We sat down at a table as Zuko observed the room before stating,
"No one here is going to help us. These people just look like filthy wanderers."
Iroh cheerfully replied,
"So do we... Ah, this is interesting. I think I've found our friend."
Zuko and I turned to see that Iroh was referring to an elderly man waiting by a pai sho set.
Zuko furrowed his eyebrow before asking,
"You brought us here to gamble on pai sho?"
"I don't think this is a gamble."
Then he made his way over to the other man.
Before following, I whispered to Zuko:
"Is it just me, or does it feel like we're being watched?"
Zuko shrugged his shoulders and looked around before standing up and offering me his hand, I looked at it before ignoring him and standing up on my own, walking ahead to watch Iroh, I heard him exhale before following behind me.
Iroh smiled at the man and asked,
"May I have this game?"
"The guest has the first move."
As Iroh places his white lotus in the middle of the board, the old man observed before responding,
"I see you favour the white lotus gambit. Not many still cling to the ancient ways."
"Those who do can always find a friend."
"Then let us play."
The two of them then began to place the tiles down, taking turns until the shape of a lotus flower formed on the board and the man said,
"Welcome, brother. The white lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."
Zuko interrupted,
"What are you old gasbags talking about?"
I elbowed Zuko hard in his side before Iroh explained,
"I always tried to tell you that pai sho is more than just a game."
Then from behind us I heard a loud voice yell,
"I'm not waiting all night for these geezers to finish yapping! It's over! You two fugitives are coming with me!"
I stood up and readied myself in front of Zuko to fight them but the old man stood in front of me and yelled,
"I knew it! You two are wanted criminals with a giant bounty on your heads!"
Zuko angrily turned to Iroh and yelled,
"I thought you said he would help!"
"He is, just watch."
The old man then continued,
"You think you're going to capture them and collect all that gold?"
Heads turned all around the bar and I could hear whispers and murmurs,
Most of the people in the bar were now surrounding the two men who had yelled at us, they began fighting each other but in the midst of the action, the old man pulled us out of the bar and into a little flower shop.
He then turned to Iroh and exclaimed,
"It is an honour to welcome such a high-ranking member of the order of the white lotus. Being a grand master, you must know so many secrets."
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Fire & Rain: Book 1
FanfictionI wrote this for myself but you can read it, too, if you'd like. Y/N is a water bender who was born on board a fire navy ship holding Southern Water Tribe captives, she was left in a Fire Nation orphanage and was eventually adopted by Fire Nation n...
Misty Palms Oasis
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