Chapter 11

The water closed over her head and Toph fought for the surface. The weight of her wet clothing dragged at her as she thrashed in the water, attempting to keep calm. However, a wave washed over her head and she felt herself gasping for air. Now completely in panic, Toph felt something drag her to the surface and she began to fight to get on top of it. Hands pushed her away, and she felt an arm around her throat.

"Quit fighting me!" a voice yelled but she was so terrified she could barely understand the words. Another wave washed over her head, pushing her beneath the water. She was past blind—she was suffocating. Again, her head broke the surface as she thrashed and fought with the person holding her. Then she felt a sting against the side of her neck, and it all went black.

On deck, Zuko watched as Yung desperately tried to keep Toph above the surface of the water. Every time he lost sight of her beneath the waves, his heart stopped in fear. Then he could see that she'd gone completely still, seemingly lifeless as Yung pulled her toward the shore. His blood ran cold and any reason he still had for restraint vanished.

Years of hard won self-control fell away as fury and fear dominated him. He no longer thought, he only acted, lashing out with his feet at the men surrounding him. Those with blowguns attempted to shoot their darts, but Toph had done her work well, bending the tip of each into the wood so that they would not fire.

Zuko's boot connected with the jaw of the first man daring enough to get within range. Through the red haze of rage, Zuko was glad to see that he slid several feet across the deck and did not get up again.

Then he remembered Toph's cryptic instruction to check his fly. Sure enough, the metal trouser button now sported a sharpened edge, perfect for cutting through the remaining strands of rope he had not burned through.

His hands now free, Zuko flowed smoothly into a firebending stance, allowing his emotion to fuel his bending. The men circling him backed away as much from the merciless glare in Zuko's eyes as from the intensity of the heat that spun out of him. Four of the wiser of the group jumped overboard immediately and headed for shore. The three remaining, Zhiang included, pulled similar wooden knives.

"Don't you know the rules for fighting a bender?" Zuko asked savagely as he easily incinerated the blades. "Always keep a firebender unconscious or keep his hands tightly bound. You boys have broken the rules."

Two of the men took the opportunity to jump overboard, while Zhiang cowered pitifully, cornered by a deadly looking prince with flames dancing in his hands and behind his eyes.

"Please," he begged, "Yung won't hurt her. He probably just stuck her with a dart to keep her from fighting him. She was drowning."

Zuko glanced to the shore to see that Yung had indeed stumbled onto the beach with Toph limp in his arms. The other men who'd jumped overboard also fought through the waves toward the shore. Then Zuko became aware of the smell of smoke. Something must have ignited some of the naphtha treated wood. He could feel the heat building rapidly behind him, and looked down at Zhiang realizing that he could actually see the flames reflected in his eyes.

"Get up," Zuko instructed Zhiang. "We're going ashore."

On the beach, Yung looked back to see the boat explode into flames. He cursed aloud. Nothing was going right. It had not gone right from the beginning. First of all, the maid had gotten away to warn them. Then he'd waited underneath the carriage for hours for the prince to return. His one stroke of luck was that he'd waited just another half-hour longer than he meant and actually managed to capture the pair.

Back on the boat, their rendezvous partners had never shown up, which meant instead of taking the couple to the planned hideout, they'd been forced to bring them to the island. Now he could only hope the girl was still alive and unharmed because he could see Zhiang rowing Zuko ashore in the launch. He'd seen the display of the prince's fury on the boat's deck and wondered anew how they could have underestimated him so badly.

Several villagers ran out onto the beach to see what was going on. "Get back!" Yung commanded.

One little boy ran up to him. "Daddy, what's going on? Why's the boat on fire? Who is that?" he asked, pointing to the woman in his arms.

"Take your sister and go into the woods, Neshi," Yung instructed. When Neshi started to protest, he yelled at him. "Do as I say! Now!" He watched as Neshi ran ahead of him as fast as he could toward their little house in the village.

The fearful look on his son's face made him sick inside, but he would not have his children in the path of the dangerous man who was now approaching his home. He shifted the woman into a more carryable position, then entered the same door Neshi was exiting, his younger sister in tow.

"We're going to play in the woods, Meimei," Neshi explained in a kind voice that made Yung proud.

As the children passed, Yung called out to them, "Neshi, Meimei, take all the children and go play in the woods. Someone will come to get you for supper later." Neshi nodded in understanding.

He entered the door of his modest home, taking the young woman into the bedroom. "Su-lin!" he called out to his wife. Su-lin came in from the back, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Yung, what's going on? I saw the boat on fire in the harbor," Su-lin asked. She looked so tired and weak. Yung did not want to burden her with any explanations.

"There was an accident," he answered evasively. "One of the passengers fell overboard. I put her in our bedroom. She's unconscious, but I think she'll be okay. Can you and Mrs. Fong get her into some dry clothing?"

"Of course!" Su-lin agreed and immediately went to see about their guest.

Whatever happens, Yung told himself as he left their home, I have tried my best to provide for my children and my wife. I have only done what I had to do to keep them safe and healthy. He could only hope that the prince didn't kill him outright before he could at least beg for the lives of his family.

On the beach, Zhiang pulled the boat ashore then fell to the sand in a full bow. Zuko stepped out of the boat, flames still dancing in his hands as he commanded, "Show me where they've taken Toph and perhaps I won't burn down every building on this island."

Zhiang just trembled beneath the waves of heat that washed over him as the powerful firebender ignited a nearby fishing shack.

Zhiang looked up to see the shack explode violently into flames. The heat was so intense that the top layer of sand melted over into black glass. "Please, your highness," Zhiang cried. "Don't destroy the town! It's all we have."

"Take me to her," came the steely reply.

Before they reached the town's center, Yung stepped into the street before them. Zuko raised his hand, flames flickering at his fingertips. Yung fell to his face in a humble bow. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now," Zuko demanded fiercely.

"Your lady is alive and unhurt, your highness," Yung replied. Zuko noticed that the sarcasm the man usually gave his title was completely missing.

"Then take me to her," Zuko repeated.

"Not until I have a chance to explain," Yung bravely managed to respond.

Zuko blasted a fiery hole into the ground directly in front of Yung. "Do you wish this to be your grave?" he asked coldly.

Suddenly a child's voice rang out, "Don't hurt my daddy!" A little girl of not more than five dashed out into the fray to throw her arms around Yung's neck.

She was followed by a boy of eight or so. "I'm sorry, Daddy, she wouldn't come with me!" the boy tried to explain. Zuko looked down as Yung held his children close to him.

"I only wish to protect those that I love, Prince Zuko," Yung said. "Promise not to harm them and I will take you to your lady."

Zuko glanced around at the crowd that had begun to gather. These were not warriors, he realized. Not benders. They were fishermen, farmers. Families. He looked back to where several villagers were fighting to extinguish the burning shack at the beach before the wind carried to blaze to other buildings.

He held up his hands and allowed the flames to die. "Take me to her," he repeated, but calmly.

Outside the door of Yung's home, Zuko was surprised to feel Yung's hand on his arm, holding him back. "Please, your highness," he began, "my wife doesn't know anything. She believes your lady accidentally fell overboard."

"And why should I spare your wife's feelings? Have you spared the feelings of my lady in any of this?" Zuko answered coldly and opened the door.

Su-lin stood in the small common room and bowed deeply as she recognized the features of her Crown Prince. "It is such an honor to have such an important person in our humble home, your highness. Whatever we have is yours," she offered in a small, awed voice.

Zuko gave Yung a glance, then replied with a bow of his own, "I thank you for your kind treatment of Miss Bei Fong. Is she all right?"

"She is resting well, your highness," Su-lin answered. "I regret that I do not have anything finer for her to wear, but Mrs. Fong is taking great care to dry her clothing."

"I wish to see her," Zuko replied.

"Certainly," Su-lin responded and opened the door to the bedroom.

Zuko quickly knelt at the side of the low bed, brushing Toph's face with his hand. To his deep joy, she shifted a little and he knew she was going to be okay. Su-lin closed the door to give them some privacy.

"Toph," he called gently. "Wake up."

She stirred again, but didn't wake. He then sat down on the edge of the bed and took her hand in his. Then his eyes searched the room until he found what he was looking for--a small earthenware bowl. He dumped its contents on the table and placed the bowl in her hands, then covered her hands with his. He wanted to be the first thing she saw when she woke up.