The next few days were spent acclimating to the new environment. Jinora had them read summaries of current events and relevant things that had happened in the past. When Tetsu woke, he found the bed next to his bare. The living and eating area was also empty. Sunlight trickled through the spaces between panels. Outside, the smell of a faint rain greeted the senses a drop glimmered on a fallen leaf. Leaves shifted as he walked along a maintained path.
"We need to contact grandmother..." he muttered to himself and rubbed his cheek yawning. "Except she doesn't have a phone so it would have to be something else."
Tetsu was drawn by the sound of feet. He paused just behind a tree. Past the stand was a relatively flat area, a tiny trickle cut around it. Ren's face came into view that had been obscured by a trunk. He was airbending at someone. A female laugh echoed in the trees. The corners of Tetsu's mouth came down. He backed away slowly before turning and retracing his steps.
When Ren returned, Tetsu was reading a book with a dark blue cover. The words 'trade and fares' were inked down the spine.
"What are you doing in the corner?"
Tetsu pulled the book down far enough just to show straight eyebrows and cool brown eyes.
"I'm gaining knowledge."
Ren craned his neck. "About trade and fares?"
Tetsu shifted the book to one hand but didn't close it. "It's one of the books Jinora pulled from her shelf and said might be helpful. So I'm reading it."
Ren sighed, pulling off his shirt for a new one. "Fine, do what you want, but I think it would be better to train."
Tetsu flipped another page and looked back up. "I seem to be missing a necessary part for that," he said evenly.
"Right sorry." Ren sat on the bed across from his brother crooking his elbows over his knees. "We could train together," he offered.
"We'd just canceled each other out," Tetsu said.
A knock came from outside, and they both looked toward the sound. Tetsu woke from his stupor and slid a woven bookmark between the pages tossing the book onto his bed. Ren brushed down his shirt and tailed his brother. In the courtyard, the air was brisk as they came to the outermost door. For a moment Ren's hands hovered over the locking mechanism. Before he could act, Tetsu mutely pressed a button, unlocking the door.
Standing on the second small step, Ikiaq looked slightly up at them.
"Good afternoon," she said, smiling. "I thought it might be time to show you the city."
"What are you doing?"
"What do you mean?"
Ren pointed to the slip of paper in his brother's hands.
"Sketching a map in case we get lost."
"We won't."
"Remember when we got lost trying to find the train station?"
Ren drew his eyebrows together. "Oh yeah."
The air-tram stopped and Ikiaq stood from her seat. She pulled on her overcoat with the seal of a lotus on her arm. "This is us."
People pushed past them, hurrying onto the windy platform. Ren's hair blew up in the wind and Tetsu held down his hat as they exited.
"There are stairs and an elevator," Ikiaq said over the noise of the turbulence as she checked her wrist. The boys came to the edge of the platform, looking down.
Tetsu backed away. "That's too high."
Ren laughed nervously.
"Elevator then," Ikiaq said to herself.
She walked to a corner where several people were waiting. A circular blue light appeared and a set of doors opened. A few people entered, and Ikiaq held the door for the boys.
"What level?" A man wearing a brimmed hat asked Ikiaq.
"Green please."
A slit high in the elevator showed the clouded sky passing and as they descended, disjointed snippets of towers slid by. Both boys hung onto the provided bar on the sides of the elevator.
"You should see the elevator that's all glass," she said to them and Tetsu blanched. Even Ren swayed a little.
It came to a pressured stop, accompanied by a hissing sound. The doors opened to another platform. Ikiaq started scooting out of the elevator while waving them toward her. They stumbled out of the elevator, looking back at the closing doors and half-slotted faces. A wide, warm-colored metal platform greeted them curled along the edges like an unfurling leaf.
"This is green level. It's popular for shopping and commerce."
Ren peeked out from the side, looking down at the buildings below.
"Why are we still up here?"
Ikiaq turned a puzzled look onto him. "There's only so much space to build on the ground."
They sidled along and entered the main channel as people milled about like lethargic ants. Off-shoots branched out from the main walkway. Above each, small letters indicated where they lead. They came to a circular area with beams going up to a green glass-covered ceiling. In the center area of the square, a rectangle of vibrant grass swayed in the breeze.
"Come this way," Ikiaq said, pointing to an off-shoot.
The entrances to stores were set back from the walkway just far enough that you didn't run into them as you walked. They scurried behind Ikiaq as she veered into a small shop with a gold sign above the open door. She waltzed in, rousing a sleepy-looking man with a mustache from behind a polished counter.
She dove into the far left area of the store, sliding garments along the rack. "Here, try this on," she said, slapping a shirt onto Ren's chest.
"It has ruffles!"
"It's for a meeting."
Both Ren and Tetsu emerged from the dressing room, frowning.
"Maybe white isn't your color." Ikiaq tapped her chin. "Try this."
By the end of the day, they had acquired new shirts and pants and each lugged the bags behind them. Ikiaq had had them change into their outfits. They were tight long-sleeved shirts with patterns near the neck.
Ikiaq looked back at them as she walked. "There needs to be a way people can tell you apart."
"We could dress differently?" Tetsu said hesitantly.
"Not necessary," she said.
They stopped at a food stand selling skewered fish. When their turn came the cook looked up.
"Three please," Ikiaq said, "with extra gurang."
"I don't want extra," Ren said.
"Just try it," Ikiaq said.
"I thought you might like some meat after living with the airbenders for a while."
"It's good," Ren said through a mouthful.
"I told you."
"Why are they vegetarian?" Tetsu asked.
"Well, it's traditional. They find life sacred."
"Their food isn't bad," Ren said, taking a small bite of the fish. "Their dumplings and tofu are good."
"There are lots more places I can take you both if you like food," Ikiaq said.
"Sure," said Ren, already halfway done with his stick.
Tetsu's nose turned up and looked over at Ren sitting next to him. "This is your fault."
"This is not what I had in mind," Ren grumbled.
Across the table, Ikiaq ate a noodle filled soup.
Tetsu leaned down and sniffed it. Tetsu leaned over Ren to look outside the window. Below you could see faraway Kantocars filling up the roads.
Ren sipped it. "Actually, it's not that bad," he whispered, "A bit chewy."
Tetsu sipped at it like a wary cat and blanched.
"It's a fusion five-flavor noodle soup," Ikiaq said. "It has seal and rice balls in it."
Tetsu pushed the noodles around and ventured to eat some of them.
"Are you from the Watertribes?" Ren ventured.
"It's rude to ask." Tetsu said.
Ikiaq raised an eyebrow. "My grandfather was from there. But most people can't tell."
"I just asked, since you liked this dish," Ren said.
"Hmmm," Ikiaq smiled, her pebble steel eyes turning to half moons. "Is that so?"
They finished and Ikiaq stood up. "We have only a few hours left, so let's get going."
They exited the restaurant and followed her down a short set of steps. Tetsu's eyes caught on an attractive sign with a colorful fish on it.
"Oh good idea," Ikiaq said. "Silk Sun always has good merchandise."
They entered the store. Small cuts of cloth woven with patterns sat on delicate wood-backed display cases. Omamori hung from little hooks on the walls and small pouches rested on low tables. Silk pins were displayed on flat pieces of wood alongside colorful silk buttons.
Ren picked up a silk pin, holding it to Tetsu's hair. "This would look good on you," he laughed.
Tetsu swatted it away.
"Really!" Ren said. "The green compliments your skin."
They wandered to a section of the store with loose strips of silk folded over a long wooden beam.
Ikiaq held up two colorful strips. "How about these?"
Ren and Tetsu looked at each other.
"No thanks," Ren said.
Tetsu squirmed. "They're beautiful but..."
Ikiaq hung them back up when a woman that looked to be in her mid-thirties approached them. She had dark hair twisted high on her head. A silk dress that nearly reached the floor hung on her frame. In each palm, she held a strip of cloth. The one on the right was white with. On the left, she held a black one.
"How about these?" She asked in a wispy voice, holding them out to Ren and Tetsu.
The boys turned and Ikiaq perked up, her mouth ajar.
They looked at each other. "They seem nice," they both said.
"I'll tie them for you," she said. The woman pointed to her upper left arm. "It's where warriors tie their insignia. Where they used to."
Ren and Tetsu nodded. "Sure."
"And which one would you like?"
"White," Ren said at the same time that Tetsu said, "I'll take the black one."
Ren held out his arm. Tetsu went next. The woman tied it tightly, as the excess material hung over the band.
"Perfect," she said, folding her hands.
Ikiaq mutely handed the woman money. The three of them exited the shop the sound of people returning to the hall.
Ikiaq looked back at the store and then hurried down the walkway.
"I've never heard that woman speak in years of shopping there. I thought she was couldn't speak."
"What?" Ren said.
"Yeah, she doesn't even talk when exchanging money." She turned her head around. "She must like you two," she said pinching her brows together.
They took the elevator down to the ground level and Ikiaq hailed a Kanocar.
"Okay, this meeting will have just a few people that are eager to see you," she said getting into the back with them. "There won't be any press or publication there. So it won't put your names out there."
"Who exactly are we meeting?" Ren asked.
Tetsu looked toward her. "Why press?"
Ikiaq waved her hands in the air.
"Press—because the people you will be meeting normally would be approached by them and two because if people knew who you were, you also would be approached.
"We'd be on tv?" Ren asked.
"Probably on everything. If we don't prevent it."
Ren and Tetsu shared a look.
"We'll be there in a few minutes, make sure not to say too much. These people are already-" She stopped and cleared her throat. "Anyways, just relax."
"No pressure, huh," Ren said.