"If there's any way to stop this, I have to try. Please take me to see the Wizard." Brian looked up at the centaur. "And you had better stay as far from the mares as you can."
Dar dropped his arm from the elf's shoulders and headed back towards the tree line. "Come on, then. If you want to stop this before he's too far gone, we'll have to hurry. And hope Llandros is in a good mood."
Mike hurried to catch up. "How far is the village?"
"Just on the other side of these tees." Dar led them on a well-worn path. "You can take the road, but this is a shortcut to the part of Lavenguard where the Wizard lives."
The small forest turned to to be about the width of a football field, and they came out of the trees behind some large cottages. Brian could see parts of a small village of to the left, but followed Dar to the largest of the cottages. The boy knocked on the rough wood door, which was opened a minute later by a gruff-looking man in his late forties. He scowled at Dar, and then looked surprised when he saw Brian. "What? Are you collecting elves now?"
Dar chuckled and stepped back to gather Brian in another hug. "He followed me home. Can I keep him?"
Brian flushed, not knowing how to react. "Uh, sir? A friend of mine is a centaur, and we passed your horses on the way to come find you."
The Wizard snorted. "A centaur? They usually know to stay away from enchanted mares. Since he isn't here, I assume I have a new stallion?"
"Oh, no!" Brian struggled briefly to get free of the boy, but then relaxed into the embrace and said "At least, not yet. He's started to change. Will you please let him go? He didn't mean any harm."
Dar chuckled. "Bess chose him. And you know how finicky she is. If he isn't already past the point of no return now, he will be before we get back."
The Wizard looked at Brian with a slow smile. "So, you were looking or me? I am the Wizard Llandros. What is it you wanted?"
"Help with a quest. My friends and I are new to this.. uh.. place. We were told to search you out. Mike - my centaur friend - took off on his own. I chased after him and found him with the mares."
Llandros raised an eyebrow. "And who told you to seek my help? Most folks around here know better."
That did not sound encouraging. "His name is Tye. I guess he is some kind of wizard here." Brian was confused. Dar's hands were tugging at his tunic, which did not bother him, but somehow seemed inappropriate in front of Llandros. "Um, about my friend? Could you please let him leave the pasture? Before he gets any worse?"
Llandros grinned. "It seems that Dar has taken a liking to you. And I am curious about this Tye. I will get my things together, and meet you at the pasture. You go back with Dar. We'll see what can be done. Perhaps I can find use for both of you." He reached out and took a tunic, belt, coin purse, and knife with a scabbard from Dar.
Brian blinked at the familiar objects. Then he looked down past Dar's arms to see that he was wearing only a loincloth. Those were his!
Llandros smiled. "Do not worry. They will be returned to you if you need them. Now, hurry back before your friend finds another willing mare."
Dar released his hold and took Brian's hand. "Come on, then. It will take Llandros a few minutes to get ready, and maybe fifteen to walk around by the road. he doesn't like the forest path."
Bewildered, Brian let himself be pulled back into the trees. He had to be careful not to get scratched by the branches and brush, though he saw that Dar's skin must be tough enough not to be bothered. The kid must never wear clothing. Actually, Brian envied the boy a little - he seemed completely at home in the woods or the pasture or with the wizard.
The trip back was taking longer and they stopped at a pond that he had not seen before. "Hey! We need to get to the pasture!"
"This will only take a minute." Dar pulled him tot he edge of the pond, which was still and smooth as a mirror. Brian stared at their reflections. With just the loincloth, he looked pretty much like a ten or eleven year-old boy. Thanks to the repeated tousling by Dar, his hair was a tangle that hid the pointed ears that marked him as an elf. Brian frowned. He hadn't seen himself since Tye changed him. Why hadn't anyone mentioned Tye had changed his face? he looked almost as coarse-featured and homely as Dar! Then his eyes widened as the reflection altered even more, so that the boy standing next to Dar was obviously a younger brother. A human younger brother, just as dirty and ugly as Dar. Panicking, he looked down, but saw the clean, smooth skin and slender, but still elven body he had started with. An illusion? He leaned closer and grinned. Oversized scummy teeth appeared in the boy's mouth. Dar looked perfectly normal - why was the reflection only showing him changed?