Moonstones and Madness

Thirty-two

     When it came to negotiating what might be in or out of scope for the palace's claims on his workshop's products, Knight-Master Lei was not nearly the diplomat Manager Doak might have been. He insisted both the clock-work and crystal charged designs for the unfolding paper flowers belonged to Junseo. "I don't care they are being used to map the dissonance around the palace. It was never their primary purpose," he expounded to Rainbow-maker Mein.

"Yet without the crystals the palace provided?"

"I would have gone round to my friends up on maker's lane if I needed to make more blossoms. It's not like I need many shards to make them work," Junseo interrupted before the two men repeated the argument from the day before. Knight-Master Lei muttered something about impudent trainees that gave the guards a good laugh before they bundled their charge back to the palace.

Rainbow-maker Mein felt pulled in different directions. His growing admiration for all the trainee's tempered with concern over just whom he may be training. Junseo's affinity remained illusive but his powers undeniable. The quiet Song-hee aligned his moonstones faster than anyone expected but Chenhui still lacked control over his rose quartz and his emotions. The eldest, San Jin, had very stable emerald connections but spent very little time in the forge. The youngest, In-Yeon, constantly guarded by the former monk or at least two of the other trainees, raised different questions. His report on boy's unusual firestone affinity was met with apathy by the palace brotherhood who expected the boy would eventually make his way back to a temple.

"You should pay more attention to your duties here in the palace especially with a member to welcome into the fold," the King's Rainbow-maker said.

"Did he get the blessing?" he looked around to see if he might spot the newcomer to their conclave.

"Kal Chul still waits below," the second in command admitted then looked away.

"I will be available as soon as the dragon accepts him. Otherwise, I continue on my prince's orders but I should warn you those include mapping the areas of dissonance." Until now he had avoided mentioning this particular sore point. Trying to resolve the damage from the war of succession had turned into a multi-generational duty for all the palace Rainbow-makers. Involving an outside group could be taken as affront to the King's authority.

"Oh, he is big for his breeches. Your prince I mean," the most senior member of their group chortled.

"I can't imagine the King will be pleased if they show up weaknesses in our defenses," another member half-whispered.

"No danger there. Remember our regular patrols," the older man beside him said in a voice clearly meant to be overheard.

Rainbow-maker Mein struggled to keep a straight face. He knew just how haphazard those patrols actually were, especially when they were fobbed off onto the most junior members. The journal entries were entirely laughable compared to the copious note-taking of the boys at the forge.

Reviewing those notes, and remembering the tensions between his master their guest instructor, had Junseo's stomach tied in knots. He felt an idea drifting out of reach but was stymied.

"I wish Hae-sung was here," Song-hee said from across the worktable. "I mean I know he won't be up to our usual regime but he is smart about this kind of thing." He pointed to the different samples of stones resting in front of him.

"He needs to come back," In-Yeon said looking into the distance. "I need to talk to him about his aunt."

"You could go visit him." Chenhui suggested.