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Overview[]
General Senlin, gets captured.
Chapter 8: Captured[]
Book 2: Water
Chapter 8: Captured
Remote village, Gansu province
A light gentle breeze blew through the grassland region of the state of Gansu, it is known that the steppe can get very cold during the winter it was surprisingly warm. The state of Gansu was in the northern region of the Oma Kingdom where the temperatures cooldown unlike the southern regions of the Oma Kingdom where the climate can reach freezing temperatures being closer to the South Pole. The trees stayed bare and lifeless, the bark of the trees in the area were dark chestnut color moistened by the droplets of rain from the previous day before. The tall grasses were sort of patchy as snow clumped and rested on top of certain areas of the steppes.
Palartok and Kimaru were left unaffected by the chill of the area while Senlin was cold, it was so cold that his legs were trembling and the coldness bit at the flesh of his legs, his skin reacted to the nip in the air and he received cold creeps. They carried packs on their backs full of things they needed to make camp and other supplies.
Kimaru glanced up to see smoke coming from the distance in the sky he pointed at the smoke cloud, "General, something's burning what should we do?"
Senlin peers at what Kimaru pointed at squinting his eyes trying to narrow his vision prohibiting the sun from hitting them. Palartok peeked from the tall grasses to see a small village come into view. There were a total of seven shacks and one bigger building probably the one where they met for village meetings. The shack in front of them was down to black rubble and weak frames, the other homes burned, smoke emitted from the burning shacks. The smell of burnt flesh plagued the air, while no bodies were present from their point of view surely they'd find some if they decided to enter the destroyed village.
The village Senlin, Palartok and Kimaru stumbled upon burned in front of their eyes.
Palartok sighed at the sight of a recently raided village he muttered to himself, "Bandits."
He shook his head then mentioned to Senlin, "It looks like the fires happened this morning we should scour the area in case the raiders are still skulking in the shadows for passerby," Senlin slightly nodded and shared a simper finally some bloodshed, the dangerous Qiangda Kingdom general was always ready to spill blood making him quite unpredictable often scaring his former comrades. As if the throes of war changed him throughout the years unaffected by the traumatic disorders that war gave most soldiers in the military.
All three men exchanged looks and slightly nodded each other Senlin devised a plan, "Palarok take the left side, Kimaru take the right, I'll take the middle we meet in town square after we checked our portions of the village," Senlin said, his companions nodded to his plan each man ran to their assigned direction of the village.
Kimaru jogged to the left to conserve energy for fighting, Palartok uncapped the cork of his waterskin pulling water out of it and prowled to the left, Senlin sunk into the earth and traveled underground like a badgermole. Kimaru observed his surroundings drawing in the stench of burning wood, a smell he quite often enjoyed back home when everything was unmoved and still in one piece. He saw a barrel and concentrated on drawing water from it but it was found to be empty. He realized he had no environmental water instead of having to rely on what was left in his waterskin.
He poured all the contents of the water pouch out, his other hand began to lightly tremble the water consumed his hand and forearm completely freezing and forming into a spike, he felt like he was a more dangerous foe now that he carried a blade of ice in his left hand. He carefully examined his surroundings making sure there wasn't a soul hiding while skulking about.
At the same time, Senlin was burrowing around feeling the vibrations underground he heard footsteps and simply waited a bit. He grinned bursting out of the ground the rocks and dirt that spilled to the sides shook and levitated encasing the runner. The man lost balance flew a few centimeters in front of him and crashed to the ground, hitting his chin on the ground. The man terrified wobbled around in the shell of earth he was trapped it rolling onto his back he eyed his ambusher.
"Wh-who are you?" he inquired his voice trembled in fear, struggling to break free of the hold.
"You're the one who's trapped I'm asking the questions here," Senlin said while he looked down boring his gaze into the man's soul.
"P-please don't hurt m-me!" the man mumbled the unsettling fear that now consumed his body was tremendous.
"Hurt you? No, I want answers," Senlin grinned satisfactorily as the man continued to struggle.
"Who's attacking the village? Why are you attacking the village?" he questioned the man.
"We are attacking the village, we're bandits. Th-the villagers refused t-to pay so my leader g-got impatient and ordered us to at-attack the village," the bandit answered.
"Pl-please let me go I'll turn my life around," the frightened bandit added, Senlin removed a chip of the shell that encased the bandit he caught. He crushed it in his hands forming a small sharp projectile, he held it in his right hand and then slightly nodded to the bandit, "You're free to go then." He freed the bandit from his trap the rocks slid off the man's body like molten lava flowing from a volcano. The bandit rose to his feet and darted to the east of the village. Senlin examined the sharp projectile in between his index and middle finger holding it, closing one eye and lining it with the bandit's neck.
With a quick exhale he threw the sharp rock with precision and strength, the poor bandit continued to run suddenly feeling a wet and warm feeling on his neck with a ton of pain, he used his fingers to check what it was and then realized it was blood pouring out his throat. He slumped over and laid on the ground bleeding to death. Senlin wanted to deceive the bandits and pretend like he was a survivor from the village he pretended to limp and careen. Maybe then the bandits would see him as an easy target and advance toward him.
Meanwhile, Palartok was too skilled a fighter that two bandits were having trouble with him. One of the bandits was recently disarmed of his weapon, the man swung at Palartok's ribs hitting him. The other kicked a rock up standing in a ma bo stance ready to chuck it at the waterbender. This gave enough time for the other bandit to grab his sword, Palartok grabbed the puddle from the ground the big rock flew in his direction he rolled forward lashing out the water whip striking the man in the thigh.
The bandit winced in pain the rock crashing onto the ground. Again he pulled the whip back and whipped the man's leg this time he coiled the water whip tentacle around the man's right thigh holding on tight to his end he yanked with all his might knocking the man to the ground. The bandit hit his head on the ground grabbing it with his free hand he shouted in pain, "Ack!" his head was throbbing, sweat poured out of his pores.
The other one thought he could sneak attack Palartok with the same puddle he threw the water at the swordsman's head encasing it in ice. It got so heavy that he staggered back losing his balance a bit, he was able to see his eyes were frozen shut. He swung his blade desperately, Palartok came to the swordsman's left side driving his boot in the man's left knee possibly shattering it because he collapsed to the ground. His agonizing screams of pain muffled by the ice around his head. Palartok grabbed the sword and drove it through the man's chest, he came to standstill no longer struggling he was dead. Palartok melted the ice around the man's head enveloping water on his right arm and then freezing it into a blade he continued.
Back in the right area of the village, Kimaru carried the bloodied frozen spike on his left hand two bodies laid on the ground pouring out. Suddenly a boomerang hits him upside the head his conical straw hat topples off his head and drops to the floor. Kimaru sighs the nasty scar that rested under his right eye was a unique feature on the man's face. The ice spike around his left arm split into three smaller spikes he twirled around to eye his attack a tall, lanky teenage boy stood there his knees shaking with fear. Kimaru wasn't sure if he was a villager who mistook him for a bandit or if the boy himself was a bandit. He didn't care he pointed his ice spike fist weapon at the boy, cold mist emanated from the makeshift weapon. Exhaling again he released a spike that struck the boy in the chest, he nosedived onto the ground possibly breaking his nose on impact not that it mattered because the spike of ice killed him anyways. The ice spike plunged further into his chest before he could stoop down and grab his hat two rocks flew in his direction one hitting him while the other misses and crashes into the ruins of a shack.
The boomerang struck Kimaru upside the head knocking off his conical hat.
Knocking the wind out of him he looked up seeing another coming his way he dodged it sidestepping to his left. Shooting two spikes at the bandit who's attacking Kimaru he removed the fist weapon from his forearm changing the form of the water back into liquid shifting into a ca bu stance swirling the water in his hands while concentrating on increasing the pressure, sidestepping again to dodge another rock then tossing the water bullet at his enemy. The ball of water propelled through the air striking the earthbender in the stomach. The earthbender heaved he felt like whatever he ate in the morning was coming back up.
It fell to the ground after it struck his belly, luckily for Kimaru he was sweating and having some saliva in his mouth being the resourceful waterbender he was, he bent the saliva out of his mouth and the sweat off his forehead. Obtaining a bit of water it wasn't enough instead he did the stupidest thing and ran toward the earthbender, the puddle crawled to Kimaru the earthbender coughing a lung rose an earth wall to prevent Kimaru from hurting him further.
Another bandit was frozen and knocked to the ground such a devastating fate he will have, all the bandit could see was his hammer coming down onto his face. Palartok knew this would messy freezing the bandit's head was the best solution of a cleaner kill. He brought down the stone mallet of the earthbender he just bested, tossing the mallet to the side it was stained red, tiny pieces of ice rested on the head of the weapon. He wiped his forehead clean of sweat, and pulled the broken shards of ice back together as one, the ice that encased around his arm was stained crimson red.
Meanwhile, Senlin split a boulder in two whoever he was facing was an earthbender quickly raising an earth wall to protect him while the wall took a few blows. He slid his foot on the ground, he felt the vibrations and mentally imaged the next move. The enemy earthbender changed into a gung bo stance, bending both legs while standing sideway pivoting his torso while swinging both arms forward a tremor of stalagmites swiftly emerged from the surface of the ground. Senlin quickly on his feet rolled to his right side leaping in the air a bit before slamming both fists into the ground a tremor of earth curved from behind the earth wall that shattered as soon as the last stalagmite collided with it. While Senlin was exposed he uppercut allowing the tremor to end with an earth column that struck the bandit.
Falling to the ground the man was baffled as to how his opponent was able to predict the stalagmites. Senlin padded over to the man raising his boot to stomp his head in, the bandit thought to himself not this time. Sinking himself into the ground, Senlin shook his head stomping the ground underneath him, what a stupid move to make, the earthbender burst out of the ground on a stalagmite impaled. While his eyes saw nothing they followed Senlin before rolling back into his head. Palartok appeared from between one of the seven shacks that was left untouched while the other was a smoking ruin. Bodies filled the streets both the villagers that lost their lives to the bandits and the bandits who challenged Senlin, Palartok, and Kimaru.
Suddenly loud noises came from the west side of the village where Palartok scouted and killed bandits. Senlin exhaled stomping his foot listening to the vibrations he could hear the sounds of a flock of ostrich horses and he knew it was ostrich horses because he's familiar with the sound of their feet when they gallop.
"What is it?" Palartok wondered, "A flock of ostrich horses," Senlin replied he looked over yonder to the west to see exactly that except the flock of ostrich horses carried Oma Kingdom troops on their backs there must've been at least five men. One of the five men, however, wasn't a soldier they weren't sure if he was important or not. "They must have seen the column of smoke and headed this way. Act natural don't make any sudden movements," advised Senlin.
The men on the ostrich horses approached the three strangers who stood in the smoldering ruins of what was once a settlement. One of the men must've been the captain of the guard. They wore olive green uniforms with forest green interior accents, the insignia in the center of the uniforms was the Oma Kingdom insignia. The insignia was shaped like a mountain, the bottom was flat, with a vertical line on each side, and three horizontal lines on each side, in the center, sat a swirl, the insignia was symmetrical in design.
The uniforms themselves were tunics fastened at the waist with a dark green belt, over their tunics they wore forest green shawls, the earthbenders wore leather studded bracers and anklets, while the non-benders wore boots and gauntlets, a large hat colored forest green sat on the heads of the earthbenders, while the other wore an olive green headcover and a forest green Kasa hat, held in place by an olive green chin strap.
The leader of the three soldiers and the other man that rode alongside him, wore similar attire to the soldiers although he wore a forest green yogeon on his head this was a way other soldiers could determine the rank of a person. Senlin knew this, while he didn't remember all too well how the higher-ups outfitted themselves but he remembers that some ranks could be identifiable by the headwear the soldier wears.
The stranger who rode beside the four soldiers wore a similar conical straw hat like Kimaru's only wider, the lower portion of his face was masked by a black bandana, he wore a long-sleeve dirt brown tunic, his torso was a bit unnatural looking he might have been wearing iron under the tunic to protect his organs, dirt brown slacks held by a black leather belt, on his hands and feet he wore dark leather as well. Fastened around the man's neck was a pendant decorated with a large platypus bear fang.
Shang Jin the bounty hunter.
The stranger reached into his satchel pulling out a scroll off to the side the men were paying attention to the captain of the soldiers. Opening the scroll it contained a painted portrait of Senlin, the writing was in Qiangdian dialect, the writing on the scroll said: "Wanted General Senlin, master earthbender, former general serving fifty-eight years in the Qiangda Kingdom military. Wanted alive.
Caution: Fugitive known to be able to cause minor earthquakes, known to burrow in the ground like a badgermole, and rumored to be able to metalbend. Hunters do not capture alone.
Crimes: Assassination of 41st Earth King Ta Po, Escaping the Royal Prison, Helping prisoners escape prison, alleged charges of murder across the Qiangda Kingdom, targets known as the Minister of Immigration, Minister of Provincial Intelligence, Minister of Kingdom Intelligence, and Minister of Defense.
Reward: One Thousand Gold Pieces
By the decree of 42nd Earth King Qiang Zhen, Long May He Reign!"
The bounty hunter stared at the painting then at the older gentleman then back at the painting, he closed the scroll and fixated his eyes on the Captain who turned around exchanging looks at the man, everyone but the unsuspecting strangers waited for Captain Wei to trick the men.
The guard captain gazed at the men concerned about what unfolded here he questioned them, "State your business, what happened here?"
"I saw a column of smoke and told my friends about it when we arrived the village was a glowing ruin of scorched wooden frames. Bodies scattered on the streets," Kimaru opened up.
"I ran into a man with a weapon, I suspect they're bandits," Senlin added.
"Who are you three? And what did you do?" he inquired the men.
"We're mere travelers, sir. We're on our way to the Taku province, we simply did the best we could. There were no survivors, the bandits ambushed us and we defended ourselves," Senlin responded.
"You three must be master benders if you were outnumbered and still managed to take down eight bandits alone," the captain of the soldiers reckoned.
"No sir, just regular men who protected themselves from danger," Palartok answered.
"What's in Taku?" wondered the captain, "We're visiting my sister Sela," Senlin said.
The bounty hunter interrupted their conversation, "I believe you three deserve compensation," he said. The military captain pointed at Senlin then at bounty hunter, "You go over there receive your reward for your selfless service," he ordered Senlin.
The former general slightly nodded agreeing to the order, padding over to the man that rode with them. The bounty hunter dismounted his ostrich horse grabbing a small money box where money would be stored in large amounts. Senlin waited on the box, the spear fighter dismounted from his horse to stretch his body.
The bounty hunter fiddled with the lock opening the box open pretending to be in awe at the amount of money inside. Except there was no money but a pile of sand, he grabbed the pile of sand in one hand tossing it in Senlin's eyes blinding him in a quick flash of a second, the spear fighter tripped Palartok and Kimaru to the ground, and the bounty hunter knocked Senlin upside the head with the empty money box knocking him out unconscious. Their feet and wrists bound to the ground, they finally realized they were ambushed by the soldiers and the man.
"Bounty hunters," muttered Kimaru.
The captain and the bounty hunter tied up Senlin in chains and strapped him to the bounty hunter's ostrich horse. The spear fighter knelt on one knee snickering at the two men trapped with earth.
"Wow even I wouldn't fall for that," he chuckled tempting the two men.
"Captain Wei you did a fine job, we caught General Senlin together," the bounty hunter congratulated the military captain.
"Same to you, Shang Jin I'm surprised your plan worked," he complimented the bounty hunter.
Hours have gone by, Senlin awakens strapped to something moving he groans waking up to a nasty headache. The area of his head where he was struck by the metal moneybox was swollen and red. Turning his head to his left and right he saw soldiers mounted on ostrich horses. He groaned in pain again, realizing he was captured and probably heading to Omashu.
"Oma Kingdom..," Senlin paused biting through the nasty headache he was experiencing. Gathering his thoughts trying to put together words to ask questions to the soldiers.
"Who are you?" he inquired.
"Silence, prisoner," the bounty hunter ordered.
"What does the Oma Kingdom want with me?" he questioned the soldiers.
"We're not Oma Kingdom, prisoner. The disguises were meant to fool you and your friends, my colleague requested for us to enter Oma lands to hunt you down and Governor Zhanshi of House Sichou permitted us to enter," Wei answered.
"Where are you taking me?" Senlin asked the captain of the soldiers.
"To your birthplace, to the place who sheltered and fed you until you decided to bite the sovereign's hand," Wei responded.
"Ba Sing Se.." whispered Senlin pausing, "..I've only left for a year and I'm already heading back," he stated. He took another glance at the captain then remembered an old comrade of his, "Lucky" Laobing. He was nicknamed 'Lucky' for having to save them several times during the Thirty Year War, Laobing and Senlin were in the same earthbender platoon along with Avatar Ku Tei before he was identified.
"You...I recognize that face...you're Lucky's grandson aren't you?" he asked the man, Wei corrected him, "Son. I'm his son, not grandson."
"Your father saved our platoon many times...I don't know how he did certain things successfully, surely stupid decisions could have gotten ourselves killed but not Lucky," Senlin recalled.
"My father thinks you're a disgrace to your kingdom," mentioned Wei. "I'm honoring him and all your brothers who's blood was spilled by bringing you in to answer for our king's death," Wei commented.
"Escorting me to Ba Sing Se is a fool's errand, boy! Didn't your father tell you the stories of the great Senlin?" cautioned Senlin.
"No, my father told me the stories of Senlin the Great Betrayer," Wei replied, he then added, "You broke the hearts of your brothers in arms, your king, and all of the kingdom. You will only be written in history as a mistake," Wei informed Senlin.
"You're just going lock me up anyway, and for what? To escape again?" Senlin taunted them.
"Locking you away was a bad decision made by the previous Avatar, no you're going to be executed by Earth King Qiang Zhen himself," assured Wei.
"You're all fools if you think the boy king will kill me, no only the Avatar will execute me," Senlin conceded to the thought of dying to Rong Yan.
Knowingly, even if Wei was right at least he wouldn't go down in history as a mistake but the greatest threat both Kingdoms ever faced only to be killed by the Avatar. Minstrels would write ballads of Senlin for centuries to come.
"Catch some sleep we'll be reaching Lanzhou in four hours," Wei suggested, Senlin turned his head away watching as he gets further from the village he and his companions killed all the bandits.
He jerked his head back a bit, Shang Jin distracted keeping his eyes on the road, small rocks flew and levitated near Senlin's eye level. Jerking his head forward he ripped his rank emblem which was pinned to the inner fold of his tunic. Releasing his hold on it, it's not like they can see it. He looked to the skies it was dark as night, he jerked his head up to see that dark clouds formed southwest. He estimated the time to be around three hours past twilight surely the sun will begin to rise in two hours.
Four Hours Ago
The skies slowly darkened and dark clouds formed in and around the area Kimaru and Palartok laid flat pinned to the ground. Unable to break themselves free held by their wrists and toes by earthbending. As if Kimaru's sick joke of praying to Torngark as their ancestors in history did actually might have worked. The demonic god of trickery might have listened to their pleas, perhaps Tiandi was displeased with how they were treated by Oma Kingdom soldiers even after they saved a village. Except there were no survivors to save, they were too late because every villager was killed by the bandits before they arrived to stop them. At least they did the right thing and owed it to the villagers to kill the bandits.
Another hour goes by, Palartok asleep while Kimaru continues to stare at the sky a small drop of water plummets from the dark clouds onto his face. He cackled in a boisterous manner he was excited that it was going to rain at least then they could break free from their bindings. First, it started as a sprinkle, the droplets bothering Palartok interrupting his nap. He turns his head from the side back to eye all the sky. Rain falling heavier than a few minutes ago is all Palartok needed to break free.
The raindrops collected into puddles around them, using his free fingers, the puddles began to envelop and crawl up his wrist and unto the bindings that held him. The water froze creeping and encasing the bindings. Palartok breathed in deeply then exhaling manipulating the temperature of the ice to reach a breaking point. The earth bindings slowly began to crack, he caused the ice to expand in the cracks forcing the binds to shatter. He was free, he sat up massaging his wrists while Kimaru laid pinned down. Kimaru turned his head to the right now in awe and amazement as to how the waterbender broke free.
"How did you-" he bubbled while asking before being cut off, "Like iron, earth has a breaking point, when cracks are formed water expands into the cracks. Freezing it will only shatter the rock," Palartok explained breaking his right foot out of its binding while working on the left foot.
"That's amazing, I knew breaking metal was easy but I didn't think rock could break," Kimaru commented expressing his former thoughts on the subject. Palartok rose to his feet collecting rain as it fell from the skies splitting it into two portions and latching it around the bindings of Kimaru's feet.
"I don't understand your comment, metal is purified rock. If metal is easy to shatter, rock isn't any harder. Metalsmiths have discovered how to create an even stronger metal than iron but I haven't seen it only rumors that have spread during the war. Supposedly even master firebenders or waterbenders won't be able to crack through it," Palartok brought up, Kimaru's feet were free from their binds he was able to stretch his legs and bend his knees more comfortably. Palartok continued on his wrists, "What's it called? And how is it possible?" wondered Kimaru.
"Its called steel, it's essentially iron mixed in with a tad bit of carbon," Palartok answered cracking the bond around Kimaru's left wrist.
"It won't be in the market anytime soon maybe a century or two from now once someone masters the craft for it," Palartok added, he broke the final bond of rock and extended his arm to help Kimaru to his feet.
"You gotta teach me this soon," Kimaru commented.
"Sure but no time now. I saw them taking him northwest if we're quick we'll be able to catch up and rescue Senlin," speculated Palartok leading he began to head in the northwestern direction. Kimaru followed he planned on jogging every once and a while to conserve energy and run as many steps as possible in short spurts to cover as much distance as needed to be closer to Senlin.
The dome Kimaru created to keep himself and Palartok dry.
Palartok lifted his bending some water above his head to cover himself from further rain, Kimaru approached him closer while Palartok used the rain to form a dome of water around them. While still wet, Kimaru used his waterbending to remove the water from his and his friend's soaked clothing to prevent them from getting sick. They were dry continuing in the rain padding down the road while inside the water dome.
Four hours have gone by, the sun was slowly rising from the east and the raining had come to a complete halt, no longer were they inside the water dome. Portions of the sun were visible from the mountains in the distance the rays bouncing off something shiny on the dirt floor. Palartok crouched down to investigate the object. Picking it up he realized it was the emblem rank of a general. The emblem was given only to the Council of Five and only a few existed in the Qiangda Kingdom, the emblem was made out of pure gold the design was a coin.
The coin is the insignia of the Qiangda Kingdom, not every dynasty used this insignia it was implemented by King Ku of the Tong dynasty back in 1143 BG when he was crowned after his father's death. King Zhuanxu Tong adopted the insignia of the Haijun dynasty from the last Haijun Earth monarch, Hailiu. While most of the ruling monarchs of the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se were kings, history has also recorded that some dynasties had queens ruling. While their neighbors the Kingdom of Omashu has only crowned males, female heirs were arranged to marry men of nobility or political power changing the dynasty, which in turn changed the period of the kingdom.
"What did you find?" Kimaru inquired, Palartok presenting him the emblem of a member of the Council of Five, "This is an emblem only worn by the Council of Five, even the retired generals carry it. I can't believe he carried this with him all this time," described Palartok he stared at it closer before putting it in his pocket for safekeeping.
"He must've dropped intentionally knowing that the sun's rays will bounce off it, it's a signal. We have to keep going this way," Palartok finished, Kimaru nodded and they continued to wander down the northwestern direction.
It was now an hour past sunrise, the sun had almost completely risen from the east while the skies stayed a pinkish-orange hue the colors were changing so soon. Senlin awoke from his hour nap seeing again that they haven't stopped at all. They were traversing over a mountain pass, the scene was beautiful as the sun rose. Senlin rolled off the ostrich horse slamming his palm on the ground and mentally imaging a slanted mountainside he could roll down safely, using his head to bend the earth, small bumps would form to give him a light push to the side so he could roll down the mountainside. As he went down a few rolls, he was prevented from escaping and hit a wall that was formed. Senlin sighed and accepted his defeat he would have to find another way of escaping before reaching Hanzhou.
Heavy as he was, they carried him up the mountain by the three soldiers about to be strapped to Shang Jin's ostrich horse. Shang Jin spoke up, "I don't know what you're planning but it's not going to work."
"Shang Jin, might I suggest we just break his hands and feet? You know to prevent him from earthbending?" hinted the spear fighter.
"Good idea, Mao. Wei if you'd like right now we can strap him to my mount and down below we can break his limbs," suggested Shang Jin.
Wei agreed, "We can do that, its safer down there," he slightly nodded getting on his ostrich horse while the three soldiers held Senlin down, Shang Jin strapped him to the ostrich horse again. They spent another twenty minutes reaching the bottom of the mountain pass where the soldiers bent some earth up as a flat table and removed a chunk of earth out of the mountainside to use, placing Senlin flat on the slab of earth.
"Instead of breaking my limbs you could always kill me," coaxed Senlin, Wei hopped off his ostrich horse padding over to Senlin's head to stoop down and eye him, "Trust me if Qiang Zhen wanted you dead, we wouldn't be having this conversation," Wei boasted overstating on his claim that he would kill Senlin himself if Qiang Zhen was okay with the former general's head instead as proof.
"The boy king's a coward like his grandfather if he wanted me dead he wouldn't send you dunderheads to do it for him. He'd come here himself," Senlin insulted Shang Jin and the soldiers who accompanied him hoping to strike a nerve.
"Chongtu you may begin," ordered Wei. One of the two earthbending soldiers stood in Settling Bridge stance, he positioned himself in a pivot, his dominant foot was forward, and his other leg was extended back, his dominant hand was balled into a fist in front of him meeting at eye level, while other hand was balled in a fist pointing down. With his other hand, he levitated the boulder just above Senlin's left leg.
All of a sudden, a blade of water shot through the air splitting the boulder in half, Chongtu the soldier who was ordered to crush Senlin's limbs jerked his head to left. Everyone stood in battle stances ready to fight, Shang Jin and Mao the spear fighter reached for their weapons. A bullet of water shot into Chongtu's direction hitting him in the diaphragm, the force slamming him into the mountainside.
The shock and horror-filled his body as soon as he slammed into the mountainside, the wind knocked out of him he grabbed a hold of his diaphragm coughing and wheezing feeling a sharp pain. The water bullet caused enough damage to cause the muscle to spasm and slightly paralyze it for the time being and also causing a diaphragmatic rupture if he isn't healed soon surely he will die. He was having trouble breathing he instead laid there and watched the battle. The spear fighter waited for his comrades to attack, Wei stomped the ground and shifted into a direct bridge stance guiding an earth column straight toward the bushes and trees hoping to hit the waterbender who attacked them.
"There's no way they broke out of the bindings. They should still be there starving right now," Wei said with disbelief he took a gander to the skies and realized it was cloudy but didn't think too much on it.
"Well they're here now, captain," Mao said.
"Let's finish them off, then we'll break his limbs and move on," Wei added.
An icicle burst through the bushes the spear fighter swung his spear shattering the icicle, it started to sprinkle again. Another two earth columns were sent toward the bushes and trees in front of them predicting where the two men were located behind the bushes.
"You cowards need to come out and face us like men!" shouted the spear fighter, another blade of water cut the sword of his spear off the wooden pole, another icicle struck him in the chest, he hit the ground dead.
"Damnit! Mao's dead!" yelled Wei, glancing to the other earthbender they nodded they grabbed chunks of earth and started barraging the bushes with them. The rain picked up it was time for Kimaru and Palartok to show themselves and attack. Palartok ducked a big rock almost taking his head with it.
Captain Wei and the last remaining earthbending soldier.
"Now," he whispered to Kimaru.
Kimaru picked up some rain that fell from the sky with Palartok copying the same motions as Kimaru they shot a jet of pressurized water at the two earthbenders. The bounty hunter charged at them with his hook swords taking a swing with his left at Palartok who ducked underneath, uppercutting him with a puddle on the ground.
The water hit him in the face but with his right he swung at Palartok's ankle tripping him and knocking him to the ground he was about to swipe his hook end of the sword on Palartok's face when Kimaru slices him with an icicle on left kidney side of his torso, he side rolls to the right grabbing at his waist side, examining the skin that Kimaru sliced seeing the blood reddening the area.
While Kimaru swung at him he only scratched Shang Jin by the skin of one's teeth, another large rock was flung in Kimaru's directing hitting him in the chest he flies back, a tremor of earth crawls to Palartok. Dodging it by rolling forward, and ducking another swing of Shang Jin's right hook sword Palartok quickly dives in and punches Shang Jin in the jaw, he uses his right arm to cover his face while he recovers from the hit.
Quickly Shang Jin swings with his left hook sword Palartok pulls water up freezing it on the sword making the sword heavier than normal. Shang Jin is pulled down a bit by the sword, Kimaru recovers from the hit dodging the rocks thrown in his direction. The rain pouring down Senlin turns his head to the side avoiding the drops of rain from accidentally going into his nose.
While Kimaru charged at the two earthbenders water magnetized to his arms encasing his forelimbs in water and freezing into ice blades the other earthbender charges at Kimaru. He planned to use an earth column to finish Kimaru off if only he aims for the chest. Senlin notices this and jerks his head up some of the debris that crumbled near him hits the earthbender in the face stopping him in his tracks. A bloodied face was the result of it, blood pouring from his nose which was now broken Kimaru lunges at the earthbender puncturing him with both ice blades killing him instantly.
Shang Jin and Wei became the final enemies, Wei roared at the sight of his soldier dying with anger he sent a barrage of rocks at Kimaru attempting to overpower him. Ducking he changed into a pu bu stance which is a low stance, he crouched quickly on one leg while the other was out extended and flat on the ground, he pivoted his body in a full circle and swung a load of rainwater from the ground and falling from the cloudy sky channeling a propulsion of water at Captain Wei slamming him against the mountainside.
Shang Jin saw that they were going to die in a quick effort he knew one of the ostrich horses carried a distress scroll if there was a need for it. He dodged another water whip from Palartok and ran toward the ostrich horse kicking it. The creature screeched at the betrayal of its master and bolted away he hoped the ostrich horse will run toward Lanzhou or a nearby settlement.
Another hit to the face with another water whip, Wei was being washing out by Kimaru he was practically drowning. He protected himself in a dome prohibiting them from doing so, Kimaru watched the dome closely making sure he doesn't break free. Shouting to Palartok, "Break Senlin free I'll watch this one!"
Shang Jin terrified of death in a quick ditch effort shed a tear for his friend and fled the scene when Palartok jerked his head to pay attention to Shang Jin the bounty hunter was gone. Palartok ignored the hunter and ran over to Senlin using the rainwater to latch onto the locks around the chains that held him down freezing them beyond breaking point.
Senlin was released from his bonds massaging his wrists trying to get comfortable he cracked his own back, and then his neck. A chunk of earth flew at Kimaru hitting him in the shoulder, he fell to his knees gripping his left shoulder screaming in pain. Wei infuriated attempted to finish off Kimaru, a wall ascended in front of the injured waterbender.
Palartok switched into a pu bu stance bending as much water needed for a channeled jet of water, twirling in a full circle he blasts Wei with water freezing the water around him trapping him against the wall. With his head free he was unable to move, thunder boomed in the dark rain clouds.
Palartok scrambled over to Kimaru submerging his hands in water and hovering them over Kimaru's left shoulder. Wei's projectile heavily bruised Kimaru's shoulder, "Can you move it?"
"Minimal movement will cause pain," Kimaru groaned.
"You might have a broken shoulder, just sit there I'll make you a sling from one of the tunics worn by corpses laying around," Palartok suggested before running off. Senlin fixated his look at Wei grinning wickedly giving him the evil eye. He lumbered over to Wei who was frozen to the mountainside.
Nodding at the terrified man, "What was that you were saying about Senlin the Great Betrayer?" he requested from Wei. Wei said nothing.
"Your father trained you all these years and you still failed to take me out," Senlin sneered. "I can only imagine if you're as tough as your old man," he said throwing the first blow into Wei's stomach smashing the ice in that area of the body.
Lightning struck in the distance, Senlin's loose hairs soaked and stuck to the temples of his head. Everyone's clothes were soaked, the blood washing away from some of the corpses. The only person who's body wasn't present was Shang Jin who ran like a coward. Senlin punched Wei in the mouth a few times, he bit his lip after the second punch drawing blood.
Lightning striking in the distance.
"This one is for me," Senlin said, punching Wei in the gut again he heaved and coughed, drooping his head. He knew this was his end, his fate he never knew it would end like this. He only dreamt of dying on his deathbed with his future wife, children, and grandchildren watching him go into the spirit world. He was going to die a hero.
"This is for tricking me and binding my friends to the ground," Senlin continued throwing a few jabs at Wei's face and torso. His right eye was swollen shut, another punch this time underneath the right eye caused a gash to open. Wei was bloodied and bruise he was saddened that he had to endure torture before being killed. He wailed and screamed for his father to come to aid him in his mind but too stern to act in defeat in front of his killer's face. He coughed again, "S-senlin...you're a coward.." he paused.
"...when my father...finds out...he will..k-kill you!" he stammered on his words.
"This one is for Kimaru!" Senlin boomed striking Wei as hard he could, Wei drooped his head again feeling lightheaded and weak. Senlin lifted Wei's head punched him again square in the face, Wei coughed.
"I hope...Yama takes y-you as soon..as possible," coughed Wei his head still being held by Senlin. Palartok and Kimaru nearing their friend as they continued to watch the torture Wei was enduring still managing to live. Another blow to the head from Senlin, "Yama's coming for you tonight," Senlin cackled.
Wei spat in Senlin's face, "Gladly, my ancestors are...s-smiling at m-me...c-can y-you say the same..?" he questioned Senlin with what little energy he had left. His eyes began to dim now, the rain continued to pour. Thunder booming across the skies and lightning striking nearby as if the All-High was furious.
"Palartok drown him," Senlin ordered, Palartok slightly nodded saying nothing about what the cruel punishment was given to the man.
He muttered to himself, "May your gods lead you to the Spirit World." He gripped some rain wrapping it around Wei's head Palartok focused on holding the water around Wei's head until he drowned.
After several seconds of holding his breath, Wei screamed his loud wails muffled in the globe of death. Bubbles were seen inside the blob of water that held his head. After about a minute and a half, he didn't respond, Palartok sighed and released his head from the water. Wei's head once again drooped, he had been forced to drown.
"How's Kimaru's shoulder?" he inquired Palartok after he paced back toward Senlin.
"His shoulder is broken, I'll fasten a sling from the tunics of one of the soldiers. He'll be unable to fight for the next six weeks," Palartok answered tramping over to a dead soldier bending over to tear the body's tunic.
Kimaru plodded over to Palartok who turned around wrapping Kimaru's left arm in a sling. Just a few yards from them stood four ostrich horses, "We can use the ostrich horses to reach Dahongpao in Wuyi faster," hinted Senlin.
First, they helped Kimaru onto an ostrich horse, he held the reins of the creature with his right arm. While Senlin and Palartok mounted the other two mounts leaving only one ostrich horse behind. It wouldn't starve either it has plenty of food around it.
They rode through the rain for another half hour when Palartok grew curious searching the saddle pack to his right he grabbed a scroll opening it, it contained a map of the northern Oma Kingdom, detailing the provinces half of Taku, Han, Gansu, Wuyi and the northern portion of the Hami tribe territory a large canyon was south of them called the Great Divide. He examined the map further the rain had decreased intensity slowing down, the map was hit by droplets that weren't stopped by the trees over their heads. Rolling up the scroll map he turned his attention to Senlin, "There's a tavern not too far from here."
Senlin nodded, "Good we can get the mounts fed and we can rest there for the evening."
A tavern in between Hanzhou and where Palartok drowned Wei.
Several minutes happened by, a large wooden building they parked their ostrich horses in the small makeshift stable made by the owner of the tavern. They assisted Kimaru off of the ostrich horse and guided him inside. Palartok helped Kimaru to a table where they waited for Senlin to rent them a room and ask for information.
"I'd like to rent a room for three, for the evening," Senlin requested.
"That'll be fifty silver pieces, stranger. Is there anything I can give you? Drinks, food?" the woman inquired, he handed her a coin purse overflowing with silver.
"Shirozake, grog and some Xinao beer if you have any," Senlin replied, she grabbed three wooden mugs and searched for the spirits while Senlin decided to ask her questions, "Any news of the Avatar?" he questioned her.
"Last I heard the young man was in Tianzhu," she mentioned.
"Tianzhu, Tianzhu.." he repeated thinking where that was, she poured the first mug of Shirozake then she quipped, "It's in the Wushan province." He scratched his head, "That's the southern Oma Kingdom right?" Senlin guessed, the woman nodded.
"Any news from any travelers of the Ba Sing Se province?" Senlin requested to the woman seeking an answer.
"We don't get travelers from the capital of the Qiangda Kingdom, usually some from the Gongzhou and Pingyao provinces. But I've heard rumors the new king's cousin is traveling through the Gongzhou province soon on his way to Kunlun state," she recalled.
"Someone told me of this last week, he seemed very excited to meet him in Gongzhou, apparently he's meeting with the governor of Kunlun to speak on political matters on behalf of his cousin. But I have never been a gal to involve myself in all the politics of the Qiangda and Oma kingdoms," she finished, pouring the last two mugs full of the spirits Senlin paid for.
She slid the change back to Senlin an amount of fifteen silver and twenty-one copper pieces. The relationship between the two kingdoms has gotten better than the past millennia, allowing their citizens to travel between the two kingdoms without fear of being killed by the military of the other.
Senlin returned to the table where Palartok and Kimaru waited, there were many times where the people on both sides of the war thought it would finally end and both kingdoms would unify back into the unified Earth Kingdom.
Only to fail and attack each other again but the last time Senlin remembered a large battle was back before the Thirty Year War. When the Oma Kingdom took Hailiu province from the Qiangda kingdom back when Earth King Ta Po began his reign. Senlin wasn't a part of that battle since he was stationed somewhere in the Chaopin province but remembered reading a report from the governor of the state who was held hostage before being assassinated by enemy forces.
Rumors are spread around the kingdoms that only a few border states have active battles, Chengdu and Huangpu are the two most mentioned in their respective kingdoms. Those two being the most dangerous provinces to live in, neither advancing over the other and have been this way for the past five years. Senlin and his companions finished their mugs and climbed the stairs of the tavern for the rest of the afternoon.
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