Shadra pulls Misha aside. Well, as much as he can do so without calling more attention to themselves while they remain at the center of a crowd of guards and high-ranking military officers. It helps that most eyes are locked on General Iroh.

The majority of gazes watching the man are pitying, though a few are either suspicious or calculating. Shadra falls in the earlier camp of pity. The older firebender appears to be an ill-drawn breath away from crumbling in on himself. He's lost much in the last handful of years and, by most accounts, he has only recently begun healing from the series of catastrophic events that befell the royal family and the nation two years ago. Still, as a Fire Sage, consoling the man is not Shadra's most pressing job. Not with a missing Fire Lord and clear spirit meddling afoot.

...He'll do what he can for Iroh without neglecting the duties he's vowed to attend to.

"Take Abedni and gather two large metal bowls, water, and lantern oil. Candles, too, if they can be collected quickly," he instructs his fellow sage in a soft tone just above being a murmur.

Misha stills and Shadra can see as the other man connects the requested supplies to their intended purpose. "That seems a bit much," Misha says with a frown, lowering his voice to match Shadra's example, "Tui has been known to give attention to Fire Lords in the past, even to insist on private audiences. I don't recall any instance when they were not returned shortly after being swept up by the Moon Spirit, and never harmed. Do you really believe this is necessary, Shadra?"

Shadra bites back a grimace. "Better to perform an appeasement ritual and it be unneeded, than to need one and neglect to perform it. Our last contact with Tui was centuries before we began raiding the Southern Water Tribes or pushed the Northern Water Tribe to hide behind its wall. We can't know that Tui has not taken offense to such actions."

Misha's expression becomes increasingly troubled. "It would be a bold move for any spirit to attack Agni's Herald," he says at last, "but you're right. We can't know with any certainty Tui's opinion of us after so long without contact, and the Moon Spirit's ritual is simple. We'll return with the supplies as quickly as we can."

"Thank you."

Misha nods before carefully picking his way out of the crowd. Shadra watches as he intercepts Abedni on the forecourt's stairs. Abedni meets his eyes, offers his own nod, and then both of his friends turn to re-enter the palace and complete his request.

Right then, time to start preparing things here.

"Children of fire," he addresses the crowd that still surrounds him, "Agni's Herald has gone to visit the Lunar Court. It has been an age since last the Moon Spirit deigned to speak with a Fire Lord and it is not yet clear what business Tui has with Agni's Herald. I invite everyone gathered here tonight to pray for the Fire Lord's swift and successful return, as well as the Moon Spirit's mercy and continued blessings on our fair islands. May Agni and Tui hear our prayers and bestow upon us their benevolence and grace."

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Tui steps from the ethereal staircase to the forest floor and instantly recoils before going rigid. Ozai tenses and scans the trees for a threat but their surroundings are dark and still. "What's wrong?" he growls quietly, fire itching at his fingertips.

"Ergh..." the Moon Spirit groans, "I had forgotten how humid the Fire Lands tend to be."

Ozai stares at the back of the spirit's head. "You used to be a fish!"

...He cannot believe he just said that aloud.

"While that is true, holding a human form in heat and humidity is distinctly less comfortable than living as a fish in water," Tui says, glancing back at him over her shoulder with sheepish eyes, "and my experience as a piece of my Yue was spent in an entirely different climate. This is... I will adjust. Merely give me a moment."

"Of course," the Fire Lord sighs, joining the spirit in the forest's underbrush. The staircase fades from sight once his feet leave the last step and the familiar mugginess of a Fire Nation spring night rushes to embrace him. Admittedly, the change from the realm between worlds to the mortal world is a noticeable one. "I apologize."

Tui smiles at him, expression tight, and lays a gentle hand on his arm. "There was never any offense taken, Nephew. A certain amount of give and take has always been necessary between spirits and men when they wish to commune. The differences between us are too vast to bridge if either party remains unyielding in their expectations and demands."

Ozai nods and scans the trees again. Tui mentioned that they are still within the nation, but this forest could belong to any one of a half-dozen islands in the country. He can't see much past the thick canopy, certainly nothing he could use to orient himself, and the only sources of light to be seen are Tui, more brightly as the moon overhead but there is also a subtle glow coming from the human-seeming girl beside him. No obvious landmarks, no visible cities, not even a clear view of the sky.

"Where are we?" he finally asks.

"The east-most island of the Northern Tongue," the Moon Spirit replies, fussing with the lay of her skirt, "I believe it has been renamed Spark Island since my last visit."

Ah. Well, that's one question answered. Spark Island is known for its flint and iron deposits. They're probably standing over a mine right now.

Tui moves on to picking at her sleeves before sighing and seemingly giving up on whatever it was she was trying to accomplish with the voluminous fabric of her dress. "Come," the spirit says as she ventures deeper into the forest, "We will find Hama this way, and while we walk I will elaborate on the assistance I sought you for."

Ozai falls into step at the Moon Spirit's side. "Who is Hama?" he asks, "An ally? An enemy? What sort of situation are we walking into?"

Tui's hands fist in her skirt. "Hama of the Southern Seas is a war victim that has turned to vengeance."

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Ozai nearly trips over his own feet. What is any Water Tribe member doing so close to the heart of the Fire Nation? And why here? There aren't any military bases. No politically relevant households reside on the island, either. It can't be for the iron mines. Spark Island's iron ore is plentiful but of relatively low quality and too far away from the major refineries to be used in their military manufacturing. There are simply too many better sources to pull from to make Spark Island's ore worthwhile as part of the war effort. It gets sent to smaller refineries instead and used in domestic goods throughout the country. As for the island's residents, they're largely miners and farmers with a handful of local blacksmiths that provide the equipment needed for the former two occupations. All things considered, Spark Island is about as far removed from the war as any island in the Fire Nation can be, so why has it been targeted for 'vengeance'?

"She was one of many waterbenders taken from her home during Azulon of Second Fire's raids on the Southern Seas," the spirit continues, "Eventually, she escaped her prison and fled here. She has since turned her bitterness upon the people of this island." Silence descends between them for a moment, and then, "You must understand, Nephew, that while my human memories remain close enough that I find this entire sequence of events to be distressing -- the raids, the imprisonment, the terror and pain inflicted on this island -- on its own, this would be but mortal concerns and I would not interfere. However, Hama has developed a waterbending technique, known to you as bloodbending, that sh--"

"Bloodbending?" Ozai demands in alarm. It feels like the ground has dropped out from under his feet.

Tui meets his gaze and tells him bluntly, "Yes. While she did not invent it, she has been the first to rediscover the technique after a millennium since its last use by man. Hama was the waterbending master who taught Katara of the Southern Seas how to bend the life-waters of other creatures and men." Katara had never told him how she learned to bend blood. More to the point, it was a topic she avoided speaking about whenever possible. It's strange to hear this now from a voice and face made to perfectly mimic a young version of her, if not the mannerisms or personality of the woman. "It grieved your friend to learn such an art against her will," Tui says, face pinched with regret.

The spirit shakes her head and continues walking, Ozai following her lead a half-step later. "This world will not follow the same path as its predecessor," she says, "and Hama yet cloaks herself in my power and name." Pale-blue, almost silver, eyes flick up to meet his and the spirit growls out, "It will not stand."

"What do you need me to do?"

"You are Agni's Herald. He has entrusted you to govern his lands and people. It is appropriate to include you in this matter. As the appointed leader of Agni's children, the authority to determine the fate of Hama's victims and jailers rests with you." The silence following that statement lasts for a mere breath before the Moon Spirit adds, "I know you have been busy, but I would consider it a personal favor if you would address the operations of the waterbender prison tonight. Either way, our journey will take us there next."

Ozai grimaces even as he nods. He hasn't forgotten about the Water Tribes or their benders, but he had been hoping to have a little more time to focus on the more volatile warfronts before beginning to untangle the complicated but fairly stagnant situation that is the war prisoners and seasonal raids. Would a full week to try to get things sorted out his way have been too much to ask? He isn't about to share that thought with Tui, though.

Ahead of them, ill-maintained hinges screech and firelight spills from the widening crack between a large door and its frame.

Ozai freezes in place to watch and Tui waits wordlessly beside him. Briefly, he wishes for his mask and swords before pushing the irrational desire down. If Tui brought him as Agni's Herald, then he needs to be the Fire Lord, not a nameless thief in the night. He's just not used to skulking through the darkness under his own identity rather than anonymity of a false spirit.

A figure lurches into silhouette as if a marionette at the ends of an amateur puppeteer's strings. Ozai almost overlooks the second figure standing several paces behind the first and still shrouded in the shared shadows of the forest and the night. The first figure continues to push open the heavy door while the second moves outstretched arms in a manner he could never forget, for all that he rarely witnessed the form.

Bloodbending.

It looks like they've located their renegade waterbender.

Tui holds a hand in front of his chest when he moves to engage.

"Do not interfere with a spirit's judgement, Nephew," Tui warns softly, "You are here for your people. Once the way is open, go to them."

The tortured squeal of unoiled hinges stops and Hama's victim hobbles through the doorway.

Tui strides forward with enough grace that she almost seems to glide over the forest's patchy undergrowth. The spirit raises an arm ahead of herself before sweeping it to the side in a smooth swoop.

The silhouetted figure stumbles and then falls back on his rump with a shocked yelp.

"What?" an elderly woman's voice demands in a shrill rasp as rigid, claw-like fingers grasp futility for their escaped prey.

"Hama of the Southern Seas!" Tui declares, "You have wrought atrocities in my name! No more!"

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Technically speaking, Tui's Ceremony is not an appeasement ritual. The Moon Spirit has always been known to be a gentle and forgiving spirit. One ritual, used for everything from seeking the spirit's favor to offering praise to giving thanks, has been sufficient throughout their history. The Water Tribes likely have more varied and detailed practices for both Tui and La, but any such ceremonies are utterly and completely outside of Shadra's knowledge or training. Perhaps it is just as well. Starting a ritual specific to appeasement and pleads for mercy right after the Fire Lord's disappearance would have the potential to spark a panic.

Shadra sets the emptied jar aside and touches flame to the oil in the metal bowl. Gently, he nudges the bowl of oil and fire into place beside its water-filled counterpart and in front of the absent Fire Lord's brother.

Iroh stares at the circle of flames that now rests before him. "Perhaps it would be more appropriate for you or one of your brothers to be the one to request Agni's favor," the older man suggests quietly, using careful fingertips to push the burning bowl back around Tui's offering and in Shadra's general direction.

The young sage is not so bold as to grab the previous crown-prince's wrist to halt the motion, but he would be lying if he claimed he did not need to curb an impulse to do precisely that. Instead, Shadra catches the bowl with the side of his hand and halts its movement, mindful not to make the move too forceful, lest the burning oil spill.

"Prince Iroh --"

"General," the man corrects softly.

Shadra nods and finds himself grateful both that Iroh appears to be the patient, understanding sort of man and that most of the crowd surrounding them is occupied by Misha's and Abedni's work with the candles. "General Iroh," he says, "you are of Kuzon's direct line. More to the point, you are brother to Agni's Herald. It would be wholly inappropriate for any sage to perform such a rite when a member of the royal family is present and capable."

Iroh appears pained but resolute as he says, "I was passed over. Agni's favor does not rest with me."

Shadra stares at the man, opens his mouth, closes his mouth, and ultimately shakes his head in disbelief. "Sir, your bending remains strong and you acted as regent just this morning," the sage states, "I assure you, with how present Agni has been of late, this would not be the case if you had come under the Sun Spirit's disfavor. If my words are not enough for you, ask Sage Abedni to tell you the story of the fire prince that betrayed the herald on a moonless night and earned the King of Flame's full displeasure by daybreak."

Iroh shifts uncomfortably and asks, "You are certain?"

"Completely," Shadra says, "Please, accept your place tonight as our representative to Agni."

Iroh turns his gaze to the bowl of fire and sighs. "Very well."

"Thank you."