"And the way you fought that saboteur while protecting my poor, frail uncle..." Azula declaimed enthusiastically, doing her best imitation of the actor's booming bass. "I am the servant of the Hidden Flame! You shall not pass!"
Spirits, why?!
No, I was sure of it now. She'd planned this from the very beginning. The two of them had conspired behind my back and prepared this elaborate trap.
Well, two could play that game.
Besides, I'd soon have a secret weapon of my own.
Assuming that treacherous old betrayer didn't abandon me there as well.
"Though you're right, Princess," I said as casually as I could manage, "they're remarkably talented actors. I wonder how they'll portray your exploits in the Earth Kingdom."
She froze in the middle of a step.
Literally froze.
Then, a second later, she continued walking as though nothing had happened, saying something along the lines of, "Let's wait until I've actually accomplished them." But I'd caught the expression on her face in that brief instant, and it did wonders for my mood.
All things considered, the day had ended on a rather pleasant note.
Walking behind us, Piandao merely chuckled quietly as he watched the little pantomime unfold.
Oh, well.
I wasn't one to hold grudges.
I'd get my revenge, forget all about it... then get my revenge all over again.
The only thing left was figuring out how.
***
Some time later...
"Master, my duty is fulfilled, and the Water Tribe has bowed before the greatness of our Nation," the kneeling giant proclaimed before the classic wizened old master. "The arts of persuasion and proclaiming the Will of Fire that you bestowed upon me allowed me to reach their hearts... and set them ablaze!"
"Your achievements gladden my heart, my Apprentice. But remember—there is no limit to perfection, and many more glorious deeds and heroic feats still await you in service to the Fire Nation and the God-Emperor Ozai! Accept this sword, forged in the breath of a dragon, and turn it against our enemies! May it protect both you and Princess Azula!"
"So shall it be, Master!"
"Burn brightly, my Apprentice! Carry forth the Will of Fire! For the Power of Youth and the God-Emperor!"
Master Piandao bolted upright in bed, drenched in a cold sweat.
A nightmare...
Just a nightmare.
Chan wasn't actually going to convince those actors to stage a play about his own training... was he?
The vivid imagination of both an artist and an exceptionally gifted man immediately supplied a detailed answer to that question.
A nightmare!
And the worst part was that, knowing Chan, Piandao couldn't honestly claim the boy wouldn't take revenge for being set up like this. On the contrary, he'd have been far more surprised if his apprentice didn't come up with some particularly nasty little prank. And the Herald's imagination was probably even richer than his own.
The thought was deeply unsettling.
Especially when he remembered the occasional glances his apprentice had been giving him lately—glances positively brimming with unhealthy enthusiasm.
Brr...
"My lord?" the concubine beside him murmured, stirring awake.
"Bring me some water, Yumiko."
The young woman nodded and quietly slipped out of bed.
"It was only a dream," the swordsman exhaled once more. "He wouldn't make me out to be some senile old fool who taught him to deliver speeches like that..."
...Would he?
***
We spent one more day at my Master's house, resting after our eventful excursion, planning the route back to the palace, and simply enjoying a bit of time in nature. There were no problems with my "secret weapon," either. Piandao would be able to send it over in a couple of days—a messenger hawk could easily handle the delivery.
None of that, however, did anything to diminish my desire to get even with not only the princess but that old bastard as well.
And I already had a pretty good idea how.
Though I also had plans for the distant future. If I was going to take revenge, I might as well do it properly...
First, however, I'd have to live long enough to put those plans into action, and that was proving rather less straightforward than I'd have liked. This time, at least, Azula wasn't responsible for my troubles.
The real issue was the waterbenders. Along with the women and children.
Had I brought them back? I had.
Had I issued clear instructions on where they were to be housed? I had.
Now I had to make sure those orders were actually followed. Otherwise, someone might decide to ship the women off to special prisons under the authority of some ancient, dusty rescript while my own decree conveniently "went missing." And then what? Let's call things by their proper names: whatever little trust those women had in the Fire Nation—and in me in particular—would be shattered completely.
And these women were supposed to teach the next generation, gifted children included.
So I had no choice but to inspect everything myself: where they'd been quartered, how they'd been quartered, whether they were being properly supplied, how they were being treated, and everything else.
Personally.
And, naturally, Azula was neither willing nor able to sit around twiddling her thumbs while I did all that, so she tagged along everywhere I went—which did absolutely nothing to improve my mood.
"So why are you fussing over them so much?" the princess asked after we'd finished inspecting yet another group. "Isn't that what bureaucrats are for?"
"My experience has taught me that if you want something done properly, there are only two options. First, find the person who can do it better than anyone else. Second, do it yourself. The first approach is what distinguishes a good leader, and it's the one I usually try to follow. But in this case, there's one major problem—I simply don't have the time to search for candidates and thoroughly evaluate them. And relying on people you can't even fully trust in a matter like this..."
(End of Chapter)
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