The brothers listened as Eyrick explained the "loophole" that might free Jared from the medallion's curse.
"What do you think?" Eyrick asked at the conclusion of his explanation. "Do you want to give it a go?"
Jared barked once.
"Good," Eyrick said. "But I just need to make sure you're clear on a few things."
"Like what?" Kevin questioned helpfully.
"Well, as I explained, every full moon Jared's going to change back into a dog," he said.
"But for only 24 hours, right?"
"Yes, that's right," Eyrick said. "But he'll be a real dog. No bark once for yes and twice for no. Of course, I will keep working on a way around this requirement."
Jared felt slightly uneasy at the prospect of becoming a real dog, even if it was for only 24 hours once a month. He whimpered and caught his brother's attention.
"Are you not sure?" Kevin asked.
Jared barked a single time.
"Well, if it helps, I will make sure everything's all right while you're a dog," Kevin said.
"He's right," Eyrick said. "You can depend on us. I really think it's your best option."
"And it's just once a month," Kevin said.
"Well," Eyrick corrected. "Technically, the moon's full every 29.5 days. So, there could be some months with two full moons or an occasional month with no full moon."
Jared groaned inwardly and wished that Eyrick would stop over-thinking the situation.
"Well, just tell me what you want," Eyrick said. "Do you want me to proceed?"
Jared felt a maddening itch in a hard-to-scratch location on his rump. The novelty of being a sheepdog had more than run its course for him. He barked once.
Eyrick smiled. "Very well."
A moment later, after one last consultation with the compendium's pages, a very pleased but very naked Jared stood in the drafty library in the obscured castle. He only suffered an instant of embarrassment before Eyrick conjured a warm, comfortable robe that he slipped over his once-again human form.
It was left to Kevin to voice the obvious question. "When's the next full moon?"
After a quick consultation with a calendar, they realized the next full moon was 20 days off.
"Who knows? I might find a way to make your restoration permanent before then," Eyrick said with optimism.