Chapter Eleven: Fa's Emporium

Anak tugged at MeiLan's sleeve as they left the restaurant, pulling her aside. "Miss," she whispered, casting a sidelong glance at Master Long. "I don't think this man is entirely sane. We should leave him alone."

MeiLan patted her hand. "We should be kind to those who are less fortunate," she replied softly, "it's not his fault that he is the way he is. Let's buy the man a nice cloak so that he will be warm and comfortable." 

The four of them left the restaurant and turned down the avenue. Instead of walking behind respectfully, Master Long walked alongside MeiLan, a fact that made Emilian grind his teeth in frustration. A crazy beggar should not walk beside his mistress. He kept his hands curled into fists and his eyes watchful as they re-entered the market. He was prepared to take immediate action if Long made any inappropriate move toward his mistress. As it was, the silver-haired man seemed to grow impatient with her slow, limping pace, and often walked ahead several paces before stopping and waiting for MeiLan to catch up again. Even MeiLan's usual calm and unflappable temperament seemed a little flustered by Long's behavior.

"I know just the place for a fine cloak," Long said, his face happy and animated like a child. "Come, it's this way!" He pointed down an alleyway that was lined with dress shops and silk merchants. As they passed by, other shoppers looked at them curiously, as though they were fascinated by both Long's strange appearance, and MeiLan with her carved walking stick. "Here it is!" He stopped in front of a store with a painted sign out front that read 'Fa's Emporium'.

Neither Anak nor Emilian wanted to leave MeiLan alone with the strange man, so they all crowded into the small shop together. There was a counter in front, and to either side there were racks and shelves of pre-made men's clothing and cloaks. Behind the counter there were bolts of fabric and threads for embroidery, and a display of belts and sashes. An old man seemed to materialize behind the counter, which had been empty just a moment before. He was small and slightly hunched, with a long white mustache that drooped on either side of his mouth. He wore a cap on his head that doubled as a pin cushion, with every manner of pin and needle, some still containing strings of colored thread protruding from it. 

"Ah, Master Long," the old man's face creased into a grin. "I haven't seen you in many years, my friend." Fa bowed respectfully to Long and then to the others. "Welcome to my shop. How can I serve you?"

MeiLan was a little surprised that the shopkeeper seemed to know Long. She reconsidered the man in his rags. Perhaps he had once been a wealthy man who had fallen on hard times or bad luck. Perhaps he had lost his wealth when his mind became weak. That would explain why he tended to act like a lord, even though he was just a beggar on the street. She schooled her expression into a soft smile. "Master Long requires a new cloak," she said, "something warm and elegant." 

"Yes! Yes! But first, please bring a stool for my student, as you can see she's lame," Long said with a magnanimous air. His order made MeiLan's cheeks flush, but she did not refuse the stool when the old man brought it out from behind the counter. She rested, holding the walking stick in both hands, as Long and Fa began going through the robes that were displayed beside the counter. Emilian and Anak hovered behind her.

"This blue one is very nice," Fa said, holding up a thick robe in a deep, royal blue.

Long held it up by the shoulders, turning it this way and that in the light from the open door. "The color is nice," he hummed, "but it's very plain." He dumped the robe into Emilian's unsuspecting arms. "Perhaps something with some embroidery."

Anak frowned and looked down at MeiLan to see if she would object. A cloak with embroidery would be very expensive. But MeiLan did not seem phased, and merely turned the walking stick back and forth in her hands. Emilian traced his finger along the blue robe in his hand. The fabric was soft, and finer than anything he had ever owned, at least in the time that he could remember. There was something about the rich blue color that tickled his brain, like it was trying to elicit a buried memory. MeiLan glanced back at him and watched him for a moment as he absently stroked the cloak in his hands.

Master Long frowned, as he noticed that MeiLan's attention had strayed from him to her servant. "I don't like this one," he said a little harshly, pushing a yellow robe back at Fa. "Something different, something…" he eyed MeiLan's dress. "Something in green."

"Ah, I have just the thing, wait a moment. I just finished and I haven't even brought it out yet!" Fa went behind the counter, to a door that was almost hidden behind bolts of cloth. He came back with a robe in a deep, forest green, with a peacock feather design embroidered over the outer lapel.

"Oh my," MeiLan said when she saw it, her eyes lighting up, "that is very beautiful indeed. What do you think, Master Long?"

Long smiled, more over her approval than the robe itself. He peeled off his raggedy garment and slid his arms into the sleeves of the green robe. He crossed it over his chest and posed for MeiLan and the servants. "How do I look? Am I handsome?"

Anak's cheeks tinged pink, and she looked away, and Emilian huffed and rolled his eyes. Long was insufferable! MeiLan however merely smiled. "It suits you very well." She eased herself off from the stool and reached for her money pouch. "I will take the blue cloak as well."

Emilian looked down in surprise at the robe that he was still clutching in his hands. When he looked at her with a guilty, frightened expression, she stretched out her hand and placed it lightly on his arm. "You also need a good cloak for winter," she said quietly, "and the blue color will look very nice on you." Emilian felt warmth spread up his arm from her touch and clutched the robe close to his chest. He couldn't seem to stutter out a thank you, but her look told him she understood. She passed the silver coins to the shopkeeper Fa. Normally he would have wrapped their purchases, but Master Long refused to remove his new garment, and Emilian was equally reluctant to let the soft blue robe out of his arms, so they simply carried them away from the store.

As they walked back in the general direction of the carriage, they had to pass through a sizable crowd that had gathered to listen to a storyteller who was performing an epic poem in the center of the street. They were slightly jostled as they tried to pass, and Emilian's hand immediately went to MeiLan's back, and he moved closer to protect her from the surge of bodies. After a moment of confusion, they emerged from the crowd, but Master Long had disappeared. 

MeiLan stopped and scanned the crowd. It should have been easy to spot Master Long, as he stood several inches taller than Emilian and he had that head of shocking silver-white hair, but there was no sign of him anywhere in the street. MeiLan shrugged, "I suppose he got his coat, and he is now satisfied," she said, as she continued toward the area where they had left Mr. Lee and the carriage. She was moving even slower now, as the fatigue of walking seemed to have caught up with her. 

Emilian again swallowed the urge to pick her up and carry her. If they had been alone, he could have even carried her on his back. Anak too, was looking worried, as she supported MeiLan's elbow with one hand, while carrying some of their purchases in the other. It took them another twenty minutes before they reached the carriage. 

Lee was standing by the horse looking slightly perplexed. His face showed relief when he spotted them approaching. He bowed slightly and took the packages from Anak so that they could be stowed behind the carriage. "Miss, there's a man-"

Before he could say any more, Master Long poked his white head out from behind the curtain of the carriage. "Finally! I thought you would never arrive! What took you so long!"

Lee's face flushed with embarrassment. "Yes, that. He insisted on entering the carriage, even when I threatened to go to the Guard. I only hesitated because he knew you by name. He claims that he is your teacher." Mr. Lee lowered his voice. "Are you really intent to bring him back to the manor?"

MeiLan looked bemused as she attempted to climb onto the carriage. "It seems so," she said, struggling. Before Emilian or Lee could come to her assistance, Long was there, grasping her wrist and pulling her up easily, as though she weighed absolutely nothing. He steadied her on the step before he handed her into the carriage.

Anak followed quickly and seated herself so that Master Long could not sit close to her mistress. Although Anak found Master Long rather enchanting, she was worried that MeiLan was allowing him to stay in the carriage. "Miss, are you sure?" she hissed in a whisper.

MeiLan sighed and seemed suddenly very exhausted. She leaned her head back against the side of the carriage and closed her eyes. "It may be that he has no home. Let him sleep in the stables with Emilian and Master Lee, and we'll find something useful for him to do. I'll talk with Aunt and Uncle. It will be okay."

Outside, Long grinned and slapped the side of the carriage. "Let's go, boys," he called out to Emilian and Lee, "take us home!" And then he ducked inside to sit with the ladies.