The Order of the White Dragon

Chapter IV

"Ty Lee, stop playing with your food." Azula snapped, demolishing Ty Lee's concentration and successfully knocking down the wonton tower on the acrobat's ceramic plate.

"Even my brother doesn't play with his food and he's two." Mai wearily swirled the contents of her bowl with a pair of chopsticks.

"Heh," Ty Lee smiled bashfully. "Sorry." She plopped a wonton in her mouth.

"So, Mai." Azula started. "Will Zuko be joining us for breakfast today?"

Mai shrugged and without turning her head to the princess, she replied, "How would I know?"

"Oh sorry, I just thought you would. I mean, you used to be so close. I figured you've already reconnected by now. It's already been a week since his arrival." Princess Azula slanted her head to the side whilst tapping two of her fingers on the long dining table.

"I haven't really had the chance to talk to him,"

"Then what was the point of me ordering you to escort him to his chambers on his first night? Surely, you two would've spoken about something," Azula grilled Mai harder.

"What do you want me to say?" Mai sighed exasperatedly. "It was a quiet walk."

"Oh, Mai! If you were having trouble with communication, I can certainly be of help! I can write a list of small talk subjects if you want! This girl from the circus, Tenu, taught me all about it! It's very effective! It's best to start with something you both have in common. For example, you can talk about- oh, I don't know- swords?"

"No, thank you." Mai said succinctly, "I can handle my own affairs."

Ty Lee pouted slightly. Mai and Ty Lee have been friends since childhood and not once has she been able to lend her expertise to her friend. Even Azula has asked her for boy advice at some point.

"Don't forget Mai, about our..." Azula leaned in and lowered her voice, "...plan. You need to get close to him."

'You don't need to remind me,' Mai thought bitterly.

"Don't worry. I haven't forgotten." Mai reassured the Princess. "In time, he will trust me."

Azula narrowed her eyes in annoyance, "We haven't much time! We only have three weeks until- Zuzu! Nice of you to join us!" Mai and Ty Lee's heads whipped around to stare at the dining hall entrance. Zuko approached them, he wore a blank expression, something he had to practice around his sister. Zuko ignored the surprised look on the three girls' faces, he was surprised at himself joining them as well. Perhaps the growing loneliness since he last sparred with Mai has finally gotten to him.

Mai's glance drifted to the maid polishing silverware on the shelf located in the far corner of the room. The servant's eyes did not meet hers, but they followed the Crown Prince's footsteps. Mai had paid a hefty amount of gold pieces to a kitchen servant. All to live her life far away from the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se. This allowed Suki to be hired as a servant in her place. As Azula's plan progressed, so did theirs.

"Good morning," One of Zuko's attendants pulled a chair for him and the young prince sat. "It is a nice day, so I thought, why not?" Zuko tried a convincing smile. He refused to tremble under Azula's suspicious stare. He couldn't even look at Ty Lee for too long, he was afraid he'd be blinded by her overly welcoming pearly whites. So, at last his eyes landed on Mai, who looked somewhere between constipated and feeling faint. He broke eye contact with her almost immediately.

What he didn't know is that his sister was firmly kicking Mai under the table, trying to signal her to start a conversation with him. Mai would have started a conversation with the Prince right there and then just to stop the Princess' nagging, if only she knew how to start small talks. Mai silently regretted declining Ty Lee's lesson offer. Just as when Mai had enough of Azula's bruising jabs on her shin, Mai impulsively kicked the princess back.