Page 18 of Ava's Legacy of the Dragons
Without a word, Lilly pushed open the gate, peered outside, and motioned for Ava to follow. They reached a narrow alley where a cat lay sleeping. Other than that, it was deserted. They quickly marched across the dusty ground and came to an intersection.
They went by so many passages and branches that Ava became disoriented. It was strange, however, that they didn't encounter a single soul. As they crept into the next narrow alley, Ava held Lilly back and raised her arms questioningly to ask her where they were. The girl pointed to the stone walls on either side, which Ava hadassumed were house walls. But they weren't. They were the castle walls.
The air was damp and the corridor before them deserted, yet the walls had something venerable about them. A special atmosphere that awakened in Ava the urge to bow and keep her head down.
Lilly pointed upwards, where guards were making their rounds on the battlements, and once again put a finger to her lips. They waited until the sentries had walked in the other direction, then hurried on until they reached a narrow door. Lilly tinkered with it a bit and then managed to open it, revealing a courtyard. They immediately went inside, closing the door behind them quickly.
They were greeted with bustling activity. Maids were beating carpets, a boy was pulling a cart, and two servants with upturned noses hurried past them. One stopped and eyed them critically, particularly Ava's ball gown.
"Who are you?"
Lilly bowed her head as if she were, at heart, a shy creature. "I'm visiting my aunt, there she is. Miriam!" She ran towards a maid who looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She wore her brown hair in a knot at the nape of her neck with a faded piece of cloth over it, and she had an apron over her simple linen dress. Although her gaze was initially skeptical, she suddenly spread her arms.
"Lilly!"
Ava followed her in disbelief while the servants, satisfied, hurried to a side door that led into the imposing castle complex. Judging by their quick steps, they had more important things to do than witness the reunion.
The maid released herself from the embrace and wiped her reddened cheeks with the back of her hand. "Have you come to get some treats?"
"Not today, because Ava here is desperate to try and win the heart of a noble gentleman. Can you smuggle us up to the first floor for the ball?" She put on a pleading expression and pushed out her lower lip.
Ava's mouth fell open, but one look at Miriam's nodding face was enough for her to hold back the objections that were on the tip of her tongue. Lilly's plan was more sophisticated than expected.
Miriam looked vigilantly at the other servants, who seemed absorbed in their work and didn't notice them, and lowered her voice. "Not all the way up, but into the castle. Alfons is still keeping an eye on me because I let you sneak into the castle kitchen last time."
"Believe me, the filled puff pastry was worth it."
The maid raised her finger admonishingly, and Lilly shrugged.
"I'll make it up to you, I promise!"
"As if I could refuse you a request." She pinched Lilly's cheek and quickly set off, as if it had been a noble lady and not an orphaned street child who had asked for a favor.
The maid led them to the side door that the servants had disappeared through, too. They reached a corridor where numerous servants were hurrying about. More than a few eyed Ava with frowning faces, so it was a good thing the maid was by their side. She guided them purposefully through the crowd and then shoved them up to a wall hanging located in a hidden alcove. After making sure no one was looking at them, she moved the tapestry aside. Behind it, a simple staircase was revealed.
"You can take the stairs, but don't get caught! Especially not by Alfons! Good luck, Ava. And if it works out, remember me." She winked at Ava and disappeared silently, whereupon Ava turned to Lilly and put her hands on her hips.
"So I'm to win the heart of a noble gentleman?"
The girl shrugged. "Well, did it work or not?"
"So far, the results definitely speak in your favor."
"Exactly. So now be quiet again." They climbed the steps and reached the first floor without being seen. There, they were greeted by violin music.
Ava swallowed involuntarily. With all the running, she hadn't given a thought to what she was about to do. Her at a royal ball? Heavens, she wasn't ready. The very idea was laughable. What if the soldiers recognized her?
"I know you're nervous, Ava, but I'm counting on you."
No pressure...
She took a deep breath to get her heart rate back to a reasonable level. She just nodded, even though she felt like shaking her head and running for the hills.
Lilly cracked open the door at the end of the stairs and peeked out. When she turned back to Ava, she gave a thumbs up. Unthinkingly, Ava made to hand her the bag with the dragon egg in it, but she couldn't. She couldn't part with it, couldn't entrust it to anyone else—not even Lilly, though now she was certain that the little one would never harm the egg. After all, she was risking her life once again for the unborn dragon.
As if the egg knew exactly what she had been thinking of doing, the voice sounded high and pleading in her thoughts."I must stay with you."
Hesitantly, Ava looked at her bag. Lilly seemed to understand, as she indicated with brief gestures that sheshould hold it in one hand and keep it hidden among the folds of her dress.
