Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Seventy-four

            Regular patrols met them at the last waystation. All the adults, including some of the Go family guards, got into a heated debate before most of the patrol headed out.

"What was that about?" San Jin asked one of his guards.

"They thought we should have taken prisoners instead of just leaving the wounded attackers where they lay," the man hunched up and took a step back.

San Jin looked around to make sure they were not overhead before asking, "Does Junseo know we left the wounded?"

"No, he wasn't noticing much of anything when we hustled out of there," the guard shrugged.

"He's not going to be happy." San Jin knew his friend kept to the healer's codes to provide aide to whoever might need it. He thought it was a strange practice to try to heal people who just tried to kill you but Junseo insisted there were clear distinctions to be made between the heat of the battle and rendering justice.

"The patrol wasn't happy either. They need to gather evidence on who was behind the attack, and especially who sanctioned the use of poisoned arrows."

"Haven't we been doing enough of their work for them already?" San Jin let some of his frustration show. The guard laughed with surprise. San Jin got flustered but the man explained it was uncanny how much he had sounded like his father.

"I can imagine what he is going say when we report in," the guard captain said quietly.

"First, we are going to the yard to stable the horses and get a healer for Xuiyang. Right?" San Jin was worried once he was back home it would be a while before his parents let him out of their sight again.

The family guards understood the reasons behind San Jin's request but could not agree. San Jin frowned but knew he had little control over the guard's decision. He paced around the common room muttering to himself before settling the bench in front of the hearth with the rest of their team. They all looked glum but he did not have the energy to cajole them into a better mood. Then a spirit of rebellion took over.

San Jin caught Song-hee's eye before saying quietly, "My guards are going to get difficult when we reach town. Can you guys get yourselves between me and them without being too obvious. If we stick together, the momentum should get us all to our training yard."

"Do you think that is a good idea? I mean your family is not going to like it," Hae-sung shook his head slightly.

"Yeah, well they can wait until everyone is properly squared away. I know they like to worry but I am part of this team now." San Jin held Hae-sung's eye until he got a nod. San Jin used a louder voice to cover their plans by saying, "Now we are close, I think we better send word. Hey, Junseo what do the healers need to know? Can you jot down the essentials for a report to go to the forge?" San Jin looked over where Manager Doak and Scout Jia were consulting with a couple of the veterans and the senior house guards. He got a thumbs up from both sides of the room so sat back an tried to relax.

                                                                                      ***

Scout Jia rode through the night to alert the training yard and the check in with Knight-Master Lie Wen-Hou. He was surprised to find Captain Shiro at the forge where both men had obviously been drinking most of the night.

"It was a good idea, though, don't you think?" The Knight-Master swayed a bit then propped his back against a post.

"I am trying to tell you it is still a good idea." Captain Shiro refilled their cups and then waved Scout Jia over. "Tell him not to quit training the boys. You can't just send them along. Nobody else would give them a chance, or at least not most of them."