Chapter Three: Horse Boy
"Sorry Miss, but this vagrant has violated the law." The imperial officer puffed his chest out and did not let go of the young man.
"This young man saved our lives today," MeiLan argued.
"Sure, and for that, we will spare his life and take him to a work camp so that he may be rehabilitated into a productive citizen." The guard's beefy hand tightened around his shoulder.
She considered the situation for a moment, before folding her hands serenely over her middle. "You cannot take this young man anywhere; you see he is not a vagrant at all. He is my stable boy."
"How can a fine Miss like yourself allow a servant to run around in rags and filth?" The guard asked suspiciously.
She stepped closer to the man, swiping her hair out of her face as she stared up at him defiantly. "Sir, are you calling me a liar?"
For a moment they stared at each other. Finally, the guard stepped back, "I wouldn't dare, Miss." He looked at the other two girls who were clinging to each other, wide-eyed. He addressed the girl in pink, as she seemed to be from a high-ranking family. "Perhaps you can confirm for me that this boy is in the employment of this woman?"
The girl in pink extricated herself from the girl in yellow. "Sir, this is my cousin who has traveled here only a few days ago from Q City, and it's true that she traveled with her own servants. Although I'm not personally acquainted with her staff, this boy must be among them. As you can see, he is familiar with the horse."
The captain looked doubtfully from the filthy young man to the angry young woman in the green dress. He still didn't believe her, but he also didn't want to get in any trouble if the girl made a complaint to his superiors. He released the boy reluctantly. "My apologies for the misunderstanding," He clasped his hands together and bowed. "Since you are new here, you are probably not familiar with our customs. Your servant should wear identification when he is out of the compound."
"Noted," MeiLan returned the bow. The guard turned away, motioning for his men to help move the broken carriage out of the road. Emilian stood trembling. His first instinct was to bolt, but with so many people, and a half dozen guards still nearby, he knew he could not get far.
MeiLan touched his arm. "Come with me, it will be okay."
The boy cousins had circled back and were now clambering out of their carriage to exclaim over the accident. "How shall we get home now?" the girl with the pink dress was whining. "I'm so tired!"
MeiLan surveyed the broken carriage and the horse which had been freed from the wreckage. "Let you and Anna ride with the twins in the other carriage," she said. "I shall ride my own horse. Cousin Lu and the other driver can find their own way home." Lu, the young man, looked like he was about to protest, but then realized he would be ashamed if he put his own comfort ahead of the women and children.
"But how will you ride?" Anna said, her brow wrinkled with concern.
"It's no hardship for me. We shall just remove the harness, and my horse boy will escort me. Won't you?" She looked at Emilian, her eyes giving him a silent message to agree. He quickly nodded his head.
"Fine, it's all arranged then, thank you, lieutenant, for coming to our rescue. I'm sure my uncle will arrange for the broken carriage as soon as we inform him of the accident." She moved to the horse and began to loosen the traces with experienced hands. The boy helped her lift away the heavy leather harness, leaving the horse in only the driving bridle. He hefted the harness over to the back of the smaller carriage, as MeiLan directed, while she retrieved a robe from the broken carriage for him to throw over the sweaty back of the horse.
MeiLan checked to see that the guards, who were getting back in their ranks, were out of earshot. Then she looked at her dirty savior with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, but you will need to assist me. I am not agile enough to mount by myself."
Emilian looked doubtfully at the horse. "How can I assist you?"
"Make me a stirrup with your hands, and give me a boost," she said. He did as she suggested, standing at the horse's shoulder, he laced his fingers together and held out his hands at the level of her knee. The woman approached the side of the horse and snarled her fingers through the thick black mane. She stepped one slipper-clad foot into Emilian's hands, and as she strained to straighten her leg, he lifted her weight upwards, until she was able to swing a leg over the horse's broad back. She first arranged her skirts, and then smiled down at Emilian and nodded in approval. "You are very strong. Take my stick and walk beside me," she said as she gathered the long reins and urged the horse forward. Behind them, there was the titter of laughter and gossip.
When they were far from the crowds, making their way slowly through the residential district, only the sloping rooftops leaning in to listen in to what she might say, she spoke again. "I don't suppose you will tell me your name now?"
"Emilian," he said in a half-whisper. He didn't think she would hear him, but she did.
"Emilian, you saved our lives today. I owe you a great debt."
"You owe me nothing," he mumbled, keeping his head down. "You were kind to me, I only returned that kindness."
"A peach for a life does not seem like a fair trade," she said thoughtfully.
"You have also saved me from the guard," Emilian pointed out.
"Ah, but you would not have needed saving if you had not exposed yourself to stop my horse." She pulled on the reins, causing the black horse to come to a standstill. "We are far from the center now. You are free to go. I have a few coins I can give you as a reward for your good deed. Or," she paused meaningfully, "We can make my little lie become a truth, and you can come back with me as a servant. I know that my man Lee is getting old, and he would like to have a youth to help him with the chores."
"You… would take me as a servant?"
"Why not?"
Emilian weighed his options. Take a few coins and go back to the hovel where he stayed, and spend his days in hunger once more, or go back to a fine house with Miss MeiLan, where he was certain to have regular meals. Furthermore, he would be near to the Miss all the time, and that idea pleased him greatly. He bowed deeply. "I would be honored to serve you," he said.
"Good," she said with a small smile and urged the horse forward again.
Two miles outside of the city center they came to the Yongli family mansion, nestled in the midst of the most affluent homes of the city, all of them built in the soft yellow stone of the surrounding mountains. Each family mansion was walled in, dissecting the neighborhood into honeycombed sections, all within the protection of the great, fortified wall which protected the imperial city..
Ahead of them the mansion's red gate loomed, with the tops of trees just visible over the walls. Emilian swallowed down the feeling of intimidation as the wide gates swung open to admit them. An older servant with graying hair and slightly stooped shoulders hurried to meet her. "Miss! Miss what has happened?"
"There was an accident in the city center," she said calmly. She slid from the horse but took a long moment to find her balance. Emilian hurried to give her the walking stick and hovered nearby in case she was about to fall over. He wanted to steady her, but he was unsure if he was allowed to touch her. MeiLan continued, "I'm afraid the carriage is probably beyond repair, but thankfully, this young man came to our rescue," she placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "This is Emilian, and he saved me today, along with Cousin Minnie and Anna."
The older man immediately turned and bowed to him. "Sir, we are grateful to you!"
"Please, you cannot bow to me!" Emilian said, pulling the older man up by his elbows. Mr. Lee smiled approvingly at the younger man's manners.
"As he seems to get on well with horses, I have taken him as my servant. Sadly, he was thrown in the mud during the incident. Please see that he is given a bath and new clothes. I will explain to aunt and uncle."
"Yes, Miss!"
She turned to Emilian and gave him an encouraging smile. "This is Mr. Lee; he is a good man. He will take care of you." She walked away, her steps slow and measured as she leaned heavily on her staff.
"Fate has smiled on us today," Mr. Lee said, taking the reins of the horse and leading it back toward the stable. Emilian was not sure if the old man was referring to MeiLan's life being spared, or to Emilian gaining a place as a servant in her house.
He did indeed know about the care of horses, and he helped slip off the bridle, exchanging it for a halter, and then he took a wet rag to wash the sweat from the horse's coat. The work felt familiar, though he couldn't recall how he knew it.
"You will not find a better master than Miss MeiLan," Lee said with quiet conviction. "She is kind and patient and always fair." Emilian could only nod, he had already witnessed her kindness. When the horse was put away in its stall, Lee led him to the bath house. Boiled water had already been poured into a big tub. "Go ahead, make yourself clean and presentable." When Emilian hesitated, Lee prodded him forward. "Go on, you do not want to shame Miss MeiLan."
The idea of bringing the good woman shame had him hurrying to strip out of his mud encrusted clothes. The water was warm and soothing, and the soap he was given smelled sweetly of peppermint. Emilian had forgotten what it felt like to be clean. He scrubbed his skin raw and then pulled a bone comb through his hair until it was smooth and straight. Mr. Lee loaned him a bit of leather to pull the hair away from his crown and secure it behind his head. He also brought a new set of clothes, a forest green gi and charcoal gray pants, the colors of Miss MeiLan's household servants. The outfit was unfamiliar in the way it draped but the softness of the cotton felt like coming home somehow.
"Come," Mr. Lee gestured to him, "the miss is waiting for us in the garden."
Night was already falling, but the garden had been illuminated with lanterns, and candles in narrow pearlesque bowls were set in the middle of the stone table. Miss MeiLan was there, although Emilian had to look twice to confirm that it was indeed Miss MeiLan. She had changed into men's clothing, with pants and snug-fitting sleeves. Although she still favored green, the suit was a dark hunter green with black and silver trim. Her long hair had been pulled up into a top knot and secured with a silver hairpin. If it were not for the fact that she still had her walking stick in hand, Emilian might have suspected it was a brother, not MeiLan herself at the table, and for a moment he thought there might be an interview yet to pass. But when she smiled at him, he was reassured that it was indeed his Miss.
"Now, look at you!" she said happily and without any pretense. "You are quite handsome now that you are all cleaned up! Sit, let us have dinner!"
Emilian flushed at the compliment. Am I handsome? He looked uncertainly between Mr. Lee and Miss MeiLan. "Is it allowed? A Miss to eat with the servants?"
"I am sure you mean the servants to eat with our Miss. You will find that our Miss is different!" Mr. Lee said with a broad smile. "She does what she likes." The older servant took his seat in a confident and comfortable way, seeming to indicate that dining together with his mistress was commonplace. Emilian sat on the stone seat, his eyes running longingly over the dishes of food that were set up on the table. The peach and the muffin had long since left him, and he was hungry again. But he felt shy and uncomfortable.
Another woman came and sat at the table. She seemed to be a bit older than Miss MeiLan, and was dressed as a maid. She was unusually tall for a woman and seemed a bit awkward. "Hello there," the servant introduced herself. "I am Anak."
MeiLan smiled fondly at the maid. "Anak has been with me since we were children. She is like a sister to me." Anak served the dishes, a delicious assortment of vegetables, fried meat, rice and dumplings. And of course, more peach pastries for dessert. Emilian's eyes grew wide as a generous helping of rice was placed in a bowl and handed to each of them, MeiLan first, of course. They could each then pick from the assortment of other dishes and add them to their rice as they wished. He had the ridiculous urge to pick up the food and run with it, before someone came to take it away from him. However, he had to remind himself that he was safe now.
He picked up the chopsticks and hesitated.
"Please, eat," Miss MeiLan urged him with a smile. "Do not worry about formality when we are just here together at home." She picked up a dumpling from her own plate, "Try these! The Yongli cook is really good." She popped the morsel in her mouth and chewed with appreciation. Emilian's hunger overcame his resistance, and he began to eat too quickly. He didn't mean to be impolite, but the food was so delicious, and his stomach had been deprived for a very long time.
"Since you are going to be staying with us, Emilian, you must tell us something about where you come from."
The last bite lodged in his throat, and he struggled to swallow it down. He reached for the goblet of water to force it down the pipe and squirmed nervously on his seat. "I'm sorry to tell you, Miss, I don't know where I come from. Some years ago, I was found on the Sea Lion docks, I had been badly beaten and my head was injured. A kind stranger took me to a doctor, and he treated my wounds, but I can remember nothing before that day." He stared sadly into his bowl. "I do not know where I come from. I do not know if I have a family. If I was rich or poor, if I was a good man or thief. I do not even know my own name. Emilian was a name given to me by the doctor who treated me." He sighed and fiddled with his chopsticks. "I understand if you want to rescind your offer, madam."
"Why would I want to?" she said lightly. "The past is in the past; though I am sorry that you have no memory of it, what matters is what you are now. And today you have shown me that you are a brave, honorable man, even if you have fallen on difficulties in your past." She eyed him thoughtfully. "What a great mystery, though!"
"You are very kind, Miss. I have been denied employment everywhere because I have no family to recommend me." He bowed to her again.
"No need for that, Emilian. Do you believe in fate? I think it was destiny that we both took a rest at the same gate today." She set her bowl aside and struggled to her feet. "Please forgive me, my friends. I'm very tired. I think I will retire early tonight. Please stay, eat, and enjoy the food."
Anak stood too and swiped a pastry to tuck into her robe. She steadied Miss MeiLan and then walked beside her back to her house. Emilian watched her go with a strange feeling in his throat. When she was out of sight, he turned back to the old man.
"If I may ask, what is wrong with Miss MeiLan?"
"Emilian, there is something you should know immediately, and that is that Miss MeiLan does not tolerate anyone gossiping about her condition. She hates it more than anything else. But since you are new, I will indulge your curiosity. After tonight, we will not speak of it again, understood?"
Emilian nodded quickly.
"Miss MeiLan was born a bright, healthy, energetic child. However, when she was young some tragedy befell the family, her mother died, and the family guardian was stolen. Since that day she became sickly, and many times we thought she would not survive. But Miss MeiLan has such a fighting spirit, that is why she is here with us today."
"What is the sickness? Couldn't a doctor cure her?"
"Oh, she has seen so many doctors, the Master even arranged for her to be seen by the emperor's own physician. She has been carried to many monasteries to be treated by the monks." Mr. Lee sighed, "Nothing works. She is incurable." He pointed a gnarled finger at Emilian, "But take heed, young sir, she hates any show of pity, and she doesn't like to be treated like a weakling. She seems so calm and gentle, but I assure you, you will see her temper if you dare."
"I wouldn't dare!" Emilian said quickly. He did not want to do anything to offend Miss MeiLan. In fact, knowing that she struggled with a chronic illness but did not complain or seek pity made him respect her that much more. It was indeed fortuitous that he had met her at the festival, for he was just the man to take care of her.
"You are a good boy," Mr. Lee gave him a toothy smile. "Come, I'll show you where we sleep. It's a humble accommodation, but I think you'll find it nicer than living on the streets."
Emilian followed the older man to the stables. They climbed a ladder to the loft over the tack room, where modest quarters had been set up. Someone had brought an extra bed frame with thin padding, a pillow, and a clean blanket. The place smelled like dust, hay, and horses, but for Emilian, it felt like a palace. He stretched out on the bunk and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving. He didn't know to whom he was praying, but he just knew that his heart was overflowing with gratitude. He fell asleep and slept better than he had any day since he had left the doctor. He was clean, dry, and warm, with a roof over his head.
And he was with his Miss.