Chapter Five: Exodus

"Lancelot!" Elena hissed, clinging to his hand. "Where are you taking me?"

He grinned back at her. "You'll see! It'll be worth it."

It was early morning on the spring solstice. Merlin had escaped the Air Temple only hours before.

"What did Edwin say to you last night, anyway?" Elena asked. "Do you think he really poisoned the air bison?"

"I think he was just disappointed Merlin left so quickly," Lancelot said. "I'm sure there will be people in the future who will try to control Merlin because of his powers. But I don't think Edwin is one of them."

He kept hold of her hand as he led her up the steps. Most of the temple activity took place in the lower levels. Elena hadn't seen anyone climb this high, even in the Northern Air Temple.

"Are we allowed up here?" she asked curiously.

Lancelot shot her an amused glance. "Would it matter to you if we weren't?"

She grinned. "Not really."

The white walls of the temple glowed in the pre-sunrise light, and Elena rubbed sleep out of her eyes. Many of the monks were already awake, but it was the solstice! Elena had been looking forward to sleeping in a little. Unfortunately, Lancelot had shaken her awake before the sun breached the horizon and dragged her up these neverending stairs.

"This had better be good," she warned.

He grinned back at her, squeezing her fingers. "It will be."

Racing up on their quick feet, they reached the top in only a few minutes, breathing hard. They met a heavy wooden door, an oddity in a temple where few doors existed. "We should have just taken our gliders up," Elena said, gasping for air.

"There's no way into this room with a glider," Lancelot answered, rummaging in his pockets.

Elena eyed the door. "What's behind this? Another Avatar room?" When the wind whistled around the tower, she heard a faint chiming sound from behind the door.

Lancelot shook his head, then produced a ring with one key attached.

"It's locked?" Elena couldn't believe it. She had never met a locked door in an air temple before, unless it was to the Avatar rooms-and those were ridiculously easy for an airbender to open.

He nodded, inserting the key. "I wheedled the key out of Edwin before you got up. He thought my research was very interesting."

"Oh, are you finally going to tell me what you've found?" Elena asked as he wrestled to turn the key in the old, stiff lock.

"I think I made a breakthrough last night!" Lancelot crowed. "I didn't even sleep after Merlin left, just read and translated. But now I think I know what's behind this door . . ."

The key turned with a screech and a clunk, and the two airbenders pushed it open.

The room obviously hadn't been visited for a long time: a thick layer of dust lay in flurries over the floor. There were thin slits on the walls of the round tower, too thin for even an airbender to slip through. And in the middle-

"Spirits above, I knew it," Lancelot breathed.

Hanging from a wire in the middle of the room was a wind chime: four purple crystals surrounded by silver chimes that rang in the wind whistling through the slits.

"What is it?" Elena gasped, moving forward to inspect the chimes, which hung at head-height. "How came this here?"

"It's been here for centuries," Lancelot said. "From my reading, it's called the Sorcerer's Chimes."

Elena cocked an eyebrow. "Sorcerer? Lancelot, you know magic's not real."

"Of course," he agreed. "But people used to called benders 'sorcerers.' Thousands of years ago."

She peered at the crystals, wondering why he wanted to show her this. She had little interest in the past. "Is this thousands of years old?"

Lancelot reached out carefully and unhooked the chimes from the wire. "Apparently."

"I thought you were researching, you know-" She glanced toward the door, which was only mostly closed. "Merlin's little problem."

"That's what started this," he agreed, running one finger lightly down a crystal. "I wanted to study this crystal because I think they may be connected." He shook his head, looking dissatisfied. "If only people knew the location of the Spirit Library. I'm sure I could find more information there."

Elena rolled her eyes. "Even I haven't been able to find the Spirit Library for you, Lancelot. Why do you think they're connected?"

"You remember, last year-" he started, then frowned. "No, I'd better just show you my notes. Then you'll see."

"Suit yourself!" she said brightly, then plucked the chimes from his hand. He laughed as she looked closer. "Well, whoever they came from, they're beautiful crystals," she commented, admiring the purple color. She went to give them back, but jumped as the door rattled, then opened all the way. Lancelot and Elena whirled around.

It was Alvarr. The three stood blinking at each other for several moments. Lancelot side-stepped to hide the chimes in Elena's hand.

Alvarr looked from one to the other. "What are you two doing up here?"

"Edwin gave us the key," Lancelot answered, trying to act natural and failing utterly.

Elena remembered with unease what Merlin had said the day before. Could Alvarr really have been working with Edwin to keep Merlin in the temple? Perhaps Edwin had even sent Alvarr up there to-what? Hurt them? Why? The thought was laughable.

"Did he now?"

Lancelot nodded and Elena laughed nervously. "Yes, he did! We were just . . . admiring . . ."

She gestured around the empty room, trying to casually hide the chime behind her back. "It's a nice room," she finished lamely.

Alvarr's dark eyes narrowed, and his next smile was definitely threatening. "Yes, isn't it beautiful."

All three of them moved at the same moment: Alvarr raised his staff and darted forward, Elena shot up into the high ceiling, and Lancelot dodged to the side. Lancelot punched out at Alvarr, knocking him to the opposite wall as Elena landed lightly on her feet.

"Run," Lancelot gasped as Alvarr rushed forward again, twirling his staff. Alvarr's eyes darted to the chimes in Elena's hand, and she gulped. He wanted the Sorcerer's Chime.

She darted for the door. Alvarr issued a slice of air at her, but she dodged easily. Lancelot slammed into Alvarr from the side, giving her time to yank the door open and race for the stairs.

"Give-me-those-crystals!"

Alvarr's roar was punctuated by a cry of pain from Lancelot. Elena turned back around, her heart pounding. Alvarr threw himself at her, and she screamed, ducking to avoid his blow. His shoulder slammed into her back, knocking them both down the stairs.

Elena fell helplessly, the smooth walls unable to slow her descent. Eventually she slowed, every bone aching. The elbow of her right arm, unprotected and still sore from the amputation seven months ago, throbbed. She sucked air into her abused lungs, struggling to sit up.

The Sorcerer's Chimes, somehow still in one piece, lay about two steps above her-right next to Alvarr's twitching hand. He groaned, rubbing his head. Elena could hear Lancelot racing down the stairs toward them.

She struggled to her feet, slipping on the slick stone. He jerked and opened his eyes, spotting the crystals just as she grabbed for them.

"No!" he growled, smacking her hand out of the way and snatching the crystals. Desperate, Elena threw herself on him, slapping his hand like a disobedient child without even thinking.

Startled, Alvarr dropped the chimes; she caught them and whirled around, almost falling again in her haste to get away.

Alvarr reached out for her, but he was too late: She dove sideways through a window slit and fell, the crystal clutched in her hands. The wind roared in her ears as she fell, the inner courtyard coming up fast. Elena flipped over and landed on her feet, air blasting out around her.

She looked up; both Alvarr and Lancelot had jumped after her. Her heart clenched, wanting to stop, wanting to help Lancelot, but what could she do? She clutched the Sorcerer's Chimes to her chest and ran toward the doors to the outer courtyard. The sun was barely up, but most airbenders would be awake by now.

Behind her, Alvarr landed, yelling, "Stop!"

Then it happened, clear as day-

Elena saw herself, as if in a vision, turning around and facing Alvarr, planting her feet, bracing herself and catching him with a fist to the chest. He would fly backward-land painfully-Lancelot would catch up with her and together, hands clasped, they would finish the escape to the courtyard, only to find-

Elena pushed the crazy vision from her mind. Who was she kidding? She couldn't face Alvarr! He was taller, stronger, and older! It would be suicide.

Instead, she darted through the doorway, out into the main courtyard.

She skidded to a halt.

The courtyard was crawling with waterbenders. Dressed in blue and white fur, bristling with pikes, clubs, and boomerangs, they marched up the courtyard from the cliffs and paths.

Alvarr grabbed her from behind, and she screamed again.

"Now, give me-"

Lancelot barrelled into them both, breaking them apart. Alvarr cursed as Lancelot grabbed her.

"Waterbenders!" he gasped, catching sight of the invaders. Other airbenders had seen the Tribesmen as well, and a cry went up in the temple.

Elena dragged Lancelot away as Alvarr lunged again, streaking down the side of the courtyard. At this point, their only hope would be to reach the air bison.

"Get them!" Alvarr roared from behind them. "Get those two!"

"Give me the crystal!" Lancelot panted.

"No, then he'll attack you!"

"Alvarr thinks you have it!" he insisted, holding out his hand. "We must keep it safe!"

She relented and handed him the crystal as they turned the corner by the air bison living quarters.

Edwin stood near the entrance, ushering panicking Air Nomads toward the roaring bison. He grabbed Lancelot's shoulder. "What's happening?" he demanded, his scarred face twisted in horror. "How did they get in here without anyone seeing?"

Elena burst into tears without warning, gasping for breath. "It was Alvarr!" she sobbed. "He attacked us!"

Edwin gaped. "No, no . . . it couldn't have been a Nomad . . ."

Alvarr, leading a whole troop of waterbenders, burst around the corner. "Give me that crystal!" he roared.

Only Lancelot held his ground, whirling his staff about to create a gale. The Tribesmen yelled, some of them falling to the ground, but Alvarr had already countered Lancelot's blow, racing forward with his staff raised.

"No!" Edwin yelled, darting out in front of Lancelot, hands raised.

Elena couldn't watch; she turned her head, gasping, but heard the crunch as Alvarr's staff made contact and the thump of Edwin's body hitting the ground.

In a flash, her fear disappeared. Alvarr had killed an airbender. The ultimate sin.

Even Alvarr seemed surprised by what he had done, pausing to look down at the crumpled monk. Elena clenched her hand into a fist and rushed him. Lancelot gave a cry of warning, but it was too late-she smashed into Alvarr, sending him sprawling.

"Run!" she screamed, the regrouped waterbenders charging. Lancelot took her hand again, and they raced into the air bison enclosure.

Almost all the bison had already taken off, some without passengers. Screaming airbenders beckoned them to the nearest bison, which was just taking off.

"Take the crystal!" Lancelot gasped, shoving it at her. "Get on, get on!"

Elena gathered a flurry of air around her and took off, catching hold of the saddle as the bison lifted into the air.

She almost released the saddle as Lancelot gave a cry behind her. Hands grabbed her wrist and arm, pulling her into the saddle.

A waterbender had wrapped water around Lancelot's legs, yanking him back to the ground, but Lancelot was a fierce opponent, even while grounded. He swung his staff into one waterbender's midsection, and blasted three others away with airbending. Flipping his glider open, he took off, streaming up toward the bison.

Elena clenched the Sorcerer's Chimes to her chest, muttering, "Come on, come on, come on . . ."

Lancelot reached out a hand to grab the end of the air bison's tail-Elena scrambled toward him-

Alvarr came out of nowhere, slamming into Lancelot's glider feet first.

"No!" Elena screamed, watching as the two airbenders fall back toward the waterbender-flooded temple. Lancelot's glider had tear in it from Alvarr's attack, and he fell helplessly, his hand still reached out to grasp Elena's.

Elena grasped for the nearest glider, but its owner grabbed her. "Elena-it's too late, don't waste your life-"

"It's not too late, he's there, he's right there-" She tried to shake the airbender, but others grabbed her. She couldn't escape all of them.

The air bison swerved around a peak to avoid a volley of ice, and, just like that, Lancelot was out of sight.

The airbenders didn't put up much of a fight. Then again, Morgause hadn't expected them to. Most had escaped on the flying bison or gliders, but they had managed to capture about fifteen.

Queen Mab peered into each Air Nomad's face, her eyes black as pitch. "Where is the Avatar? Where is he?" Each airbender shook their head.

"You're not going to find him that way, Mab," Cenred said lazily, leaning against a nearby pillar. "Where's that spy? He could tell us, I'm sure."

Mab scowled. "You'd better hope the Avatar didn't escape, Cenred." He shrugged.

A blue-clad Tribeswoman stumbled to a halt behind Cenred, a tall airbender in tow. "My lord," she gasped. "Alvarr has news."

Cenred looked the tall airbender up and down unfavorably. "Are you sure this airbender can be trusted, Enmyria?" he grumbled. "He looked questionable to me."

Enmyria gave Alvarr an adoring look through her lashes, and he smiled back fatuously. "I'm sure, my lord. Alvarr would never betray me."

He's already betrayed his own people, Morgause thought. What are you to him? She didn't trust this Alvarr: Betrayal was a cardinal sin in the Water Tribe.

Cenred rolled his eyes. "Very well, tell me your report, airbender."

"This morning, I extracted the location of the Air Nomad crystal from Edwin," Alvarr said, straightening. "But two of the Avatar's companions found it first."

Morgause scowled. "So the Avatar is looking for the crystals as well? Tell me at least that you have it."

Alvarr shook his head. "I thought Lancelot had it, but we failed to recover it from his body. It's possible Elena escaped."

Morgause remembered the thin, spritely airbender and her tall, handsome companion from Arthur's assault on the Fire Nation. She felt disappointment at Lancelot's death; he had seemed like such a noble spirit. He would have fought to the last. "Who killed Lancelot?" she asked.

"I did," Enmyria volunteered.

"And the Avatar's gone," Alvarr scowled. "In the dark of the morning, he flew off."

"What?!" Mab snarled. "You mean he's escaped us? We have to go after him at once!"

"He's had too much of a head start," Alvarr protested. "By the time we reach him, he'll have news of our attack. We need to try a different tactic."

Mab swooped into Alvarr's face, hissing. "Don't tell me what to do, human! If you had done your job correctly and kept the Avatar here, then we wouldn't have this problem!"

"And you don't even have the crystal," Morgause mused, her fingers twitching. "What use are you?"

Alvarr and Enmyria exchanged nervous looks. "I got this temple for you," Alvarr insisted. "You wouldn't be here if it weren't for me!"

"Don't flatter yourself," Cenred drawled. "An airbender, teaching waterbenders how to fight? Next, firebenders will be teaching you patience! No, we would have found our way in here without you."

Not that you would have been brave enough to come in without a man on the inside, Morgause thought, but privately. "You're dear to Enmyria, and for that reason we will let you live. We Tribesman value family highly-something I'm not sure you Air Nomads would understand . . . do you even have families?"

Alvarr sputtered, but Cenred waved him away. "Enmyria, gather a damage report. I want all the soldiers ready to leave in the hour. We've got an Avatar to catch."

Enmyria saluted. "And the Air Nomads?"

Cenred looked at their captives, who knelt, some looking fearful, others unafraid. "Kill them."

Mab slunk away as the soldiers scurried to obey. Morgause watched curiously, as the spirit glided down a long corridor out of sight.

Morgause hesitated, then followed. Mab drifted into the airy lightness of the temple, dust whirling in every corner, bodies and blood and abandoned gliders laying sadly in empty corridors.

The spirit queen drifted through two huge doors that stood open. Morgause couldn't see past the darkness behind them, but she stepped closer and waited for her eyes to adjust.

Morgause gasped as she surveyed the room in front of her. It was full of statues: past Avatars.

Mab floated over to the last statue in the line, a bent old man who was probably Anhora of the Earth Kingdom. For a moment she stared into his blank eyes, and then-

She punched. Anhora's face shattered under her blow. Morgause jerked in surprise.

Mab didn't stop there, not until all the statues on the lower level were in shambles, left with only their bases attached to the floor.

Mab turned with vengeance in her eyes, and for a moment, Morgause truly feared that she was next. Bloodbending was useless on a spirit, and Morgause had never learned to spiritbend.

Mab jabbed her finger at Anhora's destroyed statue. "That-That is what I will do to the Avatar once he opens the Spirit Portal for me. I will rip him to shreds. There will be nothing left, not even for the buzzard wasps to find."