“That was not my wish!”

“Wish? That was not my wish! I merely wanted your help to avoid detection!”

“Help, which I so expertly provided,” says Felixia. “Would you rather that I left you to come up with a disguise on your own? Where do you think you would be now?”

“I wouldn’t be a woman, and I wouldn’t have my brother lusting after me, I know that for sure! Now enough of this..... Change me back immediately! I command it!”

“Oh, you command it, do you? Well, since you put it so nicely, I guess I have ****!”

Duncan watches as the pirate cracks his knuckles and concentrates. A couple of sparks appear, but nothing like what has happened before. A look of perplexity passes over the pirate’s face, and he tries again, but this time, no sparks appear.

“Of course!” he says, slapping his forehead with his hand. “Over a hundred years of being cooped up, I should have foreseen this!”

Duncan looks panicked. “What are you saying, Creature? Are you saying I am stuck in this ridiculous form forever?”

“No! Not at all! Cast that thought out of your mind!”

Duncan breathes a sigh of relief.

“Only for the next 24 hours,” Felixia continues. “I need a day to recharge the ol’ magical reservoir. I’ll be back before you know it.” The pirate turns toward the stables to leave.

“Wait! Where are you going?” Duncan asks.

“To recharge the batteries, of course. Felechon recharge magical power by rolling in the mystical catnip of the Eight Falls Of Feelfow under the light of a full moon. You’re in luck; there’s a full moon tonight, and I’ll be back in the morning to get you back to your boring old tiny-penis self.”

“And what am I to do until then?” asked Duncan.

“Hmmmm....” the pirate’s face takes on a look of concentration, and his tail emerges from under his kilt and strokes his chin. “Well, you could go see your brother, as he requested. Sounds like a great opportunity for brotherly bonding.”

“I don’t think that’s the kind of bonding he has in mind,” replied Duncan with a shudder. “I shall go with you. That will ensure a speedy return to my form.”

“I don’t know,” replies the pirate, doubtfully. The Eight Falls Of Feelfow are pretty rough for a human. Your lot isn’t strictly prohibited from being there, but humans tend to stay away. It attracts the toughest of the rough of the magical beings.”

“Nevertheless, I shall accompany you. I can hold my own with the sword.” With that, Duncan reaches for where he would normally carry his sword, and he remembers how he is dressed. “But I cannot go out dressed in this ridiculous garb! Let us go first to my bedchambers, and I shall retrieve my sword and suitable traveling clothes.”

The pirate regards Duncan carefully. “Are you sure? We are here at the stable entrance now. Are you sure you want to risk a trip through the castle?”