(WARNING: Mentions of, and one instance of needle use warning in this chapter)

The pair stayed on the floor for a while, happy to have a break from all the excitement they'd been through so far. That they weren't even halfway through the night was not promising for the tone of the rest of it. Geoffrey turned his head to the ekon-turned-pony on the floor. "It's only going to get crazier, isn't it Reid?"

With a sigh, Jonathan rolled his head to the hunter in the same state as himself. "That, McCullum, or we've hit the peak saturation of madness for the night."

Snorting, he pushed himself up, leveling a flat look at Reid. "Did you forget where we are, Doctor?" McCullum walked over, poking a hoof sharply in the other's ribs. "Or what you are? Or what my organization does?" The hunter flopped on the floor again. "I don't think there's a cap to the amount of crazy for folks like us."

Reid groaned, dragging his hooves over his eyes. "Please, don't remind me, McCullum." He itched for something to do, and began absentmindedly trying to see how well he could move his new limbs. Jonathan rolled his shoulders, feeling how the muscles attached moved. He knew he'd used them unconsciously, and simple things like unfolding them. He just… had to figure out how to move them when he wanted to. He closed his eyes, trying to map out how it felt like they were working.

Hearing the sound of leathery wings moving rapidly and randomly, before it finally sounded like they were moving in tandem. Geoffrey turned his head to see what in the world Jonathan could possibly be doing. He felt his jaw fall open, eyes wide as he tried to process what he was seeing. He closed his jaw with a click, as McCullum rubbed his temples. "Reid."

"Yes, hunter?" Jonathan asked, eyes still closed and focused. His full attention on his wings now that he could consciously move them in sync. He was so wholly focused on learning to control his new wings that he had failed to realize something.

There was a deeply annoyed grumbling from McCullum as he walked a little closer. "I take it then, that ye're not aware of the fact ye're FECKING FLYING?!" His voice at the end was loud and very, very done with everything today.

"I'm WHAT?!" The ekon exclaimed, eyes snapping open as he looked around, his wing-beats faltering and sending him back to the floor in a crash. Reid laid on the ground for a bit, groaning as his bruises slowly healed. Quietly he whispered to himself, "How was I even flying, they're far too small to actually sustain flight." Jonathan turned his attention to Geoffrey, an unamused look on his face. "Next time, McCullum, inform me a bit less loudly." He groaned as he pushed himself up and limped over towards his coat, rooting around for his serums.

With a snort, Geoffrey walked over. "An' why would I do that?" He had a smirk on his muzzle. "You continue to defy everything I know about leeches. A bit of a surprise in turn only seems fair."

Jonathan's pleasant hum in finding the syringe he was after quickly turned to a frustrated exhale. He turned his head to give Geoffrey a flat look. "Really, McCullum? Why must you be like this?" The ekon gave a shake of his head as he held the needle up, and pulled the cap off with his teeth. He let the toe of his hoof trail along his neck, finding the vein he was after, before jabbing it into his own neck, pressing home the plunger. After a brief wince, Reid sighed in relief, healing faster and pleased with the edge his serum took off his thirst.

Shuddering, Geoffrey's lips pulled back in a grimace as he watched the ekon recap the spent syringe. "I don't know how you can stand to jab yourself like that."

"It's that, McCullum, or keep it test-tubes to drink." Reid responded dryly. He placed the empty serum in a separate pocket, turning to face the hunter fully. "It is also far safer to contain them in a syringe than a test-tube to avoid accidentally infecting someone with vampire blood in combat." One wing fanned out, waving to his coat. "Far less risk of it splashing."

Hoof held up to argue, and mouth open, but McCullum slowly lowered it, jaw closing as he huffed in exasperation. "Alright, fair, I can't think of an argument for that logic." Geoffrey reared up on his hind legs, slowly moving about his office, back to his desk. "May as well get used to moving like this." He found himself standing by his sword. A scowl on his muzzle and one brow twitching. "FECK!"

Reid had been trying to replicate the short time he'd had in the air as the hunter shouted, thankful that he hadn't actually achieved any lift yet. His frustration at McCullum's repeated yelling caused him to whip around, exasperation bleeding into his voice. "Now what?!"

With a growl, Geoffrey grit out, "I seem to be a foot or so shorter than normal, even like this." He grabbed the sword from where it was leaning against the wall. "How the hell am I supposed… to…" He trailed off, testing the weight of his faithful weapon in his hold.

Brow furrowed as he heard the hunter trail off, "McCullum?" Reid slowly made his way closer to the irate Irishman turned pony, "What is it?"

"It's…" Geoffrey lightly bounced his sword in his hold, "it feels lighter." He pulled the sword from its scabbard, testing its weight as he held it in both hooves. "Balance hasn't changed." He stepped away to an open space in his office, and gave it a few test swings. He gave a hum, before switching to a one-handed, or one-hoofed grip, and repeated the swings. "But it's definitely easier to swing it."

Reid hummed as he walked over. "Did you consider that you might be stronger, physically at least, like this McCullum." The doctor began absently-mindedly poking at the hunter's musculature in thought. "Perhaps some further testing would be prudent." When he was swatted at, he backed off quickly with a shadow step. "After we acquire clothing, of course."

"I need to talk to the Guard, Reid, before I do anything else tonight." He signed as he sheathed his sword, holding it lightly. "But I'd not be opposed to a spar with you, leech." Geoffrey scratched at his cheek with one hoof as he went to place his faithful weapon back against the wall.

Jonathan merely raised a brow at McCullum. "And why, praytell, would I agree to a spar?"

"Because we both know Ascalon will catch wind of our current predicament sooner or later, an' they'll assume we're easy marks, or worse." Geoffrey stated with a grimace. He began pacing, muzzle drawn in a frown. "I don't know about you, Reid," he tossed a look to Jonathan. "But I'd rather find out exactly what I can do like this, before those damned leech toffs get bold enough to try and target me or my Guard." The hunter ran a hoof through his hair. "Not to mention we both need to get used to fighting with a shorter reach."

That caused the ekon to blink before his expression curled into a snarl. "Blast! I hadn't considered that." Jonathan chewed on his lip, hoof tapping before he blew out a sigh. "Fine, hunter, you'll have your spar. Just…" He waved a hoof, "can we forgo using actual weapons to start? And we'll need to leave our shirts on the side."

It was Geoffrey's turn to raise an eyebrow at that. "An' why should we do that?" Was the leech getting soft on him?

"One, as you said, we need to get used to the change in our reach." Reid said, waving a hoof. "Until we do, it would be far too easy for a swing to miss, be too shallow, or worst of all, cut too deeply should one overcompensate." He gave McCullum a flat look. "I'd rather not test just yet how well I can suture with hooves, or give your men an excuse to try for my head again, if it's all the same to you."

With a huff, Geoffrey gave him a nod. "Alright, you have a point there." The hunter tapped a few times. "Why no shirts, Reid?" He had a shit eating grin on his muzzle, "Are two of my captains on the right track?"

Jonathan scoffed as he walked over and gave Geoffrey a shove. "Oh come off it, McCullum." He gave him a flat look. "In case you forgot, we're short on clothing that actually fits. Add to that any shirts or coats I'll wear will need wing holes." The ekon pulled his lips back in a sneer. "I'd rather not see the only shirt adjusted at the moment for our current plight ruined in a spar."

"...Point." Geoffrey agreed with another sigh. "You and your damned logic, Reid, ruining my fun." He grumbled as he moved to sit at his desk.

He opened his mouth to argue back at the hunter when he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. His attention on the door.

The knock sounded, and McCullum sighed and stopped before he could sit in his chair. "Enter." He leaned on his desk, head propped up on one hoof.

Gertrude bustled back into the room, a few folded pieces of clothing in her arms. "I'm back, gentlemen, I had some help and got your clothes tailored a bit sooner than I expected to." She handed one bundle to Reid, and the other to McCullum. "Would you like me to send someone up with a meal, sir?"

He shook his head, moving away, clothing in hoof, "No, thank you, Gertrude, I'll be down once I'm dressed." Geoffrey gave a shake of his head as he laid them out. "Best to nip shite like this in the bud before the boys get foolish ideas in their heads."

"You and whomever help has our thanks, Mrs. O'Connor." Jonathan said as he accepted his set. He made his way over to the chair his coat was hung on. He laid the shirt over one arm, shaking out the pants.

The nurse nodded, "I'll leave you to it then, and I suppose I'll see you downstairs in a bit." She left the two men turned ponies to get dressed in peace.

It had taken the pair a bit to get dressed, Reid with the added hassle of getting his new wings through the holes in the back of his shirt. Geoffrey belted his scabbard to his new pants, digging around his bed for his scarf. Finding it, he quickly wrapped it around his neck, and made his way over to Reid and the door. The pair shared a look.

"Are you quite sure you're ready for this, hunter?" The ekon asked, wings rustling as he shifted nervously from hoof to hoof. He lightly tugged at the collar of his shirt.

McCullum snorted, leveling a look at Reid. "Aye, sure you're not the one stalling?" He yanked the door open, hooves clopping down the steps.

"Considering, as you said, I'm not entirely used to moving like this yet, let alone fighting, I'm not too keen on being down near some of your twitchier men should they deem this my fault." Jonathan snarked back to Geoffrey. His own hoof-steps far quieter than the hunter's.

O'Connor looked up from his research at one of the kitchen tables, eyebrow raised, as he saw his boss and the good doctor trot into the small space, Reid looking far more nervous. Francach, the man's pet rat, lazily looked up from his nest of a scarf, sat next to the large man.

That caused Jonathan to stop, blinking a few times in confusion. "You actually have a pet rat." He scratched at his beard as he looked at the scene before him. "Forgive me, but is it really sanitary to have a rat in a cooking space? Even if I'm sure you keep him very clean, Mr. O'Connor."

"Yes, Doc, it's safe." The large man replied, reaching one hand over to run a finger down the rodent's spine. He gave the pair a look, "To be honest, I wasn't expecting you two to be down quite so soon." Beamard turned as he watched his boss go to the stove, and serve himself some of the stew left warm on the burner.

McCullum waved a hoof after he sat at the table, blowing on the soup. "Figured it was best to get it over with early this time." He watched in slight amusement, idly stirring his soup as he watched Reid carefully pick his way over to the table, watching Francach carefully. "No eating O'Connor's pet, leech."

He gave the hunter an unamused and offended look. "I was planning no such thing, McCullum." Reid took a seat, carefully placing himself to keep an eye on the rodent. "It's more a habit from the war of keeping an eye out for rats." He shifted a bit in his seat, a slight grimace on his face. "They caused a great deal of havoc, and a number of soldiers developed musophobia. As such…" The ekon trailed off, waving a hoof.

"I understand, Dr. Reid," O'Connor closed his books, cleaning up the area he was working in. "But I assure you there's nothing to worry about with Francach." He stilled for a moment, "What was that about you possibly eating my pet, Doctor?" His tone dangerously polite.

Reid went very still, eyes not leaving the larger man's. "Ah, well, the subject of how I was to acquire sustenance while I'm like this came up, and when I mentioned I don't feed off of humans, well.." He trailed off, one hoof rubbing his fore-leg absentmindedly. "I've already promised not to go hunting for my usual blood source in or near Priwen."

The large Priwen lieutenant smiled, leaning back in his seat. "Then we'll not have any issues, Doctor." He let his attention wander between the two. "Now, wha-" Beamard was cut off by loud, excited boot-stomps heading towards the kitchen.

"Oh, boss! You're finally down from your office." One of the younger members of the guard, one Marianne James Francis McKinley, better known as 'Baby' or Mary from much teasing from Vincent and Vuka, came barreling around the corner. "Because I had some- wha…" The young man stopped, confusion plain on his face. He looked back and forth between O'Connor, and the two odd equines sitting at the table, wearing clothing no less. "Uhh, where's the boss, I thought…" McKinley eyed the horse, pony, whatever the equine that had a bowl of soup in front of it was. There was something familiar about the scarf around its neck.

McCullum pulled the spoon from his mouth and sat it down with a sigh, turning to face the young man, one foreleg propped over the back of the chair. "Yes, McKinley?"

The young man was stuck standing in a stupor, mouth gaping like a fish. His voice squeaking and cracking a few times before he finally managed to eke out "...Boss?" One hand trembling as he pointed to the pony in the scarf.

"Aye, there was something you wanted to talk with me about?" He arched an eyebrow at him, lips twitching as McCullum suppressed a smirk.

Reid merely propped his elbows on the table, resting his head on top of his crossed hooves. "I do believe you broke him, McCullum." He knew he shouldn't find it as amusing as he did, but, he may as well have some fun with his current unfortunate circumstances.

The voice coming from the other small, paler equine caused McKinley to jump, whipping his attention over to it. The toothy, fanged smirk the pony gave the young man, plus the voice, led him to stutter out, "D-d-doct-tor Reid?"

"Yes, Mr. McKinley?" Jonathan intoned, his face schooled back into something more professional. He sat up straighter, hooves tapping lightly together.

That was the tipping point for the young man, causing to fall like a sack of potatoes in a dead faint.

"Oh dear." Reid quickly pushed himself away from the table, using his abilities to shadow step over to McKinley. "I didn't expect him to faint." He took the man's wrist in one hoof, pressing the frog of his hoof over the pulse-point.

Babic and Bonner walked into the room at this point, taking in the scene before them. Vuka tilted his head, "Vhy is Baby on the floor?"

Vincent elbowed him in the side, leaning over to stage whisper, "The talking ponies were probably too much for him."

"I believe it was that the two talking equines were in fact, McCullum and myself that did it." Jonathan said, lifting up Marianne's eyelids to check his pupils. When he was satisfied with the brief check, he felt around the back of the young man's head for any damage while slipping into ekon sight just to be safe. Satisfied, Reid stepped back with a sigh. "I'd keep an eye on him, but aside from a rather sizable knot on the back of his head, I don't think Mr. McKinley's in any immediate danger." He turned to the pair watching in amusement, "Mr. Bonner, Mr. Babic, if you two would be so kind, could you help him to the infirmary for now? And do please tell the medics to keep a close watch on his head and behavior when he wakes up."

"Will do Doc- Shit!" Vinny started, bending over to help pick the younger man up, before his blood illness chose to act up, and Vincent began bleeding profusely from a very bad nosebleed. Unfortunately, A good bit wound up splashing onto Baby.

"Blast!" Reid went into full on doctor mode, "McCullum, please move Mr. McKinley to one of the nearby benches." He whipped around, waving a hoof at the Priwen leader, who was already moving over. Beamard was already going around to get some of the rags kept in the kitchen to help Vincent mop up the blood he was still losing. "Mr. O'Connor- Alright, you're already on that." Jonathan turned to Vuka and Vincent. "Alright, Mr. Babic, help me move Mr. Bonner to one of these seats." Reid joined Vukasin, rearing up to help the Serbian support and guide Vinny to a seat. The ekon kept his jaw clenched, fangs protruding more from his lips with fresh blood so close, but was resolutely ignoring it in favor of making sure everything was being dealt with. Once they got Vincent into a seat, Jonathan stepped back, quickly heading back up to McCullum's office. "Keep his head forward, and watch him. I'll be right back."

The sound of a pair of hooves going racing up the steps echoed as the group did their best to clean up all the blood. Geoffrey was handed a damp cloth to help clean McKinley as best he could while Vuka and Vinny sat at the table with a pile of rags to wait out the latter's nosebleed.

The first thing Mary felt when he started to stir awake was the back of his head throbbing, the second was a damp cloth whipping at something tacky against his skin. "Wha-" he mumbled.

"Easy lad, you took a nasty fall when you fainted," McCullum rumbled to the young man. "Don't move, almost got you cleaned up, the shirt and scarf might be a loss though." The hunter wondered how he got stuck doing this, one ear turned to the stairs where he could hear heavy items being placed on the floor. He turned to yell. "Reid, the hell are you doing up there?!"

"Taking the weapons out of my coat!" Jonathan hollered back down.

McKinley groaned, one hand coming up to cup his bruised head. "Boss, I just had the strangest dream…" He cracked one eye open, vision fuzzy but slowly going back into focus. "You an' the Doc where tiny... talking... horses..." He blinked as his eyes finally cleared up, and he was greeted by the sight of a tiny, odd horse that looked eerily like his boss looking at him, a bloodied rag in his hoof.

Getting the last bit of blood off, Geoffrey pulled his hoof back. "Not a dream, lad, just another feckin' curse." He hopped off the bench, clopping about on two hooves as he handed Beamard the bloodied cloth, the large man collecting the growing pile for the wash. He turned his attention back to the youngest member in the room. "I'd not get up if I were you, McKinley, I imagine he wants to give you and Bonner a better look over." One ear rotated back to listen better to everything going on upstairs. "If I had to guess, I'd say part of the reason Reid's emptying his damned coat of weapons is so he can bring all his medical tools in it down."

Muffled from the fresh cloth pressed to his face, Vincent had to ask, "Why does the Doc need all his tools?" His leg was shaking up and down with nervous energy.

Vuka sat beside him, a look of slight amusement on his face. "Bet good pony Doktore vants to make sure you're both okay." The large Serbian's face stretched into a mischievous grin. "Might even insist on bleeding you, hooves or no hooves."

The sniper pushed at Vuka as best he could, head still bent down to the table. "Don't joke about that!"

A mix of hoofsteps and the soft sound of shadows displacing air signaled Reid's return, his coat folded carefully in his forelegs. One eyebrow raised. "Mr Babic is correct on my desire to give both you and Mr. McKinley a more thorough examination." He placed the coat down in a free chair, rifling through his pockets. Once he was sure he knew where everything was, looked between Vincent and Marianne, eyes slipping into his ability to see blood.

The sight of Reid's eyes darkening caused Baby to utter a curse and scramble weakly to try and sit up from the bench, a need to get away from those predatory eyes looking at him.

Jonathan sighed, eyes closing as he rubbed at his temple, before opening them to reveal his normal pale blue-grey. "Ease, Mr. McKinley, I am merely trying to check that you do not have any excess blood pooling where it shouldn't be since you did take a rather nasty fall." The ekon held hooves up to show they were empty. "May I approach to get a better look?"

Mary bit back a whine and a curse as he made the mistake of trying to nod his head. "I.. I guess so, Dr. Reid." He chewed at his lower lip, "Can' you just, not do the eye thing where I can see it?"

With a sigh, Reid nodded his head, "I can do that, Mr. McKinley, and I can warn you if I need to look at the front of your head so you can close your eyes first, if that will help." He slowly made his way over to the young man, sitting next to the bench as he carefully took the young Priwen recruit's head in his hooves, lightly palpating it to check for anything below the bruising that may not have been immediately obvious after his fall. Using his abilities granted as an ekon, he checked McKinley's blood-flow. Jonathan started, removing his hooves from Mary's head, eyes fading back to normal as he stood. He walked around to check his eyes. He held a pen-light up in one hoof flicking it back and forth to check the man's pupils. Afterwards, he flipped it around in his hoof, the butt of the pen-light held up. "Follow the tip of this with just your eyes please." Pleased with the results, the doctor slid the penlight into his shirt pocket. "Well," he started, "you'll just have a rather nasty lump for a while, and I would recommend icing it for a bit, if you can, to reduce the swelling. But I don't believe you're in any immediate danger from your fall." He held up a hoof, "However, please do keep an eye on it, and talk with the medics at the first sign anything could be amiss."

"... 'Kay Doc," McKinley agreed, reaching out one hand to pat at the ekon-turned-equine's head. "Sorry, just…" He found himself playing with one of Reid's ears. "Just… trying to make sure this isn't some kinda' dream."

Reid gave another long suffering sigh, putting up with the young man's petting, if it would give him a sense of assurance. "Very well, Mr. McKinley."

The young man ran his fingers over Reid's short coat and along one large fuzzy ear before letting his hand fall, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. "Holy shit." He blinked a few times, before covering his face. "The boss and the Doc are both tiny talking horses." McKinley gave a half-choked laugh. "The strongest leech in the city and head of the largest vampire hunting group in the city." He snickered. "Itty ponies!"

"Baby, stop!" Vinny's muffled shout came from the pile of cloth on the table. "You make me laugh and I'm liable to start bleeding again!" His shoulders shaking showed he was fighting a losing battle on that front.

Vuka's lips twitched. "Is funny though." The large Serbian smirked. "Most dangerous people in city, adorable little horses." He had the biggest grin on his face at the chaos this would cause.

"I'm not above hitting you two in the chest again." Geoffrey growled out from where he'd taken up leaning against the table. He gave the pair of trouble-making captains a glare.

Reid rolled his eyes at the Guards antics. "Please refrain from hitting anyone until we've gotten a better measure of your current strength, McCullum." He pushed himself off the floor, making his way over to the sink to wash his hooves before checking on Vincent. "You may want to finish your stew before it gets colder." He stilled before shutting off the tap. "Or before the rest of your men get back from patrol and more insanity breaks out."

"Ah bullocks!" McCullum cursed, stomping about the kitchen before throwing himself in his chair and shoving a spoonful of cool soup back into his muzzle. He pulled the spoon from his mouth, pointing it at Vukasin and Vincent. "I'll have enough problems on my hands without you two stirring up more shite." Geoffrey jabbed it at both of them in turn. "So, BEHAVE."

Babic just grinned wider, "You sure you don't mean hooves, boss?"

Bonner blindly slapped at him, "Vuka PLEASE. I really don't want to wind up in the sewers right now!"

"I must ask that you not assign Mr. Bonner to sewer patrol this soon after an episode, McCullum." Reid said once he'd made his way back to the table, using his blood sight to check on Vincent's current state. "Well, barring any sudding force to your face, I'd say you've stopped bleeding for now." Cold hooves gently tugged at Vincent's head up to get a better look. "Should that still be the case in a few hours, I would recommend you come see either Nurse O'Connor or myself so we can siphon off just a bit more blood, as a precaution."

Vincent couldn't suppress a shiver. "Alright Doc, that still feels weird, by the way." Chilled hooves and the ghostly touches turning his head this way and that set the poor man's skin crawling a bit; but he did his best to sit still for the good doctor.

"So, good Doktore has enough skill vith hooves now to stick needle in Vinny to draw blood?" Vuka asked in a faux-bored tone, "Or you just bite him and deal vith two things at once?"

Jonathan gave Vuka the flattest look he could muster, pulling his hooves back. "Really now, Mr. Babic, please don't joke about things like that." He moved around the table, taking his own seat again, hooves folded in front of him. "Did I not already make it clear I refuse to feed from people?"

They sat for a bit in comfortable silence, only interrupted by the clink of spoons against bowls or the scratch of pen on paper. Of course, Vincent had a question he needed to ask. "So, the Doc doesn't feed on people, right?" At the ekon's weary nod, he continued, "So, if he bit the boss right now, would that be breaking that self-imposed rule?"

""BONNER!"" Was loudly exclaimed by the transformed pair, offence and exasperation plain to hear.

Vinny held his hands up in surrender, "It was just a question."

One of the head Chaplains, Bishop Gabriel Strother, found himself wondering why the boss had called a meeting this time, and why McKinley seemed fit to burst while they all were waiting. Bishop leaned over, "Do you know why McCullum called this, or why he had O'Connor do it?"

McKinley was all but vibrating in place. "Can't tell you, boss'd kill me." The young man clapped his hands over his mouth to muffle himself. Oh, he felt bad that McCullum had wound up cursed again, but the reactions from the rest of the Guard were going to be priceless.

Bishop stared at him, brows furrowed. "Mary, what do you kn-" He found himself cut off as more members of the Guard filled in, and O'Connor waited near the front, off to one side. He knew he was not the only one baffled when he heard a harsh clopping sound echo through the building. His jaw dropped as he watched the small, odd looking equine, wearing clothing no less, make its way to the front of the hall, and stand next to the large Priwen lieutenant. Bishop watched as the, he guessed it was a pony, seemed to watch the group impassively, as one of the more smart-mouthed members called out. "You got yourself a new pet, O'Connor?!" Baby seemed ready to burst as they watched one ear turn on the equine's head in the direction of the shout, before its head turned to pin the man with a glare that had no place being on an animal's face.

And then the pony opened its mouth. "Do you want to try that again, recruit?" Jaws dropped open as it clicked that not only had the horse just talked, but it had spoken with McCullum's voice. The Guards were dumbfounded as they watched the small, odd equine rear up and stand on its-no, his hindlegs, forelimbs crossed over his chest. Despite being on a foreign face and body, the expression and pose was undeniably Geoffrey. "Alright, listen up!" He barked out, "I'm sure many of you wondered why I called a meeting, though I hope that'd be obvious by now." He gave a snort of wry amusement. "The long and short of it is I've been cursed, again." He held a hoof out to forestall any questions. "There is a reason I don't let many folks help sort the archives, you're looking at one of them."

McCullum started pacing at the front of the gathering, hooves striking the ground loudly. "Now, aside from a change in appearance and a loss of about a foot of height, I am still myself, and still leader of the Guard." His lips pulled back in a less than kind smile. "If anyone thinks my temporary change in species makes me unfit to lead, you're more than welcome to voice your complaints, after I have my spar with the good Dr. Reid." Geoffrey watched the gobsmacked faces of his troops. "The spar will be out in the courtyard in a half hour, dismissed!" He turned and walked off, the clop of hooves trailing after him.

Baby burst out laughing after he thought it was safe. "Itty talking ponies!"

Bishop turned to McKinley, jaw working slowly, "Not again." His thoughts trailed off as his mind latched on to something Mary had said. "Ponies… as in more than one?"

Nodding furiously, he leaned over to the Chaplain, whispering. "Dr. Reid got caught in the curse too. Two most fearsome blokes in the city, ponies!"

The Chaplain sighed deeply, dragging one hand down his face. "Saints preserve us."