Chapter 49
After Sokka had ensured Katara and his baby niece had made it to the apartment he shared with Natuk and Sitka as Zuko had asked, he went to their father's. Azula's sudden arrival had set him on edge. The fact that Zuko had opted not to kill her gave them all one more thing to worry about. He could sympathize with his desire to believe his long lost mother's words, but Azula was dangerous. Her presence in the city could be putting them all at risk.
From everything that he had experienced of her himself or heard from Zuko, they had no way of knowing if Azula was putting on an act. She had always been loyal to Ozai. What if she was just pretending to be remorseful and would betray them all the moment they let down their guard? It wouldn't be the first time she'd used subterfuge to gain access to Ba Sing Se. Well, Sokka would just have to make sure that didn't happen.
Hakoda had been surprised, but more understanding of Zuko's actions than Sokka had expected. He had come to understand something of the man his son-in-law was. Expecting Zuko to kill his sister in cold blood was unfair, despite their past. Sokka had tried to imagine what he would feel if it was his sister that was the crazy former enemy but he just couldn't picture Katara that way. He did know how much he loved her though, and supposed he could almost understand.
Almost.
After sharing dinner with his father and Bato, Sokka had gone home. Natuk told him that Zuko had seemed extremely weary and relieved to be away from Azula when he had come to take his family home. He hadn't said much but as there was already a Lotus meeting planned for the next day, both water tribe men assumed they would hear more then. He didn't sleep well that night.
After trudging all the way to the palace in the upper ring the next morning, Sokka was still on edge. His sister and her husband were a few places ahead and Natuk walked beside him. When Katara and Zuko had come by to leave Kya with Sitka and her son before they'd left, Sokka had tried to get a feel for what his brother-in-law was thinking. He had not been in a talkative mood. Now, approaching the gates to the upper ring, no one spoke.
The guards knew them by sight and stood aside to allow them to pass. As there was a gathering at the palace today, the massive stone gates were dropped. Sokka wondered how this meeting would go. Having recently received word from Lieutenant Jee, Iroh had summoned all of their allies and any Lotus members who resided in the city. As this was a nearly impenetrable stronghold, nearly everyone who mattered to their war effort had opted to live there. There had only been a scant handful of meetings so far as communication was slow and progress slower still.
Reaching the meeting hall, the same large room with tables laid out in a large circle, Sokka glanced around for his father. Spotting him, he took the seat to his right, Natuk sitting beside him. Zuko, he noticed, sat beside his uncle rather than with him as he usually did. As Iroh was the head of the White Lotus, it signaled to anyone paying attention that Zuko was perhaps about to take up his role as a leader at last.
"Welcome my friends. I have called you here to discuss the extremely important developments we received word of earlier this week. As you know, Lieutenant Jee has been sending us updates on his progress within the Fire Nation military as well as anything else he deems important. Finally, it seems, he sends good news."
Although his words should have sparked a more relaxed tone, Iroh was steel and fire. In that moment, Sokka saw not the jovial old tea master but General Iroh, Dragon of the West.
"My brother has made a critical mistake. When he chose his bride from the military ranks, he ensured their increased loyalty. However, rumors of his treatment of the Fire Lady have sparked outrage and unrest." Iroh paused as though what he was about to say made him as angry as it did the men who knew Fire Lady Lei. "Ozai has kept his wife in forced isolation since confirming her pregnancy. There have also been reports of physical abuse as well as psychological."
Although he was not overly shocked, laying hands on a woman, never mind a pregnant one, made his gut churn in disgust.
"Thanks to her personal maid servants and many friends, this information has been widely shared. While this alone has sown resentment, there is more. The Fire Lord is desperate to rebuild his air fleet and in so doing has nearly brought the entire empire to financial ruin. People are starving in the colonies and nearly there on the home islands. Lieutenant Jee believes that if we were to mount a coup now, we would have little resistance. Especially if it was led by the very much alive Prince Zuko."
Iroh paused again, seemingly done speaking, and looked expectantly at his nephew. Zuko's face was an impassive mask, but Sokka saw his quick glance to Katara and her slight nod before he stood.
"Fire Lord Ozai, in his mad race to bring the rest of the world under his control, is destroying my home. He has no regard for the lives of his people, those soldiers that fight his battles and regular citizens alike. These people, my people, are suffering and dying under his rule. More than that, the Earth Kingdom will suffer innumerable losses as well if he is allowed to complete his new air fleet." Taking a breath, Zuko looked down at Katara for a long moment before addressing the room again. "We have all lived in relative ease here behind the high walls of Ba Sing Se for the last year, enjoying the stalemate. I myself have never known such a time of peace as I have since returning to this city to live with my new family. Knowing now how my people are suffering because of my father, I can no longer keep living my happy life here. Not when my people will continue to suffer for my inaction. The time to return to war is upon us." He looked around the room, daring anyone to look away from his determined gaze.
Iroh spoke next.
"We have also just had word that the Fire Lady has recently given birth, a son he has named Sozin." Only because he had come to know Zuko so well could Sokka tell how much this news affected him. The slight crease around his good eye and the way his fingers twitched with the urge to clench betrayed the swell of no doubt confused emotion he felt at his uncle's words. "My brother's intentions could not be more clear. As Prince Zuko has said, the time to act is now. We must begin to plan our assault."
There was some general uproar as both doubt and ideas swirled around the tables. While everyone was united with their ultimate cause, some were not prepared to return to fighting again. Beside Sokka, his father murmured with Bato concerning their own numbers and thoughts. Sokka was surprised though at who rose to silence the room and speak next.
Katara tried twice to speak over the cacophony and gain everyone's attention. When few abandoned their own conversations at her request, Sokka watched her temper flare with trepidation. Nothing good ever came from that look. Suddenly she was bending. Dangerous looking shards of ice flew from her hip flask to impale the tables in front of everyone who hadn't noticed her. The room was silent as wide eyes found hers. Sokka shared the amused smirk his brother-in-law wore at her tactics.
"Now then." Having the room's attention at last, Katara straightened from her stance and rested her fingertips on the table in front of her. "When we arrive in the Fire Nation, we will need to ensure the loyalty of the military. As we have just learned there is enough resentment and discord already, it might not take much to set them off against Ozai. We need to ensure they know who we are and that they can trust us. They are angry about the treatment of the Fire Lady which they have taken personally, and they are angry because their families are being starved." Seeing that no one had moved to interrupt her, Katara turned to Iroh. "Do we know what Lieutenant Jee is telling them? Is it possible or advisable to have him spread information about a coup? Perhaps only that Zuko is alive? Or maybe just that you yourself are angry with them and plan to overthrow your brother?"
Iroh looked thoughtful as he turned over her questions in his head.
"He has been searching out dissent and fanning the flames as it were. As long as we were waiting, other than finding potential allies that is all he has been doing. Zuko is dead as far as anyone else knows. Perhaps if they learned otherwise... though I wouldn't want word that he is alive to get back to his father. Not until we are there. If the Lieutenant were to spread around word that I had learned of the state of things and planned to intervene... perhaps that would be enough."
Zuko nodded. "It would give us a few months too. Time for these orders to reach him, and ensure the information was widely disseminated. I had an idea about how to approach." He walked around to a smaller table that had a stack of maps. Shuffling through them until he found what he wanted, Zuko tugged one map out and laid it out on a center table. "I want to sweep up the home islands from the south east. There is a military presence on nearly every island. If we make our way north, with any forces we bring from the Earth Kingdom and the Southern Water Tribe, we can confront Fire Nation soldiers as we go. They will see that it isn't General Iroh, but me, still come to rid them of my father. It is important they know that, while our forces will be Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe, it is not a foreign invasion but a true coup. We want their help to restore the Fire Nation, not their resistance."
They spent the next hour going over more detailed plans. They would pass through Omashu again and Sokka could tell Zuko was anxious about seeing his mother again. After plans were laid, they were dismissed for the day. Everyone had their temporary orders.
Sokka held Zuko up once the room had mostly emptied besides the two of them and Katara. He had half expected Azula to be mentioned during the meeting and when she hadn't been, Sokka's questions became more pressing.
"Zuko. What happened with your sister after Katara and I left last night? Where is she now? Did she say anything else or try to attack you? I know that bit about the Fire Lord's new son didn't come from Jee's man."
At the reminder of his sister, Zuko sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes. The weariness that Natuk had mentioned the night before seemed to flood back into his features as he thought of what to say.
"Right now Azula is under guard in the lower levels of the palace. It isn't technically a prison but it's as good as. Yes, we did talk more when we were alone." At Sokka's incredulous look he rolled his eyes. "What? She was still trapped against the floor and Uncle and Toph were just in the other room if she tried anything. Anyway I was able to get a more detailed answer as to why she's here. First, she corroborated everything Jee has sent us about conditions in the Fire Nation. According to Azula the colonies are even worse. She didn't say exactly but I gathered that the care facility I sent her too was shut down, hence her timing. One of the casualties of my father's money grab. Anyway, she is the one who told us about Sozin. Apparently she cares about him and doesn't like what she imagines his life will be with our father."
Zuko sat heavily beside Katara, his wife reaching out and taking his hand. He nodded at Sokka's scoff. "I don't believe she has the ability to care like that but, well I'd say she was sincere if I didn't know her. Either way she's right about one thing. Our people are suffering and we need to act. I warned her she wouldn't have another chance if she broke faith this time."
Sokka was still frowning but accepted his answer. He would probably be worried for their safety as long as she was here, but at least she was locked away for now.
"I understand that she's your sister and you can't just kill her. Why keep her so close though? Why not, I don't know, kick her out of the city? I'm just worried about Kya and..."
"You think I'm not?" Zuko had pushed himself up from where he sat. "Kya is my daughter, Sokka! The first thing that I felt when I saw my sister was blind panic. The last time I saw her, we were fighting an Agni Kai and she aimed her lightning at Katara because she knew she was important to me. What do you think she would do.. what would she do to my baby?" His voice had lost all of its heat by the end as he struggled with his emotions again. Taking pity on him, Sokka waited for him to finish. Katara was standing with them now, her hand finding her husband's.
"I know she's a threat, but if what the letter said is true I can't hurt her. I won't do that to my mother." Zuko cleared his throat and smiled at Katara over his shoulder. "It's not a perfect solution but for now it will have to do. And before you say anything, yes I know how important she is. Next Avatar or not it doesn't change that she's my daughter and I will do everything, anything to keep her safe. If Azula tries anything, lashes out at anyone I will kill her. No matter what the letter said."
Sokka met his determined gaze with a speculative one for a moment before nodding and stepping aside. "I'm sorry Zuko. I'll trust you in this. Let's get out of here yeah?"
Katara laughed softly as they filed out of the room, none of them noticing the opening in the far stone wall sliding shut.