| By King Bumis Heir | Genre | Rating | Reviews | Updates |
| More from King Bumis Heir | Action/Adventure/Drama/Comedy/Romance | PG-13 | None | No update page |
Overview[]
Palartok arrives in the town of Poyang where he helps thwart the efforts of a serial killer who targets married women. Lord Cupun and Unirak's high-ranked military officials coordinate a siege of Fort Zhezhong in Yu province.
All awhile Rong Yan learns that Unaraq isn't dead, the Avatar must race against time to save Prince Unaraq from execution at the hands of the Qiangdian Kingsmen in Yumen.
Chapter 10: Prisoner of War Part 2: The Execution[]
Book 3: Earth
Chapter 10: Prisoner of War Part 2: The Execution
Unaraq felt hopeless his attempt to connect with the Avatar failed he acted as if all the things they've done were true. The only real thing that he's seen with two eyes was the Avatar State, the grand power that's given to a living Avatar in the blink of an eye. He rapidly blinked his eyes because he saw something near the door. It was a small paper plate with a dark brown loaf left untouched by the vermin that crawled around the prison.
Unaraq grabbed the loaf in between his index and thumb the size of the loaf wasn't big he placed it near his nose. It stunk of meat, and other mysterious things he wasn't sure of what but he took a tiny nibble of it. The flavors were mixed as if this loaf was a mix of different foods into one bar, one side tasted bitter and the other side was sweet. He knew if he chose not to eat it he'd starve to death which wasn't the way he wanted to go out. He clung to a sliver of hope that Rong Yan could be contacted somehow but he wasn't sure how the only open path was meditation.
He wasn't sure how long he'd be in the cell but he needed to strive for the goal of contact with the Avatar to seek a rescue from the prison. The next morning came, Rong Yan got himself ready and headed out the door he was scheduled to train with Jushi in the wee hours of the morning while. Cupun and the others coordinated the next assault at first light, while Aloi and Unirak were being watched by caretakers and royal guards. At this time was when something could go wrong and as unlikely as it'd be they'd be on suicide watch.
Rong Yan headed toward the training yard behind the mansion but he seemed distracted from the entire training session with his master. Jushi stretched while Rong Yan copied everything but in an uninterested manner. Jushi assumed it was laziness in the early morning and he resumed the lesson Jushi brought his satchel with him this time around. While he rummaged through his belongings he found a scroll with a set of moves, the title printed onto the ribbon read, "Avatar level earthbending".
This was a scroll that was kept safe and protected from the harshness of age and other factors. The scroll wasn't necessarily ancient but it was indeed about eight hundred years old, two entire cycles of Avatars that parchment survived.
But Rong Yan didn't know Jushi peeped his face from the scroll's contents he mentioned, "You seem to be distracted today, I can ensure you today's lessons will be much more fun while I can't help you do them on a grander scale I'm sure I can figure them out."
Rong Yan shook his head to get himself back into the game he turned his attention to his master who held an old wrinkled scroll. Rong Yan rubbed his left eye with his palm then responded, "I want to take a break honestly maybe tomorrow."
"Hey I'm just as hurt as you are but I know Unaraq wouldn't want you to skip a day of training even if he died. The guy was Mr. Punctual, he wanted things done on time and be at places on time," related Jushi before he recalled the kind of person their late friend was.
Rong Yan sighed, "If we came a day later he'd still be with here with us."
"Yama..er uhh.." paused Jushi as he thought about the name of the Tribesmen goddess of death.
He looked to Rong Yan for help, "What do the Tribesmen call their god of death?" he requested an answer.
"Anguta," replied the Avatar, "Ahh right yes, thank you. Anguta had a different plan in mind for him is. Fate takes us all eventually, it's just left as a mystery until our last day on earth," thanked Jushi before he explained why death was natural.
"He was just a Pai Sho piece in this war, he sacrificed himself for the greater good. For balance in this world," Jushi said.
"What I'd give to have that special Pai Sho piece back even if it costs us the world," commented Rong Yan, his opinion on the view of the life of his friends was more important to him than the rest of the world.
"That's very selfish and sweet, I understand what you mean but you're the Avatar, one life shouldn't be traded over millions even billions of lives. You know that," stated Jushi.
Rong Yan sighed once more, "You're right, I should mention last night I had a visit from his soul before he left into the light."
Jushi interrupted Rong Yan before he could say anything further, "Wait did you say he visited your spirit before he went into the light?" he repeated what the Avatar said in the form of a question. Rong Yan nodded. Jushi rose to his feet from the rock he sat upon he put his fingers to his chin and paced around the small area they stood in.
"That's impossible, knowing that Unaraq wasn't a spiritual person and that the dead except the Avatar and their animal guide is placed in a separate pocket of the Spirit World where they can't leave because it's essentially paradise and their minds no longer feel fear, doubt, and other negative emotions while in this eternal state..." Jushi rambled about the Spirit World and other things.
"Unaraq's not dead," assured Jushi.
"What?" Rong Yan called out, he was sure Jushi was lying or even if he didn't know what he was talking about.
"Unaraq's not dead, he hasn't died. If he was dead he wouldn't be able to contact you, and an only possible explanation is if those Kingsmen tossed him into a portal somewhere that led him physically into the Spirit World," claimed Jushi.
"Jushi you're not making any sense," Rong Yan declined his claims.
"No, no, no you're not understanding because you don't know the intricacies of how the afterlife and all that stuff works. You might be the bridge between the two worlds but you only know so much, there's only one way to get a definitive answer," remarked Jushi. Had he been hit in the head? The Avatar is the only person that knew the specifics of the Spirit World no one else did.
"There is one solution to whether we'll know if Unaraq is alive or not," said Jushi.
"What is it?" Rong Yan asked.
"There's a massive banyan grove tree in the swamps of the Anlu province in the Oma Kingdom. It is said, in the Nomadic religion that the spiritually inclined can locate any living thing through the roots of that tree. That's the only way we can surely know if he's alive or dead," answered Jushi.
"We can't go all the way to Anlu province, that'll take months from where we are now, it'll be too late he could've been injured and left for dead somewhere. Or he truly is gone," declined Rong Yan he held his head as he felt a headache had bothered him.
He was frustrated, he sighed again and sucked it up, "Let's get started on our training."
Pingyao, Qiangda Kingdom
The arid wide and naked landscaped sprawled for miles around the sun beat down on Palartok's already brown neck. The state of Pingyao was similar to the Si Wong province in the Oma Kingdom in climate, it was treeless and there was no existence of shade. The major difference between the two was that the Si Wong state was a vast ocean of sand while the Pingyao province was a savannah bordered water to the south and gargantuan walls fit for the gods in the north.
Many of the people who lived in this state had their skin burned although they never covered themselves like the Si Wong people. The sun here is not so bad, the Si Wong was in a horrible state during the summer season one that was on par with some of the Fire Islands. Palartok rode through the dried plains of the savannah as he traveled past animals that called this place home.
He rode on the tops of the hills where he saw homes in the far distance finally another stop, he progressed non-stop after his last stop. Which was Pingyao's capital Taiyuan where he found safety with old friends that fabricated him a fake identification. At least now he won't be stopped for the color of his clothing or his facial structure.
The pot of gold amongst a dead land of nothing in the great expanse of the province was that this big village had a lake outside of the town's walls. He examined the map for better details of his location this town was only about two miles east from the border with Yuanan and seventeen miles southeast with Gongzhu province. He was near Yu province soon he'd join the armies even if he was a traitor. He accepted his fate knew as soon as they found him out he'd either be executed or imprisoned.
Palartok steered the snow leopard caribou around the edges of the lake and toward the stone bricked walls of the town. As he passed over the archway entrance the carved characters in the stone said, "Welcome to Poyang, the paradise of the albatross cranes."
Poyang was famous for its spring and summer seasons where the albatross cranes native to the Tong province often came here for reproductive purposes. They were a tourist sight on the small patch of land that floated in the middle of the lake. Where the Qiangdian government made it illegal for the birds to be disturbed by the public unless they had special passes.
Even the nobility wasn't allowed access to the island a policy written in by a former governor hundreds of years ago. Whether it was because they were the symbol of the town or an endangered species it was left unknown to the public.
The only farms were near the northern side of the lake as the farmers used perennial irrigation to water their crops. The water flowed in from the lake to the west of the town, it was also their main source of drinking water and during the weekends the adolescents entertained themselves either in the taverns or the lake.
The ground of the town for the section he entered was dry ground a few cobblestones were embedded about before the ground transitioned from the dirt to full cobblestoned streets. Homes filled the second entrance he arrived through the residential area entrance while the main entrance of the town was from its eastern side that faced the border with Yuanan.
A majority of the travelers came from that direction where all the businesses were located. A economical decision that made them tons of money, the heavily populated areas during the day were the trading districts of the town. Where market stalls could be found and today was a special day within the week, the fourth day of the week marked the weekly farmer's market.
The farmer's market had always been the same respected farmers that sold their crops and other vegetation to the townspeople. There were even food stalls with different sized lines of civilians and travelers that couldn't wait to toss a few coins for a delicious meal. Palartok grabbed at his stomach he sensed hunger as his belly grumbled like a hungry platypus bear.
A hot meal felt like heaven on earth he thought and he needed to make a stop anyways so he could rest of the day before he found himself on the road once more. He led the beast toward the stables, Palartok slid off the saddle once he came to a full halt and paid the stablehands who watched over the mounts of everyone who's rented a pen. The feline beast he brought was tossed a fresh slab of moo-sow meat that it tore apart in a matter of seconds.
He roamed off into the streets of the town he stopped in to browse the goods within the farmer's market or maybe a drink from the local tavern, first he headed toward a small inn where he found cheap rooms for rent. Once inside he paid for the night and padded toward his room where he dropped his load of things and went back onto the street where the market was held.
He stood in a line where the authentic food of the Fire Nation was present, the townspeople here had a knack for foreign delicacies. After several minutes in line, he found himself near the front.
All of a sudden, a shriek echoed from one of the alleyways Palartok darted his head many reacted to the shriek another scream went off the same one but louder than before. Palartok dashed toward the alley where the distress from a woman came from.
When he halted to examine his environment he saw legs behind some wooden crates he jogged over to the victim. He took a step back when he saw that the woman had bled a good amount of blood, a hudie jian, was plunged into her chest. Palartok watched as the last bit of life she clung to drained slowly and painfully. Several others arrived too late he turned his head to eye the men before he knelt by her and closed her eyes.
Two men in lamellar light white armor with gold accents jade accents came towards the end of her life. Palartok sighed, "She's dead, by the time I came to her rescue her killer was long gone, and she only clung to a thread of life."
One guard examined her body soon while Palartok gave his report to the other, the guard that examined her body recognized her. He glimpsed back at his partner, "This is Magistrate Hu's daughter.." he said after he remembered her face.
He sighed, "We must report this to the magistrate she must know her daughter was just murdered."
The younger inexperienced guard used to fingers to grab some kind of small floret with lavender petals. The older guard freaked out and smacked his hand with a gauntlet, "What are you doing?!" he shouted at him while the other in confusion cried, "Ouch, what was that for?"
"You idiot that's a swine floret, and you touched it with unprotected hands!" scolded the older man.
The younger guard felt a rush of irritant pain, "Come on we have to get you to the local healer so she has you rub a salve into your skin that should help. I'll go see Madam Hu later," said the experienced guard.
The flower was on the ground Palartok stared at it closely, he looked around for something that he could use to grab the plant with. On the ground was a muddy white cloth that laid near the body of the freshly dead girl. He wrapped the toxic flower into the cloth and pocketed it for later, he waited by the girl's body while more guards bolted in his direction. The other civilians now being ordered to return to the market as if nothing happened.
Palartok nipped briskly away from the crime scene he was on his mission he scanned around the market square for a sign with a carved elixir or maybe an herbalist. Eventually, he spotted a small hut painted light green with the carving of an herb on the sign that hung overhead of the hut. This must be his location, inside was an old woman who equipped her spectacles on her face when she saw a tall masculine figure appear at the door.
The old woman greeted the stranger, "Hello can I help you with something perhaps a tonic or a salve for a burn?" she guessed.
Palartok removed the folded cloth from his pocket and gently placed it down on the counter for the little old woman. He unfolded the cloth to reveal a small floret with a green stem and small lavender petals he questioned her, "Yes I was wondering if you can assist me in identifying this flower?"
"This particular floret is a swine floret, it's toxic to the touch, once you've made contact with it, it irritates the skin and if you're exposed to sunlight long enough you develop blisters. It is grown near the southwestern edge of the lake where they grow on a patch. We normally leave them alone but the wax can be used as an antivenom to many poisonous creatures," described the old woman. She clutched onto her metal tweezers and picked the plant up and placed it near her face.
"Where did you find this?" she asked him as she peeped up from the floret.
"Some poor girl was murdered at the plant stuffed into the pocket of her robes, one of the guards that came to examine the body touched himself. His co-worker took him to the healer while the cleanup crew arrived, I was hoping you could identify the plant so that I may learn more about the suspect. I do however have another question," responded Palartok.
The old woman placed the small plant in a bucket she was going to have it tossed out later. She fixated her glasses on him because they slipped off quite a bit over time as they conversed. Palartok requested, "They mentioned the victim is like the daughter of the magistrate, I forgot the town leader's name. As a local here I feel you may know where I can find the magistrate."
The old woman blinked her eyes rapidly as if she didn't catch what he said, "I'm sorry repeat that," she said.
"The magistrate's daughter was killed I must know where she lives so I may bring the news to her," repeated Palartok.
"Lianhua is...dead?" Palartok heard the sadness in her tone he slightly frowned he guessed that maybe the old woman was kin of the victim. A sniffle came from the old lady with tears now in her eyes, she wiped her tears with her left sleeve.
She then sighed, "I...I'm her maternal grandmother and my daughter and my granddaughter live on the other side of town. When you find the bridge with yellow and green painted slabs of wood, you're in the right direction from there it's only three blocks toward the middle-class section of the city."
"My daughter's name is Tian'e, once you tell her I know she'll contact Lianhua's now widower. Guanfu moved in with Lianhua about a month ago, the strange thing the boy comes from a noble family in Dao but has no money himself. Quite strange," said the old woman.
"My deepest condolences I'll take what you said into consideration," finished Palartok before he bowed before the old woman in respect and exited the herbalist's shop. Palartok ventured out toward the magistrate's office in the middle section of Poyang while he thought about what the old woman told him.
After thirty minutes he reached the walled governmental building it was separate from what would've been her house. Usually, Kingsmen governors or government officials worked from their homes while he now saw that not all of them did. He was greeted by the guards at the gates of the building.
"State your business," one of the said.
"I am looking for Magistrate Tian'e, I have grim news to bring her," replied Palartok.
One of the guards nodded and pushed the gate door open with his hand, this was a sign that indicated Palartok was permitted to enter. He entered the building a few people shuffled about probably the staff of the magistrate. A man sat at a desk his eyes moved upward when the door opened and closed, a Tribesman in his midst. He thought nothing about him though he was distracted by the man's sudden fascination to scan the room.
A bit annoyed he asked the man, "Can I help you with...something?"
"Yes I'm looking for the magistrate," answered Palartok.
"Do you have an appointment with Lady Hu?" he inquired further, Palartok shook his head, "I need to bring her grim news about something and I'd rather not get into detail."
A door slid open a woman popped her head out and called out to the man behind the desk, "Hey Mishu can you cancel my three hours past noon appointment with the union of agriculture?"
"Y-yes, Madam Hu," the lanky assistant jumped when he heard her voice.
Palartok saw the woman and walked over to her without the secretary's permission to go any further. The middle-aged woman was caught by surprise when Palartok opened the door unannounced.
She jumped back a bit scared because she was unaware of who the man was, he apologized, "I'm sorry for the intrusion I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But your daughter Lianhua as one of the guards called her was murdered today during the farmer's market."
The woman tipped forward like an ancient tower demolished to build new things she fainted in Palartok's hands. Palartok dragged her out of the room, her assistant bugged eye jumped out of his seat and shouted, "What did you do?!"
"She fainted when I told her, her daughter was killed!" responded Palartok, he pushed his chair over to Palartok so that the Tribesman could sit the woman down.
Palartok pulled moisture out of the air while the assistant looked around for an item to use to wake her up. He gave a light slap with a water whip that brought her back. She gulped for air and then gave an ear-splitting shriek that led straight to bawl of tears. The guards barged in when they heard the scream weapons raised at Palartok, her assistant Mishu rose his hands and explained the situation.
The men lowered their spears during the highly stressed situation Palartok aimed to calm the woman down enough to question her. It took them a few minutes to get her to stop crying to a point where she was easier to understand. Palartok mentioned, "I recall seeing a swine floret in her robe pockets, do you know anything about that?"
The childless mother's eyes were red and still filled with tears she patted Mishu on the shoulder and pointed toward a lectern in her office. The secretary dashed into her office to grab the box which contained records of this year thus far. He searched through them until he found the appropriate scroll when he opened it he skimmed through.
He read aloud to Palartok, "There has been an ongoing investigation on this she's the second one murdered this year. The last girl was married to a man and she was murdered at night as she strolled through the local cemetery. A swine floret was found in the pockets on her tunic, we believe it's a sign. But the person we dubbed the Butcher leaves without a trace and has targeted only married women. Just last year in the autumn three more were killed not necessarily here but one in Gongzhu was killed and two here in Pingyao, this is the fifth death we've now recognized is linked to the Butcher."
"I've spoken to your mother she's the herbalist I brought the flower too when she explained to me about your daughter, she mentioned that she was just married to this low-class noble. The thing that puzzled her however is that your son-in-law moved in with you instead of your daughter moving to Dao province where he's supposed to be from," remembered Palartok.
"Yes Guanfu is from Dao, his father owns a porcelain pottery business on the island province, Guanfu moved here about three months ago. I've never seen Lianhua so in love before she had recently gotten out of a five-year relationship with another man, you don't mean to tell me that Guanfu killed my daughter?" nodded the magistrate, then she hypothesized about her new son-in-law and his fortune.
"Guanfu mentioned to Lianhua he ran away from home because of inheritance issues, he comes from the He family. I wouldn't dare suspect he did something..he-he loved her. But if you'd like to investigate records on him you're more than free to," recalled the magistrate she permitted Palartok to investigate if desired to.
Meanwhile, in Bei Fu, Lord Cupun, Anuun, and Issumatar circled the map displayed on a table while in front of each man was a small box with green and blue markers. The map was a detailed variation of the Yu province which provided every village, point of interest, town, city, the capital, and even forts and roads.
"Fort Zhezhong is surrounded by flat grasslands according to the scouts who've returned safely this morning. The grasses can reach to your waistline, this can potentially be deadly towards us there could be traps or pits in the ground," briefed Issumatar.
"How big is this fort anyway?" inquired Cupun.
"It's about a quarter of the size of Bei Fu, so it's not very big according to messages intercepted from couriers. Colonel Qian who runs the fort has requested an extra deployment of two thousand soldiers from Yumen," answered Anuun.
"How many can each fort usually hold?" Cupun asked both men, "About five thousand troops but I'd say it caps at fifty-five hundred men, that includes the staff that clean and cook," Anuun responded.
"With the scouts that might have been captured if they weren't killed and may be imprisoned in Fort Zhezhong. If they still live they could've told their captors the number of soldiers here, they'd need a bigger army to wipe us out. At least I do believe if they fail again their governor might send a division of Kingsmen soldiers our way," added Issumatar.
"This is why it's important to thin the herd, milord," Anuun agreed.
"I agree with you both on this, how many men would you need?" he exchanged looks with both generals, "We can overpower them, as usual, I'd say eight thousand men should suffice," suggested Issumatar.
"The nineteen bombardiers as air support and thirty trebuchets will make a great asset to this battle," hinted Anuun.
"Take them with you, I'd send orders out now and get them ready, I want Zhezhong burned to the ground in the next three days. We cannot let Yumen muster a bigger army to take Bei Fu," Cupun approved both Issumatar and Anuun saluted the former chieftain of the North and exited the building.
The orders were given Fort Zhezhong will be taken in honor of Prince Unaraq, the late crowned prince of the Southern Water Tribe. Hours later, it was dark Jushi and Rong Yan had gone out for food this evening and they finally returned to the mansion. From the courtyard, they noticed a ton of men as they marched toward the gates of the city. General Anuun walked up the steps he wanted to check up on Chieftain Unirak since he's been busy all day and wasn't able to see the chief.
"General Anuun what's going on?" asked Rong Yan.
"The men have been ordered to march to Fort Zhezhong, they're going to take the fort from the Qiangdians in honor of the fallen prince," smiled Anuun. He resumed up the steps and entered the mansion. Jushi and Rong Yan followed suit it was nighttime and they were headed off to bed now since they had a long day of training.
Rong Yan got into bed and quickly found himself asleep at the same time, Unaraq feasted on the food bar he was given. He had lost his sense of time he was unaware of whether it had been morning or night, a day or a few weeks. After he finished his meal he returned to meditation like the night before he felt he needed to try and contact Rong Yan.
Unaraq could hear Aloi's voice inside his head he missed her so much he kept himself from tears because he needed to concentrate on a clear state of mind. He sat there for a few minutes but he saw nothing he continued to maintain his breathing and persevere, this was his greatest challenge in life thus far.
Rong Yan awoke to cold night sweats again he panted and felt that eerie presence from the evening before. He sat up in bed and he saw another flicker of light in the dark corner of the room he slept in, he peered closely and saw Unaraq's form he seemed frightened and he looked worse for wear. He saw that Unaraq screamed for help but he heard no sound. Rong Yan stood up and slowly shuffled to the apparition he saw. When he neared the vision it vanished.
Unaraq gasped for air he too shared a strange sweat as if it physically exerted him, he panted to maintain his breath again. He didn't know how Aloi and Rong Yan were so great at this he tried his best but nothing happened. He sat on his bed and lowered his head tears ran down his face his body was bruised up.
Rong Yan sat down on the rug and meditated a blue spectre split from the Avatar, it was the bald Air Avatar who granted him the ability to project his spirit. The Saint of Knowledge as he was known to the Nomadic people, "Avatar Rong Yan I can sense desperation and grief in your soul, what's wrong?" guessed the former Avatar.
"I keep getting visions of my friend who passed away a few nights ago, for the past two nights I've woken from a cold sweat. Only to see a vision of him like he needs help but I can't hear what he's shouting," explained Rong Yan.
Mun Jin's voice echoed, "Hmm..it seems your friend is not dead. If you are receiving these visions its because he's somewhere and he's striving to contact you but is failing. Your friend is very much alive, young one."
"Have you made an effort on contacting him?" Mun Jin questioned Rong Yan, the Avatar shook his head.
"Your astral projection has gotten stronger since we've last spoke. I can feel it, now more than ever closer to the Summer Solstice. I can sense death in your future but not of your own when you need me I'll be there...," observed Mun Jin then he vanished.
Rong Yan took in a deep breath and cleared his mind of everything except Unaraq, his eyes flashed white he was in the process of astral projection. A guard that passed by while on his rounds witnessed the flash of light front the Avatar's quarters and ran toward the chieftain's quarters.
Rong Yan's spirit exited his body as he soared through the skies toward Unaraq's location. He appeared in Unaraq's cell. It was dank and dark wherever he was, Unaraq turned around as he tried to sleep but he couldn't. He shouted in fear when he saw Rong Yan's spirit in the room.
He fell off his cot and rubbed his head, "R-Rong Yan is that you?" he questioned the spirit.
"Unaraq you're alive!" cried out Rong Yan, Unaraq shed a tear and had begun to cry again, "I-I've been through so much torture in the past few days. I was captured by the Qiangdian Kingsmen..I-I'm in their city. I can't remember the name right now but it's huge, while I was being transported I saw water. So I must be near the coast."
"Wait you're glad I'm alive?" he asked the Avatar. Rong Yan nodded, "The search parties found nothing, nothing but a bloodied club they believed to be yours. Your dad is not in a stable state of mind right now, he thinks his only son is gone. And Aloi is not much different either I haven't seen her since the vigil. I projected to Tanaraq and shared the grim news, we all thought you were gone but this whole time you were contacting me."
"My meditation worked?!" he wondered, a desperate tone in his voice.
"I couldn't hear you but I was able to see you for a moment, I'm going to need you to remember the name," repeated Rong Yan.
"I think they're going to execute me, if I'm dead my father goes back home and abandons Cupun," worried Unaraq.
"You're not going to die I'll do what it takes you find you, I promise," Rong Yan whispered as he vanished.
Unaraq reached out to the spirit form of his friend and shouted, "Rong Yan wait!"
The next morning over, Palartok exited his room and into the dining hall of the inn where he was served complimentary breakfast from the inn's staff. He held a small wooden container that contained records on the Guanfu fellow. Everything from a copy of his identification papers, the marriage license between Lianhua and himself, and other things like letters from the local government.
Palartok examined every piece of paper in that box which also included the scrolls, he pulled out one letter, the strange thing that Palartok examined from the page was that the letter wasn't for him. It was for someone named, Banshou.
Palartok was confused as he then decided to fully read the letter it said, "Banshou
You should've stayed just because my sister was murdered doesn't mean we're not family. Tiandi and Yun created a bond with you and Yenay, I know you're grieving but we are too. The guards began their investigation, soon your wife will get the justice she deserves.
I hope you return to your life here in Dao province, my father could use a great worker like you at the pottery shop. I'll keep you updated on the investigation.
Fengzi"
This one was a real eye-opener for Palartok because he recalled when Magistrate Hu mentioned there had been only five deaths of which the records in the Magistrate's office held. The records in his possession, however, came from the records building where records on every person in the town are held. The murder in Dao province hasn't been counted into the Butcher's kill count, this is the only one they're aware of. He opened the other letter this one came from the same sender 'Fengzi', which Palartok guessed to be the brother of the bride killed in Dao.
This letter read, "The guards have done their investigation I thought you loved her the evidence proved that you were the killer. How could you do that?
You have no right to take the life of another, no RIGHT! If you have any ounce of integrity you'd return to Dao and turn yourself in. But we know you don't, you ran off with my sister's life savings like the coward you are. You should grow eyes behind your head because my father hired muscle to find you, may Lord Qin bring you justice, and Yama give you a slow and painful death."
He felt bad and then sighed the family of this poor girl trusted him and they accepted him into the family. It hurt Palartok more in the second letter when Fengzi found out that Banshou if that's even his name was discovered as the killer.
As he searched through the box some more he found a crumpled up piece of parchment, when he unfolded all the wrinkles he realized the crumpled paper was a wanted poster from the province of Gongzhu.
"Wanted: Mingzi Xuduo
Mingzi Xuduo is wanted for matricide, and grand theft in the province of Gongzhu, no evidence has proven that the fugitive is an earthbender. Proceed with caution. Is known to go by many names.
Reward: Five Hundred gold coins
By order and decree of Governor Tuliao Bu, he must be turned in alive."
The wanted poster revealed a tricenarian with a sharp jaw, clear and pale skin, brown eyes, and nice medium-long brown hair. He hasn't seen the young man so he's not sure if Guanfu is even the same person although the things he found are certainly enough to incriminate the young man.
After he finished his meal there were other things inside but he decided he didn't need them in the time being. He hurried back into his rented room and left the box there behind the bed frame in the room, he needed to have an extra level of security in case the Butcher stalked him from a distance.
Meanwhile, Unaraq awoke to the sounds of the door of his cell opening while's been in the cell underground he's lost a great deal of the sense of time. He wasn't sure what the time here was. The soldiers lowered his head and placed a cloth over his head so that Unaraq wouldn't be able to memorize the hallways.
Once the rag was removed the hot midday sun radiated strongly that it blinded him, unable to cover his eyes with his hands he was heavily escorted to the courthouse in the Noble District.
After about an hour of a carriage cell ride to the building, he found himself reunited with his brothers-in-arms. The other scouts seemed mostly fine one of the men however was beaten as he had gotten into a fight the afternoon before with a Kingsmen prisoner. All four men were lined up with Unaraq being in the front to be led into the courtroom where several strangers sat near the right wall, a woman sat on a large platform with a built-in counter that had a gavel positioned on top of it to her left side. There were about ten guards inside, Unaraq and the men were chains and were ordered to line up in front of the woman.
The short old woman that sat on the ta, was also joined by another older gentleman that happened to be General Tsuyo-sa. The old woman began the trial, "I am Governor Wenhua Shangye, prisoners, and is it might come as a shock to you if your friends can't understand me I can change the language to Tribesmen."
She cleared her throat, "We are here to begin the trial of the Southern Water Tribe prince and his scouts versus the province of Yu, plaintiff please rise and give your opening statement."
General Tsuyo-sa kept a blank face and gave a single nod he stood on his feet and began his recollection, "In my years of service for the Qiangda Kingdom army it has taught me one thing, that we all pay the price one way or another for our actions whether they're the greater good or the greater evil. In war it doesn't matter who's right it'll only determine who's left. This court proceeding is one for the history books it has been over a thousand years since a ruling monarch of an enemy country was put on trial. I know this much to my ancestors."
"My opening statement involves much of war and history, one that we've had with the Northern Water Tribe for the longest of time. One that even their sister tribe, the Southern tribe in the South Pole couldn't stay out of and so they united as one. Since the Thirty Year War in the era of Ku Tei, have the Tribesmen saught to place colonies right under our noses," continued Tsuyo-sa.
"After many years of war, suffering, and death the Tribesmen have committed several atrocities now we're making them pay, now the fallen will receive justice," finished the general.
"Thank you, general, defendant you may speak," said Governor Shangye, all the men exchanged looks and so Unaraq stepped forward while still in chains.
"My opening statement is much like his, one that has seen the brutality of the Qiangdian Kingsmen and exposes them to all the war crimes they've committed. War crimes that the international committee started by Fire nationalists centuries before our time, would have done everything in their power to stop the Qiangdian war machine. My people have only acted as a direct result from the actions of the Qiangda Kingdom," said Unaraq.
Governor Shangye then resumed, "Will one of the witnesses from the raid please stand up?" she questioned on of the many strangers who've sat down and waited patiently for everything to begin. A man left third from the back row rose to his feet. The governor questioned him, "You were there at the siege of Bei Fu, were you not?"
The man nodded, "And you survived what happened?" she asked him.
"They came at night they razed the village nearby and then they infiltrated the harbor, Magistrate Ci went down first. When the navy arrived that completely dismantled the small force of ships that we had..." paused the man tears filled his eyes and his eyes went red. He sniffled, "These savages killed my family, my beloved wife, and my two children were slaughtered as if they were pickens killed by a farmer."
"Will the survivor of the scout camps that were sent to scout Bei Fu please stand up," requested Governor Shangye.
"Activity from the city was pretty much concealed we've spent weeks around the city's edge, but they came at night. When the war drums echoed, we knew our end was nigh. We were picked off soon after a camp lost to a group of three hundred men, I was the only one who played dead like a possum chicken and survived it all," said the eyewitness.
"Who was the one who survived the recent battle?" inquired the governor.
A soldier raised his hand and then rose to his feet as well, "We came with a large enough army to finally take our city but we underestimated their numbers, there were men with cannons, trebuchet, bastillae, and men on giant birds. I've never seen a battle end so fast, only five hundred of us surrendered and we made out alive, our commanding officers were burned alive by the Tribesmen even after we rose the white flag," recalled the soldier.
"The Tribesmen have by chance survived this entire ordeal, they've only taken our garrisons and our city of Bei Fu by ambush. The Tribesmen are cowards that never fight front-in-center and head-on, even when they have smaller numbers their specialty in war should not be underestimated. In my opinion with the experience, I have mustered it is important to dispatch a Tribesman immediately. Allowing them to live long enough will be your end," claimed Tsuyo-sa after he said this he fiddled with the ends of his mustache.
"Thank you will the defendant please speak on their behalf, do you have any evidence to provide?" questioned Wenhua. The three scouts exchanged looks again and one of them stepped forward in chains and said, "We're merely pawns in this war, governor. We're only following orders, to decline these orders in our culture is treason. And as such is an immediate execution on the spot."
Unaraq lowered his head and sighed, "If you think that I am responsible for the war that you fight with my people. You are wrong. More wrong that you can ever imagine, I've not involved in the specificities of war. I am not your enemy, and if I am could same be said about any heir or ruler of the Qiangdian Dynasty? Is an unborn child of Qiangdian blood responsible for the deaths of Tribesmen soldiers or civilians?"
"You're the son of the chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe, it is your responsibility. You should face the actions of your father and that of your country with responsibility and maturity. How dare you compare yourself to an heir of the Qiangda Kingdom, y-" hissed Tsuyo-sa before he was cut off by Governor Wenhua.
"General, that is enough!" she ordered Tsuyo-sa.
"IF the roles were reversed I'd do everything in my power..nay I'd release the imprisoned crowned prince. For he is not the one responsible for the crimes committed, his father is and therefore his father would be tried," asserted Unaraq.
"In my twenty-six-winters of living, I've never involved in war only politics because my father knew that in my reign as chieftain there would be no war. You're making a grave mistake I'm a simple politician and while I'm a crowned prince. I am an asset to the Avatar, and his friend, so I ask for myself and my friends to be released," maintained Unaraq, Tsuyo-sa gave a horrid and ugly laugh, the old woman slammed her gavel onto the counter in front of her, "Not another word, general!"
"Where is this Avatar of yours? Last I remember the Avatar sided with Earth King Qiang Zhen, this would be impossible the Avatar is an elderly man retired in Ba Sing Se," answered Governor Shangye.
"With all due respect, you'd have to be living under a rock to know that the new Avatar has been alive for the past twenty-three-winters. The Avatar is of the Fire Nation, his name is Rong Yan and he is my best friend. If I'm imprisoned here any longer he'll come looking for me, would you risk yourself and the lives of your civilians only to face the wrath of the Avatar," claimed Unaraq.
"He's a liar! Avatar Ku Tei is still alive he visited Ru province five weeks ago!" piped one of the men in the witness stand. The old woman slammed gavel onto the wooden surface, "Order!" she shouted.
She took a gander at the general he sat there as he attentively listened to everything she inquired further, "Is this true?"
"Of course madame governor, this man is trying to lie his way out of this trial and toying with your emotions. I can assure you the Avatar is still alive and perfectly healthy at one hundred and forty-three years old," lied Tsuyo-sa. He truly wanted to see the crowned prince of the Southern Tribesmen face justice for the war crimes that he believed was committed by the snowbacks.
Governor Wenhua grasped her hammer again and struck the counter, "Thank you for the evidence and counter-argument you have given. I think I have made my final decision."
"Crowned Prince Unaraq, Sivullik, Tullik, and Pingajuk, I hereby sentence you to be put to death for the war crimes committed by the Southern and Northern Water Tribes. Your executions will happen here in Yumen in the next twenty-four hours," declared Governor Shangye. She slammed the gavel down one last time.
She stood from her seat, Unaraq and the other three's jaws all dropped, Unaraq had begun to sob. The governor advised the men, "I suggest you spend your final moments thinking about your families and praying to your gods so that your transition from the world of the living is easy towards the world of the dead, may Tiandi have mercy on all your souls."
"Justice!" yelled one in happiness.
"Lord Qin prevails again!" another exclaimed.
The guards escorted all the men back to their respective cells each guard notified the men that they were permitted by the governor to request any kind of food as their final meal. Unaraq requested his favorite snack if it could be found in the city. He returned to his corner where he wept loudly, these were his final hours because tomorrow during an hour past the afternoon.
Fort Zhezhong, Yu, Qiangda Kingdom
The stars filled and emerged in the night sky several men headed off for slumber while the night patrols of the fort stood vigilant in the watch and safety of the garrison. The seventy-eight hundred soldiers marched toward their location as they followed a lesser chief from one of the regions of the South Pole.
Above them in the air was a fleet of bombardiers, nineteen men in the sky to be exact, behind them were thirty trebuchets that rolled through the open fields, ninety operators in total.
The men knew exactly what needed to be done the bombardiers were the first to head in, There were nine of the oil cask men in the front and the incendiary bombardiers in the back. Several bannermen flew the banners of the Southern and Northern Water Tribes while their war drums were strapped onto the saddles of their mounts as they waited for the right moment they marched slowly toward the enemy fort. Built-in a similar fashion as the others this one sat dead center in a grassy field.
A Kingsmen soldier stood on top of the wall as he stared blankly into the darkness in the distance he made out a small flock of birds and thought nothing. He carried on with his patrol at the same time, the men on the mammoth bustards saw forms of men on top of the wall. One of the bombardiers noticed a guard react, he stabbed the knuckles of the left gauntlet that protected his hand.
This resulted in a deafening screech of the massive bird which signaled the others that now was the time. The triangle formation made by the bombardiers split in two the bombardiers with the oil casks flew around the tops of the walls and dropped barrels of oil that splashed all over the tops.
The men realized what happened and some ran for the watchtowers. The other formation of mammoth bastards swiftly passed by and threw incendiary bombs everyone caught in the explosion either immediately died or currently ran around as they burned.
When the Tribesmen saw the walls of fire rise on the tops of the fort's fortifications it was their signal. The gongs failed to go off, the drums of war were banged on by several bannermen that raced toward the fortress. Incendiary, flash bombs, and others were dropped onto the stragglers that weren't able to escape the fire on the walls.
The trebuchets rolled in and the men rolled boulders to the nets, the operators, and slammed their hammers onto the levers. The earth projectiles soared across the sky and shook the fortress with every boulder that collided with the walls.
Several of the soldiers awoke to sounds of explosives that went on, the fortress shook with immense force. Colonel Qian assumed it was an earthquake that ravaged through the area and headed toward his tower aperture to see Tribesmen on mammoth bustards and they flew inside the fort freely. The walls of flames engulfed the fort's walls which changed the color of the lighting from a dark blue to a yellow color.
He dashed to his office for the drum stick, he returned to the gong in his tower and banged it so hard, archers ran out of the barracks quickly. But they realized they couldn't get themselves a good vantage point while the top of the walls was still on fire. The bombardiers flew away from the fort several of the men were now ready a battle cry went off from inside the fort that echoed toward the outside eight thousand warriors marched toward Fort Zhezhong.
Colonel Qian sent out a distress message that they were being ambushed by the Tribesmen forces. The bird flew but was immediately shot down by an archer from the invading force. The mammoth bustards landed near the trebuchets the engineers that weren't needed at their trebuchets lifted barrels and strapped them onto the mammoth bustards before they returned to stations.
As the gates of Fort Zhezhong slid open with the force of twenty earthbenders the five thousand defenders charged into battle. The drums in the distance grew louder, cannons were hauled in by the bannermen with cannoneers near them.
A barrage of arrows flew covered the sky, death from above rained some of the non-benders raised shields. Those who weren't covered over quick enough to get behind the shield walls were immediately impaled in key locations that caused severe blood loss and even death. The shield walls went down a volley of arrows from the defenders now in the sky, the Kingsmen realized the waterbenders were defenseless without their native element in the area.
"The Tribesmen have no water, they're powerless! For the Qiangda Kingdom!" roared one of the soldiers.
"For the Earth King, long may he reign!" another screamed as the men all roared into battle.
They charged forward the war drummers now at ear-splitting volumes. A barrage of arrows went off followed by waterbenders who all performed the same forms and movements. Grass around them died in front of their eyes as a hail of icicles rained down and impaled several men. Those men were dead wrong, the majority were shocked and confused the Tribesmen warriors collided with the Kingsmen soldiers.
Shields slammed into faces, bodies fell dead from impaled swords, axes that caused major damage to the body, and or cracked skulls with maces. The earthbenders worked together to push back their enemies' walls formed in front of non-benders. Blades were dug into the walls of earth before they sunk, a few of the warriors had gone unarmed and lost their blades.
Polar bear dogs leaped high into the air and pounced on their targets, others watched at their comrades were mauled to death. An arrow flew at a polar bear dog's head a warrior jumped in front and intervened his shield took the hit. When he moved it to his side a large warrior charged at him with a war hammer, a waterbender threw water at his head and froze it. The warrior with the shield darted his head to the side and waved to the waterbender who saved his life.
The grass around the field began to wither and die, some of the enemy soldiers noticed this and met their ends to water warriors that wielded blades on their hands. A water warrior and a warrior clashed their weapons. The water warrior's ice weapons were too weak and shattered on impact, an opening was made and the young warrior was exposed. The soldier took this to his advantage and lunged at the young water warrior. He kicked the surprised and distraught rookie off his bloodied blade and ran off to dispatch other Tribesmen.
At the same time, found himself in his room after a long day it was now midnight and so before he headed to bed he decided to check on his friend Unaraq. He sat down in nomad positioned and projected his spirit into the prison where he discovered Unaraq last time. Unaraq had huddled in the corner asleep with his head in between his knees.
"Unaraq!" shouted Rong Yan, the crowned prince startled hit his head onto the wall behind him, "Ahh! Ow!" he cried out.
He rubbed his head, "Rong Yan! It's so good to see you! The trial was today, it was extremely one-sided. The Kingsmen won the trial I'm going to be executed tomorrow with the scouting party."
"What?! Did you defend yourself? Did you mention we're friends?" Rong Yan blurted out an assortment of questions for his imprisoned friend.
"Y-yes and it's not enough, they don't care. They didn't believe me, the governor was so gullible she believed the word of her general who lied to her and told her Ku Tei was still alive. They denied your existence, maybe they were in on it," Unaraq shook head and then summarized what had occurred after he was sentenced to death.
"I'm coming for you, where are you?" worried Rong Yan the tone of concern in his voice.
"The governor mentioned the name of the city was Yumen," answered Unaraq.
"Yumen...Yumen..." mumbled Rong Yan while he thought about where he's heard of that name before.
"Are you still in Yu province?" inquired Rong Yan, Unaraq nodded, "Yeah I-I'm still in Yu. You might need to break into my dad's quarters or even into the war room and steal one of the maps. I have until the afternoon tomorrow and then it's over for me..."
"I'm coming don't worry, it's not over yet..." promised Rong Yan as he vanished, he bolted for his room door and ran toward the war room.
Rong Yan muffled the sound of his footsteps as he removed the sound of everything within a specific radius. He slipped into the war room where he saw the detailed map of the Yu province on the table and snatched it. He jumped out the window and air-jetted onto the roof of the war room.
From there he snuck back into his room where he examined the map to locate the location of Yumen. The city was slightly northwest of Bei Fu, the estimated number of times between Bei Fu and Yumen by ground mount was two days and a half, he knew this would be halved on a flying mount let alone a dragon could get there faster than a sky bison.
He rummaged through the lectern and desk in his quarters and found clean parchment and black ink in a vial. He continued to search and discovered a brand new quill, he used woodblocks to flatten the parchment and he wrote a letter to whoever would find it. He hovered his hand and held a small heatwave over his hand which allowed the ink to dry in a matter of seconds. He rolled up the scroll and tied it with a light green ribbon and left it on top of his bed.
Rong Yan dashed madly toward Shen where he prepared the saddle of his dragon and opened the gates of the pen to escort the dragon to a landing area where he could prepare for flight. Before he could leave he was confronted by Chieftain Unirak who was concerned about Avatar's sudden decision to make a trip at midnight.
"Avatar Rong Yan?" he called out to the young man, Rong Yan lowered his head and sighed.
He turned to face his elder and asked him, "Yeah..er- I mean yes, chieftain?"
"...my Unaraq is not dead is he?" the chieftain eyed his son's friend in the eyes he had hoped that his guess was indeed true and that the Avatar knew something.
Rong Yan nodded, "Yeah...he's not dead...he was captured by the Kingsmen and sent off to Yumen. I'm going to go risk my life to save him...as I told Jushi...I'd rather have Unaraq over the world."
Unirak sniffled and wiped his tear, "Thank you, Avatar Rong Yan. You give me hope and I can see that you truly love my son as your friend."
"Unaraq is my family," commented Rong Yan, Unirak embraced the Avatar and shed a tear, "Please..return safely.."
He released Rong Yan from the hug but still held his hands on the Avatar's shoulders, they both exchanged smiles. Rong Yan removed his hat and handed it to Unirak, "Can you hold this for me until I get back?" wondered Rong Yan. Unirak chuckled and nodded, Rong Yan jumped onto Shen's neck and flew off into the air, the wind flowed through the chieftain's hair. He waved farewell to the Avatar before he returned to his quarters.
Poyang, Pingyao, Qiangda Kingdom
Palartok skulked all around the city and remained unseen to guards, citizens, and even his key target Xuduo Mingzi, a murderer wanted for matricide and grand theft in the province of Gongzhu. He found himself to be just outside of the home of the magistrate which is where Lianhua lived before being killed. As her grandmother had said the day before she thought it was strange that her noble husband moved in with Lianhua and his mother-in-law.
The home was walled as all governmental officials usually have their homes with extra security and fortifications. He needed to get past the guards, the air in Pingyao however wasn't moist enough to conjure a mist. Luckily enough the guards hadn't detected him while he hid in the bushes, he slipped past the men and up over the walls.
He pussyfooted carefully through the courtyard and opened the slide doors into the home. He knew that if he were to be caught he would be arrested for breaking and his entire mission would be over. The magistrate would have lost her trust with him and the criminal in question would have seen his face. He resumed with stealth-like tactics and he gently slid open each other to peek inside. He hid in one of the rooms and closed the door when a patrol strolled by. He backpedaled until his ankle hit a chest he turned around to see that it was indeed a chest that needed to be opened by it carried a lock.
Palartok blew his breath onto the lock and watched as the lock itself shattered then he opened the strongbox. The large lid of it creaked as he gently opened the old container inside he found weapons and jewelry. Expensive jewelry his eyes searched around the room for clues of what room he might've entered. The moonlight shone into the window nearby and reflected off the wall where he found a small portrait with a couple painted on it.
The couple seemed young, the young man kissed the toothy-smiled girl. His eyes were open in the painting the distinct features recognized as the one's shown on the wanted poster from Gongzhu. He found Xuduo's quarters, the bed's sheets weren't nicely smooth instead they seemed as if they were just used. They were wrinkled and contorted where they rested in the small bottom right corner of the mattress.
Palartok searched further where he found deeds and other important documents out of the shadowed areas of the room. There he found a letter when he grabbed the corner of it he realized the ink was still fresh. IT had recently been written he thought he moved his thumb that smudged a character of the note.
"I am angry and frustrated after all this time I feel as if Lord Qin finally had the last laugh. Perhaps he and Mother Yun worked together to place me on this path. I married Hu Lianhua three months ago, I lived here on the streets for about a few months now. I cleaned myself up after I realized the girl had money.
I fabricated a story out of the last victim, I told them I came from Dao and that my family was a low-class nobility family who owned a porcelain pottery business. When I married her I revealed to her that my father left me with nothing because of a supposed fight we had and I explained why I was homeless here in Poyang for some time.
I moved in with her and her mother, both her mother and grandmother accepted me as family. I was catered to by servants, and protected by estate guards when I went out of the estate to do some errands for my wife. Ahh how much I missed this life from the previous marriage in Dao. I had gotten comfortable to it honestly, I orchestrated this plan carefully since my marriage with Lianhua was official.
I pretended that I was ill and sent her off for some errands when I felt she had been gone long enough from the gates. I followed on the rooftops the farmer's market was the perfect distraction, I came from above and lodged a hudie jian in her torso. I made sure to plant the swine floret in her robe pockets as my signature to prove "The Butcher" as they call me here in Poyang, was indeed my kill. The disturbing look on her face when she realized that her loving husband was the one who murdered her.
I cried alongside her mother when the news finally made its way to me, by Qiangdian law, the widow or widower of a person who has passed usually receives the inheritance of riches to the widow or widower. If the widow in question was married to a soldier or government official they were exempt from taxation. When the money came into my grasp it was very little I received, I carefully reviewed Lianhua's will and learned that she had no money. Not even her mother Magistrate Hu, her grandmother came from a poor family. The Hu family had no money whatsoever.
I did learn that Magistrate Hu before he died had another family, from his first marriage, his children were already adults and lived in other areas of the Pingyao province. In the records building, I found his final records where his will was also discovered and not in the personal study of the Magistrate. He left no financial inheritance to his second marriage, only to the members of his first marriage. The second marriage by law received the position and title of the Magistrate of the town. His wife was given the position as per request from the will. His daughter to be next in line as Magistrate."
An arm wrapped around Palartok's neck. The voice of a stranger whispered, "Who are you? And what are you doing in my chest? Any sudden movements and I snap your neck, stranger."
He felt startled but made no reaction, the young man placed a grip on the former Fleet Admiral's throat he was ready to break Palartok neck and kill him. Through raspy breaths, as the former admiral tried to speak and breathe he answered, "I..I wa-"
Palartok used all the strength he could muster and lifted the man's weight and slammed the man in the shadows over his torso. The wind was knocked out of the stranger as it came as a shock as to him, it wasn't expected that this would happen.
He expected the intruder to comply with his every order until the guards arrived. Palartok placed his boot on the man's throat, he unrolled the wanted poster he held in his sash.
"..Bounty...hunter...," muttered the man he gritted his teeth and anger.
"Xuduo Mingzi," Palartok took a long shot and guessed that was the stranger's name it would make perfect sense that he was the man. He was in the home and when Palartok entered the room he was placed in a chokehold and threatened.
The young man's eyes widened when Palartok called him by his name, a guard from the halls heard the commotion that he burst through the door with a sword in hand. He barked orders at Palartok, "Let him go now! Or your dead!"
Magistrate Hu along with three other estate guards arrived she saw the guard with his sword pointed at an intruder. She had a confused expression on her face as she wondered what occurred in the house then her eyes met with the Tribesman investigator from the day before.
"You," she whispered then gave an angry reaction, "I did not give you permission to break into my home and assault my son-in-law," she exclaimed angrily.
Palartok pressed more pressure on the murderer's throat then he extended his hand with the wanted poster. The magistrate stepped forward but the estate guard who still pointed the sword at the intruder held her back. With his sword as he inched closer to the Tribesman, he snatched the wanted poster and handed it to Magistrate Hu.
The woman covered her mouth in disbelief her eyes went from a clear white to bloodshot in a matter of seconds. As a rush of emotions and tears filled her in an emotionally quavered voice while she strived to fight back tears she ordered the estate guards, "Stand down...and arr-arrest Guanfu..or should I say Xuduo.."
The three guards approached Palartok and the man who desperately needed air and escape he removed his foot when the two guards forced the criminal onto his back as the third wrapped rope around his wrists. As she sobbed the man who previously held the blade and pointed toward Palartok told him, "I know he was wanted in Gongzhu even after you've broken into my boss's home. I'm sure she's willing to look the other way, thank you for exposing him for who he is. I'll convince Madame Hu to reward you from our coffers. Once we transport him over to the authorities in Bu'Keng we'll refill our coffers with the reward."
"Thank you, I only did what needed to be done," thanked Palartok he gave a slight smile and left the estate. Accomplished about this mission he headed back for the inn he paid to stay in for the night he needed the rest for tomorrow morning.
The next morning came, Palartok awoke to a knock on the door of his rented inn room he rubbed his eyes awake and stumbled to the door still exhausted from the evening before. Magistrate Hu stood in front of the door with two estate guards, she gave a warm smile. Her eyes were swollen and red the poor woman mostly likely cried all night.
"My guard captain convinced me to pay you upfront with five hundred gold coins as your reward even if he's wanted in Gongzhu province. We'll refill that sum once we turn him over to the appropriate authorities," said Magistrate Hu.
Palartok opened the small sack which revealed to be filled with five small gold ingots of which he only took two of the ingots which are equal to two hundred gold coins.
He handed the sack back to the Magistrate, "I read a letter in his chest it still had fresh ink he must've written it recently. He was angry that after he murdered your daughter, Lianhua, that she had no money to inherit to him as her rightful spouse. I'd like you to have the rest of the reward to do whatever you see fit."
"I only acquire this amount for travel, my final destination being Yu province," smiled Palartok, Magistrate Hu threw her arms around Palartok as a form of thankfulness she whispered in his ear, "Thank you so much."
Fort Zhezhong, Yu, Qiangda Kingdom
The battle raged on throughout the entire night for several hours no army prevailed over the other although a great many amounts of casualties have occurred. Five trebuchets have been destroyed with fire arrows from the archers on the fields. The fort itself has lost all wooden buildings that have only left the stone walls of the fort itself.
The infrastructure was greatly damaged the southern wall of the fort crumbled two hours before morning. There were only thirteen bombardiers now, they had the constant fear of a large earthen missile taking both themselves and their flying mounts out of the sky. Both armies have retreated to create some space bodies littered the grounds in front of them. The lesser chief still lived, one bombardier was taken down from the skies the casks of oil captured by sand traps risen out of the ground by earthbender soldiers.
Boulders were dipped into the oil and lit on fire by torches two earthbenders took Jik Kiu stances and rotated their bodies around once before they launched a boulder engulfed in flames that crushed several warriors. The grass that all the armies stood on was drained and dead, the resource of water for the Tribesmen was spent. They looked at the trenches in front of them created by the Kingsmen, perhaps there was water deep underground.
The lesser chief stared off into the battlefield from the hill he stood on as he watched the battle rage on, he looked over to his captain, "Signal the flare let the benders know they should aim to sense water from those trenches, life is here somewhere," he commanded.
The captain nodded and then shot the flare into the sky after he lit the wick and watched as it flew into the air. It was a light blue color that was still visible even if the sun shone too bright this morning, this gave the benders a chance to sense for water under the ground in the trenches that they stood above.
Hopefully if any they could easily turn the battle for themselves, the Kingsmen had at least twenty-one hundred men while the Tribesmen overpowered them with a strong four thousand men.
This gave the benders the sign that now was the time to aim to sense for water if they could, the others defended the waterbenders while they concentrated on the plan. An entire row of a hundred waterbenders stood side by side in gong bu stances. The waterbenders transitioned from the gong bu to xu bu stances as they pushed and pulled whatever they sensed. They felt the water and so they pushed and pulled hard enough that massive waves burst out of the trenches.
Several men cackled the gods have blessed them with underground water from the alluvial plains they had their feet on. The Kingsmen horrified and disturbed they watched as massive waves rose from out of the ground. The waterbenders in the front line rode the waves graciously as they move freely as if they skated on ice around their opponents. The Kingsmen were being wiped and washed out by the natural underground rivers found by the waterbenders. The cannons that were salvageable also ran out of cannonballs and blasting jelly.
Lieutenant-Colonel Yusheng fled with five others ten hours into the battle when they saw that the Qiangdians weren't able to prevent the siege from having furthered the way it did. They may have deserted their kinsmen and left them for dead but they could still lie their way out of desertion. If no survivors were found from the ruins of Zhezhong, they would've been able to claim any number of things.
Colonel Qian watched from behind the bulwark that was constructed by earthbenders sometime ago, the roar of mythical beast thundered from the skies above. Many men were distracted which allowed those who weren't to kill them. The lesser chief pointed to the skies some of the engineers from the trebuchets saw a red dragon as it continued on its path northwest.
Qian witnessed his legion failed to end the Tribesmen incursion on Fort Zhezhong which laid in ruins as if it had been abandoned for some years. Colonel Qian now desperate searched the area around him. A soldier near him held a spyglass on his eye as he watched the battle from afar, he yanked a sheathed dagger from the leg of the soldier and slit his own throat.
The guard fumbled the spyglass and lost control of himself in a panic. He fell to his knees and pressed his hands onto the Colonel's freshly opened wound. Blood slowly poured out the soldier had never seen gore up close and felt disgusted, emotional, and distraught from the situation he saw too much blood and fainted atop the dying colonel.
Several hours later, the sun rested on the western side of the skies the cascaded blues transitioned to a dandelion yellow with waves of a darkened yellow hue. Shadows were stretched out by the position of the sun at the time of day. Unaraq sat in the corner of his cell, the door opened one final time he was dragged out of the cell and escorted to the market square of Yumen.
This square had a center that was solely dedicated to public executions of career criminals, felons, and prisoners of war. They were blindfolded until they reached the platform where they were going to be executed.
Each man was kicked in their knee pits which forced them to bend their knees along with the strength of two shoulders that forced them down. An executioner arrived he was covered in entirely black clothing which looked as if it had dried blood stains, his arms were covered in chainmail gloves and he brandished his blade he used a sharpening stone to make the blade sharpened enough to cut clean through the men.
Unaraq saw an ocean of civilians that came to see the public execution of the crowned prince of the Southern Water Tribe. His injuries no longer visible on is the body while still hurt he was able to move his body. But this was the end if Rong Yan didn't make it on time. The executioner finished his blade, General Tsuyo-sa walked on top of the stage and announced the commencement of the public execution.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first public execution of prisoners of war in quite some time! Here we have four spies, three of which only serve their nation and our special prisoner the crowned prince of the Southern Water Tribe!" shouted Tsuyo-sa he made it seem as if Unaraq was a grand prized animal headed for slaughter. The crowd roared, who knew how many people would've hated the Water Tribesmen.
"I'm not savage so I'll save the prince for last but his friends? They go to the block first!" decided Tsuyo-sa, Governor Wenhua Shangye wasn't one for the participation of standing near the execution block or on it. She didn't even like being present, she stayed at home where she continued her job as governor of the state uninterested in the bloodshed that General Tsuyo-sa and the others were to partake in.
The executioner now ready he gave Tsuyo-sa a nod, the general took a few steps back from the area where the men were going to be killed. The executioner grabbed one of the scouts from his wolf tail and yanked on it. At this point, Unaraq felt helpless Rong Yan was late. The executioner rose his blade and clean off came the head of the first scout. Unaraq lashed out in fear and anger the crowd roared with laughter. They were surprised a snow savage could even have felt the emotion of fear.
The executioner grabbed the hair of the second scout a roar of monster echoed like thunder from the skies above. Unaraq darted his eyes to the clouds above he whispered, "Rong Yan.." He shed a tear as the second scout fell dead. The third gritted his teeth because his fate now arrived as Anguta was at the doorstep, one last breath, and his neck sprayed blood from the platform. Unaraq now was the final one the crowd burst out into merriment.
The merriment quickly turned in screams as they stared above the executioner's platform an ear-splitting screech produced by the worst nightmares of the citizens. People ran into each other Tsuyo-sa and the executioner darted their heads to the sound. The executioner took one good look and fainted, Tsuyo-sa startled grabbed the blade but as he swiped down Rong Yan suctioned a tied up Unaraq onto the saddle of Shen. The city went into disarray a stranger rode in on a red dragon and saved the prisoner. People scurried into different directions, Shen flew off into the sky as Rong Yan peered down at the Kingsmen city.
A whisper entered his head, "Jump...I will show you my power..."
Rong Yan took a deep breath and jumped off Shen's saddle Unaraq screamed, "Rong Yan! Nooo!"
Rong Yan closed his eyes as he fell from a great height suddenly he felt as if someone else controlled his body because at this moment he took the backseat. Unaraq saw that Rong Yan was no longer falling because now miraculously he flew in the air without the use of a glider or airbending for that matter.
The Avatar State triggered upon the command of Rong Yan's past life Avatar Mun Jin, the screams of citizens as they saw a young man in the sky. Rong Yan shot out fire from his hands, feet, and his mouth and gave a petrified roar that boomed across the capital city.
His voice echoed, "FOR THE CRIMES OF IMPRISONMENT OF MY FRIEND YOU WILL ALL SUFFER THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION!"
"PREPARE TO DIE!" yelled Rong Yan in a rumble the Avatar filled with rage.
Rong Yan flew toward the water, his spirit watched as his past life did things that he could've never been able to do. He witnessed in awe as his body flew above the city. Waves crashed against the harbor, battleships collided into one another, fishermen, dock workers, and citizens ran for their lives toward the city away from the harbor. The docks were engulfed with the water, as this happened the winds had picked up to a cataclysmic degree, merchant stalls, carts, and a variety of other things flew in the northwest direction before they were sucked into a tornado that formed.
The waves crashed with the land as they grew ever tall at the same time, within Governor Shangye's estate the guards ran. This concerned the old woman because the voice of the Avatar hadn't reached her. She swiftly got off her seat and ran over to one of the guards, "What's going on?" she asked with concern.
"Madame Governor you'll never believe it, the prisoner was right. The Avatar is attacking the city in the Avatar State!" screamed one of the guards in a panic. She was confused and in disbelief, she ran outside where she witnessed the terrible scene from her estate. The guards ran in a frenzied panic to their homes their first reaction was to save their families rather than fight back.
She shouted at her sentries and pointed at the Avatar in the sky, "No you idiots! Kill the Avatar!"
She grabbed a spyglass because she wondered why Avatar Ku Tei ravaged the city, her estate walls shook the waves crashed against the walls. She saw as they cracked bit by bit a ray of energy emerged from the Avatar. Through the spyglass, she saw that the Avatar was not the elderly Kingsmen she expected but a young Nationalist in red. A great explosion happened after the energy struck the ground. Another wave hit the walls of the estate and broke through. The governor along with her family within her home was pushed with great force by the waves. Many were caught by surprise as the water enveloped them and their home which was now off the plot it was built on.
Tsuyo-sa created an earth wave and surfed his way to the military quarter where even before his appearance was now the resistance against the Avatar who attacked their city. Trebuchets flung boulders but missed the Avatar for he was too far and high in the air. Rong Yan turned his head in anger when he saw the boulders that crushed homes and unlucky civilians. He inhaled and from his forehead conjured a heat energy blast targeted at the trebuchets.
The engineers watched as they hadn't expected the blast until it was too late, a platoon wiped and incinerated. The provincial guard now deployed made an effort to defend what was left of the city. Rong Yan glided through the air he moved his arms in flowing motions as black clouds formed in the skies and he became a conduit, lightning struck his fingers and he redirected the energy out of his right hand, the lightning arched and split as it bounced off multiple victims and damaged buildings.
The soldiers observed as the end times neared ever closer they ran too Tsuyo-sa barked at them, "You cowards! I'll have you all court-marshaled and executed! Come back!"
Rong Yan plummeted to the ground with great force that caused a massive earthquake that crumbled homes, and other buildings, fallen debris killed many civilians. The shockwave caused the waves to flow into the city's harborside people drowned, fell into chasms beneath the earth, or were sucked up by the tornado that freely ran its course around the city of Yumen.
Rong Yan still filled with immense anger much like Tiandi in religious texts, he took a Ma Bo stance and as the earthquake continued to ravage the city, four volcanoes emerged out of the earth beneath the Avatar's feet. He rapidly moved his arms in circular motions, the volcanoes trembled, and out exploded lava, balls of fire flew into random directions across the city.
Rong Yan in the Avatar State created volcanoes and erupted them to kill Yumenians after their attempt in Unaraq's execution.
Like water, the Avatar controlled the lava that erupted from the four volcanoes and directed its flow into the streets of the city. In the blink of his eyes, Rong Yan found himself in a blur as he stared down at his hands that shook with emotion. He collapsed to his knees, Shen dove down to where his master's body laid exhausted and picked up the Avatar's unconscious body, and reached around and gently dropped Rong Yan onto its saddle. During all this time Unaraq laid next to his friend that came to save him and punished his captors.
He crawled over the edge of the saddle and dropped his jaw, as he viewed the scene and took note of the power of the Avatar. Unaraq saw the city that was filled with life was now leveled and destroyed by upheaval and a disastrous sequence of unnatural disasters caused by one man. As the city disappeared from his sight he rolled over to Rong Yan and watched the stars still in awe of what just happened and sheer gratefulness that he was rescued.
Shen flew above the city of Bei Fu by sunrise, when the sun moved in from the east. Tribesmen soldiers pointed to the sky when they saw the dragon of the Avatar. A soldier ran toward Unirak's quarters, the royal guards woke the chieftain.
"Chieftain I apologize for interrupting your slumber but the Avatar has returned!" beamed the royal guard excitedly.
Unirak gasped and then he got out of bed quickly and dressed and was out the door. Aloi awoke to the loud noises and commotion outside her quarters as she cuddled with Unaraq's fur cape. It was unlike her to consider the idea of snuggling with the fur of a hunted creature, but this belonged to her dead boyfriend. She was curious she opened her door and saw the men rush out, she was scared and followed behind them.
Jushi poked his head out, "What's going on?"
"I don't know!" Aloi responded as she dashed out of the mansion.
Jushi caught up with Aloi as a small crowd of royal guards gathered around Rong Yan's dragon. Unirak ran to the edge of the saddle where he covered his mouth and saw Unaraq asleep next to an unconscious Rong Yan. He grabbed a dagger and cut the rope that restrained his son all while he was in tears. Aloi sprinted to Shen where she saw Unaraq, she screamed as he awoke but slightly smiled when he recognized his father's wrinkled and aged face.
"My boy," whispered the chieftain.
Aloi squealed and fell back as she too covered her mouth she was in disbelief and sobbed when she saw that Unaraq was never dead. He was alive, Jushi climbed Shen's saddle and tried to wake up Rong Yan but the Avatar never awoke.
"He's out and exhausted after he saved my skin, Rong Yan jumped from Shen's saddle. You wouldn't believe the kind of power in that man. He stopped falling I saw him fly without airbending, he destroyed the entire city by himself," claimed Unaraq.
"Truly?" wondered Unirak.
"The city is gone, Dad. A tornado, an earthquake, a tsunami, a thunderstorm, and even volcanic eruptions leveled that area. It's gone, all the people there...are gone.." confided Unaraq, he stared into his father's eyes and gave that look of seriousness. Unirak was in disbelief their troubles were now gone but also this created even bigger problems.
"Lord Unirak, that explains the small earthquake from a few hours ago, it was the aftershock," a guard mentioned.
Jushi hopped off Shen's saddle with Rong Yan in his arms, "An entire city? Could you imagine how the Qiangdian Earth King will feel when he learns about this?" hypothesized the earthbender.
Aloi saw Rong Yan in Jushi's arms and then ran over to Unaraq and tackled him, he gently grabbed her and pulled her in for a romantic kiss. She cried in his arms, "I-I love you, Unaraq. I'm so sorry!" she sobbed.
"Don't apologize...I love you too," Unaraq whispered, he rested his forehead onto hers and then embraced her in a tight hug.
See more
For the collective works of the author, go here.