Page 56 of The Cinders
The gelding turned its head and nuzzled the farmer’s long braid; causing it to sway.Leaving behind the darkened pattern of dripping water in the dirt at his feet.‘Best we do not keep his highness waiting.’Ren took his hand from the saddlebag.‘Let me look after Longma for you, and you get along.I expect Prince Xian will be very pleased to see you and your shoe.’
Lim stepped back.‘How could you know of the shoe?’
Ren shrugged, smiling at Longma, who now nuzzled at his chest.‘I felt it beneath the leather.’
Hardly a convincing reply; the leather was stiff, and the shoe wrapped well.Lim frowned.‘Even if you had, its hardly odd for a shoemaker to have a shoe in his saddle bag.Why do you assume it is what I brought for the prince.’
Ren grimaced.‘If I tell you that the slipper told me, would you think me mad…or would you look at me like you do now…like someone who knows it is not so hard to believe because they already understand the enchantment they carry?’
‘I don’t understand it at all,’ Lim blustered.‘Who are you…’
‘A friend, who wishes no harm.You know that, do you not?That you are safe.Look at your fine horse,’ he laughed, and Lim fumed at how likeable the sound was.‘He does not seem to mind me.’
‘I’ll not judge things on the whim of a thick-headed animal with no balls.’
Ren burst out laughing, and even the suddenness of the sound did not cause Longma to startle; the stupid animal looked near to love-struck by the man.
Lim stepped in, taking hold of the reins.‘I think it best we move on.’
He gathered the leather, but Longma stretched his neck, mouth open and the bit loose between his teeth.
‘Come on, stupid damned horse.’
‘Master Lim, there is no need for that.I’d like to help you reach the prince.’
Lim scowled at him.The farmer gave him a sense of being seen through; clear as a mountain lake, with his secrets the obvious stones settled on the bed.
To make matters worse, Lim’s stomach betrayed him with a shockingly loud growl.
‘Here, please have these.You’ll get nowhere half starved.’
In what seemed the blink of an eye, Ren removed two seeds from the pod he held, holding out their gleaming green goodness towards Lim.
Despite himself, he hesitated.He was fond of the snack; convenient in the workshop when he was too obsessed with a creation to stop for dinner.
‘Just one,’ he muttered.
Lim dug his thumbnail in, peeling off the thick green skin with practised ease.Hunger overwhelmed him, and he didn’t bother to remove the bitter stem, popping the intact seed into his mouth and chewing down.He braced for the nose-wrinkling sensation to arrive, only to relax a moment later into a groan he could not contain.‘By the Seven Maidens, these are superb.’He took the other still offered on Ren’s open palm and crunched down into a startling pleasantness; sweet but not too much so, and an almond-like creaminess to the texture.‘These are like no other I’ve tasted.’
Ren shrugged but was clearly happy with Lim’s reaction.‘I tend to the waters with great care, and I swim among my lotus every day.But my greatest secret is that I have a very special song I sing to them, to encourage them along.’
Lim darted him a glance, expecting he was being goaded again.But Ren appeared very serious about his revelation.‘A song?’
‘Yes.I’m a farmer, not of the land but of the ponds and river and seas.’His smile was like the sun peeking from behind clouds.He pulled a seed from the pod, and peeled it between the fingers of one hand so quickly Lim blinked and it was done.Ren offered it to Longma, and the gelding parted velvet lips, taking the offering delicately from between Ren’s fingers.Lim swore he saw the horse’s eyes roll right before its sides heaved in a contented sigh.
‘These are very fine, Master Ren.’Lim took another when it was offered.‘Whatever your song might be, it worked magick upon the lotus.’
Ren’s smile played at his thin lips.‘Not all magick need be feared, wouldn’t you say?’
Lim worked at the piece of lotus caught in his teeth, cautious now.‘I suppose not, no.But it seems to me the mere mention of it only brings harm to those who do not deserve it.’
Ren inclined his head, acknowledging the truth of such things.‘Indeed.I should carry on with my work now, Master Song, there is red algae ready for harvest, and still much to be gathered to send to town for this evening’s feasting.’
Lim nodded, choosing not to ask how red algae, grown in saltwater, was doing so well this far from the sea.This Master Ren was a strange fellow, no doubt.
‘But I do have an idea for you.How you might get into the residence without drawing unwanted attention.’
‘Go on.’Lim’s nerves jangled with excitement or trepidation; he couldn’t tell.He still had not recovered from Ren knowing of the slipper and hinting at its extraordinary nature.But with his belly gurgling contentedly, he found it hard to worry too much.‘What do you suggest?’