Page 118 of The Cinders

He rushed to the doorway.

Lim waved to him from across the courtyard, beaming.He sat upon a dark horse, one that wore no saddle, with only a bridle to give the shoemaker control.Lim held a length of fabric bundled under his arm.

‘Look, look who I have!’He whispered, but his excitement raised his voice.

‘Hush, Song Lim.I am coming.’Xian moved into a run, his feet hardly causing the straw to rustle.‘Where did you find this animal?’The horse danced high on its feet at his approach, and Xian slowed to a careful walk.

‘Easy there, Longma.’Lim patted the animal’s neck.‘This is Xian, the man you helped me find.’

The horse nickered, shifting away.

‘Stand still, what’s gotten into you?’Lim scowled.

But Xian suspected he knew.

‘Come now, don’t be afraid.’He raised his hand, and after a few uneasy seconds Longma sniffed at him, velvet nostrils blowing warm air against his skin.‘I imagine you’ve not scented many like me…but I am no threat to you.’

The horse’s ears twitched at his words, nostrils flaring.Xian held still, waiting for the animal to understand.Nostrils flared once more before the tension in its bunched muscles finally released.Longma snorted but settled its feet.

‘What was that about?’

‘Longma does not know many huli jing, I suspect.’

Lim slid off the horse’s back, landing beside Xian and unfurling the clothing he carried; a light brown samfu, the long sleeve jacket and trousers creased from being carried by the shoemaker in such a way.

‘Well he best behave around you,’ Lim said.‘Or he’ll find himself back at the market, liable to be sold off to an unkind master.’

The horse shook its head, rattling the bit against its teeth, and nudged against Lim so firmly the shoemaker stumbled.Xian’s laughter hiccoughed from him as the shoemaker told off the animal.

‘A horse and clothes, you’ve done well, Lim.’Xian took the garments Lim offered him and shook out the trousers; a pair that looked a perfect fit.‘This is wonderful, thank you.’

‘Hardly perfect,’ Lim huffed.‘He couldn’t find a decent pair of shoes for you.Tried to hand me a pair of boots, would you believe?Three sizes too big.I had already left you too long, so I told him to eat his shoes, I couldn’t leave you any longer.’

‘He?’

Lim nodded with an excitement that shone from him.‘Yes!I could hardly believe it when I got my bearings, and saw where it was you’d brought us.Guanyin is shining her light on us, Xian.Quickly, get changed so we might go.And we shall never speak again of me making you wear a damned curtain.I ought to be whipped.Do you need help with that knot?’

Not at all, but Xian nodded.‘Please, if you could loosen it.’

Lim stepped up to him, his eyes fastened on the knot with such determination that it was obvious he was fighting not to look Xian in the eye.‘Almost done…did it up good and tight didn’t I?’

‘You did.’Xian’s nerves tingled with each brush of the shoemaker’s knuckles against his skin.He was hungry for their closeness, now he’d discovered his appetite, but he’d waited many years.He’d have to wait at least a few hours more until they were safely beyond reach of a vengeful mandarin.‘Thank you.I won’t be a moment.’

He slipped behind the wall, just out of sight, and let the curtain fall away.Not so fearful of such nakedness as he’d been.

Xian dressed quickly and returned to Lim, who stood with his back to the gateway; protecting Xian’s privacy.

‘I’m ready,’ Xian said.

Lim gave Xian a leg up onto Longma’s back, watching him settle before he used the wall to find a footing that helped him vault up to join him.He settled in against Xian, grunting, and shifting his hips so many times Xian asked him, ‘Is everything all right?’

‘Yes, yes.Didn’t account for how close we’d be, that’s all.’He coughed roughly.‘I’ll need to reach around you to hold the reins.Tell me if that’s too much, I can just walk alongside—’

‘It is not too much, Lim.And you will not walk, not after what you’ve been through.I can get off if you’d prefer?’

‘No.’Lim’s arms slid past his waist.‘I’d not prefer that at all.I just hope I don’t embarrass myself, that’s all.’

‘Embarrass yourself?How would you do that?’