by Sarah Noffke
“Well, excuse me for not being convinced of that,” Hiker growled. “Nevin Gooseman has the mortals in the palm of his hand. He’s convincing the magical communities to not trust us. We’re not any closer to finding any information on him. Without that, no matter what we do, we can’t win. We heal the world of a disease, and we’re seen as enemies. We protect the world, and we’re viewed as power-hungry. I just don’t know what to do.”
“Good thing that I do,” a voice on the turned off television said.
Sophia’s eyes widened in shock as the head of King Rudolf Sweetwater bobbed around on the blank monitor.
Chapter One Hundred Five
“What the hell?” Hiker exclaimed, his eyes bulging.
Sophia jumped to her feet.
Mama Jamba smiled, like the king of the fae’s face showing up on a television wasn’t bizarre.
“King Rudolf,” Sophia said with urgency. “What are you doing?”
“Lying on the floor of my cell in my birthday suit,” he replied.
Sophia shook her head. “I mostly meant, what are you doing here on the television screen in the Castle at the Gullington?”
“Oh,” he said with a wide smile. “Television screen. That makes sense. It’s easier for me to project myself on electronic devices using my magic, but I never know where I’ll end up. It sort of depends on where you are.”
“Keep the view to just your face,” Hiker advised, sitting down in his chair and gazing intently at the king of the fae.
“Oh, but he has a very nice birthday suit,” Mama Jamba gushed.
“Why, thank you. I work out.” Rudolf winked. “By work out, I mean that I have a lot of se—”
“Anyway, Liv says that you’re okay,” Sophia interrupted.
He frowned. “That’s a relative statement. I have to look at really homely faces all day long, but you are probably used to that, having been raised with ugly magicians, Soph.”
She let out a long breath and gave Hiker an encouraging expression that said, “He’s here to help us. Don’t reach into the television and strangle him.”
“What have you learned?” Hiker asked.
“So much,” Rudolf began. “There’s this really strange patch of land behind Nevin Gooseman’s land that is enclosed with a fence and has grass and is lined with shrubs. It’s the strangest thing.”
“You mean a yard?” Sophia questioned.
Rudolf pressed out his lips and shrugged. “Don’t know what it’s called. But if that was my property, I’d cover it with concrete and build a casino there.”
“Sometimes I regret creating the fae,” Mama Jamba remarked casually.
“Sometimes?” Hiker asked, glancing at the old woman.
“Well, they are wonderful to look at,” she argued. “But in creating them that way, I made them vain and shallow. No one is perfect.”
“Ru,” Sophia said, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “What have you learned that pertains to the Dragon Elite?”
“Well,” he began. “Nevin isn’t happy about you curing distortion.”
Hiker groaned. “We know. He just released a statement. It’s definitely going to knock us back down.”
“I can pee in Nevin’s houseplants if that helps,” Rudolf offered.
“It doesn’t.” Hiker gave Sophia a look that said, “How are you friends with this guy?”
“What else?” Sophia urged at the television screen. “Anything linking Nevin Gooseman to bad activity? Anything we can use to bring him down or discredit him?”
“Not yet,” Rudolf answered with disappointment. “But don’t worry. I’m going to do some more searching tonight after I eat a tube of cookie dough and drink a bottle of rosé.”
Mama Jamba clapped her hands excitedly and gave Hiker a wide smile. “That’s what we should do tonight!”
“Pass,” he replied.
Mama Jamba deflated slightly, then glanced at Sophia. “I’d ask you, but you won’t be here.”
“Where will she be?” Hiker questioned.
She pointed at the television screen. “Don’t be rude, son. You have company.”
“There is something that I learned while Nevin was out doing his little press conference,” Rudolf continued.
Hiker leaned forward, his chin down. “Go on then.”
Sophia braced herself, hoping it wasn’t something that killed any more of her brain cells.
“Well, it appears that Nevin has a magitech army he plans on using to destroy the Great Library after getting the information he’s after,” Rudolf told them.
Sophia nodded. “Yes, Liv told me.”
“There’s more,” Rudolf went on. “Apparently, he learned of the technology that you used to disable the magitech devices when you took down Thad Reinhart’s company.”
Drawing in a breath, Hiker sat back in his chair, disappointment heavy on his face.
Sophia felt her own regret. They’d been hoping they could rely on that technology to take down the military forces, which would have several advantages with their weapons paired with magic. Alicia, the magitech scientist, had created a small and unassuming device that when used would power down technology like planes, missiles, and other weapons that used magic.
“How is he always one step ahead of us?” Hiker asked, bitterly.
“Well, he’s been following you closely since you came back to the waking world,” Rudolf said, sounding mature and articulate. “Snooping around, I found he collected every bit of information that covered your takedown of Thad Reinhart and his corporation. Then he further investigated the battle you had with the cyborgs and Saverus. Nevin Gooseman has been planning this for a while. He sees the Dragon Elite as a huge threat, and he has gone to great lengths to ensure the world does too. I suspect he’s not going to stop until he’s won, or you’ve put him away for good.”
Hiker nodded. “I think you’re right. I just don’t get his motive.”
“He firmly believes the Dragon Elite is too powerful,” Rudolf continued. “Strangely enough, I don’t think he likes his own race of magicians. His power comes from being worshipped by mortals in this new world where they see magicians as protectors. You, the Dragon Elite, threaten that. Furthermore, those with their own agendas, can’t complete when they have to bow to the checks and balances of an organization more powerful than them.”
Sophia was stunned to hear the king of the fae speak with such intelligence. She started to wonder if being imprisoned was making him smarter.
Then he followed up his last statement with, “Side note. Mama Jamba, is it possible to erase kale from the planet?”
She thought for a moment and shook her head. “The hippies really like it, so I’m afraid not.”
“Apparently boring magicians too,” Rudolf complained. “I keep finding it in the cold box in the food room, and it is simply awful.”
“Do you mean the refrigerator in the kitchen?” Sophia asked, tilting her head and wondering how Rudolf had gone so many centuries without learning such information.
He shook his head. “I’m going to have to ring off if you’re going to start speaking French. That language always makes me think about impressionist painters, and then I get hives.” He visibly shivered. “Seriously, Mama Jamba, can we erase Monet, Renoir, and Matisse from the timeline for good?”
She gave him a polite smile. “I’m afraid you’ll have to take that up with Papa Creola, dear.”
“Will do,” Rudolf sang. “Anywho, that’s all I’ve got for now. I’m going to go and eat on Nevin’s white couch naked. Seriously, why someone would buy a cream-colored couch when leopard print is always an option, really astounds me.”
“Thanks for the information,” Sophia told him gratefully. “Please keep us abreast of what else you learn and stay safe.”
Rudolf giggled, covering his mouth. “You said ‘breast.’”
Chapter One Hundred Six
“How is that the leader of an entire race?” Hiker asked, shaking his he
ad when the television screen went blank once more, and King Rudolf’s face had disappeared.
“The fae aren’t smart,” Mama Jamba explained. “They thought the statue of David was their leader for a century. It was only when he refused to settle a dispute that a particularly keen fae realized he was made of stone and not just quiet and stoic in nature.”
“For the love of the angels,” Hiker said, thrusting his fingers into his hair. “We’re relying on this fae to help us in our mission to take Nevin Gooseman down?”
“He can be trusted and relied upon,” Sophia argued. “I know he seems like an airhead but—”
“Seems?” Hiker interrupted. “I know sheep that are smarter than that man.”
“I get it,” Sophia agreed. “King Rudolf has a way of surprising. He has always come through for me, and he has strange moments of genius.”
“It’s true,” Mama Jamba added. “He’s already come through for you, son. You know now that you can’t rely on the device you have to take down the magitech army.”
Hiker nodded solemnly. “Yes, but I’m not sure what to do about it.”
“Me either,” Mama Jamba said. “I think Sophia knows of someone who might have a lead for her.” She gave Sophia a pointed expression that at first, she couldn’t decipher.
Then it occurred to Sophia and she straightened. “Oh! Right. Yes, Mae Ling. She might be able to help.”
“I think so,” Mama Jamba said, twirling her hands into her hair and plucking out a single strand. “Like I said, you wouldn’t be able to have cookie dough and wine with me tonight, but maybe another time.”
Sophia smiled, thinking of how much fun it would be to indulge like that with Mother Nature. “I’d like that.”
“What I’d like is for you to take a little nap before you go,” Mama Jamba said, slipping into her maternal voice.
Handing her head, Sophia sighed. “Yeah, easier said than done.”
“For some,” Mama Jamba said. She held out a grayish-blue strand for Sophia. “Here you go.”
“Thank you,” Sophia said uncertainly.
“You’re very welcome.”
Sophia didn’t take the piece of hair, but instead looked at Hiker like, “What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”
He shook his head.
“Go on now, dear. Take it.” Mama Jamba continued to hold out her single strand of hair. “Tie that around your finger and close your eyes. It should get you to sleep fast and keep the dreams from overwhelming you. That will get you at least caught up on rest. However, I can’t really help you out more than that as I really do love my full head of hair.”
“Oh, thanks,” Sophia exclaimed. “I’ll try not to lose the piece of hair.” Even as she said it, Sophia realized how ridiculous it sounded, to keep tabs on a tiny strand of hair. Still, she was grateful for the solution, even if it didn’t last for long. Holding tight to the strand of hair, Sophia headed for her bedroom, looking forward to getting some proper sleep uninterrupted by nightmares.
Chapter One Hundred Seven
As Mae Ling had requested the last time Sophia visited her at the fairy godmother college, she brought Lunis with her on this trip. She knew he’d enjoy the opportunity to get out of the Gullington since none of the other older dragons were there, and the dragonettes were “stressing” him out.
Also, Sophia suspected he’d soak up the attention he’d no doubt be lavished with from the students at Happily Ever After college. The rest of the world might be fearful of dragons, thinking they spread a strange disease, but not fairy godmothers in training. They had Mae Ling and the other faculty imparting their wisdom, full of facts and not based on emotion like the propaganda Nevin Gooseman was offloading on the world.
How do I look? Lunis asked as they stepped through the portal to fairy godmother college.
She shook her head at the dragon. “You look the same as you always do.”
He scoffed. You have pillow creases on your face.
“Good,” she chirped, grateful for the solid bit of rest she’d gotten thanks to Mama Jamba. She had managed to take the piece of grayish-blue hair and set it on her bedside table after the nap and hoped to find it there later. She made a note for Trin and Ainsley, asking them not to dust. She couldn’t lose that piece of hair.
Wow, what a beautiful place, Lunis said, gazing around the grassy green lawns of Happily Ever After College like a puppy ready to take off running. The cool breeze wafted through the trees, bringing a floral scent to their noses as songbirds serenaded them overhead.
“It’s always the perfect temperature here,” Sophia explained. “And always spring.”
I’m not going home, he told her seriously.
“That’s not an option.”
It’s cold in Scotland and always rains, he argued.
“You’re a dragon,” she said. “Get over it.”
A series of excited screams echoed from behind them. They both spun around to see a few students rushing over, wide smiles on their faces as they sped in their direction, their hands outstretched.
“A real dragon!” one of the fairy godmothers in training exclaimed.
“He’s dreamy!” another said.
“Oh, what a beauty,” the third stated, sounding breathless.
They all halted a few yards from the dragon and bowed low.
Sophia nearly rolled her eyes but was secretly grateful to see the proud expression sparkle in her dragon’s eyes. He bent his front leg and knelt slightly.
It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, he said, sounding regal and very un-Lunis-like.
At the students’ backs was the rest of the class, who appeared to have been gathered around a herd of unicorns. They were hurrying over, the same as the three girls, Mae Ling with them.
One of the students that had run over first looked at Sophia. “Can we pet him?”
She shrugged. “That’s not my call. Dragons aren’t pets, and I’m not in charge of him. He makes his own decisions.”
The student stepped forward, her hand held tentatively to her chest. “Would it…I mean…is it…do you think…?”
Lunis, in reply to the question she couldn’t seem to get out, lowered his head, indicating she could touch him.
She gasped with surprise and carefully laid her dainty hand on the top of his horn-lined head.
“Wow, this is magical,” she gushed as the rest of the class arrived, all of them wearing awed expressions at the sight of the blue dragon.
“Thank you for bringing Lunis for the students to see,” Mae Ling said, her kind eyes shining brightly.
“You’re welcome.” Sophia watched as the students eagerly crowded around the dragon, all of them putting their hands on his blue scales, and marveling at the experience.
She backed away and found herself next to Mae Ling.
“He is breathtaking,” the fairy godmother said. “What an honor it is to have him here.”
“I’m not responsible for any of his bad jokes,” Sophia teased, earning a smile from Mae Ling.
“Let’s allow Lunis to soak up the much deserved attention while we stroll.” Holding up her arm, Mae Ling indicated a grassy path covered with little white flowers.
“Okay,” Sophia said, looking back at Lunis. His attention was occupied by the many questions he was getting from the students.
“You have quite a few projects going on.” It was a statement rather than a question from Mae Ling.
“Yes, that’s true,” Sophia affirmed. “Most are in other people’s hands presently, but I did come to you to ask for help with a certain one.”
Her fairy godmother nodded. “Magitech can be used to fix the world, and it can also be used to destroy it.”
As Sophia suspected, Mae Ling was already privy to why she was there, although Sophia usually still needed to ask the question to receive help.
“Yes, and we’re a bit stumped with how to combat this military magitech when the time comes,” Sophia related. “The options we w
ere relying on are gone, and we can’t risk the Great Library being destroyed.”
“Quite right,” Mae Ling said, heat flaring in her eyes. She was obviously very put off by what Nevin Gooseman was doing. For many, destroying a library was like burning down a forest. Both were made up of trees that changed the world and made it a better place.
“Do you have any ideas to offer me?” Sophia asked, enjoying the fresh air on her face and vibrant, rich colors all around them. Being on the campus of Happily Ever After college was always a healing experience. The place was full of all the good things in the world. It was no wonder it churned out fairy godmothers that brought love to so many.
“I know of the place you need to visit to find the devices that will help you to gain an advantage,” Mae Ling answered, striding beside Sophia, her hands behind her back and her long robes kicking out in front of her as she moved.
“That would be really helpful.” Sophia was relieved, although she wasn’t sure why. Mae Ling was always helpful to her, albeit it was usually full of riddles, much like Mama Jamba and Papa Creola.
Mae Ling paused and held up a finger, giving Sophia a cautious expression. “Before you thank me, please note the journey to get that which you seek will take you far from home, far from the comforts you know, and far from your dragon.”
Sophia tensed and her throat constricted. “Lunis? I have to leave Lunis?”
“You should keep him here,” Mae Ling said gently. “I can use him to educate the students and having him close will help me to shield you from dangers.”
“Shield me?”
“Where you need to go isn’t protected in the same ways as Earth,” Mae Ling explained.
“Wait, I’m leaving Earth?”
Mae Ling looked out toward the clear blue skies that provided the background to the canopy of green trees overhead. “There’s a world out there. You’ve only seen a fraction of it, and yet you’ve seen more than most. But yes, to find something to help you to defeat Nevin Gooseman’s magitech army, you’re going to need something that isn’t from this world.”