Summer 99 AG
Ember Island
Zuko
A debate rages in my head about what I'm about to do, one thing is to kill someone in the heat of the moment as I'm lost in my rage like it happened to that idiot servant, it's another thing entirely to torture someone for information. Damned Ozai has put me in a very awkward situation and as time passes it ceases to be awkward and enters the realm of truly dangerous.
As I tap the cheek of the woman, I can't help but think back to Azula and whatever she might be doing now. I doubt that one little talk has broken the chains Ozai has on her, but it would make her think.
The party is going to be very important, and I have to make sure that no matter what happens things don't escalate, shit, I really could use some ancient wisdom from Iroh right now.
The spy finally opens her eyes and as her consciousness returns so does the fear return too.
"Tell me do you have any family? Just answer yes or no"
"Yes" she avoids looking into my eyes as she answers
I see, I think I know why she did it, if she hadn't looked away in shame I would have thought that Ozai was threatening her family but that probably isn't the case, most likely she received compensation and her family would get some nice jobs and maybe a noble title after she was done with her little mission, everything she said before about being threatened was nothing more than a lie.
At least the moral conundrum that I was in has been resolved.
"What a pity, are you the only spy here?" her heart started beating faster and I feared that she would pass out once more, so I slapped her to get a different reaction "Answer the question"
"Yes, the Fire Lord didn't think that he would need more"
The thought of making her my own spy crossed my mind but the risk was too great and the potential rewards too small but if I killed her I would have to deal with another spy, I would be better prepared though, hmm.
"Thank you for your honesty" with a quick move I snap her neck
I better clean this up.
After a little cleaning via waterbending and disposing of the body with a rather crazy amount of fire I was ready to go and see Iroh again, the walk back to the ship was rather nice all things considered but I can't help but notice that there is a distinct lack of people around.
My suspicions about the lack of people prove almost prophetic as I barely have time to move out of the way from an oncoming arrow, from the sides four men with swords come out and start swinging with wild abandon, what they lack in skill they more than make up for in speed.
With sweeping arm movements I create arcs of fire meant to slice the enemy but in this case my purpose is to get some breathing room, as they retreat I finally get enough space to do a proper stance and release a more concentrated blade of fire that snaps two of their swords making them retreat.
The sound of more arrows cutting through the air alerts me to their arrival, as I make a dome of fire over my back to protect myself, once the danger has passed a fire whip emerges from my right hand as I advance on the would-be assassins.
"You've made a terrible mistake in thinking you could kill me with this kind of attack" the whip in my hand sallies forth and strikes the two unarmed men in their heads knocking them out as it hits their heads, the remaining swordsmen change tactics as they put themselves on opposite sides before rushing me, I drop to the ground and let fire come out of my legs as I kick them away.
This time there are no more arrows, the men attacking me must have realized the futility of using long range weapons.
"It looks like you're alone now" I mock them as they snarl at me
"And they're getting lonelier by the second" the voice of Iroh come from behind my attackers followed by the sound of marching boots "It seems like you found trouble on the road prince Zuko"
"Well, I've always had bad luck" Iroh chuckles at my answer before ordering the men to capture the swordsmen who quickly let their blades fall to the ground in surrender.
"Come nephew, let's leave the road and talk about everything that's happened since you left the ship"
"Only if I can have some tea" I respond in a teasing manner
After uncle had enough of making jokes about my ability to find trouble we finally arrived at the ship and after going for our usual spots and telling him about everything that happened, well, almost everything as I neglected to mention the spy or Azula.
"What do you think uncle? is minister Qin lying?"
"Hmm, I don't think so, he has been unusually open with you and even if it was a trap I doubt Ozai would let him off without any kind of reprimand for the comments he made, Ozai's pride is a great part of his identity and any insult even one ordered by him, especially one ordered by him, would invite punishment not doing so would be giving tacit permission to that person to question him"
"I know he's doing this out of his own self interest but if we get enough support then we could avoid a civil war, for all that Ozai rules with an iron fist he can't directly oversee everything, if we turn his people against him his fall would be easier for the citizens"
Iroh looked on at the horizon before turning back to me "I have received an invitation from some retired generals and their families after the party, if the special permission from the Fire Lord hasn't been revoked immediately after the event, I would like for you to accompany me"
"Do you think it's wrong uncle? What we do, even as we do it for the people, goes against your personal beliefs" I wanted Iroh to support me but if he hesitated that would be worse than him not supporting me at all.
"I just wish that things hadn't gone this way, I wish the world was a gentler place" he sighed at the end
"That is why we fight, to make the world a better place"
Iroh looked at me, watching for any doubt to emerge on my features but as he found none he nodded "We have been avoiding the subject of your attack"
I knew he was trying to change the subject, but I let him, making him uncomfortable wasn't the goal here "I think it's fairly obvious that it was an attack carried out by Ozai"
"I don't think so, if he really wanted you dead, he would have sent far better assassins than those we captured. I think that someone else is targeting you"
That didn't make much sense, there was no political opponent or group that wanted me dead more than Ozai, but perhaps we were thinking too much about the possibility of death.
"Perhaps they weren't meant to kill me, think about it uncle, if I had been hurt enough to miss the party or convinced to leave the island because of the attack then Ozai's life would be easier"
"True" was his short response.
"General, I'm sorry to interrupt but there is a message from the Fire Lord." The courier waited there for a second before Iroh took the scroll in his hands and then he left.
"What does it say uncle?" I was worried, if Iroh was commanded to leave the island then that would be one less ally with me here and worst of all my best warrior.
Iroh quickly skimmed the message and as he read a look of confusion started growing on his face "Ozai wants to have a meal with me right now, he also made it very clear that you are not to be invited"
"Do you think it's a trap? You are as strong as him and more popular with the rank and file, it's also no secret that you favor me over Azula and after my attack this could also be the perfect moment to claim that dissenters infiltrated the island intent on killing members of the royal family"
"Perhaps but it would be too convenient for him, enough to cripple his support for years as not many people like the thought of a man assassinating his brother, death in a duel is more palatable, honorable even to some people but this, this could destroy any control he has over the government"
"I guess it's time for you to face your brother"
"Believe me Zuko, it won't be a happy reunion"
Author note: a short chapter, conspiracies abound and a new conflict is intriduced. next chapter will be a bunch of diferent POVS. also i didnt notice the hour so let's pretend that i wasnt late by several hours.
