Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Eighty-nine

            The boys kept to their oath to remember and work to honor the Captain's legacy. The placement examinations brought especially welcome results with Song-hee recommended for matriculation in mathematics and foreign languages and admission to advanced practical sciences in preparation for state examinations. Chenhui and Xuiyang also advanced a level and were expected to write matriculation examinations at the end of the following term.

Junseo was the only one in their group who was surprised when he scored well enough in the senior finals to be nominated to the champion's league. He claimed that he had broken form more than once in his final hand-to-hand match and that his fencing bout should have been considered a draw. The others laughed off these protests but Junseo was still upset so San Jin sat him down to explain what they had all seen.

"You only know that you had broken form because you have trained in different styles. Your opponent tried an illegal move and you countered it before the referee could raise his flag. Don't argue. We were sitting across the courts and could see the judge's face. I admit the fencing match was closer but your form was much cleaner than your opponent. Also, it was pretty obvious he was running out of steam so if it the time was not up, you would have taken him. Now accept the win gracefully. If you keep this up you will make Hae-sung feel bad for only making the alternates list even though he should be very proud. I know they gave him the worst horse."

"Yeah. I was very lucky with the draw. The mare was a sweetie, even if she was a bit lazy. I actually had to kick her to keep her from going to sleep one me." Junseo grinned at the memory. Then he sobered, "I guess this means our celebration dinner has to be on me. I don't have a clue how to make the arrangements."

"The Plumtree has a private room large enough for all of us. If you want family members to join then I am sure my mother would be happy to help."

"It might be a burden for some our families. I am just as happy to stick with our group at the Teahouse, or maybe add in a couple of friends. Do you think Il-don would come if we asked? Everybody knows Park Sen Dou and he is also a champion. It would be nice if your Master-at-arms could come."

"What about Jong Tai Yi? He is still at the palace, isn't he? I think we would all like to meet him since it's almost like he is your younger brother." San Jin suggested.

"Ok. I will see if Manager Doak can help with the applications to the protocol office. I won't ask Tai Yi unless we can get the clearance from the palace." Junseo then set about putting their plan into action.

Gifts started to arrive two days before their celebration. The group decided they would open everything the morning of the party and this news had their mentors scrambling. There would be no time to assemble anything close to a uniform for the group so the Knight-Master took advice from the team's manager and got matching dark blue headbands made. He also got them each another pair of quartz crystals to add to their bracelets. From part of the legacy left by Captain Shiro the team members each got a small belt knife.

Song-hee's parents sent him an inkstone and some fine brushes. Their hint that he should say in school made him grin. Chenhui and Xuiyang laughed when they saw they were similarly equipped by their families. Junseo couldn't stop his wry smile when he opened the first aide kit his family sent. The others admired the quality of the scalpel and forceps but he just signed over what it implied. In contrast, Hae-sung choked up when he opened the finely tooled bridle that his parents sent. He explained to the others how this was the first sign of acceptance he ever had from his father. San Jin put an arm around his riding companion. "I'm not sure how much acceptance or just resignation my parents offered when they let me get this." He pulled back his hair to show an emerald stud in his newly pierced ear.

"Bro, I really like that," Chenhui said and reached towards San Jin who jokingly swatted at the young boy's hand.

"Lookie, no touchie," Hae-sung said in an impression of Chenhui's grandmother that made the younger boy jump. This made everyone laugh and start sharing lighthearted stories from home. Their mood sobered when Manager Doak brought over distinctive packages addressed to students a, b, and c.

Hae-sung and San Jin received beautifully crafted scabbards that fit the short swords their former instructor had gifted them. The accompanying wide belts could work either at the hip or over the shoulder and had small pockets hidden near the buckle for carrying valuables. Junseo's scabbard also contained a sword to replace the one he had sacrificed to catch poison. The blade had the distinctive ripples of the finest Misoan steel. The round hilt had a subtly drawn phoenix circling a small ruby. As soon as he picked up the sword Junseo could feel an energy boost as the stone coming into alignment with the one on his ring. A note in the hidden compartment of the belt read "honored to serve." He was confused for a moment and then blushed at the implied oath of fealty.

While the others openly admired the sword. Knight-Master Lie seemed both surprised and a little disquieted. Finally, he pointed to the hilt and asked, "Why would someone send you the mate to your grandfather's tiger's claw? It must have been a special commission to add that totem from the north."

"I don't know why our former sword master singled me out or what the hilt design means to him." Junseo looked over to San Jin and Scout Jia to help him out. Their explanation that the man was one of the King's agents seemed to satisfy the others. The Knight-Master put aside his worries and climbed onto the cart that would take him and his friends to the Teahouse. After they stowed their new treasures, the boys would follow with a contingent of the Go family's retainers.

So they could use a smaller guard detail, the palace arranged for Park Sen Dou and Jong Tai Yi to travel along the queen's promenade. This meant acquiring special passes and being accompanied by a member of the protocol office across the bridge to the teahouse. Sen Dou struggled to keep from laughing as Tai Yi made faces behind the young official's back. When they got to the private room the officer positioned himself at the door. This drew a scowl from Knight-Master Lie before he pointedly turned his back on the official. Manager Doak and Scout Jia tried their best to make amends with warm welcomes for Junseo's northern friends.

The Knight-Master's attention was drawn to a commotion along Maker's way. He gestured for the friends to join him at the window. A cart had broken down in the middle of the street below and two guardsmen were approaching with their clubs out. The Go family's master-at-arms seemed to be having an argument with his main charge but San Jin's stance showed he would not move along the street. The other boys approached the older couple to offer help. First, they maneuvered the cart away from the growing traffic jam, then they quickly unloaded the cart so they could get at the axel. Song-hee and Hae-sung took the lead on assessing the damage and Junseo headed off with to borrow some tools from a maker he knew up the street. None of the boys seemed to notice they were in dress robes as they got busy with the necessary repairs, reloading the goods and hitching themselves to the cart to get it up a steep alley.

After the team finished this task Lie Wen Hou turned to others in the room and said, "What would you call that?"

Doak Zhong-mi shrugged, "A good start?"

Jia Ying-so shook his head. "No friend. It is what hope looks like."

Tai Yi nodded slightly then whispered to Sen Dou, "For both our kingdoms."