The explosion of fire didnÆt stop us entirely, although it half-stunned me and I suspect that having me slammed against her by its force did much the same to Mai. It did slow us enough that we didnÆt sail into what would have been a quite fatal drop û we were still well above the cityÆs buildings and the shallowness of the chute at this point was relative only to that higher up, IÆd have guessed at easily a forty-five degree gradiant.
Liao and Mai both had the same training in handling a fall, even one resulting from such bizarre circumstances. Fortunately it was a relatively straight section or we might have missed the chute. As it was, I had my doubts about managing the fall without further action and since we didnÆt have much time before we landed, I acted immediately.
Twisting in mid-air, I grabbed Mai at hip and collar and heaved her upwards. This, of course, slowed her descent very slight at the expense of accelerating mine by the same degree. And then with considerable effort I forced one last burst of fire out of my depleted chi, kicking it downwards and slowing me further.
My knees protested as I landed, bending them to absorb as much of the impact as possible. I even managed to gallantly catch Mai, bridal style, in my arms and softened her landing. It was only after IÆd put her down that I saw Azula. She was only a few yards further down the chute, her posture making it quite clear sheÆd seen the entire spectacular end to my little sleigh ride. She didnÆt look happy. Possibly because she didnÆt have the Avatar captive at her feet, possibly just because she was docking me points for the landing.
ôLiao, what have I told you about recklessness!?ö
ôNot to let it kill me?ö I pressed two fingers against my carotid artery (harder than it sounds since my fingers were unsteady for some reason) and checked my pulse. Hmm, quite fast. ôI seem to be still alive.ö In fairness, my legs were still a little shaky and I leant against the side of the chute. I had a feeling that when the adrenaline wore off IÆd feel a not insubstantial amount of pain.
Azula didnÆt seem impressed by my reasoning. ôAnd if youÆd blown yourself halfway across the city, do you think that that would be the same? DonÆt ever do that again!ö
My eyes narrowed. ôNo.ö
ôWhat!ö
I stepped forward, trying not to wobble. ôYou were chasing the Avatar. Alone. And his friends were closing in to support him. You think I was being reckless?ö I pointed ahead to where Appa û now with three visible passengers û was clearing the city wall. ôHowever much confidence I have in you, I will always come for you. ItÆs who I am. And itÆs not negotiable.ö
AzulaÆs eyes were wide. She seemed surprised by my words.
ôYour boyfriend is insane, Azula.ö We both turned to look at Mai, who seemed to have recovered her composure. Her eyes flicked to me. ôIf you try that again, IÆll just cut your hamstrings. IÆm sure Azula wouldnÆt mind too much.ö She looked back at Azula. ôThink of how much harder it would be for him to get into trouble if he was confined to a palanquin.ö
Worryingly, she actually looked tempted.
ôI hate to interrupt this touching conversation,ö I interjected. ôBut since the Avatar is our only lead towards capturing Zuko and your uncle, perhaps we should mount some sort of pursuit?ö
Azula glanced back over her shoulder and then shook her head dismissively. ôPerhaps if we had mounts ready we could catch them, but we donÆt,ö she decided. ôAn oversight that will not be repeated. The Avatar is certainly skilled at running away, but he does not impress me as a combatant.ö
ôHard to catch, easy to bring down.ö
ôPrecisely.ö She smiled. ôSince youÆre so inventive, Liao, perhaps you have an idea of how we can do that?ö
I exhaled, hard and then sat down. The adrenaline rush was wearing off and if anything IÆd underestimated how much I was going to hurt after pulling that stunt. ôThe airbender thinks that heÆs safe in the sky. I believe that War Minister Qin had some plans to take control of that battlefield for the Fire Nation û something called a war balloon. How fast do you think you can get one deployed down here with a crew?ö
Azula took the necessary steps up the chute to check my vitals. ôA good plan. IÆll obtain one. But in the mean time, youÆre not leaving my sight.ö She brushed hair back from my face and then peeled back one of my eyelids. I have no idea what she was looking at, but my moment of weakness left me no energy to contest her. ôPushing yourself like that may not have killed you, but how much use do you think youÆd have been against the Avatar like this.ö She turned her head slightly and fixed Mai with gimlet eyes. ôAre you injured?ö
After a moment of self-assessment Mai returned the look. ôOnly bruised.ö One of her sleeves had been half-torn away and her long hair was a mess, but IÆd guess that her assessment was correct.
ôGood. And Ty Lee?ö
Mai shrugged and I cleared my throat. ôI left her some loose ends to clear up at the top.ö
ôNext time, let me do that and take her with you when you do something insanely dangerous.ö
I wasnÆt too tired to smirk. ôI thought that you were bored and wanted some excitement to spice up your life. Besides, if Ty Lee had been hanging off me, I think sheÆd have battered me to a pulp on the way down.ö
ôProving that she is wiser than most believe,ö Mai muttered under her breath.
.oOo.
On AzulaÆs insistence I was provided with a high-backed armchair and servants to carry it everywhere for the next day. And two muscular guards to ensure I didnÆt leave my seat unless it was absolutely vital (1). For some inexplicable reason she was of the opinion that I would manage to kill myself if I didnÆt sit back and rest. Being hauled around on the chair made me sick to my stomach, not out of any anachronistic objections to having servants carry out menial tasks (someone had to and at least they werenÆt slaves) but due to the rocking motion of the chair as I was moved.
As a result, I had had myself placed at one end of a courtyard and û obedient to other, earlier commands from my princess û was supervising at some distance as the servants used two millstones to grind the little cakes of gunpowder back into dust again. I should mention, before anyone suggests that I was merely being reckless with their lives rather than my own, that the cakes had been gently broken into smaller sections not much larger than a coin before doing so. If one of them did spark up then the risk to those doing the grinding was marginal.
A disturbance at the doorway drew my attention away from the scroll I was reading. MaiÆs father walked in, his face less troubled than it had been at our earlier meeting. ôLord Seung. I would have thought you would be with your family.ö
He smiled slightly. ôI was. My daughter had quite a lot to say about you.ö
ôI doubt that.ö
ôWell, as her father I do have some ability to read between the lines.ö The governor looked over at the grindstones. ôI suspect that asking what youÆre having them do would be a mistake.ö
ôKnowledge is power, sir. IÆm sure you know how little men and women enjoy sharing power with others.ö
ôAh yes.ö He frowned. ôMai has given me a rather mixed impression of you, one that raises questions in my mind since she will be travelling in your company on the PrincessÆ mission. On the one hand, you rescued my son from the kidnappers and quite probably saved my daughter considerable difficulty at the hands of the waterbender. On the other, my own feeling is that she was very nearly killed racing down those chutes with you.ö
I nodded. ôThe latter is an accurate statement.ö I imagined that he would be quite upset about that but the expression on his face was simply regretful.
ôI havenÆt spent as much time with her as I could have. And when I did, my attention was almost always on someone or something else. You and Princess Azula are taking her away now and I have to wonder when Mai grew up.ö
There was an awkward silence as I tried to find the words. ôWith the greatest of respect, Lord Seung. Why are you saying this to me and not to Mai?ö
He harrumphed. ôThere are some things that are hard to say. Most of all those that you...ö He swallowed. ôI imagine that one day, should your relationship with Princess Azula come to its fruition then you will understand. What I am hoping is that while she is in your care, you will treat Mai the way that you did when you fought the waterbender together... and not as you did in the chute.ö
ôYou want me to look after your little girl.ö
Lord Seung hesitated before nodding. ôI ask this of you in my familyÆs name.ö
Ouch, formal phrasing. Implying an incurred obligation towards me in return for that favour. ôSir... weÆre chasing after the Avatar and the Dragon of the West and the Fire LordÆs son. None of that is going to be safe for any of us and since weÆre being totally honest here, my first priority is going to be watching the PrincessÆ back.ö And her front along with any other angles that might present themselves. ôSo I canÆt promise you that.ö
His face fell. ôLieutenant...ö
ôGovernor, IÆll do my best to keep Mai alive. SheÆs a...ö Nice girl? Hardly. Homicidal maniac whoÆs already threatened to cripple me? Accurate, but not suitable for poor sheltered parents. ô...friend. IÆd do that whatever you said.ö
ôThank you. I know you refused the favour, but if there is anything I can do.ö
ôActually...ö IÆd been meaning to do this myself, but I was currently trapped in this damn chair and Azula probably wouldnÆt let me out of it for the rest of the day. ôI was meaning to get some brasswork done for my little project, but since weÆll be moving fast I donÆt think I can stay around while the work is done. If I leave instructions with a smith here, would you mind shipping my order after me?ö
He took being asked to play deliveryman quite well and I did thank him very politely. Of course, that probably meant that he thought I owed him a favour. Politics!
.oOo.
IÆd underestimated AzulaÆs resolve over keeping me out of trouble. She didnÆt let me out of the chair except to sleep until the war balloon arrived (2). Given that it was about the same as the MechanistÆs prototype and ZukoÆs later acquisition, there wasnÆt going to be room for the four of us and a crew, which meant that Mai, Ty Lee and I got to learn the ropes while Azula dealt with the ceremony of renaming Omashu as New Ozai. I have to wonder how æoldÆ Ozai felt about it.
ôItÆll be interesting to see Zuko again, wonÆt it Mai?ö Ty Lee asked while we were practising our new skills, provoking a slight smile from the other girl. Mai was certainly feline in certain ways, I had come to notice.
ôOh thatÆs right. You knew him, didnÆt you?ö I knew, of course.
Ty Lee nodded enthusiastically. ôBack when we were all children Lady Ursa brought him with her when she visited the Academy. Mai was very fond of him.ö
ô...ö
I sighed and adjusted course again. All we were doing was circling Omashu at the moment. Our first æsoloÆ flight without having some of the crew whoÆd brought it here aboard to instruct us. ôWhat was he like back then? I have trouble seeing him as a little kid, the way he was when I met him.ö
ôYou met him?ö
Glancing back, I saw them both staring at me in surprise. I hadnÆt recounted the one encounter IÆd had so far with Zuko yet and I suppose Azula wasnÆt keen to admit that Zuko had gotten away, even if it was with IrohÆs help. ôOnce or twice. We tried taking him into custody the easy way. Told him that Ozai wanted his family close and he was walking right into a cage when some idiot ran his mouth off and gave the game away.ö
ôOo! Was that when Iroh threw you into the sea?ö
ôThatÆs right.ö
Mai looked out over the mountains surrounding Omashu. ôWhat was he like?ö
ôIroh?ö I asked her.
She just shot me a withering look. Like she was interested in the wellbeing of a man old enough to be her grandfather.
ôHeÆs angry, impatient and doesnÆt seem to care about much of anything except getting back into his DaddyÆs good graces. Of course, a week or two on the run may have changed him. I have to wonder if his father was like that when Iroh was heir.ö Which was an interesting question to ponder at a later time.
Ty Lee scrunched up her brow. ôThat doesnÆt sound like Zuko. He was pretty nice. For a boy.ö
ôI know it sounds strange, given weÆre about the same age. But he really needs to grow up.ö I shrugged. ôThere are usually a few officers a bit like him in the frontline corps. Mostly they die or get career ending wounds before long. If theyÆre lucky, itÆs the Earth Kingdom that does it.ö
Okay, that was probably a touch cynical to say to a pair of semi-sheltered rich girls, but what the hell? It wasnÆt as if they werenÆt used to AzulaÆs low opinion of her brother. ôDonÆt get me wrong û he seems to be a decent bender, better than me when you come down to it, and he managed to hound the Avatar from one end of the world to the other û but heÆs not the sort of person IÆd want backing me up in a tight spot.ö
I could see MaiÆs fingers tighten around the edge of the basket. Silly name for it, given itÆs made of metal, but thatÆs the technical term. I suppose that using something as flammable as wicker would be foolish around firebenders.
ôNow you could say that there are reasons for that and I would agree with you,ö I added. ôMy father never burned my face half off, so I wouldnÆt really know. Because right now, that nice boy you mentioned is buried under a ton of resentment against just about everyone in the world. And if either of you lets your guard down, that nice boy might just put you down. Hard.ö I smiled thinly. ôSo donÆt lower your guards because you think you know him.ö
.oOo.
(1) Sure, I could have probably beaten them up if I was in form û but after all the excitement I wasnÆt sure IÆd be able to at least until IÆd had some time to recover.
(2) And for certain bodily functions.
