Iroh places the tea service on the antechamber's central table and sets about pouring two cups. He does not know why he has been summoned, but he will do as his nation's patron spirit bids.

(Yesterday, he had woken with the sunrise only for the Sun Spirit himself to burst into his suite and order him to the training courtyard to resume exercises that he had been neglecting, admittedly for too long. Today, Agni had not waited for his appointed time to rise and had instead startled the entire capital awake by building a new sun over the city. Why Agni had felt such an action to be necessary is a question for which Iroh does not yet have an answer.)

Ozai's voice reaches his ears. "You arranged this?"

"I did," comes the Sun Spirit's response.

"Including the tea?"

"It is my understanding that many mortals find it calming."

It is gratifying to know that Agni agrees with him, even if his brother is a tea-swigging barbarian.

And then...

"I can walk!" Ozai yells indignantly from the other room.

Agni's tone remains unchanged as he says, "You will not."

The fire spirit emerges from the bedroom carrying a flustered Fire Lord as one might a new bride. It is... quite a sight to behold.

Iroh ruthlessly crushes the desire to laugh.

He must not have hidden his shocked humor at the situation's absurdity well enough, however, because Ozai spares him a half-second's glare before going back to arguing with Agni. When had his younger brother lost all sense of self-preservation? One does not argue with spirits! And especially not spirits as great and powerful as Agni!

"I'm not an invalid!"

Except if the 'one' in question is Iroh's brother, apparently. Not even a full seven-hundred-and-twenty degrees since their patron spirit returned to their nation, and already Iroh knows of two arguments that the younger man has fallen into with Agni. One argument would have been too many! This is quickly becoming a very disconcerting habit.

"Fire Lord," the spirit says, finally beginning to sound frustrated as he sets the mortal man down in a chair and impatiently gestures for Iroh to seat himself in its nearby twin, "you are still setting. The ties which bind your reforging almost failed."

Iroh picks up his teacup and listens carefully to this particular turn in the discussion. He has not had much time to research this 'reforging' matter, and he has yet to meet with any success on that front, but to hear of its near failure is... ominous.

"I feel fine," Ozai insists, ox-mulish, "You fixed whatever was wrong."

"I reinforced the binds that Liukshi weakened," Agni corrects.

Iroh blinks in surprise. He recognizes the name, but what could the small dragon-like spirit that had visited his dreams have done that would lead to Agni's and Ozai's current quarrel? What part do these 'binds' play in Ozai's so-called 'reforging'?

The Sun Spirit continues, "Your reforging remains fragile. A mortal body is more rigid than a spirit's form, and there is a lingering risk of rejection until the bond has time to set. You, child mine, nearly died."

Iroh barely avoids dropping his teacup in shock.

"I felt a bit ill. Nauseous," Ozai objects weakly, "It didn't feel that serious."

Agni huffs and states, "Death for mortals comes in many varieties." Without prompting, the great fire spirit continues, "Is an explosion and its shrapnel the equal experience of drowning? What of arctic chill? Are starvation and thirst indistinguishable from heatstroke? Is the impact of an earthbender's stone the same as a high fever brought by illness? Does freefall create a sensation akin to that of a lightning strike?"

Iroh can't help being somewhat disturbed by the spirit's easy listing of several possible deaths. ...And why does his brother appear vaguely guilty?

Ozai looks away. "No," he admits.

"Indeed." Agni studies the Fire Lord for a prolonged moment before sighing. "Iroh of Second Fire," the spirit addresses him, "what visions did Liukshi reveal to you as you slept?"

Iroh sets his teacup upon its matching saucer and folds his hands into his sleeves. It's an old habit, learned under his father, designed to hide the nervous worrying of his fingers. He dares not lie to Agni, but he is uncertain of Ozai's reaction and his younger brother is openly watching him now.

"I dreamt of dragons, Agni," he says slowly, though he is mindful to keep his tone steady and firm, "A fully grown pair of blue and red. They flew in intertwined orbits around a towering platform spanning the space between two mountains." He decides it may be prudent not to mention that he had recognized the location from his past travels. He had promised to keep certain secrets, after all. "On the platform, two firebenders moved in tandem through a traditional form rarely taught today." Iroh draws a deep breath before saying, "The benders in my dream were Ozai and the Avatar."

The Fire Lord jolts in his seat. "Me?"

"Yes," Iroh confirms and brushes a thumb over the lotus tile caught in his other hand. He returns his focus to Agni and continues, "Once the kata was completed, the dragons breathed a cyclone of fire around Ozai and the Avatar. You appeared on the platform, and blessed Ozai and the Avatar before disappearing again. The cyclone of fire then ceased and the dragons returned to their nests in the mountains. That is where the dream ended." If only because he had been woken by Agni's latest work of wonder, but that hardly needs to be said. Agni is already well aware of when and how Iroh had been pulled from his bed.

Ozai stares. Iroh cannot decipher the look he is receiving from his brother, for all that the expression is worryingly unguarded. There is surprise and confusion, certainly, but beyond that... Hope? Fear? He lacks the context that might explain the source for either emotion in the current Fire Lord.

Again, Ozai asks, "Me?"

"Yes?" Iroh offers for a second time. Ozai does not typically have much patience for repetition.

There are two knocks on the doors of the suite and a guard announces, "The requested maid has arrived."

A young woman enters through the opened doors and gasps upon spotting the spirit in the room. "Agni!" The maid hurriedly sets aside the bucket she is holding and sinks into a kowtow before the Sun Spirit.

"Rise," Agni directs and gestures toward the bedroom, "You will find the mess through there."

The woman clumsily retrieves her bucket at the clear dismissal, causing something of a clatter as its contents are disturbed, and bows once more from what is likely a bad case of nerves. She fails to acknowledge either of the royals in the room as she scurries deeper into the suite to fulfill her task.

Iroh cannot tell if his brother has noticed the unintended slight by the frazzled servant. He seems to still be caught on the details of Iroh's dream. For the maid's sake, Iroh will attempt to keep Ozai's attention on their conversation. It isn't as if he doesn't have a few of his own questions he would like answers to, anyway.

"Forgive me," he says, "but who is Liukshi? He did not offer much of an introduction. Is he a spirit of illusions? Possibilities?"

"Liukshi is a spirit of knowledge," Agni corrects, "and prefers to interact with mortals through dreams. While he does not typically deal in illusions, it is likewise not uncommon for him to translate past events in a manner he believes will be easier for spectators to comprehend."

Ozai blinks and finally breaks his extended stare. (It would be disrespectful to imply that the Fire Lord had fallen into a stupor.) The man shakes his head and scrubs both of his hands over his face. "Of course it's not that easy. It's never easy," the Fire Lord grumbles to himself from behind his meager barrier.

Agni goes on as if there has been no interruption to his explanation, "If your vision contained Ozai the Reforged and the Avatar together, I would guess that Liukshi felt such adjustments would benefit your understanding and allowed you the use of one of his eyes."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Iroh nods to confirm the fire spirit's suspicion and frowns in thought. "A vision of a past Fire Lord and Avatar?" he muses.

"It would not be unexpected if it were a tale lost to your people at this time," Agni says.

Ozai lowers his hands enough to glare at their patron spirit for no reason Iroh can divine, but he is beginning to wonder if his brother hasn't developed a sudden death wish with this continued irreverent behavior.

"Old, then," Iroh concludes, "I confess, I do not know why Liukshi or any other spirit would choose to show me such a vision."

"Liukshi's decision making skills have long been unfortunate and his sanity would be considered questionable by man's standards," Agni notes, "The reason may be sensible to Liukshi alone."

Ozai's brow furrows. "Is 'Liukshi' the name of the flock, or of a single spirit? Sometimes you speak the name as if referring to an individual, but other times you say the name as if talking about the whole flock. Which is it?"

There is a flock of spirits similar to the one that had visited his dreams? Perhaps that explains how Agni knew to ask about his recent spirit vision, and how there was time for whatever occurred to interfere with his brother's reforging.

"Liukshi is the flock," the Sun Spirit says, "and the flock is what remains of Liukshi."

That... is not especially illuminating.

Iroh shares a confused glance with Ozai at the offered answer.

"Could you... expand on that?" the Fire Lord requests.

"If that is your desire, child mine." Agni considers his words briefly before saying, "The worst of Liukshi's poor decisions began when he spoiled one of his brother's deals with a group of mortals. It is his nature to share knowledge, and he cares little of the consequences for doing so, one way or the other. Having received the answers they needed in their dreams from Liukshi, the humans were no longer interested in bartering away the scrolls they had brought for the spirit of recorded knowledge that they had originally sought out.

"Wan Shi Tong was incensed. He tore each of Liukshi's hundred eyes from his body, shattering one spirit into a flock of one hundred fragmented pieces."

Iroh grimaces. Spirits are capable of terrible violence if provoked, and it sounds as if this instance was no exception.

"That's why you called him 'shattered,' earlier," Ozai says in dawning realization, "But... You said ninety-seven before."

Agni nods in acknowledgement of the observation. "Three of Liukshi's eyes have since perished."

Despite the warmth of the room, Iroh feels a shudder run down his spine. Spirits are not easily destroyed and they have no frailties such as old age to which they might succumb.

"You asked earlier what I had dreamt of before I called you," Ozai offers into the lengthening lapse of discussion, "I dreamt of my first Agni Kai. Liukshi showed me how you saved my life."

Iroh frowns. He had not been home to witness his brother's first Agni Kai, shortly after his coronation -- nor the three others that followed it in rapid succession, for that matter -- but he had heard from several accounts that Ozai had bested each and every one of his opponents handily.

"I also dreamt of the meeting where you presented the new charter to the other spirits, and my... latest Agni Kai," the Fire Lord continues, "You saved my life, again, and my family. Thank you."

Iroh blinks at that bit of news. He does not know what may have happened to draw the spirits' attention to their line after such a long isolation between the mortal and spirit realms, but the idea is a disquieting one.

Agni is still. "That is what Liukshi showed you?" the Sun Spirit demands.

"Yes." Ozai belatedly adds, "I can't say everything Liukshi showed me was easy to watch, but I don't think he meant to cause any trouble. I think he just wanted me to know what you'd done."

Agni raises a hand and hisses, "A moment."

The white fire comprising Agni's form flickers colorfully in a fashion that reminds Iroh of dragon's fire and the heat it puts off oscillates wildly for several seconds. Outside, there is a loud crack of thunder, though the sky is clear of any cloud cover when Iroh risks a peek over his shoulder and past the open balcony curtains. Finally, Agni's form reverts to its normal white and he lowers his hand.

"You are correct in that it is unlikely Liukshi intended to cause trouble," Agni snarls, "This is more likely to be that fool's attempt at gratitude. However, I can think of few worse manners through which he could have pursued such an end. He is fortunate his actions only weakened your reforging rather than undoing it entirely."

Ozai shifts uncomfortably in his chair. "Liukshi meant no harm. He sought to honor you. Would you really punish him for that?"

"His intentions matter little when what he actually accomplished was to come very close to destroying my herald," Agni says, "particularly as there is no ready heir at this time."

Ozai looks away and hunches his shoulders while crossing his arms. The undisguised vulnerability from his brother is disorienting and, if Iroh were not already worried for many other reasons, this alone would be enough to cause considerable concern.

Agni sighs. "Liukshi is no child, Fire Lord," the Sun Spirit says, "but if it will comfort you, I will deal with him without further reducing the number of his eyes."

Ozai grimaces and Iroh has to fight off a similar expression from taking over his own face. Hearing about Agni's willingness to inflict violence upon other spirits is rather discomforting. Iroh slips the lotus tile back into one of his sleeve pockets and reclaims his teacup from its saucer. Given the general heat in the room, the beverage has not cooled much.

One second, two, three pass in tense silence and sipped tea.

"I will suggest he take flight to Ba Sing Se," Agni decides, "That den of rat-vipers should hold his attention for a few centuries."

Ozai flinches. "That sounds like you're banishing him."

Agni waves a dismissive hand. "He is not a member of my court, and there is little Liukshi would love more than a large concentration of mortals with which to share knowledge. More to the point, there is not a newly reforged mortal in the vicinity that his blundering might cause an untimely divorce of soul and body."

And that is apparently the extent of negotiation that Agni is willing to entertain on Liukshi's behalf.

The Sun Spirit turns from the morose Fire Lord to instead focus on him. "Iroh of Second Fire," Agni says, "you will act as regent for this morning until noonday while the Fire Lord rests."

There is no near miss this time. Iroh's shock-numbed fingertips drop the teacup they'd been holding aloft and he hisses at the sting of the hot liquid seeping through his robes. He waves a hand over the spill with some hasty bending to pull the heat from the wasted tea. It is not a particularly easy application of firebending and he fumbles through the action a few times to bring the lost tea to a temperature that is not so uncomfortable against skin.

"But --"

"Choose your next words with care, child mine," Agni warns, "He is capable and you can do nothing for the Fire Lands if the reforging fails. You require rest."

Ozai scowls. "I know he is! I know I do! But I've only just started to alter the nation's course! I haven't had time to go over any plans or detailed goals with him yet!"

That... is not the sort of objections he would have expected from his brother.

Reluctantly, Iroh clears his throat and draws the attention of both spirit and lord. "I was under the impression that I was out of favor?"

"You are stripped of the blessings of Kuzon's line, but you have the necessary training for the task," Agni states, "You will be acceptable in a temporary capacity during stints in which Ozai the Reforged is unavailable."

"Who else do you think we'd trust in the role?" Ozai asks, puzzled.

Honestly, Iroh would have thought his brother's preference would have been anyone, down to the stable boys, before allowing Iroh so close to the throne after all the political maneuvering he must have gone through to secure it for himself. Still, that is overlooking the obvious solution to today's demands.

"You could cancel the morning's meetings?" he suggests.

"All of them?" Ozai looks scandalized by the very thought, perhaps even horrified, "I've already cancelled more than half of the internal affairs that were on the schedule yesterday! I can't cancel the whole morning on top of that!"

Iroh isn't certain he's ever witnessed his brother so emotive as he has been this morning. (Is this morning, or is it still night? Agni is in the sky, but it is not his usual manifestation... Their national time measurements were not designed for this.)

Agni tisks. "I have been watching, and this one," the spirit gestures at the Fire Lord, "becomes restless if the work is not being done."

"It piles up!" Ozai defends.

Their patron spirit huffs in response and says, "Brief Iroh of Second Fire on your plans, breakfast with your heir and fledgeling, and then rest, Fire Lord. You may return to your duties at noonday and not before."

Agni disappears before Ozai can say anything to continue the argument.

Iroh wonders about the recent turn his life has taken while his brother stews in the chair beside him.

"Stay here," Ozai grumbles as he rises to his feet, "I'll get my copy of the day's schedule so we can --" The Fire Lord falls back into the cushions with a grunt and closed eyes. His frown turns into a deep scowl before his eyes flash open and he snaps, "Fine!" The man crosses his arms and slumps back into the padded support of the chair.

"Brother?" Iroh questions, confused and cautious.

Ozai turns the scowl on him. "The day's schedule should be in the top drawer of my nightstand. You will have to be the one to retrieve it."

Iroh nods and stands, thinking through what changes and oddities he has witnessed in his brother over the past few days. Only one instance seems to match, so he asks, "Agni?"

"Yes," Ozai seethes.

Iroh nods again and moves into the bedroom to do as he has been instructed. He glances over his shoulder when he hears Ozai hiss, "You're worse than the healers! You make Katara seem tame!"

Isn't that a Water Tribe name?

Iroh's brow furrows as he ponders the implications. Ozai has never shown much interest in the Water Tribes before, yet now he speaks of a specific woman by name. He has no idea what it could mean.

A sudden yelp pulls him from his thoughts and he looks up in time to watch as the maid drops her scrub brush. The woman snatches up her bucket and splashes sud-filled water over a smattering of small flames that had been eating through silken bedclothes. Water and soap bubbles quickly douse the fire and then spread over the floor, soaking the maid's robes and the soles of Iroh's shoes -- to say nothing of the room's usual contents.

The woman takes a shaky breath and stares at her hands. Sparks flare up in wild bursts above her fingertips.

Iroh has never seen such terrible control in one her age. "Careful now," he says, suppressing a wince when she startles and nearly sets the bed aflame a second time, "it would not do to repeat the incident." As it is, he is not sure how lenient he will be able to convince Ozai to be over the damaged property.

Iroh gently pushes both of the maid's hands together between his own to smother the sparks.

The woman meets his eyes with frightened tears in her own. "H-highness! I, I --"

"I have lost that title," he corrects easily. She is hardly the first of the palace servants to slip back into old habits. "It is only 'General,' now."

"Y-yes, General," the maid agrees. She runs a nervous tongue over her lips before confessing, "But, I, I'm not a bender, sir. I, I've never..." She glances back at the ruined sheets and Iroh likewise takes in the proof that denies the woman's claims. "I don't..." she trails off helplessly.

Iroh sighs.

It's going to be a long day, isn't it?