Temptation

Chapter 10
Chapter 10

“Temptation” Part 10

 

By Oni and Piper

 

 

Time stretches on for the shadow witch as she calms down, her breathing slowing in the cool night air even.  Reiko’s hands grip her shoulders as she rhythmically rocks forward and back, nails digging into soft flesh.  The pain brings her mind back, keeping her consciousness from drowning in shock despite the horror of what just happened; of the life she suspects she just unbirthed.  Shadow magic is rarely kind.  It can be heartless, cold, but it is never so destructive, so … evil.  The curse within her, within her friends, she can sense now just how dark it truly is no matter the shiny disguise of lost years returned.

 

Unknown to the witch, back at the house young Amara stirs in her sleep, having a troubled dream.

 

The good news, for Reiko at least, is she feels great.  In fact she feels as though she could rip the fabric of reality if she tried, never having sensed such power within before.  She tries not to think of exactly where that power came from, though as the seconds pass away it does help make her feel more accepting of her situation.

 

Fully calm now and feeling more mature than she has in hours the Kirasani sorceress rises and reforms the lost man’s discarded clothing into a copy of the original outfit she wore at the beginning of the day.  She decides to get some rest at the temple, knowing nothing can really be done until morning and that the cursed are still likely safe for now.  There are simply too many tired children to go traveling at this time of night, not to mention horny teens she thinks with a frown.  Of course, she plans to return early the next morning, a part of her secretly hoping the light of day will keep her level headed by making her illusion spells useless.

 

A couple of hours later Jym and Alyssa finally fall asleep in her bed, in each other's arms.

 

***

 

The dawn breaks, bringing the hope of renewal.  The first awake is little Killi, fully the wild child now in only his loincloth.  The barefoot boy explores his new environment quietly, naturally playing as if stalking an animal for the hunt.

 

The little boy sneaks into the room with Jym and Alyssa, the pair of nude teens resting against one another with the blanket nowhere to be found.  Killi stifles a giggle as what they were doing completely escapes him.  He then finds the little girls room, and instantly plots on how to get them to awaken squealing.

 

Unnoticed to Killi, despite Reiko's promises and hopes the shadow spells have not broken in the morning light.  Janice still looks like a little girl, and so does Jamie for that matter.

 

A few minutes later Jym and Alyssa awaken to the sounds of screaming little girls.  It takes a few moments for the startled pair of love birds to pull on long tunics and enter the main room.

 

Once there they hear the little ones, Hannah and Emmy, crying in their room, while they spot a naked Jamie and Janice chasing after Killi.  The former barbarian warrior looks especially small in the daylight though he still seems to be the age he was the night before, around seven.  He is still a bit larger than his pursuers, while the six year old Janice is smaller than her brother, though not by much.  It would seem that Jamie lost more age due to his struggles with first Alyssa then little Reiko.  The little boy also still looks very much like a little girl thanks to Reiko’s illusions, his hair still in pigtails.

 

Twelve year old Amara emerges from her room to see what is going on.  The blonde’s hair is unbraided and seems even longer than before, falling past her shoulders to her small breasts and the middle of her back.

 

"Girls, girls, what happened?" Amara yawns.  Sasha opens her door next, looking sleepy as well as surprised at the new editions to the guest list since she went to bed.

 

The siblings stumble against each other, coming up short.  "He tied our gowns together then woke us up," Janice complains.

 

"Yeah!" Jamie adds in a little girl’s voice. "He scared us."

 

Sasha looks at the pigtailed girl strangely.  "Jamie?" she asks.  For the first time Janice takes a good look at her 'brother'.

 

"Yah?" Jamie answers suddenly self conscious.  He crosses an arm across his chest and feels at the short pigtails with the other.

 

"You look like a ... "Sasha begins, slowly. 

 

"Little girl." Janice finishes.  Without a doubt, Jamie's nipples are pinker than they should be, and his childish 'equipment' is undoubtedly wrong.

 

"So do you!" Jamie accuses defensively, not yet recognizing his sister but reminding Janice that she was supposed to wake up as a woman.

 

Little Jan Jan looks down at herself, her eyes widening as she begins to panic.  "Where's the witch?" she shrieks.

 

Hearing the crying getting louder in Emelia's room Sasha adds, "Alyssa, please calm down Emmy and Hannah." just as Jamie looks down at ‘her’ body and releases an ear-piercing scream.  Alyssa nods and strides past the pair of apparent little girls as they proceed to freak out. 

 

Sasha kneels down and hugs them both.  "Now now, calm down.  And who are you little one?" she asks Janice.

 

"Where's Reiko?" Amara asks Jym suspiciously.  The young blonde’s eyes are slanted and her expression shows she is not happy to hear ‘the witch’ is involved in all this.

 

Alyssa finds Emmy at the door of her room, the two and a half year old sucking on a thumb with tears in her eyes, her footed sleeper still covering a large bulge.  "Me no baby.  No baby." The toddler whines to her younger sister.

 

"I’m Janice," the bare little girl replies to Sasha.  "I’m Jamie's little sister.  I'm supposed to be big now."  The child huddles, trying to cover up while meeting a stranger.

 

"Janice?" Jamie gasps softly after a moment of shock.

 

Sasha nods knowingly.  "Yes, big is what a lot of people here are supposed to be.  Let's get you two dressed first then we can sort things out.”  The woman takes both of their little hands and leads them back to Emmy’s room as Jym tells Amara where he sent Reiko.  After a moment John finds himself shooed up from the floor by the bigger sisters.

 

Shaking himself awake John looks horrified as Sasha tries to put Jamie in a dress.  "Just dress him as he was last night," he suggests.  "Don't waste clothing."

 

"But we have plenty of clothing, and she looks pretty in this.  Now out of the room please." Sasha says.  Confused at the ‘she’ comment John gets a good look at his brother's new body.

 

"That damn witch!" he curses.

 

"We'll get dressed and go to the temple if Reiko doesn't show up soon." Amara assures John.  "But, I can't see how she did this.  Her spells won't work in sunlight."

 

Hearing this Janice rushes to the window, bathing her small body in full sunlight.  Nothing changes as she waits, posing nude.

 

Sasha stares at the little girl.  "Not an illusion?  Maybe ... another miracle?  We never fed Jamie the milk the witch gave us either.  It seems there are other forces at work here." she says, moving to pluck little Jan Jan up.

 

Janice tries to resist.  "Hey!" she complains suddenly finding the large woman quite overbearing.

 

Sasha gives the girl a swat to her bared bottom.  "You need clothes."

 

"Don't touch me!" Janice complains.

 

Sasha rolls her eyes.  "Fine, run around naked.  You could learn from Jamie you know."

 

"I don't want to run around naked," Janice protests.  "I just don't want to be picked up or spanked!"

 

"Well I'm sorry, but it's just easier, and if you stay a child you’ll need to get used to it.  Now, will you let me dress you?" Sasha asks politely.  "We have many pretty dresses to choose from." 

 

"Okay," Janice agrees, feeling small and vulnerable.  Sasha holds up a few selections. 

 

Alyssa meanwhile is easily handling Hannah having already stripped the five year old.  The formerly youngest daughter prepares a yellow dress for her tiny mother.  On the bed Emmy whines as she tries to reach the buttons on her back. 

 

"Dun wanna weah baby stuff." The toddler complains.

 

Alyssa smirks at her babyish older sister.  "That's not baby stuff.  Now stop fussing, or I will get the real baby stuff, and you will be swaddled and diapered in no time."

 

Emmy stubbornly stamps her little feet and whines loudly, beginning a tantrum.  "No, no, no!"  Alyssa simply ignores her impotent little sister.

 

"Personally, I think she's less annoying now." Sasha jokes.

 

"That one's nice," Janice admits, blushing a little at the flowery blue dress.

 

A smiling Sasha helps Janice into it as Alyssa finishes with Hannah.  "There are plenty of toys in the shop you three, why don't you run along and play?  We'll call you for breakfast."

 

Alyssa looks a little worried however, seeing all four girls.  "Don't make a mess!" she calls out as they scamper off.  Jamie follows his sister and Hannah to the shop, surprised at how excited he feels to play.  He also doesn't think it strange that he looks at the dolls that are available.

 

To Sasha, Alyssa adds, "A lot of mouths to feed.  I hope they aren't all stuck that way."

 

"Well, only two are ours." Sasha points out while picking up the now whimpering and sniffling Emmy.  She unceremoniously unbuttons her tiny sister’s sleeper and reaches her fingers into Emmy’s diaper to find it is dry.  Buttoning it all back up she then pats the toddler’s padded bottom with an evil grin.  "All dry, but just for that tantrum Emelia, you're staying in your ‘baby’ clothes till you need a change.  Think about that next time you are tempted to act up."  

 

Emmy’s face scrunches up, ready to cry, but Sasha distracts her sister by bouncing the tot on her knee.

 

"John mentioned you wanted to keep Jamie," Alyssa says, changing the subject.  Sasha "That isn't true, is it?"

 

Sasha sighs, speaking softly even though the three kids have left.  "I did, I do, but I'm not stupid.  I can't marry a child, but I did fall for him.  I would be willing to raise him, but only if his family helped with the burden.  So, be nice to Janice and John, okay?"  After a moment Alyssa nods.

 

With Emmy on Sasha’s hip the three sisters return to the main room where John is still steaming, while Jym and Amara try to reason with him.  "In truth, we have no way of knowing what the curse may have done to Reiko or her powers." they hear Jym say.

 

"That makes her dangerous," John comments, implying that they must do something.

 

Amara holds her open palms towards them.  "Hold it now, IF she's doing this we talk to her.  She is reasonable and she has to know something is up."

 

"And if she likes it?" John demands.  "What then?"

 

Amara crosses her arms over her modest chest indignantly and glares at the boy.  "First of all, I've known her a long time; she is a lot more honorable than you think and than most people I've met.  Second, if she decides we are the enemy ..." the blonde looks down at herself.  "And she can do what we suspect we won't stop her by going at her directly."

 

***

 

Reiko awakes slowly, stretching and feeling warm and comfortable.  She finds herself feeling very relaxed, even giddy.  Her mood is broken however as she remembers last night.  Feeling uncomfortable she sits up after a moment and hugs her knees to her chest, closing her eyes until she can fully wake up and think of what to do.

 

She finds that the details of what happened are blurry, though she does recall the attack, and the result.  She touches her belly solemnly.  "I need to talk to Amara." she decides. After a moment she pictures herself asking the advice of a pristine little blonde girl, the image causing her to laugh.  "That is if she's even still capable."

 

The sorceress rises to pull her boots on and return to the shop.  "Well, Jym, Amara, I can't handle this alone." She whispers as she leaves the temple, arriving at the shop a few minutes later.

 

"Anyway, we'll have to keep her calm regardless." Amara finishes warning as Reiko knocks.  John crosses his arms and takes a deep breath.

 

When Sasha opens the door those inside are honestly surprised to find Reiko both adult and properly dressed, wearing her standard boots, trousers and top.  Granted, the dark skimpy outfit would only be considered proper clothing for a Kirasani, but it is certainly more mature than her attire from the night before. 

 

Reiko even asks Sasha politely if she may come in and once inside smiles at Amara.  "Good morning Blondie.  Um, we need to talk." she adds, sounding light headed.  To Amara she appears as if she is slightly drunk.  In her revealing clothing both Jym and Amara can tell that the witch actually looks older than the last time they saw her as an adult.  This of course makes Amara feel even younger

 

"Alone.  In private." Reiko finishes as John studies her sternly.  Looking back at him Reiko can't help but smile and do a little wave in her giddiness.

 

Little Janice and Jamie come out of the shop, each of them with dolls.  Reiko blinks in surprise and looks at the children strangely.  "Why is she still little?" the witch asks. Janice giggles at the funny look on the Kirasani’s face.

 

"We were hoping you could answer that," John states, biting off each word.

 

Reiko frowns at the accusing teen.  "Right, well, I'm not sure.  My spells may be more ... powerful."  She looks at Amara once more.  "Again, we need to talk."

 

Amara nods, takes Reiko by the hand and leads the sorceress into the shop, still possessing much of her commanding presence despite her new age.  The young Paladin motions for Jym to follow and also allows Killi to run ahead.  Once there they send Hannah and Emmy back before sitting down and waiting for Reiko to speak. 

 

Pausing a moment Reiko takes a deep breath, her giddiness fading, and begins.  "I  ...  I was attacked last night."

 

Jym and Amara look at each other in surprise.  "Are you okay?" Amara asks in concern.  Then she adds, "Is he okay?"

 

Reiko looks at them blankly then slowly shakes her head.  "I tried to stop it.  It scared me but it all just happened too fast and I didn't have my dagger and ..." she says, words streaming from her.  She seems worried, but not overly distraught.  Like a girl who knows she has done something bad but isn't feeling terribly guilty over it, only afraid of being punished.

 

Her party mates wait silently for her to finish.  Killi even comes up to her side and gives her a hug.

 

"As it happened, he got younger, and I ... got older.   Then I got him to drink from me, suckle from my breast.  It all worked, I felt safe, and angry.  Then ..." she describes the end, including her attempt to cut the cord.  "What is this evil curse?" she asks finally.

They simply stare at her however, even Killi.

 

"Yeah, that went well." Reiko mutters.

 

"You ... turned someone into a baby," Amara begins.

"And swallowed him?" Jym finishes.

 

"I'm not exactly happy about it!" the sorceress hisses, keeping her voice low.  “And I wouldn’t say swallowed, more like sucked in.  Heck, I don't even know who it was.  He grabbed me from behind and did it himself.  He turned into a boy with no help from me."

 

"Here's a thought," Amara dead-pans in her high voice.  "Keep your tits in your dress and don't feed anybody.  For that matter, get rid of the come-hither outfit.  I'm not saying it was your fault, but you can take pains to prevent it happening again; and another thing, no more going off on your own."

 

Reiko glares at the twelve year old.  "Exactly, it wasn't my fault." she bites.  "And I only left the shop because Jym told me to."  The Kirasani finds it rather funny that the demanding words come from such a young girl.  In fact she just barely keeps herself from laughing in the short skinny blonde’s delicate face.

 

Amara looks at Jym in surprise at the revelation.  “Jym?  You didn’t mention that.”

 

The teen squire tries to respond to his diminished mistress but can't for a moment.  Amara may look young, but is still confident and self-righteous beyond her appearance.

"....well." he begins.

 

Reiko rolls her eyes.  "Alyssa slipped him a horny love potion.  I tried to stop them but he sent me away so he could play with her free from my interference." Reiko says with her arms crossed.  She is glad the attention is off her and enjoys watching Jym squirm instead, like a brother getting the punishment.

 

"I see," Amara says slowly.  "Way to be the responsible one, Jym."

 

"Now that's not fair.  I could barely think straight." Jym replies.  Reiko gets a smug look.

 

"I think we have done more than enough damage here," Amara sums up.  "We have to leave town before the townsfolk decide there is foul play.”  The young blonde turns to address Reiko.  “Normally, I would turn you in myself, but it won't solve anything, and will keep us from stopping the bigger problem.

 

“What do you mean turn me in?” Reiko asks indignantly.  “For what, being cursed?  You are as well Blondie, might as well turn you in too.  And why are we cursed?  Because we went to a nice, safe, church approved temple for a blessing.” She points out, mocking Amara lightly.

 

"I should turn you in because somebody died," Amara points out bluntly. "There has to be an accounting for that and Killi and I haven't committed any crimes. Also, whether or not it was caused by a curse, turning you in would prevent another death.  Besides, that may have been a church, but it clearly was not a Church priestess we met."

"Then it is she who must be held accountable, yes?" Reiko checks.

 

Amara pauses, then nods in agreement, making Reiko feel relieved as well as giving them a tangible target.  “Before that however, is there anything you can do to undo your curses on these people?" the Paladin asks.

 

Reiko shrugs.  "They aren't curses, just spells.  It would seem the curse on me has affected them, first in how they made people feel, and now by not fading in the sunlight.  I should be able to remove them.  At least I hope.  Allow me to add that with his brother little that John may wish to join us on our quest of solution."

 

Amara blushes.  "That would be distracting.  I'll suggest that he'd be better off protecting his siblings until we return."

 

"Protect them from whom?  We would be gone." Reiko points out.

 

"From evils other than us," Amara comments dryly.  "Plus, they can't just go missing, or there would be a merchant family on a literal ‘Witch’ hunt."

 

Reiko blinks in comprehension and stands.  "Well, before we decide, I suppose I should go see if I can remove my spells from them." she adds with a nervous chuckle. 

 

Returning to the living area Reiko sits on the couch and calls Jamie and Janet over.  John holds his breath, she notices.  She decides to try and remove her changes to Jamie's appearance first, though with some sadness, finding she loves the way the former man looks in his pigtails and dress.  When she finds the former shadow spell however she notes it has changed significantly, becoming barely recognizable.  Being a true transformation spell she knows its duration is indefinite and that she has to cast a new spell just to disrupt it.  Therefore, it will take her some experimentation and time to figure out how to dismiss it

 

Furthermore, as Reiko works she realizes the counter spell she casts is pale in comparison to the magic it is now challenging, though it somehow manages to break the spell through her concentration, time and effort.  By the time she has dispelled the illusion on Janice, Reiko is feeling unfulfilled and very hungry.  She also finds that her work took nearly an hour to complete, not helped by the bored little boy’s squirming and whining.

At least little Jamie looks like a boy again, though a silly little boy in a dress.  Still, he has not asked for it to be taken off nor stopped playing with his dolly.  Reiko suspects the mental effects of her spell may be lingering.  Little Janice looks at her brother and giggles.

 

The grown-up sorceress however groans and lies back on the couch. "THAT was ridiculously hard." she complains to the others.  "It's like the magic doesn't want me to reverse it and it’s a lot stronger than what I’m hitting it with."  Standing she adds in an annoyed voice, "I need to eat."

"Well?  Did you change him back?" John demands.

Jan Jan takes the hem of Jamie's dress and flips it over his head for
all to see. "He's a boy!" she giggles again.

Reiko's voice comes from the kitchen. "We really need to get going back to that temple." she calls out.  As she eats Reiko finds the food fills her stomach, but a different hunger still remains.

"Couldn't agree with you more," Amara replies.

"Then we should leave now." Reiko's muffled voice adds.

Amara looks into the kitchen.  "As soon as you finish cleaning up here," her adolescent voice says firmly.  The blonde’s lesser mass means she has to more obviously put her weight against the door to open it, and she is still holding the door Reiko notices. 

 

The witch nonchalantly places her hand on the other side of the door and pushes, forcing it closed again.  "This is boring." she complains.  "Besides, we can save time by taking Jamie, Janice and John with us.  I can dispel Janice on the way, and what if the spells reoccur?  Best not to leave anyone behind." She preaches

 

"The more people we have, the slower we move," Amara points out, putting more force as well as her shoulder on the door.  "That, and there should be two of them as adults, one to go back home and keep that hunt from starting up, the other to come with us with Jamie."

 

Reiko finds she has to add a bit of push but easily keeps the door closed on Amara by leaning her one hand against it and eating with the other.  It is quite amusing her, never before having been stronger than the Paladin.  She also hopes Amara is childish enough to keep it up.  "And what of the other two little ones who were cursed?" she asks calmly, referring to Emmy and Hannah.

 

Amara gives a mighty shove, budging the door again and losing her cool.  "Reiko," she complains in her high pitch.  "Let me in!"

 

"Hmmmmm?" the witch asks lightly, as if she doesn't notice what she is doing.  "Oh, you can't get in?" she then teases.  "I'm just leaning with one hand."

 

The skinny Amara finds she can just keep the door open a few inches by bracing it with a small foot and puts her face near the gap.  "Apparently, you've gotten stronger." She grumbles. 

 

It is true, Reiko realizes, though she knows it has nothing to do with the little blonde’s difficulties.  "Perhaps." she admits.  Bending over Reiko uses her free hand to tickle Amara's bare foot, getting the girl to remove it from the gap.  "Want to see how strong?" she asks, challenging Amara.

 

"This is hardly the time or place," the miniature Paladin chides.

 

"Very well, I accept your surrender.” Reiko replies with an annoying smugness.

 

Gripping the floor with her bare feet, a suddenly determined Amara braces against the door and forces it open a few inches more.  She has never been one to surrender she thinks hotly, playing into the witch’s hands.

 

Reiko grins, allowing the door to open about a foot just to get ample room for more force in return.  She then leans her body to the door and pushes on it hard and fast.  The door closes with a slam.

 

Amara stumbles back, off balance for a moment.  She then blushes, feeling childish as everyone turns to look at her.

 

Reiko curiously opens the door just enough to peek out.  "Oh, were you trying to get in?  I didn't notice." she teases some more.  Amara seems even smaller to Reiko in her defeat.

 

The petite blonde stomps over and petulantly pushes the door open wider as her pale cheeks blush red.  Enjoying the game more than she should Reiko again allows the little Paladin some success, getting Amara to commit even more of her body to the effort before slamming the door on the poor girl much harder than before.

 

This time Amara stumbles back a few steps and drops to land on her bottom with a loud thud, her face showing utter shock at being practically lifted into the air by the force of the door.  Between her expression and her feet splayed before her, the little blonde appears rather pathetic.

 

Reiko opens the door again to spot Amara sprawled on the floor, rubbing her bottom.  "Now why are you playing on the floor silly girl?  Get up, we have work to do.  You should be helping to get the others ready." The witch scolds.

 

Amara scrambles to her feet and charges towards the kitchen.  "That is not funny!" she whines, starting to sniffle.

 

Reiko closes the door again just as Amara reaches it.  "I think it is." the witch jokes back.

 

Amara hits the door with her fist.  "Fine!  Be that way!" she huffs spitefully.

 

"Oh, don't throw a tantrum." Reiko teases.  "All you have to do is say the magic word.  Nice and polite.  Manners are important after all." she adds, returning advice the Paladin had given her many times before.

 

"I hate you!" Amara hisses at the door, and walks away.

 

Reiko sighs, feeling a bit guilty despite her fun.  She opens the door and asks softly, "Amara?"

 

Her tunic ruffled and her hair a mess poor Amara appears even younger and less intimidating than ever.  She glares sullenly at the large woman.

 

"I'm sorry." Reiko tells the girl honestly.  "I was just playing.  I thought you were enjoying it."

 

"How did you think-- never mind," Amara sighs.

 

Reiko nods simply in thanks.  "Anyway, look.  We can wait for me to take over an hour to reverse Janice or we can do it on the road later.  We'll need John to stop a manhunt, so that leaves Sasha and Alyssa looking after the little ones."

 

Amara sighs with resignation.  "And me."  She looks down at herself.  "I certainly won't be much help in a fight anymore."

 

"True, but you still help.” Reiko adds reassuringly.  “And I‘m sure you won’t need looking after.” She adds, misunderstanding Amara’s comment.  "Anyway, I'm going to finish eating.  You and Jym discuss and decide, okay?"

 

Amara gives her party mate a ‘Don't you dare pity me.’ glare.  "Fine." She bites.  The little Paladin looks to see Janice playfully chasing her giggling brother around the room, trying to pull his dress up again.  He still has the dolly.

 

The others have obviously listened to her conversation, looking to her to speak.  "So?" she asks.

 

Sasha bounces little Emmy in her arms as she sits.  "Well, I volunteer to watch after the little ones." The woman adds, looking straight at the blonde.  Amara knows Sasha is merely talking to her, but her worries cause her to imagine the woman is talking about her, including her as a ‘little one’.  "I can feed, dress, care for and discipline all of the children." Sasha adds, causing Amara to shudder at the sudden image in her mind of a towering Sasha swatting her bottom.

 

"I can come too." Alyssa adds.

 

"But do you have the discipline?" Amara debates with Sasha after a moment, recovering herself.  "There is still the question of how Jamie became the way he did, while under your care.”

 

Sasha frowns.  "I didn't feed him any of the witch’s potion, he just ... got younger.  I assumed a blessing, but now I'd guess it's this curse."  She thinks on the subject.  "And, if I am somehow capable of spreading this curse, do you truly want me staying here?" the woman counters, inadvertently intimidating Amara yet again

 

The blonde girl huffs then turns on Alyssa.  "And you, how far can we trust you?  Will you be distracting Jym at every turn?"

 

Alyssa holds up her hands defensively.  "No.  I promise.  Solving this is in my best interests as well."  The redhead glances at Emmy, "Well, except for little sis of course.  Emmy can stay small for all I care." 

 

Feeling her name is being taken in vain, Emmy glares at her huge baby sister sullenly.

 

"We do need the help if we are going to bring the kids.  And, breaking this curse may require something we can't bring back here, at least not quickly." Jym points out to Amara.  "We really need to all go."

 

"John?" Amara asks.  "Are you willing to call off any hunts for you and your siblings?"  The girl's higher, girlish voice is far less imposing than it used to be, though it still has authority.  "One of you has to send word back by messenger," Amara instructs, pacing thoughtfully.  "Sealed by the writer and indicating that all three of you have run off together for a while."  It is obvious the writer of that letter has to be John, especially since Janice and Jamie are currently occupied with a game of hide and seek.

 

"All right," John says slowly, fingering his signet ring.  He eyes the short yet imperious girl with some skepticism.

 

"Thank you." Jym adds.  "Sasha, you and Alyssa should get things ready for us to move.  Anything you think the kids will need."  Sasha sets about getting things, and the children, in order.

 

Amara sends Alyssa for some vellum paper and ink then watches carefully as John writes.

 

"What about the priest?" Jym asks Amara.

 

"He won't co-operate with us," Amara predicts, "and his presence here keeps the people believing he and they have been blessed.  We will have to come back later for him."

 

Reiko returns from the kitchen barefoot having left her footwear behind.  She finds it feels good to have her skin caress the floor again. "Where are your boots?" Amara asks. 

 

The witch shrugs.  "I dunno.  Must have forgotten them at the temple." she murfles around her food.  Reiko lifts a foot and wiggles her toes at Amara, who decides to drop the subject, despite the fact the blonde knows Reiko showed up at the door in boots.  It is a sure sign that the shrunken Paladin is growing more timid, Reiko thinks.  Happily she also notes that Amara herself is still bare foot.  "You should probably protect those tender soles however little girl." she tells the blonde.  Amara's feet are small and have a rosy look to them, making it obvious that they belong to a girl, not a woman.

 

"I have boots for the journey," Amara retorts.  “And I’m not a little girl.”

 

"I know dear." Reiko says overly calmly.

 

"Don't start," Amara says slowly, and turns to walk away.

 

Reiko just grins at her back silently. 

 

In short order Amara has pulled her dress from the day before back on, this time with undergarments, but she is still barefoot.

 

Sasha notices and brings the Paladin a pair of dainty girl's shoes to wear.  They are more slippers than proper walking shoes, and nothing like the fine boots she lost in the woods.  Amara grimaces, but puts them on with her thanks.  Sasha sizes up the blonde as she does so, gauging her age and size.

 

Reiko walks over to join them.  "She'll need new clothes." she tells Sasha.

 

"These are fine," Amara sighs.

 

Sasha fingers the loose cloth over the girl’s shoulders.  "No, they aren't." the seamstress decides.

 

Amara slaps the woman’s hand away.  "They will do.  We have more important things to do than to cost these women more clothing!"

 

Sasha shrugs.  "Actually, you'd be giving your current dress back, so no difference.  But your choice." she adds, moving back to her charges.

 

"It needs nothing a little hemming can't provide," Amara says firmly to Sasha’s retreating back.  She then self-consciously moves the loose sides of the dress higher on her shoulders.

 

"You tell her." Reiko comments.

 

"Besides," Amara grumps, "It took me most of an hour to choose this dress last night.  I will not be wasting any more time on that!"

 

Reiko remembers the little girl’s dress she already bought for Amara behind the blonde’s back yesterday.  She can't wait till the little Paladin has no choice but to wear what she is given and Amara doesn't look like she has too far to fall.

 

"Absolutely," Reiko nods.  "Um, you took an hour?  Nice dress though."

 

"Alyssa was 'helping'," Amara admits.

 

"Right," Reiko adds through pursed lips.  "I'll go check my pack.  I must have left my boots in there."  Despite the comfort of going barefoot Reiko retrieves her boots from the kitchen and pulls them on.  She will need them for the road she knows.  She does check her pack first, but for Amara’s future dress of course.

 

Sasha has the children on the floor eating some breakfast before they leave, though little Janet at the moment seems more occupied by her toes.  Sasha gives the little girl a light swat to the back of the head to get her attention, causing the six year old to blush.

 

"Haven't gone barefoot in a while," Janet murmurs sheepishly.

 

Jamie wiggles his own toes.  "Yeah, kinda nice, huh?" he asks, to which Janice giggles and touches her bare foot to his knee.  The 'kids' are both eager to go on a trip, for Jamie especially it means less chance of being stuck here as Sasha's little boy.  Though it is clear he will be her little boy for the trip itself.

 

For Reiko, the witch finds even the softest material feels rough on her sensitive nipples.  As skimpy as her outfit is, it unfortunately does not bare her breasts.  She sighs, hoping she can remove her top in the wilds of the trip. 

 

Amara's dress still looks loose to Reiko, but she keeps quiet about that, knowing the Paladin is being childishly stubborn and will have that decision backfire on her.  The other children have been given nice traveling clothes, which Amara in effect refused.  When the blonde becomes too small for her outfit, her only alternative will be the thin dress Reiko picked for her.

 

Jym confronts Reiko with a steady serious expression.  "Can you 'fix' Janice now, or will that make you too tired for the trip?" he asks.  "Be honest."

 

Reiko thinks.  "Honestly?  Without horses ... I'd probably be exhausted soon after fixing her." she admits.  "I suppose I could shrink down and get carried." she ponders with a small smile.  "But, I think you'll be occupied with the other little ones.  And, you have to admit I'm the only real protection we have against bandits right now."

 

Jym looks over at Janice.  "Children make traveling harder," he ponders.  "Would we fare better if she wasn't little?"

 

Reiko shrugs.  "But then we wait another hour, at least.  I can just age her tonight." she points out.  "And I'll carry her if you wish."

 

Jym gives her look then touches a nipple though her top, making her wince and pull away.  "You'd have to carry her on your back," he points out.  "I saw how tender you've been acting.  They’re acting up again aren’t they?"

 

The witch she sighs and nods.  "I'm sensitive, and getting more so.  Honestly ..." she repeats the word.  "I'd rather be naked."

 

"Not here, not now," Jym comments.

 

"Of course not, but on the road...?" she asks still deferring to him.

 

"If you get the chance and aren’t obvious," Jym hypothesizes.  "You should try to stay out of casual sight."

 

Reiko nods.  "Thanks.  I can probably make it just look like I have clothing as well, though perhaps I should not use any illusion spells unless I feel I have to.”

 

"If we stick to the roads, it will take us longer to travel, but we could use a wagon," Jym considers.  "I don't know how much use our pathfinder will be though.”  He adds, looking at the little barbarian wild child.

 

Little Killi is climbing up the back of a chair, still dressed only in a loincloth.  "Right, wagon it is.  Well, let's go get one.  Alyssa," Jym calls.  "Please rent, borrow or beg us a wagon."

 

"Will you be pulling it yourself?" Alyssa asks with polite humor.

 

"It is a good point.  How do we get a horse?" Reiko asks.

 

"I'll get a deer!" Killi exclaims.  The little boy tries to run for the door but Reiko casually catches his arm.  He keeps trying to playfully break free however.

 

"He has in the past," Jym admits.  "And he'd be even less threatening to them now."

 

Reiko laughs.  "True.  It'd be cute.  But we still need a horse.  I could steal one."

 

Jym simply glares at her.

 

"Fine, then give me another option." she says back at his look.

 

Jym sighs.  "Let's try to get a deer first then we'll see."

 

"Very well," Reiko relents, "Though it better be tame." she tells Killi, letting the boy go. "I'll go follow him." The sorceress adds moving stiffly to the door the boy has just run out of.  The motion of walking jostles her breasts, making them rub.  Thankfully, the skimpy top mostly moves with their bounce allowing the sensations to be just bearable.

 

Killi hustles along outside forcing Reiko to walk briskly to keep up.  Still, when the boy was bigger he was impossible to pace. 

 

The sleepy little town is quiet, allowing them to leave its limits without interruption.  Once beyond those borders Reiko happily removes her top, then after a few moments her pants as well  She leaves only her boots on, not wanting to step on anything in the woods.  Her nipples greet the cool air of the forest with relief.

 

The other reason she came is that while she thinks the boy capable of catching a deer, holding one is another matter.  She expects to have to trance the animal with her magic.

 

The minutes stretch out as they make their way carefully through the forest, the grass and leaves caressing Reiko's bare legs and bottom.  The sorceress starts noticing the smell of breast milk wafting up to her nose.  She frowns, finding it more an annoyance than anything else. 

 

Killi crouches next to the edge of a clearing and studies a strong buck grazing on the grass in the open sunlight.  Reiko watches, having always enjoyed this.

 

The boy has removed his loincloth, his dark tanned skin blending well with the forest's shadows.  He looks much more like an animal as he slinks forward, crouched low.  At his current size, he easily stays below the height of the long grass.  Reiko thinks her former lover looks adorable, though she’d much rather he were still an adult, such fun they could be having at the moment.

 

He starts making soft clucking noises, catching the steer's attention.  It looks uncertainly at the small figure in the grass, though it starts to relax when it sees that Killi is not moving closer and seems passive.  Killi moves closer eventually, his body language indicating submissive behavior.  When he stands up, the top of his head doesn't even come to the steer's nose.

 

He reaches up a little hand and touches the steer's nose continuing to chitter and cluck at it, earning its trust.  For the first time, Reiko understands that his skill with animals isn't about intimidating them with his manliness.  In fact, he seems to be better at it now.

 

Killi spends another hour with the steer, somehow hopping onto its back and teaching it how to accept signals to turn, move, and stop.  The boy happily steers the steer back toward town, completely forgetting about his clothing.

 

Reiko makes sure to pick the loincloth up, and puts her own clothing back on with regret once they reach the outskirts of the town again. 

 

Killi stops short of town on a game trail, keeping the steer from the smells of humanity.  He lies forward on its back and starts petting it.

 

"I'll find out where the wagon will be." Reiko tells him, handing back his clothing, then returning to the shop.  Everyone there is ready to go. 

 

"The cart is at a granary just outside of town," Jym mentions.

 

"I'll get Killi there.  He got a nice buck." Reiko adds.

 

"A nice butt?!" Janice squeals.

 

"Buck." both Jym and Reiko correct in unison.  The little girls giggle anyway.

 

As Reiko experiences the unbearable rubbing of her clothing yet again she feels some envy for the freedom the naked Killi is experiencing and wonders if she wouldn't be better off little like him, her breasts out of commission.  When she finds the boy again she desperately decides to at least use a spell to make it look like she is wearing clothing. 

 

Reiko removes her top then uses as mild an illusion as she can to make a shadow garment appear in its place.  She is happy to find the spell can indeed withstand the light of day then starts to pull herself up and onto the buck.

 

Killi stops her from leaping up however.  "It's not used to labor," he whispers.  "More weight will hurt its back."

 

Reiko pauses and after a moment she also finds that while the disguise changes her appearance it does nothing to reduce the irritation in her nipples.  Disgruntled she begins to plan a more realistic, and certainly more curse affected spell, one that will change her appearance back into a ten year old girl.  "I can get lighter." she points out.

 

Killi looks uncertain.  "Well..."  He looks like a boy being told to share a toy.

 

"Oh, he can handle it." she assures.  “C'mon Killi, it's nice to share."  Reiko casts her youth spell, shimmering for a moment.  Casting the stronger spell increases her hunger, but at least she feels it is more reliable.  Her sexual hunger thankfully diminishes until she can no longer feel the irritation on her nipples.  The little Kirasani girl releases a contented sigh.

 

"Okay," Killi relents.  "But only until we hook him up to the wagon.  And you need to be smaller than that."

 

Reiko pretends to be annoyed then reduces herself slowly, stopping at age seven when Killi tells her she is small enough.  She keeps herself mostly naked, morphing her boots and bottom into short pants, leaving her barefoot.  Her top becomes a small tunic which drops past her bottom.

 

The steer is incredibly huge to her now and Killi can barely reach down and take her hand.  She finds herself enjoying the difficulty of climbing however and even giggles as Killi hauls her up, her now bare feet having to walk up the steer's fuzzy flank.

 

He sits her behind him and straightens, having had to lean most of the way over the other side to support her weight.  He then uses his toes to direct the steer toward the granary. Little Reiko keeps her arms around Killi's naked waist and enjoys the unusual, bumpy ride.

 

Jym looks a bit surprised and worried at Reiko’s change when she gets there.

 

"Isn't it pretty?" Killi asks Jym, oblivious to the squire’s concerns.

 

"Another disguise?" Jym asks, reaching up for Reiko.

 

The little girl shakes her head and pipes, "A solution, for now at least."  She allows Jym to lift her off the mount, loving the sensation.  The teen carries her over to the wagon and stands her in it, causing Reiko to wonder if her strong spell actually did make her lighter.

 

It is a very strange feeling for Reiko to be standing so short in the wagon, her thin arms holding onto the wooden plank on the side.  The once seductive sorceress can't remember ever feeling so sexless, which is of course by design.  Relaxing she turns and smiles at Janice and Jamie who are about the same size as her now, then grins at the smaller Hannah.

 

"Are you the witch?" Janice asks innocently.

 

The witchling nods, "Yup.  Wanna play?" she adds, knowing little Janice’s mind is quite childish right now, though the idea of playing with the other girl seems quite wonderful to little Reiko as well.

 

Janice looks a little scared however.  "Play what?" she asks cautiously.

 

"With toys silly," Reiko smiles.

 

Janice’s eyes light up, "Toys?"

 

Reiko turns to the younger Hannah.  "Please tell me you asked Sasha to bring some." she says, truly feeling the desire to play with some dolls.

 

Hannah shrugs apologetically then her expression brightens when she spots Sasha with their travel goods, dolls among them.  The tiny former mommy literally hops up and down in excitement as her adult daughter approaches. 

 

Sasha dumps the multiple toys into the wagon and spreads them out, the little witchling quickly grabbing a dark haired cloth dolly and hugging it to her chest happily.  The little Kirasani girl is thrilled she can just play and no longer has to worry about prepping things to leave like the big people.  The adult reasoning and concern about their shared curse from the night before seems to have completely vanished from little Reiko just as the night vanishes before the dawn.

 

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