Chapter 29

"What makes our nation great?"

It had been an hour since The Avatar's escape, and on Zhao's command all soldiers had gathered in the main courtyard, where a wooden stage had been hastily set up.

In neat, uniform rows the soldiers stood at attention, each wearing their full armour and helmets so that, from where she stood beside Zhao on a balcony overlooking the courtyard, they seemed to Tanya like an army of identical, faceless pawns arranged on a chessboard.

Zhao had not shared with her what the purpose of this assembly was. In fact he'd barely said a word except to set this gathering up. Truth be told it worried her. Zhao was the type to rant and rave when he was angry, then move on when he got it all out of his system. This unusual behaviour was making her nervous.

"Is it that we are stronger than our fellow men? That we are braver? More intelligent?" Zhao continued.

"Many would say yes, and I would not disagree with them. But what is the reason that we possess these qualities, while the other inferior nations do not? Is it because of blood? Because the spirits smile upon us?"

He slammed a hand down on the balcony railings, creating a metallic ringing that resounded across the courtyard. "No! It is because we see a truth that the other nations refuse to accept.

That we are part of something bigger than ourselves! While the other nations feud between their petty tribes and kingdoms, grasping for their own personal satisfaction, we alone stand united under the guiding hand of The Firelord! Every one of us, from the humblest farmer to the richest noble, freely gives the fruits of our labour, not for personal gain, but as a contribution to the greater good of our nation!

That is why we succeed! Because we offer our skills, our service, even our very lives, to something bigger! And one day, when all corners of our world are united beneath The Firelord's loving rule, we shall all share in the rewards of a world without conflict! Our utopia!"

The soldiers below erupted into roars of approval, and Tanya found herself clapping along with them. Zhao could be a very charismatic leader when he was in the right frame of mind.

Zhao made a gesture, and the cheers of the soldiers slowly shifted into murmurs of confusion as Zhao's personal guard walked out from the fort, dragging with them figures in tatty brown robes with sacks over their heads and ropes binding their wrists.

The guards stepped onto the wooden platform and began tying the captive's hands to the wooden platform.

"But there are some within our nation who possess rotten hearts. Who eat the fruit of others' labour and contribute nothing themselves.

They are parasites in the skin of men: thieves, cowards and traitors." Zhao continued, his voice taking on a graver tone. "They fester in every dark nook of our nation; every shadow cast by The Firelord's light.

They might be the urchin who begs for your money, the colonial who works in your shop, even- …" He glanced back at Tanya for a split second, his eyes wide and dark with suspicion. "... the soldier you trust to watch your back."

Down below Zhao's guards ripped the sacks off the prisoner's heads, and Tanya let out an involuntary gasp as she recognised them.

The sages Zhao had arrested back at the fire temple! And not just them, but the four soldiers she'd assigned to stand guard outside The Avatar's cell! All were gagged and fearful, tugging unsuccessfully at the ropes as Zhao's guards stepped off the platform.

Zhao turned back to the crowd. "Those you see before you are such traitors. The Fire Sages, who aided The Avatar in contacting the spirit of his past self! And the soldiers who, through their idleness, allowed a single man in a mask to free The Avatar and abscond from this very stronghold! Because of them.

The Avatar remains at large! Because of them, a threat to our beloved Firelord walks free, gaining more and more power with each day that passes! Their selfishness had robbed the rest of us of the rewards we all struggled together to achieve! And how shall we deal with this treachery? Should we forgive them?

Welcome them back into our fold, knowing that they will continue to feast upon our hard work? NO!" He raised an arm, and down below his guards settled into firebending stances.

"WE SHALL REMOVE THEM!"

Zhao dropped his hand, and all at once his guards punched, launching streams of flames at the wooden platform. In mere seconds the wood caught alight, and the prisoner's screams of fear turned into howls of agony.

"Admiral! Stop this!" Tanya hissed urgently, mind racing to come up with a way to stop what was undoubtedly a war crime! And one committed against their nation's own people no less!

But Zhao ignored her. "LET THIS BE A REMINDER TO ALL OF YOU!" He roared, voice carrying easily across the crackling of the flames and the dying wails of the prisoners.

"TO FAIL THE FIRE NATION IS TO BETRAY THE FIRE NATION! AND THIS IS HOW THE FIRE NATION DEALS WITH TRAITORS!"

As if to highlight his point the screams of the prisoners trailed off with pitiful, gasping whimpers, leaving not a sound besides the hiss of the flames to carry across the fearfully hushed courtyard. Zhao turned around and made to leave, but stopped as he passed Tanya and put a hand on her shoulder, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

"Twice now you have had The Avatar in the palm of your hand. And twice now you have let him escape. I would think you incompetent, had I not personally seen you level ships, raze fortresses and massacre enemies by the dozens.

So I ask myself why, despite your power, one peace-loving ten year old continues to evade you?" Zhao's eyes flashed dangerously in the firelight. "One would almost think your heart wasn't in it."

For the first time since she'd met him, Tanya felt a tinge of fear writhe in her stomach as Zhao's eyes bored into hers. She'd known that Zhao could be vicious, even downright bloodthirsty, but had only ever seen it directed at the enemy before.

Now she felt it turned upon her, and as if a curtain within her mind had been drawn back she realised the truth.

Zhao did not see her as a protege, nor a friend, nor even as a comrade with a shared dream. He saw her as a weapon. His favour was reliant upon her achieving results he could bring before The Firelord. And if she proved incapable of providing them, he would dispose of her.

Zhao stood up straight once again. "I am generous to have allowed your two previous failures to go unpunished. But the next time we find The Avatar and you fail to capture him, it will be you standing on that platform."

He said, as casually as if discussing the weather, then continued to walk back into the stronghold. "Third time's the charm, right? I hope it is anyway. For your sake."

...

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