Mika got out the brushes and salves he needed for the transformation, mildly surprised that he already remembered which was which. Whatever Robin had done to him had included knowledge of the different magic tools and how to use them. There had been a price, of course - Mika no longer remembered how to read or write, and his own hard-earned knowledge of spellwork and magic had been reduced to just what he needed to have in the stable. It did not bother him as much as he thought it should. In truth, he was getting to like this new life.
"Mika?" A boy came in to the stable, looking annoyed. It was one of the younger kids he had been playing ball with earlier. He was naked and dirty, as before, but now he was obviously angry. "Go ahead, then. I didn't like workin' for that dumb old baker anyway!"
"Go ahead with what?" Mika frowned, then his eyes widened. "You don't mean...?"
"Yea, yeah." The boy scowled. "I burned another batch of rolls, and my master said I was an incompetent assistant. So he sold me to your master to be a work horse. For a lousy farthing!"
"And you just came in here to be changed?" Mika was amazed. "You want to be a horse?"
The boy shrugged. "It beats being an indentured servant, at least as long as you make me young and healthy. Please, Mika!" He turned pleading eyes on the stableboy. "Do a really good job on me. If I am a valuable horse, I'll get special treatment and good food, and maybe find a good master!"
Mike grinned. "Don't worry! I am going to turn you into a..."