Almost anyone caught by the magic of the mud puddle would have been trapped, but Brian had one advantage no one knew about - he was not from this world. Even so, it took almost an hour before Brian's mind shook off the enchantment that had reduced him to a 3 year-old. Confusion made him stare at the mud he had been patting into some odd shape. Why was he playing in the mud? Then he looked down and realized he was naked and playing in the mud. Gears turned, memories resurfaced, and Brian scrambled up in horror. He had been changed into some strange little kid! The older boy had done it, made him into a 'baby brother!'
Some of the other little kids were watching him curiously, but so far none of the older boys had noticed. Luckily, there was a ramshackle hut close by, and he was able to run behind it without being seen. Out of sight, he wiped as much mud off as he could and tried to figure out what to do. Oh, why had he agreed to play n the mud? The others were still in the village, but even if they came looking or him, Brian did not think he was recognizable. It sounds like the older boy had somehow changed his appearance and age pretty drastically.
Worse, he might not have much time before his 'big brother' came looking for him. The kid was planning to take him tot he Wizard, some sort of trade that might get the big kid released from enforced childhood. But at what price to Brian? He doubted the village had any use for another 3 year-old. More likely, he'd either end up an animal or some dim-witted adult slave. He wiped angrily at tears that began to run from his eyes, and then yanked the thumb he'd been sucking from his mouth. No! He was not a toddler! Well, not really. He had to find the others. Tye should be able to help, if he was willing. It seemed more like their so-called firend was having a lot of fun seeing them get tricked by magic here.
Tricked? Well, in Mike's case is was more like being seduced. After being turned into a centaur by Tye, the former teenager had done almost everything he could to end up a draft horse. He was in the village stable right now, probably finding a way to get himself groomed into a true beast of burden. Not that Brian was faring much better. He felt a little guilty - turning into an elf had been amazing, but there was something about the youth magic that fascinated him. He wasn't much better than Mike, except that Mike would stay what he wanted, while Brian was more likely to end up a beast or laborer, or worse, bacon on some villager's table!
But what should he do now? The only other member of the party he knew the location of was Mike. The others would come looking for him before long, but if he went back and pretended his new 'brother' might take him tot he Wizard. Assuming he didn't get caught up in the magic and forget again. He frowned and plucked his thumb from his mouth again, then sighed and stuck it back in. It was comforting.
Any long travel was out of the question. He didn't have a lot of choices. Finally, he decided the best course of action was...