Yin & Yang

Chapter 15.

As they exited the meeting room, Dey-Wa pulled another man aside. "I saw you were disapproving of the Fire Lords' decisions this time as well, Lee." Lee nodded to his elder. "He is soft for that water tribe girl. Though I don't blame him. She's a fine young woman." He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Let us walk." The two men parted their way down another hallway opposite from the others.

Lee's long black hair touched his shoulders, bouncing with every step. Younger than his adversary by a decade, he had been newly appointed when Zuko was crowned. Dey-Wa had been in the council with Ozai but remained quiet about his preferred following to the former Fire Lord. "I bet she would fetch a pretty price in a concubine brothel." The two men laughed together.

He kept his voice low. Dey-Wa knew they were being followed by a guard by Zuko's command. "Lee, I believe that this young Fire Lord knows nothing about politics and cares nothing for them either. I know of a few ways we might be able to get another appointed before too long. If you know what I mean." Lee nodded slightly, keeping his actions to Dey-Wa alone. "You are the adviser for the Messenger Hawks. We will write a letter tonight and have it sent out immediately."

"To where is this letter going to?" Lee questioned him. He didn't miss the sneer on Dey-Wa's face.

"Not too far, actually. The person I am thinking of is in the Colonies in the Earth territories. Though he's not Fire Nation, he's in hiding." They quickly switched their conversation as they turned the corners into the cooks' wing. "Ah. Mushi. What is on the menu for this evenings' dinner? I am starving!" Dey-Wa put on a facade as the cook almost ran into them as he was fussing over a list of ingredients.

Startled, Mushi dropped the list and scrambled to catch it. Dey-Wa raised an eyebrow at the younger man. "Ah, General Dey-Wa. I will be spitting up some cat-owls soon. The ladies are hard at work plucking them as we speak. Soup tonight will be a chowder with potatoes and diced bacon bits from the sow from the farms served with beef tips." Dey-Wa nodded approvingly. "I must be off. Missing ingredients for the soup will just simply not do.."

Dey-Wa's face dropped from the smile he'd put on for Mushi. "Cat-owl? Does he think we're commoners?! Disgusting!" The two walked off and he turned to Lee again. "The letter shall be written to Jet.."

Dey-Wa's voice trailed off and the guard could hear no more of the conversation. He slunk away. When he was far enough down the hall, his pace quickened to a jog and then an all-out run. Zuko was right to not trust them. He had to get word out to warn him in time. Pushing servants aside and shouting back an apology, yelling for doors to be opened for him before he reached them, he was making good time until he skidded to a halt to slam into the balcony railing. He toppled over it. His sword unsheathing itself and falling down to the courtyard below, it landed with a loud clang and interrupted the training going on below him. His screams for help alerted guards down the halls.

Several bodies were gathered around the dangling guard. His hands began to slip and the stander-byes scrambled to help him before he fell. "Quick!" He puffed out to another guard. "Fire Lord Zuko is in trouble. I just heard Dey-Wa and Lee planning an assassination on him for tonight. The letter goes out tonight!" He tried to keep his voice hushed. Out of breath, this wasn't hard for him. The men stood and looked at each other. "We need a Messenger Hawk!" The guard on the ground yelled out at them. "Do you not care?!" He shoved past them to run again.