Page 20 of Ava's Love of the Dragons
"Traveling companions, I see." Lynn smirked as she tucked her hair behind her ear. One strand was too short and immediately fell back onto her forehead. "Let me guess, you both want to become dragon fighters."
"Heavens, no!" Marcus shook his head in horror. "I abhor violence."
Lynn eyed him curiously. "And that in this day and age. Extremely interesting." She regarded him as if she had already figured him out, before turning her attention to Ava. "But you're different."
"Is it that obvious?"
Lynn nodded. "You have that fire in your eyes. I see it in most people who come here."
Hopefully that was a good thing...
Lynn strolled leisurely with them to the arena, which inevitably calmed Ava a bit as well. She didn't seem to pose any threat—at least that was Ava's first impression. Her figure was thin, not sinewy, and her gaze friendly rather than appraising. Her pointed nose spoke more of curiosity than readiness for combat, and her blue eyes held a romantic expression. Moreover, her high cheekbones gave her an elfin appearance, emphasizing her innocent look.
They reached the stands and sat down next to Lilly, who was watching the fight with her upper body leaning forward. Lynn promptly took a seat next to Ava, giving Ava the opportunity to continue the conversation.
"Are you also trained by the master?"
Lynn laughed freely. "Can't you tell?"
Hesitantly, Ava shook her head. "To be honest, you look more like an elementary school teacher." It had slipped out before she had thought about it, but Lynn's face brightened even more and she smiled broadly.
"How perceptive of you!"
"Seriously?" Frowning, Ava let her gaze wander over the facility, while Marcus also leaned forward, his eyes darting between the arena and Lynn.
"But there aren't any children here."
Lynn let out a deep, wistful sigh. "Not anymore. In the past, however, this was the main training facility and many sent their children here as young as eight. It was a beautiful time, especially the project weeks. My students were always happiest when they got to make dragons." She smiled nostalgically.
As casually as possible, Ava nodded towards the master, who was still standing in the shadows, so she could only see his floor-length cloak. "Is there any truth to the accusations?"
Lynn jutted her chin out indignantly. "Master Clark is the most honorable and best trainer the realm has ever seen. If you've come here to cause him trouble, you can leave right now!"
Marcus snorted, but Ava raised her hands placatingly. "That's not why we're here, I promise. I just wanted to hear your opinion."
Lilly leaned forward. "I told you, he's the best trainer. Just look at him, Ava! If anyone can teach you how to fight, it's him."
More activity stirred in the arena. As if on cue, the fighters jumped off the dragons and circled each other with drawn weapons. Both wore black combat leather, the smaller one additionally sporting a black cap. He was slimmer than the other but moved no less powerfully and gracefully, and both fighters were armed with daggers and swords, determined to win the duel. They stalked each other, and suddenly the larger one struck at the smaller one. But he skillfully dodged, delivered a blow to the larger one's side, and immediately jumped back before the other could hit him with his sword blade.
Fascinated, Ava leaned forward, her forearms resting on her thighs. It was impressive how the smaller combat student provoked and thus tired out the larger one, while himself remaining lively, bouncing around the place. But the larger one had far more strength. He swung and almost caught the smaller one in the back, who ducked at the last second and knocked the larger one to the ground with a targeted blow to the chest. The smaller one immediately jumped on him and put him in check with systematic punches and his forearm at the throat.
Master Clark remained in the shadows, not clapping, not commenting, but observing attentively. He waved the fighters over to him and spoke to them quietly. Afterwards, he talkedto each of them individually, and the cadets returned to their dragons to start the next round.
This time, the large warrior only reacted to the blows that could be dangerous to him, and more than once put the smaller one in a tight spot. But the smaller one was as quick and energetic as a wildcat, which was why he won this round as well.
Following the duel, they leapt onto their dragons and charged into the air. They turned sideways and performed such rapid flight maneuvers that it seemed like a miracle to Ava that the riders stayed on their backs. They flew on the mountain dragons as if they were fused together and continued the fight in the air. This time, the larger cadet dominated. Several times his dragon caught the other by the tail and slammed its mace-like tail into its side, until a piercing whistle sounded and the dragons glided back into the arena.
The wind they generated rushed over Ava's cheeks and tugged at her hair. Only when the dragons landed did she realize that she had been watching the fight with her mouth open.
Lynn looked at her with flushed cheeks. "Impressive, isn't it?"
Ava nodded, while Lilly jumped up and raised her fists. "I'm going to be a dragon fighter too! And I'll only learn from Master Boom!"
Laughing, Lynn stood up. "I haven't heard that nickname in a long time. Come, he has time for you now." She led them down from the stands onto the sand area, where the riders jumped off the dragons and shook hands. Admiringly, Ava looked at the two. They looked steeled, battle-experienced, determined. They surely knew plenty of tricks and would know how to defend themselves if Rob or any border guards tried to capture them.
The smaller fighter walked past them. He gave such a strong and agile impression, as if he had been doing nothing but training for decades. How could someone like that not have beenaccepted into the dragon fighters long ago? He pulled the black cap off his head and revealed a hip-length cascade of blonde hair.
Ava stared at her in disbelief. "That's a woman?"
