Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Sixty-five

            "How are we supposed to train like this? At this rate there is no way I will be ready for the final rounds." Il-don could not hold back his discontent.

San Jin was equally tired of being confined but knew complaining would not change the situation. Instead, he took a staff and moved through the pattern his new sword-master had shown them the night before. He could feel how he needed to supple his wrist more but had not worked out the knack for keeping a firm grip at the same time.

He stopped, rolled his shoulders, and told himself to relax before trying the pattern again. Halfway through the pattern the staff slipped and he smacked his knee. Il-don looked surprised by the curse San Jin let out. The older boy seemed so stoic, especially after being confined most of a week.

"I think I need Junseo to break down the pattern for me," San Jin said as he reluctantly stowed away the staff. He knew more repetition of the wrong moves would just make things harder to correct. He decided to work through some regular forms instead of the new pattern. He beckoned Il-don to join in and they were soon moving in unison.

Scout Jia watched from the back of the warehouse. He had come through one of the hatches used to load wagons. He managed to confuse the man who was tailing him by doubling back through the gardens but told the boys he expected it was only a matter of time before the warehouse would be searched. Then he got Il-don to go circulate.

"Take my horses for a bit of a run, will you?" San Jin asked with a touch of envy in his voice.

"Sure thing," Il-don waved and went on his way.

Once he was out of earshot Scout Jia asked San Jin for his views on the situation. The young man hesitated before saying, "Things are going to come to a head with the representatives start arriving. If they came all this way to check out the new heir, they won't be happy."

"True, but I have to wonder if they had other reasons to come to the estate."

"Like investigating our resource base and level of preparation," San Jin repeated what the estate manager had only insinuated.

"It's a strategic location." Scout Jia conceded.

"Yes but its defenses are not all obvious." San Jin did not elaborate. The key to diverting the streams to flood the plain was a family secret he had been trusted with when he was twelve. He only shared it with Me Yan last year when they were named joint heirs by their uncle. He had hoped to use exercising the horses as an excuse to check on the sluices and dikes but the fire intervened.

"Your sword master does not think we will learn anything new by keeping you in hiding. How do you feel about being rescued by a patrol?" Scout Jia shared his plan.

"It would depend entirely on who was leading the patrol," San Jin heeded the warning Junseo had relayed from the veteran. "Could it be a mixed training run? One that does not need the investigator's permission."

"Everything seems to need his permission but we can be selective about our witnesses." Scout Jia thought carefully before making any more suggestions.

San Jin knew of an abandoned barn from where he could stage his escape. His discovery near there would probably direct suspicions toward those most familiar with the estate but after what the boys had relayed about the flammable curtains, he did not think it a misdirection. The trickier part of the plan would be getting him out of the compound without being spotted.

Song hee and Xuiyang decided the best form of distraction would be to pick a fight with some of the cadets. Xuiyang had not been thrilled by this prospect but Song hee wanted the younger boy to have a chance to take a bit of revenge against the bullies. He coached Xuiyang through a couple of street moves he was sure would work on the cadets. They were extremely successful both in causing a loud ruckus and landing a few memorable blows before the veterans stepped and put a stop to the fight.

One of the men quietly congratulated Xuiyang by saying, "Glad you finally showed those prigs they should have more respect."

The cadet instructor was furious his students had been brawling and enraged they had been bested through what he called the lower forms. He demanded apologies but Song hee was unrepentant.

"I am sorry they were so clumsy as to fall into my fist," he said. The cadet instructor moved to strike Song hee but Lang Yoo-suk held him back.

"I do not think it is your place to discipline these trainees. You may want to find out what preceded the scuffle before demanding apologies," his mild voice hid the force with which he held the other man's arm.

"Who are you to interfere?" the cadet instructor changed focus.

Lang Yoo-suk signaled for the boys to leave and made sure they were out of the way before claiming he was a passer-by of no particular consequence. This made one of the veterans snort with laughter.

"Right, you came here with the supply wagons from Taghar and were immediately given a guest suite. Yet, you claim you are of no consequence."

"Of no particular consequence in the matter of the dispute between the cadets and the junior trainees. Although having recently done some teaching service, I must say I am surprised the cadets are not better prepared for style variations. Surely, they don't think a battlefield will follow tournament rules."

"Battlefield rules?" another veteran scoffed, "The only rule is not to get killed too quickly if you can help it."

"And does that include executing a prisoner?" the cadet instructor turned on the veteran.

"If he is spitting poison at you, sure," the veterans nodded to each other and walked away.

Two hours later the estate was gripped with the happy news of San Jin's return. He had some rope burns and a few minor cuts and bruises to be tended. All the team members insisted on staying by his side through the medical examination and interview with the investigator. Only the estate manager seemed surprised by the heir's refusal to stay in the manor.

"What will your guests think when they find out you are staying in the stable block?"

"That I trust the team to keep me safe when you clearly can not," San Jin had no patience for the way the man was flapping around. Scout Jia stood beside San Jin and then put a reassuring hand on the young man's shoulder.

"It has been a trying time for all of us," he prompted.

"You are correct. It has been most trying and I want to know what progress has been made in the investigation on this attack on my person," San Jin's firm tone underscored his aristocratic standing.

He gave a curt nod to the adults and signaled the team to come with him. A family guard came along unbidden. San Jin acknowledged the man. "I'm sorry if the new arrangement means you have to change quarters."

"I expect it won't be any less comfortable than the servant's quarters. Might even be warmer, what with the animals and such," the guard grinned. "Besides I trust this crew to be better sentries than some of the others around here."