Esmeralda scampered away as quickly as she could on her spindly chicken legs, cursing herself for falling victim to her own spell. If only she could get back to the inn, she might be able to find some way out of her predicament….
Suddenly, she found herself scooped up by a pair of chubby hands. “A wild chicken! It’s my lucky day.” a small farm boy grinned as he carried his squawking prize back to his hut. Inside, a large woman with flaxen hair was stirring a bubbling cauldron.
“Look what I found, Ma! Can we have it for dinner?” The woman turned and frowned. “You’re thick as your Pa! That’s a hen you’ve got there, and it can lay us some eggs.” She grabbed the squirming chicken from the boy and headed over to the coop.
“How dare you! No way will I, the great & powerful Esmeralda, be reduced to laying eggs for you filthy peasants!” but all the woman heard was a series of angry squawks. “Ya a feisty one, aren’t you?” the women tied a cord to Esmeralda’s leg so she won’t be able to escape. “Now you better start layin’, or it’s to the cookpot for you.” She slammed shut the door to the coop, leaving Esmeralda to her new life as an egg-laying hen.
++++++++++++++++++
Back at the stables, Lyra pulled out her stone, showed it to Audrey and recounted how she and Yvana had captured it from the innkeeper. After some time, Audrey looked up and saw Mika approaching, walking alongside a large and somewhat familiar-looking barbarian.
“Oh! So you decided to get married after all?” Audrey drawled.
“Congratulations!” Yvana exclaimed. “Have you had your ceremony?”
“Urm.. no.” Mika blushed. “We just got started…”
“Well, you should absolutely consider getting married in our temple in Wodenfell. I can set it all up for you: custom-tailored wedding robes, three-tier cake, champagne fountain, colossal floral arrangements, and our high priestess herself will take your vows! And of course, at the right moment we’ll release a flock of snow white doves! It’ll be all so romantic…” she paused as she pulled out a piece of parchment from behind her shield.
“You see, when I’m not out on campaign for the priestess, I’m a professional wedding planner. Now, this here shows all the packages I offer – I personally recommend this deluxe version that includes a honeymoon by the fabulous waterfalls of Diroge, with a personal chef! And…”
“Yvana!” Lyra interrupted in an exasperated tone. “We’re on campaign right now, remember?”
“Oh c’mon Sarge! You know all of us have our sidelines, since there isn’t much fighting to do most of the time. Besides, you yourself are the music director of the temple choir…”
“You SING?” Audrey stared at Lyra. “No, no… I just provide… leadership, and well, arrange the scores…”
“Nonsense! You’re the choir’s lead alto.” Lyra’s eyes shot daggers at Yvana. “Oh, and if you like, we can have the choir perform your favorite hymns at your ceremony! Their angelic voices will take your breath away…”
“Oh yes, very angelic I’m sure…” Luka muttered.
“You’ve heard our choir perform before, I take it? We were about to go on tour…”
“We were about to turn some of these travelers back to normal.” Lyra said with finality.
“Yes, indeed.” Mika replied with relief. They walked into the stables and Mika stopped in front of the Clydesdale stallion. “Well, let’s start with him.” He focused his magical energy, changing the stallion back into a young nobleman.
“What’s the meaning of this!” he yelled arrogantly. “How dare you confine me in this filthy stall!”
“Please calm down, sir. There’s been dark magic afoot, and we just…” Mika tried to explain.
“Who are heck are you! Wait til I tell my daddy about your disrespect! He’s the Lord of these lands, you know and…”
“Excuse me!” Lyra interrupted. “This fine wizard just released you from an enchantment. Shouldn’t you at least start by thanking him?”
The nobleman ran his lecherous eyes up and down Lyra’s body. “Woo-hoo, those are some fine boobs you’ve got there…” he leered as he inched forward and groped her butt.
Lyra pulled out her stone, and the nobleman vanished, replaced by a small girl. “W…what?” she stammered, and fished at her groin in shock. “It’s… it’s GONE! Why…?” she looked up at Lyra with tears in her eyes.
“Maybe this time you’ll grow up with proper respect for women.” Lyra said sternly.
“Help… HELP!” they turned and saw Tobi running towards them in panic.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Jak and Ander! They’re….”