Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Forty-four

     The scribes had never seen their Chief so distracted. He kept pacing around the desks in the scriptorium asking after the most recent transfer student. Finally, he left a junior monk in charge. He made is way through the Temple's side gate and hurried through the back alleys to the market. He checked the street quickly before ducking into the Shaman's storefront.

"I felt your summons," he choked out.

"You know the debt owed to your student," the Shaman's anger was clear.

"Yes, he did what I could not. We should all be grateful," the Chief Scribe nodded.

"And yet he is now a prisoner. How could you let that happen?"

"I did not know. We were told unsanctioned energy work landed the boy in the infirmary. I trusted he would recover quickly."

"Find a way to give him this package. Oh, and take this for your own protection." The Shaman handed over a small bundle and a small charm then pointed to the door. "You do not have much time before your absence will be noted."

The Chief Scribe made an offering and bowed his thanks. He took a more direct root back to the Temple, stopping at a stand to select some colored inks, to explain his excursion. The watchman at the gate questioned him closely, "Why would you run such an errand yourself?"

"Do you have any idea how many times the runners I sent mixed up my instructions. Honestly, I am starting to wonder the man who runs the stand even knows how to read. Ironic, I know, but even with written instructions they can't find the right shade of indigo." The Chief Scribe's apparent indignation was enough to let him through the gates. The monks in the scriptorium seemed less convinced by his cover story but they just chalked it up to their Chief's eccentricity.

It took the Chief Scribe a couple more days to come up with a plausible excuse to visit the infirmary's only patient. He took the illustrated guide to the Southern Seas along with a standard text. "One of our junior scribes thinks he spotted an error and I thought In-Yeon might be able to clear things up," he added "That is if he is up to having a visitor? I also brought one of the texts he needs to master for his exams."

The Healer looked around then admitted, "I probably shouldn't let you in but it would do the boy good to have something to do. I can't let you stay long. He seems to tire very easily."

The Chief Scribe nodded then hurried over to the far pallet where In-Yeon was propped up under a rough blanket. "I hope we can help each other a little bit. I have problem with the map in here," he held up a thick volume, "And I thought you might appreciate a small amusement." He passed the text over with the small package from the Shaman tucked into the back cover. When he spotted the chains on In-Yeon's wrists he frowned and asked, "Will you be alright?"

"I am starting to recover and I hope my friends will come for me soon." In-Yeon's slight grin was strained.

"Right. Well before then maybe you can help with this." The Chief Scribe opened the large volume and pointed to an illegible part of the map.

"Ah. They must have heard how the land bridge washed away. They just didn't know it re-formed about half a kilometer west. Here, see these two points." In-Yeon touched the page in front of him and the images shimmered briefly. He gave the Chief Scribe a questioning but the man looked equally surprised.

"There is something on the front piece about true blood making true images but we did not know how it might work. I think we may have a special job for you once you have recovered." The man looked at the manuscript with a new reverence and smiled at In-Yeon.

"I will be happy to help while I am still at the Temple." In-Yeon said in a quiet voice.

"Right. Well, I promised not to tire you." The Chief Scribe patted In-Yeon's shoulder, gathered up the manuscript, and left. In-Yeon tucked the textbook under the covers, leaned back and closed his eyes. He concentrated on sending a message of hope and thanks as he drifted off.

In-Yeon woke to the sounds of an argument carried on in fierce whispers just a few paces away from his bed.

"You can't keep draining his natural energy away. It is too dangerous. His heart is starting to weaken."

"How else can we keep him under control? Are you willing to chance another energy burst?"

"Then don't delay. Send him to the Temple-Under-the-Mountain now before he is too weak to make the trip."

"We can't. They will not accept him without approval from the conclave and a properly witnessed record of his vows to make him a pilgrim. Otherwise, they will just set him free."

"But he is a junior student soon to be under contract with Knight-Master Lie. He is not old enough to for a firm intention never mind a pilgrimage. What are you planning?"

"The energy locks will age his looks. Once all our guests depart, we can take care of the paperwork and start him on the journey while we make the case to the conclave. Trust me, everything will be fine by this time next month."

In-Yeon struggled not to react. He forced himself to look totally relaxed with regular breaths while the two men gave him a closer inspection. Once they had left the infirmary, he got to work with the set of picks delivered by the Chief Scribe. In-Yeon carefully explored the locking mechanism on the shackles around his ankles to release his feet. He felt an immediate boost of energy once they were free and had to do a calming mantra to keep from being overwhelmed. The lock connecting his wrist chains to his ankles was more complicated so he decided to leave it intact. Instead, he worked on slowly opening a link on the chain nearer to his wrist. He felt another kick of energy once the connection tied to his wrists broke apart. In-Yeon pretended to still be trapped to let his energy recover so he twisted the broken link to make it look like it was holding and kept the shackles close enough to slip back onto his ankles. He hoped the Healer's guilt might keep him from checking too closely.