When the sun had set, they sat around the small table in the kitchen, with barely enough room to stretch out their elbows and Lilly squeezed onto the corner bench. But no one minded the cramped seating arrangements. Marcus had brought back plenty of delicacies from the market. Of course they would ration their supplies, but tonight they wanted to indulge.
"Who knows, maybe someone will catch us, and we'll have to leave all this nice food behind again," Lilly said. Contentedly, she took a bite of sausage.
Ava pulled the board with the herb bread towards her. Its aroma of thyme, oregano, and dried tomatoes filled the kitchen. "What happened in the fire dragons' cave certainly won't happen to us here. As far as I understand, Elora and her men don't operate within the royal cities."
Marcus nodded, chewed, and swallowed. "We still need to be careful, she has her spies everywhere, as we've learned. But they won't risk a surprise attack here. The king's soldiers are more likely to do that. Why are they after you anyway?"
"They wanted the egg, but I managed to escape them. Three times." Ava cut two slices of the bread.
Marcus raised his eyebrows questioningly, while Lilly pointed to herself. "I helped her twice." Shesnatched a slice of bread so quickly that it was only noticeable when the slice was on her plate.
Marcus burst out laughing. "I have no trouble believing that."
"Lilly has skills that many people only dream of." Ava winked at her. "The first time, a white dragon came to my aid. Though I still don't understand why the dragons want to protect the egg from the king while simultaneously working with him."
Lilly raised her finger admonishingly like a schoolteacher. "They don't work with the king, but with the dragon fighters. That's the difference."
Ava frowned in confusion. "But aren't the dragon fighters the leaders of the royal army and under his command?"
Marcus shook his head. "The dragons only bow to him for one reason. Since the Magic Wars, our world has been maintained solely through the coupling of the dragon magic and the magic of the royal house. They have no choice."
Ava perked up. "I thought the king was hunting down all people born with magic. How does he justify the harsh approach if he himself possesses magic?"
Lilly made a dismissive gesture. "He doesn't have magical powers, but he possesses the Chalice of Eternal Magic. That's the only way we can preserve our world since the dragons of Thalgor were almost completely wiped out."
"What kind of chalice is that?"
"A relic from the time when dragons were still the kings of the realm. It only deploys its power when a drop of blood from the royal house is mixed with that of the most powerful dragon."
Ava nodded to herself in understanding. By now, shehardly even doubted when she heard such fantastic explanations. "That's why the royal house plays a crucial role, because if this world ceases to exist, the last dragons will die too."
Marcus nodded. "Sad business. The dragons are, in a way, forced to work with him."
A pressure built up in her chest, and she wasn't sure if it came from her or from the dragon child that saw, felt, and heard everything she did. "Does that mean the young dragon will have to submit to the king's will as well?"
At a loss, Marcus shrugged before pointing at Ava. "I'll tell you something. You and the egg, you're going to change the course of destiny. That's what the prophecy says."
Lilly nodded eagerly, an enthusiastic gleam in her eyes. "From now on, anything is possible!"
Ava didn't like how much hope was being placed in her. She didn't even fully understand the connections and barely knew her way around this world, yet she was supposed to be the key to turning things around for the better?
While Lilly spoke in glowing terms about how everything would change from now on, Ava retreated, using the excuse that the dragon child was calling for her. She wished them both good night and went to the bedroom, grateful to have a few minutes to herself.
"Ava, how lovely that you've finally come to me."
Okay, she probably wouldn't have real peace for now. But in the face of the shimmering egg, she didn't mind.
She stroked the dragon scales and admired the purple glow."You're shining brighter than ever."
A pleased chuckle sounded."I'm almost ready."
Inevitably, she was gripped by a wave of utmost unease. How was she supposed to help the little one hatch? She didn't know anything about it."Is there anything I need to do to prepare? Clean cloths? Hot water?"
Warmth flooded her heart along with the feeling of the dragon child embracing her."No, Ava, I only need you. You are enough."
His answer made her heart tremble and tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked to hold them back. But when the dragon child intensified the warmth in her heart, making the full meaning of his words sink in, she could no longer hold them back.
She lay down next to the egg, pulled it to her chest, and nestled her cheek against the scales, which were as warm as the embrace the dragon was giving her in her thoughts.
