𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔

Chapter 2

I left Kyoshi the day I was supposed to have had my initiation. The Mistress wasn't big on wasting time.

Few on the island knew I was leaving, so there wasn't a great big farewell party of any sort. My departure and the information that went along with it was on a strict need-to-know basis. And the only people who needed to know were the Master, the Mistress, Suki, and Sokka.

I would first take a small trading ship from Kyoshi to the nearest big city port which happened to be Menthat, located in what used to be the Earth Kingdom, but was now just another province of the Fire Empire. The trip would take two weeks at the most, and then I'd have to find another ship or join a caravan that was traveling to the capital city, Kotzut. That was where I'd find my target, and join the Fire Army, which was recruiting at this time of year.

That was what the Mistress and I had discussed. I would join the army, but more specifically, a special force in the army, called the Elite Guard.

You will join the Elite Guard. Mistress had said. The Elites answer directly to the Emperor, and are his own private troops. They are known for their absolute loyalty to the Emperor, and it is extremely hard to get accepted. All sorts of tests will be put upon you. A maximum of thirty people are Elites at any time. And as far as we know... no woman has ever tried to get in before. It'll be hard.

I can do it.

Good.

I had almost finished packing when my brother knocked on my door. I would only take a small pack with me, filled with the usual essentials. Nothing that would tie me to Kyoshi Island. Nothing of personal value. Just clothes and a bit of money.

"Come in." I called.

Sokka stepped into the room, and the entire atmosphere changed.

"You don't have to go."

"I'm doing it for you. I'd advise you to keep your mouth shut, and think grateful thoughts." My voice was emotionless. I know Sokka had been in on this plan, and there was nothing he could say that would convince me otherwise. That's why he had not been there the morning of my initiation. He'd been hiding in shame, because he'd known I wouldn't be getting what I wanted.

"You know if there had been any other way, Katara, I would be doing this, not you."

"Then do it! Give up your heir to Master and your engagement to Suki. Take my place, why don't you? Save the island! Save your people!" My bitterness was entirely uncalled for, and I knew I would regret my words later. Still, nothing could stop the storm of words spilling out of my mouth.

"You know I can't go. You know I'm need here."

"And I'm not."

"That's not true, Katara, of course we need you – "

"You need me to assassinate your enemy for you. You need me to save your people for you."

"They're your people too."

"More yours than they'll ever be mine." We both knew that. We both knew Sokka had been the more popular one, the friendlier one, the one everyone could share a joke with. He would be much-loved as a Master, and his marriage to Suki was going to be the highlight of the summer.

I would not be here to attend it.

I was blabbering now. "Do you think they planned this, Sokka?" I stuffed my last shirt into my bag. "Do you think they planned this from the day they found us washed up on the beach?"

"Katara – "

I cut him off, and continued to rant, my vision becoming blurry. "They looked at you on the sand, and said this one will be Master. Then they looked at me and said we'll use this one. We'll use her to save us and we'll make her give up her life in the process. We'll raise her as if we loved her, and then we'll push her away and send her to do our bidding. Do you think that's what they thought, Sokka?"