Page 74 of Ava's Love of the Dragons
Ava turned chalk-white. The mages were just waiting for her—and they wouldn't let her go again. How could she have expected anything else? After all, according to the prophecy, she was Elora's greatest threat.
Nevertheless, her breathing remained unexpectedly calm. Maybe because deep down she had anticipated this. Maybe because deep down she knew she couldn't win against Elora. Maybe because she was expecting her own death. But she wouldn't let her friends die.
She had to remain undetected for as long as possible. That was the best chance for Kilian to get Lilly to safety. Staying bent over, she crept along the rampart until she passed the stairs the mages had gone down. The ground constantly shook under the dragons' attacks, and impacts echoed through the complex.
Due to the unceasing attacks, all the mages remained in the courtyard instead of running to the fortifications—probably to avoid getting hit by dragon tails. This was good for Ava, because this way she could hopefully sneak into an unguarded corner, and then she'd figure out what to do next.
She ran along the battlement without being discovered and reached a staircase, where she paused. A small utility building rose a few meters away in the castle courtyard. It was deserted and offered itself as a hiding place or at least as an intermediate stop on her way into the castle. If she ran fast enough, her opponents might not discover her.
Without hesitation, she stole down the stairs and reached the courtyard. Footsteps sounded. Nimbly, she jumped behind a barrel, just in time before two mages walked past her and marched up the stairs.
"The magistra said we need to expand the protection by going on the rampart."
That surely meant Elora.
"So be it."
Several mages followed. If it were daytime, they would have certainly discovered Ava, but as it was, the wall cast shadows on the barrel she crouched behind. She waited silently while the darkness of the night engulfed every spot not reached by the lights.
As soon as the troop had passed and spread out on the fortress, she targeted the residential tower. She had to get in there.
She slipped to the small building, pressed her back against the wall, and stole to the other side, where she remained standing in the shadows. A simple wooden shed stretched along the length of the main building, where there were horses tied up. Without getting caught, she ran towards it and hid between the horses' bodies. The animals whinnied incessantly, so she quickly crept forward and finally reached the entrance gate of the residential tower.
How was she supposed to get in unseen? Just open it?
She looked over her shoulder. At that very moment, Draco fired an attack on the main gate, so all the mages were focused solely on him. Quickly, she pulled open the gate, slipped inside, and hurried through the long, high corridor.
Two weeks ago, she had been dragged through this corridor by the guards to the arena. She wouldn't have thought she'd come back here voluntarily. Although "voluntary" wasn't the best word to describe her return.
A dark blue carpet on the floor muffled her steps. Suits of armor stood to the sides, giving the impression that she was in a fairy-tale old castle, but she knew appearances were deceiving. In this building there ruled a sorceress who knew no mercy, noscruples, no compassion. As soon as she got her hands on Ava, she would kill her on the spot.
She reached the corridor that the throne room branched off from. No one was to be seen—all the mages were busy defending the castle complex. No doubt about it, the dragons were reliable.
"You're doing great!" Ava called out to Draco, who let out a deep growl.
"Don't get caught!"
"I'm doing my best. Does Elora have Kilian in her power?"
"He escaped and found Lilly. I'll let you know as soon as the girl is safe."
"Finally, some good news!"
He rumbled. His voice no longer sounded anything like that of the little dragon who had hatched recently. The battle demanded that he grow beyond himself; Ava needed him, so he was going through another intense growth spurt. And she would have so loved to witness that. She wanted to see Draco again and come out of this castle alive—with her friends!
She found the corridor leading to the prison cells and climbed the stairs. Although facing Elora was her destiny, she wouldn't challenge her. Perhaps she could escape the sorceress before the bloody finale.
Magic lights were hanging at the stairways, so she hurried. If someone came towards her, there was no way to hide. She passed the third staircase and reached the hallway where she had been held captive.
Boot steps echoed.
Damn.
She quickly looked for a hiding place, but the walls were bare, the corridor narrow, and there was neither decoration nor furniture. Without hesitation, she ran back to the stairs and climbed up until she was out of sight from the prison wing. She remained still there, listening.
The heavy footsteps reached the stairs and came in her direction.
Crap!
