Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Forty-nine

            The sky was just starting to lighten when a guard shook Go San Jin awake. "There is a messenger here saying they have an urgent package for Trainee Song-hee, I told them to try the forge but then they asked for you."

"Weird," San Jin scratched his chin and threw on a robe. He recognized the gang member straight away and gave him the hand signal Song-hee taught the team. The young man went back out of the gate and came back with another young man wearing the same stripes. In-Yeon limped along between the pair.

San Jin signaled his guards to let the group pass and sent one to fetch some coins. He paid the young men and sent them on their way saying, "I know this work will be counted in favors but here is our down payment."

In-Yeon whispered, "It's my debt, too."

"You can work it out with Song-hee later. First, you need a Healer." San Jin scooped the boy up and took him to the dormitory. He called for Scout Jia and Chenhui and they helped get things organized. In-Yeon smiled his thanks before he passed out.

"Do you remember the name of the advocate who came looking for In-Yeon at the forge the other day?" San Jin asked. "Manager Doak told us about him. It was something about the contract."

Chenhui shrugged then said, "I'll ask him when I fetch everyone. In-Yeon should only have to tell his story once."

"I'll send a note along with you but you might have to head to the Palace. Knight-Master Lie has been staying at his apartments while Journeyman Yang settles in at the forge," Scout Jia explained. "I didn't think it was necessary but Manager Doak thought it would be a good idea."

"It doesn't hurt for the Knight-Master to remind folks about his loyalties," San Jin repeated something he had heard from his father.

"Come on, we don't have time for you two to start debating politics," Chenhui said. The other two just looked at each other and laughed.

"Point taken. Now go saddle up, and take a couple of the family guards with you," San Jin instructed. He saw them out of the gates before returning to the dormitory to check on In-Yeon.

Since he did not know how long the healer might take, he thought he should get a start on cleaning the boy up. He could not believe how much weight In-Yeon had lost since he saw him at the open competition.

Even though the blood had soaked through, San Jin left the bandage in place on In-Yeon's foot. He wished Junseo was here to help but got on with what he was comfortable managing on his own. In-Yeon barely stirred as San Jin carefully plucked out the thorns and washed the dirt out of the obvious scrapes. When he leaned In-Yeon forward to shift him out of his dirty robes San Jin couldn't help noticing the deep bruises on the boy's back. "What did they do to you?" he whispered.

"That is just the usual," In-Yeon said quietly then held up his wrists to show off the silver bands, "This was more wicked."

San Jin could not disguise his shock. Even though he was not particularly religious, he had always been taught to respect the temples. This evidence of abuse did not fit with the Sun Temple's reputation for charity and self-discipline. He cleared his throat and replied, "Wicked indeed." He would have said more but the healer had finally arrived so he left them to it.

The healer shook her head when she emerged from the dorm room. "I don't know who is responsible but they should all be locked up."

"Is he going to be alright? I know the cut must be bad and I didn't like the look of some of those bruises." San Jin's started to choke up.