...

Mrs. Anyakya had made a big deal of leaving immediately, though by the time she finished delivering a new set of instructions to her workers in the shop's rear Xinfei was starting to doze off in the corner of the shop where he was leaning against the wall. Ayika tried to stand still and resist the urge to start throwing things at the counter girl's incessant gum-aided mastication. Xiaobao had slid into some sort of meditative torpor as he gazed out through the window slats and Ayika could not tell what he was thinking. But when Mrs. Anyakya finally reappeared she rushed out the front door without a word and Ayika was forced to bolt after her. Hopefully, the Bao brothers managed to get their limbs in order and follow.

Anyakya had begun talking before Ayika managed to fall into step beside her. Apparently the washing mogul operated under the belief that it was everyone else's responsibility to hear what she was saying and she made no allowances for people having to catch up. They quickly left the street to stride down a small path squashed between two building walls. The paving stones fit very roughly together and between them heavily trodden grass somehow struggled on without direct sunlight.

The laundry owner continued her commentary. "If you can quiet these workers of mine from getting so worried and superstitious then you will be worth your weight in brass. I've actually had three people try to say they were too sick to come in today? Like I don't have a finger on the pulse of this town. The only sickness going around is people worrying themselves ill with all these rumors of imaginary spirits." They exited from that narrow alley canyon to a narrow ledge or walkway alongside the canal that backed against the wash shop. A long open-top canalboat was unloading tied bundles of clothes by the tens and fifties.

Ayika knew Mrs. Anyakya had a reputation as a very practical woman and very few people in the Harbor Town were what could be called religious. All the same, she had never heard one of the People so clearly deny the existence of the spirits. As they climbed up the steps of a small arch bridge over a water channel Ayika looked at her new employer's eyes and saw the calculation of a fierce survivalist who catalogued everything and everyone for how they fit into the pattern. Another look behind her confirmed that the brothers had at least managed to keep up.

The older woman continued without breaking her rapid walking pace. "I'll find a formal position for you as a counter girl somewhere. I can cut Eknasa down to half time. She thinks I haven't noticed that bump growing in her belly but I suppose now is as good a time as any to stop ignoring it. If she didn't make a note of where she left the one who did that to her, well I know a whole stack of good young neighborhood boys who can't be too choosy for a bride."

She carried on, "Rumor infects this town like shipworms. Can you believe that my workers are saying ridiculous things like the employer should provide a money assurance against sickness? As if that was my concern! They just want a handout so they can get fleeced by that vile Mama Mua the so called healer. I'm sure she will indulge their delusion that spirits are making them sick." Anyakya gave a very unladylike snort. "There may be a lot I don't like about the North but at least benders didn't charge there."

Ayika felt that by this point she should have contributed something to this one sided conversation. "Mam," she said. "What is it exactly that you will be wanting me to do?"

Anyakya did not bother slowing or looking at her. The other pedestrians on the path parted around her. "If you managed to learn half of anything from your Gran then you should know more about the old stories and charms than these ruffians I employ. Just tell them who you're related to and explain why their superstitious interpretations aren't what's happening. Those of the tribes will recognize some details of what you're saying and the kingdomers think all tribal ladies are witches anyway so they'll trust you too. Then draw some signs on the walls in chalk. I really don't care what lies you tell them as long as they don't catch you at it. Just give me calm. I will give you a bonus stipend on top of salary, and you may give me a bit of peace while this city is losing its collective mind." So she meant for Ayika to be a fake shaman.

Now they passed back onto a street and over another bridge. Ayika fell back a little to whisper to Xinfei. "She is really worried about people freaking out over the Islanders. Her people also think there is something magical going on. Maybe those people in the Masks actually are involved in some sort of spell or curse against people?"

"Come on," Xinfei said. "Don't get caught up in your own hype. Your headmaster up at your school did the same thing kind of thing as her. Always made you staff go to temple out of some show to ritual. He made you get receipts! Doesn't mean there is any spirit stuff going on. Just good employee management and public relations."

They were now passing by one of the many government run temples. Unsurprisingly there was not a line outside it. More surprisingly, the priest came running out of it to stomp out the smoldering fringe of his robe against the stone steps. He was cursing in a very unpriestly way.

Xinfei gestured over at him as they crossed past his smoky display. "I present another example of why no one goes to the city temples anymore for spirit help. Look, that place is completely empty!"

Ayika twisted her neck to look back. The view was only available for a second but she saw figures moving vaguely in the dim interior light of the temple. "I see plenty of folks. Maybe people are starting to trust government priests again." Anyakya's workers had something right. Something about this city felt unsettled. Like a distant blaze before the fire-bells began to ring. If there were people in the state temples then others could feel it as well.

"I think a more likely explanation is your eyes are going bad. Hey! Look over there!" Xinfei grabbed at her shoulder. He pointed off ahead down the street. "It's those student nationalist guys. I told you I was going to meet with them today."

Ayika recognized them. The night of the fire had soured her to their association. No matter how harmless they looked they were involved in something dark and dangerous with those men in the masks. Xinfei had not seen those ordinary men put carved wood over their faces and suddenly be able to fight on even footing with a trained earthbender. That was not natural. To him the Masks were just fighters in a secret society. After everything she had heard and see the university boys' attempts to agitate the populace against the Islanders seemed a whole lot less amusing. Someone from a position of power was using them. The Masks had a greater agenda. One of those Masks had killed Lizhen.

She frowned. "I am not sure you should be still talking to them. We don't know who is giving them orders. You've seen how they have been riling people up, it's not worth helping them cause trouble."

Xinfei looked affronted. "Those guys aren't the ones making people angry. Sure, they're idiots but... People are sick of cheap imports and Islander mechanized factories putting craftsmen out of work. The king is giving foreign merchants more help than citizens. That is why those guys get away with being out here with those posters and signs. The people want someone to do something."

He actually sounded like he was sympathetic to those guys and Ayika could scarcely believe that. "Xinfei, they burnt down your job! They are with the Masks! There is something dark going on that I don't fully understand but trust me and do what I say. Those boys are trouble and i say don't go near them."

Xinfei was growing angry as well. He had an expression of hurt disbelief. "You were the one who wanted to find out who killed your professor! You say that the nationalist killed Lizhen because you got a funny feeling and they both wear masks. Well, some of the few hints we have all say it was the islander Miohuito who did it so maybe I say you should say away from that Mizumi! Her dad was at the crime scene, and wouldn't say why! Ma'er was threatening the professor and then he was hunting the Masks so I think they might be on our side. You said that your professor was in to all that magic stuff from other cultures, maybe he made those weird masks you insist creepy."

Ayika could not believe what she was hearing. The veiled accusation against Mizumi riled her the most. "None of that makes sense! On our side? In case you weren't hearing right, that guy in the Mask at the warehouse was the man who cornered us in the alley! You set him on fire once! They were talking about being against all foreigners not just Fire Nation and, as people are keen to remind me, I look pretty foreign!" She felt like cursing. Her points were jumbled too.

Xinfei shook his head, trying to get his thoughts in order. "That's not what they meant! Water Tribe folks aren't doing anything!"

Xiaobao came in between the two of them. "Hey guys, calm down."

Ayika was sick of arguing. She shoved past Xinfei. "Go then. Go join up with your protest boys!"

"Well, maybe I will!" Xinfei opened and closed his mouth a few times more looking as if he wanted to end this conversation with a more eloquent parting line. But he could think of nothing so he angrily hunched his shoulders and turned. Ayika saw him begin to walk down the street but Mrs. Anyakya was getting further and further away. She did not have time to chase after him.

Xiaobao was conflicted. Ayika was quickly walking in one direction while his brother was plodding in the other. However, when he made his decision and caught up to Ayika in a few quick strides from his much longer legs she shook her head. "I'm fine," she said. "I know you've not got work today but there's no need to stick to me. Anyakya is not likely to leave me unsupervised. He needs you."

Xiaobao put his hand on her shoulder. "He's trying to help you. And you aren't the only one who wants to feel like they've got their own control in this city. Just be careful with that spirit stuff Anykaya wants to do. People are nervous. Don't deceive them." With that he turned and headed back to where he had last seen his brother. Ayika rushed forward and hoped that Mrs. Anyakya had not been talking all this time.

She managed to fight through the crowd of other pedestrians in time to hear. "...is the last of what you need to know. Now if you're as smart as you think you are then I won't need to repeat myself." Great, Ayika thought.

...

Zhangyi was pacing in the narrow isle between the outdoor tables of the steamed bun shop that served as the student nationalists secondary revolutionary headquarters. Chonglong was seated on a bench and leaning back against a support post and seemed a bit more satisfied than usual. Jiang had covered a corner of the table with an open book and a sheet of paper as he carefully brushed a few more precise characters down. He actually appeared to be doing schoolwork. Chonglong glanced around enough to notice Xinfei approaching though he declined to further open his heavily lidded eyes.

Xinfei heard him say, "Hey, Zhangyi, I thought you said you were waiting for that Tu guy. That wasn't the dockworker boy was it?"

Jiang did not look up from his brushwork. "No, that kid's name was Xin-something, I think."

Zhangyi at least met Xinfei's eyes. He flashed his customary winning smile as he strode over to greet him. This greeting was briefly interrupted by Zhanyi bumping into the back of another patron who glared up with most of a bun sticking out of his stubble covered mouth like a baby's pacifier. When the student managed to extricate himself without starting any more feuds he clapped Xinfei on the arm. "Good to see you my friend! No, Chonglong, this is not the man I was waiting for but he is a welcome sight all the same. And look, his brother is here too! See, our forces are multiplying already!"

Xinfei turned to see Xiaobao suddenly at his back. The slightest motion of the head was enough to communicate their respective thoughts. There was nothing Xinfei could do if his brother felt like following along. Truth be told he was not entirely sure what Xiaobao did these days for recreation on his few days off work. It was not gaming or drinking or even girls as far as Xinfei had seen sign of. So he simply smiled at Zhangyi and said, "Yeah. So what is the scheme you teased us with yesterday? Do we get to hear what the big plan you cooked up is?"

Zhangyi was clearly excited to have another audience to share his brainchild with. He led the two Bao brothers over to the little communal table set up on the street outside the restaurant. Such a space should rightfully be filled up with other eaters but Chonglong's big frame and glares seemed to have been sufficient to claim it. As the Bao's moved close Jiang sighed and carefully cleaned off his ink-brush as he saw studious action was going to be impeded for the near future.

The sometimes leader began. "There is a plan indeed. I received words of support down from the highest levels of our organization's secret leadership. We are going to lead a march on the merchant families of the Middle Ring! We are going to cross the Lower Ring, spreading the word of how traitorous merchants like that Gaoli are betraying our country. We will gather supporters along the way and by the time we get to Gaoli's house itself it will be blisteringly clear to everyone in the city how the people feel about what Gaoli has done. That merchant will find his hard won political connections leaning away from him and other merchants will think twice about emulating his actions less they incur the same bad publicity!"

A march. In his thoughts Xinfei breathed a faint sigh of mental relief. Despite what he had said all Ayika's concern's about these three's involvement with her teacher's murderer had made him nervous. But the students were harmless. They just wanted to walk around and make up chants. And who knew? Some government figures might actually care that the people of the city were fed up with special treatment for those getting rich off foreign loyalties. "That sounds great," he said. It also sounded doomed, but safely doomed.

"Yeah!" Chonglong said with a grin. "We will ruin Gaoli! The order from on high says to make an example of him. And I am sure he won't be the last. We will harass each of those merchants until they have to abandon the foreigners or shut down their business. One by one." He said the word merchants like he was pronouncing something foul and profane.

Jiang was a less combative soul. Now he just sighed and worked at checking that the essay he had been writing was dry. "Do you guys remember when the 'orders from on high' were just to put up threatening posters? Or even remember further back, before the movement had all this mysterious support and it was just us and the other students? Deciding what was best ourselves? Sometimes I miss that."

That was another reference to changing leadership of the nationalists. There was definitely something going on behind the scenes. Xinfei tried leaning over towards Jiang to ask him. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

However, Chonglong was quicker to respond. "What does ancient history matter? Tonight we are taking the movement public! No more secret membership! Everyone will take part! And we will be the leaders for the newly awakened consciousness."

Zhangyi had the same infections grin on his face. "Tonight the city wakes up. Tonight we march!"

Behind Xinfei, Xioabao was worried that his brother seemed to be sharing that eager smile. An afternoon finding people who were annoyed with foreign imports and Islanders dwelling in the city should be easy enough. However, the real question came when the sun began to lower. Who knew how this was going to end?

...

Light in the Exclusion always felt like sunset. So many of the pillars and freestanding ritual gates were painted holy red that when the sun began its nightly dying display the burning orange brush it painted across the darkening land did not have much to do to Fire Nation quarter. Mizumi glanced up at the sun now and saw it glowing low in the sky, enlarged by the smoky haze that boiled over the Impenetrable City's walls like steam from a bubbling cauldron. One of the household servants gestured again to the waiting carriage and she sighed, consenting to climb up the carefully placed foot stool and slide into her seat. This leg of the journey was only from their house in the Exclusion to the harbor tram station but her father was taking no chances. Their carriage would be accompanied fore and aft by several burley men of his employ as well as a pretty military firebender lady from the Trade Mission that he had managed to convince Tailang to briefly lend them as accompaniment.

Mizumi had not been hesitant to tell her father that these precautions were excessive. In the sixteen years of the Trade Mission to this city there had not been a single attack on citizens of the Nation. Well, no official attacks. There had been a few incidents which the Ambassador had without much cajoling reclassified as self-inflicted harm. If you started carelessly bending while drunk in a Kingdoms brothel then a knife to the side was as good as you could expect. But her father had been hearing none of these reasonable assertions. The fact that he had noticed she had snuck out of the house many times in the last few days did not help her argument.

Tetzamatl Miohuito sighed at his daughter's sour expression from the carriage's other bench. "These enhanced security measures are only a temporary precaution. I am sure that things will quickly return to normal and you can resume attending the school. You did like it, didn't you? Even after all that...unpleasantness."

"Yes. It was a good place." Mizumi said. But she had her own unanswered questions. Then she suddenly struck. "Why were you waiting outside the school in the carriage that night? Why were you talking with Teacher Lizhang?"

Miohuito flinched at his daughter's sharply inquisitorial tone. "I had corresponded many times with the man. He was a very strong voice for the Kingdoms citizens in the reformist faction, you know that."

"That is not what I meant and you know that! What happened that night? I have been trying to ask you for days but you have never been around the house!" Mizumi tried to govern the emotion in her voice but it was difficult.

He sighed. "I know. Chen wrote me that day about...Well I suppose it doesn't matter what now. I will never know. He was very vague, it sounded like he wanted to warn me about something, though he was very specific about the time I come visit him. After moonrise, strange man. He was probably to say that our opponents in the conservatives were getting bolder and more dangerous. As they quickly demonstrated." Miohuito suddenly realized that he was rambling on about a great deal more information than his daughter deserved. His expression darkened. "Not that I have anything to answer to you about. You have disobeyed me three times in four days! First you stayed late at the school over some foolish essay and exposed yourself to the danger there, then you repeatedly left the Exclusion despite my express command to stay safe!"

Mizumi noticed that he had missed one of her exclusions for all the good it did her. "Technically you just asked me if I could remain in the Exclusion." She murmured softly. "And I did get permission to attend the funeral with Lili Gaoli."

Her father gripped his fist with his other hand. "Mizumi...!" He took a deep breath and calmed down. "At least Gaoli's are one of the few allies we still have. If I told your grandfather what you had been getting up to he would beat you dark as a Tribal."

You do not know half of what I am up to, father. "Or he would congratulate me on conducting recognizance operations and recruiting allies." She smiled, thinking about telling the story of her investigation with Ayika in Granfather's preferred soldierly speech. Grandfather was not one for delicate phrasing.

"Allies? Plural? Who else have you been meeting with besides Lili Gaoli?"

Mizumi quickly swallowed. She would never have expected anyone to pick up on such a small detail but she had gotten her mind from somewhere after all. "I was talking about the Gaoli's, Father." She said in a hastily affected exasperated tone. "You just said they were our most important remaining allies."

Miohuito narrowed his eyes with well-earned suspicion of everything his teenage daughter said but fortunately they were arriving at the tram station. Mizumi did not think she had ever been so happy at the prospect of having her bones shaken out of her body by a rickety ancient contraption powered by enchanted stone and Earth Kingdom benders. She thought to herself that when they reached the Gaoli residence she would have to quickly get Lili to cover for all her other outings with Ayika. The father and daughter made their way up the station steps as suspicious eyes turned to look at them from the street below.

...

(Author's note: Is there something as a literary costumer? That is something I need. I have great difficulty dressing my characters. And so of course I wrote myself several sections later on where elaborate costumes are a focal point. Because I am so clever.)