Chapter 49.4-- And so the Dragons Danced

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“Drums” I commanded once we were in hearing range. The man beside me began to play, signaling to the other drummers on the other ships to begin to bang their own drums to the tune as well. The drums were to signal one of the oldest fire nation customs. It took three rounds, before we heard another set of drums from the pier. Zuko would take my meeting it seemed. To be a fly in the room where he explained to his cabal of rebels that Fire Nation tradition trumped everything he could come up with.

“Prepare the boats” I ordered the man again. He was one of Hyo’s men, I knew. But I was the Fire Lord now. They were all my men. Or at least they soon would be.

There were three boats to be making the journey. Toph, Toji, Grandfather, myself, and the Generals would be the ones making the journey. Maki would command the ships in my absence. A choice that some very obviously did not appreciate. All children of Agni were equal, but there were still few Female Officers in the highest ranks for a reason. We could express all the platitudes we wanted, but people were people. I just pitied anyone who thought they could look down on her for having tits. Hopefully, they lived long enough to regret it.

I got on the boat and reached out to help Toph off the metal and on to the wood. I could see her mood shift at the sudden lack of sight. “Don’t worry. Just a few minutes and I’m here with you” I said to her. She nodded, but even as she had let go of me, her hand still remained placed on my armour. The metal probably gave her a relaxing feeling.

On the pier, Zuko stood apart from everyone else. His hair was worn in a topknot with the symbolic crown of the Fire Nation speared into the knot. Around him were arrayed various members of the nobility. No foreigners in sight. How fascinating.

“I take it you somehow managed to escape the Avatar” He said in greeting, sneering at my appearance. We hadn’t even exchanged greetings, I thought with a smirk. I ignored him before helping Toph off onto the wooden pier. In a few steps, we had left the wood and were on solid stone. She didn’t collapse to her knees or anything, but she looked clearly better.

“The Avatar is dead. I killed him” I said, watching his sneer disappear in an instant.

“What?” Someone in the large crowd behind them called out. I was wrong. There were foreigners aplenty. Zuko had just dressed them up as Fire Nation Citizens.

“What of Sokka?” The same woman from earlier spoke.

“Dead as well. Your assassination attempt failed, Zuko. You must face me now.”