Escalation

"Escalation" is the eighteenth chapter of The Shadow of Kyoshi.
== Overview ==
After traveling with Jinpa to the melonyam field where the words "Hail Fire Lord Chaejin" have been written, Kyoshi notices that the ground has been poisoned with salt. Thinking that Yun must be working with Huazo, who recently acquired a salt-making operation in North Chun-Ling, the Avatar and her companions agree to capture the leader of the Saowon and make her confess. They intend to keep Rangi away from this since she would never agree to such a course of action, but she sees what is going on after Kyoshi and Atuat return with Huazo. The Avatar, full of regret, earthbends her girlfriend into the ground and goes on with the plan.
==Synopsis==
Kyoshi and Jinpa fly on Yingyong's back to the melonyam field where the message "Hail Fire Lord Chaejin" was written. As Jinpa tells Yingyong not to eat the sickly crops, Kyoshi goes to one of the plants and picks up a clod of soil, popping it into her mouth while thinking that she is living up to an insult sometimes directed at the inhabitants of the Earth Kingdom.
Jinpa, surprised, inquires whether she is eating dirt as she spits it on the ground, stating that it is salty and that Yun must have bent the message to kill the plants, being supplied by Huazo who has recently bought the North Chung-Ling salt-making business. She deduces that the earthbender is working with the Saowon clan and tells Jinpa that they should go back and discuss this with the others.
After Kyoshi tells Hei-Ran about her findings concerning Yun and the Saowon, the former headmistress writes on her slate that she does not consider this to be enough evidence to prove the treachery as they stay downstairs. Rangi had disagreed with her injured mother moving around while recuperating and, after an intense argument, Hei-Ran told her to leave for a while. As she did so, the young firebender tore a chair apart in frustration.
Rangi's mother continues stating that she agrees that Yun must be conspiring with the Saowon, but that the other clans will not believe this. Nyahitha adds that their evidence is an earthbending technique no one has ever witnessed nor heard of before. Kyoshi says the only option left is to locate the leaders of the Saowon and make them confess. She thinks that it is good Rangi is not here since she would strongly disagree with the Avatar kidnapping anyone as she believes in the righteousness Kyoshi should follow in her duty.
She takes a moment to muse over her companions, considering that they are people from every nation who got here by chance rather than choice. The Avatar concentrates her attention on Jinpa, the youngest member of her team, whom she expects to refuse to accompany her based on his pacifistic beliefs as opposed to Hei-Ran, Atuat and Nyahitha, who have been through many difficult situations and were used to insults as well.
The monk, however, did not reply with any counterargument, saying instead that he will take Kyoshi wherever she wishes to go. The Avatar reflects how the Flying Opera Company might get along with this group as it consisted of people who were not what they were supposed to be, with her in the center. She begins discussing her plan with them.
Very early in the morning, Kyoshi and Atuat go to the nearest port in North Chung-Ling as the former takes in the seashore fauna and the numerous stalls, vendors, and bauble sellers. They wait there for Huazo as the Avatar thinks that an additional waterbender might be helpful so near the ocean.
The leader of the Saowon clan eventually arrives with only two guards, having left Koulin and the rest of her vanguard in town to counter the Keohso clan forces when the need arises. Kyoshi sarcastically asks Huazo whether she is leaving so soon as the Festival of Szeto is not over yet. The noblewoman hides her surprise to see the two of them here, answering that she has gotten what she needed from North Chung-Ling.
Not wanting to play political games, Kyoshi inquires about Yun's location. Huazo repeats his name, asking if he is the boy who was thought to be the Avatar before her and who humiliated Zoryu. Kyoshi recalls the calculated plan she calmly established with the others, but, upon reaching her goal, she gets to the point, stating that she knows that Yun and the Saowon are conspiring to overthrow Zoryu and again tells Huazo to reveal his location. She responds that she does not know anything about the earthbender, never having met him.
Kyoshi concentrates on the water, gathering her energy into bending a huge wave that separates Huazo's ship from the dock, lifting it high in the air. She freezes the water, leaving the ferry held above the ocean by chunks of ice.
Atuat voices her amazement with such raw power. The noblewoman orders her guards to stand down as she stares defiantly at the Avatar. She says that Kyoshi has no evidence against her and tells her to intimidate or even hurt her if she wants as this will only strengthen her clan's position in the forthcoming war.
Kyoshi considers that, in a way, Huazo is as fierce as Hei-Ran and tells her that she will take her to Capital City. The Saowon leader instructs her soldiers to send messages to their clan and their allies, letting them know about this "injustice", but to not start an armed conflict with the Keohso until she is freed.
As they walk off the dock, Kyoshi feels very tense while Huazo asks her whether she plays Pai Sho, proceeding to say that one of the first lessons a player learns is to not interrupt their opponent while they are in the middle of making a fatal mistake.
Upon Kyoshi, Atuat, and Huazo's arrival at the Coral Urchin, Jinpa waits on Yingyong's neck and Hei-Ran, having removed some of her bandages but still feeling the pain of her wound, stands by the door. Huazo laughs as she sees the former headmistress, warning her that the Saowon will show no mercy for the Sei'naka clan when they obtain the throne.
Hei-Ran speaks in a rattling whisper due to her injury, but with determination, stating that her clan and her do not need mercy, only justice. This silences Huazo as Kyoshi grabs her and lifts her to Jinpa. The monk swings her into the saddle as the Avatar asks Hei-Ran what will happen if the leader of the Saowon is right and if she will therefore ruin her honor. The firebender replies that she can lose her honor because she understands its meaning and value, but that this virtue must sometimes be let go of for the good of others.
Just then, Rangi walks around the corner, holding baskets of supplies. The others have intended to keep her away while Kyoshi and Jinpa left with Huazo, but she returned sooner than they expected. She drops the goods in surprise, demanding to know what is going on as she runs to Kyoshi who gently earthbends her into the ground, halfway up to her shins. Rangi tries to break free, telling her girlfriend to let her go.
Kyoshi recalls how Hei-Ran said that her daughter, just, honorable, and kind, who believed in the values the Avatar upheld, would never do anything immoral. She leans in and kisses Rangi on the top of her head as she apologizes.
Kyoshi, feeling a great deal of pain after doing this to her, wishes Yingyong could fly away faster, lest she hears the young firebender calling out her name.
== Production notes ==
=== Series continuity ===
* Without telling Rangi, Kyoshi enacts a plan to kidnap Huazo to force her to confess she is conspiring with Yun, recalling Hei-Ran's advice from "The Headmistress" that there are places her daughter will never go that Kyoshi may have to visit on Rangi's behalf.
== References ==
Category:A to Z
Category:Kyoshi novels chapters
Category:Real world
Category:The Shadow of Kyoshi chapters