"War wounds are not the only injuries that require healing. Accidents happen in peacetime as well, and their agricultural expertise could prove useful. Besides, I'm not suggesting we rely on this generation of waterbenders. The holds of the Western Fleet are currently occupied by children from the North Pole. They can be educated and taught loyalty to our people, our ideals, and our ambitions."
"That is a very... unexpected solution," Ozai remarked after thoughtfully savoring another sip of tea.
"Wasn't my knack for finding unexpected solutions the reason you appointed me Herald, my lord?"
Right. Let's pretend I had no idea I'd originally been little more than a distraction. Then again, my formal appointment had only come after that "clever plan" involving the saboteurs... Hah. It felt like a lifetime ago.
"Besides, there's another reason—one that likely never made it into the observers' reports."
"And what reason would that be?" the firebender asked, intrigued.
"Zhao did manage to kill one of the fish—the vessel of the Moon Spirit—but it was somehow reborn. According to witnesses, the local chief's daughter played a role in that. Either she merged with it, the way the Avatar merges with spirits, or she became a sacrifice that gave the wounded spirit the strength to return to life… Even General Iroh could do little more than shrug at that.
"Be that as it may, I cannot guarantee that becoming part of a spirit severed all of the girl's ties to her tribe. And after what her counterpart was capable of, I wasn't willing to take that risk. So these 'guests' are a guarantee of our safety as well."
"Hmm."
The ruler truly gave that some thought. Serious thought.
"Well then. Your previous initiatives, despite the claims of certain skeptics…"
Another barely perceptible smile. Naturally, there was no shortage of disgruntled nobles whispering into the Fire Lord's ear about how Chan was an overindulged aristocratic brat
"…have brought us considerable benefits. This endeavor is aimed at much longer-term results, but... I will trust your theories, Chan. I will issue the necessary orders for the preparation of new students in our academies and schools. And your point regarding protection against a spirit's revenge may sound paradoxical, but after everything that has happened, caution is probably warranted."
"Thank you, my lord."
Whew. The slipperiest part was behind me. I'd genuinely considered the possibility that the Fire Lord might simply shrug and order the unwanted people thrown overboard.
"You will submit your more detailed plans regarding the Pole and the Water Tribe through your adjutant to my advisers."
"Yes, sir," I replied, straightening reflexively.
"There, there. No need to stand at attention. This is hardly an official audience—just a conversation over a cup of tea."
Ozai snapped his fingers, and our empty cups were refilled. This time, if my nose wasn't deceiving me, it was White Dragon.
Ahem… On the one hand, a conversation like this was a sign of exceptional favor, and most of the idlers haunting the palace would gladly sell their souls to be sitting where I was right now. On the other hand, there was a reason people said that a ruler's favor could be every bit as dangerous as his wrath.
"It's... somewhat unusual," I admitted.
At that, the ruler gave an amused hum.
"Get used to it. You are my voice, my word, and my will. It would be rather strange for me to stand on ceremony with myself, especially in private, wouldn't it?"
This time, the smile was unmistakable.
"But before we move on to the next matter, I'd like to know why, in addition to the women and children, you also brought nearly..." Ozai pretended to pause as though recalling the details, "...two thousand men, some of them waterbenders."
And there it was—the second most dangerous point of this entire venture.
"I was pursuing several objectives at once.
"First, had we left them at the Pole, we would have been forced to maintain an excessively large military presence there. Besides, a crowd of idle warriors sitting around on their own territory—even an occupied one—would inevitably find something to do. And I had a feeling we wouldn't like whatever activities they came up with.
"Second, once they are living among us, surrounded by our traditions and culture, they will no longer be able to view us as monsters and villains the way they did before. And in a few years, when the first Water Tribe students graduate from our schools, those warriors will be able to return to the Pole alongside them and tell their people a great many things from a perspective favorable to us.
"But even that isn't all. We can also make use of this new resource as auxiliary troops."
"Give our weapons to yesterday's enemies?" The skepticism in the Fire Lord's voice was so obvious that only a deaf man could have missed it.
"Almost. But tere are a few small details that change the picture considerably.
"First, there would be no all-Water Tribe units. Only mixed formations, with our own soldiers making up the majority.
"Second, the location. At present, we're forced to station several thousand troops along the edge of the Great Desert to suppress raids by the sand tribes against our supply caravans and developing territories. If we deploy the northerners there, we can either strengthen the existing force or free up troops for other fronts.
"The northerners themselves would be relatively ineffective as combat troops in that environment. The climate would be unfamiliar, water would be scarce, and both fighting and bending would become more difficult. That would reduce the risks posed by any potential betrayal to a minimum.
"At the same time, they would find themselves fighting outright bandits and savages whose way of life differs so drastically from their own that they could hardly fail to provoke revulsion. For us, it would be a highly advantageous contrast—one capable of changing the minds of even the most fervent opponents of northern submission to the Fire Nation.
(End of Chapter)
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