Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Thirty-two

     "Tell me it was worth it. You got the proof?" the military attaché for the Psyonan delegation leaned into the veiled face across from him.

"We are certain he is at least a temple trained adept so that narrows the possibilities. His crystal colors tend to violet." She said placidly.

"The shade of amethysts. Makes sense for the son of a healer," he replied holding up the summary report provided by the palace official when he had inquired about Jong Tai Yi's regular contacts.

"It is also the color you get when you mix red and blue," the former regent's council member said in a very quiet voice.

"Inconceivable."

"Is it? What was the show our young charge put on all about?" The priestess counted down on her fingers. "First, he writes about a very special friend, then asks about the rank signatures of phoenix rings. He leads us to the open competition, and repeatedly expressed the hope we might persuade Park Junseo to travel north with us." She closed her hand into a fist while saying, "But today he throws a temper tantrum over being ignored for a couple of days."

"He's just a boy," the military brushed down the front of his uniform. "A scared boy, far from home, trying to prove himself in the south. So, I ask again was it worth it? Our new lord is not going to be pleased when he gets called in to account for the treaty violation." The priestess only shrugged and walked away.

Tai Yi quickly ducked away from the doorway where he had been listening. The habit of eavesdropping was not admirable but he relied on it more and more around the delegation his brother sent to bring him home. It was how he knew Junseo would have been in danger if he came north. The energy attack from the priestess would be the least of it. Acting like a spoiled brat was a small thing if it kept his friend out of trouble. He worried it had not been enough, so was glad they would be on the road soon.

The next day their delegation rode out surrounded by palace guards. It made it hard for Tai Yi to see if anyone had come to wish him well on his journey home. They were also accompanied by two men in bright colored robes who rode on either side of the priestess past the outskirts of the capital.

Her wrists were wrapped tightly together to the front of her saddle. The silver chain then looped around her waist and locked behind her back. Guards had to lift her on and off her horse. They answered her complaints by saying, "You have proved you have no respect for our laws and traditions. We will not have your evil running free in our lands and trust your lord will to punish you as you deserve."

If it had been up to Rainbow-Maker Mein the priestess would have faced harsher penalties than  being in chains while she was banished to the north. The residual field from her energy attack on Lord Lie and his student caused nauseating ripples of dissonance that spread from the original courtyard to the nearest palace wall. The shattered roof tiles had to be gathered up and neutralized before anyone with crystal affinities could approach the area. He had never experienced anything like it and had to wonder how the young man survived.

When he returned to the forge hoping for an interview, he realized how gravely Park Junseo had been injured. The young man lay perfectly still inside the isolation field. From a distance it was hard to say whether he was breathing. The jade pillars were still in place but the sand barriers swirled around in circles rising a couple of feet in the air then dropping down again in no clear pattern. The sand had changed from sparkling white to a muddied tone with small spikes the color of dried blood. He tried to test the energies but was pushed back.

The whole group looked to him for answers but he had nothing much to offer. "If you know the daily offices you should try to keep up a full schedule."

Hae-sung worried they had made things worse. "The sand didn't start flying around until we did the morning salutation. We did not know if its safe to try the other mantras."

"I am going to request more help from the temple. Even if they don't have a stone master, they should be able guide you through some modified forms to help with the alignments."

The adults shared worried glances. The situation had to be extremely serious for a Rainbow-Maker to call for help from the Sun Temple, especially given the historic rivalry between their two disciplines. Hae-sung volunteered to go with the Rainbow-Maker since he was known at this Temple and might be able to trade on his pious aunt's reputation. 

They were lucky enough to meet the Training-Master first. His eagerness to help Junseo overrode the objections the Acting Librarian tried to raise. Soon their discussion became about the necessary stone alignments for a proper circle of eight. The Rainbow-Maker surprised them by volunteering to make-up any missing color frequency. Then he blushed and admitted "I would rather not send to the palace for more help. Interventions fall outside my scope." His comment was acknowledged with a sympathetic nod from the Training-master who then sent for three of his acolytes and a deacon.

The Acting Librarian brought scrolls and two jade jars, one marked north for black and red stones, the other south for clear and blue stones. He then handed a small silk pouch to the deacon. "This sand comes from the Lake of the Heavens. There is none purer so you will only need a touch at each point." The deacon bowed reverently and tucked the pouch out of sight.

Hae-sung traveled back to the forge with the Rainbow-Maker and his palace guards. The group from the temple came along in separate pairs. They aimed to keep their unusual mission secret but the watchers assigned by General Tan soon caught on.

San Jin was in the room when the message from the watchers came and insisted on accompanying his uncle to the forge. They were surprised to be asked about their affinity stones by the guard at the gate and told to wait. Once inside, they were directed to join different groups on opposite sides of the courtyard. San Jin spotted Chenhui and managed to get part of an explanation before the chanting started. The voices grew louder and more insistent before falling silent. A minute later a bell rang and there was a distinct release of tension. Afterward Hae-sung waved San Jin over so he could look in on their team leader.

"What happened?" San Jin whispered as he looked at the still figure laying on the straw pallet.

"We think an energy attack knocked his stones out of alignment. He set up the first isolation with help from us. Rainbow-Maker Mein set up the second field. He said his can probably come down after the next round of cleansing." Hae-sung started to choke up. It was such a relief to see San Jin up and about but he had no idea what might happen to Junseo. San Jin put his arm around his junior on the team. There was really nothing he could say.