by Sarah Noffke
“Oh, I know this one.” Serena tapped the side of her head as though trying to unlock the knowledge.
“Three things,” Rudolf encouraged. “What is it?”
“P-pi-pi…” Serena looked at Rudolf for confirmation.
He nodded encouragingly.
“Pig!” Serena finally exclaimed.
“That’s right,” he affirmed. “Second, what sound does it make?”
“Oink!” Serena said with confidence.
“That’s right,” Rudolf stated. “Last, do you or don’t you lick it?”
This one also seemed to stump the mortal. She tapped her chin as if it might be a trick question. “You do…” She studied Rudolf’s expression, which suddenly turned serious. “Do not lick it.”
He sighed with relief. “That’s right. You’ve gotten two cards right.”
“Finally.” Serena sighed.
“Are those all farm animals?” Sophia pointed at the stack of flashcards.
Rudolf nodded.
“You get that you don’t ever lick any farm animals, right?” Sophia jerked her chin to the side. “Like, that shouldn’t even be a question.”
Both the fae and the mortal laughed as if she was joking. Rudolf leaned forward and whispered to his wife, “She hasn’t been to college.”
“Anyway,” Sophia said while wondering if the move somehow made the Sweetwaters dumber. She didn’t think that was possible. “Rudolf, I’m here to see you about a project that I hoped you could help me with. Do you have a minute to talk?”
Serena popped up to her feet. “Oh, perfect timing. I’m exhausted from all the studying. I’ll go and play in the antigravity chamber until dinner.”
The mortal was gone in a dash.
Sophia pointed over her shoulder. “She’s going off to an antigravity chamber, isn’t she? You really have one of those?”
Rudolf shook his head. “No, it’s a room with lots of pillows and trampolines. But between you and me, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed that my wife isn’t very smart.”
“What?” Sophia feigned surprise.
“I know. She can say big words like Neiman Marcus and Beverly Hills, but she’s not that smart,” he stated. “She’s super sweet and fun, and really, at the end of the day, that’s what counts, right?”
“If you’re looking for a good pet,” Sophia replied.
“So what brings Sophia Beaufont to my new abode?”
Sophia looked around at the rich wood covering the study’s walls. Pictures of hunting dogs and dark furniture tastefully decorated the room. “It’s nice and not at all something I thought would suit you.”
He shrugged and pushed up off the floor. “Every few centuries, I try and mix it up.”
She nodded. “Anyway, Liv and I are working on a task that will trick evil Councilors into doing bad things to get power, and we wondered if you’d participate.”
“Sure,” Rudolf stated at once, no questions asked.
Sophia lowered her chin. “There’s more to it for you. The task we have set up for you would require you to pose as a simple annoyance to the magicians.”
He scratched his head. “Well, I don’t know how to manage that. Maybe you all can coach me on ways to be annoying?”
Sophia refrained from saying what she was thinking. “We’re confident you can pull off the role. Anyway, you’d have to stand in their way, posing as a simple nuisance. There would be an element of danger, but we’d be there to protect you.”
“I’m down,” he stated at once as music poured in through an adjoining wall.
“Rudolf, I think I need to be clear that although we won’t let anything happen to you, the idea for the test is to see if these seemingly evil magicians will strike down an unarmed fellow magical creature simply to progress and because he’s in their way. Are you sure you’re okay with the risks?”
He didn’t even think about it before nodding again. “Sounds like a regular Saturday night. Tell me where and when. Oh, and how to be annoying. I really have no clue.”
Sophia gulped and swallowed the urge to explain he could teach doctorate classes on the subject. The music from the next room grew louder, and it was quite good. “What is that?”
“Oh, that.” Rudolf sighed. “You’re probably going to be all judgy and tell me that I need to quit pushing the Captains so much.”
“Do you have them making clothes again? Doing your accounting? Dealing in day trading?” Sophia asked. “I’ve told you that they aren’t fit to have adult jobs yet. First preschool, then school, then college, then you get them jobs. Remember?”
He nodded. “Yeah, you and all your rules. Hopefully, you don’t overreact to this.”
Rudolf strode out of his study and led Sophia to the adjacent room. It was an elegantly appointed music room with a large grand piano, a harp, guitars, violins, and many other musical instruments. In the center of the room were the triplets, all of them playing various musical instruments.
Captain Morgan was on the piano, her fingers moving expertly over the keys. Captain Silver had the violin held to her chin, the bow moving smoothly back and forth, her eyes closed as she played the sweetest of melodies. Captain Kirk had her lips pressed into the mouth of a French horn, playing a deep tone that accompanied the other instruments perfectly. The entire composition was beautiful and captivating.
Rudolf sighed and looked at Sophia. “I’m sure you’re going to tell me how I’m mean to my children, requiring them to play musical instruments and how their efforts will never pay off because they started too late in life and their destinies are set.”
Sophia gawked at the king and his children, who continued to play, undisturbed by the intruders. “No, this is amazing, Rudolf. They’re simply amazing. Keep teaching them to play music. This is incredible.”
“Oh, well, good. I’m glad you’ve finally come to your senses and loosened up.” Rudolf bent and picked up a cowbell and a drum stick. “Now, Captain Kirk, put down that instrument, and let’s have you progress to something really difficult.”
The small child did as her father told her and exchanged the regal, shiny French horn for the cowbell. She waited until her opening in the music and began tapping the percussion instrument, creating a very compelling accompaniment to the ensemble. Rudolf closed his eyes and swayed back and forth.
Finally, he opened his eyes and threw his arms in the air. “Hold it! Stop!”
All three children halted their playing and looked at their father.
“I love this, babes. Really,” Rudolf stated. “But what I need, the thing I’m jonesing for, that will take this beat to the next level is more cowbell. I need more cowbell.”
“Are you serious?” Sophia looked at him as if he was truly crazy now, whereas before, he’d simply been on the brink and playing with the idea of jumping over the edge.
King Rudolf nodded, quite seriously. “Oh, yeah. I’m totally serious. I’ve got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
According to the map and instructions that Quiet had left for Sophia, the gnomes’ headquarters wasn’t far. The giants were below the Gullington on the Isle of Man, and the gnomes were north of the Dragon Elite—in Iceland.
You know who says, let’s go to Iceland in the middle of the winter? Lunis asked in Sophia’s head as they flew toward the island that lay in the confluence of the North Atlantic Ocean and the Greenland Sea.
Who? Sophia was grateful that she’d put a warming spell on her cloak before they left the Gullington. Her hands felt frozen, even with the thick gloves.
No one, ever.
Sophia laughed. We were in the Arctic Ocean retrieving the genie’s lamp. We can handle Iceland.
Can Iceland handle us? Lunis sang with a dash of swagger in his voice.
As they approached the part where Quiet had indicated the gnomes’ headquarters stood, Sophia realized the country was accurately named. Everywhere she looked was a thick layer of snow and ice, making
her instantly colder. Contrasting in the distance with the bright white that almost hurt her eyes were strange blue rivers and waterfalls cascading down the hills and mountains.
How are they still flowing? Sophia wondered to her dragon.
You know what Iceland is known for, right?
An impossible language to read and speak and thermal pools? Sophia guessed.
Guess how those are made? Lunis offered.
Lots and lots of consonants, Sophia joked.
And lava, Lunis added.
Oh, right. There are tons of active volcanos in Iceland. Those create geothermal energy.
Yep, Lunis affirmed. That’s why Iceland is known as the “Land of Ice and Fire.”
Sophia pulled out the map Quiet had left for her, leaving the coin he’d put with it. According to his handwritten instructions, that was how Sophia would summon him once she was in the land of the gnomes.
She had to get onto their land, get an audience with their leader, and call the groundskeeper. He’d transport immediately and would hopefully only be gone from the Gullington for a short while. The less time he was gone, the better for everyone. That’s why Sophia couldn’t call him until everything was in place.
All Sophia had to do when the time came was hold the coin in her hand and speak Quiet’s full name: Captain Gullington “Quiet” McAfee. After storming onto the giant’s homeland, this seemed like it couldn’t be that different. Like the giants, gnomes were irritable and territorial. Sophia felt confident that she and Lunis could cross the boundary to their land, demand an audience with the leader, and summon Quiet using the coin.
The small piece of gold was old and worn on the edges. It was gnome-made, and the engravings on the surface were almost unrecognizable.
Sophia studied the area that Quiet had marked as the gnome’s headquarters. Like many locations in the Hidden Places book of maps, outsiders could only find the gnomes’ land if they had a map. Otherwise, it simply didn’t exist to their eyes. They could fly over this area of Iceland a hundred times and not see it.
Looking at the map made the location visible. Sophia checked her coordinates and the map, ensuring they were going in the right direction.
Oh, look at that, Lunis said with awe. Ice sculpture-ville. I totally want to lick it.
Sophia glanced up and was mesmerized by the scene that had magically appeared before her eyes. Off the rocky fjords of the majestic coastline was an above-ground city made of towers of ice, cascading turquoise waterfalls and rivers, and tons of little igloos. It was a city made of ice and instantly made Sophia shiver with cold.
Chapter Forty
Now I know why gnomes are so grumpy, Lunis joked. I would be too if I had to live in an ice house.
You live in a cave. How is that much different?
I have central heating.
The gnomes are very hardy to live in a place that’s highly geologically active with earthquakes and many volcanoes. Not to mention the glaciers.
Lunis hovered off the coast, the pair studying the lands before them. It was a beautiful village with sparkling columns made of ice and also shorter ones seemingly made of snow. Steam rose from holes throughout the land, indicating the sulfurous hot springs, geysers, and active volcanoes that were hallmarks of the island nation.
There were tons of tiny little igloo homes. To Sophia’s surprise, there didn’t seem to be a large structure like in the giant’s village where the chief resided or the other tents where community events and meetings occurred. She had a distinct feeling that they were missing something.
Sophia glanced at the map and looked for any information that told her where to go. There was nothing. She flipped it over. It was blank.
Are you wondering the same thing as me? Lunis asked.
Why Quiet offers me the bare minimum of information when he’s an incredible wealth of knowledge?
Yes, that, Lunis began. Also, where are all the gnomes?
Sophia looked up, blinking from the moist cold air that made her feel like she was inhaling ice crystals. The gnome’s land did seem to be missing something besides a large structure—gnomes.
The area seemed deserted as though the little magical creatures had gone south for the winter.
Sophia shrugged. Maybe they’re all in their homes.
Maybe. Lunis didn’t sound convinced.
Well, let’s cross the boundary and investigate, Sophia ordered, looking at the map, where it showed the border to the gnome’s land was just off the coast. She steered Lunis over the invisible boundary, thinking that for once, maybe this would be easy. They’d cross over into the gnome’s land, find the leader and summon Quiet. Then she’d be that much closer to setting up the final task on the Map to Power.
Right after Lunis crossed the boundary to the gnomes’ homeland, a great rustling happened all over the area along the coastal region. Sophia thought an earthquake was happening, triggering one of the many volcanoes in the area.
Lunis hovered as they both studied the ground below where the many structures closest to the coastline shook erratically. After closer inspection, Sophia realized those small column-like things were the only things moving. The igloos were still. The large columns in the distance unmoving. The small formations shook until Sophia realized they weren’t small columns at all.
They were gnomes, shaking off the ice and snow covering them and facing off with the rider and dragon—hostile menace laying heavy on their faces.
Chapter Forty-One
Well, I have to give it to them, Lunis began. They know how to make an entrance.
Sophia felt a déjà vu moment, thinking of how similar this was to when the giants protected their border from them. She wanted to tell the gnomes that she came in peace, but something told her they weren’t going to be that receptive to her mission. What mostly gave her that clue was that seconds after appearing, all the gnomes—roughly twenty—manifested fireballs.
Lunis groaned. Oh, so not arrows then. Cool. You want to use the same strategy as we did with the giants?
Sophia nodded. Why reinvent the wheel? I’ll give them a bath, and you do that super-size thing. Let’s get this over with already.
Feeling like she was recycling her fighting strategies, Sophia lifted her arm, creating a gale-force wind that she pushed forcefully at the coastline. It swept across the North Atlantic Ocean, making a huge wall of water that arched in the air and paused for a moment as if it had frozen.
Sophia and Lunis, stationed on the other side, stared at the strange sight in confusion. Every gnome held their arm up as though waiting for their leader to tell them when to throw the fireballs. However, there didn’t appear to be an equivalent to Chief Dag standing behind the gnomes, ready to blow a horn.
Sophia held her breath, wondering why her wave simply perched over the gnomes as if trying to decide whether to crash or not. Deciding that it needed some encouragement to finish its path, Sophia sent another gust of wind at the water, and that was it. The wall of water crashed forward onto the land where the gnomes stood in a row. That also did something else—it prompted all the gnomes to release their fireballs, which spiraled quickly in Sophia’s and Lunis’ direction.
Chapter Forty-Two
At first, Sophia thought the fireballs would reach them, but there was some good news in this. The gnomes had decided to use their fiery weapons to knock out the frigid water that sought to bathe them the way it had the giants.
Instead of knocking them all down, the spiraling fireballs displaced the water and shot it back the way it had come.
That was pretty impressive, Sophia observed, watching as none of the gnomes got drenched. They were also unarmed, having thrown all their fireballs at the wave.
I think it’s your turn, Sophia said to Lunis, watching the tricky gnomes, who all raised a single hand in front of them—impressively in unison. It was as if they were communicating telepathically, coordinating a rehearsed dance.
Sophia expected the gnomes to manifest fireballs
again in their palms. The wind and water trick wouldn’t work again so she and Lunis would have to rely on another strategy. The show of intimidation when Lunis super-sized might do the trick, sending them running for their igloos before they created and threw their fireballs, Sophia reasoned.
Something isn’t right, Lunis said, an edge to his voice.
The blue dragon rarely sounded nervous even when in battle, but he was right, Sophia thought. Something definitely wasn’t right.
In unison, the gnomes began chanting in a language that Sophia didn’t understand. As a Dragon Elite, she could speak and understand any mortal language in the world, but that same benefit didn’t apply to magical races languages.
What are they doing? Sophia asked Lunis.
I don’t think that’s their welcome song to us, he answered.
She shook her head. And we can’t attack since we’re trying to create goodwill. So, any ideas?
He tensed and looked over his shoulder at the North Atlantic Ocean at their backs. Yeah, I’d say get the hell out of here, but I fear it’s too late.
Sophia swung around, took in what Lunis had referred to, and suddenly felt very foolish for not seeing this coming although she was certain most wouldn’t have predicted what happened next.
Chapter Forty-Three
Stretching behind them like a wall was a large, thick net that hung several yards above them—suspended by an unseen force. The magically produced net dangled almost to the water. There was no doubt that it was large enough to wrap around the dragon and rider. It would have taken a considerable amount of magic to create such a thing—such as twenty gnomes.
Everything happened so fast that neither Sophia nor Lunis had the opportunity to react before the net shot forward, encompassed both of them together, and wrapped them up so tightly that they couldn’t move.
Lunis was right. By the time they knew what was going on, it was too late to do anything about it.
