Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Twenty-three

     After dinner the boys decided to take a break from their special projects. San Jin showed them  a new variation on keeping a stick in the air by bouncing it between two batons. The twist the team added was to try interceptions while keeping to the same rhythms. Junseo bowed out early but soon realized the tossing would go better if he counted aloud. The passes increased in speed until Chenhui slipped and Xuiyang got a sharp rap on his knuckles. The younger boy was full of apologies but they all laughed it off.

"Just goes to show how even a simple pattern can get complicated when you add speed and extra players," San Jin said as he gathered up the batons. "It is something to remember for the competition. When things get intense it is important to control the pace." Hae-sung nodded before asking about tricks for positioning opponents. "It's no trick really. Or at least it is more about not falling for somebody else's gambit than trying to manipulate your opponent. Concentration of where you want to be and you should be fine."

"That sounds like it should be easy," Song-hee scratched his head.

"It should be," San Jin grinned.

"You're going to give us all the reasons why isn't easy though, aren't you?" Hae-sung knew San Jin well enough to know when he downplayed the skills it took to reach an elite level. It did not take much prodding to get more of an explanation and a firm promise for a practical demonstration.

"I'm glad you can stay with us here," Junseo said leading the way back to the dorm room.

"I forgot how cramped the dorm here is," San Jin laughed when a couple of the boys had to climb over a bed to get to their bunks. They tossed pillows and blankets around to make sure everyone had covers then chatted for a couple of minutes before quieting down.

Junseo tossed and turned for a while and then decided to get up. He thought he had been quiet enough not to disturb anyone else but San Jin followed right behind him. After they made their way downstairs, San Jin started apologizing. "I don't want to disturb. If you would rather be on your own for a bit, I understand."

"Nonsense. I am just bit keyed up. Are you okay?"

"Not really. It seems like I'm a very dangerous associate. The number of attacks..." San Jin turned away.

"Are not your fault." Junseo said firmly but he knew it wasn't enough. "You are not the only member on the team who had enemies after you. At least you bring guards and weapons to help even things up."

"Still with this fourth kingdom legacy is hanging over me, I don't think it is going to get better."

"I don't know. There might be some stragglers but it seems like the investigation is making progress. Your family's lineage isn't exactly new and your father has made his allegiances very clear."

San Jin only shrugged. Junseo studied him closely. He didn't want the eldest member of the group to feeling isolated by his family burden. "We know what it means to have friends and rivals here in the capital. After all, we signed a contract with a Lie family member. So don't go thinking we aren't in this together. It is our choice to support you and our honor to have you on the team."

"It would be safer if I wasn't around," San Jin said quietly.

Junseo silently counted to ten and took a breath before asking, "How would not being able to learn from one of the city's best swordsmen make thing better? Would our strategy lessons be better without your political insights? Who would cheer us up with a bad joke?" San Jin gave a weak grin at the last remark but his shoulder still slumped as he picked at his sleeve. Junseo huffed. "Think about Me Yan for a moment, what would your little brother tell you right now?"

"He would say something similar, only he would remind me how claiming responsibility for things out of my control is a sign of arrogance." San Jin's ears turned red as he imagined how the rest of the conversation might go.

"I am also going to tell you that it has been handy the investigators are focused on you as the victim of the conspiracy. I really can't afford them digging too deeply," Junseo took his phoenix ring off its chain and handed it over to San Jin saying, "The others have seen me wearing this but I think you might have a better understanding of what it represents."

"What do you mean?" San Jin asked before he took the ring over to examine it in the beam of moonlight coming through the window. "How is this possible? Your family aren't from the North. Besides we all heard the story about the healing mists the dragon sent to you." He stopped speaking and just stared at Junseo for a moment before handing back the ring with a deep bow.

Junseo had a moment of regret for having revealed his secret and said, "Stop that, or do you want me to make the same gesture every time the heir to the fourth kingdom enters the room?" Then he could see San Jin starting to think things through but still seemed worried. "I am not ready for everyone to know, not yet. I am sorry I burdened you with this secret but I need another perspective. If we assume somebody else guessed would it change how we understand the attacks?"

"Maybe, maybe not," San Jin said and scratched his head. "It makes me wonder if the devices we are puzzling over aren't from the North."

"So, destroying them may have been aimed at eliminating evidence of an alliance between the Northern rebels and warlords from Misao. But how would we know?" Junseo tried to visualize the pieces and remember the suggestions the team had come up with so far.

"We will figure it out. It might come to us when we sleep on it." San Jin put his arm around his friend and they made their way back to the dorm.