The barkeep took Mika out into the main room and looked around. There were a few locals drinking ale in the corner, and a party of explorers loudly arguing over who had earned the biggest cut of treasure. "No locals. And that group sounds like they would be hard to deal with." The barkeep's eyes lit on an older man sitting alone in the corner. He had a mug of ale and was staring tiredly into the fire. "There! That old peddler just came into town. Nobody will miss him." The Barkeep shoved Mika towards the table. "Take him out to the stable. Tell him his mule is sick. Then turn him into a draft horse."
Mika stumbled forward, awkward in this unfamiliar body. The old man looked up as he approached and smiled. "What can I do for you, boy?"
"Uh, your mule ain't lookin' too god. Maybe you outa check him over?" Mika was shocked by his own speech - he sounded like the dullard he looked like. However, the man frowned and got up.
"Benjamin looked OK when we got here." He followed Mika out back to the stables, actually moving ahead of Mika and going in first. That was good, since Mika had never been in the stables before.
The large mule he checked over brayed and nuzzled the man, obviously fond of him. The animal was young and healthy, and showed excellent care. The man finished checking the mule over and looked back. "He looks fine to me."
Mika nodded. "Sorry. Uh, he looks real healthy now."
The man nodded and smiled sadly. "Benjamin is 5 now. He's been my only companion these past three years. He'll be lonely when I go."
A thought came to Mika. "You would like to stay with him? Even if it meant you had to work hard sometimes?"
The man laughed. "Boy, I'm too old to do much hard work. But yes, I wish I could stay with him."
"Perfect!" Mika concentrated and said the spell, focusing on the mule. The old man looked puzzled, then startled as he felt his body start to shift and change. It was fascinating to watch someone else transform, and though the man looked astonished, he did not seem frightened or even upset. He fell forward with a loud 'haaawww', a perfect twin to Benjamin. The original mule snuffled at his new brother, and then they nuzzled each other with affection.
"I told you I wanted a draft horse!" The barkeep came in, sounding irritated as he looked into the stall.
Mika shrugged. "A pair of matched, healthy young mules is worth more than one draft horse. And a lot easier to sell."
The barkeep thought a moment, then nodded. "Guess you ain't as dumb as you look, boy!"