Avatar, The Last Airbender: The Shadow of Kyoshi (The Kyoshi Novels Book 2) by F. C. Yee

Author:F. C. Yee [Yee, F. C.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781683357988
Publisher: Amulet Books
Published: 2020-07-20T16:00:00+00:00

“Please tell me that’s less of an insult here than in the Earth Kingdom!” Kyoshi whispered.

Rangi and Hei-Ran gave her an answer by bursting out of the tent, making for the space between the battle lines as fast as they could. Kyoshi glanced at Nyahitha. “Go after them!” the old man yelled.

She joined the charge not a moment too soon. Several large stones flew from the Keohso side, aimed at Huazo’s turned back.

With a series of punches she altered the trajectory of the rocks with immense force, sending them so far out into the ocean she couldn’t hear the splashes of them land.

“Lady Huazo, is that you?” Hei-Ran cried out with exaggerated joy, making she drew more attention than the attack.

Huazo turned around with a frown. It lingered for a moment as she took in the surprise, but she quickly adjusted it into a wide smile. “Hei-Ran! As I live and breathe!”

The sudden presence of the headmistress was enough to make Huazo’s side stand down. Hands left the hilts of their swords and the soldiers stepped back to give their lady space to greet her old acquaintance. Kyoshi focused on keeping her fellow rabble in line by standing in front of the Keohso mob. They might not have known who she was, but she didn’t need recognition to be intimidating. She gestured at Sanshur and his men with her eyes. Did you see what I did to those rocks? Hmm?

“What a wonderful surprise!” Hei-Ran said, as if she hadn’t been listening in for the past few minutes. “Are you here to celebrate the holiday as well?”

“Yes, I was just telling—” Huazo stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes drifted to Hei-Ran’s head. She pressed her fingers to her lips again, her shock genuine this time.

Hei-Ran stared back until it struck her. She’d forgotten her hair had been cut in dishonor. Her hands tightened around her cane. She backed away from Huazo, her eyes downcast.

Kyoshi had thought she understood the significance of the ceremony before, but she’d been wrong. Huazo was the first Fire National of notable rank they’d met since Hei-Ran lost her topknot, and the proud, invincible headmistress was acting like she no longer had the right to speak.

Huazo’s stance shifted. She went from being caught off-guard by a formidable presence to having the bearing of an almsgiver in front of a wandering mendicant.

“Oh, my dear,” she said softly. “Did this have anything to do with the attack on the palace?”

“It did,” Hei-Ran said. She’d found her strength and calmness again. There was no shame in answering her newfound better. “Among other failures.”

“How fate and fortune rule us all,” Huazo said. She thought for a moment. “Hei-Ran, honor is honor, but friendship is friendship. I will never disavow you, no matter the circumstances.” She reached out for an embrace, and Kyoshi was nearly ready to change her opinion of the woman.

But then Huazo used her extended hand to pat Hei-Ran on the head like she would a child. Or a pet.

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