Avatar: Reborn in Ice and Blood

Chapter 118 118

I know one of the daughters of one of the women who regularly comes to the school sometimes helps out at the tea shop. So it's there I head to first. There's a lot of giggling as her sisters bring Moira to the front door.

"Kai," she greets, none of the interest her sisters thought she'd have shows. She knows that Mai's necklace is made by me, and often gives me the side-eye when Mai and Zuko flirt. It's none of her business. Shouldn't be mine, in the first place.

"Moira, I – or rather Mai – has a favour to ask of you," I say. "It's an emergency. Her friend is missing and Mai needs someone to take over her shift for her."

"Fine. But she owes me," Moira says, taking her work apron from the hook by the door.

I'm glad it wasn't a fight to get her to agree.

"What do you think happened to her friend?" Moira asks as we move towards the tea shop.

I pause for long enough to wonder whether Moira will tattle to someone if I tell the truth. Probably not, but I can't risk it, can I? "Hopefully nothing. But there have been incidents of people showing unhealthy interest in her before."

"Unhealthy interest," Moira echoes, seeming to taste the words. "Like from men?"

"Yes," I say, because it's true and tends to generate sympathy with other women for Ty Lee. She looks sweet, I suppose. Can be, with people she likes. But her voice is rough enough to dissuade the more shallow admirers.

Though there always are sick fucks who get off on taking perceived victimhood as an opening to try to further victimise someone.

The exchange between Mai and Moira is quick and painless, so that we are quickly on our way to the school. Zuko's glare burns into our backs. Well, I forgot to ask someone to take over his shift for him. And it would be fine if he wasn't with us for this. I don't think that his presence, uncertain as his loyalties are, would be to our advantage. Then again, against the Dai Li, he might be helpful. But with the uncertainty, this is better.

Mai is not amused at having to sit through a lecture before going off to find Ty Lee, but the preparation is necessary and I need to settle a few things before we go.

It's likely that a confrontation here will speed up the need to leave Ba Sing Se quite soon. Ranra is already sort of the next one in charge, when I'm gone – not that I've really been the boss of this venture. But it's my name and face that the university professors know, that the nobles associate with the place. In hindsight, an oversight, but now there's nothing to be done for it.

When we arrive, the school is already bustling.

I am quick to make my excuses to the back room to check on the prepared letters and forms of authorisation that I might have to give to Ranra in the event that this goes south. They're all there, easily accessed, labelled: Emergency. The box is hidden behind others. Haruto knows it's here and he knows to tell Ranra where it is in the event of my absence.

Mai appears in the doorway. "It's starting," she watches me push the boxes back into place.

We go into the lecture room, and it's too full. Even along the walls, people are leaning. We really do need a larger lecture hall. But that's far off.

I know the rafters are stable, so I am quick to use the wall to get up and sit on one for the duration. Mai follows easily. People watch us with some trepidation as we leap to the front, from beam to beam.

Aang sees it and decides to join us. "Hey! This is great!"

"It is, I agree," and then note Mai's interested stare. "Mai, this is Aang. Aang, this is Mai."

"We've met," Mai says, but gives him a nod.

Aang smiles cheerfully. "I'm glad you like us now."

Mai's face spasms and I turn away to hide my grin. Far from liking us, Mai has settled into reality with frustration and resignation.

Ranra calls everyone to attention with the messing gong that someone brought in.

...

Information and maps acquired from a shrewd-eyed Ranra, Latih, her cohort, Gorou, Mai and I ready ourselves for a rescue mission. Latih claims to know some of the interrogation procedures the Dai Li use. Largely, they isolate the victim – she calls them victims because she doesn't think criminal fits half the people they question. Upon isolation, they introduce a friendly face, sometimes in the capacity of cellmate, sometimes young, inexperienced jailor with sympathies. And then it is only a matter of time for them to guide the conversation into the direction of what the Dai Li wants to know.

In Ty Lee's case, it's likely that they'll want to know why she's been snooping. Who she's with.

I hope she doesn't mention the school. That could be a hard blow for too many people who have come to depend on it and could use it as a means to better their lives.

In all likelihood, the school will be shut down soon enough. But it is my hope to spread enough knowledge now, forge enough connections now, so that people can rebuild on their own, build more, generate change that can last.

The Dai Li threatens that.

For Latih, Bon is simply one of hers and he needs to be freed on that account alone. He also probably has sensitive information to her operations.

We're about to go into one of the nearer entrances to the caves when Jet, Smellerbee, Longshot and the Gaang show up to join us. A look at their faces tells me it's a waste of time to persuade them to stay behind. They would only follow us later.

And, it would put me at ease to know someone has my back here. Latih's words are still stirring nervousness inside of me.

"Ty Lee has been taken by the Dai Li," I explain to them. "One of Latih's men as well. This is primarily a stealth operation, but we are certainly not opposed to snooping around, gathering information. It's likely that we'll confront the Dai Li with violence because that it what they will react with to our presence. They use these earthbent gloves to restrain and fight. So watch out for flying gloves. They pack a punch. Of course, they are also earthbenders, so be quick to dodge whenever you can."

"I'll keep a lookout," Toph says, grinning at her little joke.

It makes me smile and Sokka groan. Which he has no right to, with his awful rhymes.

"We don't want to split up," I go on, "But if it does happen, try to stay with people you know. It's best not to risk anything, since we don't know each other's fighting styles too well."

"Please prioritise your own safety and keep in mind the closest exists as we move, they're marked on the maps."

Everyone nods. Good.

"Are you done?" Mai asks, impatient.

"Yes. Let's go."

The entrance to the caves is behind a pub, which makes for an awful smell.

People vomit there, piss here and on the occasional too-drunken night, fuck.

We're all quick to get in, the entrance sealed behind us by one of Latih's men. We don't light torches. If Ranra's information proves correct, we won't need them. Our air supply won't be in danger either, though the caves are naturally connected to the surface somewhere in the direction of Lake Laogai. That's a long way from the city, though.

Our tunnel is narrow, going down steeply, with barely any lighting. Our shuffling feet are too loud in the grave silence. Nobody is stupid enough to panic or hasten and collide with others, but there are inevitably a few bumps.

Once or twice I think Katara stumbles into me, or someone else of her height with long hair.

It only takes a few minutes before we are deep down enough to finally see a faint green glow. The others are dark shadows in front of me, ghostly in the lighting.

And then our tunnel disembogues into the larger one Ranra promised would be there.

On its ceiling are a faint few scattered crystals. In one direction, they grow thicker, like a carpet on the ceiling. In the distance, they seem to even creep down the walls. "Watch your feet here," someone says, "The ground isn't as even."

Toph snorts, once more finding humour in blind jokes. She's the one in the very back, looking out for us.

At the thought, I begin to focus, concentrate. I haven't practised sensing people with my bending as much in Ba Sing Se. Now I regret it. When there are so many people around all the time, the sensing becomes sort of redundant. Hypervigilance is exhausting, so I have been consciously relaxing.

Better to be cautious now, though.

It will be some time until we reach where they have likely taken Ty Lee. Ranra said that further towards Lake Laogai, there are more crystals and far larger caves. Nobody knows quite how deep they go. Or at least, nobody who has told the university cartographers. Ten years ago, the caves were made into royal property, forbidding anyone unauthorised from entering them. The university cartographers have not been allowed in since.

That our information is so out of date bothers me, but there is nothing to be done about it.