Wandering Firebender

Ninety Five: Traitor

Elio was expecting to have a little more of a break before their next mission. However, those plans took a sideways turn when he got an urgent visit from Alger one morning.

"Elio? I need to speak with you. It's important." Alger said while he was still knocking on the door.

"Alger? Mm...is everything alright?" Elio asked, slowly turning and sitting up on the edge of the bed.

"I'm afraid not." Alger answered in response.

Elio opened the door to his room to find Alger standing on the other side with a letter in his hands. His eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was curved downwards with a scowl-like expression.

"Hey, what's up, Alger?" Elio asked, now showing more concern for him.

"I just received a letter from Ket. He says that a group of men in Ba Sing Se – marauders – attacked my home a few nights ago. No one was seriously injured, but some of my servants were hurt...and every single one of them were displaced and have been staying elsewhere.

"I'm requesting permission to return home at once to survey the damage and make necessary repairs to my home. I'm sorry but I will have to step down as a member of your team until then." Alger explained.

"Oh...oh wow...o-oh my god, Alger, I'm so sorry. Did Ket get into the details of how much your place was damaged?" He asked.

"I'm afraid not but based on his wording it sounds substantial. I worry about what awaits me back home." He admitted.

"Yeah I bet. I'll talk to Zuko. We can take an airship down to Ba Sing Se to see what's happened." Elio said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Alger immediately raised his eyes and shook his head in protest.

"Elio, you can't. You have duties to attend to here with the Fire Lord."

"He hasn't given me anything yet. I'll run it past him and see if he'll let us come with you. I'm sure there's some way we could help you." Elio insisted.

"I'm not sure...I know that things are still rough for you after what happened on that mission in Omashu. I doubt that the Fire Lord would even allow..."

"Alger," Elio interrupted him. "Let Zuko be the one to decide whether or not I can go with you. If he says yes, I'm going to come. And I'm sure the others would say the same thing." Elio said definitively. Alger couldn't help but smile appreciatively, although it was a weary smile.

"Thank you, Elio. I really do appreciate it." Alger said...

Elio didn't waste any time. He went straight to the throne room to speak with Zuko and plead Alger's case on his behalf. When he went inside, Zuko was by himself taking some time to meditate. Elio approached the throne and knelt down before getting his attention.

"My lord, if I may interrupt for a moment?"

"Hm...Elio? I wasn't expecting you today." Zuko commented.

"I'm sorry for coming in unannounced, but I need to speak with you on behalf of Alger. He needs help." Elio began.

"Alger? What's going on with him?"

"His home in Ba Sing Se was ransacked a couple days ago. According to a letter he received, his entire staffing has had to leave home and a few of them were injured in a direct attack. He's requesting that he be allowed to return home to survey the damage and handle it." Elio explained.

"I see...I can grant that request, of course, but I'm wondering why you came to ask me rather than Alger coming himself." Zuko pointed out curiously.

"Because, if you'll allow it, I would like to go with him and take members of my team with us." Elio revealed.