Moonstones and Madness

Ten

     The boys wormed their way through the crowds at the mid-point of the track. Junseo planted himself behind Chenhui to help steady the smaller boy against the press. They arrived just in time to watch Hae-sung handling his mount rearing and weaving sideways at the station where the flags waited in a barrel. Hae-sung spun the young horse in a tight circle, picked up a flag, and raced toward the finish-line. He barely managed to pass the flag off to the next rider before the colt swerved in with its teeth bared. Song-hee came forward and grabbed onto the horse's headstall. It pawed out, nearly striking his leg but he jumped to the side.

"Vicious little beast." Chenhui's remark caught Junseo off-guard.

"I thought there wasn't a horse you didn't like," he said.

"Not mean ones. There was no reason for the colt to strike out like that." Chenhui shook his head, "Why would a team put everyone at risk with that kind of animal?"

"Maybe there is a trick to getting him to calm down." Junseo scanned around for the regular grooms and breathed a sigh of relief when Song-hee handed off the colt to a man in the prince's colors. Then he spotted a lot of money changing hands around them. "I guess the punters didn't expect anyone to be able to finish the race on that wild one, but Hae-sung must have placed." Chenhui frowned then ducked out of sight behind his larger friend. He thought he heard his father's voice calling but chose to ignore it.

"I would love to stay but I think we need to head over to the mats. It looks like Brother Kuin is waiting." Junseo stood up on his toes and gave a wide wave to their training master and tugged Chenhui along.

Brother Kuin handed Junseo a package and said, "The rules permit you to wear garments from your home dojo for the hand-to-hand rounds."

Junseo gave his training master a questioning look as he unwrapped the deep navy dobok with the phases of the moon embroidered in silver in an arch across the back. A note tucked inside the package read, "Eternal Friendship," in Master Wu's distinctive script. Junseo's eye watered and he whispered, "How?"

"Don't' worry about that now, just go get ready," Brother Kuin said firmly and pointed the boys in the right direction.

There was a low buzz of conversation while the crowd settled in to view the match. There was a short pause when Junseo appeared in his new attire then the volume went up. One of the Sun Temple candidates came over to ask, "Does this mean you are pledged to our brothers?"

"Only with the deepest friendship," Junseo bowed. When he saw the skeptical look, he continued, "I trained at the Moon Temple before the big quake, and provided some help after it. In turn, the brothers helped me recover from my more recent injuries." His honest answer was somewhat incomplete but seemed to satisfy.

"I trust we will also be friends," the young man bowed before introducing himself as Student Jung Son Li.

"Friends," Junseo agreed then turned to introduce a star struck Chenhui just before the bell chimed.

Chenhui hurried to help secure the special slippers and fingerless gloves that would make the scoring chalk marks. The aim was to encourage open handed engagements but it was no guarantee against harder blows. Brother Kuin checked everything and made one adjustment before letting Junseo go to the edge of the mat.

Junseo watched his opponent get into place. They both bowed to the judge and to each other. The boy in the prince's colors moved with the smooth grace and tension of a tiger. Junseo dug into a pool of stillness. "I reflect the sun and move the tides," he started a silent mantra and felt a brighter energy building with each breath. He let the flow of the first testing moves roll along the northern orientation, avoiding any chalk laden touches, but only offering a couple of quick strikes. When the call came for the eastern orientation, Junseo was ready to switch things up. His aerial kick disguised his true intent, planting a visible thumb print in the middle of his opponent's forehead. The referee put his arm up to stop the match and conferred with the judges who awarded Junseo a technical knock-out. The other boy protested loudly and the referee had a runner bring over a mirror.

"How?" the older boy looked totally confused.

Junseo turned to the runner, "Would you mind if I gave you a dab of chalk, if the referee doesn't object?" The official nodded and Junseo repeated the twisting flip and kick finishing with the forehead tap on the way over.

"That's not fifth dan," the prince's candidate objected.

"No," the referee grinned, "that's the and-up for this division." Junseo bowed with this acknowledgement then offered to help clean the mark off the runner's forehead.

"No, leave it," the boy grinned, "it's going to make a great story at lunch time," and went on his way.

Junseo and Chenhui edged there way through the spectators, many of whom offered congratulations. Knight-Master Lei was standing with Brother Kuin, just outside the equipment tent.

"Didn't want to get your new outfit messed up with chalk, I see." Knight-Master Lei grinned.

"What was the with the demonstration at the end? Why give free lessons to the competition?" Brother Kuin asked.

"Just seeing it, doesn't' mean he would be able to do it. I thought it would save time from him trying to appeal the results." Junseo shrugged.

"Yeah, and it doesn't hurt to impress the referee," Chenhui said with a sly grin. Knight-Master Lei shook his head and sent the boys off together with the instruction to meet the whole team at the canteen as soon as Junseo had changed.

As they were making their way through the press of candidates lining up for lunch, the three Sun Temple representatives approached. "Congratulations on a fine match, Moon-brother," Student Son Li said then turned to introduce his companions. "I believe you know Initiate Kwang-Jo from the team event, and Acolyte Dong Chul says he spotted you at morning rituals last year."

"I believe we will meet in the ring this afternoon," Acolyte Dong Chul said with a bow.

"I am always happy to learn from my Sun Temple brothers," Junseo replied with the most respect then excused himself to meet with his teammates.

When he got to the table San Jin commented on how strange it was for the Temple boys to interact with another competitor. "They only come to promote the proper forms and usually don't participate in all the events."

"But Initiate Kwang-Jo was great help on our team yesterday. Now I am aligned with the Moon Temple, I am happy to count them as friends."

"That will get the other teams buzzing," San Jin observed, "hope it doesn't make you more of a target than being the youngest competitor already did."

"Don't borrow trouble by expecting the worst from others," Brother Kuin advised.

"Yes, that is true but don't let your guard drop as you move up the ranks, either." Manager Doak's comment elicited firm nods from the other adults at the table.