What They See

“Master Kit, you really don’t have to–”

“Nonsense, it’s only right. Now watch out. Kira and I will have the sign up in a second and then I’ll see what I can do about paint.”

“Bless you, Sir.”

Risse did not see it. Truly, he did not understand how an entire village worth of people could mistake Kit for a man. Foremost, she had curves that belonged to no man. Even with her breasts bound beneath the oversized tunic, there was a distinct shape to her body that was undeniably female. Furthermore, her face was anything but masculine. Sharp, high cheeks and a mouth that was… The resemblence was not there!

He stood in an alley across the street, leaning one shoulder against the corner of a house while watching the cross-dressing woman and her twin wrestle with a new wooden sign for a bakery. There had been a fire the previous week, blackening the front of the store and ruining the original sign the baker had handcrafted himself.  Now, Kit was taking it upon herself to both repaint the shop and erect the new sign. Kira stood by, helping as he was asked and looking for all the world like it was perfectly normal that the baker thought his sister a man.

He really did not see it. Against her twin, Risse believed that she looked even more feminine. Kira had a broader frame than his sister, his features stronger with a blunt characteristic that had originated with the twins’ father. Although his eyes and hair were the same, there was a distinct difference between brother and sister that appeared glaringly obvious to the grey eyes that watched them.

Kit turned, hazel eyes landing on him from across the road. She smiled, a bright, devious gesture, and motioned to him. He was powerless to resist the summons. Sighing, Risse relinquished his quest for understanding and pushed away from the building, Kit’s smile only growing into a knowing grin.

As he walked to meet her, the prince decided that he would never realize just what it was that fooled the villagers so; her smile alone was all the evidence he needed.

~ by eeratka on February 3, 2007.