Page 58 of Ava's Love of the Dragons
Lilly jumped next to her and flung the door wide open. "What did I miss?"
"We were attacked by mages and Master Clark used magic. That's why everyone wants to leave now, even though he saved us."
Lilly snorted, but Lynn shook her head. "We can't leave. We're safe here."
"I'm afraid we have no choice, because all the other cadets are being taken to Moonville."
Lilly's eyes lit up. "Seriously? Awesome! But leave Master Boom?" She pouted. "He's not evil."
Ava quickly lowered her voice, as she didn't know how Magg felt about the story, and Lilly couldn't give herself away. "We need to be careful." She shot her a warning glance, and the girl reluctantly nodded.
"But I need to get my books first."
Ava's jaw dropped. "Your what?"
But Lilly had already run into the library. Lynn watched her with a smile. "She's a great student."
"Lilly?" Were they talking about the same child who thought school was beneath her?
"Do you need to pack too, Lynn?" Magg's voice sounded unusually friendly. Apparently, she only had something against Ava.
"I don't want to go at all." She sighed heavily. "Master Clark was going to show me an old scroll about the Magic Wars tomorrow."
Magg pulled off her cap and brushed her long blonde hair out of her face. "I understand you, but the Master will leave this place too. He has to, because the soldiers will be looking for him.I'm afraid not even Kilian will be able to keep the students from talking."
Ava stiffened. That meant she wouldn't have a choice either. Lynn would go, everyone else would go, and Master Clark was probably long gone.
Lilly came bounding to the door, carrying three thick tomes. "I still need to go to my room and get my backpack, but it's always packed anyway, so we can leave right away."
"I need to get something from my room too." Lynn looked at Ava, who nodded.
"I'll go with Lilly, and Magg will accompany you. We'll meet the others in the arena in five minutes at the latest."
No one had any objections, so they set off. Lilly rushed ahead impatiently. Ava, on the other hand, felt melancholy. She had learned a lot in this place and had hoped to prepare adequately for the fight against Elora. And now?
She would be trained in Moonville too, but at the same time, she would be under the king's supervision. Didn't that inevitably make her his subordinate? And what would happen to Lilly if someone accidentally discovered what she was capable of? The soldiers would kill her immediately. She couldn't expose the girl to such danger.
But if they fled into the forest, to Marcus's people, or another hiding place, the mages would find them sooner or later, and Ava still couldn't defend the girl. She needed help and had to prepare for the fight.
Heavens, couldn't someone just show up and tell her which decision was the right one?
They reached the hallway on the first floor, and Lilly jumped into her room. Ava hurried to hers, pushed the door open, and stopped dead in her tracks.
Master Clark was standing by the window.
She quickly closed the door before anyone noticed him. Lilly was only two doors down and her hearing was way too good. But she didn't know what to say. There were so many questions vying for her attention that she couldn't utter a single one. So she just looked at him as he turned to her. He wore his usual serene smile, as if nothing bad had happened.
"I wanted to talk to you briefly before you leave, Ava."
"I'd prefer to stay. I don't think magic is evil."
"That's very wise of you. Another reason why you can be grateful that your mother took you away."
Ava froze. "What do you know about my parents?"
He smiled faintly. "Enough to recognize that they did you a great service."
She looked at him intently. "You know something about my past, don't you? Please tell me."
