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Despite the festivities in the audience chamber, the back passages of the palace were deathly silent. Practiced footsteps left no trace nor sound as he passed, and those few unlucky enough to cross his path chose to see nothing. The long sleeves of his robes concealed the white knuckled grip he had on the scrap of parchment that called him to business.
Ruby in hand.
A sharp turn and a moment’s pause - listening, listening - found a passage grinding open in front of him and, after passing through, the wall shut behind him. He barely paused to acknowledge the man who opened it, and instead hurried down the winding passage. Door after door after door, plain and monotonous and just enough light to keep his footing, passed but little mattered in this moment. Decades passed since he’d last heard the blood roaring in his ears. It wasn’t a coup, but the stakes were just as high.
Light filtered under the last door in the hall. He paused, collected himself and with a deep breath, pushed open one of the many hidden meeting rooms in the palace. Standing at attention as she studied the earth kingdom map pinned against the far wall, one of his most trusted agents waited for him. She didn’t move or falter at his approach and he didn’t acknowledge her either. Instead, he settled behind the desk and brought forward one of the candles. He touched the ragged parchment to the flame and watched as it burned away. Fitting.
He contemplated the woman in front of him. Much like himself, she was eroding. She stood a little shorter, a little thinner, less the immovable mountain and more a daunting cliff face. He supposed the same could be said for himself, but the earth did not yield unless it was truly sundered and neither of them were ready to break just yet.
“The ruby has been acquired. It is time to lay the groundwork for the next phase.” The man retrieved a sealed scroll from the desk and held it out for the woman to take. “Do not deviate. Like moths to a flame they flock, but their size is yet uncertain and so we will take their measure. Be safe, old friend.” With a bow and a twist, she was gone beneath the floor, the earth swallowing her.
Spring - Waxing Moon - Lazhou, Xing Jain
At this point last year, the port town of Lazhou, Xing Jian was a bustling trade port. Visitors from both the Fire Nation and Air Nation left their mark through the blends of fashions and foods that have yet to depart from the port. But where the streets were once filled with people from various places freely intermingling were now mostly bare, the citizens doing their best to keep to themselves with eyes trained firmly ahead. The weariness was heavy on their shoulders and tired eyes, only picking up the pace to avoid certain areas. The ones that thrived were those who were willing to trade with the Earth Kingdom’s army while those who refused were harassed out of their homes. Mercenaries and swordsells were in high demand as protection services were hotly in demand as those that still had their money were determined to keep it at any cost.
The one place few would need a legit reason to go without question would be the bar at the Black Eel Inn. The ones who had finished their hauls were happy to quench their thirst after a day in the sun and others were eager to take some of the tension off with stories. Some were more eager to eat than to drink, others were sitting around and waiting for something. The place was bustling with conversation and laughter, making the troubles of the war seem distant.
In one corner of the lobby sat an old, wooden pai sho board. The old man sat at the board had craned his neck over so much he looked like he could fall onto it at any moment, grayed eyebrows knit together as his shaky hands hovered over the red boat tile. He grinded his teeth, stressed by his predicament as his eyes darted to his younger opponent. Her white and black robe rested over her brown shirt and black pants, long, brown hair resting on her back. She was much calmer, her cheek perched on her hand as she watched him.
“Don’t rush me,” The old man spat.
She opened her mouth to let out a yawn, her free hand waving in dismissal. “Everything comes to those who wait,” She murmured.
“You’re starting to sound like Old Man Bido. Keep that up, and you’ll end up like him with his dead-end fishery!” He huffed as he moved his hand to another tile.
The woman stifled another yawn, her green eyes roaming away from her opponent, though she hesitated as she noticed an Earth Kingdom soldier running past the inn. A strange sight at this time of day, especially as he decided not to stop by for a drink. She almost dismissed it before an entire retinue of soldiers ran by in a hurry. The direction they were heading in bode ill as well.
She straightened up considerably at the sight, hastily gathering her belongings before moving the old man’s hands onto the red boat tile and moving her own. “Next time, prioritize your defense, you left yourself open,” She advised, snatching up her pouch before making her way out of the inn.
Sure enough, the soldiers were heading in the direction of the Knotweed Fishery. The first had remained outside, shooing away any that decided to loiter. As the number of soldiers gathered, a middle aged man dressed in green stepped out of the building, crossing his arms as the soldiers gathered around. He looked more irritated than worried, watching as the first soldier approached him.
“We’ve received information that you’re harboring fugitives, Bido!” The soldier announced.
“Fugitives? You think even those desperate sods would want to hang around fish of all things?” Bido scoffed. “Stop looking for problems where there aren’t any and scram!”
The soldier looked back at the others and nodded. A majority of them stepped forward, getting into a ready stance. “If you don’t have anything to hide, then you won’t mind if we check.”
