"You're useless!" Audrey snarled. "The damn stable-brat was more use than you..." Audrey stopped for a second, then continued, "...wait you WERE useless, so why would the innkeeper want you?" Audrey finished quizzically, as though she actually expected an answer.
"I happen to be a first-rate wizard's apprentice, not that you could even begin to appreciate my skills," Mika glowered indignantly. "Don't forget, if it hadn't been for me, you would've been stuck mucking out stalls for the rest of your miserable..."
"Not you, you dolt," Audrey cut in. "I mean you when you were the stable boy; you couldn't remember magic, so why bother keeping you? Why not turn you into a dumb animal like him?" Audrey nodded at Ed and ignored his incensed protests at being called dumb, Ed having forgotten that normal horses were mute.
Mika paused for a moment, surprised that Audrey was actually using her brain for once. She was right; if the innkeeper could change people without Mika, why bother keeping him? Mika's gaze came to rest on Ed.
"The innkeeper said humans turned to beasts were smarter, more useful..." Mika started thoughtfully.
"He obviously didn't accomplish that with this one," Audrey sardonically stated and slapped Ed on the rump, giving rise to more protests.
"No, that's what I mean," Mika continued. "Ed lost his former self completely when he was changed, and so did you." Audrey narrowed her eyes at being compared to equine bard. "Maybe the innkeeper can't control the magic to keep the consciousness of his victims alive, and instead they are changed to something less intelligent, easier to control. Maybe he wanted to try to get my skills, since I kept my human intelligence even though I changed into a mule."
"So we'll get turned into idiots if we go after him?" Audrey swore.
"Maybe not," Mika pondered. "What if we attack him with something he already made less smart?"
Audrey stared at Mika, not understanding for an instant, but then they both looked at Ed. "What?" the horse asked uneasily.
"Don't worry, Ed, all you gotta do is pretend to still be a regular horse," Mika cajoled. "When the innkeeper comes down here and stands behind you, just kick him with your hind legs as hard as you can. He won't suspect a thing, and once he's out cold we can search him for the magical object."
"Okay, I get where you're going," Audrey said, "But how do we get the innkeeper out here? He'll just go after one of us and change us again."
"Don't worry, I have an idea for that too," Mika grinned. Reaching into a pouch, Mika grabbed an strange powder, mixed it with a drop of unidentifiable liquid from a vial, and stirred in a bit of dirt he grabbed from the stable floor. Before Audrey could react, he blew the concoction off his hand and into her face. Audrey coughed a second, then sneezed. When she opened her eyes, she noticed that something was different, in a familiar sort of way...
"You didn't..." Audrey began, but stopped in sheer fury when she looked down at herself...now himself. Audrey was now naked little Aubrey again, save the peasant dialect and pleasant personality. "Oh, you are gonna get it, Mika..."
"Not a good idea to threaten the person who can leave you like that for a while," Mika chuckled, vainly trying to hide a smile. Noticing Aubrey's furious glare, Mika tried to explain. "Now look, I can't do it, since who would change me back if something happened? You still have the sigil to protect you. It's only to lure the innkeeper down here. Then Ed can catch him off guard and I can bind him, and then I'll change you back."
"Fine," Aubrey agreed begrudingly, "but if you ever, and I mean EVER, tell anyone about this, you'll wish you were still shoveling manure, got me?" Mika couldn't help but be amused by the expression on the little tyke's face, but attempted to remain serious and nodded.
"Just make sure you act like Aubrey, or the innkeeper will suspect something," Mika reminded her.
With an irate look and a snort, Aubrey left the stable to do his part.