Before he had the chance to plead his case or argue any further James found he was involuntarily arranging himself into a particularly degrading stance on all fours at the feet of the angry witch. He waited nervously to see if he would start transforming physically. He didn't, but that would be scant consolation.
"I'm sorry to have to do this, but I feel you are in need of a lesson in obedience, James. Don't you agree?"
"Ruff!" James barked back obligingly. He had neither wanted nor intended to react like that, yet had done so emphatically. It wasn't as if the noise he had made had been forced out of him but neither had he made it willingly. It was as more like an overpowering, unchallengeable part of his subconscious was instructing him to do so - the same silent voice that was keeping him on his hands and knees. Was this what it felt like to be spellbound?
"Good" Elspeth smiled down at James, ruffling his hair "I mean what I said when I told you I would like for us to get on. But it seems you need to be house trained first."
"Ruff!"
"Good, then you shall remain like this until until I am satisfied you have accepted that I am your mistress and you must always do as you are told, whether you like it or not. Is that understood?'
"Ruff! Ruff!" James barked back, appearing as if he were nothing but eager to please the witch though internally he wanted only to get as far away from her as
humanly possible.
"Very good" Elspeth cackled "let's put that to the test"