Mika sighed and went back to prepare one of the larger stalls. A Clyde would need more space than the smaller forward stalls allowed. He was just finishing when a sharp male voice shouted 'Boy!" He looked over the top of the stall gate to see a well-dressed young warrior looking around. The man had on chain mail and wore a sword and several smaller daggers, boots with cruel-looking spurs, and looked very unpleasant.
"Yes sir?" He moved out of the stall. So this was the intended victim.
The man eyed him with distaste, though his eyes focused on Mika's genitals a lot longer than the rest of the boy. "Your master says I can find a good warhorse out here. I need something big and strong that can take a little hard use. The last damned nag I had went lame after a few hard days of riding! Cursed beast. Nearly broke my leg when it fell."
Mika felt a pang of pity for whatever poor animal had suffered under this rider. "Yes, sir! I am sure such an animal can be found for you, sir."
The man sneered at him. "I see nothing in this hovel that looks worthy. But if you can come up with more than one there's a member of my party who is just as unhappy with his current mount."
Mika gestured at the empty stall he had just cleaned. "Right in here, sire." He stepped aside as the young noble strode over and looked inside.
"You show me empty air, fool!" He lashed out with boot that connected painfully with Mika's shin. "Waste my time at your peril, Boy!"
"No, sir!" Mika hopped back rubbing the bruise. "Wait inside - it is just cleaned and the best place in the stable. The horse will be here in just a moment, I swear!"
Narrowing his eyes, the nobleman took a hard look around. Then he stepped into the stall to inspect it. "I give you five minutes, Boy. After that, I will use my knife to remove those swollen balls of yours and hang them from my belt as a trophy!"
Mika shoved the gate closed with all the force he could muster. It slammed and the latch dropped into place. "Oh, it won't take anywhere near that long." He closed his eyes and cast his spell.
The outraged young man snarled a curse and then shook the gate hard from inside. "You will die for this indignity, Boy!" There was a sound of sliding steel, and then a dull thunk as blade hit wood. "I am going to..." The furious shooting suddenly went silent. There was a dull thud, and then he heard the man's panicked voice "My hand! It's... a hoof!" Then realization must have finally hit. "No! I will not be an animal!" He screamed and pounded on the stall gate hard enough to shake the heavy wood violently, his voice shifting from a human shout to the ear-piercing scream of an enraged stallion. The whole stall shuddered as massive hooves lashed out, but held firm until the violent horse inside seemed to calm.
Very cautiously, Mika opened the stall gate and looked in. A massive black Clydesdale stallion stood heaving and lathered as if it had just come from a long, hard gallop. Its eyes were wide, showing the whites as it shivered in fear and confusion. The clothing and belongings of the noble were gone, used up in the transformation.