Mike took a few steps towards the open gate, then jerked back as the herd stallion suddenly lunged and snapped at him. The gray night laughed. "He won't hurt you until you accept the challenge. Of course, then you are on your own."
With his head lowered and ears back, the stallion was giving Mike an evil look. This wasn't fair! Mike had only been a horse for an hour or less, and this monster had 50 years to get used to four legs and hooves! But if he entered and lost, or didn't fight, he'd spend the rest of his life pumping out baby horses.
Well, being a plow horse didn't sound all that bad. What was 'gelded,' though? He'd heard the term once before, but couldn't quite remember. Covering in gold? No, that was gilding. And it would be a lot easier to eascape from a farm than from the castle.
Snorting, Mike backed away from the corral gate.
The gray night looked surprised. "Are you sure? You are young and very strong. Once I close this gate again, your fate is sealed."
Mike tossed his head and snorted again. No way he was going to try battling the experienced stallion. As the gray night shut the gate again, the herd stallion gave a triumphant whinny and pranced proudly back to the other horses. Mike had a strange feeling he had just been bluffed - but it was too late now.
They continued past the castle to a large open area where Mike could see fields planted. There were horses pulling plows and wagons, and peasants working beside them. The gray night stopped by a large, burly man who was in a wagon pulled by a brown horse about the same size as Mike. It was dirty and shaggy looking, but appeared to be in good health. Its scent was weird - male, but not male. Mike wasn't sure how his mind was able to tell that from smell.
"Got a new one for you, Jacob!" The Gray Knight pointed at Mike. "Old Dustin pulled the snap and bite greeting. Can't beleive how many times that has worked for him!"
Jacob fell to one knee, but then grinned up at the Knight. "All the better for me and Danny, Sire. Good crops this year, and the wagon can get pretty heavy." He looked over at Mike. "I take it he gets the same treatment?"
"Exactly. Let's make a matched set of them. When Danny is cleaned up, he is rather handsome." The Knight turned to Mike. "This is your new master. He will work you hard, but take good care of you. I hope you do not regret your cowardice."
Released, Mike shufflede obediently towards the farmer. He heard the Knight start to mumble something. And then he felt very strange. Stopping, he twisted around to see his black coat getting lighter and shaggier. He shrank slightly, and noted that dirt and stains were appearing on his hide. Then he felt a strange heat in his testicles and penis. Alarmed, he looked under his belly.
His penis had pushed out slightly, and he was pleased with the size. Until the huge flare began to fade, the shaft shrinking, becoming blunt. His testicles, hanging like a pair of oranges, also shrank, but this time the change did not stop until they had vanished. There was not even a wrinkle where they had been.
Now Mike realized what gelding was. He felt a scream of horror building, then shook his head in confusion. The humans were looking at him. He snuffled the other horse, and felt a comfortable link. They were herd mates. The humans were making noises again, but of course, he did not understand human sounds. He dropped his head to pull up a clump of grass, thinking horse thoughts.