Mika reached for the stone but was too late. He stopped short as he realized the innkeeper lying on the floor before him was starting to contort, almost as though Mika were looking at a reflection in a pool someone had tossed a pebble into. He had seen Audrey change into Aubrey, but at the time his head had been so befuddled by his own change that he could not analyze what he was witnessing. This time his mind was sharp, perhaps even more than usual due to the dramatic events of the past two days.
"Hah, pretty good job, huh?" Audrey laughed as she examined her handiwork. "Looks like I make a better wizard than you, Mika!"
Lying on the stable floor, still hogtied, was a perfect specimen of a molly packmule. Because Mika had tied the innkeeper tightly around the wrists and ankles, the ropes were still bound just below the fetlocks. The mule then opened her eyes, twitched a little, but unable to move, lifted her head and let out a soft nicker.
Mika let out a low whistle as he studied the female mule, kneeling beside the animal. There was no spark of understanding in the liquid brown eyes, just the gentle gaze of a completely domesticated beast of burden that did not understand why it could not stand. Running his hand over the mule's hide, Mika could sense the magic's presence, as he had done with Ed, but the feeling was different from Mika's understanding of his own magic. It was deeper, more integral to the existence of the animal somehow. It reminded Mika of the sensation he had felt around a magically created chimera his master had told him had been confiscated from a practitioner of forbidden arts. Instead of magic loosening reality's hold on the affected party, allowing the imagination to run free, this enchantment was more like chains, dragging down its victims. When Mika's sigil had reversed the magic, it hadn't broken the chains, but rather allowed him to slip loose like an escape artist, and the same for Audrey. Mika shuddered to think what fate he might have suffered without the forethought to prepare the sigil. Unsheathing a small blade from his belt, he said a quick chant to sharpen the edge and sliced the rope which held the mule captive.
"Hey!" Audrey cried out. "Are you sure you should do that? What if he tries to..."
"Don't worry," Mika cut her off, watching the molly mule gather itself to its feet. "The human part of him is buried so deep I doubt he even realizes he once walked on two legs. I might be able to give his consciousness a way out, like I did with Ed, but this magic, it's something else."
"Well, if you say so," Audrey said, unconvinced. "But don't you go feeling sorry for him and making him conscious like the horse, we don't know what he'll try to pull on us." Mika nodded slowly, still worried about the nature of the spell. Rummaging in his pouches, he held out a small octagonal box with seals carved on all sides.
"Put the stone in there," Mika said firmly, opening the lid. Audrey hesitated, but obeyed. Mika snapped the lid shut and carefully tucked it away. "We'd better not use this or let anyone else touch it until we know what exactly it is. I think we should head to my teacher's place."
"A-HEM!" The two turned as Ed cleared his throat loudly. While Mika and Audrey were occupied, the mule had ambled around them and was now proceeding to warmly nuzzle Ed, an act which was obviously making Ed uncomfortable. "Excuse me, uh... madam...but I don't believe I will be able to respond to your affections in kind; rather, I think you will find yourself rather disappointed. More's the pity...not that equines are my type, that is! But turning me into a gelding, what a cruel fate! It's almost as tragic as the story of Hendrick the Impotent, have you happened to have heard that particular tale? I must say, it was one of my favorites up until this particular turn of events..." Ed prattled on as the obviously overly-friendly molly backed him into a corner. Feeling his rear hoof clip the stall wall, Ed piped up, "Hey, now that you have that thing, can you please change me back?!"
Mika looked at Audrey, who sighed, then grabbed a halter rope. Tying the lead around the mule who was obviously enthralled with Ed, Audrey dragged the mule to a neighboring stall and tied her off, saying, "Well, I guess we gotta come up with a new name for you. 'Master' doesn't sound right."
After Audrey saw to the former innkeeper, she and Mika finally faced Ed. "Oh, I can't wait to play my lute again!" Ed neighed happily.
Mika sighed this time, and shook his head slowly. "I'm not sure if I can change you back, Ed," he said reluctantly. "This magic is more than I have dealt with before, and if I try to change you back, it might not work, or might only work partly. Maybe it's better if you come with us to see my teacher, she has more familiarity with reversing the dark arts than I do."
"You mean I'm stuck like this?!" Ed nearly brayed in disbelief. "No hands, no lute, no....well , pleasure, ever again?" Mika felt sorry for him, but decided it would be crueler to be less than honest.
"Look, I can try to change you back, but with my level of magic, there's a chance it might not turn you back all the way," Mika explained. "For example, you could be stuck with hooves for hands, or a tail, or other physical problems, if you get my meaning," Mika said, casting an overt glance at the gelding's altered privates. "If you want me to attempt it, I just want you to understand what you'll be getting into. On the other hand, you can come with us as a horse, you won't stand out as long as you don't talk in front of others, and my master will probably be able to help you somehow. Then again, you can always go your own way and try to find some help on your own. So, what would you rather do?"