Week 5 Story: The Calf

Inaya had taught herself magic at a very young age, much younger than most people would consider advisable. Her father had fretted constantly, and tried to persuade her to wait until she was older. Her mother had hovered and reminded her to be careful at least five times a day. Alishba, Inaya's childhood friend, had been gratifyingly excited whenever Inaya successfully pulled off a new spell, but had mostly sat by and complained about being bored she was while Inaya tried to practice.

It occurred to Inaya, as she stared at Alishba in horrified shock, that the other girl would probably be glad soon that she had practiced so much when they were younger.

Inaya was looking at a calf. It was pretty, as far as calves go, but there was nothing very special about its physical appearance. Most people wouldn't see anything out of the ordinary about it.

                                      

But Inaya's skill with magic allowed her to catch glimpses of people's spirits, and she clearly saw that the cow was unmistakably Alishba. The two had been inseparable for nearly their entire lives, and recently had started dating. Inaya would recognize Alishba in any form.

"Alishba, dear, why are you a cow?" Inaya asked.

Alishba mooed in response. Inaya wasn't sure why she had expected anything else.

"You can explain when you're human again. Give me just a moment."

Inaya laid her hand on Alishba's furry forehead and, closing her eyes, chanted a spell to reverse transformations. When she opened her eyes, however, nothing had changed.

Alishba gave the saddest moo Inaya had ever heard.

"Don't worry," she said. "I know what went wrong. The spell was cast specifically to fool one person, probably your father, so it can't be lifted until he realizes you've been transformed. I'll just tell him, then turn you back."

Inaya sent her father to tell Alishba's father what had happened. When the two men arrived, Inaya recited another spell, this time over a pitcher of water that she threw on Alishba, washing away the curse that had been put on her. In an instant, Alishba was fully human again.

Alishba's father immediately pulled her into a long hug. The moment he let go Alishba ran and threw herself into Inaya's arms, giving her a kiss before pulling her into a tight embrace. Inaya held Alishba, filled with relief that she had been able to change her back. In a little while, Inaya might turn her thoughts toward getting revenge against whoever had transformed Alishba, but for the moment she just enjoyed their reunion.

Author's Note: In the original story, The Hind, from the Arabian Nights, an old man tells the story of how his wife turned their adopted son into a calf and tried to trick him into sacrificing the calf. He refuses to do so, and then the daughter of one of his employees tells him that the calf is his son and reverses the spell in exchange for the son's hand in marriage and permission to place a curse on the old man's wife.

Image: Calf photo