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“Watch what you say about our rightful Fire Lord,” Sanshur growled.
“I’m simply stating facts,” Huazo said. “Check with anyone you care to back in the capital. The Inta or the Lahaisin. I heard Lady Mizgen nearly had to have her foot amputated from her injuries. Anyway, I’m not here to debate the strength and capabilities of young Zoryu. I simply came to your lovely little village to enjoy myself and take the waters.” She looked toward the sea and peered at the rancid algae foaming up on the shore. “Well . . . you know what I mean. I hope to run into you again, Master Sanshur.”
She walked leisurely back to her palanquin. It looked like the crisis might have been averted, but a member of her vanguard, out of sight of his lady, made eye contact with Sanshur. Then, as a farewell, he spat on the ground.
“Please tell me that’s less of an insult here than in the Earth Kingdom!” Kyoshi whispered.
Rangi and Hei-Ran gave her an answer by bursting out of the tent, making for the space between the battle lines as fast as they could. Kyoshi glanced at Nyahitha. “Go after them!” the old man yelled.
She joined the charge not a moment too soon. Several large stones flew from the Keohso side, aimed at Huazo’s turned back.
With a series of punches she altered the trajectory of the rocks with immense force, sending them so far out into the ocean she couldn’t hear the splashes of them land.
“Lady Huazo, is that you?” Hei-Ran cried out with exaggerated joy, making she drew more attention than the attack.
Huazo turned around with a frown. It lingered for a moment as she took in the surprise, but she quickly adjusted it into a wide smile. “Hei-Ran! As I live and breathe!”
The sudden presence of the headmistress was enough to make Huazo’s side stand down. Hands left the hilts of their swords and the soldiers stepped back to give their lady space to greet her old acquaintance. Kyoshi focused on keeping her fellow rabble in line by standing in front of the Keohso mob. They might not have known who she was, but she didn’t need recognition to be intimidating. She gestured at Sanshur and his men with her eyes. Did you see what I did to those rocks? Hmm?
“What a wonderful surprise!” Hei-Ran said, as if she hadn’t been listening in for the past few minutes. “Are you here to celebrate the holiday as well?”
“Yes, I was just telling—” Huazo stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes drifted to Hei-Ran’s head. She pressed her fingers to her lips again, her shock genuine this time.
Hei-Ran stared back until it struck her. She’d forgotten her hair had been cut in dishonor. Her hands tightened around her cane. She backed away from Huazo, her eyes downcast.
Kyoshi had thought she understood the significance of the ceremony before, but she’d been wrong. Huazo was the first Fire National of notable rank they’d met since Hei-Ran lost her topknot, and the proud, invincible headmistress was acting like she no longer had the right to speak.
Huazo’s stance shifted. She went from being caught off-guard by a formidable presence to having the bearing of an almsgiver in front of a wandering mendicant.
“Oh, my dear,” she said softly. “Did this have anything to do with the attack on the palace?”
“It did,” Hei-Ran said. She’d found her strength and calmness again. There was no shame in answering her newfound better. “Among other fai
lures.”
“How fate and fortune rule us all,” Huazo said. She thought for a moment. “Hei-Ran, honor is honor, but friendship is friendship. I will never disavow you, no matter the circumstances.” She reached out for an embrace, and Kyoshi was nearly ready to change her opinion of the woman.
But then Huazo used her extended hand to pat Hei-Ran on the head like she would a child. Or a pet.
Kyoshi tried to gauge Rangi’s reaction, but Rangi was blank, zeroed out, a null in the ledger. Her gaze bored through Huazo and into the stars beyond. If she wasn’t moving, if she wasn’t immediately challenging Huazo to an Agni Kai, then it was acceptable for Huazo to treat Hei-Ran like this. According to the rules of etiquette, it was acceptable.
Hei-Ran didn’t look perturbed at all. She endured Huazo’s ruffle of her shortened locks with nary a frown. She was less upset than the Keohso commoners, who murmured and scowled at the ungraciousness on display.
After what felt like an eternity, Huazo let go. She turned to examine the rest of Hei-Ran’s group. “That would make you the Avatar,” she said to Kyoshi. After what she’d done, the rules of introduction were an afterthought.
“I am,” Kyoshi said, finding it difficult to speak with Rangi in turmoil a few feet away. “I suppose your son wrote to you about me.”
“He did! Our family is twice-blessed for both of us to meet you in such a short time.”
“When you write him back, give him a message for me.” Kyoshi hardened her gaze. “Tell him he makes a good Fire Sage. And nothing more.”
Huazo’s lips parted as she figured out what Kyoshi was saying. It was interesting to watch her mind work and her face try to hide it, deducing what the Avatar knew and what her son might have revealed. The conclusion that she would have to go through Kyoshi to get to Zoryu didn’t worry her in the slightest.
A happy noise came from Rangi, so out of place that Kyoshi nearly drew her weapons in surprise. “Koulin!” Rangi’s feet dug into the sand as she ran to meet one of Huazo’s guards on the far edge of the formation. She was a girl their age who was equally delighted to see her. She had a round, pleasant face and wore her hair almost identical to Rangi’s.
“Rangi!” The two girls nearly collided. They clutched each other’s hands and grinned, oblivious to their surroundings. The sudden turnaround in Rangi’s mood was bizarre.
“My niece, Koulin,” Huazo explained to Kyoshi. “Those two were the same year at the academy. The bonds forged in school, over the anvil of education, are stronger than any other. I’m sure you understand.”
