Chapter 54.3- And so the Dragons Danced

It took him half a candle’s turn to make his way around the room to where Shi and Mako stood, behind the drinks. Eyes follow him all the way so he hoped that they had something substantial for him as the reason for calling his attention, because anything less would risk ruining the plan for no reason. “Talk to me”, he said as he got within range for them to hear me, but out of range from being heard by anyone else.

“We’ve found the person who hired the Prisoner, my Lord” Shi began. He nodded, pleased with that, and gestured for the man to keep speaking.

“Lord Matsuhito;’s chief Aide was identified by the Prisoner as the one who spoke to him and his employer and secured their services for the planned assassination of the Fire Lord” Shi said, speaking on Mako’s behalf while the smaller injured man nodded along with his words. Toji looked over to the side, staring right at Lord Matsuhito’s position. The man was engaged in conversation with two others, but his aide was not. The old man looked over in their direction, and visibly paled at seeing g their attention levied on him. He got even paler when Toji reached behind him and removed the hood of Mako’s cloak, baring his face to the room. The man began to stumble back, clearly about to begin running, and that was all the evidence Toji needed.

He ran forward before jumping right over the heads of the shocked crowd and landing in the middle of the room, only a few steps away from the Aide. The man was quick on his feet, but not quick enough. Toji could see him beginning to approach the door. He turned to his side and picked up a tray from the servant behind him. It had one glass still on it, so he emptied the glass of flaming wine down his throat, handed it back to the servant and then tossed the tray like a disc.

It sailed through the air and hit his target right on the back of his head as he had been about to cross the door. The heavy silver sent hum to the floor and the guards around moved in to secure him as the rest of the hall turned to Toji in shock. “Please carry on as you were. Just a small matter that needs tending" He said with a smile as he walked after the guards taking the man to the dungeon.

“Shi, place the palace on lockdown. No one leaves or enters” He said as he passed the guard that had helped set this in motion.