A Match of Ice and Fire

Chapter 13: Kaya

"This is madness!" Chieftain Arnook hisses in my ear as he stalks after me down the stairs into the winter garden's courtyard at dawn. "Challenging the Firelord to an Angi Kai! Kaya! What were you thinking? This is supposed to be a new era of peace and your challenging our allies to honour duals?!"

I look out to the open ocean; dead flat, the pale yellow of the sun creeping like a virus on to the horizon.

My uncle persists,"I promised your brother when he entrusted you into my care, I'd keep you safe."

I wish he'd stop talking about me as though I was an obligation to be mantained and not his niece. Fleetingly I think of councilor Iroh and feel a pang of jealousy at the Firelord's relationship with him. I wonder does Iroh treat Zuko as an obligation to be mantained?

"Do you really think Nikko would want his sister to do something so reckless?"

"If you mean this marriage, then no." I stop on the stairs, turning to face Arnook. "I think we both know that if Nikko knew you were about to sell me off to the Firelord, he'd be sailing right back to the North Pole to spill your guts over the grand hall for treason, betraying nation to the enemy!"

That makes Arnook go quiet, at least for a little while...."you can still back out of this, Kaya." He tries a different tack. "Firelord Zuko is very merciful. Despite what you and your brother continue to believe, If you'd just apologised and accepted his proposal..."

I turn and continue down the stairs.

"...He is the Firelord! Great grandson of Sozin and Avater Roku, decend from two of most powerful fire bending family lines in history. You won't stand a chance.You can not win this Kaya!"

Firelord Zuko is already waiting in the courtyard. Councilor Iroh is standing next to him while attendants  surround them. I can see they're arguing about something by the troubled expression on Iroh's face.

"You don't even how to fight!"

"Please uncle.." I roll my eyes, reaching the bottom of the stairs. I've been training every day in secret since I was seven.

"Kaya?" Arnook senses there something I'm not telling him. "Kaya! It is forbidden for women to fight in this tribe-"

Yes, I just choose to igorn this, because its a stupid tradition made up by bitter old men which suppresses have our entire nation and keeps us two hundred years behind the rest of the world... "Can we not get into this right now?"
I turn and walk to the far end of the courtyard. Slowly taking off my furs ready for battle. I pass Firelord Zuko who has done the same with his over robes. My eyes flick to his exposed chest and the hone muscles there. The firelords golden eyes lock on mine. To my horror, I feel my face heat. Trying to erase the image of those golden searing molten eyes into mine, I stalk to the other side of the arena.

One of the firelord's lackies begins to dicate the rules of the Angi Kai. "Each apponant is to start at opposing ends, kneeling with their leading fist to the floor and their backs turned to their apponant. The match will begin when the gong sounds. The Victor is the first to burn there apponant and/or push them out of bending bounds. The victor is fully repayed in any honnor disputed. Dishonnoured, the defeated must accept whatever fate Victor's terms bind them to graciously and with no further objections." In other words, I walk down the ailse silently as the Firelords perfect house wife.

I go to kneel but just before I can lower myself to the ground, Arnook catches me, hissing one last threat. "If you refuse to marry the Firelord, I'll have no choice but to disown you from this family..."

I gaze up at him, cocking my head to one side, I resend his words with mockery. "Then is a good thing I'm not going to win..."