Our short two-day shore leave somehow stretched into five. My men and Suki's girls had clearly found common ground, and from what I'd heard, a few couples had even formed. On the one hand, that was extremely convenient. On the other… it added a fair bit of headache.
My relationship with the warrior girl was… strange. It was obvious we liked each other, yet neither of us was in any hurry to take the next step. In short, we resembled two teenagers stuck in the puppy-love stage.
What made the whole situation especially delicious was the fact that among our respective subordinates, both of us had reputations as absolute monsters—grim, brutal warriors and all that. So the ongoing spectacle of "two idiots obviously into each other but too blind to notice" was rapidly becoming the hottest entertainment among both the Kyoshi Warriors and my sailors.
And while I could always bark an order, assign extra duty, or even—if necessary—just punch someone in the mug (not exactly regulation, but highly effective; it's not like I'd challenge someone to an Agni Kai over overheard teasing), I could only imagine what Suki had to put up with in an all-female group—especially one in their most… spirited years.
Yeah. I was fairly sure the two of us had already been "married off" a dozen times over by now—including by the girls who'd already found themselves some company among my crew.
But all good things come to an end sooner or later. Our little vacation included.
"Do you really have to go?" she asked, averting her eyes, pretending to be deeply interested in the sunset.
"No one's released me from my oath. We've already stayed here far longer than planned."
"So… we'll never see each other again?" Her voice was quiet, tinged with sadness.
I had to admit, I didn't want to part with Suki either. Being with her was… interesting. Comfortable. Simply enjoyable—whether sparring, playing pai sho, or just talking and arguing about whatever came to mind. I didn't know whether it was that so-called love or just mutual sympathy mixed with a bit of attraction, but one fact remained: I didn't want to leave her.
And that, in turn, only strengthened certain intentions I'd been considering.
"I wouldn't be so sure. The war… the war will end soon. The Earth Kingdom only has Omashu and Ba Sing Se left—remote territories don't count. They can't offer any real resistance. Those two cities are tough nuts to crack, sure, but on their own, they won't last long. Two or three years at most, and they'll fall."
"Then… you'll be able to come back?"
Damn it, Suki… what are you doing to me? Don't look at me like that.
"Then the Fire Nation will have no enemies left. The whole world will lie at our feet. And…" I paused. "Fire Lord Ozai might remember Kyoshi and your island's neutrality. I doubt he'd leave things as they are. More likely, he'd order the island brought into the Empire."
The warrior's expression darkened.
"So next time we meet, we'll be enemies?"
"Not necessarily. I've thought about this a lot, and I have a plan. Will you hear me out?"
"Of course!" she said, brightening.
"We took some losses in the last battle, and I could easily hire a few Kyoshi Warriors into my crew. That way, your island could join the Fire Nation smoothly and painlessly as an ally—and later become part of the Empire without sanctions, conflict, or force. Given your location, I doubt much would actually change for you in practice."
"And if the impossible happens and we somehow lose, you can always claim that the cruel, tyrannical Fire Nation soldiers occupied your village, and that you were forced to serve those tyrants in order to protect your people. Not exactly the safest plan in the world, sure—but still better than facing a real occupation."
"U-um… w-wait…" Suki was, to put it mildly, stunned. "I-is that even possible? Just… show up and hire people like that? We're not even your soldiers. We're not even from the Fire Islands or the Colonies!"
"Ordinarily? No. But there are exceptions—for a Fire Herald."
"A Herald? You?"
The warrior girl looked utterly unable to believe it.
Well, fair enough. Over the past century, my "colleagues" had made quite a name for themselves in the Earth Kingdom. So much so that they were used to scare disobedient children.
"What? Don't I look the part?" I spread my arms theatrically and spun once in place.
"Well… how do I put this…" Suki tapped a finger thoughtfully against her cheek, still studying me with lingering amazement. "Personally, when I hear the words 'Fire Herald,' I imagine some terrifying giant built like a wall, covered in scars, and burning holes through everything he doesn't like with a single glare. And a man like that doesn't like anything…"
I couldn't help laughing.
"Daaamn, so that's the kind of reputation we have?"
Which immediately earned me an elbow to the side.
"Hey, hey! Assaulting a person of my stature is strictly forbidden!"
"Pff!" came the highly eloquent reply, and the "assault" continued.
"This is war!"
And what kind of fool would pass up the chance to roughhouse with a pretty girl during "combat"? Certainly not me.
(End of Chapter)
🙌Bonus chapter for 500 power stones!
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