WITCH - The Queen

Chapter 51

Julia

They didn't have to wait long for a white dragon to fly toward them.

Both tents were set up, and Marko was filling up the water bottles when Finn spotted the dragon in the sky. Of course, Fiete and Josefine had already smelled it, and Fiete admonished his niece to be polite. Josefine was unimpressed.

"As long as no one threatens Julia", she finally muttered. Fiete could not achieve more. Julia looked nervously at the dragon. Would everything go well? Fiete had been banished...

The dragon landed growling in front of their camp and looked at the group. Cleo held her hand by the hilt of the sword, and Charlotte tried to hide behind one of the tents. But she also clutched her sword. Peter stared open-mouthed at the strange dragon, which Fiete was now approaching. Josefine stood with Julia and Leopold.

"Trixi! Hello!", said Fiete, smiling.

The white dragon rumbled, Peter flinched, then the reptile turned into a human. In front of them stood a woman with blond hair and a scar that ran across her face. "Fiete? I'm surprised to see you here. And together with humans and..." Her gaze fell on Josefine. "Is that Saira's child?" Josefine grumbled softly.

"Yes, this is Josefine. My niece!" Julia did not fail to notice how proud Fiete sounded when he said this. But Trixi grimaced.

"Fiete? You are no longer wanted here. Go back! And take the child with you. And... Why do you have a group of humans and others with you? What's the point of this?"

Fiete sighed and beckoned Julia to him. Josefine followed her like a shadow. Restlessly, Peter stood next to Leopold and nibbled on his fingernails. Leopold stroked his arm reassuringly, but he also seemed nervous. Marko, who was sitting next to Finn now, growled softly.

A cold shiver ran down Julia's spine as Trixi looked at her suspiciously. Fiete quickly pulled her towards him and put an arm around Julia's shoulders. "This is Princess Julia. We are on our way to the harpies and have to cross the mountains. Therefore, we ask to be allowed to enter the mountains."

Julia tried to appear self-confident, but she wanted to hide behind Fiete.

Trixi sniffed the air and grimaced thoughtfully. "But that's not all, is it?", she said, growling. "I can smell magic. The girl is a witch and... You're bound to her, Fiete." Trixi turned pale. "This hasn't happened for a long time... And... Is Saira's child too... But she is a black dragon! Such a covenant is not possible for black dragons!"

Josefine growled softly until Julia resolutely reached for her hand. She faced the dragon with her head held high. "She's half white dragon, so she can have such a covenant. The harpies are already waiting for us. Josefine will not endanger anyone."

"You can't promise that, child. And... As for the harpies, we have a shaky peace treaty with them. I can't imagine that they are expecting you all. They never cross the mountains", Trixi contradicted.

"Julia can promise it!", hissed Josefine. "Just because I'm half black dragon doesn't mean I'll kill everyone I see! And Julia talked to the harpies. With magic! They await our coming. Your peace treaty is not in danger! But you are, if you don't let us cross the mountains!"

Trixi raised her eyebrows. "Is that a threat?"

"No. The truth", Julia said quickly, before Josefine could answer anything false. Her friend was seething with anger. "My mother plans to make weapons that can hurt dragons. She will attack the steppe, and nothing will stop her from attacking you afterward. I want to assemble an army and stop her. For the sake of our freedom! My mother endangers all of us."