Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Sixty-five

            The group wasted no time unloading and clearing the port city. A soaking drizzle accompanied them to the first toll gate. They were able to shelter beside the walled enclosure and grab some quick rations while they waited for their papers to be examined.

"This seems to be a lot of fuss for a trainee recruitment run," one of the King's guards grumbled.

"I guess you haven't heard about the accord breakers. There have been attacks on students and evidence of imported explosives in circulation. If you don't' believe me, try talking with General Tan." Scout Jia said with a level tone.

"Please don't suggest they should bother my uncle. I will never live it down," San Jin interrupted.

"Oh. Why didn't you tell us who your trainee was?" the other guard scowled and got busy stamping the passes the group needed for the rest of the check points. In-Yeon passed the bag of sliver coins to Scout Jia to pay the toll.

"You didn't need to," the man started to say but caught the quick shake of San Jin's head so just handed over the hefty sum to cover accommodation at the way station and the services of a guide.

Once they were back underway Scout Jia circled around to ride beside In-Yeon. "The guard told me you helped with the rigging."

"It needed doing. Maybe the seaman who got washed overboard was supposed to do it but we would have been in trouble if it was left the way it was."

"Yes, he also told me about a freak wave. Do I need to worry about the wind-singers coming to look for you?"

"No. We made a deal after I put down some anchors for them. The storm was too big to nudge, they shouldn't have even tried," In-Yeon whispered.

Scout Jia didn't know what to say to the round-eyed boy who had likely saved their lives three times over. After they had trotted along for a few minutes he just said, "Thank you for your help and for being careful."

They were just past the second check-point when the horses started to baulk at going forward. Even Rufus stopped to turn his tail to the wind. The riders just had time to tighten their cloaks when the mix of rain and ice pellets crashed down. When it did not seem like it would stop anytime soon their guide jumped off his horse and led them into the trees. They followed a meandering deer track a few paces off of the main road and came upon an area where the vegetation had all been flattened by the storm. The trees around them creaked loudly as they swayed and the horses rolled their eyes and danced on the spot.

"Do you want to turn back?" their guide asked.

"How much further to the way-station?" Scout Jia frowned into the dim light.

"At least three miles so probably a couple of hours with the footing the way it is."

Scout Jia looked around at their group. The Go family guards looked determined and gave him a nod. San Jin sighed, "I would rather go forward than back. If the horses settle in a bit, we might make better time."

In-Yeon did not say anything. He just tucked himself into his slicker and patted Rufus. The guide took them back to the main road. On the way they had to detour around fallen trees. Branches were strewn across the cobbled highway so they had to pick there way slowly along the edge. The slow rhythm of the old war horse beneath him lulled In-Yeon's senses and he slowly drifted off.

Darkness. Water trickling nearby. Cold seeping in from the stones around him. Weight pressing next to him. The rumbling in the ground like deep thunder. A bright explosion. More rumbling. The air thick with dust. Rocks landing onto his legs. Wondering if this will be his tomb.

Rufus stopped and whinnied loudly. In-Yeon almost slid out of the saddle. The boy put both his hands over his mouth and yawned twice. Then he stretched and twisted back and forth in the saddle. San Jin watched him with a wry grin.

"More dreams?" he asked.

"It's going to be bad. I don't know if we can even make it in time," In-Yeon whispered. Then they all noticed how quiet it had gotten. "Quake," In-Yeon warned as he hopped down to hold Rufus in the middle of the road.

San Jin did not hesitate to copy the young boy and the guards were quick to follow.

"I thought you were in a hurry," their guide said but then had his hands full as the ground underneath his horse buckled and cracked. Trees came down on either side of the group. The only mercy was the rain finally stopping.

The group studied the possible routes around the fallen tree but Rufus just found a narrow spot and jumped over it. The horse stood on the other side nodding his head up and down as if to say, "get on with it." The other horses followed with their riders in tow.

The group pulled up at the way station and found some dry clothes and a bite to eat. In-Yeon spent most of the break rubbing down the horses and coaxing them to drink. Rufus wasn't at all skittish and tucked into his hay with gusto.

"There is a solid trooper," one of the stable hands said with admiration.

"Yeah. I'm lucky to have him on this trip."

"Are you still heading to Ilidan after the shake we just had?"

"That is up to my master. Not much point in stopping here is there?" In-Yeon didn't mean to sound rude but he realized it might have come across the wrong way. He blushed saying, "Sorry. It is just we have been on a tight schedule."

"Anyone who is willing the pay the tolls has to be in some kind of hurry," the stable hand tipped his head to one side and waited for an answer to his implied question.

"You can never know with the mucky-mucks" In-Yeon exaggerated his southern accent to sound like more a disgruntled servant. This seemed to satisfy the young man who soon left.

In-Yeon spun around when he heard a chuckle coming from the far corner of the stable, "If the son of a civil servant counts as a mucky-muck what does that make you?" San Jin teased.

"Nervous. It makes me nervous. Do you think we can push through tonight?" In-Yeon asked.

"Not likely. We won't be able to see well enough. I take it you had another vision." San Jin put his arm around the shivering boy.

In-Yeon nodded and bit his lip.