The acolytes fell back and regrouped, keeping their eyes fixed on the party. “We are not your enemies!” Tobi reiterated. “Let’s discuss this calmly.”
“Don’t think you can fool us with your words, you evil witch!” one of the acolytes sneered. “We saw you turn yourself into a little girl just now. What other trickery are you planning?”
“No, wait! Listen to me…” Tobi tried to explain, but the acolytes linked up their shields in formation, creating a formidable barrier that glowed with holy energy. “Our commander wants you captured, dead or alive!” They charged forward, easily knocking aside Jak and Luka, their charms protecting them from Mika’s spells. “STOP!” Tobi yelled in desperation, and to everyone’s surprise, they did.
“Move back and drop your weapons!” The acolytes took a few steps back, and their maces & shields clanged to the ground in a heap.
Mika noticed that the acolytes now wore blank expressions on their faces and didn’t seem to have any will of their own. “Human puppetry.” he finally realized. “How is she able to use all these advanced magical spells?” He continued to watch Tobi carefully as her expression turned increasingly tyrannical. “Turn around! Sit down! Stand up! Jump!” she rattled off a string of orders, savoring her control over the helpless acolytes who obeyed every word. “Now dance for me!” she commanded imperiously. The acolytes immediately started pirouetting and executing graceful grande jetés as Tobi watched with glee & satisfaction.
“While she’s having her fun, why don’t we have some of our own too?” Luka wrapped his arm companionably around Mika’s shoulders. “I know of a quiet hot spring nearby…” he winked.
“TOBI! Just what is going on here?” Ander had returned from the stables, and his voice jerked Tobi out of her trance. She looked over at him sheepishly.
“Well, they were trying to charge us...”
“It looks more like they’re performing an act from The Nutcracker for your pleasure.” he looked sternly at her. “What did you do to them?”
“I’m… not sure. I don’t even know what The Nutcracker is.” she stammered and flushed with discomfort. Turning to the dancing acolytes, she muttered an awkward “You can rest now.” They promptly crumpled to the ground like rag dolls and went into a deep sleep.
“Mika, we need your help over at the stables. Many other travelers have been changed into animals, and you’re our equine transformation expert.”
“Can this wait? Mika and I have a little something planned…”
Ander stared at the bronzed, muscular barbarian, and then over to Mika. “You… you didn’t…?”
“But he had been captured!” Mika said defensively. “And they were going to castrate him and make him sing in their choir…”
“Of all the things you could turn him into, it had to be THAT? And now you’re going to run off together for a tryst in the woods?”
“We are going for a bath.” Luka corrected him.
“A BATH?” Ander sputtered. “We’re deep in enemy territory, there’s a dangerous witch on the loose, and you’re going for a BATH? Is this what I should expect from a wizard of Arlor?” he glared at Mika.
“Well, unlike you provincial types, we civilized city dwellers take our personal hygiene very seriously. I mean, who knows how stray flecks of dirt and stinky odors can interfere with the delicate business of spell casting….”
Ander rolled his eyes and grimaced. “WHAT-ever. We’ll meet you over at the stables. Just don’t take too long, okay.” He motioned to Tobi and Jak, and with Sebastian in tow, they followed him back to rejoin Audrey.
+++++++++++++++++
Audrey and Lyra stood by the stables shooting the breeze while Yvana tied up the unconscious ape. They laughed heartily as they reminisced over old war stories and all the foolish things they had done together back in the day.
“So what brings you here anyway?” Audrey finally asked.
“Well, our priestess sent us to investigate an epidemic of involuntary transformations going on in Lavenguard.”
“Yup, it’s all because of that innkeeper and the shifting stone he has. He turned my travel partner into a naked stableboy, but… of course I rescued that useless wizard and… got help to turn him back.” Audrey decided swiftly that Lyra did not ever need to know anything about Aubrey. “Where is the innkeeper by the way?”
+++++++++++++++++
The hot spring pool lay in a secluded glade surrounded by dense forest. Wisps of steam hovered over its turquoise waters.
Mika and Luka hurriedly stripped off, barely able to keep their eyes off each other’s bodies. “I know just what you want.” Luka whispered into Mika’s ear as they lowered themselves into the warm thermal waters.