by Sarah Noffke
This was the newest development since the dragonriders had become more publicly prominent. Some governments had refused their intervention in disputes. Some had been reluctant but were coming around. Then, a growing group of elfin hippies had started a campaign called “Dragon Worshipping.”
The worshippers, with dirty hair and baggy clothes, were gathered behind the police barriers with signs that read, “They Will Save Us,” “Dragons=Peace,” or “Riders Unite Us.”
That would have been all good and well for Sophia, but this new fad was creating a lot of superstitions. For instance, the hippies said things like looking a dragon in the eyes would add ten years to your lifespan or petting one enhanced beauty. The best one was that getting roasted by a dragon gave eternal life. Sophia didn’t know which of the worshippers was willing to experiment with that one.
Lunis batted his eyes at the crowd, making eye contact with several of them.
You’re not adding years onto their lifespan, she said with a sigh.
They don’t know that, he replied. I’m making them happy, and that’s what counts.
“He looked at me!” exclaimed a barefoot woman with too many bangles on her wrist. She looked like she might faint. “The blue dragon looked at me!”
Sophia shook her head, suppressing her laughter. All the other dragons were staring straight ahead stoically, and not giving the crowd any attention.
Hiker paused as the worshippers all congregated around the woman, as though thinking hers was a lucky spot, and they’d get a look from the dragon as well.
“As I was saying,” Hiker began, clearing his throat and getting the attention of the crowd of reporters again. “We’ve had the fortune of welcoming many new dragons to our numbers recently. Of the thousand dragon eggs, we’ve had over a hundred hatch, which bode well for the future of the Dragon Elite.”
A reporter held up their hand, earning Hiker’s attention. “These dragons must then match with a magician, correct?”
The leader of the Dragon Elite nodded. “Yes, but it is never guaranteed that a dragon will magnetize to a rider. That’s a choice every dragon makes on their own. But the hatching of so many is a hopeful sign for us, as we never know when an egg will hatch.”
“Magnetize to me!” one of the hippies yelled from the crowd, getting laughs from many.
Hiker shook his head. He was always serious, but especially right then. “Dragons choose riders, not the other way around.”
Another reporter stood. “But if the dragons are held inside…” he referenced his notes, “the Gullington, how will they come in contact with potential riders?”
Hiker said, “They aren’t confined to the Gullington. That’s their home for now, but at any point, they can choose of their own volition to leave our borders. They are of course protected there, and we offer training. I assume that over time many will venture from Scotland and hopefully return if they magnetize to a magician.”
“So,” a reporter began on the other side of the audience, “all Dragon Elite are riders, but not all riders are Dragon Elite, is that correct?”
“Yes,” Hiker affirmed. “There are some that are…” he paused to choose his words carefully. Sophia knew this was a tricky subject and less was more. “Some riders and their dragons aren’t a good fit for what we do as the Dragon Elite. It takes a full commitment to mortal affairs, a devotion to risking our lives for the betterment of this planet, and rigorous training.”
What the Viking wasn’t saying was that some dragons were born evil and magnetized to a rider of a similar moral constitution. Those riders didn’t want to be a part of the Dragon Elite for obvious reasons.
“I for one,” a reporter said, her chin held high, “would like to thank the Dragon Elite for the sacrifices they make for us. Peace is of most importance in this volatile global environment, and I think we all rest easier knowing that you all are back and protecting us through your adjudication missions.”
Hiker bobbed his head proudly, his blue eyes sparkling. Sophia rethought her reluctance for them to do the press conference. Maybe Hiker was right, and this was the kind of attention they needed to increase their reputation. She couldn’t shake the feeling that for all the dragon worshippers and grateful mortals surrounding them, there was another group who didn’t trust the Dragon Elite, and more importantly, didn’t want them intervening in their affairs.
Chapter Three
“Something smells good,” Evan remarked, taking a big sniff as he sauntered into the dining hall of the Castle, NO10JO on his heels. The cyborg dog halted at the threshold to the room, cowering and whimpering, his gaze on the kitchen door.
“That’s me,” Wilder said with a laugh, leaning back in his seat.
Sophia gave him an amused expression. “I think Ainsley is making a roast.”
Evan’s eyes widened with delight. “Nice. She must be getting over things. That’s Hiker’s favorite.”
Wilder arched an eyebrow at Sophia. “That doesn’t sound like the Ainsley we all know and are slightly scared of.”
She agreed with a nod, wondering what the housekeeper was up to.
“Hey Pink Princess,” Evan began, as he slid into his normal seat at the table. “I need help with my new phone.”
“What you need is manners,” she retorted, pretending to be offended.
He batted his long eyelashes at her. “My apologies, my lass. Would you be ever so kind as to assist me with my mobile device?”
Sophia giggled at his ridiculousness as he withdrew the phone from his pocket. “What seems to be the issue?”
He put it on the table between them and slid it over in her direction. “How do I turn it on?”
“Oh, Angels above.” Wilder looked toward the ceiling. Sophia agreed with him.
With minimal effort, she pressed the button on the side of the phone. Although she’d joked about getting the other dragonrider a flip phone from ten generations ago, she’d opted for the newest smartphone. This thing could practically launch a spaceship, it was so powerful. Ironically, she predicted Evan wouldn’t even be able to crack the simplest features, but that had been the point in her thoughtful gift—it was more for her amusement than anything else.
Evan’s green eyes lit up when the screen came to life. “Cool. Now, what do I do?”
Sophia shook her head. “You don’t get caught with it by Hiker and if you do—”
“When he does,” Wilder cut in.
“Right,” Sophia chirped. “When you get caught by Hiker, you don’t tell him that I got you this.”
Evan plucked the phone off the table and began scrolling through the welcome messages on the new device. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m not going to get caught. And Hiker won’t believe for a second that you didn’t get me this phone. For one, I wouldn’t even know where to start buying this kind of stuff, and secondly, I didn’t even know how to turn it on. This whole thing will reek of you as soon as he finds out.”
“Then put it away, or I’ll give it to Lunis as a chew toy,” Sophia threatened.
Evan’s brow wrinkled as he stared at the screen. “What’s Wi-Fi, and how do I connect to it?”
Sophia shook her head. “Usually, you choose one from ‘settings,’ but since all electricity and stuff is powered by the Castle here, it just automatically connects.”
Evan lowered the device, an annoyed expression on his face. “Let me guess if I don’t have Wi-Fi, I can thank the little guy for that?”
“You know,” Sophia began, “it’s your fault for not being nice to Quiet from the beginning. You don’t start treating people well because they can do something for you. You’re supposed to do that regardless.”
The dragonrider scoffed at her. “That’s exactly why you’re nice to people. I was only nice to you, so you’d buy me a Mouth Phone.”
“iPhone,” Sophia corrected, rolling her eyes.
“Why are you nice to me?” Wilder asked, looking curious.
Evan glanced up, distracted. “Am I? I’
ll work on that. Sorry, the decades locked up with you made me sort of complacent.”
“But that same thing didn’t work with Quiet,” Sophia observed as the groundskeeper waddled into the room.
“Well, it’s our thing,” Evan stated, noticing the gnome too. “Hey, buddy. How’s it going? Rough day on the Expanse? The flock giving you trouble again?”
Quiet narrowed his eyes at him, muttering as he took a seat one down from Evan.
“Cool, cool,” Evan said, talking over him. “So, I was hoping you’d connect my new mobile device to this Wi-Fi. Sophia said for her it is automatic, but I’m guessing you’re just not aware that I have a new phone that needs the magic of the internet.”
Ainsley buzzed through the kitchen door, carrying a covered tray that smelled incredibly good. “The Castle is aware of everything always,” she declared as if she’d been there the entire time.
Evan lowered his chin. “As I suspected. So, little guy, think you can put the past behind us and build some bridges, starting with giving me access to Wi-Fi?”
“You’re not supposed to have a mobile device.” Ainsley put her hands on her hips. “Hiker will be livid if he finds out.”
Evan pointed an accusatory finger at Sophia across the table. “She gave it to me.”
“I want one, S. Beaufont,” Ainsley demanded.
She shook her head. “Evan won a stupid bet. And if I go around getting you all phones, then he’s going to find out about it and kick me out of the Castle.”
The shapeshifter clutched her hands to her chest, looking off fondly. “It’s been so long since he’s fired me. Maybe today is my lucky day.”
“I don’t think so.” Wilder pointed to the covered dish in the middle of the table. “You’ve made his favorite.”
“Yes, I have,” Ainsley said with a wicked smile before trotting back to the kitchen.
Wilder turned to Sophia with a pleading expression. “What do I have to do to get a phone? Win a bet? Do favors? Persuade you with my charm?”
He flashed her his trademark sideways smile, his blue eyes lighting up. The butterflies fluttered around her stomach as they often did when he looked at her that way.
She forced her gaze away. “Like I said, if I go around getting you all devices, Hiker is going to have my head. He’s made it very clear he doesn’t want the older generation of riders to have electronics.”
“Yeah, but he doesn’t control us,” Evan stated as footsteps echoed from the entryway. His eyes widened suddenly, and he fumbled erratically as he tried to put the phone away as Hiker and Mama Jamba entered the dining hall.
“All I’m saying is that a small appearance could really benefit our image,” Hiker told the short woman whose grayish-blue curls were perfectly formed around her head. Mama Jamba was wearing a black velour tracksuit with bunny slippers.
She winked at Sophia across the table before taking a seat between Evan and Quiet. “Son, the answer is still no. I don’t do the public eye, and I’m not changing my mind.”
Hiker opened his mouth, about to respond, and then his focus fell on Evan with a skeptical expression on his face. “What are you hiding?”
Sitting stick straight, his eyes shifting back and forth, Evan pointed at Sophia.
She tensed, making a note to kill him later.
“Her,” he demanded. “I’m hiding my undying lust and love for Sophia, but alas, she’s already taken, and so my dreams are dashed.”
Mama Jamba shook her head, her curls not taking the slightest note of the movement. “You’re doing a poor job of hiding this affection, hun.”
Hiker didn’t seem to buy this as he slipped into his chair at the head of the table. “When I find out what you’re up to, there’s going to be hell to pay.”
Quiet muttered something as Ainsley brought another covered dish from the kitchen. She laid it down in front of the leader of the Dragon Elite and looked at the gnome. “I agree, Quiet, but most of the time, some people can’t see what’s right in front of their faces because their dumb egos block their sight.”
Hiker narrowed his eyes, but they softened as his olfactory senses took in the dishes in front of them. “What’s all this?” He swept his hand at the table.
“Food.” Ainsley swept back around and trotted for the kitchen.
“It would appear that Ainsley has made your favorites, sir.” Wilder pointed at the largest dish. “Roast beef. And I think that’s mashed potatoes.”
“If the next dish is roasted asparagus, then we know there’s something going on,” Evan added.
Sophia guessed roasted asparagus was another of Hiker’s favorites. “Maybe she’s helping us to celebrate. The press conference was a success.”
Hiker nodded but didn’t look convinced. “It was, but as I was telling Mama, we could use another advantage. I’m having trouble getting the Foreign Nations to enter into an agreement with us. They say they need time.”
“And as I said before, I’m not coming out of hiding and standing in front of a camera unless George Burns is right beside me,” Mother Nature declared.
“Who’s that?” Hiker asked as the last dragonrider, Mahkah, quietly slipped into a seat next to Wilder. “I’m sure we can make arrangements.”
“He’s dead,” Sophia said.
Hiker nodded. “That seems about right.”
“You’ll just have to iron out these peace agreements on your own, son,” Mama Jamba offered. “It is your job, after all.”
He sighed as Ainsley came through the door, carrying another dish.
“Is that roasted asparagus?” Evan asked, eyeing the dish.
“How did you know?” Ainsley pulled the cover off the bowl to reveal little green sticks of veggies.
“What’s going on?” Hiker demanded, a skeptical expression on his face.
“What do you mean?” Ainsley questioned. “Can’t I make all of your favorites, knowing how much you like them?”
He gave her a measuring glare. “No.”
She threw up her hands and stormed back to the kitchen. “I can’t win for trying. I’ll just go and fetch the hot rolls and chocolate cake.”
“More of your favorites, sir,” Wilder observed.
Hiker narrowed his eyes at the largest platter. “I realize that. Evan, you should taste my food for me.”
He gawked in response. “With all due respect, sir. I don’t think Ainsley would try and poison you—” He broke into laughter before he finished his sentence. “Sorry, sir. Yes, she absolutely would. And although I would rush into a burning building for you, I’m not going to take this one for the team.”
“Oh, don’t be absurd,” Mama Jamba said, and pulled the lid off the mashed potatoes. Steam rose up, happy to be finally freed from the covered dish. “Ainsley might have a death wish for Hiker, but she doesn’t want the rest of us dead.”
“Coming from the entity that was never born and can never die, that doesn’t make me feel all that much better,” Evan stated sarcastically.
“I for one,” Hiker started, his eyes swelling with hunger as he pulled the cover off the roast and took in the sight of the hunk of meat, “can’t wait to have a real meal. It feels like ages.”
“I served you breakfast this morning,” Ainsley argued, as she deposited a basket of rolls on the table.
“The bacon was raw and the eggs were runny,” Hiker spat. He cut into the roast but seemed to have trouble with it.
The elf watched, a sneaky expression on her face.
No one took a bite of their food, all of them sensing what was about to happen next.
Hiker laid the knife down and gave Ainsley an annoyed expression. “The meat is overcooked.”
She threw up her hands. “Well, either it is overdone or underdone to your liking. I can’t win.”
He shook his head, pushing the tray to the side and picking up the potatoes. “What’s wrong with these?”
“Nothing,” Ainsley sang, a sly look in her green eyes.
Evan dropped
his spoonful of potatoes and grabbed for the pitcher of water to fill his glass. “If by nothing you mean they have a pound of salt, then sure. Nothing.”
The shapeshifter giggled with evil delight.
Hiker shook his head, looking at the asparagus. “And I’m guessing those are ruined somehow and the rolls overbaked. And the chocolate cake?”
Ainsley turned for the kitchen. “You’ll have to find out for yourself.”
Hiker pushed up from the table, his face red with anger. His hand went to his pocket, where Sophia knew he kept the golden harp. Hopefully, it would calm his temper and keep him from exploding, as was its job. “Well, maybe you all can salvage some of this meal, but I’m done.”
“Sir, can’t you fix things with Ainsley?” Evan asked, disappointment on his face as he looked around the table at the food none of them, with the exception of Quiet, dared to eat. The gnome was already working on his second helping of potatoes, the high sodium levels not bothering him in the least.
“I’m working on it,” Hiker muttered, giving Sophia a pointed expression.
She nodded slightly, knowing he meant for her to “fix” things since he didn’t think he was capable.
“In the meantime,” Hiker stated, “I’ll simply not eat at these meals, so the rest of you aren’t punished for the grievances Ainsley has with me.”
Everyone blinked, surprised by this selfless act.
“You can’t not eat,” Ainsley said, peeking through from the kitchen door, her face suddenly ashen.
He glanced over his shoulder at her. “I’ll manage. Despite what you think, I’m not completely inept and can fend for myself. I would just prefer not to when my time is so valuable trying to lead the Dragon Elite.”
The housekeeper disappeared back into the kitchen without another word. It was a first, Sophia realized. Hiker had made her speechless by not playing into Ainsley’s games. Maybe he was maturing and the golden harp was helping. The shapeshifter would persevere and find a way under his skin unless Sophia could figure out how to get her memories back and cure her. Then, at last, the elf could leave the Gullington and have the freedom she’d been deprived of for so many centuries.