Page 17 of Ava's Legacy of the Dragons
Chapter 7
Half an hour later, Ava and Lilly were walking through the basement corridors once again. It was incredible how well the little one knew her way around. Because soldiers could appear at any moment, she remained alert as she marched ahead purposefully, turning left, then right, and led them effortlessly to a narrow staircase made of old planks.
Ava struggled to hold up the heavy dress so that the hem wouldn't drag across the dirty floor. She might have trained her mind with the monthly accounting in her aunt's gift shop, but she had obviously neglected her body. Not to mention all those dishes of Giovanni's, drenched in olive oil. Her arms ached as she watched the ground, careful not to ruin her entire outfit by stepping in a puddle. The good thing was that she didn't have any time to doubt the plan or think about how odd she felt wearing such a gown.
Ernesto had tailored the garment to fit her perfectly. How he had managed to do it on such short notice remained his secret. But that, together with the updo hairstyle, certainly made Ava look like she belonged at aroyal ball—especially since her boots disappeared under the long skirt. She had tucked the simple necklace with the broken heart pendant she always wore into her neckline, as she didn't want anyone to see it.
She had looked at herself dumbfounded in the tall standing mirror, unable to believe the transformation. But time had been pressing, so the inspection had lasted only a few seconds.
With a glance down the dim corridor, Lilly made sure they were alone before she began to whisper. "Okay, from now on we have to be absolutely silent. Be cautious with every step you take, no words, no coughing or panting."
"I don't pant."
"A little bit, you do. You're not in especially good shape. But it'll be enough for our mission."
"Wait! Before we go up there, first describe to me what this Kilian looks like. We completely forgot about that with all the talk about the ball. After all, I've never seen him before."
Lilly waved it off. "Don't worry, you'll recognize him. Every woman does. They faint in droves when they see him. As soon as you start having to step over motionless bodies, you can start looking out for him."
"You're pulling my leg."
"It'll probably happen to you too."
Ava snorted. "Definitely not. I'm not looking for a man in my life."
"All the better, then he won't break your heart."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Since you're not looking for a man anyway, you don't need to be interested in that. It only distracts from our mission."
Playfully, Ava pinched her side, making Lilly grin—a bit wider this time. The girl's reaction touched Ava's heart. She liked the little one, and not just because she had saved her life. How could she not? Lilly had been through a lot, and plus she had such big eyes that anyone would immediately buy her a pony. There was also the blonde hair that danced over her narrow shoulders in the high ponytail, adding a bit of lightness to her far too adult-looking face, and her starved appearance, which awakened in Ava the desire to bake waffles or pancakes with her and watch Lilly devour most of them herself.
"So, how do I recognize this Kilian, your favorite dragon fighter?"
Her whole face began to beam. "He's tall and strong, has black hair and dark eyes. And he has this intense dragon fighter look."
"Can't you tell me any details, like a scar above the eyebrow or a mole on the forehead? I don't want to tell the wrong person about the egg."
"Don't worry, you'll notice him. The problem might be that you can't get close to him. If that happens, have a servant ask for Rob."
"Rob?" Gradually, she began to have doubts. Was it really wise to leave most of the planning to a little girl?
"Robert Kensington, he's one from his troop. He's less handsome and therefore easier to catch. They say he has his heart in the right place, he'll surely pass your message on to Kilian."
The message that she had found a dragon egg and had to prevent it from falling into the king's hands...
Could she already be accused of high treason for such a message? One thing was clear: The longer she stood here thinking or listening to Lilly's stories, themore nervous she became. So she gathered up the hem of her skirt to climb the stairs.
"I can do this. Kilian or Rob. I'll tell one of them."
"Of course you can do it. And remember, not a word from now on, or we might get caught." She put her finger to her lips warningly, silently jumped up the last few steps, and started fiddling with the lock that stood in their way. It wasn't long before the sound of a click was to be heard.
Ava wasn't even surprised anymore. In times of need, Lilly had learned skills to survive. Who could blame her? She resolved to do one thing, however: As soon as they had brought the dragon egg to safety, she would ask the little one if she wanted to come with her to Aunt Helen. She knew how lonely a childhood without parents could be.
She stepped through the door behind Lilly and looked around, disoriented. They emerged in a narrow courtyard that was crammed with junk. Boxes, buckets, brooms, a table with only three legs, and a chair with a broken backrest were piled up next to an inconspicuous door that Lilly was already heading for.
This was supposed to be the way to the royal castle?
