Page 54 of Ava's Legacy of the Dragons
"I thought someone came out of the cave."
"That was just Bill and Henry."
"But I heard footsteps. Someone ran into the woods."
"Must have been a deer. I sealed the entrance long ago. Anyone without magic can't get through, and you know how much the old folk despise those with magical abilities."
Ava, Marcus, and Lilly looked at each other with bated breath. This explained why Ava hadn't found the exit. But only Ava and Lilly also drew the final conclusion: They had only been able to escape because Lilly was also born with magic. But Marcus mustn't know about that. Better to run on immediately, before he could ask himself that question.
Without a word, Ava pointed deeper into the forest and the other two nodded. They crept off quietly to avoid drawing attention to themselves. As long as theattackers were searching for them in the town, they had time to get to safety.
They stole through the forest as quickly as possible. No matter how far they got from the town, they kept their heads down and didn't speak a word. And so midday came, and Ava thanked the fates for blessing her with a proper breakfast that morning.
At some point, Marcus signaled them to wait. "I know a spring nearby. We should drink something."
Ava nodded. It had been a while since her tongue had started sticking to the roof of her mouth. "Then we can also think about where to go."
He pointed to her bag. "Is everything alright with the little one?"
"Yes, but it's sleeping a lot. It was more talkative at the beginning."
"Then it must be growing," Lilly whispered.
They set off and reached the spring after a few minutes. A strong jet of water hissed from a rocky outcrop into a spring pool, its banks lined with ferns.
Lilly got to go first, and she quenched her thirst by sticking her face directly into the stream and opening her mouth. Meanwhile, Ava straightened up and arched her back. They were far from the hidden valley, so they felt safe for the moment. If she couldn't stretch now, when could she? Her back cracked.
Marcus remained tense. He kept looking over his shoulder and hesitating. He must have been terribly afraid for his friends.
"If you want to go back, I can understand. Lilly and I will manage on our own."
He shook his head, gripping the bow unyieldingly. "I won't leave you, but yes, I'm worried." He looked at her, no trace of the mischievous cheerfulness frombefore. Instead, his expression was serious, making him seem more mature. "Your protection is my top priority."
"Thank you." And she meant it sincerely.
Lilly jumped off the rock in front of the spring. "Next!" Where she got her energy from was a mystery to Ava. She remembered the egg that Thom had given the girl.
"Should I put the chicken egg in my bag with the dragon egg?"
The girl shook her head. "Already ate it."
Ava raised her eyebrows. "I beg your pardon?"
"Of course, that's what I always used to do. That's why it tasted twice as good." Her voice grew quieter, a clear sign that she was thinking of her parents. "We had chickens too."
"Where are your parents?" Marcus wanted to know.
"Dead." Lilly shot Ava a warning look, which she understood. Earlier, they had overheard the hooded figures mentioning that the old folk rejected magic. It was better that Marcus didn't find out what her parents had been capable of, so he wouldn't draw any conclusions.
While Ava stepped to the spring to refresh herself, Lilly turned to Marcus. "Did you know that someone from your people joined Elora?"
He shook his head sadly. "None of us knew that for sure. Henry Billmore. He was always causing trouble, so no one liked him. But as a guardian of the gate, he did a good job—at least that's what we always thought."
Lilly patted his hand. "Don't worry about it. Even the best have fallen for Elora's moles. She has her bloodhounds sniffing everywhere." She put her hands on her hips and looked around. "I don't know this area, but wecould make our way to Talus. I know how to lay low in cities."
Shaking her head, Ava stepped back from the spring. "We'd be right under the king's forces' nose. Remember, it's not just Elora's followers chasing us, but also the soldiers. They mustn't get their hands on the dragon egg."
Marcus went to the spring and cupped his hands to collect water. "Is there anyone who's not after you?"
