Page 57 of Ava's Love of the Dragons
"I'll get Lilly and Lynn. I'll take you to my village." He was beside himself, and even Magg joined in the chaos of the group, as if she had never kept herself at a remove from everyone else.
Kilian shook his head decisively. "The Old City is no place for aspiring dragon fighters. We'll take them to Moonville."
Allan nodded officiously. "They can continue training there undisturbed."
Marcus looked at Kilian with wide eyes. "You want to take Ava to the official training facility for dragon fighters? Have you forgotten that the king's soldiers are hunting her? And Elora has her people everywhere!"
Allan stood in front of him, chest puffed out. "Calm down, man!"
But Marcus had no intention of doing so. He shook his head continuously. "This is madness!"
Strangely, Magg remained silent, and Ava didn't know what to make of it. Marcus's arguments had some merit. "It's a safe place for the students, but I won't go there."
Kilian looked at her imploringly. "You've bonded with a dragon, so the king will respect you and no soldier can touch you. As a dragon fighter, you're above them!"
Ava looked around the arena thoughtfully. The cadets were ready for takeoff, sitting on Allan's dragon. Even Ralph was there. Only Magg hadn't budged, still by Marcus's side. She didn't know what was right, but this hasty departure felt wrong. Casually, she counted the combat students and her eyes widened.
"Master Clark said he had six students. Where's the sixth?"
Before she could run off heedlessly, Kilian held her back. "I'll take care of whoever it is."
"But we don't even know who it is!"
"I do. He always sweeps behind the stands."
Surprised, her gaze shot to the spot where she had often seen the quiet man sweeping, but he wasn't there. He was the sixth student?
Kilian was already talking to Allan, who immediately set off to search for the missing cadet, also known as the janitor. Ava could think about the significance of his training later. She pointed at the building.
"I'll look for Lilly and Lynn. And I want to talk to Master Clark."
Marcus turned pale as a sheet. "You won't! He'll kill you or teleport you straight to Elora!"
Ava was slowly losing patience. "He could have done that any time in the past few days."
Kilian touched her elbow in warning, which got her to take a deep breath before she said something rash. "I'll look for Lilly and Lynn, then we'll see what's next."
Marcus tried to hold her back, but Magg stepped between them and shook her head placatingly. "You stay here, I'll go with Ava. I promise I'll protect her with my life."
Was this a trick? Incredulously, she eyed her fellow student, who maintained her cool and controlled expression as always, barely looking at Ava.
"Shall we?"
Ava nodded. She glanced briefly at Kilian, who was talking to Allan, before turning away to run into the building with Magg.
"They must be in the classroom," Ava called out as they jogged through the corridor.
"You don't know your friends very well. They've been sitting in the library for three days. This way!"
"How do you know that? You train longer than I do."
Magg said nothing, perhaps because they reached a heavy oak door, which the cadet immediately tried to pull open. In vain. "Master Clark has locked it."
Ava grabbed the handle and shook it, but the door wouldn't budge. "Do you distrust him too?"
With a pinched look, Magg raised her hands and knocked forcefully on the library door. "Lynn, open up! It's us!"
Footsteps sounded, a click was heard, and the gentle teacher opened the door. "What's going on?" When she saw Magg andAva together, she frowned. "Why did you come here together—and during training time?"
