Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Fifty-four

            The next week went by swiftly. As predicted Junseo's school visits were a bit awkward but he did his best to encourage the students preparing for exams. He talked about some practical memorization tricks he had picked up from the team's former tutor, not revealing he did not need to use them. More students seemed more interested in kite racing than exam skills, so he tried to channel their curiosity back to how math could help sort out the best routes and designs for different wind conditions. The senior boys seemed skeptical so Junseo got out a slate and demonstrated what he meant by applying a few formulas.

"Some of my friends in the capital told me how much they hated book work until they found a teacher who could show them more practical applications," Junseo smiled at the memory of Song-hee's fierce pragmatism.

"I thought you just hung out with foreigner students or brainiacs," a former school mate said sarcastically. Junseo just stared at the boy for a minute, trying to place him but the teacher wound up the session.

Another boy came over to apologize as Junseo was leaving. "Don't mind him. He was the Governor and his wife's pet before you came back from the capital. He is probably blaming you but it wasn't going to last much longer. Everyone knows the Governor ships the couple's toys off to the guards as soon as they come of age."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Junseo shook his head and walked away. He really wished Manager Doak was around since this wasn't a topic he would every raise with his family. Since it all seemed a bit too pat, he had to wonder whether the boys were being sincere or if they had been put up to their display. But that begged questions of who, and why, and he didn't want to do any more speculating. Instead, when he went home for his daily visit, he dug an old kite out of his trunk to give himself a clear excuse for a long run.

He remembered the junior courier's eagerness to run with him so stopped by their storefront headquarters and was met with half-a-dozen eager volunteers. "I think someone already called dibs?" He confirmed when they had settled down. "Given how rusty I am, maybe a second runner would be helpful?" This suggestion got an immediate response from the group who pushed the winner of the draw forward. "Right, well we can clear out and let you guys get back to business," Junseo grinned at the mock complaints his statement generated.

"You know the business is still doing quite well?" The captain, and first runner asked before saying, "Your shares are adding up. I know you told us to put them in an emergency fund for our crew but it is not a small sum."

"What are you thinking?" Junseo asked knowing the young man had a plan.

"Well, the lease is coming up but the landlord hinted he might consider an offer from us."

"So, own the building outright? Maybe make some modification? Where would that leave our pool?"

"Honestly, a bit lower than I would like but we would have collateral if we needed more."

"Let me see the numbers and I will think on it. Now let's see where this bird takes us." Junseo spun out some string and tossed the kite into the steady breeze coming up from the river. The boys grinned at each other as the kite caught and spun upward and they were off along familiar paths. The task only required foot speed and a feel for the winds Junseo had not lost with his time away from Ilidan.

A tricky down draft near the park on the edge of the escarpment required all of Junseo's skill and attention so he only vaguely registered the traffic they wove passed. It wasn't until they finished the loop around the end poles and safely landed the kite he took note of the carriages and guard contingent. He could see the Captain of the Guard signaling to him and muttered, "Oh, bother." He handed his kite over for his honorary runners to stow back at their headquarters.

"You guys clear out, while I go see what this is about," he ordered firmly.

"You sure?" The eldest of the pair squinted at the procession.

"Yes. But if you don't hear from me within two days you better let our mutual friends know," Junseo used a hand signal to identify exactly who he meant and hurried to meet the waiting dignitaries. He recognized one of the merchants who had been on the riverboat sitting next to the Governor.

"I thought you said you were not going to race this season!" the man cried with no pre-amble.

"Just reminiscing, not training," Junseo said as he bowed his greetings to the rest of the party.

"If I am not mistaken those boys are racers in their own right," the Governor said as he leaned out of his carriage.

"I expect they would be pretty competitive by now," Junseo nodded. "They were just helping me burn off a bit of steam. I have been cooped up in schools most of the week."

"Ah, yes. The tour is going well, I trust," the Governor gave him a warm grin.

"As well as expected," Junseo shrugged then added, "I hope some of my tips can help but it is really up to their teachers and tutors. Looking back, I have to say I was pretty lucky with my subject coaches." He stopped himself before remarking how expensive the whole process had been with extra subject preparation fees on top of the cost of examinations themselves.

"Still, fortune favors the well prepared, don't you think?" The merchant smiled smugly then added, "Would you have good coaches if you were not willing to put in the work? I think not!"

Junseo saw no need to respond. He looked over at the Captain of the Guard who gave a barely perceptible nod to encourage the procession to get underway again. Before the Governor's carriage started rolling, he leaned out its window and said, "Since you are up to kite running, you should be up to sparing. I looked forward to seeing you on our courts soon."

Junseo kept a straight face as he thanked the Governor for the invitation. The last place he wanted to train was at the castle but it looked like he would have no choice in the matter. He kicked himself for the folly of not noticing the procession soon enough to avoid the encounter. Then he noticed the watcher staring idly from across the park and realized there could well have been a deliberate strategy behind it. He grinned to himself and set a punishing pace to his next destination reasoning if the guards wanted to put a tail on him, he was going to make them sweat.