Avatar: The Book Of The Phoenix

Taijuk's Mission

The morning sun painted the walls of Xanadu in hues of orange and crimson. Dust devils danced in the distance, swirling across the barren plains. At the massive gates, Taijuk wrestled with a crate of fire-hardened berries. He grunted with effort as he heaved it onto the back of his Komodo Rhino, the beast snorting impatiently.

Oghuz, with a mischievous glint in his eye, approached, a hunting spear slung over his shoulder. "Taijuk! You're up early. Going on a hunt?" He gestured towards the forest.

Taijuk, surprised by the unexpected company, grunted in acknowledgment. "Not today, Oghuz. I've... other matters to attend to." He avoided eye contact, his gaze fixed on securing the crate.

Oghuz raised an eyebrow. "Other matters? What kind of matters keep a man like you away from a good hunt?" He chuckled, a playful challenge in his tone.

Taijuk shifted uncomfortably. "A mission. For General Shoka." He kept his voice clipped, a hint of urgency in his tone.

Oghuz's playful demeanor vanished. "Shoka? What kind of mission?"

Taijuk, sensing the change in Oghuz's mood, abruptly cut him off.

"It's none of your concern, Oghuz. I have orders." He swung himself onto the rhino's back, his grip tight on the reins.

With a sharp kick of his heels, the rhino lurched forward, its massive hooves pounding the ground as it thundered out of Xanadu, leaving Oghuz standing bewildered in the dust.

The wind whipped Taijuk's cloak around him as he rode his Komodo Rhino through the dusty streets of the small, forgotten Earth Kingdom town. The air hung heavy with apprehension; the Nomads were a constant, unwelcome presence in their lives. Whispers followed him – "Fire Nation dog," "Another one of those savages."

He ignored them, his gaze fixed on the weathered sign above the tavern: "The Muddy Mug."

Inside, the tavern was dimly lit, the air thick with the smell of stale ale and sweat. A group of Earth Kingdom soldiers, rough-hewn men with grim faces, dominated one corner of the room. Their leader, a burly captain with a scar bisecting his left cheek, nursed a mug of lukewarm tea.

"Two drinks, please," Taijuk ordered at the bar.

"We don't serve your kind here," the bartender spat, his voice laced with disdain.

Taijuk sighed in annoyance, slamming five gold pieces on the counter. "Change is yours."

The bartender, his eyes widening at the sight of the gold, reluctantly poured two drinks with a haste that bordered on panic.

A young soldier, emboldened by the presence of his superiors, stepped forward. "You there, Nomad. You're not welcome here. This side of the border belongs to the Earth Kingdom."

Taijuk, unfazed, took a long pull from his flask. "I come in peace, soldier. I wish to speak with your captain."

The soldier, hesitant but ultimately deferring to the captain's authority, gestured towards the table where the captain sat. "This way."

Taijuk approached the table, his gaze steady.

"So, what is an ash savage doing this far from their side of the border?" the captain growled, his voice thick with resentment.

"I have a proposition for you and your men, Captain." Taijuk began, his voice low and gravelly.

"You have a proposition for me?" the captain scoffed. "After what your kind has done to this land?" He pointed towards the scar on his cheek. "My son... he was in Bin-Er. When the Iron Dragon... that monstrous warship... bombarded the city..." His voice trailed off, the pain of the memory evident in his eyes.

"So you know what it's like to lose someone to the Nomads," Taijuk said, his voice laced with a chilling sympathy. "To have your home turned to ash."

"Then allow me to grant you an opportinity...a son for a son, perhaps?" He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Rokkun... the Khan... he has children. Two of them. Beautiful, innocent children." A chilling smile played on his lips. "I need you and your men to take them, hold them for ransom. Even a man as ruthless as the Khan will not stand the thought of his children being harmed."

The captain stared at Taijuk, his mind racing. "And what do we receive in exchange?"

Taijuk produced a small, heavy bag, spilling a cascade of gold coins and glittering jewels onto the wooden table. "Wealth beyond your wildest dreams. Enough to rebuild your lives, to avenge your losses."

"And you will be heroes," Taijuk continued, "Succeeding where the Earth King himself has failed. You will push the Fire Nomads back, once and for all."

The captain pondered the proposition, his eyes flickering over the glittering jewels, the memory of his lost son warring with the allure of vengeance and wealth. Finally, the captain nodded. "Very well. How do we proceed?"

Taijuk grinned. "When the Khan returns from his little vacation, I will lead you to their stronghold. Wait for my signal. Then, we strike."

He rose from the table, the weight of the gold heavy in his bag. As he left the tavern, the captain watched him go, a chilling resolve hardening his features. The whispers of the other soldiers followed Taijuk as he left, but now they were tinged with a newfound respect. The ash savage, they realized, was playing a dangerous game. A game that could either bring them unimaginable wealth or utter destruction. But in the face of their losses, the risk seemed worth it.

The fate of the Nomads, hung precariously in the balance, sealed with a handshake and a bag of gold.