Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Eighty

            The forge stayed quiet through the night and into the next day. Knight-Master Lie checked the gate for the third time before he realized what he was missing. No one else from the training group had stopped in. His friends didn't need instructions to get on with what was necessary but they usually came over with updates.

He went to his work room and sorted through some half-finished projects but nothing grabbed his attention. The tool rack the boys had designed sat half-assembled in the corner mocking him. He was forced to admit time spent on his own was not nearly as satisfying as teaching different elements of the craft.

One day stretch into two, and then three. He lost count of the times he went back out to the gate. A message came from the protocol office reminding him to report. "What contacts do they expect me to have when I am here on my own," he grumbled as he re-folded the missive. As he slid the note away, he noticed a short message on the inside of the envelope. He covered his surprise by offering the messenger a hefty tip to order a sedan chair.

In one of the private rooms at the Plumtree Teahouse a heavily veiled woman waited quietly. She could not be certain when her message might be found or if the retired war hero turned maker would act upon her suggestion. It was risky to meet any man on her own, but the instructions from the Dowager were clear. Wen Hou's stubbornness could not be allowed to put the twice royal heir at risk. Her carefully rehearsed greeting went out of her head when the man in question swept into the small chamber. His vigorous presence revealed how much being in command must have come naturally to him.

"I expected someone from my great-aunt's household," he said without preamble.

"They are being watched too closely and this is too delicate to wait." Lady Chen straightened her sleeve and then poured them each a cup of tea. Wen Hou accepted the cup and held it up to his nose to test its bouquet. He did not sip until after his hostess had taken a drink. "I see you think of me as an enemy," she said quietly.

He widened his eyes at this direct breach of propriety then asked, "Why should I trust someone who finances rebellions?"

"An enemy of your enemy," she left him to fill in the quotation while she continued. "We tried to lessen the Counsel-of-Five's grip but didn't expect them to invite foreign warlords to complicate the situation."

"They must have allies at court but I wonder how long it will last when word gets out about the truce violations," Wen Hou stared down at his cup as he tried to recalibrate his strategies.

"The attacks on the Go family have everyone jumping at shadows. We don't know if the separatists in northern court are moving on rumors or if it is just infighting among fourth kingdom heirs."

"Rumors?" he asked.

She touched her lips to underscore the need for secrecy then reached into her sleeves. When she opened her hands, she showed him a ruby in one palm and a sapphire in the other. She watched him struggle take in the message so decided to be more direct. "Our young friend needs your protection. Your family's interests will not be served if he goes north on his own."

Before he could rally any questions or objections Madam Chen departed. Wen Hou stayed in the private room trying to gather his thoughts. The training league had been a good idea but now it was being turned into a guise to protect an undeclared heir. Even if it was indirect, he resented being pushed into the family business. He started to fume but then gave himself a shake. Hadn't he just tried to push Junseo into a legacy position at the medical academy? The boy's reaction was understandable and now he needed to find a way to start making amends.