"I think the rock only does human transformations. They were using something else, maybe the witch, for the animal stuff." Lyra looked around the stables. "Some remarkably fine-looking beasts here, I'm thinking."
Yvana followed her gaze. "You think?"
"Yep."
The innkeeper was coming to. He saw Lyra, standing well away, with the rock in her hand and an expression of fear came over his face. "Please, no" he said as Lyra gestured towards him with the rock. The innkeeper shrank into a small boy, but he did not acquire the glazed, dull-witted look of the stableboys he had made. Lyra wanted him able to remember and to talk. He felt the ropes fall around him loosely, but the harsh glances he was receiving from the two veteran acolytes made it clear that trying to escape would be a very, very high risk play.
"Which of the animals here were once human?" Lyra began.
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"Look" said Ander "I am an experienced wizard. Don't you think its about time you changed me back? I could be a lot more helpful than I am as a little kid, you know."