Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Forty

     The morning salutation at the Sun Temple once again took on a stiff formality. Junseo had only been gone a week and Hae-sung was not yet accustomed to the new routines at the forge and training yard so having the Temple's training-masters now seeming so much more distant rattled him. Hae-sung sought out In-Yeon to see if the boy knew why things seemed to have changed.

"I am glad you caught up with me," In-Yeon flashed a smile but then became serious. "It would help me a lot if you could store my crystals at your dorm for a while." He passed over two small silk bags Hae-sung quickly tucked into his belt. "Thanks. The Chief Librarian is back and he has been angling to impound any crystals our former cottage members hold."

"Former cottage? You aren't in your special training group?"

"No. Apparently, the conclave decided it was too dangerous to have so many potential energy workers in one place so most of them have been shipped off to different temples."

"Where does that leave you?"

"I'm trying to lay low and keep to standard practices. My uncle is leaving at the end of this week and there are rumors our Temple-Master is stepping down. I know the agreement is for me to wait until the end of the semester, but can you ask Manager Doak if it is possible to move it up?" In-Yeon looked around then apologized he needed to hurry to get to class. Hae-sung just stared after him for a moment then went on his own way.

In-Yeon got waylaid on his shortcut through the lower terraces. "You spend a lot of time with that visitor," commented one of the new monks who came to the Sun Temple when the Chief Librarian returned.

"I will be contracted to the same training yard. He has been very kind." In-Yeon bobbed his head and tried to continue along his way.

"You are not staying with the order?" the monk sounded annoyed.

"I am grateful for the chance to study here, and appreciate what the community has to offer, but it is not my true path. At least not yet." In-Yeon edged away.

"And how would you know? You are all of what, fourteen?"

"I know by how others treat me, Sir, and I do not wish additional punishments for lateness to satisfy your curiosity," In-Yeon unconsciously echoed his grandfather's most contemptuous tone and marched away.

"And that is how I know he is a true Pange," Brother Suk-Chan said with a smirk.

The monk spun around to see where the remark had come from and was facing what he assumed to be two lowly gardeners.

"You know that boy's family?" he asked.

"As well as my own." Brother Suk-Chan said and gave his companion half a wink. The Herbalist schooled his features to reflect only a vague curiosity.

"Do you know if anyone in the family can work elements directly? Like say a wind-singer, or water-walker?"

"Directly, on their own? No. Not really. Why do you ask?"

"The conclave sent me to investigate certain claims about a potential guardian being trained in secret by senior members of this community. This is a most serious matter." The man scowled.

"A potential guardian. Oh, that is a good one! I haven't heard one of those old tales in years," Brother Suk-Chan laughed loudly and turned to his companion. "Master, do you know the lore?"

"I know some of the stories. I also heard one about three brothers in the south who once pulled up a waterspout large enough to empty a harbor." The Herbalist teased Il-Yeon's uncle.

"Ah. Yes, boys will be boys. You can be sure their father tanned their hides good. Can't imagine anyone in their family trying unmediated working after that day."

"Are you telling me the family holds the potential?" the monk rubbed his hands together.

"Don't get ahead of yourself. Anyone has potential. The key is focusing one's energy. Different tribes use different tools. Here crystals are common. Other places use music." The Herbalist's instruction came very close to a reprimand and the visiting monk retreated.

"I should have seen In-Yeon resettled before making the arrangements to start my pilgrimage." Brother Suk-Chan shared his worry, "I didn't expect anything to come from the complaints by the Northern Priestess, not when the boys confessed."

"If I was inclined to speculate, they may have been coached to suggest their amateur spell only impacted untrained element workers." The Herbalist shook his head. "We may not have done our boys any favors when we singled them out. It gave room for fear and resentment to grow."

"I suppose I should be grateful. Being a potential guardian is a lot better than the shamans all calling my nephew two-souled. He admits to certain sensitivities and I have seen signs he may dream true."

"Your famous in-laws didn't claim him?"

"No. The seers all say his is a different path. I hoped it might be with our order but that is clearly not the case."

"We just have to trust the right teachers will find him." They nodded together at this sentiment and turned their focus to pruning and weeding. In-Yeon spotted them when he was going between his morning classes but only had time for a quick wave in their direction.

"Still trying to butter up your uncle?" a mocking voice cut across the square. "I thought he was shipping out soon."

"Whatever his future intentions, Brother Suk-Chan has been generous with his time. The Chief Herbalist has also helped us more than once." In-Yeon did not want to get into a disagreement but he also did not want students left with the wrong impression so he added, "They both know how much I enjoy my time in the gardens."

"If that is what suits you, maybe you should just go back down south and hire on as a farm worker." Another one of the older boys got chuckles from the small group standing between In-Yeon and his maths class.

"I can think of worse pursuits," In-Yeon shrugged. "There is nothing wrong with honest labor. It might be hard on the body but it has its own rewards."

"You say that like you have ever really had to work for a living. Isn't your father some kind of local lord?"

"It is true our family is luckier than most but when it comes to spring planting or fall harvest there isn't a single member of our family who is not out helping in the fields. My brother and I have also been sent out to sea to learn how to properly set nets and draw them back in again so we can appreciate the source of half our wealth." In-Yeon stared directly at the ring-leader and said firmly, "I also need to know how to keep accounts so would like to get to class now." He strode forward and managed to avoid the trips and kicks the group tried.

The Chief Librarian stood watching the whole encounter together with the training-master and the conclave's investigator. "See what I mean about his arrogance? Talking back to his seniors. It just isn't right."

"How should he have responded? The senior students showed contempt for him and the people who provide us with food to eat." The training-master's objections were ignored by the investigator who was now even more curious about the boy's family.

"He didn't deny his father being a local lord?" The investigator looked at the Chief Librarian and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh. His father, Baron Pange, is head of the southern council of lords. Theirs is not the largest or wealthiest holding in the southern province but it is strategic since it includes the best harbor." When he noticed the investigator's frown he quickly added "The boy is not the heir. Came here as a mid-term transfer so is bound to be in some sort of trouble back home." The Chief Librarian nodded to himself like he had made some sort of decision.