After their previous encounter the night of the team dinner, Junseo did not expect the young girl from the Slack Harbor gang to show up at the clinic. She came in with a thin boy with a pronounced limp. It only took Junseo a minute or two to identify the effects of a childhood illness but there was little he could do for the boy other than recommend a brace to support the twisted leg. The girl's cut was healing nicely, with her arm pretty much the only clean spot on her small body. Junseo stalled for time trying to come up with a way for her to earn back her marker. He was about to ask her to fetch some herbs from the academy when she stopped him.

"I knows your friend gave you my marker but my debt is more with him. I mean you fixed me up fine but he got me away from the Hillside Talons. I shouldn't have brought the guys after you. My captain was mad about Kal Chul. He is madder still that Song-hee claims neutrality so he wasn't going to pass the message that came via our Four-star connections. That's not right. Not when its about family. So, trade?" The girl held up a tattered paper and put her palm out.

Junseo had many reasons to doubt her story but also knew he had no business taking a marker for a services provided free of charge to anyone who made it to the clinic. He took the paper and handed over the marker without a word.

That evening when he took the message to Song-hee he listed a number of reasons not to trust its contents.

"Normally I'd agree with you," Song-hee said before explaining the code he and his brother had worked out. "Nobody here knows the keyword for the substitution, so this is from Kaesang. The instruction was to deliver this to me the day the exam marks were posted." Song-hee turned the paper over and folded it into a fan. This revealed a sequence of letters that Song-hee counted down from with a skip pattern. Song-hee's hands shook as he worked out the code. He shook his head and refolded the paper. "I need to talk with Knight-Master Lei," he said.

"What is it?" Junseo asked.

"My Mother is sick and they kept it from me," Song-hee's fears came out as anger.

"I'm sure you can take a leave. Manager Doak is bound to know the fastest way to get you home. Come on, let's get you sorted." Junseo helped Song-hee to his feet.

Manager Doak had both boys and Scout Jia booked on a ship the very same afternoon. Depending on the situation, Junseo and Scout Jia would then take the riverboats inland to Ilidan where Song-hee could rejoin them to help recruit more kite flyers. From there they would head to the new training camp location.

Junseo decided it would be best to show Knight-Master Lei the inventory of supplies he had put away for his affinity maps. He explained the logic behind the models to his very worried looking mentor. "Of course, I can't start these now. The guys don't like the risks, and I get that, but I think I have an okay plan." Junseo ran out of things to add in the face of his mentor's scowl.

"You are talking about showing off with a significant craft secret, one journeymen seldom fully understand." Knight-Master Lei kept his voice low and steady. "I can't begin to imagine what Rainbow-maker Mein might stay to something like this."

"But it could help match up stones for people," Junseo said.

"A role the temples guard closely," the Knight-Master responded.

"Unfairly, especially since the Crystal Pavilion," Junseo stopped mid-sentence and looked away. He had never shaken the guilt he felt for setting off the alarms there.

"Doubt is the only thing keeping the northern sects at bay. Do you really want to announce yourself to them right now?" Knight-Master Lei said.

"Not right now. Really not at all, but they may already know. I mean Nanny Jee probably found the star-stones when she searched our room at the estate." Junseo's unhappiness over this betrayal returned and he rubbed his eyes saying, "Seems Song-hee was too right there."

"Speaking of your sharp teammate, what does he think of the risks might be taking?"

"He thinks the models will be challenging but doable. As for the other part, I am not sure he understands, not the same way San Jin or Hae-sung do." Junseo swallowed hard.

"There's a good first step, help him understand. Let his honest reaction guide you. In the meantime, I will stow your supplies in separate batches. Some here, some at my apartment. Now how do you want to deal with the cross-contamination."

Junseo found this request as challenging as any of the tasks the guild had put to him. When he had time to reflect on it, he realized he had been served a solid lesson about getting ahead of himself. He saw no reason to delay the other task Knight-Master Lei had set, so took Song-hee aside that evening. Junseo went even asked Scout Jia to watch for anyone trying to eavesdrop.

"Why would a boat load of merchants care what two teenage boys have to say to each other?" He chuckled and scratched his head. When he took in Junseo's serious look, he waved them along to the guardrail a few more feet.

"Have you talked with the guys about the stones I took out of the palace wall?" Junseo started.

"Other than what a schoolboy move it was?" Song-hee said squinting into the setting sun.

"You guys weren't curious about this?" Junseo took out his phoenix signate and pointed to its latest stone.

"We might be curious but figured it wasn't the team's business. You know, boundaries." Song-hee turned and looked directly at Junseo.

"Even on top of the attacks in Gonlong and my former nanny being a spy for the northern court?" His voice dropped lower but he kept his gaze steady.

"Well, Hae-sung had a theory and San Jin didn't try to talk him out of it," Song-hee blushed at this admission.

"I don't need the details. I just didn't know if I needed to spell out what it means that I'm able to work a full spectrum of stones, including those very rare starstones. Going ahead with the affinity maps could make my heritage obvious to more than our circle." Junseo watch Song-hee's face closely.

"No way," he said, crossing his arms. "No way, you've been keeping that kind of secret all this time."

Scout Jia gave them a sharp look.

"Keep it down, a bit," Junseo warned. His face squeezed into a pout as he said, "I didn't exactly hide it from you guys. I mean you know about my scars, and the other stuff."

"Figured you were a by-blow, not a bloody royal, or a frigging royal squared," Song-hee shook his head. "A rough like me should have no truck with royals."

"We are trainees, and friends, at least I hope we are still friends." Junseo put out his hand.

Song-hee looked down and shuffled his feet back and forth before breaking into a grin, "Bet San Jin is ready to have kittens over your new project."

"He was about as pleased as Knight-Master Lei," Junseo admitted.

"Then we better have a solid plan for them by the time you start working on it," Song-hee said.

"Thanks, bro," Junseo gripped Song-hee's hand, pulled him into a quick hug, and said, "Glad I can count on you."