| 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[]
Senlin finally reveals his plan to Palartok and Kimaru. They travel to the city of Dahongpao where an old friend of Senlin lives. This old friend provides the means of connections for the men.
Chapter 16: Comrades and Connections[]
Book 2: Water
Chapter 16: Comrades and Connections
The evenings of the northern Oma Kingdom had gotten warmer as the season went on. The world had gotten hotter now, and the snow near mountains and mountain peaks begun to melt. The cloudless night was blessed by a large yellow moon. One that many Tribesmen back home would have praised and worshipped. The night was cool and no winds were present a campfire crackled, the fire was pretty big. Enough for Palartok, Kimaru, and Senlin to cook whatever food the merchants packed for their trip to Dahongpao.
Tomorrow morning they would head off toward the capital of the Wuyi province, Dahongpao. Senlin knew a friend named Xuen that lived in Dahongpao. He wondered if Xuen was still alive, Dahongpao is merely ten miles west of their campsite. Kimaru was exhausted from the day before, they traveled straight for a day to reach the point they're at now. Palartok roasted steak over the fire for his friends while Senlin read a book about the geography of the Oma Kingdom.
The bright moon out at night that can be seen near Dahongpao.
He piled a stack of books to his side it was strange to have seen Senlin having read a book. The different books in the pile were geography books of the Fire Nation, the South and North Poles and even one for the Air Nomadic islands. His dedication where he wanted to capture the Avatar was a large goal for him. Soon his plans would come to fruition and with the possibility of having the Avatar lured into his trap.
A wooden plate was placed near Kimaru and Senlin, a sizzled and smoked beef steak was placed on each plate. Palartok slid each plate of steak closer to his friends, Palartok drank from his water gourd the very last few gulps. He pulled water out of the cool air enough to hover over Kimaru's shoulder for added therapy sessions. The water glowed as he used it to heal the shoulder, Kimaru took a gander at Palartok, "What do you think?" he wondered.
"I'm feeling your chi flowing into this arm now, I believe you're fully healed. You should be able to use it now," replied Palartok.
"Thanks, I don't know how long this would heal if you hadn't helped," Kimaru thanked Palartok with gratitude.
He finally shed the makeshift sling and bandages that he no longer needed. He stretched out his arm and gave it a windmill twirl a few times. He felt good as new, Kimaru was satisfied now he was able to fight. Senlin stood up and paced over to the caravan he searched for the northerner clothing and changed his attire.
He walked over to Palartok and Kimaru for a comment he turned around slowly for them to observe, "Am I wearing this correctly?"
Kimaru nodded, "Yeah but you might want to wear that leather belt I found earlier. It could help the parka not get loose."
"Wait one of them was an earthbender wasn't he?" Palartok mentioned.
Senlin shook his head and Kimaru corrected him, "No, he was a non-bender but he was of Earth Kingdom ethnicity." Palartok shrugged, "Okay," Kimaru wondered, "Why the sudden question?"
"I just wanted to make sure we remembered their basic information so that the checkpoint into the capital goes smoothly," Palartok responded.
Senlin strafed his beard as he tried to remember what the girl in the last town they visited told him he turned to look at Palartok and inquired, "What did that girl in the last town say about the Avatar again?"
"She said he was traveling with two fancy tribesmen and a nomad," recalled Palartok, Senlin continued to strafe his beard while he pieced it all together.
"Fancy..." he paused "Nobles or royals?" he questioned Palartok.
"I don't know she didn't specify just that he traveled with two fancy tribesmen and a nomad," Palartok repeated.
"He still travels with the old man I see," Senlin said.
"No she said the nomad was a girl," Kimaru mentioned, he paused then pointed at Palartok as something popped into his head, "Doesn't the Southern chief have two kids?" guessed Kimaru.
"Oh that's right he does, one of them has to be teaching him waterbending. But I'm not sure why they're traveling in a pair," Palartok remembered.
Kimaru chewed on his steak and then gulped his food he gazed at Senlin, "So what's this plan you're not telling us about? You had us travel to the Qiangda Kingdom to kill specific officials and now you're ranting on about Kunlun province and the Earth King's cousin."
"I've been thinking about it all this time if I'm going to have Qiangda Kingdom and the Northern Tribe at their necks again. The only way is through planned assassinations with planted evidence," Senlin said. "What does that even mean?" Kimaru wondered.
"It means you're going to Kunlun City to assassinate the Earth King's cousin, plant evidence that a Northie committed the high crime and leave. We're going to the North Pole and doing the same thing a form of terrorism maybe we'll kill the heir to the throne or another royal," Senlin disclosed.
"How are we going to do this?" Palartok asked.
"We use the identification papers we have to plant them in a rented room, with weapons acquired from here and poisons from the North and plant evidence in the room and around the corpse. A letter with a forged signature of the Earth King" divulged Senlin.
"Wow I never would've thought about that, you are as clever as they say," claimed Kimaru, Senlin grinned wickedly he then cackled. Everything that he planned out he imagined had gone successfully in his head.
"That would start a war I'm impressed you came up with something so quickly after we lost Arluq and the boys," complimented Palartok.
"Thank you, admiral. Your words are refreshing after hearing so much hate," thanked Senlin.
Ba Sing Se Royal Palace, Ba Sing Se province
Qiang Zhen sat in his throne within the massive throne room he now owns Guwen his advisor appeared from the gigantic doors that lead toward the entrance of the palace itself. Qiang Zhen's head rested on his fist while he was bored. Guwen with a fresh shaved frontal lobe and his nicely kept queue hairstyle bowed to the Earth King.
"The matchmaker has brought you potential wives, my King," Guwen announced.
"We've been down this road before none of the noble girls from here excite me. They're all boring, I've met around a hundred already. What makes her think these are any different?" argued Qiang Zhen.
"My lord, you need to wed soon so that you have an heir to inherit your kingdom. If you pass who will run the kingdom?" questioned Guwen.
"I already chose my heir, Guwen. If I were to, unfortunately, pass away my cousin Baotong will become king," Qiang Zhen answered.
"The dynasty will continue, I have Baotong heading for Kunlun, Chaopin, Chongqing, Taihao, Girilal and Dao provinces to promote me. The people must know there is a new Earth King, as we all know the news mostly spreads to outer-states around our capital," Qiang Zhen mentioned.
"It has been two years even the Oma Kingdom knows of Ta Po's death, you'd be surprised how quick news spread around the world, your Highness," Guwen stated.
"But what if Baotong passes before you do? Who will take it then?" inquired Guwen, Qiang Zhen dropped his head and sighed, "Fine. Bring them in!"
"Once you choose the right girl we spread this news like wildfire and prepare for your wedding," Guwen said.
Guwen signaled for a guard the man bowed before both Qiang Zhen and his advisor, "Yes, my lord?" he inquired.
"Tell Meiren that the King is ready for the matches she brought with her," ordered Guwen, the guard bowed to him, "Will do, my lord."
The man marched away toward the large throne doors the men lined up at the doors used earthbending to open them. A middle-aged thin woman with high cheekbones and a light gaunt face nipped briskly into the throne room. Behind her were seven women all different shapes and sizes. All the women wore lavish robes and headdresses, their faces caked in make up each of them had to recite a traditional passage.
"Your mother chose one that she likes for you. But she ultimately wants you to choose for yourself," Guwen mentioned.
"My mother needs to stay out of this," Qiang Zhen said.
"I told her that, but she said something along the lines of, he might be king but I'm still his mother," recalled Guwen.
"Darn that woman, as they say, mother knows best. Which is the one she likes?" asked Qiang Zhen.
"Second on the right, your Highness," whispered Guwen, Qiang Zhen nodded, he rose from his throne and stepped down from the platform. Meiren commanded the girls to spread out as she knew the young king would like to examine each one.
"Spread out, girls," she ordered each girl spread out at arm's length of each other he went for the second right first as Guwen claimed Qiang Zhen's mother chose. He sized the girl up and down she pulled out her fan and spread it open and hid her face.
She was short and voluptuous, she wore a pink robe with rose patterns knitted into the robe. She was attractive, her makeup was the same style that every noblewoman wore but she also had a pink rose positioned on the glabella. She had fish scales glued onto her cheekbones she was the most beautiful of all the girls that stood in front of him.
"You. What is your name?" he questioned her.
"Zhang Yi'an, your Highness," she answered she was shy but she knew if she messed this up this would be her only chance of getting married to a monarch. Qiang Zhen thought to himself, 'My mother chose well'.
"Recite the passage," Qiang Zhen ordered the girl.
"Fulfill your duties respectfully, reflect before you act. This shall bring you honor and glory," she recited the fan still covered her face.
Qiang Zhen nodded, "Thank you Meiren you and the girls are dismissed."
All of them gasped while the matchmaker bowed, "My pleasure, my liege. Come on girls."
Each of them was disappointed and sad that Qiang Zhen did not choose either one. The girl that his mother chose was saddened he stood in front of her, "Except you, Yi'an you may stay."
She fell to her knees to kneel before Qiang Zhen for he granted her the opportunity to remain while the others left. Meiren glanced back to see that the king chose one she smiled the royal guards directed all the potential matches out with the matchmaker out of the palace.
He stood in Ma Bo and used his arms to create rigid motions he shaped on the floor a rectangle and used one arm to lift it. He created a table out of the ground of his palace, he gestured the woman with his hand to have a seat. Guwen grabbed the pillow from Qiang Zhen's throne and slipped it under where Qiang Zhen chose to sit at. Qiang Zhen peered down with a quizzical eyebrow raise when he noticed the pillow magically appeared beneath him.
Guwen was gone but he returned minutes later with a teapot full of hot tea and two teacups. He placed them down in front of the girl she glimpsed up at the man and smiled, "Thank you."
Guwen nodded at her in response she clutched the handle of the teapot and carefully poured a specific amount of tea into the Earth King's cup first and then hers. She slid the cup over to Qiang Zhen he rose his teacup and she was confused at first.
"A toast..." he paused as he rose his cup.
The girl quickly caught up and rose hers as well, "...on Yi'an's execution of fulfillment of her duties," announced Qiang Zhen.
"My mother chose well," he commented.
"Call Meiren back in I need her to arrange a betrothal letter to the Zhang family and the bride price, while you're at it please have a squad of my royal guards to escort Yi'an back to her estate," commanded Qiang Zhen.
Guwen slightly nodded, "Yes, my lord" Guwen minced over to a guard, "Gather up a squad and escort the girl back to her home," the guard bowed and headed off to the barracks.
"A squad will arrive shortly to escort you home, Yi'an," smiled Qiang Zhen, he rose from the pillow and bent over to grab it. He carried it back to his throne and placed it down on the seat before he sat down.
"You honor me and my family by choosing me as your potential bride, your Highness," Yi'an bowed.
The girl waited patiently Guwen returned several minutes later with the matchmaker Meiren who knelt before Qiang Zhen when she arrived. The squad of royal guards entered the throne room ready to escort the girl back home.
"Escort her via carriage but say nothing to her family, she must keep this to herself until the letter is sent," ordered Qiang Zhen. The squad of men saluted their sovereign and guided the short woman out of the palace.
"What do you require of me, my liege?" questioned the matchmaker.
"I'd like for you to arrange the bride price and the betrothal letter to the Zhang family," answered Qiang Zhen.
"That will be taken care of shortly, King Qiang Zhen. As for the bride price, I'm not sure what Zhang Youlang would want that'll have to be a question brought up after I send someone to deliver the letter," Meiren said.
"Very well then, thank you Meiren," thanked Qiang Zhen he slightly bowed his head. She returned the bow respectfully.
Morning arrives, Senlin and Kimaru have packed things into the caravan while Palartok allows the boar-oxen to graze in the nearby grasses while he watched them. They were going to reach Dahongpao in less than an hour they planned the entirety of last night what to say when they neared the checkpoint. The checkpoint must go well for them to continue into the city undetected.
Palartok returned with the animals of burden thirty minutes later after Kimaru packed the last crate onto the caravan. Senlin and Palartok fastened the reins on the creatures before they stepped inside the caravan and headed on their way toward the capital of the Wuyi province. Senlin yawned Kimaru who sat next to him also yawned.
Senlin grabbed a book and continued to read more about the Northern Water Tribe. Half an hour later went by, they finally reached medium-sized walls that protected a vast metropolis. There were inner walls that protected the city and the other walls which were known as the checkpoint. The checkpoint had several soldiers stationed in and outside the outer walls.
A line of travelers, merchants, and mercenaries lined up and waited patiently for their turn. The sign above the heads of the soldiers read 'Dahongpao Checkpoint: Please show identification papers, refusal to do so will not permit you entrance into our great city'. Small earth barricade sunk into the ground, the men permitted a group of merchants and their mercenary guards into the city. The earthbender at the entrance of the checkpoint rose the barricade back up and signaled for the next person or group to walk forward.
The plan was to speak in Tribesmen language so that others wouldn't understand what they said. Many of those who wanted entrance into the city were from the Oma Kingdom or Qiangda Kingdom. Full Moon Bay was in Dahongpao which docked several ships.
The ferry which is routed toward Bu'Keng, the capital of Gongzhu is one of the many routes. There are also ships that frequent to Northern Water Tribe, the Sum Pa Air Temple, and the Fire Nation. While others ferry to the tourist-heavy Chaopin Islands resort.
"Positions people," Kimaru uttered, the men in front of the caravan Senlin, Kimaru, and Palartok were in were disgusted. They used their inside voices amongst themselves once they heard, 'Kiviaktuk nutakkat'.
They both scoffed and spoke their language, "Gods I hate snowbacks. Why can't they learn our language? The official language is Omashu dialect," one of the men said.
"I don't know but these guys need to stop migrating here illegally and reaping off the kingdom's benefit programs," the other shook his head.
Luckily, the racist comments they shared between themselves went unheard of. One of the men uttered "Hmph," he raised his head high and stepped forward along with his friend.
"Identity thief!" shouted one of the soldiers Palartok, Senlin, and Kimaru looked up to find the thief with the fake papers as he ran for his life. The soldiers rose pillars to collide with the man, he screamed for his life as the onlookers watched the scene.
Jennamite bracers darted toward the man and latched onto one wrist as it crawled up his arm. When he tried to get it off his left the rock attached itself to his right wrist and bound him. A small rock rose from the ground and he tripped over it, he lost balance and fell face first. Everyone in line gave the soldiers a standing ovation to their performance in having caught the identity thief.
Meanwhile, Meiren the middle-aged matchmaker paced inside the Zhang family's estate she had been escorted by a fireteam of earthbending royal guards. In hand, she clutched onto a scroll she had her employees make.
The betrothal scroll Qiang Zhen had Meiren arrange for the Zhang family.
The scroll itself was the letter of betrothal that traditionally announced the desire of marriage to the bride's family. The estate's guards stepped forward and saluted the royal guards the captain of the estate guards questioned the lance corporal who led the fireteam.
"What's this about?" he asked.
"We would like to speak with Zhang Youlang, we bring forth the matchmaker Meiren," the lance corporal replied, the captain allowed the men and the woman entry into the estate grounds where they waited patiently near the gardens.
Several minutes later, an old man in his seventies stepped out of the estate with his guards. He wore elaborate and expensive white robes with golden accents, a design of armadillo lion on the chest area of the robes. This usually indicated the person was a government official Zhang Youlang belonged to the detection branch within the Qiangda Censorate.
Surprisingly, they caught him while he was home because normally a man in his position often traveled the kingdom. He was responsible for the proper discharge of the functions of government and the good performance of provincial officials. This was set in place after Wang took the throne from his father Yao. Although Youlang mostly dealt with the outer-states that surrounded the city-state of Ba Sing Se while others resided in the city in the same position he currently held but oversaw different sectors of the Kingdom. He wore a white futou a type of headwear typically worn by government officials, the hat had a wing on each end. His hair was styled in a white queue with a freshly shaved frontal lobe and crown, he also had a fu manchu styled mustache and goatee. T
he royal guards and Meiren bowed to the government official, "Matchmaker what brings you to my humble abode?" he inquired she removed the scroll from her sash she stood up and handed him the scroll. He opened it and began to read: "Dear Lord Zhang Youlang,
I was ordered to arrange this letter to inform you that your daughter Zhang Yi'an was chosen by the forty-second Earth King Qiangda Qiang Zhen to be his wife. This letter is to announce the engagement to your family if you wish to accept or decline this letter you may reply yes or no to me when I visit you. If you wish to decline, the Earth King will understand and the process of matchmaking will continue. If you wish to accept this betrothal offer the Earth King will allow you to request a betrothal gift of your choosing. From this point on you will receive weekly gifts until the wedding by the Earth King. Your families will become one and your daughter will bring great honor to your family for generations to come.
Consider the Earth King's offer to your family, Long May He Reign.
Regards,
Meiren, Matchmaker"
"The boy-king wants to marry my Yi'an?" questioned Youlang, Meiren nodded she anticipated his decision so she may bring news to Qiang Zhen. Youlang bowed before Meiren and responded, "Yes, this is of the highest honor one can receive in life. My daughter becoming the consort of the Earth King truly is a great honor. I will allow my daughter to marry the Earth King."
"As for a betrothal gift I would like a promotion I'd like to oversee all states within our Kingdom as the new Minister of Territory Intelligence," requested Youlang.
The former Minister of Territory Intelligence was assassinated by Senlin, Kimaru, and Palartok several months ago as a way to weaken the Qiangda government. Elections are usually held by the states where the ministers live or sometimes are chosen by the governors.
Meiren slightly bowed her head she smiled, "I will bring this news to the Earth King and your request, my lord."
The royal guards stood ready in formation on their ostrich horses the captain of the fireteam extended his palm to the matchmaker and lifted her onto his ostrich horse for a quick ride back to the palace.
At the same time, Senlin, Kimaru and Palartok's caravan finally reached the front of the line. Senlin handed his fraudulent papers first then followed by Kimaru and Palartok who hopped off the caravan. They presented their papers as well the checkpoint guards inspected the goods that were being brought into the capital.
"Everything's clear, sir. They're free to enter," one of the men who did the inspection said.
"Welcome to Dahongpao, gentlemen. Enjoy your stay in our great city!" welcomed the leader of the soldiers stationed outside.
They bowed to the soldiers Senlin hopped on the back of one of the boar-oxen and led the caravan past the checkpoint. The large stone archways that stood overhead were large, the walls were taller than the average adult man. The city was massive buildings, businesses, homes, restaurants everywhere. The section they entered held a few farmlands it expanded for quite a large amount of land.
The size of two Muchang villages, behind that, was the bazaar section of the city on the southwest and southeast sections of the city belonged to the poor residents, the west and east to the middle class while the northwest and northeast parts of town belonged to the rich. The northern area of the city was where the docks were located at. Dahongpao had two marketplaces the southern where domestic goods were usually sold and the northern where imported goods were sold.
Dahongpao, Wuyi province.
Just outside the city walls on the northern beach were the natural caves that led toward Full Moon Bay where the ferry docked. Senlin's friend Xuen had a shop in the northern section of Dahongpao where he bought stolen goods off thieves and other riff-raff. They headed through the hurried through the somewhat busy roads of the farmlands.
Meanwhile, the royal guards that escorted Meiren back toward the palace opened the massive throne doors that led to Qiang Zhen's throne room. He sat there while he ate an apple he noticed the return of Meiren he raised his voice, "She returns!" he shouted.
"What did Zhang Youlang say?" he inquired curiously he placed the apple gently on the armrests of the throne. He crossed his fingers and rested his chin on top of them she knelt before the Earth King and answered, "Zhang Youlang said yes he will allow Yi'an to marry you."
"And what of the betrothal gift? Money? Livestock?" said Qiang Zhen while he guessed what the nobleman might have wanted.
"He seeks promotion he knows the position for Minister of Territory Intelligence is open and he wants it for himself," Meiran stated.
"Deal. Guwen send someone for Youlang you can promote him here for me," commanded Qiang Zhen. Guwen slightly bowed his head and walked off.
"Then it's settled except I won't publicly announce his new title until after Senlin has been dealt with. It is for the safety of my future father-in-law," added Qiang Zhen, he signaled a guard to come forth with his finger the guard bowed to the king, "Get my mother to arrange a meeting with Zhang Youlang and Zhang Xin'ai please," ordered Qiang Zhen.
"Yes, my liege. Right away," responded the guard he ran off to the western wing of the palace where Qiang Zhen's mother spent most of her days inside her gargantuan room or at the royal spa. He turned his attention back to Meiren, "What's the next step?"
"I'll speak with a fortune teller and I'll need you and your bride-to-be to attend the meeting. The fortune teller will predict the best date this year or the next for you to be wed," replied Meiren.
"Then it is settled I look forward to it," smiled Qiang Zhen, he pointed at another royal guard, "You send word to my chef. I want baked goods to be sent to my in-laws by the end of today at least for now," ordered Qiang Zhen, the guard bowed before his king and ran off.
The caravan came to a full halt in front of the shop the building had a foundation made of precise cut stones and bricks. The roof was made of hay and it had only two apertures one in the front and another on the right side.
"Are you sure this is where he lives?" Palartok questioned Senlin.
"Only one way to find out," Senlin said he shrugged he knocked on the door of the shop. A short, jolly old man with a cane ajarred the door slightly. Palartok peered down and was taken by surprise the old coot was shorter than Arluq.
He was about three heads tall the old man gazed up to meet Senlin's expressionless eyes and then rubbed his eyes and saw that Senlin truly stood in front of him. He pushed the door open Xuen saluted to Senlin and Senlin returned the salute.
"General..." he remembered, "It is good to see you, old friend," Senlin responded.
"What are you doing out here in the Oma Kingdom? How did you even get out of prison?" asked Xuen.
"I'm seeing ghosts aren't I?" he questioned himself.
"I'm real, Xuen. It's a long story I would have thought you would've known by now," said Senlin.
"No I wouldn't most news of Qiangda Kingdom usually only reaches border states," claimed Xuen.
"Wuyi is a border state, you idiot," Senlin shook his head.
"It's been a while I've been living under a rock," Xuen laughed.
"How are you even alive?" questioned Xuen.
"Nomadic lifestyle," Senlin disclosed.
"Oh no, you turned soft on me now haven't ya? And you're travelin' with two snowbacks too. Don't tell me you're afraid of eatin' meat now because I will kick ya out here," rambled Xuen.
"No I met another prisoner who taught me how to slow down my aging," Senlin replied.
"Are old people always this racist?" Kimaru interrupted asking.
"Are young people always this rude?" Xuen cut him off.
"Xuen we came to sell you stolen goods in exchange for ferry tickets. Are you game?" Senlin offered.
"I'll let it slide this time, son. Back in my day, you'd find yourself stuck in the ground," Xuen cackled after he told Kimaru something in Kingsmen language he then spat on the girl.
Kimaru turned to Palartok and inquired, "What did he say?" Senlin smirked at what Xuen told the young man.
Palartok shook his head, "Nothing bad just ignore the old bastard." Kimaru nodded and then didn't bother to ask any further.
"Three tickets? Okay. I'll need you and your friends to lug in the crates and goods though my strength failed me about ten years ago. Where are you headed to anyway?" he asked Senlin.
"We're going to the North Pole while Kimaru over here heads off to Kunlun City," Senlin answered.
"What's in Kunlun?" wondered Xuen.
"The Earth King's cousin, he's spreading the Earth King's propaganda there," stated Senlin.
"I thought Ta Po was an only child?" guessed Xuen.
"He's dead, the new Earth King has been on the throne for two years now, he's spreading his propaganda to the eastern states and meeting with governors. His job is to make it look like a political assassination by the Northern Water Tribe. We also need forged letters one from the Northern chief and the other from the new Earth King," explained Senlin.
"You conniving man what a great idea to restart the war. I'll get started on those as soon as I work on the goods you've brought me. I have to write a banknote that will provide you with the money you need for those tickets," laughed Xuen.
"Do you have any Northie weaponry?" Palartok inquired, "Sure thing kid, check that crate over there by the wall. Should be able to find what you need," replied Xuen he pointed over at a crate near the wall of his shop.
Senlin, Kimaru, and Palartok helped Xuen load out all the goods from the stolen caravan into the shop. Xuen pulled out a book where he carried the prices of items and he accumulated the amount. He paced over to his desk and created a banknote for them to exchange at the local bank for the money needed.
"Here exchange this for money at the bank and come back in an hour I'll have the forged letters ready for ya," Xuen told the men he folded the banknote and handed it to Senlin. They left the shop for the time being and headed for the bank where they could have exchanged the banknote. An hour passes by, they returned to Xuen's shop five-coin sacks full of gold coins, five-hundred to be exact. Senlin knocked on the door of Xuen's place.
The old man answered the door, "I've just finished the Earth King one and I'm letting it dry the other is finished."
"Palartok did you find something in the crate?" Senlin questioned Palartok, he nodded, "Yeah here's a dagger."
Senlin grabbed the dagger and gave it to Kimaru, "Take this dagger with you, here's the scroll forged with Cupun's signature. Keep those identification papers on you. Take the ferry to Bu'Keng, travel to Kunlun City discover the name of the Earth King's cousin and kill him. Plant the evidence and leave, we'll meet you in Lu'an, Han province." Kimaru nodded to his orders Senlin extended his hand and Kimaru shook it.
"Remember kid, there are two entrances the public entrance is accessed inside the city walls, while the secret passageway gets you passed guards and staff and onto the ship. You'll find that in the Steamy Ship restaurant on the docks. There's always a guard keeping watch on the secret entrance provide him with thirty gold coins from your sack and he'll take you to the back," Xuen mentioned.
"It'll be done see you in Lu'an," Kimaru said, Senlin tossed him a sack of one hundred gold coins for his ferry ticket. He caught the sack of gold and left on his way toward Kunlun. In a few seconds after he gathered his things Kimaru was out the door and toward Full Moon Bay.
Xuen nipped over to the dried parchment that contained Qiang Zhen's forged signature and rolled it up. With the light green candle he lit up he poured some of the wax on the scroll to close it. He also carried a stolen seal from the government of the Qiangda Kingdom and stamped the scroll shut. The wax immediately dried and hardened he handed the scroll to Senlin, "Here this is for you."
"You should take some Qiangda Kingdom clothing, and some weapons to plant for your evidence. As for your friend..." he offered Senlin clothing and weapons to plant as evidence when they assassinate a key target in the Northern Water Tribe. He grabs old identification papers of an already dead man and tossed them to Palartok. "Here you need to be two Qiangda Kingdom nationals heading into Aupaluk for this to work," he fretted.
Palartok opened the little booklet and skimmed the details, it was light green and the information said, 'Lee Age: 45 Jun Lao, Bai Da province. 165 pounds, 6 feet, olive skin, black hair, cyan eyes.'
"Do you have up to date papers, Senlin?" Xuen inquired.
"I carry two different ones, Taofan from the Ba Sing Se province and Yu from Tu Zin, Chaopin province. I just obtained the second one after we killed the merchants and mercenaries," answered Senlin.
"Good enough use the second as planted evidence when you succeed with your mission," replied Xuen.
At the same time, Kimaru arrived at the restaurant called the Steamy Ship, it built on the docks where the sailors, pirates, and dockworkers spent most of their day. The restaurant was large while it was built onto the docks it expanded into the mountain. He remembered this was going to be rather difficult for him he couldn't read Kingsmen language too well. While he was able to speak it, the communication might be terrible if he isn't able to understand what others are saying to him.
A woman and her elderly mother went ahead of Kimaru she opened the door for the old woman and held it up for him to walk in as well. The restaurant was bigger inside than it was outside Kimaru scanned the room for the guard. He saw a man who leaned on the wall near a door on the back wall of the restaurant. He wore black clothing and looked official he strolled over to the guard and counted thirty gold coins which he held in his hands.
"Employees only," the man uttered.
"Xuen told me this was an entrance to Full Moon Bay. I need a ticket to Bu'Keng," said Kimaru discreetly.
"I said employees only," repeated the guard, for a second he thought Xuen gave him the wrong information maybe he didn't like Kimaru. Senlin was going to be dissatisfied for sure. Suddenly two Oma Kingdom men pace forward and in unison say, "Kungo! There you are!"
"He's with us," said one of the men, Kimaru played along when he realized they were there to help him.
"Where the rum flows, the black flag flies," the other said the guard opened the door to the back and permitted all three men to enter the hidden hallway that led to Full Moon Bay.
Xuen did forget to mention the password to Kimaru. He wondered about it further while the password the men used also stuck to his mind he muttered, "Where the rum flows, the black flag flies."
"You guys Fifth Nation!" he said the men stopped one of them inquired, "Yeah? What of it?" Kimaru responded, "Nothing I made an assumption based on the password you gave him."
"There isn't going to be a problem here is there?" the other asked, Kimaru shook his head, "I didn't mean any disrespect. I'm on your side too, not a pirate but I'm wanted in two countries."
"Consider us a blessing to you, now you don't need to get held by the checkpoint soldiers, Ra-Den's the ferryman, he'll take you directly where you need to go just repeat that passage to him," the other pirate added. Kimaru nodded, he followed the pirates toward the ship they were headed somewhere themselves.
Palartok and Senlin arrived at a large restaurant built into the mountain near Dahongpao. The sea-side restaurant was called the Steamy Ship. They saw a man who leaned against a wall and a door beside him he approached him and gave him many gold coins. Senlin approached him and whispered, "Where the rum flows, the black flag flies."
The man nodded and opened the door to the tunnel that led past the checkpoint and directly to the ferry they planned to board. Near the docks were not just one ferry but some signs directed a person to either one. Beyond the checkpoint were smaller restaurants and shops where one could spend their time while they waited for their ferry to arrive. The large cavern surprised Palartok he expected it to be much smaller.
Full Moon Bay houses three ferries. The left to Bu'Keng in Qiangda Kingdom, the middle is Northern Water Tribe, and the right goes to the Sum Pa Air Temple and Fire Nation.
A woman stood near a corner while she punched holes into tickets and gave them back to the owner. Several people waited in line for her to punch their tickets as well she pointed either left, behind her or to the right Palartok assumed she was giving travelers directions to the ferry they desired to board. Several minutes later, Palartok and Senlin neared the woman they handed her their papers and she then handed them tickets with holes on them.
"Where would you like to go? Gongzhu province, Northern Water Tribe or the Fire Nation?" she questioned both men.
"We're both heading to the North Pole," Senlin answered she pointed to the ferry behind her, "Your ferry departs in an hour."
There was a line for the ferry on the left that boat was to depart from Full Moon Bay in Dahongpao to docks of Bu'Keng in Gongzhu, Qiangda Kingdom. Kimaru was one of the first people in line. There were about four others in front of him the ferryman strolled off the ship while the crew prepared it.
A man in a small tower began to beat a drum he signaled all those that were headed to Gongzhu to line up now. He shouted from the tower, "The ferry heading to Bu'Keng is departing in five minutes get in line now!"
"Isn't that Kimaru's ship?" Palartok guessed he glimpsed at Senlin, "Aye he only left about an hour ago he might still be here."
Kimaru peered in front of him at the captain he was of swarthy skin, he was bald and carried a thick black mustache. He wore a simple red tunic and vest, with crimson red pants and clogs. The line moved quickly he took the tickets from the four people in front of Kimaru and then Kimaru's ticket. He burned the tickets to ashes as soon as he took Kimaru's ticket. The captain of the ferry was a firebender, the Fifth Nation ran Full-Moon Bay or so he thought.
In just fifteen minutes the line that stood to board the ferry which headed to Bu'Keng was aboard the ship at this point. Ra-Den stepped toward the middle of the deck where he yelled, "ATTENTION!" Everything grew dead silent, no one uttered a word.
"There are three rules that everyone on board must follow, you will not be allowed to harm my crew. Violation of this rule results in immediate expulsion from the ship. That means if we're out at sea you're going to swim to Bu'Keng! Rule number two, while fights are allowed my crew is here to enforce the takedown rule. If the other fighter is unconscious or knocked off their feet the fight is over. Don't steal from other passengers on my ship or from my crew. Those who violate this rule will have their hands personally cooked by me. You don't want to go to the Qiangda Kingdom with third-degree burns do you?" summarized Ra-Den.
"Lift the anchors!" he barked at his ferry's crew.
"NEXT STOP BU'KENG, GONGZHU!" he yelled as he disappeared toward the ship's wheel the ship itself began to set sail. It now headed north toward the capital of Gongzhu where Kimaru will find a way to Kunlun City to assassinate the Earth King's cousin.
Meanwhile, a large Southern ship docked in Shuicheng, Hailiu province, Southern royal guards stood ready to escort Chief Unirak off the ship. People were confused and others were scared when they saw the arrival of a Southern Water Tribe ship. An ambassador to the western Qiangda Kingdom states arrived at bowed to the chief.
The middle-aged Tribesmen man knelt before Chief Unirak, Unirak was glad to see the ambassador is doing well. Even more so, that the governor of Hailiu allowed him to dock in his capital without the citizens growing suspicious about the whole ordeal.
"Desna," called Unirak, "Yes, chief?" he wondered.
"It's good to see you, I hope you're doing well, friend," Unirak smiled. "Governor Ching sends her warmest welcome, she hopes you stay long enough for her to invite you to dinner this evening," Desna mentioned.
"I will gladly accept the invitation, thank you. We've been at sea for the past few weeks, I'm heading to the Northern Water Tribe," said Unirak.
"For the Spring Equinox Festival, I take it?" Desna guessed.
Unirak shook his head, "No my daughter is getting married to the prince of the North in a few weeks. She's being escorted to the North Pole by the Avatar himself," stated Unirak.
"By the Avatar? What an honor for both of them," chuckled Desna. "Truly. The Avatar seeks his master who awaits him in the North," Unirak added.
Kimaru sat back and relaxed while he waited for the ferry to cross the Qin Tributary which was the large body of water that separated the Qiangda and Oma Kingdoms naturally. His trip would take a matter of hours while his friends who were headed to the North Pole there's will take a fortnight. Palartok and Senlin shared war stories of a time before things became complicated.
Two men sat in a corner of the ferry one was pale-skinned, bald and had no eyebrows, he wore a low-class tunic made of linen and slacks with shoes. His eyes were brown while the other who sat next to him also had brown eyes, olive-colored skin, a black-bound hair, and a large black beard.
The bald man with no eyebrows bore his eyes into the Tribesman and Kingsman on the other side of the ship he watched as they cackled about whatever they talked about. A unique feature to him was the crow tattoo near his clavicle bone which indicated he was one of the last Moushan Quan members.
Disgusted the bald man said, "Argh look at those two laughing as if their lives are perfect, most of the people on this ferry are immigrating to the Northern Water Tribe." The other man rolled his eyes the hateful individual continued, "Some of us had to hide, now I'm being held against my will here. I want to kill you but the rules prevent me from doing so."
Senlin felt someone had stared him down he finally looked at the corners of his eyes to see a bald man that gave Senlin the evil eye. He nudged Palartok and spoke to him in Tribesmen, "Looks like they want trouble stand ready." Palartok nodded his head as he agreed to what Senlin said.
The bald man stood up with clenched fists and lumbered over to Senlin and Palartok, the other one stood up as well. He nipped over to the pale-skinned man and held him by the shoulder as he attempted to stop him. He brushed off the tan-skinned man's hand off his shoulder he knew the man he was about to face.
He pointed his finger at Senlin, "I know you, you're nothing but coward running away from the Ava-" he was cut off by Senlin who clutched him at the wrist and pulled the man's body over his. Senlin arm barred the man to the ground. He placed his foot to the bald man's throat he threatened the man, "Speak another word and I kill you right here, right now. Your choice." The bald man struggled to break free from underneath Senlin's foot.
"You have a blatant disregard for people just like your leader Shan-Yu. If it wasn't for me your little triad would still be running rampant," Senlin tempted him. The bald man struggled to breathe he felt danger for himself that with whatever air he had left in him he released a breath of fire upward.
It shocked Senlin enough to get him off the man's throat. The assassin kipped up he stood in the lianhuan stance, out of thin air he conjured a fire whip.
He lashed out the fire whip near him it showed that he was not easily intimidated by Senlin. He grinned at Senlin and gave a provocative cackle. Palartok opened his waterskin, everyone nearby backed up and allowed the two men to get ready to fight. The bald man lashed the fire whip once more suddenly by surprise Palartok held an icicle to the former assassin's throat.
"Not a step closer," Palartok whispered into his ear.
"There's no earth for you here," the man grinned, "I'm not afraid to die, snowback." he cackled.
Palartok tightened the icicle closer to the man's neck he tried his best to make him uncomfortable. Senlin remembered about his wanted poster he mentioned something, "You're right there is no earth here, but there's plenty of metal," Senlin grinned while the man remained stoic he showed no fear in the face of death.
"Dust is in the air. And with dust I can do this," exclaimed Senlin it almost looked like Senlin was airbending he manipulated the dust particles in the air and wrapped them around the former assassin's neck.
He applied pressure to it, "You've never met an earthbender like me. I prefer not tearing this ship apart I don't need to reveal my full strength," Senlin lied about knowing how to metalbend but anyone from the Qiangda Kingdom was well aware of the wanted posters that indicated General Senlin was a metalbender.
Senlin tightened the grip of his fist the assassin panicked he squirmed and tried to break free one of the guards walked forward, "Enough!" Senlin dropped the grip on the man who slammed to the floor of the deck and gasped for air. The other man lumbered over to Senlin and Palartok he pulled his shirt down to reveal the ostrich horse tattoo on his left pectoral.
"You're from the Hei Shichang triad, I worked alongside Shady to help him and Baotu assassinate Shan-Yu," he recognized the tattoo he was surprised the tan-skinned man wasn't with the Moushan Quan assassin.
"How fares the Hei Shichang and the Dixia?" questioned Senlin.
"They're both in hiding and have been for the past two years now, Earth King Qiang Zhen has enforced higher presence of guards in the Lower Ring," answered the man.
"It's so bad I had to get out of there, call me a coward if you will. But any triad member isn't imprisoned they go straight to the block. The Mousha Quan has been permanently destroyed there have been attempts within the past two years but all have been thwarted by the watch," explained the man.
"Do you know anything of Haoke?" asked Senlin.
"The little old lady who helped Baotu?" guessed the man Senlin nodded his head. The man paused he thought of a way to say this since he assumed Senlin and Haoke were good friends.
"Haoke died last year of an unknown illness, there was nothing Baotu's healers could do for the old woman. At that point in her age its hard to recover from an illness, I apologize for having to bring this news to you," addressed the man.
Senlin let out a long exhale the old friend Haoke's face was on his mind he thanked her for having helped him. Without Haoke, Senlin would have never escaped Ba Sing Se and he was grateful for it.
Palartok and the gangster continued to have a conversation while Senlin lumbered off toward the stern of the ferry and rested his arms on the handrails. He sighed and looked out at sea while he mourned the loss of Haoke.
Several hours later passed by, the horn from the ferry sounded off it abruptly woken Kimaru from his sleep. Ra-Den stepped off from the wheel and announced to the passengers, "We are finally here! Bu'Keng, Gongzhu province! Welcome to the Qiangda Kingdom!"
This was Kimaru's first time in the Qiangda Kingdom alone because the year before each time he traveled to the Qiangda Kingdom it was with Palartok and Senlin. He's carried out assassinations on his own in the past but not in Qiangda Kingdom territory.
A checkpoint waited for him he held onto the fake identification papers he took from a dead merchant. When he reached the checkpoint he handed the Qiangdian soldier his papers while another inspected his weapons, "What's your business here..." asked the soldier he paused and peeked at the papers to read his name, "...Hasook?"
"Traveling to Yunan province to visit a good friend," he answered, the soldier handed him his papers back.
"Welcome to the Qiangda Kingdom," said the soldier as he welcomed Kimaru he gestured him to proceed on to the capital of Gongzhu. He scanned the area for a soldier that wasn't busy he approached one of the men.
"How many days is it from Bu'Keng to Kunlun City?" Kimaru inquired.
"By land, it'll be about a week and a half, by boat it could take up to three days, are you heading that way because of the prince?" the soldier guessed.
"I support the Earth King and have lived here most of my life so getting to know the prince is a goal of mine," Kimaru smiled.
"Prince Baotong isn't in Kunlun state yet he should be there in a few days. However, it couldn't hurt for you to be there a day or two before he arrives," said the soldier.
Prince Qiangda Baotong
Kimaru bowed to the soldier, "Blessed be the Earth King, long may he reign," said Kimaru. The naive soldier had no idea what he had just done he assisted an assassin. Kimaru now knew the name of the prince of the Qiangda Kingdom, Baotong was his name.
At the same time, Yi'an and Qiang Zhen sat beside each other across the floor from a fortune-teller within the Upper Ring. They rested on expensive pillows while an older woman in front of them predicted the day of their wedding.
"You will bear the King three children, a son, and two daughters," she claimed while she spoke to Yi'an, the fortune-teller turned her attention to Qiang Zhen, "The last of your line will be born three hundred years from today."
The woman's bony fingers grabbed onto a book she opened the tome and she skimmed through the pages. She finally reached the page she looked for and then told the young couple, "The night you will be wed on will be a waxing crescent moon which will be.." she paused she closed her eyes and begun to hum.
"Tiandi speaks your wedding will be on the eve of the Spring Equinox," she predicted, Qiang Zhen and Yi'an have finally received their wedding date from the fortune teller and was only a few weeks away.
"That's next month!" exclaimed Yi'an in excitement she was ready to marry the Earth King as for what the fortune-teller told them. They live a long happy marriage together and have three beautiful children. Qiang Zhen and Yi'an had begun to interlock their fingers publicly in the Upper Ring and have been the talk of the town.
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