Sisters in Arms

1

Josephine POV

"1 gold pound chicken! Chicken for 1 gold pound!" I heard the distant cries from the ever busy market at the centre of the small village I call home. But, it isn't really home, because I can't live here properly, I can't talk to people or have friends in case they found out who I really am. This isn't really home. The only place I feel safe is the woods at the edge, and since no one comes into these woods except me I can freely be myself. Animals never had a problem with me, so why do humans? This is the only place that I can practice my magic. I am a sorceress but if anyone found out and word got to the king, he'd have my head in a noose. They despise magic here, they don't see its true beauty.

Casually, I stopped down at the lake where the otters are playing, splashing about. I've never had friends or played with others. Except Misty. She isn't quite a pet but I come and see here every day in the clearing at the end of the woods, about a mile from the lake. She always seems to understand me and I understand her in turn. I guess it must be like having a friend but she can't talk, really, as she is a dragon, but I'm getting better at speaking her language.

My reflection in the water is strange, I often wonder why I look the way I do. I've never met my parents, so I don't know if I look like my mum or dad or both, whoever they are. I've got long, straight, jet black hair down to my waist that I always scrape back into a ponytail or plait, so it doesn't get in the way, my eyes are an almondish shape and a bluey-green sea colour, but they go golden when I use magic. I'm not exactly fat, but I have a little muscle from training the animals and running about with them and just having to fend for myself all my life. My skin is tanned as I spend most of my time outside. I'm also tiny, like seriously tiny.

I really should go and see Misty, who is dark green and scaly with golden-brown eyes, but I can't fly very far yet, I'm learning but it's hard. I think I'll try and call her instead,

"Mimi sagaee umlla! " I shouted as loud as I could. After a few minutes had gone by I heard the flapping of enormous wings. Sure enough, Misty came out of the woods beyond the river and I was almost certain that if she was human she would have been grinning at me so I grinned back with my awfully crooked teeth. We came to an unspoken agreement so I mounted her back and we headed to the clearing so I could learn more dragon speak.

"Gaga laa" she whined and I could tell that it meant 'I'm hungry' by the look in her eyes, I would definitely be using that one. I realised I would have to get home soon, and so would she as darkness was closing in on us.

"leta may nay" I said, saddling up, and she let me down at the lake.

"Beea" I said as I left and I heard her return the goodbye.

Slowly I made my way back to my house at the end if the village, nearest the wood. I entered my 'home' to find a letter on the table addressed to me, Josephine Melody Taylor. I shut the door and read the letter.

"Please, I need your help. For the sake of the Kingdom, meet below the eastern watchtower of Castle Iscarion on the stroke of midnight three days from now. Come alone."

I made up my mind in an instant. I was going.