The Firelord's Honor

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Marching along the palace halls beside the city guard, Azula made a point to keep her head high. These men didn't know who she was but she couldn't bring herself to not act the princess here. King Bumi must have had standing orders to bring anyone bearing the oddly important pai sho tile directly to him. She hadn't even had to explain herself or ask to see him after she produced it before four guards had ushered them into a stone cart and bent them up a steep slide to the palace. She was loath to admit it, but it had been fun.

They were led into a smaller chamber off what she knew to be the throne room. The gnarled king sat hunched in a large stone seat at the end of a stone slab table. He gave her a piercing look over his tea. She shivered. It should be outlawed to have such an asymmetrical face.

The heavy door swung shut behind them and they were alone with the ancient king.

"Ah princess Azula, Lady Ursa, what interesting visitors. Fire Lord Ozai certainly has a penchant for exaggeration and deception!"

Azula had frozen in shock when he said their names, his insane howl of laughter after only intensified her unease.

"To what do I owe the absolute pleasure? Are you here to take over my city princess? Eh?" He cocked his head and closed one eye, his gaze focused on her. Before she could find her voice again he answered for her. "No ha! I think not. You would not have come into possession of one of these" he held up a lotus tile exactly like her own, "if your intentions were devious. No no no ladies, you are here for something else I think. Please, sit."

He gestured to the other chairs and two slid out from the table. Azula shot her mother a look out of the corner of her eye. Ursa gave a tight nod. Her instinct was to sit tall and proud, to exude the power and pride that had always come easy to her. As she moved to sit, she thought about what they wanted from this man and what he likely already knew about it. He knew who they were so he must be in contact with Yun Sui. Deciding, she adopted an air of humility and allowed herself to appear intimidated by the crazed king. She realized what she was doing as soon as he did.

"Ha ha ha! You don't fool me Princess Azula, I remember you from your last visit. No, you need not hide your true self from me girl. You are royalty! False contrition will not do. You will not find me easy to manipulate to your whims, although I somehow doubt it will be necessary?"

Azula felt a humiliating flush creep up her neck at his directness and she frowned at him before lowering her eyes. Damn him for seeing through her and damn herself for trying. She was trying to be a better person. Good people didn't use tricks and manipulation to get what they wanted, at least so her mother said. This man was infinitely more shrewd than he looked. Honesty was their only option here.

"King Bumi," Her mother spoke next, drawing his attention away from her at last. "How do you know us? Have you been in contact with Yun Sui? What do you know about our reasons for traveling here?"

"Lady Ursa, though I suppose it is rather just Ursa now. Rock candy? Tea?" He handed her a green crystal which she took with an expertly concealed cringe.

"Tea would be wonderful, your highness, it has been a long journey." With an expression that Azula could only describe as jolly, King Bumi poured them both tea. Still angry at herself for falling back on old, bad habits Azula decided to let her mother handle this unless called on.

"To answer your questions, yes. I have had word from Yun Sui. When he was last here in person, several months ago, he mentioned that the pair of you would likely be traveling to Ba Sing Se in the future. His most recent message arrived only days ahead of you and mentioned the increasing tensions in the Fire nation army." He paused to pop one of the green crystals into his mouth and chew rather loudly. At least he had the decency to swallow before he continued. "Apparently there is anger brewing over the Fire Lord's treatment of his new wife. Tell me, has she given birth yet?"