by Sarah Noffke
Harmonize Hostilities
Exceptional S. Beaufont™ Book7
Sarah Noffke
Michael Anderle
This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.
Copyright © 2020 LMBPN Publishing
Cover by Mihaela Voicu http://www.mihaelavoicu.com/
Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing
A Michael Anderle Production
LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
LMBPN Publishing
PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89109
First US Edition, July 2020
eBook ISBN: 978-1-64971-055-0
Print ISBN: 978-1-64971-056-7
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Sarah’s Author Notes
Michael’s Author Notes
Acknowledgments
Books By Sarah Noffke
Check out Sarah Noffke’s YA Sci-fi Fantasy Series
Books By Michael Anderle
Connect with The Authors
The Harmonize Hostilities Team
Thanks to the JIT Readers
Allen Collins
Angel LaVey
Deb Mader
Diane L. Smith
Dorothy Lloyd
Jackey Hankard-Brodie
Jeff Goode
Nicole Emens
Paul Westman
Peter Manis
Veronica Stephan-Miller
If we’ve missed anyone, please let us know!
Editor
The Skyhunter Editing Team
For Martin, for being my content expert.
— Sarah
To Family, Friends and
Those Who Love
to Read.
May We All Enjoy Grace
to Live the Life We Are
Called.
— Michael
Chapter One
There were very few reasons for a self-respecting magician to visit Zhuang Avenue in Los Angeles. The narrow lane was full of both hidden and exposed dangers. The creatures that lurked in the cold shadows spread disease and feasted on the weak. Criminals ran the shops, selling things the House of Fourteen would no doubt deem illegal.
For Nevin Gooseman, the risk was worth it. The politician had been growing increasingly worried about the Dragon Elite trying to rule over mortal governments. He didn’t trust them. Dragons had nearly been eliminated from this planet for a reason. They were beasts, and giving them too much power would result in the devastation of the mortal race. That’s what Nevin believed, but he needed proof, which brought him to Zhuang Avenue, where the lowest of the magical world could be found conducting business.
The smell on the street was hard to stomach, and after stepping into a puddle full of something thick and sticky, Nevin would have to throw out his leather shoes, he realized. He would also burn the designer suit he wore and bathe multiple times after this trip. If Nevin learned something that helped him to bring peace to his people, then it would be worth it.
Few magicians devoted their lives to serving mortals in political roles, but Nevin had always felt it was his calling. It was through his community outreach projects he’d learned about Zhuang Avenue. His instinct had told him to allow it to stay in East LA—now he knew why.
The politician wasn’t there to buy drugs or illegal magical artifacts or purchase a night with a shapeshifter. There was one type of magician who would dare to set up shop on Zhuang Avenue. Seers would never advertise their abilities nor attempt to sell their services in a place like Roya Lane. But among the criminals and rejects, a seer wasn’t considered as much of an outcast.
Eve
n in the magical world, seers were the worst of the worst. They always had been. No one wanted them to steal glimpses of the future and use the information to abuse the system. Since ancient times, seers had been seen as unnatural. They were thought to bring bad luck and had been persecuted for it.
Those born with this power had never been able to overcome the stigma. Nevin had learned through his years of service that even criminals and the lowest of the low could be used for good—or at least to promote his political agendas.
That morning, worried about the potential problems the savages who rode dragons would bring to the modern world, Nevin came up with an idea which brought him to Zhuang Avenue. Trying to oppose the Dragon Elite was political suicide. The more they intervened in global matters—seemingly bringing peaceful solutions to disputes—the more power they had. But Nevin’s instincts told him they couldn’t be trusted. He needed to know why, and he needed an advantage—one which only a seer could provide.
“My baby,” cried an impoverished elf woman with hardly any teeth. As Nevin passed her on the dark street, she clutched her stomach and rocked back and forth. “Won’t you spare some change to save my unborn baby?”
Nevin kept his face low, not wanting to be recognized in such a place. If he was, he could always say he was trying to help the desolates who called Zhuang Avenue home. But still, he needed to keep his distance. This place was a hotspot for a magical virus that was sweeping across the world, leaving magicians, elves, gnomes, giants, and fairies as powerless as mortals.
The politician shuddered at the idea and kept his distance from the elf who didn’t look healthy enough to have conceived a child. “Sorry,” he said, shaking his head as he headed into a shop where a mostly burned out neon sign advertised fortune-telling.
The front windows were covered in grime and cobwebs. A strong scent of incense mixed with mold hit Nevin’s nose as he entered. He nearly gagged from the combination.
He almost lost his nerve when the old blind woman looked up from the round table in the middle of the shop. Her face was lined with deep wrinkles, and black bags hung under her white eyes. Worse than the sight of the seer was the rattlesnake on the floor next to her, shaking its tail and flicking its tongue at him.
“I’ve been expecting you,” the woman said in a hoarse voice. She looked straight at Nevin.
“Yeah, well—” Nevin found his own voice scratchy and low.
“You can put the money in the tin on the shelf.” The seer pointed a withered finger at the wall where a rusted box sat partially open.
“How much?” he asked, pulling out the cash.
“All of it,” she replied.
He gawked at the old woman, making the snake tilt forward suddenly. “But that’s—”
“One-thousand dollars,” she interrupted. “Yes, I know. I’ll take it all. But next time, bring more.”
Careful to not touch much of the box, Nevin deposited the stack of bills. “There won’t be a next time.”
The seer’s face contorted oddly when she laughed. “Next time, bring more,” she repeated.
“You know why I’m here.” This was more of a statement than a question.
“Sit,” the woman said. She nodded at the other side of the table covered in thick fabrics stained with candle wax.
Nevin eyed the rattlesnake, who was still flicking its tail repeatedly.
“I’d tell you he doesn’t bite, but we both know it’s a lie,” the seer told him, indicating the snake sitting beside her like a loyal dog.
“I’ll stand,” he replied.
“Yeah, after your accident, you’ll be happy that you used your legs when you could,” she commented with a cough.
This was exactly why seers were shunned. They said things like that and caused panic. No one ever knew whether to believe them or not, which made them the most untrustworthy people in the world.
“What accident?” Nevin asked, narrowing his eyes at her as he ran his hands over his salt and pepper hair.
The seer shrugged. “I will tell you if you wish, but that won’t help you to avoid it.”
Another reason seers were seen as worthless. History had proven that knowing the future didn’t mean it could be avoided. Nevin wasn’t there to learn of events he wanted to avoid. Just the opposite. He wanted to know what was coming so he could use it to prepare his political agendas.
“Tell me about the Dragon Elite,” he urged, watching the rattlesnake twitch from side to side, somewhat hypnotically.
“Their numbers will grow significantly very soon,” the seer began, producing an impatient sigh from the politician.
This was as Nevin had feared.
“Many a dragon egg is hatching at the Gullington,” she continued, swaying like her rattlesnake.
Absentmindedly, he combed his hand over his chin and then reflexively yanked it away, not wanting to spread germs to his face. “More dragons, more problems.”
The seer blinked her face as pale a ghost. “Especially because half of the new ones will be evil, with zero ability for rehabilitation.”
“What?” Nevin asked, his eyes wide.
“Out of the batch of one-thousand eggs at the Gullington, half will hatch good and the others, evil,” the woman explained. “There’s no avoiding the evil that is coming. The Dragon Elite will save much, but they will also bring their fair share of problems to the world.”
“I knew it,” Nevin hissed under his breath. “Evil dragons. Five hundred evil dragons. They must be stopped.”
She drew in a breath. “And you’re the only one who can.”
He nodded, a proud smile coming to his face. “I’m the only one brave enough to oppose them, and now I know exactly how.”
Without another word, the politician turned and exited the seer’s shop, unable to stomach the sights and smells any longer.
When he had gone, the woman known as Charmain glanced down at the rattlesnake. It flicked its tongue, staring back at her.
“I know that’s not all true,” she said to the snake, “but I told him what he needed to hear to secure the future for the Dragon Elite. Regardless, they have many challenges ahead. And no matter what, Nevin Gooseman will be a part of those.”
The rattlesnake slithered up Charmain’s leg, sliding into her lap before taking a place on the table.
She nodded, agreeing with him. “If things go as planned, Nevin will learn that evil can’t be erased. It only creates bigger problems. Evil must be balanced with good.” Charmain blinked, as though clearing her vision. “Of course, I don’t have to see all of that future to know how it turns out—only that it relies on one dragonrider in particular.”
Chapter Two
Sophia Beaufont looked at the crowd. Her eyes were constantly moving as she studied the many strange individuals attending the press conference on the lawn of the White House. Even with all of the security around, her attention was on high alert.
She hadn’t liked the idea of the Dragon Elite doing another press conference. At the last one, Trin Currante had learned about the approximate location of the Gullington, which had created all sorts of problems. Ironically, things had turned out positive from that, but it still didn’t feel worth the risk.
Hiker Wallace had disagreed, stating that maintaining the reputation of the Dragon Elite was more important than ever. Mortal governments and powerful countries needed to see the dragonriders as the supreme authority on the globe.
Getting attention wasn’t difficult. Getting the political foothold Hiker wanted wasn’t complete, but the dragons had gotten a following they hadn’t expected.
At Hiker’s back stood a line of four dragons and their riders in full gear. Constant clicks from in and around the crowd kept Sophia’s eyes scanning as reporters took pictures. Lunis was enjoying the attention more than the others, posing either with his chin held high or a discerning expression on this face.
To further increase his already large ego, new fans were gathered around on the lawn outside of the se
curity barrier. Hiker had allowed it, stating that it would be good for their image. Sophia didn’t know how allowing the throngs of dirty-ass hippies to worship at a distance strengthened the perception of the Dragon Elite.