Page 73 of Ava's Love of the Dragons
"No, Ava! You're the one they want!"
"Exactly. I have to save my friends!"
"How do you plan to do that?"
She pulled the dagger from her belt and wrapped the Isip stone around the handle."I'm going to jump!"
"You want to make your first attempt from this height now of all times?"
"When else? Besides, the jump at Master Clark's wasn't much lower."
"I flew so low there that you could slide down my wing. That's not possible here."
"Still! I have to help her!"
"Ava..."
"Have you forgotten? It's my destiny!"
"But I can't help you down there."
"Yes, you can, by continuing to attack the facility with Thalara. The stronger you attack, the more mages they'll need to fend you off. Let me down now."
"Ava, no!"
"Yes, Draco. You know it's coming down to this. Her or me. But I won't let my friends die first!"
Draco let out a bone-chilling scream, descended lower, and just before the protective dome, he turned to the side as if to attack the facility again. The rampart came closer and closer, yet it was still damn high.
Her stomach turned.
Ava forbade herself to pay attention to it. Instead, she thought of Magg, of Kilian, of Lilly. They were all down there and needed her.
She jumped from Draco's back, the dragon slowed her fall with his magic, and Ava landed on the battlement. She absorbed the impact, held the Isip dagger in front of her, and stood still, holding her breath.
Let the battle begin.
Chapter 32
Draco fired volley after volley at the castle complex, smashing his tail against the magic barrier, and Thalara joined in the attacks. They did it so skillfully that the mages hadn't noticed Ava's arrival.
At least until now.
Remaining crouched, she crept along the battlement until she discovered a narrow recess in the wall and looked into the courtyard.
Magg was surrounded by her opponents. She lay on the ground unconscious, but she was breathing. Two mages whispered a spell, causing her to float up from the ground and drift behind the men like helium-filled cargo. They were heading towards the main building, presumably to present their catch to Elora.
Hopefully, Magg's crash at least allowed Kilian to bring Lilly to safety unnoticed. However, now there was someone else who needed to be rescued. Fear made to clutch at Ava's heart, but she couldn't be weak.
She was no longer defenseless!
She crept further behind the parapet, listening for every sound, and heard two mages going down the fortification.
"Reinforce the gate's shield only after the guardian is inside."
"Understood. Will Elora carry out her execution herself?"
"She won't let anyone else do it."
