Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Twenty-eight

     It was no surprise to see the guards at the Go Family residence had multiplied but it did make if difficult for visitors, even very welcome visitors, to make it into the courtyard. Song-hee grumbled about having to wait around while people who knew them made a show of checking credentials. His mood changed as soon as he saw the heavy bandages on San Jin's arm. He positioned himself next to the elder-brother of their group to serve as an extra hand. He wanted Junseo to check San Jin's injuries but Junseo declined saying he was certain Professor Yip had been thorough.

"Actually, my family talked about this, and I think my mother would be relieved if you would take a second look. The Professor mentions something about cleansing energies," San Jin put his bandaged hand out to Junseo.

"I see." Junseo stalled for time by studying the bandages and asking about bruising. He slowly unwrapped San Jin's hand and was very worried about how red and puffy the line of stiches looked. San Jin wanted to move his hand around but Junseo stopped him. "Let me study this," he said and focused his perceptions through his crystals. He did not like what he saw. The touch of infection was spreading quickly, too quickly to be completely natural. "We need Healer Yang. She the best for this kind of thing," he announced loudly and the group around them sprung into action.

Junseo trusted the message would be delivered in the mean-time he needed to start cleaning what he could. He wondered why the Professor had entrusted this checkup to him. He dismissed the notion this was meant as another practical test but was not completely confident his newly tuned stones were aligned to the degree he needed. He got San Jin to meditate with him. Song-hee joined in, and they were able to mobilize a cleansing field together.

Before long Healer Yang added her strength to their rhythms. She let out a low whistle when they gathered the impurities onto a silver plate. "I trust whoever was responsible for this bit of nastiness has been locked into the King's dungeons." She looked for confirmation from the Go family guards and received a quick nod. "The poison on the blade does not act on its own. It interacts with the most common salves used for cleaning wounds which look infected."

"Professor Yip must have suspected something," San Jin said slowly. "Otherwise, why leave instructions for Junseo to try a cleansing field instead of just having my body servant change the dressing."

"Maybe, or he knew your friend would want to help. Professor Yip is very smart about people." Healer Yang stress on the last comment suggested she was not as respectful of the man's other skills. Madam Go frowned when she heard the woman's tone but still offered her deep thanks. The boys then all echoed the gratitude and prepared an escort back to the Academy. On their way back they dropped off the Healer's report with the palace guards.

The discovery made the Choi family's visit seem beyond hypocritical. Suk-jong's attack could longer be viewed a young man being carried away in the heat of moment. It had been a deliberate plot to kill the heir to the Go and Tan estates, and a guarantor of the fourth kingdom's allegiance. The Minister hissed, "There can be no truce with those second kingdom slime. I will see them all punished for breaking the accords."

Wen-Hou found himself in the unusual position of trying to counsel calm. "We can not act on our own, nor strike without evidence. I am sure your brother-in-law put his own resources into tracking their conspiracy. We don't want to foul up his investigations." Minister Go said nothing for a couple of minutes then let out a heavy sigh.

"I hate our youngsters getting pulled into court politics. Choi Suk-jong has always been a hot-head so not the type to do planning this took. I also wonder if they didn't want to drag your team into the mix. Honestly, they have better control over themselves than I expected. Of course, having our own guards helped."

"It would have been complete mayhem without them. None of the regulars could hold back five of the team." Wen-Hou half shrugged but then stopped to consider something else. "Our program would never get accredited if our boys broke protocol at the competition. Maybe the attack was meant as a deliberate provocation. Just a thought."  Wen Hou rubbed his chin.

"The delegation from the north also complicates things." Minister Go stared into space for a moment before explaining. "We don't know which faction they are aligned with even as they search for excuses to re-negotiate the terms of the truce."

"With any luck the different groups will be at cross-purposes and busy themselves with each other. I just hope General Tan can clear things up on his end." When he heard this Minister made a special gesture to ask for luck. Wen-Hou had not expected this superstition but saw no harm in following suit.

Remarkably, this small ritual seemed to conjure up General Tan. Four officers were in a standoff with the family guards until the General removed his helmet and swiped the dust off his face. The sweat drenched horses stamped and snorted and at first did not want to be led over to the stables. One of the officers gathered up all the reins and followed the groom through the archway at the back of the compound. The others flanked their leader as he approached the master of the house.

"Welcome Brother!" Minister Go smiled broadly.

"Thank you. It is good to be here at last although you must pardon our haste outstripped the messenger we sent to warn of our arrival." The General scanned the assembled group as he made his apology. "How fortunate you have among your guests some of the people I most urgently need to meet." He nodded to Wen-Hou and the team members then, spotting San Jin's bandages, said, "Nephew, I was surprised to hear you were injured at the match, I didn't think there was a fencer who could touch you."

"If he hadn't used a tainted dagger, Choi Suk-jong wouldn't have scored even a touch point," Song-hee said with disgust. Then he blushed for having interrupted.

The General looked for confirmation from his nephew's family then said, "This is worse than I thought. The Choi's had no reason to start challenging the truce. They are not even in the direct line for any of the former kingdoms."

"True, except a senior son married my niece so there could be some ambitious types pushing from offshore." Wen-Hou had been puzzling through different genealogies to identify threats to the team.

"Your half-brother perhaps?" Minister Go wanted confirmation.

"Only perhaps. I have no reason to suspect him." Knight Master Lie said slowly.

"No reason to rule him out either. The explosive devices do bring to mind his original plot." Genera Tan said with a bit of sympathy. Then he explained how he wanted the boys to study some devices left behind by the Misoa fighters. "Just a short-term consultation. The palace rainbow-makers are trying to trace the origins of the crystals but they don't understand the actual mechanics of the detonators." The General looked around at the other adults before turning his attention back on the boys.

"In exchange for some coaching for the upcoming competition?" Manager Doak was not going to let the opportunity pass without asking for what the team needed. Then he paused and looked around at the team members, "If that is alright with you guys. I know some of you have school commitments so if it is too much we can bow out."

"Nonsense. This is way better experience than we can get at school. Besides between San Jin and Junseo, I am sure we will be more than ready for the end-of-term exams." Song-hee responded with absolute confidence. Xuiyang and Chenhui nodded emphatically.

"Did the Royal Engineer's sanction the contract?" Knight Master Lie asked.

"They will if you hire on a journeyman and stand as guarantor for your students. Honestly, they were unhappy about the scope of our confidentiality requirements but understood the urgency after we found another cache of weapons," General Tan answered.