A World Of Grey (Legend of Korra)

Chapter 21

"Why are you here, Avatar Korra?"

She looked up from the stilled surface of her tea, mildly surprised that he had dispensed with the pleasantries so soon. Korra and the man sat opposite one another with a low coffee table between them. His home office was a comfortable space, tucked away within the house with a garden facing window. The morning light that spilled in through the glass threw lines of gold upon the mahogany cabinets lined against the wall.

"You invited me," she answered politely.

The man smiled. "To my home, yes. To Ba Sing Se, however…"

She studied him, as she had done the moment they had sat down together. He was a small man, with a softness to his belly and narrow eyes that glimmered unnervingly. He introduced himself to her as Tao, making no mention of his affiliation to or station within the Dai Li.

"I simply wanted to experience living in a different country," she said.

"A natural impulse," Tao replied, nodding. "Curiosity is such a powerful thing, wouldn't you agree? It is of note, however, that you do not appear to be here in any official capacity. I must ask: is this part of your customary world tour?"

"No," Korra said after a brief pause. "I'm here by my own choice."

"And living under an alias."

Korra affected a smile. "I didn't want to be treated any differently to your average citizen."

"But you are the Avatar," Tao said. "Why should you feel the need to hide?"

"I'm not hiding," Korra returned politely.

Silence stretched between them after she had spoken. Gradually, the man's pleasant smile began to fade. He leaned forwards out of his seat and placed his brown, rounded cup down on the table. When he sat back, settling his hands into his lap, Tao regarded Korra with a carefully crafted expression she could not decipher. It was plain and calm, like unperturbed waters veiling the true depths that lay beneath the surface. Korra, despite herself, frowned as the man began to speak.

"When you have spent the entirety of your official term as the Avatar in Republic City, it struck oddly that you would so suddenly, and so quietly, make yourself absent. We have wondered, though we have not been able to determine, what would be the cause of such action."

Korra did not say a word in reply.

Tao continued. "When a figure with such importance as the Avatar drops off the map, so to speak, one can imagine that it would draw curiosity from numerous parties. Among our priorities is the security of Ba Sing Se, the capital of the Earth Kingdom wherein resides our King. Though the war might be long ago finished, it pays to be safe rather than sorry, wouldn't you agree? Thus our eyes and ears are sharper here. We take particular interest in all those who would seek entrance into this city."

"So you discovered me," Korra said then, having set her own hardly touched tea down on the coffee table.

Tao nodded. "I would encourage you to hold no hard feelings against Chief Shen. He is a man of principle. As an Earth Kingdom citizen, he understands where his loyalties should lie first."

"I understand," she replied, though the matter still served to irk her.

"I hope you can also understand that the secrecy of your entrance into Ba Sing Se and dwelling here served to concern us."

"I mean no harm, nor have any ill intentions," Korra said.

"So we have been told by your White Lotus, though it is reassuring to hear it from you directly."