by Sarah Noffke
The wings of the dragons pushed the thick clouds away, making the mountain more visible. It was mostly covered in rocks and a strange bluish gaseous substance.
Mahkah pointed to the peak ahead, his intent obvious to Sophia. They needed to land.
The rocky top rose sharply, with a flat platform next to a huge opening. It seemed like the most obvious place for Hydra.
Ready for this, Lunis said, instantly responding to Sophia’s intention to land on the other side of the flat land, opposite the cave.
She didn’t have to respond. Lunis could feel both her hesitation and her confirmation. It was time to draw out the seven-headed dragon.
Without making a single noise or disrupting the gravel underfoot, Lunis landed on the edge of the flat land. Mahkah and Tala slipped down and took the spot next to Sophia.
She lifted her chin and surveyed the area. Even if they had a plan, this was going to be a deadly challenge. She guessed the token was in the cave somewhere. First, they’d need to lure Hydra out. Then slaughter it. Only after, would she be able to take what she needed to complete this challenge.
She glanced at Mahkah, grateful he was with her on this mission. Sophia could think of few as resilient and competent as the three-hundred-year-old dragonrider next to her.
That was why the strange expression that crossed his face made her pause.
“What is it?” she asked in a whisper, knowing he could hear her easily due to his enhanced senses.
A goofy giggle fell out of his mouth. “It smells like a fart.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“What?” Sophia asked, wondering if her enhanced senses were failing her and she had misheard Mahkah.
He slid down from the back of his dragon, noise pinched, and waved his hand in front of his face. “Seriously, what did Hydra eat?”
“What the hell is going on?” Sophia asked Lunis.
I’m not sure yet, he said as he studied Tala, who was blinking rapidly like there was something in her eyes.
“Mahkah, are you okay?” Sophia asked, sliding down Lunis’ back and searching her friend’s eyes. They were definitely different-looking, but she wasn’t sure how.
“I think the seven-headed dragon had too much of that Taco Ring you talk about,” he said, still waving and trying to clear the air.
“Do you mean Taco Bell?” she asked, wondering why this was even a conversation.
“Yeah, remember when you got us that from Uber Eats and Evan ate that burrito the size of his face, and then—”
“I don’t need to relive that story,” she interrupted. “You don’t seem like yourself. Are you all right?”
He scrunched his nose. “I’d be a lot better if a wind would blow that smell out of here. Tala, make a fan.” He turned to his dragon, who had her eyes closed like she had decided this was a good time to take an impromptu nap.
The air on top of the Mountain of Truth was pretty smelly, but never in a million years would Mahkah be the one to point this out. He would never mention it, just stare placidly at the cave with their assignment, preparing to complete the task. The person before Sophia didn’t seem at all like the Mahkah she knew as he wiggled his finger into his ear and then pulled it out, eyeing the ear wax he’d unearthed.
He’s regressed, Lunis stated in Sophia’s head.
She turned to her dragon, her eyes wide. Regressed? Like, he is a young child?
Yes, it appears so, Lunis answered. Tala is trying to find a way to remedy the situation. Something on the Mountain of Truth is causing him to have the maturity of a child.
Why isn’t it affecting me? Sophia questioned
He lowered his head and blinked into her eyes. Because you, my love, are still young, and even when you were a child, you never had a moment of immaturity.
That made sense to Sophia. Clark always said she was born forty years old, which was probably one of the reasons she was the youngest rider to magnetize to a dragon.
So how do we fix him, Sophia asked. I can’t have a ten-year-old boy helping me slaughter Hydra. He’ll be giggling the whole time and making fart jokes.
Tala thinks she’s found a solution, Lunis offered.
Sophia perked up, grateful they had a way to fix Mahkah. Okay, what is it?
The look of remorse that crossed Lunis’ face was unmistakable. You need to punch him in the face.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Wait, what, Sophia questioned, again wondering if she was mishearing things. Lunis was in her head, so that wasn’t likely. She felt his thoughts as much as she heard them.
I need to punch him in the face, Sophia asked.
Or you can kick him in the head, Lunis offered. It’s really up to you.
But why?
The end result is you need to knock him out, Lunis answered.
Sophia watched as Mahkah pulled out his sword and ran his eyes over it. Are you serious? Isn’t there another way, she asked her dragon.
“Neat-o!” Mahkah exclaimed. He put the tip of the sword in the dirt, laid his head on the hilt, and began circling it over and over, trying to make himself dizzy.
Well, Lunis began, also watching the spectacle. You can leave him like he is and try to defeat Hydra, but I’m not sure how successful we’ll be if we’ve got to babysit at the same time.
Sophia watched as Mahkah dropped his sword and staggered away, looking like a drunk. “Oh, man. That was a killer ride. Soph, you got to try that.”
“You do remember why we’re here, right?” she asked him.
He teetered back and forth, looking like he might fall over. “I don’t remember, but hey, want to race me toward the cave? Last one there is a rotten dragon’s egg.”
Mahkah started for the cave, foolishly leaving his sword lying on the ground behind him.
Sophia didn’t grant herself a moment to think. She shot her right hand forward as if she were throwing a baseball, and a cosmic ball of light sprang from her fingertips and headed in Mahkah’s direction. He was weaving back and forth so much she worried her attack wasn’t going to connect with him, but he darted back into its path just as it was about to pass him. The ball hit his shins, knocking his legs out from under him.
He rolled over, coughing up dirt with an offended expression on his face. “What did you do that for?”
Sophia shook her head as she walked over to him. “To save your ass, you toddler.”
“I know you are, but what am I?” he spat back.
She shook her head again, realizing she was going to have to assault her friend. He couldn’t stay in this immature form and be of any help to her. Unfortunately, she didn’t think a spell would work to make him unconscious. He needed to be reset, and the best, most effective way to do that was a good old-fashioned blow.
Still sitting on his tailbone, he extended a hand to Sophia as she approached. “Help a brother up, would you?”
“Sure,” she said, grabbing his hand and hauling him up. When he was on his feet, Sophia powered up her other fist, using a combat spell Wilder had taught her. “Sorry about this, brother.” She brought her hand around and threw it straight into Mahkah’s face, knocking him to the ground.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“Well, I feel horrible,” Sophia muttered, shaking her hand, which was already throbbing.
Tala approached Sophia, shaking her large head. You did what you had to do. Don’t feel bad.
“No, his face is hard as a rock,” she corrected, still trying to dispel the pain in her fingers.
Good thinking combining the combat spell with the punch, Lunis said, having taken his place on the other side of Sophia.
She nodded appreciatively. “I only wanted to hit him once.”
Lying face-down on the ground, Mahkah was mostly motionless except for the gentle movement of his back as he continued to breathe, to Sophia’s relief.
Well, it appears to have worked, Tala stated, watching her rider.
“You mean, he’ll be his usual mature self when he awakes?
” Sophia asked.
The dragon shook her head. I’m not sure. Our psychic link hasn’t returned yet, but you knocked him out, and that was the goal. We just have to wait and hope that when he comes to, he’s back to normal.
“I wonder how long he’ll be out?” Sophia mused.
It’s hard to say, Tala replied in a speculative tone.
The ground under their feet rumbled. Rocks cascaded down from the wall around the cave. A roar filled the air and sent a blast of wind through Sophia’s hair.
Her eyes widened in horror. “Wake up, Mahkah! Hydra is coming!”
Chapter Forty
The ground continued to quake. If the opening to the cave was any indication, Hydra was huge. If that hadn’t given it away, the beast was knocking her off-balance with each stomp of its feet. She wasn’t certain but guessed the monster had just awoken from a nap and wasn’t happy about it.
Rushing to her friend, Sophia turned Mahkah over and shook his shoulders as she frantically looked toward the cave opening, where rocks continued to rain down.
“Come on, Mahkah!” she urged. She wondered if a spell would work. It could backfire, though, and just keep him asleep. Anything to do with sleeping and waking was a mixed bag when it came to magic.
Desperate, she whipped her head up and glared at Tala. “Can you help?”
I can take him away if we need me to, she offered.
We need his help to defeat Hydra, Lunis argued. He came around to stand between Sophia and the cave with a protective glint in his eyes. He unfolded his wings, making him appear larger.
“Well, right now, he’s useless,” Sophia complained. She continued to shake the limp figure of Mahkah.
Try hitting him again, Lunis suggested.
“That’s how I got in this position,” Sophia argued.
The first dragon head materialized in the opening of the cave, nearly making Sophia faint in fright. The sheer size of the head was equal to Lunis’ body. Hydra was huge.
The head opened its mouth, showing two rows of needle-sharp teeth and blood-red eyes. It let out a vicious roar that sent a wind across the plains, nearly knocking Sophia on her butt.
Not hesitating, she brought the palm of her hand across Mahkah’s face and slapped him hard.
He shot upright, throwing an arm up to defend himself. Sophia backed away immediately and gave him a tentative expression as he shook his head, appearing disoriented. She still didn’t know if he was back to normal yet.
Inclining forward, she looked for clues. “Mahkah, are you okay?”
He blinked to try to clear the confusion from his head and pressed his eyes shut before shaking his head. “Yeah, I think so,” he said in his usual calm tone. Running his hand over his jaw, he worked it back and forth. “What hit me? I don’t remember a thing.”
“We will discuss that later,” Sophia said, backing up for the sword Mahkah had dropped in the dirt. Not taking her eyes off the entrance to the cave, she reached back and grabbed the hilt and tossed it in Mahkah’s direction. Using the reflexes she was used to seeing him display, he grabbed the sword at once. “Right now, we are going to have to act fast. A sleeping dragon has just been woken, and he’s pissed.”
Mahkah turned to follow Sophia’s line of sight just as the other six heads swam into view, their eyes full of hatred and their mouths salivating with intense hunger.
Chapter Forty-One
Hydra was absolutely massive as he stalked out of the cave, his seven heads swimming around his round body.
There was a brief moment where Sophia considered abandoning this whole token thing and letting The Complete History of Dragonriders book go. However, Beaufonts didn’t back down from challenges. They didn’t turn tail in the face of danger. If they did, the world would be a different place, and far worse off. Fear might be running rampant through Sophia’s every muscle, but she was going to face Hydra, no matter what.
Mahkah’s eyes were wide as he looked over his shoulder at Sophia with an expression on his face that seemed to say, “What the hell have you gotten me into?”
At least he was back to his old self. Sophia couldn’t think of anyone she’d rather have by her side to take this giant creature down.
Maybe Hydra was always the angry type. Maybe the lack of visitors made it so he didn’t know how to host very well. Or maybe it was because he sensed Sophia and Mahkah were there to end him and take his job, and he was offended. For whatever reason, all seven of his heads pointed in their direction, their necks stretching out as their eyes burned violently red. In unison, they all opened their mouths, and murderous roars ripped from them.
Sophia was certain she would never be able to hear properly again. Her hair whipped back from her face, and her boots inched back slightly from the ferocious wind that spilled from the seven mouths.
“I don’t think he can breathe fire,” Mahkah stated, backing up even with Sophia.
“Well, that’s a plus,” Sophia said as she studied the mostly black dragon and his rippling muscles in the waning Oriceran sunlight. What looked like lava streaks ran over his sides and underbelly.
“Yes, but it means his bite is venomous,” Mahkah explained.
“It’s always something,” Sophia said with a sigh, looking at the sky. “Angels, you can’t just let us have the upper hand, can you?”
As Hydra stomped forward, Sophia’s teeth rattled in her head as if she were experiencing a major earthquake. The monster appeared more like a serpent than a dragon, with webbed spikes running the length of his back. Sophia hadn’t spotted his tail yet but could only imagine it was another deadly device the beast could employ in his favor.
“I would say we have no upper hand whatsoever,” Mahkah said, his voice vibrating. “But it’s probably because of the angels we’re still alive.”
Are we going to kill that thing anytime soon? Lunis asked casually.
She whipped around and raced for her dragon. In a series of swift and efficient movements, Sophia grabbed the reins and threw herself into the saddle.
With a gradual rise of her hands and silent intention, Lunis rose, following Sophia’s lead. Beside them, Mahkah had mounted Tala and taken her to the left as Sophia veered to the right.
“You know what to do!” Mahkah yelled loud enough that Sophia heard him over the falling rock and thundering of the ground.
“Don’t die,” she replied and pulled Inexorabilis from its sheath. Flying in and cutting off the heads of this monster had seemed a lot easier in theory. With so many heads swimming around and the potential of a deadly bite, she wasn’t certain she could get in close enough for the job, although she had to try.
Cutting through the thick neck would take effort, too. It was easily the length of her sword, which meant the attacks would have to be precise. That wasn’t something Sophia figured she’d have the luxury of, with chaos circling all around her.
As Lunis flew closer to Hydra, Sophia’s pulse quickened. She was certain few people would willingly fly toward this beast when the option to escape was available. Mahkah flew in on the other side, darting around heads as they tried to snap at him. Tala flew like a leaf in the wind, graceful and light. She easily wove in and around the heads, negotiating them like she could anticipate their movements.
Lunis, on the other hand, wasn’t as nimble, nearly running into one of the heads and having to duck at the last moment. That sent Sophia off him, and she fell to the ground.
She rolled over at once and jumped to her feet, her sword still in her hands as one of the heads lowered down, its nostrils breathing hot air onto her as its red eyes narrowed. There was pure hostility in its gaze, and she tensed as another head lowered at her back.
Sophia was trapped.
Chapter Forty-Two
The head in front of Sophia didn’t grant her much room as it moved in closer, obviously not acquainted with personal space rules.
The glow of its red eyes was so bright up close, they made Sophia’s own eyes ache and water. Its hot b
reath casting down on her made her sweat, and the head, which she named Terry, smelled like rotten meat.
Holding her breath, Sophia assessed her options.
There weren’t any.
With Terry literally breathing down on her and Krysta up on her junk from behind, it was impossible to use magic. Her sword was in her hand, but swinging it was impossible.
Slimy green drool dripped from Terry’s yellow teeth as she sneered at Sophia, sniffing her as if to decide what kind of condiments to put on her snack.
Without warning, the head shot up. Krysta, at Sophia’s back, knocked into her, emptying her of breath. Sophia allowed the momentum to send her forward and threw herself into a front roll. She barely made out from between the heads, but Sophia didn’t stop running until something blue caught her eyes.
As Lunis ran past her, Sophia dove and grabbed the saddle, pulling herself onto his back swiftly. He rose into the air, flying away from the beast, which was screaming like a spoiled toddler.
As Sophia tried to catch her breath and ready her sword, Lunis swerved around, taking them back toward Hydra.
Thanks for the save, she said in his head.
Thank Mahkah and Tala later, he replied and then added, if we survive this.
Oh, Sophia said, watching as Mahkah and Tala ran interference, shooting fire and arrows at the monster. Mahkah appeared to have exchanged his sword for a bow and was rapidly sending attacks at the various heads, some shots sticking into the sides and others whizzing past them but still serving as a distraction as Sophia and Lunis worked to recover their position.
Girl names, huh? Lunis asked, a laugh in his voice. When did you decide Hydra’s heads were female?
Well, maybe not all of them are, Sophia reasoned, her shoulders down low as she searched the turmoil they were about to reenter. Maybe three or four of them are female and the rest male. I’m not sure why they have to be all one gender.
