Rubies and Rumors

Chapter Seventy

     In-Yeon approached the crumpled figure resting next to the second gravel pile cautiously. He could see one leg was still buried in the rubble the other bend back at an awkward angle. He touched the back of one hand. It was icy.

"No. I did not come all this way for you to slip away on us now," In-Yeon said firmly and placed a hand on either side of the too still face. He summoned a breath of air and directed it into Junseo's mouth. At the same time, he sent a touch of warmth from his stone into the cool body. He visualized the trigger points along each meridian to make sure each was active. He spotted a strange black mark on the skin behind Junseo's ear so stopped to extract a long sliver. The dark piece of metal had a strange aura so In-Yeon kicked it away. As soon as the piece was out of range Junseo's crystals regained their luster and he started to breath on his own.

"Are you really here, or am I just dreaming again?" Junseo whispered.

"I'm here. Now let me get you a sip of water." In-Yeon visualized what he wanted and raised a fine water spout up from the pool and walked it close enough he could fill a cupped hand. After Junseo had a few sips In-Yeon settled his creation back to where it belonged.

Junseo shook his head and studied the young boy more closely then observed, "You have more strength and control now."

In-Yeon shrugged off this complement. "I think we are going to need help to get you out of this mess," he said.

"Yes. I am worried about what might happen when the pressure comes off my leg. I can't really feel it anymore, so I don't know if it is just bruised and twisted, broken, or crushed badly enough to need the weight to act like a tourniquet."

"So, if you were giving first aide to someone else, what would you do?" In-Yeon looked around to see if any of the others were on their way.

"Assess for injuries that might be aggravated with movement. If the leg is the only issue, I would put a tight strap around the upper thigh and hope for the best." Junseo sounded strangely distant as he gave this advice but then he grimaced, "That is, only if we could figure a way to move the stones without bringing the whole place down on top of us."

"Let me worry about that in minute. What sort of injuries are we looking for? Should we try to get your other leg at a better angle or is it stuck as well?"

Junseo blushed knowing he had been sitting oddly. "Umm, not sure. Maybe if you just pull it over. Slowly. No. That is not going to work." Sweat broke out on Junseo's face as he grit his teeth against the pain.

San Jin's head popped over one of the gravel piles as In-Yeon tried to get Junseo resettled. "You got yourself in a fine pickle. bro," San Jin said as he inched carefully closer so as not to start a slide.

"I am thinking maybe a sling of some kind to lift him when I push the rocks back." In-Yeon said as he scratched his head.

"You are going to leave us an exit, Right?" San Jin looked around the small space. "I don't know how we might get a stretcher crew in here."

"I have been thinking about that too," In-Yeon gave San Jin a sly smile before asking, "How well can you control your wind pups? Do you think you could keep four in line if I helped call them up?"

"How well can you remember the way out when our guide bolts?" San Jin drawled.

"When who bolts?" A high voiced asked from the top of the pile San Jin had come down. "I didn't run when you made the water dance to your tune, so just let me know what you are planning."

San Jin scrambled back up and talked to the guide in a low voice. She looked skeptical but then went away and came back with extra ropes. The boys secured the roped around Junseo and ran them back over the pile where the guide and guard waited for the signal to pull.

In-Yeon asked San Jin if he was ready and called up four small twisters. One of the twisters pulled in some water so In-Yeon had to set them all down and start again. This time he pulled together the winds one at a time, waiting for them to be well settled before passed control to San Jin. Once that was done, he tied a belt tightly around the top of Junseo's thigh then he started his stone mantra. Both San Jin and Junseo joined the chant and with their help In-Yeon surveyed the surrounding rock structures before deciding how to drill in to free the trapped limb.

In-Yeon put his arm in the air and started shifting the surrounding stones. As soon as the gap opened, he dropped his arm and the pair at the top took this signal to pull. At first it did not seem like anything happened but then stones rattled away and Junseo lifted free. He swung back and forth before coming to rest on the cushion of air San Jin controlled.

In-Yeon did not pause. He widened the gap at the top of the nearest pile and shaped steps for San Jin to climb. Then he guided his elder through to join the rest of their party, feeding a bit of energy into his creations along the way. None of them spoke as they rushed along ahead of the sound of falling stones. Their guide stopped them at one turn and led them through some empty tunnels to a small chamber with a wooden door.

"Let me check the way is clear. We should be within a block of the clinic. I'll bring back a stretcher," she whispered urgently before slipping away.

In-Yeon took this as a sign to wind up his working. He put his hand on San Jin's arm and signaled for him to pass control of the spinners back. "We will need you fellows to catch the patient and set him down gently," he said.

Once San Jin and his guard were in position, In-Yeon slowed the spinners, eventually releasing them with his thanks. One of breezes ruffled his clothes and hair before disappearing. San Jin grinned and gave a thumbs up as he settled on the floor with Junseo's head resting in his lap.

In-Yeon checked on Junseo who stayed mercifully asleep. Junseo's pant leg was dark with a mixture of dirt, sand, and blood. A deep gash still oozed with every heartbeat. In-Yeon loosened the makeshift tourniquet for few moments then tightened it as hard as he could. He then took the special belt he had been wearing and draped it around Junseo like a stole. The light ran along the crystal chips and the large stones at the top of the tassels reflected the energy. The effect was almost hypnotic and In-Yeon framed a prayer to the spirits of this place to thank them for the bounty of bringing him here in time.

Scout Jia arrived with both a healer and stretcher. He was somewhat prepared for Junseo's condition but was appalled to see his two trainees in obvious states of exhaustion. He turned to the guide for an explanation but she just shook her head.

"The young master told us this might happen. It wasn't a small working. Not when they tamed breezes to carry their friend. We wouldn't have made it even half this far on our own," the guard whispered. "A bit of rest will put them to rights," he nodded then signaled to the other guard to help the boys up.