𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔

Chapter 11

The next few days Katara spent sleeping, getting up occasionally to relieve herself and eat. Time was the best healer, with rest coming in at a close second. She got used to staring at the gray walls of the tent before falling asleep.

Changing the bandages involved outside help, usually the Emperor or Hiro. It wasn't a big deal—the wound was low enough on her torso that all she had to do was pull up her shirt a bit, keeping herself mostly covered, and then one of them would unwrap the old, stained cloth before wrapping new ones on. The hasty stitches they had made while she was unconscious remained in her skin until they could go back to Kotzut and get a real doctor to look at her.

On the fourth day, they moved campsites.

"Staying in one place for too long increases our chances of the rebels finding us again," said the Emperor, as he saddled up his horse.

"But I thought we killed them all," Katara said. She was surprised at how easily and nonchalantly the words came out. Like killing Kyoshi warriors was such a normal pastime that it didn't deserve more than an emotionless tone coupled with a few careless syllables.

"There's always more," growled Faozu, a dark look on his face. "They're always breeding."

No they're not, thought Katara. They don't breed fast enough. They'll eventually die out, if somebody doesn't do something.

Her first reaction to her own silent thought was: Breed. Like horses and sheep and goats breed.

Humans fall in love. Animals breed.

Her second reaction was: I'm the somebody who's supposed to be doing something.

"Let's go," the Emperor finished, and lifted Katara up onto the horse before mounting up behind her.

"Are we going back to Kotzut now, your Majesty?" The plaintive voice of Lady Adia floated in from behind them. Katara refused to turn and look at her, although she could feel the Emperor behind her doing so in order to be a gentleman.

"No, my Lady," he replied, tone so perfectly polite and controlled he did not sound like the Emperor that Katara knew. "We won't be attempting that trip until we know for sure that Katara is fine and healthy enough to travel again."

Lady Adia did not reply, but Katara distinctly heard a soft, "hmph" sound that drew close alongside them.

Strangely triumphant for some unknown reason, Katara, sneaking a glance at Lady Adia from the corners of her eyes, let out a soft, content sigh and settled in as closely as she could with the warm body of the Emperor behind her.

"Are you alright?" he asked, so unawares that Katara almost laughed. As it was, she knew she couldn't keep the tiniest of satisfied smiles from her face.

"My back's just a little strained," she replied. "But I'm okay now."

They continued on in silence. Katara kept a firm hold on the laughter bubbling up inside her. She could feel the sharp, indignant, jealous glances the Lady Adia kept sending over. Katara found it hilarious, that she, a common soldier, could command the envy of a high-bred, noble lady like Adia. The thrill of manipulation and power swept through her.

He's so close to you (skin on skin) wouldn't it be the easiest thing to draw a knife and just stick it in him?

The smile disappeared from her face.

She rode on in sober silence. Lady Adia didn't matter. Lady Adia's petty jealousy didn't matter. Katara was a fool to think that anything beyond life and death mattered right here, right now.

The Emperor was so warm, so alive behind her that it seemed impossible she would one day quench that fire and kill him.

Because it would happen. She would do it.