Page 75 of Ava's Love of the Dragons
She immediately jumped up and crept further. Reaching the next corridor, she hesitated. It was just as plain and bare as the previous one, offering no place to hide. So she quickly raced up the stairs and reached the top floor.
She remained on the last step, holding her breath, but fate showed no mercy. The firm steps also climbed the uppermost section of stairs. She had no choice but to flee into the unfurnished hallway.
She ran on the balls of her feet so the heels of her boots wouldn't betray her, then reached a door that was ajar. She quickly slipped inside and found herself in a simple bedroom. No one was there, the curtains were drawn, and the bed was made. She silently prayed this wasn't the room of whoever had unknowingly been on her heels. Hurriedly, she slipped behind the bed frame and remained still.
The heavy footsteps came closer, and then the person coughed loudly and passed the bedroom where she was hiding. When the boot steps finally faded away, she let out the breath she'd been holding.
She waited until a door was pushed open and shortly after slammed shut. Silently, she crawled out from behind the bed, pushed the room door open, and listened to the hallway. As all remained quiet, she set out. On silent soles, she crept back to the stairs and stole down the steps until she reached the third floor. Before entering the corridor, she listened vigilantly.
There was nothing to be heard.
Tightly clutching the dagger with the Isip stone, she slipped into the hallway and reached the first barred door. Inwardly, she rejoiced. She had gone the right way. She was in the cell block.
But the first prison cell was empty, and no one was being held in the second or third either. Moreover, there was no guard. Why would there be, when the mages knew ways to keep all ordinary mortals in the cells?
The end of the cell block was not far off, yet there was no sign of Lilly and Kilian. Where were they?
"Kilian has her and just needs to get her out of the castle."
The message came just in time. Ava pumped her fist in victory."Great. Tell Thalara they should get to safety. I'll take care of Magg."
A deep growl sounded, distantly reminiscent of laughter."Do you really think the dragon rider will fly away when he knows you're in Elora's castle?"
"He must, so don't tell him."
"Too late, Thalara has already told him."
Cursed dragon bonds...
"I heard that."
"I didn't mean you."
"We'll talk about this when you're back. Now pay attention."
He sounded like a centuries-old wise dragon.
She crept through the hallway to the stairwell. As soon as she arrived there, she heard footsteps again and two men talking.
"What does she need the girl for?"
"She wants to make sure she doesn't escape."
"Alright, I'll get her."
"I'll come with you. The little one is quite a handful."
No doubt the guards were talking about Lilly. And they were coming up the stairs towards her.
Heaven help her. Shouldn't luck be on her side?
Ava ran to reach the stairs before the mages discovered her. She raced up the steps before the guards reached the third floor.
"I thought you wanted to come along? What's wrong?"
Ava's heart stopped. Had one of the men seen her after all? Judging by the sounds, they were on the stairs.
"I thought I heard footsteps."
