know is that I'm not ready to return and probably will never be ready to go home."
Sokka was sad for her. He immediately wanted to tell her that she could go home and that it was time but Ursa abruptly stood up and looked out the door.
"You have to leave though," she said. "I know more than the average nun. Azula is planning something big."
"The Western Air Temple," Sokka muttered remembering why he was in that part of the world.
"I saw the death and destruction within the fort," Ursa continued. She unwrapped the bandage around Sokka's head and inspected the wound. "I am sure that was not part of my daughter's plans. Even though I no longer live there, I still consider the Fire Nation as my home. I fear that there is a greater enemy out there than Azula."
"I am starting to agree."
"I don't know who took Azula but you have to get her back. As untrustworthy as she is, you will need her."
Ursa threw the bandages on the ground and pulled Sokka to his feet. She pulled him to his feet and started to gather his gear that was set up in the corner.
"Wait," Sokka said. "Was I the only one there besides Azula's killed men? Was there another woman? Captain Inara, you might know her as Lady Inara."
"Lady Inara," Ursa gasped. "Lord Kito's daughter?"
"Yes," Sokka answered as he started to put his gear on.
"No, she wasn't there. What is she doing here with you?"
"Zuko sent us to bring Azula back to the Fire Nation."
Ursa became quiet and looked at Sokka skeptically. "Whoever took Azula must have taken Inara," was all she said even though her eyes said more. Sokka could not decipher what though.
"Do you know who attacked us?"
Ursa was now looking out of the door again. "It's clear. Follow me."
She slipped through the door and Sokka followed. They walked through the dark hallways of the abbey with the light of the night sky shining through several windows and skylights. She did not carry a torch. Sokka imagined that she did not want to draw attention to the stowed away guest.
They reached a door that led into a stable. There were a few farm animals for milk, eggs, and other needs. There were also two ostrich-horses. Ursa went to one and threw riding blanket over its back.
"I don't know who attacked you but they are probably bounty hunters. I also believe they are close," she finally answered when she was sure there were no prying ears.
"Near, where?"
"There is an abandoned outpost about 5 miles to the south. I imagine that is where they are. Hopefully they haven't killed Azula. It will depend on if they think they will get more for her dead or alive."
"Probably alive," Sokka said.
"There is no reason to pay anyone when the problem is solved with death," Ursa said harshly. "But I have no idea what will happen to Lady Inara. They might ransom her to her father. She is worth a large ransom."
Sokka threw his black cloak on over his shoulders and jumped onto the ostrich-horse with great pain. He tried not to show it. Ursa was too busy making sure he needed everything for the rescue. Sokka had still not deciphered if she was more concerned for her daughter's life or Zuko's throne.
"Just follow the road. It will take you right to the outpost. Do you have a plan?"
"I usually just wing it," Sokka answered bluntly.
"Then I should warn you, it has the advantage to anyone approaching. You will have to abandon the beast but don't worry about it. If one of us does not find it, someone will."
"You are such a lady to worry about an ostrich-horse," Sokka mused.
"Call it nature," she said tartly. "But you must promise something."
Sokka could hear the urgency in her plea. He nodded for her to continue.
"Don't let any of my children know I am here," she pled.
"You can't be serious," Sokka gasped. "I am under oath to Zuko to tell him everything I have learned of your whereabouts. He is my friend and you have no idea how important this is to him."
"I have already told you I am not ready to go home!" she nearly yelled at him in her own urgency. "You will only understand if you knew what happened and that is something I cannot reveal. I doubt Ozai has even revealed the full truth to Zuko. But I will promise you this; if I hear even a whisper that Zuko is coming here to take me home, I will drown myself."
Her voice was cold. Sokka had heard that tone only in her daughter, but he imagined it was a trait all Fire Nation Ladies possessed.
"You wouldn't," he said daring her bluff.
"Do you want to chance him finding my bloated body in the bottom of a well or floating down a river?" she asked as a threat.
Sokka was horrified and almost disgusted by her threat. He could not help but to stare into her gold eyes. Life in the Fire Nation court had surely molded her fortitude and life in exile had only hardened her soul.
Yet he slowly nodded and acquiesced to her request. "You have my word as a Water Tribe Warrior and future chief that I will not utter a word of this to anyone in fear of it reaching you children's ears."
Ursa's features immediately softened. "Thank you. But you must hurry now."
She threw open the doors of the stables. The night was bright and offered little shelter from sight.
"You have my word," Sokka said again, "but this still feels wrong."
"Perhaps it is but there was nothing right about what I did that deserved banishment," she replied. "This is the only way. Just try to convince him to move on and to forget me."
Sokka sighed and looked away from her. He could not stand to look at her anymore. He only nodded and dug his heels into the ribs of the ostrich-horse. It trotted out into the night and slowly began to speed into a gallop. Sokka's heart was heavy with guilt and he wondered if he even had the stomach to suffer such a burden.
But all of this would have to wait for later. He rode head first into a battle he questioned that he could win. He wished that he would run into Orso but he knew that wouldn't happen. Knowing who he was going against would be of great help. The only thing he could deduce was that they were Earthbending bounty hunters.
"What can go wrong will go wrong," he muttered to himself as the wind slashed at his face.
