Chapter 4: One Night in Yu Dao
Any individuals caught harboring enemies of the state will be subject to an immediate arrest. After a thorough investigation, the individual in question may face severe consequences (see ordinance #21 for exact details).
-Dai Li Ordinance #122
Crown Prince Iroh sat alone in a booth tucked away in a corner. The clothes he wore were simple, his royal hair piece was gone, and he kept his shoulders slumped while he walked. Not that anyone was looking for the next ruler of the Fire Nation in a nondescript tavern in middle of Yu Dao, but he was not going to be taking any chances.
The door opened and Iroh held his breath in anticipation, only to be disappointed when the stranger took a seat at the bar. His contact was over an hour late and Iroh was on pins and needles. Of course, what were a few short hours versus the eight years he had already spent waiting.
Iroh didn't hear the door open nor did he see the shadow of a man approach his booth before he was already standing at the edge of the table. "Why does the tigerdillo stop at the oasis pond?"
The voice that spoke the callsign was silky smooth and Iroh was taken aback hearing it come from a man with such an imposing stature. "To sample the turtleduck's wisdom." Iroh relayed his own code back to the man who then sat opposite him.
"I apologize for my tardiness, Grand Master. I arrived just a few hours ago." The man explained as he brushed a few raindrops off his sleeves.
"The apology is unwarranted." Iroh replied with his signature defusing nature.
"My congratulations to you, I heard that Lu Ten has earned the rank of General." The man was stalling, and both parties knew it.
"Please, I hate to be hasty, but I must know if your mission was successful." Iroh did his best to keep his tone light, but even he could only be patient for so long.
The man scratched at his chin and avoided Iroh's gaze before speaking. "Try to understand, it has been years-"
"Out with it." Iroh punctuated the demand with an uncharacteristic smack of the table, drawing the attention of a few other patrons.
"I don't think Prince Zuko survived." The man said plainly, finally getting to the point.
Iroh felt his heart fall to his gut, his entire face aged ten years in a mere moment. "I…I see. How did you come to such a conclusion?"
"My investigation was thorough, I can assure you, but unfortunately details fade over time. Our last confirmed sighting of the prince was eight years ago aboard the Kyun. As you know, it was a private ship on a voyage commissioned by yourself. Despite its nondescript nature, the ship was assaulted and ultimately sunk somewhere near Spire Rock. That's where my investigation began." The man took out a map of the Earth Kingdom and pointed to the well-known landmark located on the northern shores of the continent.
"Yes, but we know Initiate Ryook and Prince Zuko survived the sinking. I have the letter still sent from Ryook himself." Iroh produced the letter he must've reread a hundred times. It detailed how Ryook was able to navigate the loss of the ship with Prince Zuko in hand. "In the letter he spoke of his plans to travel towards Omashu, although I cannot begin to ascertain why."
"I believe the ship being attacked clouded his judgement, Ryook was a fine member of the order and would not betray you like that."
"I thought the same." Iroh spoke partially under his breath.
"Regardless, Ryook did not take Zuko to Omashu. I spoke with all the residents at the village near Spire Rock and although the shipwreck was nearly a decade ago, one ferryman remembered Ryook and Zuko. In his desperation, Ryook had paid for transport with ten gold pieces, something so peculiar that the man remembered it all these years on."
Iroh scrutinized the map set out on the table in front of him. "Surely the ferryman just took them down the Wei-Dun River towards Omashu."
The man opposite Iroh shook his head. "The ferryman gave me no reason to distrust him, so I believe him when he says Ryook wanted passage to the eastern side of Full Moon Bay. I asked the ferryman is Ryook seemed hurt and he said that beyond a few bumps and scrapes, him and the toddler he was travelling with were fine."
"Were they headed towards Ba Sing Se?" Iroh guessed, seeing as Ba Sing Se was the only reason to be going that far east.
"The ferryman says that Ryook inexplicably turned north once they hit the shores and that was the last he saw of them. There are a few villages in that direction and none of them had seen a pair matching Ryook and Zuko." The man pointed to the collection of dots that represented the farming villages around Ba Sing Se. "That's when I tried calling upon any order members inside Ba Sing Se to search through the immigration records. Those records are expansive, and it took many weeks, but nothing turned up."
Iroh swallowed his breath. "Then… how can you be sure of their demise?"
The man gave a Iroh a sad smile. "Grand Master, this is the third such investigation you've asked for, and it's been eight years. I'm afraid it's the only conclusion there is. The forces that attacked that ship most likely weren't random, and I can only guess they caught up with Ryook."
For a while Iroh said nothing. It had been what he had expected to hear. After all, for all his bouts of whimsy and carefree attitude, Iroh was also a reasonable man. When he did finally speak again, his voice came out like a pained croak. "And what of your other assignment?"
The man shook his head. "Ursa disappeared after her escape, and I mean really disappeared. It's like she went up in smoke. Whether she is alive or dead, I don't think anyone could say. I can't believe she would put Zuko at risk like that, what in Agni was she thinking? That…" He trailed off as he realized the rant was beginning to border on treason. "Apologies, Iroh. That is no way to speak of the former Fire Lady."
Iroh disarmed the man with a smile. "I ask myself that same question."
"For what it's worth, I think you made the right decision with Zuko, even if didn't work out. There's no telling what Ozai would've done."
The sentiment had no effect on Iroh, long having accepted his choice and the aftermath of that fateful night. He rose in one motion and bowed to the man. "I thank you, but I must set off for the Caldera immediately. My father wishes to see me."
Not bothering to wait for the man to return the bow, Iroh exited the tavern swiftly and into the rain.