Page 6 of The Cinders

‘Youbèndàn!’The man shouted, his queue swinging behind him as he turned on Xian, broad face alive with unhappiness.‘What fool comes running into a kitchen like that?’

He flicked his hand, trying to rid it of an errant piece of noodle.The tiny morsel flew at Xian, landing on one of the strings hanging over his face.

CHAPTER THREE

THE MANstepped towards Xian, glaring.

Xian, certain he was to be struck, let out a fragile cry, cowering, his hands raised to protect himself.

‘Stand back!’Daiyu leapt in between them.‘What do you think you are doing?’

‘What do youboth think I’m doing?I will not strike him.’The man’s voice raised with incredulity.‘Lower your hands, man, and stand up straight.It’s not enough you ruined my lunch, now you’re acting as though I’m some kind ofyerencome down from my mountain to feast on fools who knock food from my hand.’

This forward man was certainly not that wild man of lore — neither hairy nor showing a vicious set of razor-sharp teeth — but he had clearly been angry.Xian slowly lowered his hands, his pulse still frantic, his shock mingling with shame at being so quick to cower.But he’d learned a quick temper so often accompanied a swinging hand.

‘Master Song, enough,’ Heng said.‘Keep that mouth closed.Do I not tell you that often enough?’

‘Who is this man, Heng?’Daiyu demanded, still standing between Xian and the irate fellow.

‘He is—‘ Heng began.

‘I can speak for myself.’The man sucked his sauce-stained fingers.He wore his mandated queue haircut daringly forward; allowing his hairline to remain high on his crown, nearer to his forehead, rather than shaved back as the Imperial Palace preferred.‘I am Song Lim, and I am a shoemaker of the greatest renown.’

‘You are intolerably out of line, that is what you are,’ said Daiyu.‘How dare you speak that way to His Highness.’

‘His highness?’Master Song scowled, peering around Daiyu, for he was not a tall enough man to see over her.‘Why would a royal be running about knocking food from people’s hands?’

Heng and Daiyu gasped in unison, whilst Xian’s chest tightened.He was normally ready for any mockery sent his way, but today his nerves were sharpened to a point, his anxiety making him light-headed.

‘Master Song!’Heng stepped forward, reaching for the bowl he still held.‘This will be the last bowl of my zhajianmian you’ll ever eat, if you don’t humble yourself at once.’

The threat of losing the fried sauce noodles brought a look of horror to Song Lim’s face, and he tugged the bowl close to his chest.

‘That is cruelty of the highest order, Gao Heng.’His brown eyes widened.The man was older than Xian and Daiyu but not so old as Heng, who looked to be in her fourth decade.‘And tells me you no longer wish me to make those boots we spoke of.’

Heng let go of the bowl.‘Well, let’s be reasonable here.I simply suggested you show some respect.’

Master Song huffed, but his lips tilted in a smile.‘I suppose a deal can be made.’

Stepping to one side to avoid Daiyu’s continuing glare, Song Lim made a vague attempt at a bow, as protocol dictated, before he stepped over a piece of pork belly, and advanced on Xian once again.

Xian held his ground, though his palms grew damp with each step closer the man came.Song Lim squinted, staring hard at Xian’s face.Such intense scrutiny was hardly new, but that did not make it any easier to bear.

‘No closer,’ he whispered.

The shoemaker stopped abruptly, confusion filling his face briefly, before it slipped away, replaced with something Xian could not properly decipher.

‘No closer,’ he said, assuredly.‘Though I promise you, you are safe with me.’

‘I should bloody well hope so.’Daiyu said, chin tilted proudly.‘I’ve a way with a knife you’d not suspect.’

Song Lim’s grin dimpled his cheeks.‘Oh I don’t doubt it.Spirited one, aren’t you?’Before she could answer, he nodded towards Xian.‘Won’t do to go around like that.’

For one horrible moment, Xian thought his veil had come loose, revealing his scars.He raised a trembling hand and found the veil was precisely where it ought to be.

‘No, not on the material, just the pearls, just there,’ Song Lim said gruffly.‘Here, let me tend to it.’He raised his hand, though slower this time.‘Can I do that, your highness?’

Xian did not flinch this time, nor did he wish anyone here to recall how quickly he’d become a trembling mess before.