Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Fifty-seven

            Scout Jia had provided them each with wide brimmed straw hats but this did not make waiting in the rain for the contingent of cadets and veterans much better. The boys tried not to grumble but the grey day matched their mood after having rushed to leave early and now waiting for two hours at the crossroads.

"Did they take a different route? Shouldn't we press on to the way station?" San Jin's frustration was clear.

"We just need to give them some more time." Scout Jia responded.

Junseo had already dismounted. The tarp he placed over his saddle to keep it dry threatened to blow off. Its flapping set of a chain reaction with a couple of the younger horses.

"Can't you tie that thing down any better?" Il-don sounded exasperated.

"Fine." Junseo said and clambered back up onto Rufus. The retired war horse bent his head around to nip at Junseo's knee. "None of that," Junseo said firmly, "No treats while we are on duty."

Rufus threw his head up and down and snorted. Then he let out a loud whinny. His call was answered from around the bend in the road.

"Finally," San Jin muttered.

In a just a few minutes their group was mixed in with the ranks of the irregulars who would take up patrols from the base at the Tan's estate. As one of the heirs to the property San Jin was accompanied by personal guards who did not let anyone in the new company get within two horse lengths of their charge.

One of the cadets riding beside Il-don close to the back of the line asked, "Who's the fancy pants with his own guards?"

"That would be your host at the Tan estate." Il-don did not think the cadet deserved more information even though the young man was clearly expecting more.

"So how do you know him?" another cadet asked.

"We train together." Il-don said with a clipped tone. He did not know why he was so uncomfortable with the cadets. Maybe it was because they were older and their uniforms and fancy tack proclaimed their moneyed backgrounds.

The contrast with San Jin was clear. If you had an eye for horses, you would know he had a quality mount. That, and the guards forced upon them by his family, were the only markers of his status. His scabbard was servable, his tack was plain, and he was wearing the same kind of travel cloths, including the ridiculous rain hat, as the rest of their team.

"Friendly bunch, aren't you?" the first cadet remarked.

Il-don was about to make a retort about having his friendliness washed out of him by the long wait in the rain when the veteran who was riding behind them growled about there being far too much chitter-chatter in the ranks.

"This is not a social outing. It's your turn for advanced scouting so get on with you."

Il-don was not sure if he was included in the order or not but he thought it might be prudent to move closer to the front of the ranks. Scout Jia signaled for him to pull in beside him and then asked if he would switch mounts with Xuiyang at the next stop. Il-don looked back to see how Xuiyang was struggling with his horse while a couple of the cadets kept crowding up behind him.

"I think my little lady might teach them some manners," he said with a grin and circled back to ride with his schoolmate. When the cadets approached Il-don announced, "If my horse kicks yours it will be your fault."

His warning was half a beat too late and while the cadet's horse veered away from a direct hit from a hoof there was enough mud tossed back to discourage any more crowding.

"Thanks," Xuiyang said quietly.

Il-don nodded and relaxed into an easy pace. He still intended to switch mounts at the break. He also planned to tie a ribbon in the tails of each of their horses to warn other riders they might kick.

Junseo rode beside Hae-sung and spent most of his time trying to figure out who was leading the band of irregulars. A hardened looking man with a shaved head seemed to be the one watching the ranks and giving hand signals to the other veterans. There was also an older fellow dressed a uniform like the one the cadets were wearing. He thought he had heard someone mention Instructor Park but he was not sure. There were also a couple of cadets who seem to carry more authority than the others in the group but they seemed like a disorderly lot overall.

He wondered if that was not the real reason General Tan chose not to take them on field maneuvers with the others and then manufactured a pretext to help them save face. It would not do to offend the well-connected families who could afford to send their sons to officer training. Junseo also noticed the respect a few of the veterans showed Scout Jia. One of them also seemed to know San Jin's guards at least enough to tease them about who would be protecting whom if there was a sword fight.

After they switched horses at the break Junseo did not have any time to wonder about the others. Even though he was given one of the better trained mounts, he quickly appreciated just how steady Rufus had been. Hae-sung also had his hands full with a youngster who was prone to dancing sideways at any excuse.

"I'm going to move toward the back where this idiot won't disrupt the line." Hae-sung apologized.

"I'll be okay," Junseo said this to assure himself.

"Of course, you will," Chenhui said from beside him, "You just need to remember to breath." As soon as Chenhui said this, Junseo realized he had been tensing up. He searched for a calm place to centre himself. He took a deep breath in, held it, then let it out slowly. After he did this a couple of times his horse sighed. He patted her neck.

"That's better," Junseo said and felt her relax a bit more.

Chenhui nodded his encouragement and went back to riding beside Song-hee who seemed to have his hands full with a young colt. If anyone doubted the need to get their horses out for more training in the countryside this display, followed by the antics Junseo's mare put on over stepping in a mud puddle, would have settled the matter.

By the time they pulled into the waystation for the night Junseo was so tired he could barely stand. He could not believe how energetic Il-don and Hae-sung still were but was enormously grateful they helped him finish up his share of the barn chores.