The Articulum Part 2 By: Lance Holloway On the secluded mountain top, a castle stood. Lush ivy covered the well maintained stone walls. The garden was well groomed as well. Swurg like it that way. He loved his garden. He didn't like having a filthy castle like the other "bad guys" did. He just couldn't understand how they could live like that. Swurg walked from the balcony overlooking the garden and entered his throne room. He was expecting a messenger to bring him the news anytime now. Hopefully it is good news. His attack the previous night on Lortanell proved worthless. The Norrom seekers had left the city before his dirt men arrived. That started the day off badly. Swurg hated using the phone himself. He liked to speak to people face to face. So, he had his servants use the phone. For some of his servants, that is as close as they will get to talking to someone. The door to the throne room started to open. Swurg casually strolled to his throne and sat down. A man's head poked around the corner. Swurg motioned him to enter. The man slowly entered and closed the door behind him. "Master, I have important news," the servant said. Swurg just nodded. The servant swallowed. "We just received a call saying that the new Norrom has been discovered." "What?!" Swurg shouted. He new he was to receive an important message, but he didn't know it would be this. "This is terrible. Are you sure?" The day was getting worse. "Y-yes, sir. I heard it myself." "Well, then maybe you need better ears," Swurg said with an twisted grin. Fright spread across the mans face. His ears turned gray and grew humongous. He man continued to stare at Swurg not noticing his new elephant ears. Swurg waited for the man to realize what had happened. But, the servant was completely oblivious of the change. Swurg grew tired of this, so he pointed to his ears and then at the man. The man looked confused then turned to look. He still didn't notice since his ears moved with his head. Swurg jerked on his own ears. The man slowly reached up and felt of his. His eyes grew wide with horror as he felt the leathery ears. "Th-thank you, Master. They will be a tremendous help," the servant sputtered out. "You are dismissed," Swurg said making a shooing motion. The man turned and walked out of the throne room still examining his new ears. Swurg liked doing that to people. The only problem was that he could do that to people that were loyal to him. But that was a minor problem compared to what the man said. Somehow he was going to have to destroy the Norrom before the Norrom could claim his destiny. The Norrom must be on his way to receive the Articulum now. "The Articulum," Swurg said out loud. The Articulum gives the Norrom the power to be the world's leader. It could be used only by the Norrom. But, somewhere Swurg had heard of another use for it. But what? Swurg hurried out of the throne room and down the hall to the library. One of the old tomes had the information. He pulled the first volume of "Spells and Stuff" and looked up Articulum in the index. It would have been quicker if Swurg had put all the books in a computer, but he liked the old way better. It had more of a since of accomplishment. He thumbed to the page listed and found what he wanted. The Articulum could be used with the following ritual to gain magic over all people. This is what Swurg was hoping for. If he could get the Articulum, he could be the ruler instead of the Norrom. But, that is going to be tricky. Only the Norrom can find the Articulum. He is just going to have to follow the Norrom, and let the Norrom lead him to the Articulum. Then he will destroy the Norrom and take the Articulum. The day was turning out better. ---------------------------- The journey started out great. Turlon enjoyed traveling. He had always dreamed of going on an adventure. And now he is on one. That was be fine, but the goal of the adventure is what Turlon dreaded. He didn't want to be Norrom. He didn't want to be ruler of the world. He didn't want to be part animal. He wanted to be Turlon the average. He wanted to be Turlon the normal. He wanted to be Turlon. The other two boys thought Turlon being the Norrom was wonderful. Peten always wanted to know what it feels like knowing that you are the ruler of the world. Jamk just thought it was neat to know the Norrom. Even though Turlon wouldn't like the outcome of the journey, he wanted to complete it. The sooner Swurg can be disposed of, the better. He just didn't like the idea that he had to do it. "This horse is the worst!" Jamk interrupted Turlon's thoughts. Turlon didn't mind. He was starting to depress himself. "Don't you complain about Arna," Peten jumped in. "She is a great horse." "But, she doesn't ride well," Jamk fussed. "To bad you couldn't have brought along a video game. You wouldn't even notice you were riding a horse," Peten snickered. Jamk glared at Peten. The past few days were really getting to the three of them. One little remark will set them arguing for hours. Eventually it will blow over. At least Turlon hoped it does. "But, she still doesn't ride well," Jamk added. Suddenly, Jamk's horse bucked Jamk off the saddle. Jamk fell on his back and slowly sat up. Arna had turned around to face him. Turlon and Peten stopped their horses and turned to watch. "Stupid horse," Jamk said. "Stupid?" Arna said. All three boys' eyes grew with surprise. Arna walked toward Jamk. Jamk sat on the ground in terror. "I'm not a stupid horse!" she said standing over Jamk. But, she seemed to be shorter than before. Then the three noticed that Arna was shrinking. The saddle slipped off her and fell to the ground. Her equine features reformed into that of a human. A beautiful woman with black hair was in the place Arna was a few moments ago. Clothes magically appeared on her body. She still stood over the shocked Jamk. Jamk looked up at the woman. He started to say something, but only a horse's whinney emerged from his mouth. His face pushed forward into that of a horse's face. His hands and feet became hooves. His clothes ripped as his body expanded to the size of a large stallion. Still laying on the ground Jamk looked at his new body. His horse's eyes were so wide the white was showing. "Now, I will see how good of a riding horse you are," the woman said. Jamk struggled to get up on all fours. He finally made it, and galloped over to where Turlon and Peten were. Turlon was terrified. He had just seen his friend get turned into a horse by a horse that turned into a woman. "Don't worry, Turlon and Peten. I am just going to change Jamk," the woman said. "His complaining got the best of me." She let out a horsy laugh. The two boys didn't say anything. Their eyes were glued to her. "I said, 'Don't Worry'," she repeated. "I am not going to change you into horses." The boys stayed silent. "It's still me. I am Arna. I'm just a human now." "Ch-change him back," Peten sputtered. "I can't. It's the rules of the spell. Either I'm a horse or Jamk is. And I think you would prefer me being human. I am much more experienced than your friend. I've been on so many adventures that I've lost count." "But, Jamk doesn't want to be a horse," Turlon said. He finally got up the nerve to say something. "How do you know?" Arna asked. They looked at Jamk. He shook his head. "Oh, give it a try. I've been a horse for years. It's pretty fun." The two boys looked at their horse friend and back at Arna. "Oh. all right. I'll at least give him his voice back." Jamk tried to talk resulting only in horse sounds. Then the human voice came out. ".... be a horse. Good, I can talk now." His voice didn't sound anything like he use to. It sounded like a horse if a horse could talk. "Change me back!" "I told you I can't," Arna said. "You said either I'm a horse or you are. So, just change into a horse and change me back." "That's not the only rules of the spell. I can't change back into a horse until a week from now." "What!?" the boys and Jamk shouted. "I can't cast the transformation spell until a week has passed. You are just going to have to get use to being a horse," she said. "But, I don't want to be a horse," Jamk protested. "Quit your whining," Arna said picking up the saddle. After a few attempts, she managed to let Jamk put it on his back. She then mounted. "Ok. Let's get on with the journey." Peten and Turlon didn't move. Arna waited and then instructed Jamk to start walking. Turlon followed and Peten went next. Turlon was surprised that Jamk had taken to walking on four legs quite easily. Now, he just needed to get used to the fact that Jamk was now a horse.