If he had stopped to think about it, Park Chenhui would have been able to recognize how easy friendship and affection might overlap. Then he might have been ready for the spite and jealous that had followed the recruitment fair. It was not as if he had done it deliberately. It had been Seok-lee's idea to try out for the guards this year.

Now he was left with a letter for his grandparents and a friend who thought he had betrayed him. At least Seok-lee had been invited back for the next round of try-outs so maybe he would forgive Chenhui. But it did not make explaining the situation any easier.

His grandparents were adamant that he should stay well away from the guards. They had bad experiences with the way landlords used the guards as rent collectors. His father called them enforcers for a legal protection racket and tried to run interference when he was around. The mischief his father worked was one of the reasons Chenhui lived with his grandparents. He owed them so much and now he had to explain how he had spent his day.

He went to work washing and slicing potatoes and then peeled some onions. These were tasks he normally tried to avoid so his Grandmother knew there must be something bothering her boy. He was so much like his mother. Serious one minute, flighty the next. She could only wait so long before she had to ask, "So, what is bothering you now?" 

Chenhui sighed for the fourth time before whispering,"Omma, I didn't mean for this to happen."

"That bad, eh? Well maybe you should wait for Papa so you don't have to tell your story twice."

"What story?" his Grandfather called from the back door. Chenhui held out the letter. "No, you read it, I don't have my glasses handy," he gestured for them to sit at the table. Chenhui brought them each a glass of water and laid the paper flat.

"Most Honorable Guardians of Park Chenhui," he started with the address and had to clear his throat. He stumbled through the rest of the letter and the attached draft agreement for an initial training term of six months in the Capital. He could not tell what his grandparents were thinking.

"Scout Jia Ying-so asked that he might come to meet you in person tomorrow to answer any of your questions. I already told him I was needed here on the farm but he said that was something he would like to discuss with you."

"So how is it you came to impress an academy scout enough to make he want to come to our farm?" his Grandfather frowned.

"Well. It was just that when I ran into Seok-lee in town he was so nervous about going to the try-outs. I just went to cheer him along but they were not letting in spectators so the only way I could stay was by signing up for a couple of the events. I guess all the time you and I have been out hunting made a difference because I scored well in archery. Seok-lee bested me in fencing so I didn't think any of the academies would be interested."

"Let me guess, Seok-lee figured out how you threw the match." His grandmother shook her head.

"I didn't, not really. It was just bad luck that I tripped." Chenhui widened his eyes to try to look innocent. "We did just fine in the relay races."

"I bet you did," she said dryly.

"Did your best to help your friend look good." His grandfather added.

"I know you don't approve of the guards but Seok-lee doesn't have many other prospects. Their farm is just too small to be split up anymore." Chenhui knew even though it was a lot of hard work, his family was luckier than most. He was far ahead enough in his studies to be able to take time off from school to help with spring planting.

Many of the students in his classes did even try to finish out the term and would be back in the same level in the fall. He had promised his grandparents that he would do his best to advance. This meant studying into the night during the semester break so he tried to put aside the distractions of the day.

Scout Jia rode slowly up the slope to the Park farm. He tried to time his arrival shortly after lunch. He did not want to interrupt the workday nor impose close to a mealtime. Chenhui's wave assured him. The boy had seemed very panicked by the training offer and kept asking if it should not go to his friend instead. It was Chenhui's loyalty to his friend that had made him stand-out. Clearly the boy had considerable talents, especially considering that he had competed with borrowed equipment all day. The boy's natural respect for his grandparents was just more evidence of his character.

They chatted about the weather and potential for an early start to seeding and where Scout Jia was heading next. He could tell they were too polite to delve into the contract but thought he might be able to put them at ease over the pressing matter of the planting season.

"Knight-Master Lie Wen-Hou is really just starting his training league. He wants to see if he can provide some different options for his team, including the chance to try their hand at making. If his trainees are going to go on to the Royal Engineers they will need to matriculate and have good scores in math and physics. Anyone not finished exams will need to attend classes while they train with us."

"Chenhui has always been better at languages than math," his grandmother admitted.

"Those are also welcome skills," Scout Ying-so smiled.

"Can he finish out the term here?"

"That is what we would prefer. To be honest we are still building the dormitories so if he came down to the Capital before the start of summer he would probably have to bunk in above the forge."

The elderly couple looked at each other and then nodded in unison.

"I have another contract I would like to discuss with you. When Chenhui comes to the capital we would like him to bring a couple of mounts. I was hoping to be able to board the horses here and have a trainer come to work with them and your boy. If you agree we can provide a stipend for Chenhui's extra duties."

"We need to ask him how he feels about all of this," the old man said and then called his grandson over.

As the new terms were explained Chenhui looked from the Scout to his Grandparents and back again. He was half waiting for them to reveal they were joking. He had always wanted to have a riding horse. Their old cart horse had been very patient with him as he learned to ride but could only muster up a slow trot. Now he would be taking some of the training yard's horses to the Capital. He bowed, shook hands with Scout Jia, and bowed again.

He smiled at his good fortune for the rest of the day. Then he remembered his friend Seok-lee and how this might look. Their small circle of friends would undoubtedly take Seok-lee's side and claim Chenhui had ruined the other boy's chances.