The Land of Flowers book 2 The Swan

Prologue

Phillip
"Well here we are."

Phillip stopped and and gave a realized sigh at his mother's words. After walking all the way without stopping from Poinsettia Kingdom to Lily Kingdom, he was relieved to finally take a breather. At time like these he missed being able to change between human and rat, where he mainly traveled by horse and only used his rat form to get through small areas.

That was until his goody goody stepbrother George somehow returned (with the nutcracker spell on him broken) came back and found that awful flute that stripped him and the rest of their kind of their abilities.

The first thing he planned to do once he gained his human form was get rid of goody stepbrother and his fiancé once and for all. But first they had to find the one thing that would them all to human form and immune to the magic flute, the jewel of transformation. Which is why they here in the first place, because it was located in Lily Kingdom. Now that they were here, he could relax.

"Oh thank goodness," said familiar female voice next to him. "It's don't think I can anymore. How can you guys handle doing this on such short legs?"

Phillip groaned. He forgot that there were two others with them. One who was the biggest pain in his side.

"Why are you still here anyway wench?" He asked her.

The female lilac colored rat that was slightly smaller than him, scowled in reply. "I want to reagin my other form too you know. Plus, I do have a name you know, your hignness." She said these last two words with a hint sarcasm.

"I do, but I prefer not to say it," he said with sneer.

"That's enough you two," said his mother. "Phillip you know I wanted Margaret to come because her skills are valuable to us. And Margaret, please try to be more nicer to my son since he will one day be your ruler. After all you did get along once when you were engaged, and hopefully one day you could be again."

Phillip and Margaret both glared and turned away from each other with a huff.

Him and her engaged? Not happening. Sure, he was ok with it originally, because she was gorgeous and wanted to turn against her best friend, who was also his stepbrother. She even came up with that brilliant plan to get the flute.

However, that appeal ended when their plan failed and they were banished from Poinsettia Kingdom. Now he was stuck with her because his mom suggested she had the makings of a rat.

"Uh your majesty," said the fourth member of their party, Heinrich, their longtime and loyal footman. "Are you sure this place is where the jewel is located?"

"Of course it is Heinrich," she said. "I memorized the map and I can assure that we will find it here. All we have to do is find the keeper of the jewel's and take it from him. Then we can take over another kingdom, showing that rats are superior to humans."

"But Mother," Phillip asked. "How are we supposed to find this Queen of the forest?"

He wasn't one to doubt his mother, but he had to admit it did seem pretty impossible.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," said a deep voice that was not his mother. "For the jewels aren't with her anymore."

They all turned as a tall man in a dark cloak suddenly appeared from brush. He was probably same height Phillip was in his human form, but since the latter was in rat form right now it was hard to be sure. It was also hard to see his face because it was covered by a hood.

"Who are you?" Asked his mother.

"Oh, just a sorcerer who has some business in this forest," the stranger replied nonchalantly.

"You can understand us?" Phillip asked in surprise. In rat form they weren't able to speak human language, only squeak like normal rats. So, how was this able to understand them?

"Of course because I used an language translation spell on myself," he replied. "That includes animals. I only use it in case I need to talk to any and I must have forget to remove it. Although, I am glad I did because the I wouldn't have heard your interesting conversation. You say you are looking for the Keeper of the Jewels? Why is that?"

"That none of your business!" Phillip snapped. He wasn't going to give info to someone he just met.

"I am just asking because I think we might be able to help each other," he said in assurance. "Like you I also want to take over the Land of Flowers and get rid of the goody goody queen of my home and heir idiotic son."

Phillip was about to refuse when his mother said, "Intriguing. What's in it for us?"

"You help me get get rid of the the current rulers here and become the most powerful sorcerer and the kingdom will be yours to take over with all its citizens to enslave."

Phillip had to admit that plan did sound like a good plan.

His mother thought so too because she said, "Very ingenious. However, we can't do anything until we are able to shift into our human form again with the Jewel of Transformation, and only the Queen of the forest has it. Which is why we are here."

"Fortunately for you," he replied. "You don't have to go to the Queen for doesn't have it anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say someone stole her jewels and some of her magic, thereby weakening her."

"So you mean to say we came here for nothing?" Margaret asked in anger and disbelief.

For once Phillip agreed with her because he felt the same. They came all this way from Poinsettia kingdom only to realize it was a wild goose chase?

"I would say that," replied the man. "Because I am the one who took them and happen to have almost all the jewels at home. I can give you the jewel of transformation, if you agree to help me with finding the last one? Do we have a deal?"

Phillip saw his mother think it over a little before a smile came over her face. "My dear good man," she said. "How could I say no to that?"