Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Fifty-eight

     It was a good thing Junseo decided to stop by the stable on his way in for breakfast. He found Rufus out of his stall chasing a stable boy down the alleyway with bared teeth. Two cadets stood in the doorway snickering and one passed some coins to the other.

"I told you that old nag had to have been a warhorse," the winner of the bet chortled.

"And you thought it was worth risking this boy for your petty entertainments," Junseo said before calling, "Rufus Halt. I mean it. Halt. Now."

The big roan gelding turned he head and looked at Junseo. Then he snorted at the stable boy before calming walking back into his stall. "There's my man," Junseo went over and stroked the horse. He dug a treat out of his pocket and continued to stroke and murmur.

"I'm sorry, I was too tired last night to think to introduce you to Rufus," he said over his shoulder to the stable boy who was just staring in amazement.

"But he is vicious. You should have seen," the boy stuttered.

"My Knight-Master trained him not to let himself be stolen. Or to take food from those he does not know." Junseo said this like it was the most common thing in the world. He then just went to work getting fresh hay and water for the whole string. After that he decided Rufus could use some extra grooming.

Song-hee finally came and found Junseo in the stable. He handed him a couple of rice balls and some fruit.

"This was all we were left for breakfast," he said. He did not make any comments about how Junseo had chosen taking care of the horses over breakfast. He did notice the look of admiration the stable boy had for Junseo and thought there must be a story behind it. When he finally got Junseo to recount what had happened it confirmed his low opinion of the cadets.

The line-up was a matter of contention between the cadet instructor, the Go family guards and Scout Jia. The grizzled veteran leader final stepped in and sided with the family guards.

"We are heading to the Tan estates and the locals will want to see the heir. He rides in the second rank with his guards. His regular team will be around him on all sides. A couple of cadets can ride on point." He strode away expecting his wishes to be put into immediate action.

When the group still milled about in the station yard, he expressed his anger. "Soldiers form up, Now," he bellowed from the back of his horse and then rode out of the gate.

Rufus seemed to understand parade formation and did not need much guidance. This gave Junseo a chance to take note of the countryside with its scattered farmyards and overgrown fields. He expected to see more people around, especially when they passed through a village market. Very little produce was on offer and most of the goods looked second or even third hand.

Song hee looked longingly at a baker's cart. Junseo handed him some coins. He tossed his reins over and sprinted off. He was back up on his horse with a dozen buns rolled into the bottom of his shirt before the guard riding ahead of them noticed. Once they were back on the open road, he shared the treasure among their team and the guards. Only one guard accepted. The other insisted San Jin wait a few minutes after the others had eaten before having the treat.

"Even here?" he asked with a shade of frustration.

The guard just raised one eyebrow. San Jin let out a loud sigh. "For a second there I was sure Me Yan was riding with us." Junseo tried to tease.

"I wish he were," San Jin said.

"Me too," Xuiyang added before launching into a story about how Me Yan managed to trick extra sweets out the cook. His impression of the aggrieved servant was spot on and soon had the other boys chuckling. When they stopped to switch to their second mounts Junseo leaned over and quietly thanked Xuiyang. "I miss my own little brother," Xuiyang admitted.

"What is he like?" Junseo prompted another story from Xuiyang.

Junseo was trying to keep in his laugh but ended up making a loud snort. This gave the little mare he was riding an excuse to dance around. Junseo leaned forward but this only made matters worse. A hand grabbed his back and put him more firmly in the centre of his saddle.

"Now, breath" Hae-sung said firmly.

Junseo recovered himself and the mare settled down. It took him a minute to figure out what was making her fidgety. The road had changed from packed earth to stone. An hour later they approached a low wall.

"Are we at the estate now?" Chenhui asked.

"We have been on the family's lands since just before the village." San Jin answered.

The pair of cadets who overheard his answer stared then started relaying this information along their lines. Il-don watched their reactions with a smug smile. The cadets had been so full of themselves the day before, and had even tried to claim precedence this morning. Now they were starting to understand where they ranked in this party.

One of the cadets noticed Il-don's expression and said, "You could have said something earlier."

"You were told he would be acting as our host, were you not?" Il-don imitated the courtly accent he had heard Junseo using.

Song-hee muttered something in his home dialect about how some people need a map to find their own asses.

"Not helping," San Jin said and then made remarks about the fine weather in courtly Shen. He gestured for Song-hee to respond and then pointed to the others who were studying for exams to join in the conversation. Junseo grinned then quoted a classic poem about the virtues of country life.

"I think I prefer Shu Si's story from the road," San Jin said and recited the piece before turning to Song-hee and asking him what he though of the two poems.

Song-hee scowled as he tried to find the right words. Chenhui offered a suggestion or two. Xuiyang tried to join in but then stopped when he noticed one of the cadets snickering.

Junseo frowned and then started reciting an epic poem about chattering monkeys ruining a scholar's repose. San Jin joined in on the closing lines. Xuiyang asked him to repeat the phrase and then sounded it out. Junseo offered a correction for his accent explaining it was not meant to be a courtly account. When Chenhui looked bemused Junseo talked about some famous poems that had been turned in to drinking songs and this helped he remember them for his exam.

"You are joking," San Jin couldn't help himself. Examinations were a very serious matter in his home.

Junseo grinned and gave an example with a few word changes that made a well know classic particularly bawdy.

"My father would have a cow," Hae-sung said with awe.

"My Granny Min taught me that one," Junseo said to everyone's surprise. "She said memory is a muscle that works best when it dances."