Page 14 of Red

I glanced down at my marvelously flat chest. Couldn’t help smiling, because that never got old. “Well, no. Truth be told, I expected she’d magic me into a different body or something like that. Instead, she took me to a doctor in Ferry Vale. Scared the living hell out of me, I don’t mind telling you.” I relaxed into the couch completely now—amazing myself at how the more I talked, the easier it got. “But she took care of me after for two months, wouldn’t let me leave until she was sure I was all right.”

“Not the kindness I’d expect from a witch in a magical forest,” he said with a little twist of his lips.

She’d given me more than that, too, but I hadn’t completely lost my social graces; no one needed to hear about what was in my trousers. Instead, I said, “Well, I’m sure she ate kiddies in her spare time and all. But I suppose we needed each other.”

Red stared at me, eyes wide. Too wide.

I realized what I’d said. “Sorry, sorry. I mean, she might, for all I know. But I never saw her eat anything but veg, if it sets your mind at ease. Not even one of her goats when it died.”

That seemed to satisfy him. “Do you miss her?”

I considered this for a moment. Then decided, “Sometimes. She comes by for the ginseng and other forage, and now and then I see her at a distance and we wave hello. I don’t really miss her, exactly. I think I’ve forgotten what it was to talk to someone who wasn’t a sheep, is all.”

He laughed quietly, and it lit up the room.

Encouraged, I added, “I like being alone. Always have, always will. People make me tired. She offered me a dream when I’d been living in a nightmare. She gave me magic when I had nothing. I’m where I want to be.”

“And very few in the world out there can say as much.” He smiled again, this time sadly.

I wanted to ask him if he could say as much. But the look on his face told me no, and I didn’t want to make him any sadder.

“I’m sorry for making you feel like you had to tell me all that. If I’d known it involved your transition, I wouldn’t have pressed,” he said.

“Oh. I don’t mind that.” I considered. “You know others? Who’ve, uh…?”

“Transitioned? Yeah. It’s more talked about now than it would’ve been then.” He frowned. “Not always in a good way, though.”

“Some things never change.” I snorted. Then, in spite of myself, I said, “You don’t mind?”

“Fuck anyone who minds,” he said, fire in his eyes all of a sudden.

“Yeah.” I smiled. “So, what do you think?”

Red said, “I think you’re wonderful.”

That brought me up short. My mouth fell open. My cheeks heated.

As if he only just realized what he’d said, so did his, turning them the prettiest dark pinkish-brown shade.

“I… uh…” I was trying to say thank you, but nothing was coming out.

“Sorry. Sorry, that—what were you asking?” He stood and went to the mantel to collect the bowls. “What do I think about—about what?”

I had to cast around in my brain for the answer. “Er, if I’m delusional or not?”

“Oh! Right. Well.” He turned and looked me in the eye again, his face in shadow. “I think you’re an honest man.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “That doesn’t answer the question, does it?”

“It does not.” And he turned on his bare heel, stalked into the kitchen, and started the washing up.

Chapter 5: The Forest

“You’re sure Wulfric won’t be around?” Red asked, his face scrunching up with worry. “Because if he is, and if we really are near Ferry Vale and Amma’s dig site—”

“Amma?” I asked.

“Oh. Uh, right. Ammamma, actually, but when I was little, I couldn’t say the whole thing. Amma just means mother, even though she’s my grandmother. She raised me.” He adjusted the red scarf around his neck, shoving it down the front of his freshly dried coat.