by Sarah Noffke
Sophia lifted her face up, her heart dropping as she saw what he was referring to. Racing out of the water and headed in their direction was a torpedo fueled by magical tech.
Chapter Forty-Five
We’re a huge target, Sophia declared to Lunis.
Yes, and we’re headed in the wrong direction, Lunis said, shrinking down and turning like a tiny car on a dime.
She looked back, realizing that they could outrace the torpedo easily. The problem wasn’t that. It was that Coral and Evan had just sprung from the water and couldn’t move as fast.
We have to go back for them, she told Lunis.
I’m already on it, he said, diving forward and flying upside down, swiveling out of the trajectory of the torpedo. It turned around, but in a wide arc, not moving as nimbly. The magical tech did give the torpedo many advantages though, namely allowing it to fly above the water.
“We’re being pursued,” Evan said over the comm.
“I see that,” Sophia stated.
“I already got away from one of those things using magic, but it cost us greatly,” Evan said, his voice indeed sounding tired.
“We need to portal back,” Sophia said.
“Yes, but it will follow us through,” Evan argued.
“Which means we either get a head start or we take it out,” Sophia offered.
“I’m not sure I can manage either,” Evan stated.
Sophia cut her eyes at the other dragonrider as they approached. He was hurt. She could plainly see that.
“What happened?”
“I made the first thing racing after us explode,” he stated.
“On you?”
“Sort of,” he answered. “We are fine, though. Just need to get home.”
He doesn’t look fine, Sophia said to Lunis.
Nor is Coral, he agreed. She can’t fly much longer.
And if I create a portal, the torpedo will just follow us through it, Sophia reasoned.
Which we wouldn’t want if we were portaling to the Gullington, Lunis stated.
But that gave Sophia an idea.
“Sparky, can you and Coral stay put where you are?” Sophia asked Evan over the comm.
“What and leave you to deal with that thing?” Evan stated.
Sophia had already given Lunis the idea and he was quickly speeding away from the others, drawing the torpedo targeted on them away.
“Yes, we’re going to deal with this thing. It’s called a torpedo. And then we’re getting you two back.”
“Copy that, Pink Princess,” Evan said through heavy breaths.
Lunis easily outpaced the torpedo. He could outrun it all night. But that wouldn’t help them to get their friends to safety, so they were going to do what they did best and use strategy to defeat their opponents.
When they were a good distance from the torpedo, Sophia threw out a portal in front of them.
Without her having to even make the command, Lunis slowed, as if he’d suddenly lost power.
The torpedo caught up with them, zooming dangerously close, seconds from hitting them.
Again, everything slowed down as Lunis sped toward the portal, the torpedo quick on his tail. Just before he slipped through the portal, he nose-dived, heading for the surface of the ocean. The torpedo couldn’t change direction as fast and flew straight through the portal that led to space, a place Sophia would never go, knowing she wouldn’t survive.
She closed the portal immediately. The torpedo would soon explode on the other side, a safe distance from them.
Lunis flew above the surface of the water, the moist breeze a welcome feeling as they slowed, catching up to Evan and Coral hovering in midair.
“That was quick thinking,” Evan said, pointing to where the portal had been that trapped the torpedo. His face was bloody in places and there were quite a few lacerations on Coral, but otherwise, their eyes were bright with determination.
“Thank you,” Sophia said. “And the dragon eggs?”
Evan patted the bag across his back. “They are ready to return to where they rightfully belong.”
Sophia smiled, opening a portal to the place she hoped to always return to at the end of every battle—the Gullington.
Chapter Forty-Six
Hiker was speechless as Sophia slid the bag away from the dragon eggs to reveal the five large objects.
Evan and Coral were being looked after by Ainsley and Quiet, who had greeted them at the Barrier, their faces covered in worry like they knew a dragon and rider had been injured. Sophia had lugged the dragon eggs to the Castle, after being told by the housekeeper that Evan and his dragon would be in good hands.
She stepped back from the desk, waiting for the leader of the Dragon Elite to say the first word after the big reveal. He was wearing a sheet still wrapped oddly around his barrel chest.
“In all my life…” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen one in person.”
That seemed so strange to Sophia, but she had to remember that she was maybe the first to ever magnetize to a dragon while they were still in the egg. Most dragons hatched and lived several hundred years before magnetizing to a rider.
“This marks a great achievement for the Dragon Elite,” Mama Jamba stated.
“Yes,” Hiker agreed. “Our numbers could recover. If we can recover these, imagine what else we can find out there. We can protect the dragons from Thad. We can build ourselves up and fight him.”
“I’m afraid that regardless of whether you build back the Dragon Elite,” Mama Jamba began, “you’re going to have to fight Thad Reinhart. He will know that you’re back more than ever. This incident won’t be lost on him.”
Hiker nodded solemnly. “Yes, I expect the attacks to start soon. He will target us.” A rare smile made his beard twitch. “But we have five dragon eggs. It’s a new beginning.”
Mama shook her head, ironically her usual smile falling away. “Actually, I’m afraid what you’re witnessing is more of an end.”
He looked up at her suddenly. “What do you mean?”
She pointed at Sophia. “She has to be the one to tell you.”
“Me?” Sophia questioned, indicating to herself. “I don’t know what you mean. Tell him what?”
Mama Jamba’s finger dropped, pointing at the pocket of Sophia’s cloak. “Oh, but you do, darling. You were given a message to pass along when the time was right.”
Sophia glanced down at the cloak, not having remembered putting the sealed envelope from Mae Ling there. It was sitting inside her pocket, unharmed from the adventures she’d just been on.
Mae Ling had told her that she could only open the envelope once she’d recovered the five dragon eggs. Sophia had nearly forgotten about that. However, Mama Jamba apparently hadn’t.
Holding her breath, Sophia pulled out the envelope.
“What’s that?” Hiker asked gruffly.
“It is something you must know now,” Mama Jamba stated, nodding to Sophia. “Go on, darling.”
She broke the seal, opening the envelope. The paper was thick, and the handwriting on it flowery. Sophia sucked in a breath when she read the note.
Seven short words.
How could seven short words break Sophia’s heart? And yet, they did.
“What does it say?” Hiker asked.
Sophia wanted to answer him, but instead, she looked at Mama Jamba. “Is this true?”
“I’m afraid so, hun,” she answered sympathetically.
“What is it?” Hiker asked, his voice shaking.
Sophia turned the note around so he could read it with his own eyes, in case he didn’t believe what she told him. “These are all the dragon eggs that left.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Learning that out of a thousand dragon eggs only five remained didn’t defeat Hiker the way Sophia had thought.
He went silent, his light-colored eyes marked by stress, but his gaze was soon filled with a new determination. That’s when he made the decision Sophi
a had been hoping for. He agreed it was time they go out and find the lost riders, recruiting them back to the Dragon Elite.
It was unclear how long it would be until any of the eggs hatched. It might be tomorrow, or not in any of their lifetimes. But it was certain that now that Thad Reinhart knew the Dragon Elite were back, he would come after them. Any plans he had would be accelerated. And after having his facility stormed and eggs stolen, he’d be madder than hell.
Although Sophia had felt heavy after learning there would only ever be five dragons left to hatch in the world and then they’d be an extinct race, Hiker was strangely optimistic. When she went to leave his office, feeling heavy and exhausted from battle, he stopped her.
“At least we know,” Hiker had said to her, a strange hope in his voice. “Now we can prepare. Now we know what we have to work with. We can let go of the hope that we’ll reign with massive numbers and focus on using strategy. I hear it’s how some of the best operate.”
She forced a smile. “Yeah, it’s just that I never knew the world when dragons dominated it, and now I never will.”
“That’s because you were born for a different time,” Hiker said.
She knew she should be grateful to have been successful, but right then, it just felt like a blow to learn how close dragons were to extinction.
“You and Lunis did well to recover these,” Hiker said when she finished debriefing him on everything that happened at the Institute. “And you worked well with Evan, which proves even more about your character and capacity for patience.”
“He isn’t so bad,” she said and then added, “but you all are taking computer classes.”
He blinked at her rapidly. “I think I’ve dealt well enough with all these changes. I draw the line at computer classes.”
“Fine,” Sophia said, smelling smoke in her hair and looking forward to a shower. “Well, maybe the Castle will give you back your clothes, and then you can consider some other changes, like letting the riders have phones.”
He shook his head. “It’s not necessary.”
“What about Christmas?” Sophia asked.
Again another head shake. “You really know how to threaten my patience.”
“Okay, but I get to go on missions to recruit lone riders, so I guess I’ve won one battle,” she said, proudly.
“Sophia, I hope that you and I get to a point where we don’t think of it as battling each other,” Hiker stated thoughtfully. “But for now, I think that it’s a part of our dynamic.”
“Because you’re a crusty old Viking who is resistant to change?” she asked.
“Yes, and you’re a young, know-it-all who insists on being a pain in my ass,” he answered.
She nodded. “I think we play out our roles rather well.”
Hiker actually winked. “I would agree.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
All Sophia wanted to do was lay down in her bed and sleep after the long adventure. That’s why she was sorely disappointed after getting out of the shower to find her bed missing from her room.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “So, Castle, you don’t want me to sleep then?”
In reply, the door to her room opened with a creak, inviting her out into the hallway.
“Fine,” she said, trudging forward, realizing she was being forced to play the game of the Castle.
When she got to the stairs that led to the entryway, she heard a strange sound.
“Is that music?” she asked aloud.
“It is, indeed,” Wilder said, joining her on the landing to the stairs. “And I hope you’re ready to experience more strangeness because bringing those dragon eggs into the Castle has put some people in weird moods.”
“How so?” she asked, hurrying down the stairs while trying to recognize the music.
“It’s better if you see for yourself,” he answered.
“Is that Elvis?” Sophia asked, recognizing the song Blue Suede Shoes.
“Is it?” Wilder questioned. “Beats me. I don’t know much about music, but I used to play the fiddle.”
“And then what…”
“I magnetized to a dragon and have since had less time to spend with my band,” he answered.
“Oh, the life of a dragonrider. It will invariably break up a band,” she related. “I’ll give you some tunes to listen to. I’ve got some great lists on my Spotify account.”
“And I’ve got some awesome nibs on my Bubble-Bear account,” he said.
“What? What are you talking about?”
He shrugged. “I haven’t got a clue. I just wanted you to experience what it’s like to have no idea what I’m referring to.”
She nodded. “Well-played.”
Sophia was so amused by Wilder’s antics that she did a double-take upon entering the dining hall.
Wilder laughed. “Told you that you had to see it for yourself.”
“Is this real?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.
“I assure you that it is,” he answered.
Sitting at the dining room table having his hair braided by Mama Jamba was none other than Hiker Wallace, the leader of the Dragon Elite. But that wasn’t even the strangest part. It was that the Viking had abandoned his sheet and was wearing a retro-seventies suit complete with a thick tie and bell-bottom pants. The collar of the shirt was too large and made him look like he was about to go to a disco bar.
“Did Ainsley spike the food again?” Sophia asked.
“No, I didn’t,” she said, hobbling in from the kitchen carrying a couple of bottles of whiskey. “I didn’t have to. Hiker asked that I bring out the good stuff tonight.”
“I was also hoping for some food to go along with it,” Hiker said, moving his head as Mama Jamba tied up his braid.
“Oh, you are the indulgent type,” Ainsley said, slamming the bottles down bitterly. “Fine, I’ll go and fix you something to eat, but nothing lavish.”
He nodded, grimacing as Mama Jamba fidgeted with his braid.
“Don’t move, Hiker, or I won’t be able to get it just right, and then I’ll have to start over.”
He nodded, to Sophia’s shock.
She turned to Wilder. “Did I return to the right Gullington, or is this the one in the parallel universe where everyone is insane?”
Mama Jamba sang along to Blue Suede Shoes as Ainsley brought in a large tray full of roasted duck and vegetables.
“I just whipped this up,” Ainsley said, sticking it on the table. “That’s all you’re getting.”
“How about some bread?” Hiker asked.
“Okay, but it won’t be fresh,” the housekeeper said, disappearing into the kitchen again.
“Ummmm, silly question,” Sophia began. “What the hell is going on?”
Hiker reached out, pulling a leg from the duck. “I decided that since I can’t beat the Castle, I should join it.”
“Smart thinking, doll,” Mama Jamba said, coming around to admire Hiker from the front.
“Did it fix your office?” Sophia asked.
He shook his head, taking a bite. “No, and it probably won’t. But for tonight, I’ll indulge it by wearing this awful outfit and allow Mama to fix my hair.”
“But tomorrow, you’re back to your grumpy self, right?” Ainsley said, dumping a basket of fresh-baked rolls on the table.
“Would you get me some jam to go with these?” Hiker asked, holding up one of the steaming hot rolls.
“Ainsley,” she corrected, drawing out the name.
“Sorry, what?” he asked.
“My name is Ainsley,” she stated. “I get that after all these centuries it’s hard to remember, but I actually don’t go by ‘Would you.’ That was my mum.”
“Very funny,” he said, taking a bite of the roll, crumbs landing in his beard.
“I bet you’re starving after all those adventures,” Wilder said, pulling out a chair at the table for Sophia.
“Actually, I’m not. I wanted to check on Evan and Coral,” sh
e answered.
“Oh, they are resting up, dear,” Mama Jamba said, holding out her arm. “I’ll take you up there to see Evan, though. While he’s asleep, we can put perfume on him so he doesn’t smell so manly. That scent really does permeate this whole place.”
“I wonder why?” Hiker said through a mouthful of meat.
Mama Jamba led Sophia back toward the staircase, looking over her shoulder at the leader of the Dragon Elite. “You look very smart, Hiker.”
“Thanks, Mama,” he said, raising a glass to her as they left.
Once in the entryway, Mama Jamba halted beside the staircase. “I think you can find your way up to Evan on your own. He’s fine, though. And I know you really just want to sleep.”
“Oh, yeah, I am tired. But the Castle took my bed.”
“Because it wanted you to come down here and see the festivities, which are mostly due to you.”
“Oh, well, recovering the final dragon eggs in existence is pretty exciting. I wish Evan was here to join in.”
“No,” Mama Jamba argued. “It was because of you that this place is taking on a new life, regardless of the dragon eggs. Hiker is changing. The men are growing. And even the staff is going through their own evolution. I knew my Sophia would shake up the dragonrider world, I just never knew how much.”
She smiled proudly. “That’s the thing about being a mother. Your children surprise you all the time. I never think I can love them more, but somehow I do.”
“Well…”
Mama Jamba waved her off. “You’re tired, as you should be. Words are hard, and I don’t need to hear any more from you tonight. The Castle has returned your bed, so go rest up.”
“Okay,” Sophia said, wishing she could stay to enjoy the strangeness happening in the dining hall, but knowing she was too tired for it.
“Is Mahkah okay?” she asked Mama Jamba.
“Oh, I suspect so,” she answered. “Still on the mission on Catalina Island.”
Sophia nodded, sensing there was something else Mother Nature wanted to say to her. “Is everything else okay? Like my sister and brother? You seem like you have something on your mind.”