Ultimate Resolve (The Exceptional S. Beaufont Book 12)

by Sarah Noffke

  Sophia’s face banged into her dragon’s back as the netting cinched them in together like ingredients in a burrito. She heard Lunis groan as it secured his legs tight to his body and tied up his tail too.

  Again and again, Sophia felt something pressing her tighter to Lunis as the netting continued to wrap around them and blotted out the gnomes’ chanting. It blocked the light as well before they rolled forward through the air.

  There was no way of getting out of this. No magic that Sophia could think of doing with her adrenaline pumping and her mind racing. She didn’t know what the gnomes would do now that they’d captured them. She understood that they were much like the giants and not a tolerant and understanding magical race.

  Sophia thought she was going to be sick from spinning through the air. Suddenly they were in free-fall, and she braced herself for the impact. Thankfully it was on a bed of snow. Unfortunately, Lunis took the brunt of it, and Sophia’s head hit against one of the horns on his head, making her pass out at once. She sank onto her dragon, hoping that she didn’t wake up to a nightmare, but mostly hoping that she woke up.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Sophia’s head was throbbing when she awoke in a dark cell. She was underground. She knew that at once based on the lack of light and smell of earth and dirt. If she’d been in one of the igloos, the light would be very different.

  She was grateful for the dim lighting since her eyes didn’t respond well to the firelight that radiated from an unknown source.

  Sophia groaned and rolled over on what she realized was a dirt floor. Somewhere in the distance, she heard water trickling. She closed her eyes, trying to remember what had happened—to remember why she was in this strange place.

  Suddenly she bolted upright, terror ripping through her. “Lunis!” Her voice was scratchy and hurt when it flew from her throat as if she’d been dehydrated for a long time. Her head suddenly hurt worse, as though the sound of her voice threatened her wellbeing.

  “He’s not here,” a thick voice said outside her metal-barred cell.

  Sophia needed to remember. To get up. To understand. Yet, all she could give audience to was the pain in her head. She touched it, wondering if she had a laceration. Thankfully she didn’t, but there was a nasty bump that was tender to the touch.

  That’s when she remembered being captured by the gnomes. Really remembered. She recalled being wrapped up with Lunis and hitting the ground and banging her head on his horn. Then her memory ran out.

  Rolling over on her stomach, she pushed up to her hands and knees, blinking at her surroundings. There wasn’t much to it. The walls were made of metal on three sides. The floor was frozen dirt. On the fourth side of the cage were rusty bars.

  Outside her cell was a dark corridor lit with torches. She could barely make out the shadow of a figure standing beside her cell, his back to her and his hands behind his back.

  Sophia pushed up to her feet, feeling brand-new aches radiate through her body. She exhaled and willed herself to move despite the pain. She had much to figure out.

  She blinked while making her way over to the gnome stationed outside her cell, her eyes adjusting to drawing closer to the firelight in the hallway.

  Several times, Sophia tried to reach out to Lunis with her mind, but he didn’t respond. She also tried to use her magic and had zero success there either. Not only was something preventing her from talking to her dragon or using her magic, but the gnomes had taken her sword and the coin from Quiet, which meant she was purely out of options.

  Resting her hands on the rusty bars, thinking she might pass out again, she tried to pull in a breath. “What did you say? About my dragon? He isn’t here? Where is he?”

  The gnome didn’t look back at her. He stayed stock still, looking at the wall. “Somewhere else.”

  Sophia rested her head on the cold bars. “Thanks for all the information. Where am I?”

  She didn’t really expect an answer from the guard but decided that it was worth a try. To her surprise, he answered.

  “You’re in the gnomes’ dungeon awaiting a trial.”

  Sophia blinked again, the pain starting to recede and her clearer thinking returning. “Awaiting trial?”

  “You’ll be tried for your crimes, and when found guilty, you’ll be sentenced to death,” the gnome said in almost a robotic voice.

  Sophia’s mouth was parched. She looked around for something to drink, but the cell was empty, save for a single metal bucket. “Did you say when I was found guilty? Sounds like the verdict has already been decided. What’s the point of the trial?”

  “It’s part of gnome law,” he answered. “You did trespass the gnome border, did you not?”

  “Yes, but I have a good reason,” she argued.

  “There is no good reason for crossing into our lands,” the guy stated.

  “What’s your name?” Sophia thought that since she had no magic, no dragon, no weapons, and no way of summoning the one guy who was supposed to get her out of this mess, she’d try using her people skills.

  “That’s none of your concern,” he answered at once.

  Sophia pressed her back to the metal wall, the frustration of her current predicament close to overwhelming her. “How do you know that I don’t have a good reason? You can’t know everything, Johnny.”

  “My name isn’t Johnny,” he said flatly. “The laws are clear. If you trespass, you are tried and sentenced to death immediately for your crimes.”

  “Has all this been run by the House of Fourteen?” Sophia asked. “I’m certain that they would say these laws are a little harsh and archaic.”

  “The House of Fourteen doesn’t fully govern us,” he explained. “They control us outside our borders, but our leader refuses to comply when on our land due to their corrupt and unreasonable nature.”

  Sophia nodded. Of course, it would come down to that, she thought with a morbid laugh. The one reason she was going to all this trouble—to fix the House of Fourteen—would lead to her inevitable death. “What’s your leader’s name? Can you tell me that, Bobby?”

  “My name isn’t Bobby,” he spat at once, irritation growing in his voice. “Our leader is known as Emperor Lars.”

  “Lovely name.” Sophia strode over to the bucket and peered inside to find it empty. “Do you by chance have some water? My pail seems to be empty, and you took all…well, my everything.”

  “That’s not a water pail,” he stated. “That’s for you to relieve yourself in.”

  Sophia grimaced. “I don’t think so. Can I please get some water, Billy?”

  Finally, the gnome turned his head sideways and glared at her. “My name isn’t Billy. I guess so since you’re about to die.”

  Sophia sighed dramatically. “How imminent is this death thing?”

  “In the next few days. Once Emperor Lars has time to review the case.”

  “Oh, so I have time to plan my funeral.” Sophia pretended to be cheerful about the good news.

  “Well, if you try to escape, you’re sentenced to death right away.” The gnome held out his hand and manifested a metal cup of water. He handed it through the bars. “I want this cup back after you finish drinking. We can’t have you using anything to try and escape.”

  Sophia took the freezing cup and nodded. “Don’t worry. I want time to plan my funeral, remember?” She sipped the mineral-laden water. “Any idea where my stuff is? I had something on me that could give a perfectly good reason for why I crossed your borders.”

  “Do you mean the elfin-made sword or the piece of our gold, which only worsens your case—since that speaks of theft?”

  Sophia groaned. “If you’d give me the piece of gnome gold, I can show you that it’s enchanted, and it will summon a very important gnome who wants to help me.”

  “All the important gnomes of the world already reside within our border,” he explained.

  Sophia wished this guy would try to help her out a little. “Look, Todd, I happen to know one gn
ome who doesn’t reside within your borders, and he’s the one who told me how to find your land.”

  “You mean that map you stole?” he accused. “And my name isn’t Todd.”

  “I didn’t steal the map. It was given to me by Captain Gullington himself.”

  The gnome whipped around to face her directly. “How do you know about him?”

  She sighed and finished her water. “Because he’s the one who I’m going to summon when you give me my gold coin.”

  “That’s impossible,” he denied. “Captain Gullington is dead and has been for a long time. He sacrificed himself to save many others.”

  Sophia nodded. “Yep, but Mother Nature saved him, and he’s been working for the Dragon Elite for centuries.”

  “No, he hasn’t. And if you really knew him, then you’d call him by the name he prefers.”

  “You mean, Quiet? Or his full name, Captain Gullington ‘Quiet’ McAfee?” Sophia asked dryly, handing the cup back over.

  The gnome narrowed his eyes at her. “You must have read that in a book.”

  “I know it because I live with him, well, in him…well, it’s hard to explain. If you give me that coin for a second, I can prove it to you. I can summon him, and you’ll be a big hero when you prance Captain Quiet in front of the emperor himself.”

  The gnome’s irritation deepened. “First, gnomes don’t prance. That’s something that fae and elves do—”

  “No arguing with you there, Kenny.”

  “My name isn’t Kenny,” he spat. “Second, I can’t allow you to have your gold coin…I mean, our gold coin because it’s been confiscated and is being held in the main office.”

  Sophia craned her neck to look around, up and down the dark corridor. “Which is where exactly?”

  He shook his head. “I’m not telling you that.”

  Sophia put her back against the cold metal wall again, feeling really out of options, and slid down to sit on her bottom. “Well, thanks, Donny. This exchange has been incredibly unhelpful.”

  The gnome turned and silently faced forward.

  Are you done with the pity party? Lunis said in her head suddenly. Because we’ve got work to do.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  “Lunis!” Sophia exclaimed out loud and in her head before clapping a hand to her mouth.

  She looked up at the gnome who regarded her over his shoulder.

  “I told you that he’s not here,” the guard stated.

  Sophia nodded, suddenly feeling giddy. “Right. Yeah, I think I’m hallucinating. A result of being hit in the head and drinking mineral-heavy water…thanks for that, by the way. It tasted a little like how I picture a whale tasting.”

  The gnome turned, ignoring her.

  Sophia smiled broadly. There you are, she said in her head to Lunis. Where have you been? Are you okay? What’s going on?

  She could feel his relief that they could talk telepathically once more. I was passed out. I think they put some spell on me when they dropped us so they could put me in this dungeon of sorts. I’ve just awoken, which is why if you were trying to talk to me, it didn’t work. I needed time for the spell to wear off and the cobwebs to clear from my head.

  Sophia sighed. This is at least something. So you’re being kept in a dungeon? Any clues about where it is?

  No, it’s pretty nondescript. Metal walls, a dripping noise, firelight, and a guard with zero sense of humor.

  Sounds strangely familiar, Sophia related.

  I don’t have any magic, and I’m pretty well confined, Lunis offered.

  She nodded. Yeah, they took my weapons and gold coin, and I don’t have my magic. My guard gave me some water and told me we were pretty much being sentenced to death.

  That’s what my guard told me too, Lunis stated. Guess how much he liked any of my short jokes?

  I’m guessing as much as the giants enjoyed the tall jokes.

  Lunis giggled. Yeah, I had to do something to get my wits back when I couldn’t talk to you. That’s when I discovered something interesting.

  That Rory was probably right, and we shouldn’t have come to the gnomes’ homeland?

  Probably, but don’t worry, we’ll get out of this, Lunis stated with confidence. No, gnomes can’t stand complaining. It seems to get under their skin worse than really awesome jokes. It’s like their kryptonite.

  Sophia mused on the idea. How is that possible?

  I don’t know, but I started to throw a pity party aloud, and my guard quickly became unnerved and stormed off.

  Did that give you a chance to look into how to escape? Sophia asked, hopeful.

  No, there’s no escaping for me, he said with disappointment. Unfortunately, it appears the gnomes have thought of everything. I’m guessing there’s no way out of your cell either.

  Sophia looked around, having done a few semi-thorough investigations. Yeah, I don’t see any options unfortunately.

  Which means that you have to get out of your cell to escape, Lunis said, a mischievous hint in his voice.

  Get out of my cell? Sophia replied, confused. How do I do that?

  Well, by complaining obviously, Lunis answered. I grilled my guard on this, and he said that if they allowed you out that you’d have zero chances of escaping because inside the cell, your magic is disabled, but when they let you out, they’ll put these metal handcuffs on you that prevents you from using magic.

  Great, so if I could convince Sammy to let me out of my cell, I still need a tool to pick the lock to the handcuffs, Sophia said, feeling defeat even heavier than before.

  Yes, and thankfully you brushed up on that skill at my behest, Lunis said proudly.

  The lock picking skill?

  Yeah, because you’re already an awesome complainer, he teased.

  Ha-ha. The fact remains that I don’t have any tools. I think they even took the jewelry I was wearing.

  Have you noticed how crappy your cell is? Lunis offered. Like, they haven’t done renovations in a while.

  Lun, it’s a dungeon…for holding prisoners.

  Right, he chirped. Notice how things are in disrepair? Like these metal walls, well, they seem to be splintering in places. A real hellhole, this place.

  Sophia jumped to her feet, suddenly understanding what he meant for her to do. The guard glanced back at her, one eyebrow raised. She offered him a polite smile, waved, and turned to the pail in the corner, pretending she was thinking about using it.

  When the guard turned back, Sophia felt along the part of the metal wall that met the dirt floor until she found a cracked part like what Lunis was referring to.

  Sophia got her fingers under the metal, and before she broke off a piece, she coughed loudly to cover up the noise.

  A fragment came off in her fingers. It was about the size of a bobby pin. It was hopefully the right tool for the job.

  You’re a genius, Lunis.

  The dragon swelled with pride. Now it’s your turn. Work your charm and by that, I mean be a complainy-pain-in-the-butt.

  That’s my specialty. Sophia moved over to the bars next to the guard.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  “So Timmy,” Sophia began in a high-pitched tone. “I really need to pee.”

  The gnome pointed in the direction of the corner. “That’s what the pail is for. And that’s not my name.”

  Sophia gave him a punishing look. “I really can’t believe you expect me to use a pail when you’re standing right here.”

  “I won’t look,” he stated matter-of-factly.

  “Seriously, I can’t go if I think you’re peeking,” she continued.

  “I won’t.”

  “But you’ll hear me relieving myself, and the knowledge of that will prevent me from being able to go,” Sophia countered.

  Amen, sister, Lunis stated. When I lived in the Cave, I couldn’t go if the others were too quiet.

  Less information on your bathroom experiences, Sophia said.

  “I won’t be listening,” the gnome of
fered.

  Sophia crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Seriously, I really, really, really have to go. And I can’t do it here. There has to be another option.”

  “It’s not available for you,” he replied.

  “But I neeeeed to peeee.” Sophia drew out the words, trying her best to be annoying. “If I don’t pee soon, I’m not sure what will happen. I might start crying. When I start crying, then I start thinking about all the things that aren’t right in my life.” She stomped her feet and flailed her arms. “Like, my dragon is who knows where. My boyfriend will probably move on a minute after you all kill me. Not to mention that I never went to half the places I wanted to before I died, like Round Rock, Texas or Memphis, Tennessee.”

  The gnome covered the sides of his head as if the complaints were burning the hair poking out of his ears. “Stop. Would you stop that?”

  “I can’t.” Sophia had started to work herself into a frenzy. She could almost feel tears building in her, all the emotion of the moment welling to the surface. “My sister is going to have a baby, and I won’t ever meet Billy. Not to mention that the Dragon Elite were finally becoming something and I’ll never get to be a part of it. Oh, and I ordered a sunflower bathing suit and do you think I’ll get the chance to wear it? No! Because I’m going to be killed. But the worst part is that I’ll either pee on myself first, or I’ll have to pee in a pail in front of a gnome who won’t even tell me his name. Either way, I’m going to relieve myself in front of a stranger. And—”

  “Magnus!” the gnome yelled. “My name is Magnus. If I let you go to the bathroom, will you stop complaining?”

  Sophia stifled her victorious reaction, making it appear she was trying not to cry anymore. She nodded adamantly, like a little child trying to be obedient.

  “Fine.” Magnus retrieved something off the wall. As he approached, Sophia could tell it was a metal pair of handcuffs. He handed them through the bars. “Put these on.”

  Sophia took the cold metal handcuffs that were heavy for their size. They were a strange and archaic type of magitech, but she could tell that they would work for their purposes. She also spied the keyhole in the firelight. It was small, about the size of the end of a bobby pin.