Scout Jia settled behind a low table at the Plum Tree Teahouse and studied the room before turning his attention to his three companions. "Just a heads up, we have a couple of clients sitting together by the far wall," he said in a low voice.

"Noted," Manager Doak said with his usual military crispness. He made no move other than to put his hand on Journeyman Yang's shoulder to keep the younger man from turning to look.

"I'm glad you're back. Tell me how the boys shaping up?" Knight-Master Lei smiled.

"Honestly, there is only one real star in the lot. Three may be solid with some more work but the other half, well," Manager Doak nudge his companion.

"He's right. Bon Xuiyang has a good feel for the work and is well respected by the others but I wouldn't expect any of the rest to be able to master a craft as well as the fighting disciplines. They just don't have the same drive. I had to hound them to finish up their tasks on time, even though they could see how important the work was for your tenants."

"Alright. Let's see how they do on their exams before we look at renewals." Knight-Master Lei then turned to Scout Jia. "What about the seniors you have brought on?"

"Well, I'm glad we have been able to get through the contracts. One or two of the guys could be worth a bit more of an investment but I don't know how well they might take to working with their juniors. I'm sure they would be fine with Go San Jin, knowing his rank and standing and everything, but they have some of the uglier habits from cadet training."

"You mean the old, its who you know, not what you can do, habit." Manager Doak made a sour face.

"Like we were any different at that age." Knight-Master Lei teased then outline his dilemma. "We need to source the remounts before General Tan changes his mind but most of the boys need to get ready for exams and I still need to get back to the estate to settle everything. Our flyer team also needs to get ready to fit in at a military training camp."

"And we still have a protection detail going to Dageon. I thought it might be a chance for Park Chenhui and Kim Hae-sung to ride with the seniors. They can get in a short visit at home and test the waters for us on the way to the estate." Scout Jia said.

"It would definitely the long way round," Manager Doak chuckled. "Then who am I to talk after riding for three days to find an accountant." He had already filled them in about some of the staffing issues at the estate so they just shook their heads and laughed with him.

"Have we heard anything from Brother Kuin?" Journeyman Yang asked.

"You mean other than the weekly predictions Pange In-Yeon left behind? Not really. I know General Tan is worried about some of the naval deployments leaving the southwest vulnerable. I hope he is not borrowing trouble." Knight-Master Lei glanced around the busy room and decided to shift the discussion to more innocuous topics.

The boys at the forge were having their own kind of reunion, challenging each other with touch-point sparing, first in pairs then in teams of three or four. Bon Xuiyang and Park Junseo acted as referees and score-keepers and watched to make sure everyone kept to the prescribed forms. With their recent injuries, Junseo did not want Song-hee or Hae-sung participating but he gave into the group pressure. Everything went fine until Song-hee was felled but a punch just below his ribs. This ignited Chenhu's temper and he gave the culprit a black-eye before the match could be halted.

"Gee, I didn't know you cared." Song-hee wheezed to the younger boy.

"Just because I'm still mad at you doesn't mean others get to mess with us." Chenhui stuck out his chin and glared around at the others.

"It's okay little tiger, I'm sure he will be fine." Hae-sung smiled broadly but still signaled for Junseo to come check their fallen colleague.

The other group backed away muttering to themselves but then pushed the offender forward to make their apologies. Junseo and Xuiyang also apologized for not realizing how fast things might escalate and the teams settled back into a superficial truce. Trying to squeeze everyone around the table in the evening served to remind them none of their places were actually secure. The tension mounted again the next day with the review of individual contracts.

"I expect you have more offers." Knight-Master Lei opened his meeting with Go San Jin with a direct challenge.

"None suitable, Sir, not if I want to keep studying, and helping my uncle." San Jin bobbed his head.

"Are you willing to do more recruiting with Scout Jia? Including picking up some remounts?"

"Absolutely. I was hoping you might ask but I will probably need to take one of my family's men along. Everyone is still nervous after the tampering at the races."

"I understand. You can take these terms to discuss with your family. If they are on-board, I will see you at the estate in six weeks or so." Knight-Master Lei stood up and offered his hand. San Jin was confused, then flattered, and left the meeting smiling. He flashed a thumbs up to Junseo and Xuiyang who were next in line.

"Are you going to tell me what you got up to at the palace?" Knight-Master Lei frowned at Junseo.

"Sir?" Junseo's eyes went round.

"What did you pick out of the wall? And why?" he crossed his arms over his broad stomach,

"It was the flashes, and the resonance. I haven't had a chance to study them with the demo and the other team, and such." He dug the small silk bag out from under his belt and shook the contents onto his palm. "Weird. There were four pieces. I'm certain of it." He turned the bag upside-down and shook it. Then he poked the three slivers of dark crystal around on his open hand. Their luster grew the longer he held them.

Knight-Master Lei pointed to the small shimmers coming from the ring that had also rolled out of the bag. "It seems to have attached itself, or should I say the phoenix claimed it?"

Junseo picked up the ring to study how the ruby-eyed phoenix now grasped a shimmering stone in its clawed foot. "Damn," he whispered rotating the ring towards the light. The stone offered up no real refractions, only a mild internal glow. "Well, that's just." he paused trying to think a suitable word.

"Disconcerting?" his mentor suggested.

"Inconvenient," Junseo countered.

"That too," Knight-Master Lei sighed. "I still think you are best off with us. The rumor mongers want to pin a clandestine liaison on me so it keeps them distracted. It's just a good thing we are finished with our commission so the Rainbow-maker won't have an excuse to come calling. By the way you will each be getting a bonus from the palace. Did you want it to go to your guild accounts?"

Junseo rolled the ring and the star-stone shards back into their bag. Then he blushed. "I have already paid back the advance and now they are starting to make noises about investments. The guild here keeps sending me the names of likely partners and such. Would it look bad to make me a subsidiary in your palace account for any bonuses and commissions? I'll still ask Manager Doak to hold my walking around money."

His surprise at this request caused Knight-Master Lei to bark with laughter. He waved Junseo's worried look away, saying, "No, that is just too perfect. It will cement the impressions we want to leave. Thank you." He stood up and pulled Junseo into a quick but somewhat awkward hug.