"Hmm, I have some friends coming over to dinner this evening" Elspeth pondered a moment, as if formulating a plan "a couple of rather snooty sorcerers if I'm honest"
"I can stay upstairs Mistress" James offered hopefully, not wishing to meet any more witches and wizards, particularly with his continuing forced nudity.
"You know, it would be really nice to have something remarkable to impress them with. Something beyond this world like a unicorn or a griffin that would enhance my reputation. Not that I should care what those cretins think, but they can be rather influential, if you see what I mean"
"Wow, so you could really conjure up something like a unicorn?" James asked, genuinely impressed at the prospect of seeing a mythical creature in real life.
Elspeth laughed "I'm glad you think so highly of my magic, but I can't just make something appear out of thin air. I need to transform an existing, living creature. And one with the intelligence to play along with my ruse"
The penny quickly dropped. James wasn't going to see a mythical creature, he was going to be one.
"But mistress, please I don't.." James began, but Elspeth put a finger to his lips to silence his protest before it had really even begun.
"Trust me, it will be safer for you this way" Elspeth spoke kindly but with no room for argument "Not all witches are as nice as me. Stay as you are and who knows what they might do to you after a couple of drinks."
James hung his head, aware that resistance was futile.
"Now stand still and keep quiet" Elspeth instructed as she began waving her arms about "these spells aren't as simple as I make them look"