a collection of correspondence

dear zuko, love suki

to the Fire Lord —

I am writing to you in haste. Most of my warriors and I left late last night, so do not be alarmed at our absence from the palace when you wake. I left my best behind to guard your life. I will give this to one of our messengers to take to you as soon as he can but do not worry yourself over us.

Sometime in the evening, we apprehended three earthbenders trying to gain access to your chambers. They had with them enough evidence to suggest an assassination attempt, so my warriors locked them in the dungeons. However, around midnight, they escaped, taking with them several gold pieces' worth of valuables.

I apologize on behalf of my warriors and myself. It is most unusual for me to be so careless, and I assure you it will not happen again. You know it will not.

As I am writing, we are sailing in a boat across the sea. My spies say the earthbenders are headed to Ba Sing Se, where they no doubt intend to sell what they stole. Do not try to look for me; I will be back in time. With the earthbenders in chains.

Yours,

Suki

—

Dear Suki,

This may not be what you want to hear, but thank you for taking the time to write to me about what happened. Despite being the sovereign of a country, most do not give me such a courtesy. You would not believe the number of messenger hawks that sit unused in our owlery.

I am unsure how the earthbenders got out of the dungeons, especially because of the lack of earth to bend there. In fact, the last person I think escaped was our good friend the Avatar.

I, like yourself, do not know how they got in, but I know this: the fourth and fifth perimeters around not only my chambers, but the palace as a whole, were slightly askew. There was something strange about them as I walked past, and I cannot quite say what was wrong, exactly, but something felt off. Perhaps it had just been a long day.

Do not repeat these words or show anyone but yourself this letter. I shall not be disgraced again for uttering the phrase "something felt off."

Fire Lord Zuko

—

Fire Lord Zuko —

I must admit that it's odd, seeing the sentence "something felt off" and knowing you, the Fire Lord, wrote and used it. It seems like a simple phrase, something small in the place of something so big. You yourself are of course the big in this instance, and though I have known you for most of my life, you using small words makes me feel like I know you.

Forgive my rambling. And forgive my use of familiarity in writing this letter. While I do know you, I also do not. Not as well as I could, at any rate.

My warriors and I are now in Ba Sing Se, where we hope to capture the earthbenders in this massive enclosed city. I have word that they were spotted in the marketplace yesterday, where a few of my spies are camped. We will attempt to nab them in the act of piracy.

Circling back to the "something off," I am, like you, not entirely sure what to make of it. Though anything that worries your Lordship worries me, there is little I can do unless I know what the problem is. If it's not too forward of me to ask of the Fire Lord, perhaps you could try to figure out what about that night seemed off. My warriors who are usually in the fourth and fifth perimeters are skilled and trustworthy.

On a side note, the messenger hawk that delivered your letter seems very happy to be of use — he continually ruffles his feathers in a proud sort of way, and I am sure delivering this note will add to his happiness.