by Sarah Noffke
When they broke apart, none were surprised to find Hiker Wallace and Mama Jamba standing there, having arrived silently.
“You did it,” Hiker stated, not sounding happy but rather matter of fact about the results.
“Yes, but not without consequences,” Mahkah said darkly.
Hiker nodded. “It’s unfortunate, but we knew this would be part of it.”
“There was nothing for me to do,” Wilder stated, a haunting in his eyes. “The tsunami…”
Hiker pressed his lips together. “Sometimes, we can step in and save the world, and sometimes we can only protect ourselves. Today we protected ourselves. Tomorrow we will save the world.”
Mama Jamba nodded at this. “You all were too weak to do anything but return here. Natural disasters happen. Sometimes for seemingly no reason. And sometimes, like they did today for a purpose. Those regions will recover. But right now, you need to recover. You protected your own, and that’s a fine job for now.”
She pointed toward the Barrier, where the Castle lay in the distance. “Go and rest, my dragonriders. There’s still more work to be done, but it will wait for now.”
Without another word, each of the dragonriders linked arms, both for comfort and also necessity. If they didn’t hold each other up right then, they’d surely fall down.
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Five
Hiker Wallace couldn’t concentrate. He was ready to abandon his office and take that walk that Mama Jamba had been urging him to go on.
A knock brought his attention up.
He found the one person he’d been waiting for standing in the doorway to his office.
“Ainsley,” Hiker nearly stuttered, bolting to a standing position.
The housekeeper didn’t look like herself. She was wearing a pale pink dress he’d seen her in years ago. It was made of the finest fabrics and was fitted, unlike the brown burlap dresses she’d worn for so long. She looked beautiful, her red hair combed and braided down her back. Around her collarbone, she wore a diamond necklace that also triggered old memories in Hiker.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said, her voice clear and concise, very much like it used to be when she was a delegate for the elfin council.
“No, no,” Mama Jamba stated, rising from her usual place on Hiker’s couch. “I was about to go check the food I had in the toaster oven.”
“We don’t have a toaster oven,” Ainsley argued.
“Then I’m going to go talk to Quiet about getting one,” Mama Jamba declared. “They are very helpful.”
The old woman disappeared out the door to Hiker’s office, leaving the two standing there.
He opened his mouth to say something, but she shook her head.
“I need to say something first,” Ainsley told him.
Hiker tensed, preparing himself for the rant. For the cruelty. For everything he deserved.
“I’m sorry,” Ainsley said.
“You’re what?” Hiker asked, stunned.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated. “I should have told you that I was pregnant, but I didn’t know how and I skirted it when I should have just been direct.”
He shook his head. “No, I wasn’t welcoming. I pushed you away, and I shouldn’t have. I’m…”
Hiker knew what he needed to say there, but he didn’t know how. Vikings weren’t accustomed to saying such things.
Ainsley drew in a breath. “For what’s it’s worth, I don’t blame you.”
“You don’t?” He was shocked.
“I did,” she began. “Before I got my memories. Even before I did, you had to have done something wrong. And even after I got them back. I’ve taken time to think, and I understand your commitment to the Dragon Elite. It’s all you’ve ever had, and you don’t want to lose it. I get that. I got in the way, and you didn’t know how to assimilate the two together, your love life and business life.”
Hiker was speechless.
Ainsley’s laugh was abrupt. “It seems funny now. Looking back, but it is what it is, and so much time has passed.”
“You’re not angry with me?” Hiker asked, in disbelief.
“Oh, I’m not about to run off and make you a friendship bracelet, but I don’t detest you,” Ainsley assured him, sounding mature. “I get that it was a no-win situation for us both. Then the war happened. It was better this way, and you did what you thought was best. It was a lot to process. But no, I don’t blame you.”
“And you’re okay with being here?”
She chewed on her lips. “No, not really. I’ll leave when S. Beaufont has the cure.” Ainsley looked out the window that faced the Pond. “There’s a life out there for me, and I don’t know what it holds, but I need to explore the possibilities.”
He nodded. “I’ll search for your replacement.”
“I don’t think you’ll need to,” Ainsley said. “I’ve been working on it, but also, I’ll be here for a bit until the cure is ready.”
He swallowed, trying to hide his regret. “Very well. You deserve to leave here if that’s what you want.”
She managed a pained smile. “It is. It’s time that I move on.”
With that, the shapeshifter pivoted and strode for the door, her long gown brushing the floor. When she was almost gone, Hiker opened his mouth. Breathed out. Whispered a word.
“What was that?” Ainsley asked, turning to face him.
He shook his head. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Oh,” she said, sounding disappointed. “I thought you did.”
Ainsley turned back and stepped across the threshold.
“Wait,” he called, stopping her. She looked over her shoulder at him, so beautiful, a ghost of how she used to be. “Ainsley, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. For everything.”
A tender smile made her green eyes water. She nodded, appearing so strong. “It’s worth more than you’ll know. Thank you.”
With that, the elf left Hiker standing in his office, wondering if he’d ever feel whole again.
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Six
Sophia couldn’t bring herself to return to West Hollywood so soon after the chaos she’d witnessed. When she received a message from Trin Currante, she tensed.
“You don’t need to come to Hollywood,” the cyborg said over the phone.
“I don’t understand,” Sophia stated after her friend explained the situation.
“The treatment won’t work for me,” Trin told her, not sounding as sad as Sophia would have thought. “I was one of the earliest cyborgs created. My operation was too aggressive to reverse. Alicia says trying will kill me.”
“I’m sorry,” Sophia offered.
“It’s fine,” Trin said, sounding like she was consoling Sophia. “You did everything you could. It’s because of you and the Dragon Elite that so many of my men have recovered. They have a chance at a real life.”
Sophia twisted her mouth to the side. She wanted a real life for Trin.
“I’m calling because you mentioned the librarian position before,” Trin began. “I didn’t want it before because I thought…well, I thought I would want to be in the real world, but seeing as I’m not going to become a real girl after all…” Trin actually laughed at her own joke, referencing Pinocchio.
“You want the position at the Great Library?” Sophia asked, surprised.
“I want to do something,” Trin stated. “Something I enjoy. Something that matters. And something that doesn’t put me around prying, judgmental eyes.”
Sophia found herself smiling. “You still remember where the Gullington is?”
“Well, of course,” Trin answered. “I invaded it, didn’t I?”
“That you did,” Sophia said with a laugh, shocked her past enemy and she had come this far. “Meet me outside the Barrier in five minutes. Can you do that?”
“I guess,” Trin started and then understood. “Oh, that’s right, you have the portal to the Great Library.”
“That’s right.” Sophia suddenl
y felt gleeful.
She hung up the phone and went to find Quiet. She’d need his approval and help first, but once she got that, everything would fall into place.
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Seven
Sophia was practically vibrating with excitement as she and Quiet stepped through the Barrier to find Trin Currante waiting for them.
The cyborg began to smile at the sight of the magician, but then it faded when she saw Quiet.
“Oh, is he still mad that I nearly poisoned him to death?” Trin asked through cracked lips.
Sophia laughed. “No, he always has that expression on his face. He just has to let you in through the Barrier but wanted to see you first.”
“Oh!” Trin exclaimed, as though she was having second thoughts. She glanced down at the gnome. “I’ll just go through to the portal in the Castle, and then once in the Great Library, you won’t see me again. I promise I won’t be trouble for you.”
Quiet ran his wise eyes over the cyborg, seeming to study her from the inside out. Then very swiftly, he spun to face Sophia and nodded roughly.
“She’s good?” Sophia asked.
He gave another curt nod.
“Very well, then,” Sophia said, having to hide her excitement.
Trin gave her a reluctant expression like she wasn’t sure why there were such measures to take a librarian position.
“We can go through now,” Sophia said, holding out an arm to the Barrier, which would allow Trin to cross now that Quiet had given his approval.
The three stepped through and strode across the Expanse. Sophia’s heart still ached for all that had transpired, but they’d made progress, and that’s what was important.
She could feel Trin’s tension mount as she took in the sights around her. Sophia noted the cyborg’s gears made more noises when she was nervous. She understood her tension and her confusion as she took in the sight at the front of the Castle.
“Why are they all standing there?” Trin asked, seeing Evan, Mahkah, Hiker, Mama Jamba, NO10JO, and even Ainsley standing at the front of the Castle like a strange welcoming committee.
“They wanted to say hi,” Sophia lied.
“You realize that I have a human lie detector built in that recognizes facial movements and body temperature changes, right?”
Sophia glanced sideways at Quiet. “That will come in handy when Evan steals the stash of cookies.”
“Why would that matter?” Trin asked.
Sophia smiled. “The thing is, I don’t think you’re well suited for the librarian position.”
“You don’t,” Trin said, halting and sounding hurt. “But I did it before. I know that I deceived you all then, but —”
“You said you wanted to do something meaningful,” Sophia interrupted. “Something that made a difference. And that you didn’t want to be judged.” She held her arm out wide. “I can think of no better way of doing that than by working here at the Gullington for the Dragon Elite.”
Trin’s eyes widened, her robotic eye swiveling back and forth. “You’re serious.” It was a statement rather than a question.
“Of course I am,” Sophia assured her. “We need a housekeeper, and although I realize the work might not excite you, helping us does help the world at large.” She indicated the Castle. “This is our sanctuary, managed and created by none other than Quiet, as you know. But it doesn’t thrive without a housekeeper.”
“I thought Ainsley was your housekeeper,” Trin said.
One of the many good things about Trin as the choice as housekeeper for the Castle was that she’d read the entire History of Dragonriders and knew all about the Gullington and its oddities.
“She was…” Sophia began, trying to find the right words. “But she’d like to transition out of that role. She wants someone who is strong and smart to replace her, and I think…we all think you’d be perfect for the position.”
“I’d be cleaning the Castle, though?” Trin questioned.
Sophia remembered what Ainsley had told her when she first moved into the Castle. “You’re more responsible for its emotional well-being.” She winked at Quiet, knowing he was the Castle and the Castle him.
“And really,” Sophia continued, “it’s about helping us, the Dragon Elite, to be successful. You’d be a part of a team. You’d be a part of bigger conversations. Most importantly for you, Trin, you won’t have to be alone like you would be at the Great Library.”
The cyborg considered this.
“Also, no one here is going to judge you. We know what you’ve been through. We know who you truly are. And we like that person.” Sophia indicated the cyborg dog. “I mean, our pet is even a cyborg, who can’t be reversed either according to Alicia. We wouldn’t have you any other way. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
Sophia knew Trin would rather be totally human again, but since she couldn’t be, it was better to encourage her to accept her cyborg form. For her to know they liked her this way. She was forever both magitech and human, and acceptance at this point was for the best.
Turning to face Trin, Sophia gave her a determined expression. “So, what do you say? Do you want to join us? Do you want to serve the Dragon Elite?”
When the cyborg smiled, it did something to transform her face, making her appear all human—all flesh and feeling and imperfections. All perfect.
“Yes, I do,” Trin declared.
Sophia couldn’t help it, she grabbed the cyborg’s hand and pulled her toward the crowd at the front of the Castle.
“Hey, guys,” Sophia began. “You all remember Trin.”
In unison, like they were normal people and not the deranged bunch Sophia loved dearly, they cheered, “Hey Trin!”
“You remember Evan,” Sophia said, pointing to him on the far side, now leaned low petting NO10JO.
“Yeah, you gave me a mean bloody eye,” he said with a laugh.
Trin laughed too. “And I see you stole that mutt.”
Evan looked down at the dog. “Best mutt ever.”
“And then we have Mahkah and Wilder,” Sophia continued, introducing them.
The two bowed to her. “Ainsley was the housekeeper for this amazing place.”
The shapeshifter curtsied, wearing a green silk dress that made her look radiant. “I’ll teach you all about it and how to survive its strangeness.”
Sophia shook her head at Trin’s reluctant expression. “There’s nothing to survive. She’s exaggerating.”
Before Sophia could introduce him, Hiker stepped forward. “I’m the leader of the Dragon Elite, Hiker Wallace. Welcome aboard.”
Trin’s gears started to make more noise. “Thank you for the opportunity. I will do my best.”
He nodded. “I’m sure you will.”
Mama Jamba clapped her hands together. “Okay, the big question is, what are we having for dinner?”
“We haven’t met yet,” Trin stated, offering a hand to the old woman.
She blinked up at the cyborg. “Oh, but we have, child. I’ve known you all your life. I’ve known you as you were and as you are, and I wouldn’t have you any other way than how you are. I’m Mother Nature.”
If Sophia wondered if cyborgs could cry, she got her answer right then.
“Here,” Ainsley said, striding forward and taking Trin’s arm. “Let me show you around the Castle. It’s a tricky place, but also weird and wonderful. I’ll show you the hiding places.”
Trin looked over her shoulder at Sophia as Ainsley led her away. The others dispersed, excited about having a new face in the Castle.
“You did good, picking her,” Hiker said when there was no one but Sophia left standing there, looking at the open door to the Castle.
Wilder and Evan had run off to play football. Mahkah took his books to the Pond to read. Quiet and Mama Jamba strolled out over the Expanse, seeming to chat pleasantly.
“Thank you, sir,” Sophia stated. “I thought she made a lot of sense in the role. Although I’ll miss Ainsley wh
en she leaves. The cure should be ready soon.”
He nodded, a somberness in his movements. “I will, too.”
“It will be good for her,” Sophia said, knowing she didn’t have to elaborate.
“I want that,” he agreed. “She deserves that.”
The two were quiet for a long moment, watching the dragons fly in and out of the Nest and Cave. Finally Hiker said, “We’re going to start growing again, the Dragon Elite.”
Sophia nodded. “Yes, with more dragons, I expect more riders.”
“It makes sense for me to manage things here,” Hiker began. “But in the field, it makes sense to have a leader, a second in command.”
Sophia bit her lip, wondering where this was going.
He turned and faced her. “The men, they are competent in many ways, but they don’t have an instinct for leadership. They don’t make decisions with as much efficiency and objectivity as you.”
“Sir?”
“Sophia, I want you to be my second in command.”
“But sir, I’m the newest and I—”
“Have made more progress in the time you’ve been here than I made in five-hundred years,” he argued. “I dare say, if not for you, then none of this would have happened. Sophia, you’re the right person for the role. You deserve it more than anyone, and no one will argue with my decision. They already follow you because they believe in you. I do too.”
Sophia’s throat constricted. She didn’t know what to say, so she nodded.
“Very good.” Hiker pivoted sharply and made for his office. “We meet tomorrow morning to outline your duties. There will be many, and they need to be balanced with your current workload.”
A laugh burst out of Sophia’s mouth. “Wait, we haven’t discussed my pay increase yet!”
“There isn’t one,” he called back, disappearing into the Castle.
Sophia smiled, not having expected any of this as she looked out at the Expanse. She didn’t expect to become a leader for the Dragon Elite, but she also never expected to be a dragonrider or have so many responsibilities.