Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Four

      Even though they had been careful not to announce the plans for In-Yeon, the word must have gotten around among the staff. The morning he was leaving the cook pressed a box of his favorite sweets into his hand, the farm manager offered up a small bag of fruit, the stable master a leather cleaning kit, and the master-at-arms a small knife in a boot sheath. He tried to tell them this was all too much for a boy going fishing with his uncle but they waived him off.

In keeping with their pretense, his father only went as far as the town hall, leaving In-Yeon to find his own way to where his uncle's ship docked. The boy waited until they were safely underway before passing over the note from his father. He watched the captain's expression change as he read through the note twice.

"Let's go to my cabin," his uncle pointed the way. Once they were inside, he asked to see the stone In-Yeon had picked out the previous day. It was still glowing.

"They said it should settle down in a while." In-Yeon whispered.

"Hmmm. Bet they didn't say how long a while. Or what you might do to help?" his uncle raised one eyebrow.

"No, but the stone mantras seem to relieve some of the pressure and it really helped when I put on the jade bracelet."

"I bet. I don't suppose you picked up any other stones?"

"Oh. I have those tucked in here." In-Yeon lifted out the small silk bags he had in his belt pocket and rolled the stones onto his hands. His topaz immediately glowed brighter. "Oops," he said and quickly stowed his new quartz and onyx.

"Normally, you start by tuning up the neutrals to give an anchor for the colors you might pick up. It seems like you are going at it a bit backwards so let's isolate your topaz then get your other crystals tuned. I will help but you will need to do it the slow way next time." His uncle frowned then searched around for the right container.

In-Yeon nodded and handed over his necklace. He blanched and then wobbled a bit after the topaz was put into a jade jar. "Steady, there." His uncle guided In-Yeon to a chair. "I guess you just learned why you need better anchors for crystal work."

"For any work. But how are we going to ground properly when we are out at sea."

"Carefully. We don't want to pull on water or wind energy so will wait until we are nearer to the shoals. Now why don't you rest here for a bit while I go do my rounds." In-Yeon nodded slowly and his eyes closed before his uncle had left the cabin.

The next three days went by in a blur. In-Yeon struggled to work through his forms and stone meditations. He sent the whole ship into a panic when he accidently pulled up a waterspout. He was able to lay it back down on his own but not before getting drenched. He took the teasing that followed in stride but was shaken by his uncle's stern warning.

"Just as well you are heading to the Sun Temple. If a wind-singer was here they would be all over you for breaking craft secrets."

"It was an accident, not a craft secret."

"Not just an accident if you think you might be able to repeat it. Could you?"

"Maybe, but it far to dangerous. It stayed small because we are in the cove. Anything bigger, drawing on regular winds, and I would have lost control. Combining two elements makes them just too potent."

"If you remember that there may be hope for you. Just try not to have another accident. We don't want the wind-singers getting curious. Their recruitment tactics are not always gentle."

"Oh. Is that why Dad was in such a hurry to send me off?"

"Partly. There were rumors getting around about a boy and his not so tame wind pet. I think you know the other reason."

"The school bullies?" In-Yeon shrugged. "Everybody gets in fights. I bet even you and my Dad got into some tussles along the way."

"Your Dad preferred words to fists but our older brother could easily thump us both if he had a mind to. All that is beside the point but I will say nobody can fault your loyalty, boy." He reached over and ruffled the hair on the top of his nephew's head.

In-Yeon ducked away and grinned before going to find a quiet place to practice with his stones. This time they were close enough to the small island that he could visualize a better anchor. He took measured breaths and started his mantra. He could feel it in his bones when the quartz and onyx snapped into alignment. That evening his uncle retrieved the pendant from its container. When In-Yeon put it on he could feel a slight tug on his other stones but then they all seemed to settle. The topaz just kept a slight glow, one that might easily be taken for a light refraction.

"Well done!" his uncle raised a glass. "I was not sure we could do it this quickly but even my older brother should be impressed."

In-Yeon blushed a bit then asked, "What is he like. All I know is he is at the Sun Temple in Leuso."

"What he is like now, I really can't say. I remember him as very determined, sometime hard. It took a lot to stand up to our father and walk away from the estate. I don't think he realized what it did to the rest of the family. I was at sea, so out of the fray, but your dad was just starting to make his name as a scholar so it was a lot."

"It's got to be hard to live up to everyone's expectations when you are the heir."

"Duty is still duty, so taking care of the ones depending on you," the Captain sighed. "I should stop now so you can make up your own mind when you meet him. Just promise me you will not judge too quickly."

Even though he knew it might not be easy, In-Yeon agreed.

"Good Lad. Now let's review the rest of your itinerary." His uncle pulled out a blank paper and sketch out a rough map.