Second Child Of Agni: Chapter 3 (Patreon)

There wasn't a damn thing that could make guard duty actually exciting. Private Juzo cracked a heavy yawn, leaning on the edge of his spear as he stared out over the vast waters of the Mia Ting sea, keeping vigilant for Earth Kingdom ships that were surely just over the horizon.

“Any day now, right?” He glanced towards his fellow lookout, Yun. The other man snorted, looking about as bored and miserable as he felt.

They both knew that it was bullshit. Their job could have been performed by a scarecrow if it came down to it. Nothing was going to happen all the way out here in the middle of nowhere. This town was so deep into the Fire Nation’s claimed territory that it'd be suicide for anyone to attack it, even from the sea.

Which means long days watching the ocean and waiting for nothing to happen. Juzo sighed and shifted his weight to take the ache off of his feet. He needed new boots. Maybe if he filled he form in now, they'd get here before winter.

“Hey, Juzo. Check it out.”

“Hm?” Juzo turned. “What is—”

A ship created the waves on the horizon. It was a warship, bigger than any he'd ever seen. It was painted in the colors of the fire Nation, but the head was a spike of painted red and bright gold, arcing towards the sky in defiance.

“That's one of ours, right?” Juzo asked, watching as it rolled across the waves towards them. He'd never seen a ship like that before.

“Wait…” Yun leaned forward, eyes squinting. “That's… that's a royal sloop! That's one of the ships the Fire Lord’s family uses to get around!”

Juzo's stomach did a little flip. Why would a royal ship be here of all places? This post wasn't that important. 

“Are you sure?”

“Am I-yes, I'm sure!” Yun straightened. “Go get the commander. They're probably here for him anyway.”

Juzo was already halfway into the base before the command left his friend's lips. He didn't have to be told twice. He was eager for this to be someone else's problem.

The dock seemed to be populated but the entire base by the time the sloop anchored itself. Juzo was above the procession, and had a great view of his commander sweating in his armor as the gangplank lowered into the dock.

A pair of soldiers walked down the gangplank and onto the dock. Their armor was unlike anything Juzo had ever seen, red as blood with golden trim, as if they were royal themselves. They sported white masks, meaning they were firebenders. Though Juzo knew at a glance that they weren't anything like the rest of the firebenders on base.

Another head crested the edge of the sloop, and Juzo had to blink to make sure he was really seeing what he was seeing.

It was said that members of the royal family were blessed by Agni himself. Legends said that the great spirit granted one of their own special attention centuries ago, and that blessing had trickled down through the generations. Juzo wasn't sure he believed in Agni—hell, he barely believed in spirits at all. But he might just start believing today.

Her hair looked like it was cast in molten gold, glowing in the sun. He thought it was a helmet or some kind of headdress at first, but then the wind picked up and he realized that he was mistaken. Eyes brighter than the ocean the ship sailed in on scanned the procession before then. Though the girl looked barely out of her teens, her very bearing commanded the respect of a general. This was no ordinary child, that was for certain. 

Commander Hayashi was practically quaking in his boots as the princess (for whom else could it have been?) descended onto the deck. Her high-collared tunic shone with the resplendent gold silks of Fire Nation royalty, buried between black and crimson as it was, and her royal hairpin glinted within strands of gold, denoting her station and the privilege provided by it.

Hayashi bowed at the waist as she approached alongside two more imperial firebenders. This high up, Juzo could just hear the conversation over the waves:

“Princess Tanya. It is an honor to have someone of your station visit our humble outpost. I… must say though, this visit is quite unexpected.”

“I'm sure it is, Commander.”

There was a pause. Hayashi cleared his throat, seeming a bit more nervous than before. “M-May I show you around? The amenities aren't quite up to royal place standard, but I can assure you that—”

“I’m not here for a tour; this is a business trip. We will speak in your office. Now.”

Even from so high up, Juzo could see Hayashi pale. “I… of course. Right this way, Princess.”

“The rest of you, back to your stations,” Princess Tanya called to the gathered soldiers, before following after the commander with the rest of her contingent.

As they disappeared into the heart of the base, everyone slowly drifted off to go back to what they were doing. Juzo lagged behind a bit to watch Princess Tanya leave, before turning away.

“Wonder what that was about,” Yun said as he returned to his post. Juzo shrugged, leaning his spear against the wall as he performed his solemn duty of keeping an eye on the boring sea.

“No clue. But whatever it is, I have a feeling the commander is in for it.”

Yun chuckled. “Makes you kinda want to be there for whatever he's going through, doesn't it? Hey, didn't Lee say he wanted someone to take his cleaning shift?”

“Which one?”

“The one who didn't get deployed last week, smart guy. He's in charge of the upper halls this week. That's right by the commander's office.”

Juzo nodded slowly. Cleaning that side of the base was a pain in the ass because Commander Hayashi didn't like the noise. If he was getting chewed out right now… 

“...I think I'm gonna go talk to him.”

“Let me know what you see,” Yun called as he left.

A short while later, Juzo had traded his spear for a mop and was slowly but steadily making his way through the hall. As he neared the commander's office, the sound of shouting reached his ears.

“—took it upon yourself…ezzle and…office.”

“I don't …alking about! Princess …ssure you I would never…”

Juzo grew closer, carefully minding the royal guards standing outside the office in constant vigil. They glanced at him but didn't warn him away. Still, he made sure not to get too close as he perked his ears towards the door.

“—explain why three hundred gold pieces earmarked for the colonies' supply have vanished from your ledger, Commander.”

Juzo nearly dropped the mop in shock. Three hundred gold pieces!? He'd be lucky to see that much in his lifetime.

“Y-you don't understand, Princess! The colonial accounts are… complicated! Supply lines, local contractors, these things can rack up quite the fee, you see. Why, the cost of maintaining the garrison alone is—”

“I'm not in the mood for your excuses. Guards.”

“N-no, please!”

Juzo jumped as the door crashed open with a resounding bang. He turned as two of the royal guards dragged Commander Hayashi out into the hall by his arms

The man's face was a mess of tears and snot, as he blubbered like a baby. “Please, Princess! I beg you! I can explain everything!”

“There is nothing to explain.” Juzo turned as the princess emerged after him, her expression set in a deep frown that seemed almost unnatural on such a young face. “Embezzlement is a serious crime and the facts do not lie. You're in for quite the punishment when we return to the mainland, Commander.”

“No! Please!”

Juzo pressed himself against the wall as the royal guards passed him by. As Princess Tanya strode last, she paused, her eyes sliding to him. They were blue, he noted. He'd never seen that shade before.

She scrutinized him for a single moment, and yet it felt like an eternity to Juzo. There was something about her look that stuck him in place, as if he were being judged by some higher power.

“G-good evening, Princess!” He stammered, and immediately wondered why he didn't keep his mouth shut.

One golden brow arched towards the ceiling. “Indeed,” she said, before nodding to his right. “You missed a spot.”

Juzo blinked, then looked to his right. A small puddle of dirty water had pooled against the baseboard where his mop had missed.

“R-right! Sorry!” He scrambled to dab at it with the mop head and only succeeded in spreading it a bit.

After a little bit of working at it, he finally had it cleaned up. Sighing in relief, he looked up only to watch the princess turn the corner a good distance away. 

He watched her go, then glanced back to the office door that had been left open after Hayashi had been dragged out. He eyed it for a moment, then shook his head.

“Maybe boring is better.” He decided, dragging his mop across the floor.

“Six long days at sea, just to arrest one man,” I muttered as I strode through the open courtyard of the palace. The sun was beginning to make its lazy descent in the sky, casting long shadows across the carefully cut stone even as I dirtied them with my boots. I turned my eyes up to the sky, watching clouds drift listlessly across my vision, and sighed. “What errand will you have me run next, Ozai? It’s not as if I don’t have more important things to do here in Caldera.”

Such as winning his war for him. I heaved another, heavier sigh, wondering what I could have missed in the week that I was away. Surely they couldn’t have screwed up my hard work already? Right?

“I’ll need to speak to General Hao to see what I’ve missed,” I said aloud as I walked into the palace proper.

To my surprise, someone was there to meet me. Or at least, we seemed to run into each other at the right moment. Azula had no way of knowing I was on my way home and the girl seemed as surprised to see me as I was to see her in the moment. After a second, her expression smoothed out into her usual calm. One arched brow rose.

“Back already, sister?” Azula asked, wiping a strand of hair from her face. I noticed that her neck and forehead were shining with sweat. She must have been training quite intensely for her appearance to be so disheveled.

If there was one thing that set Azula apart from either Zuko or me, it was the sheer zeal with which she pursued her own firebending abilities. It had been apparent since we were children that the youngest of us was also the most prodigious in that regard, but Azula had taken that notion and run with it since Ursa disappeared in the dead of night. Most hours of the day were spent training in the effort of attaining Ozai’s approval. I would commend her, had the man’s praise not reinforced the worst traits the burgeoning sociopath already exhibited.

“How was your trip to the colonies? I assume they are still as rundown and hovel-esque as ever?”

“You would be mostly right.” I nodded as I passed my sister by. Azula turned to join me, apparently deciding that my experience was more interesting than what she was doing. “The base I happened to visit was poorly staffed and even more poorly maintained. Though, I can’t say that was their fault. Their commander was embezzling quite a large sum from their monthly stipend.”

Azula’s eyes glittered with fascination. She was rarely involved with affairs like this, but I felt there was no harm sharing. “Is that so? Did that fool think that we wouldn’t notice?”

“Considering he’d been doing it for almost a year by the time he was caught, I’d say he was right.” The only reason we’d noticed was due to a particularly neurotic governor wondering why the contractors for his mansion couldn’t get the proper supplies. That said supplies weren’t supposed to come from the nation’s coffers didn’t seem to occur to him at all.

“He probably thought he could hide from attention thanks to the war.” Azula’s lips curled in an expression of childish excitement. “So, are you going to have him executed?”

Raising a brow at my sister’s excitement, I shook my head. “It’s not up for me to decide. He’ll be brought before Ozai to stand trial, and I’ll present the evidence I’ve gathered. Then, we’ll figure out what is going to be done to him.”

Azula laughed. “So he’s doomed, then. Father isn’t going to let a thief get away with stealing from our nation, commander or no.”

She was right. If there was anything that Fire Lord Ozai didn’t stand for, it was traitors to the nation. Though I didn’t quite expect a public execution, I wouldn’t be surprised if I heard reports of his prison carriage “mysteriously” disappearing some distance from the capitol. His body would probably be recovered only a few weeks from now and it would be chalked up to some unfortunate accident or an escape attempt gone wrong.

As Azula and I turned a corner, we happened to run into someone in particular. General Hao blinked down at us from his rather intimidating height, before a grin caressed his grey beard.

“Princesses, good afternoon.” He bowed low, rising with a smile. “Tanya, it is good to see that you’ve returned home safe and sound.”

“The ocean was a bit turbulent, but no more than usual.” I eyed the scrolls filling the old man’s hands. “Are you on business? What could you possibly need all of those missives for?”

Hao looked down at his full arms and then back to me. “Ah, a war council is convening this evening so I’m simply getting my affairs in order. You returned just in time; I was wondering if your business would have you missing it. We’re set to go over the forward march towards the heart of the Earth Kingdom. Our commanders are growing restless.”

“They’ll learn. Wars aren’t won on speed alone.”

Hao chuckled. “The very fact that you’ve learned that at your age speaks volumes of you. That I didn’t have to pound it into your head is even better.” He hefted his armload. “Now, I must be going before these tired arms give out. I’ll see you this evening?”

I nodded and Hao stepped past us. Azula watched him go, a frown on her face that she quickly turned towards me. “He’s quite familiar with you.”

“I’ve been studying under General Hao since before Azulon passed. He was the one who taught me most of what I know today.” I lied. I gestured and we began walking again. “I’d consider him a friend, or at the very least, an equal.”

Azula turned her nose up, scoffing at the very notion. “We’re princesses, Tanya. Our only equals are those within our family, assuming you don’t count the ones who are borderline senile.”

We passed by the war room. Two royal guards were already standing watch, and both saluted us as we walked past. Azula gave me a smug look, gesturing as if to say “see?”

I ignored the gesture. My sister still had quite a bit to learn about the delicate intricacies of a royal court. Even I could barely wrap my head around the ties of authority within the Fire Nation royal palace, though I admittedly tried to give it as little thought as I possibly could to save myself the headache.

“Speaking of which, where is Iroh? His letter said he’d be in town this month.”

Azula’s expression soured at the mention of our uncle. “He’s probably drinking tea with Zuzu. You know how the two of them like to waste time sitting around instead of doing anything productive.”

I was as unsurprised by the jealousy in my sister’s voice as I was by my uncle wasting his day away. Iroh had spent years wandering around like a leper after his disgraceful abandonment of the siege of Ba Sing Se. Lu Ten’s death had clearly afflicted the man with more than just a bad case of heartache. That he hadn’t just disappeared into the vast forests of the Earth Kingdom never to be heard from again was about the only surprise the man was capable of these days.

It was almost a shame that I needed to pick his brain about something important, but I could stave off his anecdotes for a few hours at least. Days at sea had scrubbed my skin raw and I could still smell salt. I needed a bath more capable of scrubbing away the journey than what I had on my ship.

“I’ll find him before the council, I suppose,” I decided.

“I don’t know why you waste your time with that old fuddy duddy.” Azula huffed as we neared her chambers.

“Old or not, he was still a great general at one point. He has some valuable insights into the Earth Kingdom’s ways once you get past all the… excentricities.”

“I prefer senility, but that’s one word for it.” Azula muttered. We came to my room and she straightened, watching as I pushed the door open. I could sense that she wanted to say something and so paused at the threshold, waiting. After a moment, Azula said, “You’ll be at dinner?”

“If my schedule allows for it.”

“Be there.” Azula commanded, using the same tone that she tended to employ on servants or those friends of hers. She seemed to think better of her tone as I turned to her, saying, “I was by the kitchens earlier and the chefs said we’re having roast turtle-duck tonight. I remember that’s your favorite.”

It was. Two years ago. I found myself a bit more partial to red meats and fish these days. But I didn’t say that, instead giving my sister a scrutinizing look. After a moment, I nodded slowly. “I’ll see about clearing my schedule.”

Azula’s face lightened a tad, and she nodded. “Good. See that you do. I want to hear all about how you made that commander quake in his boots.”

“You’re assuming he was scared of me.”

“He’d have to be the biggest idiot in all of the nations not to be,” Azula sniffed, turning away. “I’ll see you at dinner, sister.”

After a thorough bath and pampering by my personal servants, I found myself with just enough time to make it to the war council. A life of luxury made time management much easier. And my skin had never been softer in all of my lives.

As I approached the war room, the warmth that had been buzzing in my stomach died a bit as I was met with a curious sight. My uncle, Iroh, was standing just at the cusp of the entrance. By his side, adorned in full regalia as if he was ready to attend court, was my other sibling, Zuko. The boy was sporting a look that was equal parts nervous and excited. Frowning, I made my way over.

“Good evening, Uncle.” Iroh turned to me as I announced my arrival, his tense expression lightening a tad at the sight of me. I nodded to his hanger-on. “Zuko. I assumed you’d still be attending lessons at this hour. What are you doing here?”

Zuko seemed to draw himself up a bit as I approached. “I’m here to attend the war council.”

I paused, glancing at Iroh who looked a bit guilty. When I looked back to my brother, Zuko was watching me with narrowed eyes. Regardless, I asked, “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Iroh went to speak but Zuko stepped forward, a small scowl on his face. “I’m older than you, Tanya. There’s no reason why father should allow you to attend the war council and not me.”

There were several, actually, but I felt that listing them would do very little but make my brother angrier. My and Zuko’s relationship was… tense. Ursa’s departure had left its mark on the boy, and he did not take kindly to the fact that the one parent he had left seemed to prefer both of his little sisters over him. Azula had somewhat mellowed out, at least as far as her jealousy was concerned. Zuko was much the opposite.

The war room was not a place for feelings. If Zuko got it in his mind that this was the way to earn Ozai’s favor, he was sorely mistaken. And I feared he had, and that he was.

I turned to Iroh. “This is a mistake.”

While Zuko’s scowl deepened, Iroh gave me a placating gesture. “He’ll be perfectly well-behaved, I assure you. As Crown Prince, he needs to learn of these matters sooner rather than later. Besides, you were much younger than him during your first council.”

I wanted to argue that point, but it wasn’t as if I could reveal the truth, so instead I just sighed, gripping the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger. My authority over this matter was practically nonexistent, so I had no choice but to acquiesce, no matter how bad of an idea I thought it was.

Iroh noticed me give in and his smile widened. He reached forward, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Things will be fine, Tanya. Zuko is mature enough to handle these matters.”

“You’ll find that your opinion in that regard means very little to me, Uncle.” I brushed his hand off and turned to Zuko. “You will be sitting beside me.”

“But—”

“That is non-negotiable, Zuko. You have no idea what you’re walking into, and I doubt Iroh’s gentle hand has done much to prepare you for the games these old men tend to play.” I gave Iroh a sharp glance. “If I need to stop you from doing something foolish, I can’t have you all the way across the table.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.” Zuko protested, but Iroh’s hand on his shoulder stalled any further argument.

“Perhaps it's best to listen to her, Zuko. I worry your heart may be a bit too soft for the conversations ahead.”

Zuko stared at him in shock. “But Uncle!”

I nodded, glad the man had seen some sense. I glanced at the window. The sun had almost fallen below the palace walls, meaning the session was due to begin any time now. “If we’re going to do this, let’s go. We don’t have time to waste arguing in the hall.”

I turned and moved towards the war room. Hushed whispers came from behind me, before two sets of footsteps followed closely behind me.

Hopefully, I can stop him from doing something foolish, I thought as I swept into the most dangerous room in the palace.

Truthfully, I wasn’t holding out much hope.