Once the circle of power was completed, he turned his attention to the witch. Not much of a witch. Barely a witch, despite the initial stink of magic he’d sensed when she was revealed to him. If she’d been merely a hedge witch, she would have been no use to him. He would have handed her over to the guards to enjoy. But she had enough connection with the branch of earth that he could use her as a channel for power. Her own strength might not have been enough to transform all five of the creatures, but the land here was saturated with magic, more than he’d felt anywhere else. So she would be his tool for draining that power to feed his spell.

More whimpers from inside the cage. The witch, bridled and blindfolded, whimpered too.

Placing his right hand on her shoulder, Adolfo began draining the magic out of her, drawing it into himself. Tapping into the power in the land once he’d drained her own pittance of magic. More. And more, until he was so swollen with power he thought his skin would burst.

Then he raised his hand and released the power in a fierce wave, twisting it as he sent it flying into the cage, as he said the words, “Twist and change. Change and twist. Become what I would make of thee. As I will, so mote it be.”

Power crashed into the cage, snapping a few of the wooden bars as it sought living flesh. It crackled in a way that grated on the ears, dazzled the eyes with tiny bolts of lightning.

Finally, the power he’d gathered was spent. He waited, listening. When he heard faint stirrings from inside the cage, he released his breath in a deep sigh of satisfaction. He hadn’t been sure these creatures would survive the transformation. They were much larger than the squirrels or birds that were usually changed when Inquisitors twisted magic and sent it back into the world. It would take longer for the transformation to be complete.

Adolfo looked up at the patch of sky visible between the trees. He would wait an hour or two before checking on the progress of his new creations. The guards who had been selected for the next step would need the cover of darkness to ride through enemy territory to deliver his gifts to Baron Liam and the witches in the Old Place, so there was no hurry. There was time for a meal and a glass or two of wine.

After one dismissive glance at the witch, still bound and blindfolded, he walked away from the clearing.