Mike stared at the young man with a liquid brown eye, having trouble comprehending words and the abstract ideas of passing time and changes. This was Tye, but an older version. Maybe ten years older than he had been the last time Mike had seen him. What was that he had said - after ten years on four hooves? Tye chuckled and reached up to pat Mike's massive neck. "Yeah, you've been pulling wagons and plows for a decade. And doing a fine job of it, too. You and your buddy there are the finest team this world has ever seen."
Mike felt a surge of pride and satisfaction, then a little confusion. What was so great about pulling plows and wagons? Then again, he was making use of his strength and mass, performing needed work. He and Dan were an important part of the community, a valuable resource. The past was a blur of sensations, but his overall impression was a general contentment. He was healthy, strong, well-treated. He had Dan's constant presence as a friend and herd mate. What more did he need?
Tye grinned and rubbed Mike's chin. "I'm sure you feel pretty comfortable like this. To be honest, you are better off in some ways than most of the others. Ten years have passed for them as well, and they don't have an owner who uses magic to keep them young and healthy. Brian lost his left hand in a trap, and our dragon got caught up in his new identity and is now hoarding treasure in mountain cave. My brother joined the group, but he's a minotaur who can't speak. And they haven't made much progress on their quest. The team needs some help to finish up so you guys can all go back home. If they don't finish the quest, all of you will be stuck here until you die." He gave a short laugh. "It's pretty ironic. You were the first one to fall victim and we all thought you were pretty dumb. But I bet any one of them would trade the ten years of battles, monsters, bad food, and fleas for your decade of contentment. Even if you don't remember much of it."
Mike snorted, feeling pleased. He had not been so dumb after all. Tye sighed. "Then again, it's sorta sad not to remember years of your life. To exist in a dull stupor, one year blending into the next. You are still healthy and strong, and Liam can probably keep you going another ten or fifteen years before the magic gives out. The end will come quick - he'll probably put you down as soon as the aging starts to save you pain and suffering."
Mike flicked his ears, struggling with the abstract concepts. Maybe twenty-five years as a horse. Put down. Killed. But to save him pain of old age. It still bothered him. Twenty-five years. He tried to remember more of the previous decade, but there were no specifics. Just a general sense of contentment, a blur of wagons, plows, people, other horses. There was no sense of time - he could just as easily have been a horse for a month instead of ten years.
Tye stepped back. "I'm here to offer you some options. I can turn you back into the centaur you were or make you human again, a young barbarian fighter. Or some other change, whatever you want as long as you rejoin the others and help them on their quest. But if you want to stay here and finish out your life as a draft horse, I'll respect that too. I won't bother you again, and you can drift back into your dull contentment."
Mike thought about the options. It was getting easier to comprehend the ideas - Tye must have restored his human intelligence. Staying a horse was OK. He was happy and healthy, and he had Dan for company. But the others were apparently in trouble and needed some help. He snorted as Dan rubbed his muzzle against Mike's side. Dan! He couldn't leave his best friend and companion!
Tye must have been able to read minds. "Don't worry. Whatever you choose, I'll make sure your buddy stays with you."
Mike whuffled and nuzzled the other stallion, then made a decision. All he had to do was think it and Tye understood. The young human smiled and nodded his head. "OK. If that's what you want, that's what you get."