Jasper recognized his surroundings immediately. It was the Prince's Harem Quarters! It appeared that many of his concubines had been unable to escape during the coup; they stood around looking terrified. The only one who did not appear scared, and in fact looked angry, was Anya. The boy walked up to her without fear.
"Lady Anya, I hope that when the new King asks to whom you wish to be wed, you will request me," he said shyly. He held Jasper out. "I have brought you a gift."
Anya's eyes widened in recognition. She smiled politely at the boy.
"Thank you." She held out her hands. The boy carefully handed Jasper over. Anya scowled. "Now, leave. Before I tell one of the guards that you snuck in here." The boy rushed away, scurrying like Jasper's new species. Anya gently cupped Jasper in her hands and walked over to the other concubines. "Sisters, I have good news."
"What? You have a pet mouse?" snapped Tyffanie, a bombshell brunette with the largest butt in the harem. Anya smiled.
"This is not just any mouse. When I first heard rumors of displeasure in the kingdom, I gave the Prince a special amulet. If he was in danger, he could invoke it and be transformed to a new, safe shape." Anya held Jasper out. "This is him."
"Oh!" gasped the only other Witch concubine, Ysette. She tickled underneath Jasper's chin. "Yes! I can sense his life force!"
"Though he is relatively more endowed in this form," remarked the oldest concubine, Io. She stroked Jasper's head. "He is no less cute, however."
The other concubines crowded around, cooing over Jasper. Finally, Io spoke again.
"Anya, how do we return him to his true form?" she asked. "Or at least a form less likely to be stepped upon or caught by a cat?" Anya frowned.
"I do not know why he does not have the amulet upon him. It should have changed form with him. Unless for some reason my spell was corrupted." She shook her head. "Regardless. I need the amulet to revert him to his human form."
"How do we find the amulet?" asked Tyffanie.
"I suspect Jasper can tell us where it is. The only problem is..."