| By King Bumis Heir | Genre | Rating | Reviews | Updates |
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Overview[]
Unaraq grows curious if the Hermit actually exists.
Chapter 14: The Hermit[]
Book 2: Water
Chapter 14: The Hermit
The wintery morning in the Nuo Ju mountains had been cold and gusty. Some of the citizens who couldn't handle the cold temperature of the outside wore heavier clothing. The workers continued on their daily lives in lighter clothing even some were at risk of illness but it didn't matter to them. The sun rose from the eastern side as it always had. The rays of the Sun had beaten down on the inn where Rong Yan, Aloi, Unaraq and Tanaraq were currently resided in.
The gang had agreed to awaken early morning as planned the night before, they wanted to explore the cabin up on the peak. Where the hermit was said to live in, when Rong Yan and Tanaraq visited the cabin they found it to be empty. Rong Yan desired to linger in Nuo Ju longer than planned he was eager to meet the hermit. After the rumors, he was told by a few of the citizens of mysterious thundering sounds coming from the mountain peak. Rong Yan had a curiosity about the cause of the sounds and he had a good guess.
Unaraq and his sister Tanaraq were rinsing their mouth with rich flavored tea made by the innkeeper. While Nuo Ju didn't have the mountain tea like back home in the South Pole they had there own form of mountain tea with different herbs. A type of lavender is found on the Nuo Ju mountains along with elderberries and mahonia berries. The tea is typically started overnight and ready by early morning, Unaraq and Tanaraq tipped the innkeeper well for a tea with rich flavor.
Aloi and Rong Yan were the first to awaken they had gone to find the local temple where they prayed separately. Unaraq and Tanaraq leaned on the walls of the outside of the inn while they spat out some of their tea. Rong Yan was the first to return he seemed certainly unhappy by the expression on his face possibly dissatisfaction that Aloi has chosen to be angry at him.
Unaraq was the first to step up and has asked Rong Yan, "Where's Aloi?"
Rong Yan answered, "I don't know and honestly I could care less. Let's go find that hermit he might be home today."
"I'm not leaving without her, you two are angry at each other over a stupid reason," Unaraq said, he crossed his arms and rested them near his chest. Rong Yan pointed at himself and gasped, "I'm not angry at her I stopped her from hurting your sister!" How dare Unaraq have the audacity to say Rong Yan was mad at her for a stupid reason.
"I threatened to drop your sister off with your dad in his next stop and told Aloi if she doesn't stop this nonsense then she can find a way back to the eastern Air Temple on her own," Rong Yan remembered.
"How dare you threaten my sister! You gave your word to the chief of the Southern Water Tr-" he argued with Rong Yan before he was cut off by Tanaraq and lightly pushed back by her. "Unaraq! Stop! Leave him alone. He has every right to say what he wants, he's the Avatar and we're having the privilege of traveling alongside him. He could choose to travel alone to the North by tomorrow if he wanted to," she yelled at her brother her body language told him to back off.
Unaraq argued with Rong Yan.
"Well I'm keeping my promise to dad, it would be a great disrespect to the Southern chief if the Avatar did not keep to his word," Unaraq objected.
"Dad would understand you're the only one making a fuss about it because you want to side with your precious girlfriend!" countered Tanaraq.
Unaraq felt offended now he gasped and was taken aback by what his sister said, "You leave her out of this, she's not my girlfriend. I'm siding with her because I want to validate her feelings on the matter, why do you even hate her?" he wondered.
"I don't hate her but let's not forget she threatened me two months ago and attacked me a week ago!" exclaimed Tanaraq.
"She's violent!" Tanaraq added.
"LET IT GO! Why are you still angry at her?" shouted Unaraq now he argued with his sister over Aloi. "So you're going to invalidate my feelings?" countered Tanaraq.
"No, you're just a drama queen!" he chided her.
"I AM NOT A DRAMA QUEEN!" she yelled in her brother's face Tanaraq had enough that she slapped Unaraq across the face. She cupped her hands around her mouth terrified now she realized she struck her brother across the face. Unaraq stood there in disbelief he took a gander at Tanaraq and lumbered away.
After Tanaraq smacked Unaraq the look he gave Rong Yan.
"Unaraq! No! Wait I'm sorry!" she apologized, she raised her voice so he could've heard her but he ignored it and wandered off in the direction of the temple. At the same time, Aloi had walked back from the temple toward the inn where she and her friends resided in for the time being. She saw Unaraq clopped in her direction with his hands in his pockets. He kicked a rock to the side it laid in his path his face was in a scowl and was reddened on one side of his cheeks.
She nipped briskly toward him when she saw him she was happy to see him. Aloi stopped Unaraq in his path she placed one hand under his chin and gestured him to allow her to examine his face. She saw the reddened hand mark on his right cheek and questioned him, "Unaraq who did this to you?" He didn't say anything he just stood there in silence his face remained with a scowl.
"It was your sister wasn't it?" Aloi guessed, she pulled him in for a hug he didn't hug her back until after he realized it. His face rested on her shoulder and they stood there for a while she broke the hug up and grabbed his hand. He peered down to see she had held his hand he crossed his fingers in between hers and then glimpsed at her. They exchanged looks and smiled at each other and minced around the town like it was natural.
Meanwhile, Rong Yan and Tanaraq traveled out of town toward their planned destination the cabin on the peak of the mountain. Rong Yan strolled with his hands in his pocket and Tanaraq lumbered behind with her head hung low. She was ashamed of herself for having struck her brother.
Occasionally, Rong Yan came to a full stop and glanced behind him to see how far behind Tanaraq was and stayed put and allowed her to catch up. They didn't talk for most of the way up to the mountain peak. Rong Yan saw no sign of a smokestack.
Maybe the home was haunted and there was no hermit after all suddenly they saw a hooded figure outside who tended to the garden. At the same time, Unaraq and Aloi, hiked up the mountain while they still held hands. She convinced him to go up the mountain after much hesitation he agreed, they chuckled while they helped each other up the mountain.
The hooded figure that tended to the garden wore crimson red robes the accents on the robes he wore were an auburn color with a hint of a powerful brown added into the color. The shoes he wore were made of cloth and dyed brown when the man heard Rong Yan's footsteps he glanced back and alerted. He rose to his feet quickly but remained still his head was mostly covered from the forehead area by the hood. His eyes could barely be seen but his nose and mouth were visible.
"You must be the hermit the town of Nuo Ju has told us about," he pointed at the man.
"And you are the Avatar who came to my home yesterday and trespassed inside my home. What were you looking for?" the man responded.
"How do you know I'm the Avatar?" wondered Rong Yan.
"I saw you grab your friend here and scale down the mountain, an Air Nomad has no reason to hide who he is. You wear Fire Nation clothing yet you can airbend you must be the Avatar," answered the hermit.
"Wow he's good," Tanaraq complimented the man.
"Judging by your boots you must be an Air Nomad," observed Rong Yan, the hermit peered below to eye his boots as he rose one foot in the air and examined the footwear that covered his foot.
"Quite the observation," chuckled the hermit he removed his hood Rong Yan gasped at the sight of the hermit as he removed his hood. He was middle-aged, pale-skinned and had gray eyes, the most unique feature about this Air Nomad though was that he didn't have the traditional airbender tattoos. His arrow tattoos were each split down the middle and the pigment used was gray. He didn't know why his tattoos were a different color and design but it was the most unique feature on the man.
The hermit extended out his hand and introduced himself, "I'm Giman."
Rong Yan shook his hand and bowed to Giman he wanted to know more about this airbender especially why his tattoos were much different from that of every other Air Nomad he has run into. Giman shut his eyes for a few seconds and was able to detect footsteps up the mountain.
"Are you being followed?" Giman asked Rong Yan.
"What do you mean? No, it's just my friend Tanaraq and I, we are traveling with her brother and my airbending master but they're off doing something else," replied Rong Yan.
"I can see the sounds coming up the mountainside they are near," claimed Giman, Rong Yan pieced it together he gasped again and said, "You're a soundbender!"
Giman gave him a hearty chuckle, "Sure am."
Rong Yan couldn't believe it another soundbender that wasn't himself or Aloi and was amazed by the hermit. Rong Yan took a deep breath and focused he closed his eyes and attempted to search for the sounds himself. There were heavy footsteps followed alongside lighter footsteps he recognized the lighter ones.
"There are lighter footsteps and heavier ones next to them, I recognize the sound of Aloi's footsteps that has to be her," Rong Yan added.
"You're a soundbender too I see," commented Giman.
"I'm sure you mastered it from a book?" he asked Rong Yan, Unaraq could hear Rong Yan's voice and a stranger's voice.
Unaraq and Aloi no longer held each other's hands, they had seen Rong Yan and Tanaraq over yonder where they spoke with a stranger. The stranger towered over Rong Yan but Aloi didn't pay attention to his features until she neared the group.
When she got closer Giman extended his arm to her she stared at his arrow tattoos and stammered her words, "V-v-v-v-..V-v-v- Vibr-vibrant On-One!" she squealed and then fainted Giman caught her in time and prevented her from any injuries.
Aloi saw the stranger's tattoos that she freaked out and fainted.
"By Gavala's fur, I didn't realize why your arrow tattoos were different! You're a Vibrant One!" Rong Yan exclaimed.
"I remembered she told me that children born to members of the Vibrant Ones are tattooed different from masters anointed by the Council of Elders," recalled Rong Yan. Giman carried Aloi inside his shack and gently placed her down on his bed.
"She'll wake up soon, it's not often an Air Nomad who knows about the Vibrant Ones ever meets one in person. Meeting one is a great honor, while others who don't know about the organization will exile and condemn a Vibrant One. Air Nomads who don't know who we are, label us blasphemous to Gavala," acknowledged Giman.
Meanwhile, in the Lintao, Shiwei province, a short, lanky and wrinkled man sat in his home where he drank some raspberry tea. A guard approached the man in intricately detailed dark green robes and golden jewelry, the man must've have been of importance. He also wore an angulate hat with wings which showed that he was an official.
A guard appears with a scroll bowing to the official he then said, "Governor Mei Nanzi, a letter has arrived for you. Your eyes only."
A letter that arrived for Governor Nanzi Mei.
"Thank you, soldier," thanked the old man, he grabbed the scroll and opened it the contents inside were to a man named Shen. The captain of Governor Nanzi's guards the sender was a man named Beiyin from the town of Nuo Ju in the Nuo Ju mountain range. The sender accuses five soldiers stationed at the town who have committed crimes of extortion and kidnapping on the citizens of the town.
The letter mentions the names of the men and included their identification badges. Governor Nanzi shook his head and sighed, he continued to read the letter the sender Beiyin mentions he arrested the men with the help of the Avatar and his companions. He hopes that Shen will arrive to transport the criminals to Lintao where they'll be punished by the governor himself.
Governor Nanzi snapped his fingers a servant ran forward and bowed before the governor, "Is there something I can assist you with, Governor Mei?"
"Call forth Captain Shen, and tell him he's going to Nuo Ju to transport prisoners from the town back here. Bring him this letter he will know more and tell him when he returns I want those men in my estate where they will hear their judgment," ordered the governor of Shiwei.
"Yes, Governor Mei," nodded the servant he clutched the scroll that was handed to him by the old man and left the main home of the estate and traveled to the barracks.
At the same time, Giman searched through his cabinets for alchemical ingredients he could use to wake up the girl who fainted. He found a root he only grew in his garden during the autumn season where it flourished. He nipped over to the unconscious young woman and hovered the root over her nose suddenly she woke up. The natural stench of the root aroused her consciousness, the root is often ground into a powder and used for the very same purpose.
Aloi had awoken from her brief unconsciousness the middle-aged Vibrant One handed her a wooden bowl filled with banana juice. She grabbed the wooden bowl from him and gave a slight smile as a gesture of thanks. She sat up and began to drink the banana juice, she stared at the tattoos on his body they were far more detailed than the ones on her body.
"I never thought I would meet a living Vibrant One," she said, Giman placed the root back into the larder. Aloi inquired, "Was that a Konsui Root?"
"Indeed, young airbender," smiled Giman.
"Where did you get Konsui Roots? I mean I know it is obvious you got them from an airbending temple. Your tattoos make you a target for harassment I'm sure it was hard to collect," added Aloi.
"I inherited this shack from my parents they were exiled for their practice of soundbending. Which is ironic because Khala was made a saint. They brought the seeds for the plants here," explained Giman. "I'm so sorry, I'm hoping that with the help of the Avatar we could bring the tolerance of soundbenders back into the temples," frowned Aloi she apologized for what the monks in the temples did to Giman's parents.
"It's not your fault my parents risked everything to be proud of who they were, I was practically raised by them and the order," commented Giman.
"There are a lot of things around my home and even my garden has plants that are native to the Air Nomad islands. Would you like a small tour of my garden?" offered Giman, Aloi nodded and followed the man Rong Yan, Tanaraq and Unaraq stood outside. Unaraq near the garden while Tanaraq and Rong Yan sat near the shack. Unaraq wanted to be distanced from his sister for the time being. Tanaraq glimpsed at Unaraq from time to time and sighed she regretted that she smacked her brother across his face.
Unaraq stood up and followed Aloi and Giman into the garden he placed his hands in his pockets he gave them a tour of the small garden. He pointed at different plants and fruits, he pointed at a short tree with a dark brown body and blue leaves. The fruit that hung from the tree was fully grown moon peaches, the fruits were small and plump and of a gray-green color.
"There is my moon peach tree," pointed Giman, with each plant that Giman pointed at Aloi felt homesick.
They reached around the back of shack where the adobe oven sat, inside was a loaf of bread. On the makeshift table to the left of the oven sat a sack of flour and a jug full of water. Giman noticed that the girl frowned he was concerned and asked her, "What's wrong, Aloi?"
"It's just when you showed me your garden and then your oven, it makes me feel homesick. I miss the Sum Pa Air Temple, I haven't seen Phala in nearly a year and a half. I have a responsibility I must ensure the Avatar is safe and sound while he masters the four elements," revealed Aloi.
"I understand I wish I could have lived in the safety of an air temple. But as I mentioned before my parents were exiled for their practice of soundbending. I remember when my parents told me that the Ancient Air Nomads lived in harmony with Saint Khala and her soundbenders. But there was an event that changed our society forever," disclosed Giman.
"Here I am free but I also have to keep my guard up the wild animals of the mountains could kill me. Then for thousands of years, it was cemented in the minds of airbenders that one should not use their abilities to deceive or destroy. The only use of soundbending that is acceptable was the musical school, while subtlety and calamity were banned. My parents intended to use their abilities for the greater good but the council of the Baiyan and Shang Qiao Air Temples didn't see it that way," said Giman.
Unknown Location, western Wuyi province, Oma Kingdom
Kimaru sat on the side of the road Senlin watched their surroundings while Palartok pulled water out of his water gourd. He hovered the water over the bandaged shoulder of his friend Kimaru they had traveled many miles and finally reached the Wuyi province. They were close to the capital of Wuyi, Senlin predicted they could reach the city in a week.
Where they were currently at had been ten miles west of the border between Gansu and Wuyi. Palartok had repeatedly treated Kimaru's broken shoulder. It had been four days since his injury it was still broken and very much swollen. But it had gotten better and through healing therapy, Palartok believed it'll be healed in about a month and a half.
"Hold still," Palartok mentioned, Kimaru winced in pain and took heavy breaths. Palartok massaged Kimaru's broken shoulder with his healing abilities for two minutes before he deposited the water back into the water skin and corked it.
"It looks better than it did four days ago, let's hope in a month you'll be able to bend with that arm," commented Palartok. Senlin noticed a smokestack in the distance it was either soldiers or travelers, Palartok extended his hand out to Kimaru who grabbed it with his good hand and was pulled up to his feet.
Palartok and Kimaru noticed that Senlin stared at the smokestack in the distance as well. In the distance over yonder, they could see three armored and armed guards and four merchants. Behind them was a large caravan that might potentially carry goods and money.
The camp that Senlin, Palartok and Kimaru found.
Senlin knew while the guards were mercenaries, the merchants themselves were easy pickings. Senlin turned to face Kimaru and Palartok and planned out a strategy, "I'll go in first and burrow underground, then I'll cone two of the merchants so that they don't run away.
The guards will then attack so that's when you rush in and help. Got it?"
"Kimaru can't fight we should ignore this," Palartok brought up.
"This is too good of a score, he can watch," Senlin said, Palartok nodded, sometimes he never understood Senlin's addiction for violence. They could have easily avoided this confrontation they wasted time doing this instead of having gone toward Dahongpao. The merchants had dined and Senlin sunk into the ground he burrowed over to them.
Two were instantly clasped in cones of the earth their food tossed out of their hands and immediately they were trapped. The other merchants squealed and burst off their seats they ran in different directions, the three guards jumped into combat as soon as Senlin launched out of the ground. "We're under attack! Protect the merchants and goods!" shouted one of them.
Palartok rushed up and uncorked his waterskin he whipped out some water and lashed it out at one of the guards. All three men unsheathed their blades Senlin and Palartok knew this battle would soon end. All three guards were non-benders but Palartok knew better they could be master swordsmen. Palartok tried to detect nearby sources of water when suddenly two barrels near the caravan rumbled and exploded. He sent jets of water at the two men while the other cut a boulder in half.
He swung his blade at breakneck speed he was certain if he swung fast enough he might pierce the older man. Palartok assisted Senlin, he slapped the swordsmen on the back of his head and distracted him. Enough for Senlin to have created a half-wall of earth and pushed it forward which gave him a distance from the swordsmen.
He split the wall into three portions he lifted one portion and punched it toward the swordsmen. It clashed with his left shoulder, a second was launched he held his ground and attempted to use his sword to block. His inexperience caused his sword to shatter and the third struck him in the chest and knocked the wind out of him. Senlin slid his foot across the ground binds of earth held the mercenary to the ground.
The others stood up Palartok grabbed the waters that spilled around the ground, he ducked as one man's sword almost chopped his head clean off. Senlin split a circle underneath the man's feet he attempted to swing on Palartok again at the same time Senlin forced the earth under the man's feet to a half-circle turn.
The man swung at nothing and was angered it gave Palartok ample time for a counterattack, he washed the man with a torrent of water and knocked him off his feet. The other was elbowed in the face by Senlin, the man covered his face Senlin jerked his head back. A good sizable rock collided with the man's skull and possibly killed him in the process.
With that same rock, he split a small sharp piece of it and sent it directly through the one Palartok knocked over with a torrent of water. The force of which it was directed at the man pierced his skull and killed him. The only living men were the two coned merchants and the mercenary bound to the ground.
There was a tree behind the two coned merchants Senlin slid the bound mercenary toward the tree. He removed the binds from the ground, they were still like weight counters that prevented him from trying to attack Senlin.
"Freeze him to the tree trunk," said Senlin, Palartok pulled water off of the ground and wrapped it around the mercenary. He controlled the temperature of the water wrapped around the hired muscle and froze it which prevented him from escaping.
"Drown him," commanded Senlin, Palartok questioned him, "What about the merchants?"
"Leave them to the wild animals, either they get killed or die of starvation. Maybe one of their friends is an earthbender and returns to save them," responded Senlin.
"Now that I think about we're going to need their identification papers and their merchant licenses. Getting through the checkpoints in Dahongpao will be easier that way, kill them. We'll take the caravan to Dahongpao," added Senlin he changed his mind about the fate of the merchants. Palartok wrapped a globe of water around the mercenary's head, he pressurized the bubble of water. He held it around the man's head until he drowned, Senlin blew two more sharp projectiles from the rock that killed the first mercenary.
The projectiles hovered in front of Senlin he brushed both hands forward the objects darted into the skulls of the men and killed them instantly. He rose his arms up in the air and pulled them down to his waist, the cones of earth sank into the ground and released the fresh corpses of the merchants. He searched the bodies of both men for their papers and vendor licenses. The mercenary screamed for air and struggled to break free from his fate. His struggles had ceased he successfully drowned the water around his head fell to the ground and splashed below.
His head drooped while Senlin rummaged the corpses below him, he grabbed the papers he needed and told both Water Tribesmen, "You two will take these licenses and identification papers if we hit a checkpoint the soldiers will know you're merchants. I'll take this mercenary's papers as well, I'll pose as your hired guard."
His plan was clever having killed the guards and the merchants that stayed they could now survive off the caravan's goods and travel peacefully to the capital without any distractions. He handed Palartok and Kimaru the identification papers and merchant licenses of the men who were killed while he pocketed the identification papers of one of the mercenaries.
"Four birds, one stone," cackled Senlin he grinned.
Muchang, Pingyao province
Laobing and the Terra Team rode in on ostrich horses to the ranch and farm village of Muchang in the northern region of the Pingyao province. The villagers stared at the men who arrived in their remote village in the arid region of Pingyao. A few them were concerned and wondered what had occurred for the capital military having visited them.
The Terra Team as requested by "Lucky" Laobing.
Laobing neared toward two guards stationed outside a larger building he guessed it must've been the magistrate's office. He hopped off the ostrich horse as did the Terra Team he approached the youngest one, "Where is your village elder? I must speak with him," said Laobing.
"Who are you to come into our town and ask such a question? You could be an assassin!" declined the younger guard.
Laobing grabbed the young guard by his uniform and pulled him close and whispered to him, "If I was an assassin I would sneak in and kill him. I'll let this little insult slide, tell me where your magistrate is or I will make sure Qiang Zhen strips you of your position."
The young man rapidly nodded, the older guard shoves the rookie away, "Are you an idiot? Show some respect that's Lieutenant Laobing!" the older man bows to Laobing, "You honor us with your presence, sir. I will escort you to Magistrate Caodi right away," he said.
Laobing and the Terra Team followed behind the older guard into the magistrate's office. He opened the door for them and waited until they all entered and then closed it behind them. He shimmied through the men and back to the front and led them straight to the office. The guard knocked on the door and from behind the door the magistrate answered, "Yes what is it?"
"Er...uhm...Magistrate Caodi you have visitors. Lieutenant Laobing from Ba Sing Se and the Terra Team," responded the guard.
"Let them in," he said, the guard opened the door while Laobing and the leader of the Terra Team Dimian. The magistrate stood from his seat behind his desk and paced over and greeted the men. He extended his hand and shook their hands before he sat down. He smiled, "What can I do for you men today?"
"We want to know if General Senlin has passed through here?" questioned Laobing.
"Isn't General Senlin dead?" guessed Magistrate Caodi, he was now concerned knowing of the Great Betrayer. Learning that he might be very much alive and could be a threat to his town was not a good thing. But he forgot about Taofan the man who saved his town from rebels of the North.
"No, he's very much alive and has killed my grandson. Do you recall at any time within the past two years of Senlin passing through here?" answered Laobing before having given an echo question.
"I'm deeply saddened by your loss he served his country well, and he's in a better place now. No, but I do recall after the kingdom learned of Ta Po's assassination, there were attacks around our kingdom and the Oma Kingdom of Water Tribe rebels. One of the attacks happened here but an older gentleman single-handedly defeated eight to ten tribesmen on his own. His skill was impressive," remembered Caodi.
"This older gentleman do you remember what he looked like?" Dimian inquired, the thirty-two-year-old olive-skinned man with a ruddy complexion stepped up to ask specific questions.
"I'm not quite sure what his appearance was any more it was a while back but he did stay with the local healer in town. Her name is Ling-Ling she lives close to the northern entrance of the village," replied the magistrate.
"Thank you for your time, Magistrate," Dimian bowed his head as did Laobing they left the office the men followed behind them. They headed toward the northern entrance of Muchang and read the signs overhead as they wandered the roads of the town. Dimian halted and signaled everyone to stop he read the sign above their heads, "Muchang Infirmary" it said.
"This must be it," Dimian said, the men marched forward they knew to remain outside while their leader and Laobing spoke to the woman who owned the infirmary. Laobing ajarred the door and allowed Dimian to enter the building first. The girl at the counter bowed and inquired to the men in uniform, "What can I help you with?" she said.
"We're looking for a Ling-Ling, Magistrate Caodi says she owns this infirmary and we need to speak with her," Laobing spoke, the young girl slightly nodded she minced into the back of the and rose her voice, "Mom! There are soldiers here to speak to you!"
"Thank you, Jing. I'll be there in a second," thanked the woman from wherever she was inside the building. A middle-aged stocky and stout woman appeared from the back room of the infirmary she smiled at the men and bowed before them.
"Is there anything I can help you, gentlemen with?" she inquired, Dimian stepped forward and nodded, "Yes we're hoping you tell us more about the man who rescued your village nearly two years ago."
She stood there for a minute and thought about the day where the rebels attacked Muchang it suddenly came to her she remembered about the man who wielded her husband's hammers. She then recalled, "Yes I remember his name is Taofan if I recall correctly. He defended Muchang from Water Tribe rebels with my late husband's mallets, I found him unconscious near the foot of the hill outside the gates. I wasn't going to let the man die of heat illness. Why is there something wrong?" she described everything she could remember, she asked them concerned about the man.
"Yes, the man you harbored in your home is known as the Great Betrayer. He's likely using a false name but his real name is Senlin. A general who betrayed the Qiangda Kingdom and recently escaped prison and assassinated Earth King Ta Po," divulged Dimian.
She cupped her hands around her mouth she gasped at what the men told her about the older man she allowed to stay in her home. She didn't know who it was maybe then she would have left him to his fate instead of having called men and have him rescued.
"I'm so sorry I didn't know," she apologized she thought maybe they would punish her Laobing mentioned, "No need to apologize, ma'am, you weren't aware of his true identity and he took advantage of you. We honor your husband every day, and will continue until the end of time." Ling-Ling nodded she remained silent for a few seconds the image of her husband popped into her head, "Thank you," she thanked them. Dimian and Laobing exited the infirmary.
Meanwhile, Senlin, Palartok, and Kimaru rummaged through the crates and sacks of goods within the caravan. Two boar-oxen grazed near the caravan while still being tied to the reins attached to the caravan. Senlin remembered about an old fence in a town in the province of Wuyi, he wondered if ol' Xuen still lived. The plan was to head into Dahongpao and sell the goods to his friend Xuen, with the money gathered from the sale of stolen goods.
Palartok and Kimaru unclothed the corpses of the merchants and the mercenaries to sell their clothing in Dahongpao. Senlin wanted to make sure they had enough money, having enough ensured they could travel without being stuck somewhere. Senlin found Water Tribe clothing inside a created he questioned Palartok, "How can you tell the difference between Northie and Southie clothes?"
"Northerner clothing are usually dyed in shades of purple and are created of more sophisticated material, southerner clothing is dyed in shades of blue and have intricate details while some of the materials used for the clothes of the South aren't as rare they're still very expensive," described Palartok.
"No doubt the royalty of the South Pole wears spider-silk, but it isn't as common within the aristocratic class of the South," added Palartok.
"Well there might be wanted posters of us somewhere in the Qiangda Kingdom, it couldn't hurt to use new threads," mentioned Senlin.
At the same time, Giman's and Aloi's friendship grew in the single day they've met she felt comfortable and had gotten along swimmingly with someone from her culture. She helped him set up the table for dinner he invited Team Avatar to dinner in the warmness of his home. Unaraq and Tanaraq sat on the opposite corners of the table as did Aloi and Rong Yan.
Giman sat near the back of the table he placed his elbows on the table and opened his palms to Unaraq and Rong Yan. They both placed their hands on his, Unaraq extended his to Aloi and Rong Yan to Tanaraq. They lowered their heads and prayed to their gods it had been quite some time since Aloi and Rong Yan prayed. But they were glad they could do it now.
One Week Later, Taku, Taku province
It had been evening Dimian and Laobing had received permission by the governor of Taku, they entered the Oma Kingdom. They were only allowed to remain in the province and weren't permitted to venture further from province lines. They planned on staying there for the time being after their investigations were completed before they sought permission to enter Shiwei and Anlu provinces.
Governor Huowu was still in his office he hadn't left because he awaited the arrival of Laobing and Dimian. There were Oma Kingdom soldiers that escorted the men straight to his office in the capital they watched the men like hawks. One wrong move and the Oma Kingdom troops would have attacked them. In this era of the two kingdoms, soldiers of the other kingdom were allowed to enter enemy territory only by permission of the state governors. And had to follow strict rules under the Kingdom.
The short, chubby old man greeted them at the door and led them inside, the Terra Team remained outside while soldiers watched them. Two of the governor's elite guards observed Laobing and Dimian as they were led by Governor Jinkou to his office.
Governor Jinkou Huowu
"I am glad you finally arrived in my province I hope it is to your liking. You are permitted to travel around my province but do not venture out of the provincial borders. Breaking this law is subject to imprisonment," he brought up.
Laobing and Dimian bowed to the governor of Taku, "We are thankful you accepted our request to enter your state. We're investigating General Senlin's whereabouts and we're here to learn if you know anything about him," Laobing said.
Jinkou searched through the records of people who crossed the checkpoints from the Oma-Qiangda Kingdom borders. He skimmed through the S part of the records but found no record of Senlin having crossed the kingdom borders.
"There is no Senlin in our records, plus isn't he dead?" Jinkou shook his head, "Try Taofan," Dimian interrupted.
He looked through the records again in the T section of the records he found the name 'Taofan'. He followed with his finger for the date that Senlin crossed the border.
"Taofan, traveling to the state of Gansu, Early Autumn 659 BG," Jinkou said.
"State of Gansu, what would he be doing in the state of Gansu?" Laobing whispered to himself he crossed his arms and paced side to side.
"This might be a slim chance but did any rebels attack Taku City?" asked Dimian, the governor nodded, "Yes, during the night of the Thirty Year War ending celebration, rebels invaded the city and were killed by the Avatar."
"That's strange, Water Tribe rebel invaders attacked a few villages in the Qianda Kingdom too. Are you willing to reveal anything else of the rebel attacks?" inquired Dimian.
"There have been attacks in the Shiwei, Anlu and the Tong provinces, Oma troops wiped out those who occupied a village in Anlu. While Governor Jie Tong's soldiers defended Tong village from the invaders, a bunch of them went on to invade the Southern Air Temple," replied Governor Jinkou.
"Why would they attack the Air Nomads?" wondered Laobing.
"Senlin was after the Avatar but when the Air Nomads defended their air temple, everyone believed Senlin was killed when the Avatar blew him and the rebels off the mountain. The attacks ceased and sightings of Senlin weren't reported. The Avatar left to one of the poles we're not sure which one but the Council of Elders gave the news to every state affected by the invaders. He should be mastering waterbending as we speak," addressed Jinkou.
"He wasn't killed, he's still very much alive and he killed my grandson. There are reported assassinations in our kingdom, of our elected officials. At first, we weren't sure if the assassinations were connected but we finally pieced it together. He's pulling all the strings," stated Laobing.
"Then he should be laying low," Dimian mentioned.
"Is he wanted in your kingdom?" Laobing questioned Jinkou.
Jinkou declined, "No if Gao Zu doesn't see him as a threat he will not be considered wanted in our kingdom. Although the individual states could post a bounty on him."
"He is however wanted in the province of Han, nothing we hear of though anymore, he might still be in the Oma Kingdom however, do you know where your grandson was killed?" Jinkou questioned Laobing.
"Gansu, he was killed in Gansu," Laobing answered he sighed, "If he's wanted in Han, he killed my grandson in Gansu, he could be nearing Wuyi but what's in Wuyi?" wondered Laobing.
The ferry of Dahongpao, that takes people to Bu'Keng among other Oma Kingdom capitals.
"Dahongpao and most importantly the ferry of Dahongpao," Jinkou responded.
"But why Dahongpao?" Dimian asked the governor shrugged.
"I think our best bet is to head off to Dahongpao," Dimian suggested he turned to face the governor of Taku, "Can you send a letter to the governor of Wuyi?" he requested, "I will have a scribe write a letter and send it off to Dahongpao. You are welcome to remain in the city if you please until the response returns," agreed Huowu Jinkou.
Both men bowed to the governor, "We thank you for your hospitality." He bowed in return, "My men will see to it that you are comfortable."
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