Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Fifty

Junseo might have been more concerned about Knight-Master Lie's condition except he expected heavy drinking at any wedding. He also was grateful to have a reprieve until morning. With any luck he might be able to put the forge back into some semblance of order by then.

He had gotten the final installment for the toys he had sold months earlier and talked the rest of the team into helping him make a staff for Knight-Master Lie. They were going to make the foot and cap out silver and were in the process of pouring the molds when disaster struck. The crucible slipped out of the tongs and without thinking Junseo had swiped it away from falling on Song-hee's foot. The molten silver splattered and caught a bench on fire. He was pretty sure the crucible had cracked when it dropped but he was too busy trying to get the fire out to give it much attention. Xuiyang and Chenhui came to help and pointed out Junseo's sleeve was on fire.

It was only after he had plunged his arm into the water trough that he realized how badly he had been burned. The heavy calluses on the side of his hand probably saved him a bit but he would need to be very careful not to get infections in the deep wound on his arm. Song-hee had blisters on his leg from some of the drips but it was nothing close to how bad it might have been.

"Idiot. Why didn't you have your gloves on?" Song-hee said when he saw Junseo's arm.

Junseo just hung is head. He knew they had been cutting corners to try to get the piece finished while Knight-Master Lie was away.

"Shouldn't we call a healer?" Hae-sung asked with concern.

"I already know what they will say. Keep it cool and clean and watch for infection. I will have to do some careful exercises to make sure it doesn't tighten up. I don't think it went as deep as a tendon but if it did there is not much we could do." Junseo's voice had a distant tone. It was like he was giving a diagnosis to somebody else.

"Song-hee should be fine. None of the burns are very large so it is the same advice. Cool and clean. Let the air on them and try not to disturb any of the scabs when then form. Maybe something for itch if it becomes a problem," he assured them.

"What about pain?" Hae-sung was staring at the appalling wounds on Junseo hand and arm.

"Breath through it. Just like anything else." Junseo answered.

It was only then the boys noticed the disciplined posture Junseo was holding. Hae-sung shook his head and went back into the forge to see what they might salvage out of the mess. He had only done a few sessions with Song-hee and Junseo but still had a pretty good idea of what belonged where. Once he had done a rough clean-up, he sent a runner to ask Manager Doak to come back to the forge.

The boys were all waiting for a reprimand the following morning but Manager Doak said there was nothing they could not fix. He was much more concerned about their injuries.

"Your scars should remind you why you need to wear your protective cloths but you know it could have been much worse. I am going to have the healer come. He can look in on Knight-Master Lie while he is here as well." Manager Doak's comment caught the boys off guard. They felt guilty when they realized there must be something more than a hangover keeping their mentor from checking up on them.

Xuiyang could not get over how the healer used the exact same words Junseo had when discussing the injuries and treatment options. The other boys had told him Junseo spent part of his day at a medical academy but he did not mention it so it passed without much notice.

The healer seemed to have been most offended that Junseo had risked maiming his own hand to rescue a friend's leg. "Do not take such foolish risks young man. You are not just risking yourself -- you are risking everyone you might be able to help in the future," he said with a dark tone.

"I understand," Junseo replied with his head down, his chin nearly touching his chest.

"You can pull a cleansing field up over night. Just tie it to some jade so it doesn't drain you." The man's tone softened a bit as he left instructions for taking care of Knight-Master Lie.

By evening Junseo was getting very worried. The healer had come again but had no suggestions other than to try to get more liquids into the patient. Junseo thought he spotted some dark streaks in the Knight-Master Lie's bile but wasn't sure.

He pressed down on a fingernail and watched carefully. He was certain he saw a dark trace as the blood refilled. Junseo ran back to the dorm and pulled a large text out of his trunk. He flipped through looking desperately for a reference he only vaguely remembered. Then he pulled up the notes he had copied about crystals.

"Is Il-don still here?" he asked Song-hee who had been watching Junseo's quest.

"I don't know. Do you need him for something?" Song-hee sounded mystified.

"He is the only one of us who had a blood stone." Junseo said this like it was obvious what he meant.

"Ok? I will go check." Song-hee searched the kitchen, workroom, and study only to find out from Chenhui that Hae-sung and Il-don had gone to the stables to take care of the horses and were planning to stay at the other dorm overnight. When he relayed this information to Junseo his friend just stared into space for a moment.

"Damn," he ran his hand through his hair, "Double damn."

Song-hee could only stare. He had never seen Junseo this upset. He was sure it was something to do with Knight-Master Lie but he could not guess what it might be.

Just then Manager Doak stopped by to ask Junseo how Knight-Master Lie was doing.

"He needs to go back to the Palace and I need Il-don to meet us there with his blood stone. It would even better if San Jin can come with his emerald. It would be fastest if they could meet us at the East gate and we go to the apartment together. I will get the butler to call the court physician once we are there but I don't think we have much time." There was an edge of panic in Junseo's voice.

Manager Doak gave Junseo a sharp look and then sprang into action. Xuiyang and Chenhui were dispatched with the urgent messages for Il-don and San Jin to meet Knight-Master Lie at the East gate. A carriage was summoned and Manager Doak and Song-hee managed to bundle Knight-Master Lie into the back seat where Junseo sat ready to hold him up. Manager Doak gave the password they needed for the gate to the driver and sent them on there way.

"Why aren't you going with them?" Song-hee asked.

"It won't cause a stir if he is with a couple of students. The guards have seen Junseo enough times they won't hold them up besides if Junseo is right, we will need to protect whatever evidence might still be here."

Song-hee stared at Manager Doak for a moment before things fell into place. "Poison?" he whispered.

Manager Doak put his finger to his mouth to indicate they should stay silent on the topic.