Chapter 43: The Mysterious Master
The sun hung low over the Fire Nation capital, its amber light slicing through the narrow alleys as Commander Zhao and Lieutenant Tau navigated the labyrinthine streets. Their footsteps echoed against soot-stained walls, the air thick with the scent of smoldering coal and distant sea salt. They halted before a nondescript storefront, its windows shrouded by heavy crimson drapes. A faint glow seeped through the fabric, casting elongated shadows on the cobblestones.
Zhao straightened his uniform, his throat bobbing as he knocked three times—a pause—then twice more. The drapes parted slightly, revealing nothing but darkness.
"Enter," a voice rasped, deeper than the rumble of distant volcanoes.
The two men slipped inside. The room was dim, lit only by a single lantern shrouded behind layers of black silk. A figure sat obscured behind a folding screen, their silhouette blurred by the intricate embroidery of flames and dragons adorning the fabric.
"Master," Zhao began, bowing low. Tau mirrored him, his forehead gleaming with sweat. "I've come to report. The prince's return complicates our…"
"You abandoned your post," the Master interrupted, their voice a blade wrapped in velvet. "The Naval Base was your charge. Yet here you stand, sniffing at the capital's heels like a starved hound."
Zhao's jaw tightened. "Prince Zuko's resurgence threatens everything. The Fire Lord's gaze now shifts to him. Our operations for the princess must be adjusted…"
"Our operations?" The Master's laugh was a dry, mirthless sound. "You presume to dictate strategy, Zhao? You, who fled his post on a whim?"
Tau dared a glance upward. "With respect, Master, the prince's connection to the Avatar could unravel years of planning. Commander Zhao believed his presence here…"
"His presence here is a liability," the Master snapped. "The Order has eyes even in these streets. Eyes you do not see. Did you think your little pilgrimage would go unnoticed?"
Zhao's fists clenched behind his back. "I only sought to serve the greater plan. The prince is no longer the banished fool we manipulated. He's… evolved."
A silence fell, heavy as ash. When the Master spoke again, their tone dripped icy disdain. "Evolved or not, he is a problem for us to handle. Not you. Your role was to remain at the base, to ensure operations were not disturbed in the south. Yet you let the prince slip through your fingers… twice."
Zhao stiffened. "The Agni Kai was meant to end him. I didn't anticipate his cunning."
"No. You underestimated him. As you underestimated the Order's reach." The Master leaned forward, their shadow stretching grotesquely across the screen. "Fortunately, my counterpart in Omashu has appointed a replacement at the Naval Base. One far more… competent."
Zhao's breath hitched. "Replacement? Who…?"
"Do not insult me with questions," the Master hissed. "Your blundering at the base forced our hand. The new overseer has already begun purging your loyalists. A necessary measure, given your… failures."
Tau's voice trembled. "Master, surely there's still a role for Commander Zhao here. His knowledge of the prince's tactics…"
"Knowledge?" The Master scoffed. "What knowledge? That the prince bleeds? That he breathes? You had years to break him, Zhao. Instead, you let him fester. Now he returns, trailing the Avatar like a shadow, and the Fire Lord watches… curious."
Zhao's composure cracked. "What would you have me do? Grovel at Ozai's feet?"
"I would have you obey," the Master said, their voice rising like a storm. "Our work in Ba Sing Se nearly collapsed because of your recklessness. Remember the siege? How your agent there butchered the general's son? How close we came to exposure?"
Zhao paled. "That was… He acted on your orders!"
"And you rewarded his zeal by letting him rot in an Earth Kingdom prison," the Master spat. "Fortunately General Iroh never traced the kill back to us. But your carelessness left scars, Zhao. Scars the we must now mend."
The lantern flickered, plunging the room into momentary darkness. When the light returned, the Master's silhouette had shifted, their voice dropping to a lethal whisper.
"Return to the capital's outskirts. Await further instructions. And pray your replacement in Omashu succeeds where you failed."
Zhao opened his mouth to protest, but Tau gripped his arm, silencing him. Together, they bowed and retreated, the drapes snapping shut behind them.
Alone in the alley, Zhao stared at the setting sun, his pride smoldering like doused flame.
"What now, Commander?" Tau whispered.
Zhao's eyes hardened. "We wait. And we watch. The prince may have the Fire Lord's ear… but we have teeth."
A shadowy figure lingered in the alley, watching Zhao and Tau disappear into the bustling crowd. His hooded cloak blended seamlessly with the fading light, his face obscured by a cloth mask. Satisfied, he turned and melted into the throng of merchants and laborers, his movements swift and silent.
He darted through narrow backstreets, slipping past vendors hawking spiced meats and smiths hammering blades. The capital's labyrinthine corridors swallowed him whole, past barracks, under archways, through service tunnels choked with ash. Finally, he reached a crumbling building tucked behind a rusted iron gate. The knock was precise: two quick raps, a pause, then three slower ones.
The door cracked open. He slipped inside.
The room was dim, lit by a single lantern dangling from a chain. Lieutenant Jee stood at the head of a scarred wooden table, flanked by six Fire Nation soldiers in unmarked gray tunics. The shadowy figure tugged off his mask, revealing a gaunt face with a jagged scar running from eyebrow to jaw.
"Report," Jee ordered.
The man, Ren, a ghost in Zuko's intelligence network, slumped into a chair. "Zhao met with someone. A Master. Behind a screen. Couldn't see their face, but I could see that the commander and his lieutenant were afraid, scared even."
Jee's eyes narrowed. "I see, well what could this mean?"
Ren nodded. "They're scrambling. The Master mentioned a counterpart in Omashu."
Jee unfolded a scroll, its edges singed. "The prince anticipated this. Hence he prepared new orders."
The soldiers leaned in as Jee read aloud:
"All information regarding Kyoshi Island—specifically the prince's entry into the spirit world, Avatar Kyoshi's manifestation, and the prince's 'miniature sun' technique—is to be leaked. Ensure it appears accidental. Let the rumors spread: Zuko lost control of his crew that they started leaking information. The princess must not weaponize this information alone."
A grizzled soldier snorted. "Leak that he fought an ancient Avatar? They'll think he's mad."
"Or powerful," Jee countered. "The prince wants fear and curiosity in equal measure. But," He stabbed a finger at the scroll. ", omit the challenge to Kyoshi. Understood?"
Nods around the table.
Another soldier, younger, frowned. "How do we 'accidentally' leak spirit world tales?"
Ren smirked. "Drunk sailors. Gambling dens. Let the taverns do the work."
Jee rolled the scroll shut. "Meet at the usual place. At our usual times. And no deviations."
As the soldiers filed out, Jee gripped Ren's arm. "You're with me. We report to the prince directly."
Ren tensed. "How is he?"
Jee's voice dropped. "Volatile. Whatever happened with the Water Tribe girl… it's rattled him. Choose your words carefully."
Ren nodded. Together, they vanished into the capital's shadows.
[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers! Additionally starting next week i will be reducing the schedule from 5 weeks days to 3 weekdays. Specifically mon-wed-fri. This doesnt apply for patreon members however. I just cannot keep up the schedule as i have other topics.]