Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Fifty-five

Seeing the northern styles being practiced by Junseo's friends twigged a new line of questions for Wen-Hou when he remembered the story of why the Lord Presumptive of Pyongan was here at the palace. He tried to think of who he might ask about the succession in the North and the different Lords who might be jockeying for position but other pieces started to fall into place. It came back to him that Minister Go had spent much of his earlier career as a governor in the North. The Choi family also had a connection in the North, he just could not remember exactly what it was. If, as the Dowager's second-hand hint suggested, the poisoning was a matter of revenge he could think of any number of battles that would have made him enemies in the North. The question was why now.

Wen-Hou picked up his pace as he made a second circuit around the practice yard. His guards had to jog to catch up when the training master approached. "It is good to see you again," he observed. "It looks like you are moving well enough for some matches. I am sure I can scare up some partners for you."

Wen-Hou was flustered by this offer and quickly replied. "No thanks, I have a long way to go to be steady enough for the courts."

Even as he was saying this, he realized it might not be true. The pain that had plagued him for years was not present. Instead, he felt the slight fatigue for using muscles not accustomed to heavy work. He could not stop grinning on the way back to the apartment.

Junseo's comment about how the dragon would take care of her own came back to him. It seemed very fanciful but he could not stop thinking about his recent dreams of resting in a warm pool. These dreams were so unlike the terrors from when he first returned front and had to rely on heavy painkillers to get through the night. He had not needed the medicine for some time and now wondered if it had contributed to his lingering weakness.

When the court physician came for the daily check, he asked, "Why is it when I nearly died from being poisoned a few days ago am I now feeling better than I have in years?"

The physician did not respond so Wen-Hou got more specific. "The pain in my leg is gone. You were the one who told me it was something I would just have to live with but now it is gone completely."

"We are not sure. It's possible you had a hidden pocket of infection from a previous injury  the crystal cleansing took care as it expelled the other poison." The court physician looked uncomfortable sharing even this much. What he could not admit was how virulent debate over the incident became between the court practitioners and the medical academy. Only a couple of people knew just how hard it was to raise a cleansing barrier anywhere near the palace.

In the official reports, the medical academy had emphasized how one of the boys had participated in advanced laboratories on crystal energies and the court physicians claimed they had guided the procedure to a safe conclusion. Within the craft, both sides knew how they had exaggerated these roles to fend off an investigation from palace staff.

Anyone showing a broad affinity for stones would be claimed either by the palace Rainbow Makers or by the Temples. This resulted in a tight control on crystal lore and limited the applications of a clearly useful tool. The medical community were not the only ones chaffing at the restrictions around crystal use but they were probably the most eager to claim an emerging talent.

As hoped, Junseo stopped in for a visit before the court physician had departed. Knight-Master Lie insisted the boy's arm be examined. Junseo tried to resist and then tried to minimize the incident.

"Splashes from molten silver are not trivial." Knight-Master Lie frowned. "Now stop fussing and show us your arm."

Junseo blushed, pulled back his sleeve and unwound the gauzes he had wrapped over his hand and arm. The new skin under the bandages was mostly pink but it was shot through with a web of silvery scars. It looked like the injury was months, not days, old.

"Dragon's breath. It's got to be dragon's breath. I have only ever seen something like this once before," the physician seemed to be talking to himself more than his patients. Then he looked cross, "You could have told us it was your son who helped you. It explains why he was able to do the procedure."

Junseo looked bewildered and did not say a word. "You even told us about the dragon. We thought you were being fanciful but you have the Lie family connection. No point in denying it." The physician was still offended.

"No point in anyone else knowing, is there?" Knight-Master Lie said firmly as he placed his hand on Junseo's shoulder and signaled for the man to leave. The physician remembered himself and bowed deeply before leaving.

"I'm not going to ask for an explanation. Not here." Knight-Master Lie touched his ear to show he was aware how easily gossip spread through the palace. "The important thing is you are alright."

Junseo blushed and re-bandaged his hand and arm and said, "Thank you." He thought the easiest explanation for his newly named father would be to show him the dragon on the armband he usually kept out of sight. When Junseo passed the piece over, Knight-Master Lie went to a case and pulled out a close match. They shared a smile before stowing away these treasures.

"So, tell me about the preparations for going to the Tan estates. I get nothing but complaints from Manager Doak," Knight-Master Lie spoke quickly enough to hide his discomfort.

"Good, I think. We adjusted the groups a bit since Go Me Yan is leaving early for the Qin academy. You remember the ambassador got recalled. Well now there is a large caravan going east and that means a few more of the family guards will come to the estate."

"How is San Jin feeling with his brother leaving?"

"He is not saying much but works hard at being busy." Junseo just made sure to give the brothers room.