Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Nineteen

 "You were holding out on me Advocate Kim," a booming voice carried over the crowd, "My partners are all saying your boy worked a miracle for us."

"Not at all, Sir. I am sure he was just happy for the chance to race such a fine animal," Hae-sung's father deferred to his client.

"Still, you must be proud. Just watch how well he is handling that young stud over there," he gestured expansively.

"Honestly, I can hardly watch. My heart pounds the whole time he is on the course." Hae-sung's mother admitted. The men exchanged glances at this remark. They were not unaware of some of the dangers but knew the number of accidents was not very high for the number of races. Advocate Kim's remark about how mothers always worry about their sons, got chuckles from the group. He smiled a slight apology to his wife but her attention was on the race.

Hae-sung had his hands full with the young stallion. He had ridden the horse in a few of the qualifying heats so expected some of its antics. He held it back from breaking too soon. He tried to stay off the rail just behind the leaders but kept getting crowded. On the corner heading for the home stretch the tip of a whip clipped him just above his eye. Hae-sung leaned closer to his horse's neck and urged him forward into the pocket that opened just ahead of them. The rider on his left was just a step behind and trying to press in. Hae-sung's horse stumbled then plunged up into a buck as they crossed the finish. He came off and tried to roll out of the way of the rest of the field. A kick into his side knocked the breath out of him and by the time he had recovered the race was over.

He was grateful another rider had managed to catch the colt and was leading it over to where the grooms were waiting. He got to his feet slowly and leaned against the inside rail while he tried to shake off the fall. His first concern was the horse so that is where he headed once he felt steady enough. Hae-sung mused about the number of apologies he needed to make to the owner, the manager, the trainer, and the grooms. He straightened his cloths and unconsciously brushed the blood off his forehead.

When he approached the young horse, it nickered and tried to nuzzle him so he rubbed its forehead. It nibbled on the top of his head as he knelt to check the cut on its foreleg. "It's okay boy. It's not your fault." Hae-sung stroked the horse's neck.

"It's not your fault, either." A voice said from behind.

Hae-sung turned and bowed to the team manager. Race officials came over to check both his and the horse's injuries. They called Hae-sung's cut evidence of interference by another rider but considered the horse's injury only a misadventure. He thought it should have been the other way round but could not convince anyone.

"No matter how close you are running there is no excuse to strike another rider." The manager responded firmly. "Now go get cleaned up before your family gets here."

Scout Jia had overhead the whole exchange and could nothelp smiling to himself. Many others would have made a fuss about their owninjuries and just left the horse to the grooms. It confirmed what he had alreadygathered about the boy. His skills as a rider were obvious and would no doubtattract other training yards. What was more important to Ying-so was the kindof character the boy had shown, first by not so subtly calling out an abusivetrainer and now by putting his injured mount ahead of himself. He could see why Yoo-suk might be smitten hecould only hope his  friend's brother would not act on those feelings.

 There were always whispers about young teachers, especially when they came from prominent families. The question was why, when their families could connect them to higher status positions, they preferred to be around youngsters. He knew from experience that unimpeachable behavior coupled with a united front from family members and employers was the best way to face down unsavory rumors. The prominence of the Taghar estate coupled with his school friend's penchant for off colored jokes would only make it harder for Yoo-suk. It would only take one slip to make things very difficult for both the instructor and his most promising student.