The Highest Bidder

Chapter Thirty-Two: Under the Radar

Admiral Zhao said nothing when Iroh and I entered his quarters. He glanced at us with a small look in his eyes, as if to convey some kind of forceful sympathy, but that was all I saw on his face. Even as I tried to keep myself calm and collected, all I thought about was the possibility of Zhao's involvement with Zuko's…accident. My contorted feelings of anger might have passed for inner turmoil since Zhao didn't bother to taunt me. I probably looked as devastated on the outside as I felt on the inside, though it was highly probable that he mistook my revulsion for despair. Iroh's hand on my back pulled me through the room, and he sat me down at a low table where I sat on my knees, staring at the dragon-spout tea pot in front of me. Admiral Zhao said a few courteous words to Iroh, who in return said a few things in the same tone, the pair of them sat down on either side of me.

I frowned deeply as Zhao sat beside me. The hairs on my neck stood on end; and my skin crawled as he set a hand on my clenched fists.

"I heard what happened," said Zhao. "My soldiers saw how upset you were. I didn't know that you felt so much for the boy."

I stayed quiet. Zhao poured three cups of tea and he slid one to me gently.

He turned to Iroh.

"I am devastated to hear about Prince Zuko," he said cheekily, "just devastated."

"I bet you are," I muttered, taking my cup of tea in my hand.

He glanced at me. It was obvious I still felt contempt for the man; Zuko's 'death' would have only made me hate him even more. And his attempt on Prince Zuko's life had made me realize just how empty and sad that Zhao really was inside. Zhao took my statement as a retort of a broken heart, for he didn't backlash like he would have if it was normal circumstance. It was pretty evident to me that he really didn't care whether Zuko was dead or alive—just as long that I was there and Zuko was not.

Iroh didn't chastise me for speaking my mind, In fact, he gave me a sad look, and his own face became pained.

"The Fire Lord will not be pleased when he learns who was responsible," said Iroh, meeting Zhao's eyes.

The Admiral frowned slightly, and I automatically knew that he really was behind it.

"You know who…was behind the attack?"

"Yes," said Iroh. He slammed his hand on the table. "Pirates. We had a run in with them a while back. They wanted revenge."

I saw Zhao's mouth upturn from a frown into a smile. He lost his snide smirk when he turned to me. He sipped his tea and watched me carefully. I stared at him. I definitely could tell that he was behind it. His mind frazzled as I stared back at him; for a moment, he blinked with a hesitant air then he seemed to compose himself.

"You must be very sad, Mura," he said softly. "You haven't said five words to me."

"It's Commander, Mura," I corrected him coldly. "Whether or not Prince Zuko is dead, I'm still an officer, Admiral."

He seemed a bit taken by surprise.

"Well, I see that you've hardened from this tragedy," Zhao replied with approval. "You really are a brave girl."

"I'm a lot braver than you think…"

"Commander Mura, please; I don't mean to offend you. But you are in a sticky bind, now that your superior officer has passed away. There are other ways of redeeming Prince Zuko. You could reconsider and join my armada. Fight with me and regain your honor."

"There is no honor in what you do."

I lowered my gaze to drink the rest of my tea. Iroh lowered my hand to the table.

"Mura," he said compassionately, "we all must handle the burden. You have no other choice…"

Zhao took up a sudden patient tone as well, which only made my stomach writhe in disgust.

"Commander," he said in a sickly, understanding tone, "you truly are a very loyal soldier; it would be an honor for me if you stood by my side. It's time for you to see a victory, instead of a stalemate. If it helps to ease your mind, I merely want you to witness a grand feat."

"What are you saying, Admiral?" I said, looking at him resentfully. "You want me to simply stand by and do nothing?"

"Well," said Zhao with a shrug, "it appears that your loyalty doesn't go to the highest bidder. I apparently have to earn it, and I haven't. So how about giving a soldier a chance?"

In order to keep my place on his ship to see Zuko, I took his outstretched hand and shook on the deal. He turned to Iroh,

"Have you reconsidered my offer as well?"

"Yes," said Iroh, bowing. "I accept. It will be an honor to serve as your general." Iroh raised his glass in a toast. "To the Fire Nation."

Zhao raised his,

"To victory!"

Zhao turned to me expectantly; Iroh met my eyes imploringly. I raised my glass,

"To the Fire Lord…"

Iroh and Zhao drank from their cups. I set mine down.

After a second cup of tea, Iroh excused the both of us, and we left the Admiral's cabin to stroll down a corridor. When we were out of earshot, I turned to Iroh.

"This is so wrong."

"I know, my dear, but what you did was best for Prince Zuko and yourself," he assured me. "As long as Zhao believes that you are giving him a chance to earn your respect, you have nothing to worry about. He is trying to lure you in to be his lethal weapon."

"There is nothing about him that I like," I replied. "I know he was lying to me. And you," I added.

"I know that Zhao tried to kill my nephew," Iroh said patiently. "I expected that he would think something was wrong if I told you that I knew. It's hard for you to hide your emotions when you feel this angry. It would have been worse if you thought Zuko was dead, which is why I brought him inside the room."

"I guess that you know me better than I do myself," I muttered.

"Come on, Mura. I think you and I need a cup of tea by ourselves. It's much too tense around him." He gave me a small smile.

As we walked down the corridor, a fellow Fire Nation soldier approached us. I only knew who he was when his hand touched the black belt around my waist. Iroh stopped beside him. Iroh spoke in small whisper,

"Our plan is working perfectly. Zhao doesn't suspect a thing."

Zuko removed his guard mask.

"You didn't have to do this."

"No nephew of mine is going to stow away on a ship without some backup."

"Thank you, Uncle."

A sound was made around the corner. Zuko replaced his mask.

"Someone's coming," Iroh murmured. "Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole and the Avatar will be yours. Good luck."

Iroh walked ahead. I looked at Zuko momentarily, wondering when the next time I would see him would be. I had lost him once. I didn't want to lose him again. I opened my mouth to tell him that I cared about him, but he said through his mask,

"You don't have to say it…"

I hesitated to leave him. Zuko raised his hand to my face and touched my cheek.

"If you die, I swear I'll kill you," I muttered, hearing my voice crack. I smiled at him. And in a minute, he was walking down the corridor in the opposite direction. Iroh took my hand and led me out onto the main deck of the large Fire Nation Navy ship. It was a beautiful structure, though it would have looked much more gran if it wasn't heading a course to the North Pole to create genocide.

The ship was cut off from the harbor, and the ship headed northward.

I leaned over the railing and saw dozens of Fire Navy ships firing up their engines to launch a final assault on the Northern Water Tribe. Iroh set a hand on my shoulder. I shook my head disappointedly.

"This is so wrong," I muttered.

"There's not much you can do now, Mura."

"The spirits won't like this at all," I retorted.

"Hopefully, your spirit won't try to do anything through you," Iroh warned. "Don't lose your temper, or your connection between Shen Si Ling and your own mental awareness will cross paths. You won't be able to control what you do. And Shen Si Ling is a vengeful spirit. Keep a level head and stay under Zhao's radar."