WITCH - The Queen

Chapter 74

Julia

Elodie ran towards the large group when they had just landed. Julia grinned as she watched the wolf embracing not only her son with happiness but also the harpy that carried him.

The first centaurs galloped up to welcome the group. Some looked skeptically at the two new dragons, and the two hundred harpies that accompanied them.

How could Julia bring so many harpies across the border unnoticed?

It was impossible.

Marko

Finally, he and Finn were alone in his and Leopold's room. The others sat in the main room of the tent and celebrated their return, while the harpies stayed with different centaurs for the time being.

Through the thin walls of fabric, they could hear Leopold's parents, who excitedly want to know what their son and the rest of the group had experienced. And Alwin and Pelle were also given a dignified welcome.

Marko was lying on his bed. Finn had his head resting on his stomach. Marko stroked his light hair affectionately.

"Do you think we'll see our village again soon?", asked Finn. "Will we see what changed there? Do you think Julia wants to go to our village?"

"I don't know if I want to go back," Marko murmured. "I prefer to remember everything as it was. With my parents and your father alive and well as alpha and beta."

"Hm..." Finn yawned tiredly. "Don't you want to see your brothers?"

"No. It's enough for me to see you every day."

"Oh, yes?" Finn giggled. "And what about Juli?"

"I love Julia too, but she's not you", Marko snorted. "We were lucky. Very lucky."

"We are. We have each other." Finn smiled. Marko wanted to roll on top of him and shower him with kisses. But that was impossible.

"We could have ended up with someone terrible... Or gotten separated... Or..." Marko sighed. "What if we were still in our village? Do you think we'd be together now?"

Finn's answer surprised him. "No, I don't think so. I would still hide in my room. Or I would have died of the disease as well. Maybe you too."

"Maybe." The thought did not appeal to Marko. "In that case, I'm happy to be a slave."

"What?" Finn sat up and looked at him frowning. "We're not slaves! We wear a binding spell, but it doesn't make us slaves. We are free! Could a slave carry a sword?"

Now Marko grinned. "No. Probably not. But a slave could kiss you!"

"Are you certain about this?" Finn stuck his tongue out at him.

"I'm sure!" Marko straightened her up and kissed Finn, who laughingly wrapped his arms around him.

"Permission granted", he murmured against Marko's lips.

Julia

They stayed overnight and Finja allowed the harpies temporarily to live with the centaurs as guests of the tribe. Her exact words were 'indefinitely'. She said this was her part in the fight against injustice.

The centaurs were afraid of the two new dragons, which now slept curled up in front of the tent. The bright scales of the white dragons shimmered softly in the moonlight. Julia found nothing threatening about them.

She felt as if she was finally back home. Finally, after a long, nerve-wracking journey. But her journey didn't end yet.

The next morning, Jane, Rosalie, Tinke, Falk, and Finja came to their tent to discuss the next steps. Tinke was carried by Falk, who lovingly set her down at the low table. Leopold's parents and Elodie also sat at the table, as they wanted to know what they planned to do next. As well as the rest of Julia's big family.

She sat next to Leopold, who held her hand under the table.

The planning took a long time. There was a lot to discuss. They needed new provisions, and Finja also offered her help here.

"First, we'll set off for the Pale Redbacks. Flordelis and her brother offered to accompany us", said Julia. "I gladly accepted their offer."

Finja snorted. "I know. It's their decision and that of their parents. But the two will not be dissuaded from their plan."

"Taking them with us is certainly an advantage." Fiete stroked his orange hair thoughtfully. "More convincing."

Tinke cleared her throat. "How many should go to the centaurs? Two hundred harpies could be intimidating."

"Or like a declaration of war", Finja added.

Julia nodded. "Just a small group. Finja? You don't mind if many of us stay here for so long?"

Finja shook her head with a smile. "Of course not. I stand by my word."

"Thank you." This meant a lot to Julia. It was not something that could be taken for granted. Especially since she based her statements on visions that only she had seen. And to some extent Jane too. "After that, we go to the fairy forest and continue from there. To the elves, the wolves and I hope to find the rebels. Maybe we'll find allies among the vampires too."

"That sounds like a good plan", Finja murmured. "A good plan with many hurdles."

"Absolutely", Jane agreed. "Therefore, we will split up."

"It would be best to have several small groups that enter the witches' territory in different ways and then meet in the forest of the elves", Tinke stated. "So that we stand out less. But we harpies would have to hide our wings and legs."

"I'm sewing cloaks!", Finn said quickly. "Or... I stay here and sew the cloaks with some harpies until you are back from the Redbacks. How far is it to them?"

"Maybe too far", Marko muttered. "But you can show the harpies how to sew the capes before we leave. Do we have enough material?"

Finn shook his head.

"Our shopping list is getting longer and longer", Josefine grumbled.

"Oh! Shopping!", exulted Peter at the same time. Pelle nodded in agreement, while Alwin asked what Peter was talking about. Fiete quickly explained it to him, while Peter and Pelle talked about everything they wanted to buy.

Pelle knew surprisingly much about people's markets. Julia suspected that he went disguised as a human to the markets of the humans in the vampire territory.

(c: sasi)