"You'll cast no more spells at all, sweet sister." A high, clear voice echoed over the pond. Beth turned to see a group of young women, dressed in green and carrying bows and short swords that looked like fencing foils. Their spokeswoman had a strange resemblance to Patience, and her bow was drawn and arrow nocked, pointing at the heart of the princess who had been a frog.
Patience laughed. "Well hello, brother. Dad still hasn't married you off? I can see why, you look so frighteningly butch."
"I see your time as a frog hasn't sweetened your personality any. You know I was holding out for earthworm, or possibly cockroach."
"Don't give me ideas. Or do you really think you can stop me from casting a spell?"
"Go ahead and try--but I've been practicing in this body." The woman made a quick gesture with her head, and a group of the women drew their swords and made for Patience, careful not to step between her and their leader's arrow.
"Oh very well. I'm sure Dad's forgiven me by now. He'll be so happy to see his real daughter again rather than his sissy son and his girly-girl knights."
She kept smiling as the women bound her hands and gagged her, holding a knife to her throat all the while.
"Uh, what about me?" Beth asked Patience's former brother, now sister.