Chapter 6

Part 4

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Ah.

Here she stiffened.

Only slightly, but Iroza had been waiting for it.

Does the prince know about the transfer?

How could he?

He must just be a curious little boy.

Almost as soon as she went stiff, she forced herself to relax again. "I'm afraid I wouldn't know, sir. It's not information I am privy to. Representative Ji would be able to tell you, or the General."

Yeah, Ji would know.

Iroza could just go ask him.

Easy peasy.

Iroza turned to roll his eyes, then idly scanned all of the metal wrought cells- boxes, really.

He inspected them, with a veneer of interest, but only as a pretense for him to hide his face and think for a few seconds.

Her answers were all very succinct and vaguely unhelpful information.

It was clear that she knew not to share any crucial information with him.

She had lied about the transfer orders.

That was his big takeaway.

His only takeaway, really.

With this, all he could do was get Pola in trouble.

Probably.

He doubted Ji, or whoever was in charge, would risk their necks for her sake.

He needed something bigger.

Something he could act on.

Warden Pola cleared her throat, a little awkwardly.

"Adjutant? Was there anything else you wished to ask me about?"

Anything?

That... No.

He turned and gave a small smile, shaking his head. "I believe that will be all, Warden. Thank you for your time."

"Think nothing of it," she said, gesturing to the door. "If you wish, I'll escort you out."

"Of course."

Pola walked down the hall, and Iroza followed along after her.

He cursed himself in his mind.

Ask more questions.

Be more direct.

Confront her.

And yet, he hadn't.

Why hadn't he?

In his mind, he cursed himself.

But he also panicked.

How much could he ask without giving away that he knew more than he was letting on? Could he ask anything blunter, or leading?

It was too risky.

Yet this entire outing was a risk to begin with.

Yes.

Iroza still had questions for her.

Who sent you the letter?

What does 'Laogai' mean?

What did she know about the conspiracy Wan Bhing?

What was the depth of it?

For the first time, he wished Zuko was here with him.

His brother would have zero qualms about sprinting headfirst into danger at the first sign of conspiracy, all for his own honor and the honor of the Fire Nation.

It was a blockheaded strategy, but it sounded better in his mind than just continuing like this.

Doing nothing.

Answering useless questions at a snail's pace.

Even Azula would have had more efficient ideas about how to handle this.

She might well have left the city a smoking crater, but it would still work.

Iroza was no stranger to skullduggery, and he knew it took time.

But he needed something.

It was all well and good to take his time.

To do it right.

But if this conspiracy was at the expense of the Fire Nation, and obviously it had to be, then it would only cause more harm to the war effort the longer it was allowed to go on.

Too little information.

Not enough to act on with confidence.

That was always his problem, wasn't it?

By the time he and Warden Pola had nearly made it to the prison gates, Iroza was breathing deeply through his nose.

Summoning heat.

Dissipating it.

Trying to stay calm, while also hyping himself up.

Counterproductive?

Maybe.

But he was nervous.

He had to do something.

Or, rather, he ought to.

But what?

Give away part of his hand in order to maybe gain a lot of information?

Or maintain the status quo where both he and whoever was behind this remained equally ignorant about the other, while Iroza slowly chipped away at whatever was going on?

The gates swung open.

He and Warden Pola stepped outside.

Iroza looked up, squinting his eyes at the sun.

Thinking.

Decisions.

Decisions.

"It was an honor to meet you in person, Adjutant," Pola said, giving one last bow. "I hope you're not disappointed with our discussion, and I look forward to working with you in the future."

He looked back at her, still thinking.

Deciding.

"Our discussion was more than satisfactory, Warden...Although," he said, smiling awkwardly at her while the heat in his chest drowned out his panic. "I did think of another question on the walk up, if you wouldn't mind indulging me one last time."

After a few seconds, she nodded. "Of course, sir."

He took a breath.

Committing.

"Who was the sender of that message I just delivered to you?"

There it was.

The question.

Confrontation.

Her face went pale.

None of the incompetents on duty were talking now.

Nor was she.

Silence.

But only for a few short seconds.

She raised a fist to her mouth and coughed.

"I'm sorry?"

"The letter," he said, crossing his arms. "The one I just delivered, moments ago. Who sent it to you?"

"I-I... Don't-"

"You don't know?" he said, voice full of disbelief. "Strange then, that it would be sent to you, directly through the General's office. If it's anonymous, then I'm sure you wouldn't mind handing it over to be inspected?"

She quickly tried to compose herself. "I mean that I don't...I don't think I'm at liberty to say... Sir."

"To me? Or at all?"

"I'm not at liberty to say, sir."

"Not at liberty," he repeated slowly, narrowing his eyes at her.

"I would advise you not to shut me out, Warden. Must we take this to General Rama? He happens to be dining right now, so I would hate to trouble him with this. But I will, if you persist."

She went quiet again, meeting his gaze.

Maybe trying to convince herself that he wouldn't ever risk taking this to Rama.

That he was full of shit.

And he absolutely was.

But he was a master of pretending otherwise.

Finally, she relented.

She made to start bowing again. "My deepest apolo-"

He groaned. "Forget that, Warden. I've about had it with apologies today. It's almost all I hear. Just answer the question, if you would be so kind."

After another brief bit of hesitation, she nodded.

"Representative Ji has been known to send such letters, Adjutant. Whenever matters of earthbender prisoners come up, he prefers to see to it personally that they go as smoothly as possible."

"So this isn't the first letter from him?"

She shook her head. "As I said. He keeps a watchful eye on the prisoner transfers."

"I see..." he said with a slow nod. "And how do you know these letters come from Representative Ji?"

"His signature, of course."

Another lie.

Iroza chuckled to himself. "He signs the letter, but not the message itself? If the outside were signed from the start, I wouldn't be obligated to question you about it."

"I respect that you had to investigate it, sir," she said, bowing her head slightly. "But it's not my place to question Representative Ji."

But questioning the Supreme Royal Adjutant was just fine, was it?

Honestly, fuck everyone.

"I understand the conflict you must be feeling, Warden. Rest assured that this will likely be the last you'll hear about this... Hiccup of administration."

Doubtful.

Really doubtful.

But she looked a little less panicked, now.

Which was good.

"That is good to hear." She paused, looking like she would really rather leave already, before going on. "Did you have any more questions for me, Adjutant?"

Yes.

Unfortunately, this was where he felt compelled to end it.

So far everything he had asked Warden Pola was limited by what he could feasibly be expected to know, without reading the letter.

Any further, and it would be all too obvious that he had.

He very briefly considered just asking her what 'Laogai' meant.

That would stir things up.

But no...

No, he had pushed far enough for now.

Iroza sighed. "That will be all, Warden. Thank you for your...Cooperation. You've been most helpful."

With a clipped nod, she bowed one final time before turning on her heel and walking back into the prison.

A little disrespectful, but Iroza was so tired of talking to her that he was willing to let it pass without comment.

Poor lady.

She had looked so stressed out.

Shaking his head, he adjusted his cloak and started back down the street.

So...

That was a risk.

But it had paid off, in the end.

Be still, his beating heart.

He closed his eyes, trying not to focus on how jittery and nervous he felt.

Focus on other things, Iroza.

Like how Representative Ji was now firmly at the top of his list of most suspicious people.

Obviously.

How he had taken a special interest in the transfer of sixteen earthbender prisoners, which was apparently a regular thing for him.

How Warden Pola had lied on his behalf multiple times but seemed ready enough to let him take responsibility for the letters, meaning Ji was most likely prepared for this kind of eventuality.

And how Iroza was still fucking breathing after all that.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

What a world.