Chapter 34.2- And so the Dragons Danced

“Do you know where the Princess would be held?” I asked, turning to the Pirate captain.

“Definitely not in that makeshift complex. Would be within the city for sure. She’s a valuable hostage and they probably plan on trading her back to the Fire Lord so there’s no reason for her not to be in the Earth King’s palace.” He said.

I nodded at his words while thinking on my own. Lake Lougai. The Earth King didn’t even know there was a war going on. Long Feng would not risk having the Princess of the Fire Nation in such close quarters. Azula herself was a dangerous threat, the kind that also presented opportunity. The Dai Li had brainwashing facilities. And those were in Lake Lougai. If I was Long Feng, that was what I’d do. That was definitely what I’d do, now that I thought about it even more.There was no other option.

“And the soldiers themselves? The rank and file?” I asked.

“They’ve made cells that run miles deep to contain the entire army. Word is that they surrendered without a fight so there’s a lot of them alive for now” He said in reply.

“Are you aware that helping me, moving forwards, would expose you to betraying your countrymen? I would see this city taken and placed under my rule” I told him. The Pirate shrugged with an easy smile. “You said enough gold for ten ships, aye? I won’t mind retiring after that” he said instead and I nodded.

Gold was one hell of a motivator and I had it aplenty. It made sense that this man and his crew would capitulate in face of that.

“So what do you want to do?” Toji asked.

I closed my eyes for a few seconds. Azula was beneath Lake Lougai. Everything in my body told me that was the truth. We could not waste time infiltrating the Palace for disappointment. That meant we had to o straight there. But then how would I explain that away? It was at that moment that a thought hit me.

“You told me a man named Long Feng was in charge of the defence of the city and was the one that captured the Princess. What role does he serve? Is he some sort of General in the Army?”

“No. He’s the head of the Dai li. That’s the earth king’s secret police”

“Not very secret if we know about them, then” I said instead.

“Natsu, your plan” Toji asked again, beginning to sound impatient.

“I’ve read about this Dai Li. My ancestors had encountered them in their dealings with the Earth King before the Great Schism” I started, lying through my teeth but certain none would question me. I had already discussed it with Toji, and his ancestors had not kept journals and he was not a big student of history so all he had to go off on were my words. The others were similarly afflicted with ignorance.

“They have a headquarters separate from the Earth King’s palace. I don’t think a powerful bender like the princess would be imprisoned in the same space where the Earth King eats and sleeps. They’d have put her somewhere else. My gold is on this headquarters.” I said, and breathed a sigh of relief when the response to my words was not a unanimous call of bullshit but approving nods.