James was thoroughly enjoying his time with Elspeth. Associating with a real life witch and witnessing actual magic was a privilege he could have only dreamed of a few hours ago. Elspeth was kind and caring to him. And that bath...
He just wished he could experience all this as a human. Why had this otherwise benevolent old lady decided to reduce him to pond life as soon as he'd arrived? She'd never really explained. And could she really not turn him back? She seemed to have had plenty of magic to make lunch. He was beginning to suspect that all this talk of "magical charge" was a lie and Elspeth was leaving him like this out of choice. But why? And for how long?
James obviously wasn't going to accuse Elspeth of deceiving him. But he was getting fed up of being stuck in this unpleasant, lowly form. He couldn't help himself from asking the question.
"Mistress Elspeth, how long until you can turn me back?" He asked bluntly.
Silas let out a snicker, which was quickly silenced by an angry wave from Elspeth.
"Oh, a few days. A week. What's the hurry?" She replied, seeming a little irritated by the question
"Nothing Mistress Elspeth" James sighed in dissapointment "It's just..."
"Look, there's no point fussing about it" the old woman cut him off "I already told you. I am out of magical charge for the next few days. You'll just have to be patient."
"But you used magic for lunch" James blurted out, instantly regretting it as his owner reacted with a piercing glare that seemed wholly uncharacteristic of his experience with her so far.
"I think I could do with a break from your constant questions" the witch hissed as she pointed a bony finger in James' direction "Perhaps it's better you don't talk for a while."
James quickly tried to apologise, but all he could muster was a series of croaking sounds. His human voice was gone! Just as he was coming to terms with this, and the fact that Elspeth had clearly been lying about not being able to turn him back, there was a knock on the door.
"Ah, a visitor!" Elspeth smiled, quickly regaining her pleasant demeanor "I wonder who that could be?"