by Sarah Noffke
Sophia was about to charge off to the Nest when Wilder pulled her back. She spun around, her breathing loud and her thoughts racing.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking her over.
She pulled her wrist from his grasp. “Yes, but we’ve got to help.”
He kept searching her face as if she was lying about not having any injuries. “That one,” he said, indicating the pirate streaking off for the border. “He shoots a strange toxic substance. Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nodded and checked in with her various parts to ensure adrenaline wasn’t masking some injury. “Yeah, they are all…”
“Cyborg,” he stated, finishing her statement. “Why do you think they’ve given us such trouble? Otherwise, we would have defeated them hours ago.”
She nodded and looked around the Expanse, observing the battles still going on. Thankfully many seemed to be dying down, the pirates retreating in many cases. The dragons appeared to have secured the border. With the Barrier back up, they only had to defeat the half a dozen or so still trespassing.
Wilder continued. “They just kept coming. Every time I’d defeat one, five more would replace it, streaking across the hills. They are like clones. I don’t know where they all came from.”
“There will be time for that later,” Sophia said, She knew Wilder needed to process. So much had happened. For someone like Wilder who had the sanctuary of the Gullington for two centuries, it must be incredibly confusing to have his home invaded.
She turned around to face the Nest. Hiker stood at the front of it, a force she couldn’t imagine anyone willingly confronting. Even so, there were three pirates approaching him from different sides.
Surveying the area behind them, Sophia was relieved to see Mahkah and Evan, along with the dragons, pushing the pirates beyond the Barrier.
I’m scouting the area for any lone trespassers who could be hiding, Lunis said in Sophia’s head.
Good idea, she agreed.
That left only one area to protect, the most important of all. She turned her attention to the Nest.
Chapter Forty-Nine
“The Pond.” Sophia narrowed her eyes at the placid water as the sun rose over the mountains.
“It should be secure,” Wilder said at her side. “Hiker says the waters aren’t passable by boat. The sea creature that inhabits it makes it impossible for foreign ships to navigate across.”
Sophia nodded, remembering when Wilder had dived into those waters to get Devon’s bow at the bottom and had nearly met his end. The creature was huge and fierce and vicious. She imagined any foreign vessel that tried to cross would meet their doom.
She let out her first breath of relief all day as she saw the Gullington was almost secure. The last three cyborg pirates were currently making their attempt to close in on the leader of the Dragon Elite.
In contrast to the strange trespassers who were wearing long velvet coats and pirate hats, Hiker wore his usual wool kilt and sword. His beard hid part of his face, and his light-colored hair marked the wind that was ever-present on the Expanse.
Sophia hesitated before jumping into action. She wanted to be a part of the fight, obviously, but she also knew Hiker Wallace would be able to defeat five times that many opponents, whether they were magicians or cyborgs, or like these guys, a combination of both.
Over their coats and armor, they had electrical cords wrapped around their chests and round eye patches that flashed bright colors. They all wore knee-high boots and sinister expressions as they crouched, trying to figure out which one of them was going to pounce on the ancient dragonrider first.
“Come on,” Wilder encouraged in a whisper at Sophia’s side.
She wondered what he was talking about until she turned and saw he had his gaze centered on Hiker.
“Use your power,” Wilder continued, talking to himself.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
He shook his head, frustration evident in his eyes as he watched the leader of the Dragon Elite. “He won’t use his full power.”
Sophia nodded. She remembered Hiker had been struggling with embracing his new inherited power after the battle with his twin brother, Thad Reinhart.
Defeating his twin had given Hiker double the strength he had before. Losing her twin was the reason Sophia had been so strong from a young age. But for Hiker, the power was a curse and a reminder of what he’d had to do to win, kill his own brother. He was allowing the guilt to eat him up. Without using the power, he was going to get himself killed, and then what would be the point?
“He can do this,” Sophia whispered.
The glint in Wilder’s eyes told her he wasn’t certain she was right. He had been on the Expanse with Hiker all night. He must have witnessed things that gave him the reluctant expression he was currently wearing.
“Well, then, let’s spring into action and help,” she suggested and started forward.
For the second time, Wilder reached out and grabbed her arm to pull her back.
She turned, ready to knock him out for stopping her again. “Look, there’s three of them, one for each of us. You take the little one. I’ll let Hiker have the one in the middle, and I get the huge one with an ugly face and a ton of scars. I’m dying to kick some ass.”
He shook his head with a serious expression. “Let him try. The only way he will embrace his power is if he absolutely has to and a battle is best for those things.”
Sophia huffed in frustration. “Really? Right now is when you want to have a teaching moment?”
He seemed to understand but didn’t back down. “If he doesn’t embrace his power, it could very well eat him up from the inside out. We’ve contained the borders for the most part. The others are pushing the pirates out. The dragons are doing surveillance, and we’re right here to spring into action if necessary. Let’s just give him this chance to do what needs to be done.”
Sophia considered for a moment and then finally nodded. She trusted Wilder’s judgment and didn’t want anything to happen to Hiker. She firmly believed he could defeat these three enemies without the extra power. There were few warriors she wouldn’t want to face in this world, and Hiker Wallace was one of them.
She turned her attention to the fight about to ensue and sucked in a breath. Sophia hoped the leader of the Dragon Elite wouldn’t allow the past to hold him back.
Chapter Fifty
The first pirate, a man with long dreadlocks strung with gold beads, ran for Hiker, a short sword in his hand as he screamed.
Sophia tensed and held her breath. The leader of the Dragon Elite raised his own weapon, a sword made for the very first rider, Alexander Conerly. It had a long blade almost as tall as Sophia, and its hilt was adorned with gems mined by the gnomes. The gold came from the Isle of Man and was crafted by the giants. The blade itself had been forged by the elves. Most importantly, the magic imbued in it was from magicians.
Almost casually, like he was bored by the attempt on his life, Hiker lifted the weapon and brought it up and across, striking blades with the pirate and sending him back down the hill, rolling end over end.
That was progress, Sophia thought.
A quick glance at Wilder told her this wasn’t actual progress. He was chewing on his lip, a tight expression in his denim blue eyes.
The second pirate chuckled as he watched his comrade tumble down the hill. He lifted one arm, and Sophia saw strapped to his forearm was a large gun.
She wanted to run and help stop what was about to happen, but she stayed her ground.
Something green, like when the pirate attacked her and Wilder, fired from the weapon straight in Hiker’s direction. He didn’t even blink as he threw up his free arm, creating a reflective surface for a moment.
The attack, a magical missile of sorts, hit the shield and bounced off, ricocheting back in the shooter’s direction. It didn’t hit him because, like the coward he was, he took off, retreating down the hill. He tripped over his boots and, like his
comrade, tumbled, after one of his legs came off. Sophia realized it was a prosthetic as the guy turned and crawled back to retrieve his limb.
She was impressed Hiker was defending the Nest without so much as breaking a sweat. Again, she spied the disappointment on Wilder’s face.
“He can do so much more,” Wilder explained in a hush when she gave him a questioning look.
“But he’s defeating them,” Sophia said.
“Now, he is, but he was hardly fighting before when I was by his side,” Wilder stated. “It was like he knew I would do it for him, and he didn’t want to chance using his power, but he didn’t let anyone get by him into the Nest. I assure you of that.”
“Which is why you’re making me hang back now and watch when I’ve been on the sidelines all along,” she spat.
“You’ve been gone,” he argued through tight lips, his eyes still pinned on their leader. “And by the looks of you, you’ve faced just as bad as us.”
She glanced down at her torn cloak and blistered hands. The cold had not been forgiving to her body, and she was sure her face was red and cracked from the frigid conditions.
The final man rolled his shoulders back, gritting his teeth at the leader of the Dragon Elite. He pulled duel swords from his belt and screamed like a mad man. He had to have been one too to charge like he did, straight up the hill at Hiker.
Like swatting a pest away, Hiker moved his hand, and the man rose off his feet and flew through the air to land in a heap next to his comrades.
Sophia wanted to rejoice and jump up and down to celebrate they were all alive and safe.
Wilder shook his head.
“What?” Sophia questioned him, turning to face the other dragonrider. “What would you have him do? Take their heads off? Throw them to Timbuktu? He defeated them.”
“Barely,” Wilder said, pivoting to look at her. “That’s the power Hiker Wallace had before. He’s not tapping into what he really has. If he would have none of this would have happened.” He threw his arm wide at the Gullington, which was a mess of destruction, death, and remnants of chaos everywhere.
Sophia grasped that Wilder was bitter. He’d spent the entire night guarding and protecting the Gullington, exhausting himself against sizable enemies, and he believed Hiker could have done it by himself with little effort. He thought the leader of the Dragon Elite refused to embrace his power, his birthright.
She shook her head at Wilder, recognizing he didn’t understand.
“It’s not as easy as you make it out to be,” she argued. “The power he has didn’t always belong to him.”
“Oh, and you understand that, do you?” he spat back at her. “Because you and your twin were so close?”
She shook her head, wanting to fight him. Sophia had been hungry for a fight and hadn’t been given the one she wanted on the Gullington. Maybe she was going to take it out on Wilder. She felt the urge but did her best to shake it off.
“It is difficult to use power when it belonged to someone else is all I’m saying,” Sophia said, her chest still vibrating with the intensity of wanting to lash out. “You wouldn’t get it.”
“How do you know what I’d get?” he fired back.
“What are you two going on about?” Hiker yelled, striding down the hill and throwing a hand at the pirates he had defeated, binding them in ropes.
What he did with such seemingly little effort was quite impressive to Sophia, but her attention was centered on the dragonrider in front of her, challenging her.
She shook her head. “Nothing. Good job up there, sir.”
Hiker walked past them. “We have much work to do to secure the borders.”
“It’s already been done, sir,” Sophia replied. “The dragons have pushed the pirates through the Barrier, which is back up, apparently.”
He halted, an impassive expression in his eyes. “Good,” he said simply before turning back around and stalking for the Castle. “Get those lowlifes and put them in the dungeon. I’ll question them after I’ve spoken to the others.”
Sophia nodded obediently, but Wilder rolled his eyes, obviously still put off by how the leader of the Dragon Elite had conducted himself.
She couldn’t understand it. They had protected the Gullington. Yes, there was a lot to figure out, a lot to repair, and a new enemy, but Wilder should be grateful they were all still alive instead of splitting hairs over how things were done.
She shook her head at him, a challenging movement as she made for the first pirate wiggling in his binds. Sophia was looking forward to throwing this guy in the dungeon and punishing those who thought they could steal her eggs.
Chapter Fifty-One
I’ve found something, Lunis said.
She tensed, tired of surprises. Whatever it is, kill it. Torch it. Get it gone, she replied.
I’m afraid it’s too late for that, he revealed, regret in his tone.
What is it, she asked.
I know how they got into the Gullington, Lunis offered.
Beside crawling over the borders, Sophia questioned.
Once we figured out that was happening, we went to guard those areas. Four dragons are very efficient, he explained.
So what happened, Sophia asked, knowing she wasn’t going to like the answer.
We guarded the northern, eastern, and southern border, knowing those were the most likely borders for trespassing, Lunis continued.
Makes sense, only a fish or a seagull would get across the Pond, she agreed, knowing the waters were inhabited by a sea monster who would demolish anything that tried to cross it from the west.
It turns out these pirates have a ship the sea monster left alone, Lunis stated.
Sophia tensed. How is that possible?
I don’t know, but the ship is empty now, Lunis said. The boats have been deployed, and I’m guessing they are sailing to land now.
Find them, Sophia urged.
I will, Lunis promised.
Sophia grunted. She had to remind herself these were pirates. Of course, they’d have a ship that could sail across the Pond. These were people who shouldn’t be underestimated, she realized, but hindsight was a very frustrating thing in her life presently. It made her angry she had to pick up pieces she hadn’t known were going to drop.
One more thing.
Go on, she encouraged.
I only know this is important since I spied on you to ensure you were okay when you went to give Quiet the antidote at the Castle earlier, he said.
What is it, she groaned.
The ship, he told her, his tone reluctant.
Yes, she urged.
Sophia could feel the regret strong in her dragon before he spoke in her head.
The ship, he began, the cyborg magician pirates used to cross the Pond is called the McAfee.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Sophia didn’t know what it meant, but she knew it was bad.
Really bad.
How was the ship she’d seen above Quiet’s bed on the Pond? There were so many unanswered questions. One of the biggest was if many of the pirates had come over the borders of the Barrier on the northern, eastern, and southern sides of the Gullington, then where were the ones who had come on the ship?
Something was wrong.
Really wrong.
She hauled up the second pirate absorbed in thought as she tried to figure out what they were missing.
I only found one rowboat, Lunis told her.
Where? she asked as she used her magic to steer the prisoners toward the Castle.
On the shore, he answered.
She shook her head.
They were missing something.
“What is it?” Wilder invited, suddenly at her side.
She turned to him, still mad about the dispute they’d had over Hiker.
“Did you fight any pirates who came across the Pond?” she asked.
He squinted at her like the morning sunlight blinded him. “What? No one came across from that side. I told yo
u that’s impossible.”
“But what if it wasn’t?” she demanded. “What if they had a boat that could sail on the Pond?”
“You aren’t listening to me. There isn’t a boat that can do that.” Irritation flared on his face.
“No, what if someone sailed across the Barrier from the other side of the Pond using a special boat?” Sophia explained and pointed toward the water that seemed to go on forever.
He shook his head. “No, again, they couldn’t have. Even if they could get through the Barrier when it was down, the sea monster would have killed them and capsized their boat.”
“But what if there was a boat that was different? One the sea monster wouldn’t destroy,” Sophia argued, furious he wasn’t getting it.
He shrugged. “What if unicorns could fly and there were places where the sun never set? What’s the point?”
“Those are called Pegasuses. And that’s called Alaska,” she said sarcastically. “And my point is, Lunis found a ship on the Pond.”
Hiker spun. “What did you say?” he asked, having heard them even from the far distance.
“A ship,” Sophia replied. “And there was only one rowboat that came from it.”
“That’s impossible,” Hiker protested.
“But what if it’s not,” she fired back. “What if it was Quiet’s ship, and that’s why it can sail on these waters?”
Chapter Fifty-Three
Three things happened in quick succession.
Hiker Wallace’s eyes narrowed on something behind Sophia and Wilder.
Feeling a presence at her back, Sophia released the pirates and pulled her sword.
And on the hill where the Nest was located, a single woman appeared, roughly a hundred yards away.
The woman was someone Sophia recognized. Her long curly black hair seemed normal from a distance but moved like snakes and had the appearance of wires. Like the other pirates, she wore a white ruffled shirt with a leather vest and boots. Unlike the men, she was dressed in a long skirt, with several sashes wrapped around her waist. She was absolutely gorgeous and not quite human.
