Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Twenty-one

     Keep anything completely confidential at the temple was always a challenge. Contradictory rumors ran rampant before the evening meal finished. In-Yeon could feel the combination of curiosity and hostility emanating from his dorm-mates. His young allies wanted to know about his interview with the investigating panel. He had to repeat, "I really can not say. I promised under oath not to reveal anything."

"What about the senior who nearly got drown. Can you tell us what happened?"

"I wasn't there. So, I have no idea if that part of the story is true or not."

"You don't seem to be studying from class notes anymore, do you think you are smarter than the rest of us?" one of the more hostile boys asked but his fellow from the troublesome corner group elbowed the boy in the ribs.

"No, not even close to smart. I am just not so good at learning things from books," In-Yeon admitted quietly.

"But you have the hours down pat now, even when the old crane changes up the order," the smallest boy in the dorm piped up.

"Oh. A friend showed me the trick for keeping everything straight. Did you want to see how it works?" In-Yeon took the opportunity to steer their interest in a different direction. He soon had half-a-dozen boys eagerly gathered around, and a few others trying to disguise their interest from across the room. The one-on-one coaching he provided through the rest of the evening kept the bullies in the corner at bay.

Tensions rose the next day as the members of the class were called before the inquiry one-by-one. Whispered questions were silenced by their teachers and they were all reminded the investigation should not be a matter for petty gossip.

"It is a serious matter to call an external investigator, a most serious matter to bring a High Priestess," the monk in charge of the scriptorium exclaimed over the rising chatter. Since they had never heard him raise his voice before, the boys were stunned into silence.

In-Yeon had more brushes and inkstones to sort and clean than the others, so was the last one to leave the scriptorium. The heavy-set monk approached tentatively, "You seem to holding-up well. I mean the ritual seems to have worked. Your shadow seems lighter."

"Thank you for your help. Not everyone understands but my aunt would never forgive me if I knowingly left a spirit in limbo."

"You're a good lad," the monk replied as he sent In-Yeon off.

The four older boys from the corner of the dorm were not at lunch, nor present for the afternoon forms class. Their session with the crane was interrupted with the instructor's call to testify. A different Assistant Librarian came to class burdened with numerous silver plates and jade pillars. "My Chief instructed me to lead this group in a full cleansing. This should dispel any lingering after-effects from the incident the other day. Now those of you with crystals please bring them up. Even if they are just tokens from your family, they may have some resonance. Come on, don't be shy. Form a line." He directed then clapped his hands for emphasis.

One of the older boys answered, "No way. I'm not giving up my stones to you," and stalked away. After this display, some of the others edged away from where the Assistant Librarian waited.

In-Yeon looked around, shrugged, and made his way to the front. Given what had happened with the fire mantras his collection was no secret. It was uncomfortable to remove his bracelet and pendant but it was not too bad since he could still sense his stones after placing them on the silver plate. He accepted one of the jade pillars and took up his position on the south-east corner of the platform. In-Yeon remembered his grandfather teaching him the cleansing forms for each direction so visualized the anchors and their purpose. It was a simple enough process for him and he relaxed more and more as the students took turns at working through all the compass points.

A wave of dissonance set In-Yeon's teeth on edge when he reached the North-western pillar. He reached out toward the jade pillar only to see it cracking. When he looked to the Assistant Librarian for guidance, he saw nothing but panic on the man's face. The silver plates on either side of In-Yeon's collection were rattling away but his stones held a steady calm he welcomed before concentrating fully on his earth anchors. He raised his voice as he chanted this most basic mantra and the other boys joined in. The tension dissipated and he led the group in a closing routine.

"What was that?" The Assistant Librarian squeaked to his approaching Chief. The committee of inquiry arrived from one direction, the Temple-master from the other.

"Perhaps our esteemed guest might care to explain." To those who knew him, the stiff formality of the Temple-master's request communicated the depth of his anger. The High-Priestess appeared oblivious.

"I was just testing a theory. Well, really more confirming my perceptions as a truth seeker." The priestess smiled smugly before continuing. "Some of the boy's experiments have corrupted their stones. The ones who willingly participated in the ritual are likely innocent of any ill-intentions."

Her comment caused a number of the boys to turn and look at the one who had refused to participate in the cleansing ritual. "Nephew? What have you done?" the Chief Librarian asked and the boy hung his head.

"There were easier ways to check for impurities." The Temple-master's mildest rebuke seemed to annoy the priestess.

"It is my right as a truth seeker to use such tools as I see fit," she responded sharply. "More importantly anyone with the power over an element must search out others to be properly trained and protected. My duty is clear." She said as she twisted her hand in a tight circle and brought up a spinning cloud of dust.

"So is mine," the Temple-master answered, "the boy is already in training under my protection." The ground rumbled under their feet.

"If he is truly of the four, he will need more than one temple's guidance. Just let the boy grow. The way will find him." The Herbalist said lightly touching the Temple-Master and then the Priestess.

"Can you really protect him? You let the son of a water-walk fall into a trap and pretended not to notice what had been done." The priestess glared at the Temple-Master.

"Yet you are here at my request," he reminded her in a mild tone then added, "I look forward to the committee's full report at tomorrow's council meeting." He nodded once then turned to the audience on the platform, "Ah, look, it's trice again. Boys assemble, please."