Ren looked after Uki's retreating form for a few seconds then shook himself. He emerged into a section dwarfed by overhanging cliffs as if the area was cut into the stoneface. He spotted a circular courtyard and was greeted by the gurgle of water. Under a shaded pavilion, an array of potted plants grasped for sunlight and air. One man sold miniature groomed trees that curled out of gleaming pots. Another vendor was surrounded by hanging plants in shades from emerald to rose. Ren walked around the circular area and drew close to one of the wide stalls.
"Do you know where someone might be selling dragon flowers?"
The man leaned over a tray of flowers, buds the side of a baby's thumbnail. "I only work in miniatures. Try over there," he said pointing. "You should know they are hard to care for in this environment."
Ren nodded and headed up a walkway surrounded by emerald shrubs and vines. His eyes scanned the area locating a small stall with several dragon flowers resting on it in low pots. One had red painted petals and a handful were sunset gold. The rest butter yellow.
Tetsu sat reading in his bed. He had finished his water bending lesson for the day and held the small grey book from the market in both palms. He sat with one leg out and the other angled, toes touching his thigh. Tetsu flipped a page eyes focusing on an old illustration of two fish circling each other. Under the pair of fish, three words were inscribed in fresher ink than the faded fish. He squinted at the words.
"What language is this?"
He flipped to the next page when the door to their suite opened. He unfolded from the bed and pushed out of his room. A large pot sat on the table stems climbing upward. Clusters of pale yellow flowers grew from the steams like blooming grapes.
Tetsu tapped his finger against his pant leg. "Where were you?" He scanned his brother who was covered in dust and had a few scrapes along his arms. Ren looked up. A look flashed across his face for a moment.
"I was out getting something," he said smiling as he brushed himself off.
Tetsu frowned.
"Don't be mad. It was refreshing," Ren said while digging something out of his pocket and walking over to Tetsu. He dropped it into Tetsu's hand.
"What's this?" Tetsu asked looking at the per-like finish of the cool stone.
"A fox-dog. Reminded me of Kuaisu," Ren answered.
Tetsu looked down at it for a moment. "Why are you giving it to me? You were the one that wanted a pet."
"You remember that you were the one who named him?" Ren said.
Tetsu looked down at the carving.
"So how was waterbending?" Ren asked.
Tetsu looked up his eyes unfocused for a moment. "Hmm? Oh, it was challenging."
"Noo," Ren said hooking his arm around his brother's neck. "I don't believe that. You're always perfect."
Tetsu stiffened. "That's not true."
Jinora came into the room brows low. "Do you think it's wise to outrun the guide that was there to protect you in a city you know nothing about?"
Tetsu turned an accusing look onto Ren.
Ren blinked and set his mouth. "I was there to do something important."
"What was so pressing?" Jinora said.
Ren pursed his lips for a moment and made a small sound.
"If you go out, take a guard," Jinora said.
Tetsu tilted his head and sighed. Ren went to his room. Tetsu looked over as his brother slipped away.
"He gets stressed when he has to stay in one place for a long time," he said looking toward Jinora.
Jinora sat down at the table and poured a pot of tea, the swell wafting through the room. Tetsu studied the look in her eyes. He sat down across from her.
"He won't do it again. I'll even go with him," Tetsu offered.
"I spoke to Jun Lin today," she prefaced.
Tetsu's eyebrows came down a little.
"He ran diagnostics and tests and spoke to engineers. There is no way that that part in the ship would have accidentally been there," she said. There was a long pause. "The only way that that part would have been there is if someone had put it there on purpose."
"But that piece isn't even included in the model we flew in," Tetsu said.
Jinora shook her head. "It's not. Which means it was put there by someone."
Tetsu blinked for a few moments. "Jun Lin said that having that piece there nearly caused the ship to combust."
"Yes," Jinora said quietly.
"Due to overheating."
"Yes. That's correct."
"Someone wants us gone?" Tetsu breathed.
The flowers moved in a slight indoor gust.
"I don't have any other explanation," Jinora said.
"But no one anyone knows about us," Tetsu said as he tapped his foot on the ground.
Jinora folded her fingers around the teacup. "But someone must know."
"I don't understand," Tetsu said shaking his head.
"I'll request to speak with security here. This should be a safe location as of now, but we can never be too careful." Jinora pushed her chair out a little and stood.
"How did the last Avatar...Korra..." Tetsu began.
Jinora placed her teacup down and sighed. "I need to take care of this now. Rest."
Jinora walked slowly toward a large inset door. She knocked and after a few moments, a man opened the door. Prince Cuyan was sitting in the room. She entered, bowing. His eyes were pinned to her. His face tight. She sat cross-legged on a pillow. To his left sat a man with a woven vest strapped to his body. The room was silent as everyone waited for the prince to speak.
His eyes hovered over Jinora. "It's strange that you came here," he paused. "I have something that weighs on my mind," A few beats passed. "Do you know how to break a curse?"
A few of the others in the room stifled gasps but no one said anything. Jinora looked steadily back at Prince Cuyan.
"Is it true you broke the curse in Luh Marsh?"
She sat silent, waiting for permission to speak. The prince held his hand out to her.
"That's not the full truth and it wasn't exactly a curse. But I can travel into the spirit world. What are you asking me for?"
He looked at her for a long moment. "My eldest sister Huaike died years ago." He shifted. "Yaxi was born after my father had already passed away. We haven't been able to marry daughters for several generations. Huaike wasn't married. My father's sister was not." Cuyan shifted. "The girls in our family die when they turn thirteen. My sister Yaxi's birthday is soon."
Jinora's eyes widened. "Do you know why?"
Cuyan shook his head. "No, my father didn't tell me much. But what else could it be but a curse?"
Jinora rubbed her wrist. "I'll need more information."
Cuyan nodded. "I'll have my father's things brought to you."
A few murmurs echoed in the room. Cuyan turned his eyes towards his attendants.
Jinora pressed a hand to her chin. "I'll need to go into the spirit world while I'm near your sister."
One of the men stirred and began to stand. Cuyan held and hand up.
"If you break this curse...I will give you anything you want."
"Prince Cuyan." Someone muttered from a corner.
Jinora turned her head around the room landing on the prince's face. She straightened, as many eyes peered at her.
"I will do everything I can. All I ask is that you keep the Avatars safe."
The room was dim, globes of light hanging from the low ceiling. The air was still. Jinora's reverie was broken by a small tapping noise coming her way. She looked down. Silky white fur and a pink nose greeted her. The red tassel around the creature's neck flipped as it approached her. She read the tiny inscription on it. Happiness. Her brows drew together and she picked up the lithe creature as it made small sounds in her arms. She approached a low bed hung with thin drapes. In the faint light, the drapes shimmered illuminating characters woven into the material.
"What is this?" she exhaled.
Yaxi lay strewn on a wide flat pillow. Her hair lay blotched on her forehead like ink. Jinora pushed the hair off of the girl's forehead.
"Cold."
The meadow vole squirmed in Jinora's arms and jumped down onto the bed. It crawled over to the girl and nibbled on her hair. The girl's facial expression softened slightly. She turned on her heel, mouth thin exiting the suite. A young man was walking by as she exited. She pulled on the arm of a man who was walking past the room. He glanced at the hand on his arm.
"You work for the prince?
After a moment he answered. "Yes."
"Are you a direct servant of the princess?"
He frowned. "Sometimes yes."
"Who takes care of the girl?" Jinora asked.
His posture shifted. "You are the one Cuyan assigned?" His eyebrows inclined over dark eyes. He was young, with two brown braids hanging on either side of his face and a fringe cutting into his eyebrows.
"Yes."
He frowned. "I'm not sure..."
"Who sees to her health?"
The young man tucked a hand in his shirt. "A physician and another man. I don't remember his name."
"You know where he is?"
The young man nodded.
"Please take me there."
He shifted on his feet for a moment and then nodded. "Follow me."
He brought Jinora to a simple door. The only noteworthy item near the plain door was a small green bell hung beside it. She knocked. There was silence from the other end. She wrapped again, and the faint beat of prominent footsteps slipped through the door.
The young man shifted on his feet. "I should get back to my duties." He said looking between the door and the hall.
"Of course. Thank you for your help."
The young man nodded and hurried off. The door opened a large figure standing in the doorway. He had on a simple garment that reached past his knees, tied at the waist, and held a dark hand to the wood. His eyes skirted the hall.
"I see Zu showed you here." He shifted eyes narrowing. "Can I help you?" His voice was deep.
"The prince has asked me to help with his sister. I just visited her."
The man frowned. "Maybe you should come in."
The room was fairly dim Jinora sat in a small chair and the man leaned against the wall on a curved seat.
Jinora crossed a leg over the other. "The girl is covered in charms."
The man leaned back flexing his shoulders.
"Please explain it to me. Why do this?"
"The prince asked me to add charms to her person and chamber."
"You realize she is drowning in magic."
Silence.
"You also realize that with true curses charms don't help."
The man looked at her with large dark eyes. "He is the prince."
"Who are you?"
"No one important." He had broad shoulders under a loose unadorned tunic.
"What is your name?"
He shifted backward propping himself up with a dark forearm. "Sheil." There was a pause and his eyes gravitated toward her. "But. I know you."
Jinora pursed her lips and her brown eyes shone dimly in the light.
He leaned forward slightly. "I know that you can go into the spirit world and speak with those that are not here anymore," he said in an even tone then paused looking at her. "And I heard that you even brought someone back from that place."
Jinora stood abruptly and Sheil did as well but slower.
Jinora's fingers twitched and she pushed back a lock of hair that had fallen out of her bun back behind her ear obscuring the tremor.
"I'll be going."
The room was dark when she returned to the suite. The small pot of flowers on the table cast a weak shadow across the polished wood. A muffled groan came from the other side of the room and she paced towards the sound, hands woven together. A small run of moonlight streamed through the skylight and illuminated a sleeping face. Ren was curled on the small bench that sat along the wall of the sitting area something tucked into his chest. His once-cropped hair now fell into his eyes. Jinora stooped in slow motion breathing in and out of her mouth one hand pressed to her heart. A pale hand brushed the hair out of his eyes.