Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Fourteen

Junseo did not know what to expect from a Knight-Maker's forge, but the compound he found on a winding side street was a surprise. The front gate was askew. A pile of broken rooftiles had been swept into one corner of the yard but their replacements had not yet been installed. The main hall, or at least that was what it once might have been, was an obstacle course of different sized receptacles meant to capture at least some of the drips. After locating what appeared to be the lone servant struggling away over the laundry vats, Junseo was finally directed through the back gate to the forge.

Knight-Master Lie barely acknowledged his arrival. That was understandable since a crucible of molten silver was in mid-pour. "Grab a hammer and knock the side of the mold to get the air out will you." This instruction came as a billow of smoke engulfed the room.

Junseo complied but regretted he had not changed out of his borrowed school uniform as sparks started to fly.

"Thanks" Knight-Master Lie called over his shoulder while returning the crucible to the heat with a well practiced move. "Now we can clear out of here and find a cooler place to chat."

Junseo grinned shyly as the Knight-Master took out a rag to wipe the sweat off and then passed it over. Junseo could barely find a dry corner to use. When he was finished, he tossed the rag into the basket the older man had gestured to.

"So how was your day, so far?"

"Interesting. Not sure I am any closer to understanding how the qualifiers work, or what might be expected of me in the next round." Junseo hoped the Knight-Master understood how little of what went on in the training yards and academies in the Capital was communicated to the provinces.

After probing a bit, the Knight-Master decided to go back to the very basics.

"The senior qualifiers help determine which candidates go directly into the King's battalions for mandatory service, which ones will become officer cadets, and which ones will go to the registered training yards. The junior qualifies determine which academy or training yard you can attend and factors into placements at the start of the senior qualifiers."

Junseo looked discouraged, "So civil service marks don't count for much here."

"Not at all. Without good exams scores there is no way to get to the senior qualifiers or have a chance at a government posting that will reduce your mandatory service. Good exam scores give you choice, good results in the qualifiers give you more choice. Being named a Champion in the final rounds gives you as much choice as this society allows but we don't need to worry about that this year."

"Because I am a junior and haven't even qualified for the finals yet." Junseo was trying not to get ahead of himself.

"Yes, you are still an unranked junior but mostly because the Crown Prince only runs the Champion League every other year." Knight-Master Lie corrected then busied himself with getting a jug of water and some fruit snacks for them to share in the shade on the broad veranda of the main house.

"Scout Jia considers you to be an able swordsman so I am curious why you chose to compete with a staff?"

"My uncle, that is Headmaster Kim and his master-at-arms, told me my style was not a good match here. I am used battling two-handed with a long, curved blade for sweeping, and one short straight blade for close work and defense." Junseo acted out some of the moves as he talked the blushed when he realized he might have been a bit too enthusiastic.

"They were probably right. Especially, after how well you did with your staff. Did they settle on what do you about your hand-to-hand level?"

"No, the Temple Training-Master wants more time to assess me. I have been invited for morning prayers and whatever disciplines that follow right after. I should be done in plenty of time for classes, that is if I should still be taking classics and languages?" Junseo didn't really mind the academic material, just the way some of the other students treated him.

"I am sure having some regular classes will help make your family feel better about you living in the capital and I don't need to tell you what a privilege it is to study with different masters."

Junseo nodded. He had warm memories of the Moon Temple's Master Wu. He was distracted for a minute while he wondered about his friends in Ilidan. He still felt guilty about the trouble him entering the Crystal Pavilion had caused. There was nobody he could talk with about what had happened so he had to carry this burden on his own.

"What about healer training? You have some skills there as well." Knight-Master Lie's question caught Junseo off guard until he remembered their first meeting at the palace gate.

"Honestly, with my father, it would be very hard to escape picking up some healing skills but the thing is I have always preferred making. Even the kite running I did was mostly for the design challenges."

Knight-Master Lie nodded his approval for this direct response then talked about his own experience with the Royal Engineers.