by Sarah Noffke
Always accept responsibility for your actions.
“Sir, I can explain,” Sophia started, finding her voice strong.
He turned, facing her directly. “How can you explain? I haven’t even told you what is going on yet.”
She combed her hands through her long blonde hair, trying to cover her nervousness. “Well, I just figured it out.”
He shook his head at her. “Okay, then tell me why.”
Sophia knitted her hands together as Mama Jamba entered the office, a nail file in one hand as she stroked it against the lavender nails that matched her tracksuit. “Don’t let me interrupt. I just figured I’d get here early to enjoy the show.”
Hiker scowled at her. “What show?”
She plopped herself down on the leather sofa, her attention staying on her nails. “The one going on now.”
His eyelids fluttered with annoyance. “There’s no show, Mama.” Returning his gaze to Sophia, Hiker cleared his throat. “Now, go on. Explain yourself.”
“O-O-Okay,” she began.
“Don’t stutter dear,” Mama Jamba cut in. “It makes you seem unconfident.”
Which is exactly what Sophia was. She was about to have to tell the most powerful magician in the world, a man always prone to anger, that she and Wilder were romantically involved, something they both knew he wouldn’t be happy about. He’d be livid. He wouldn’t allow it, and it was because of these worries Sophia hadn’t allowed herself to really think much about the relationship. She spent most of her energy avoiding it, darting her gaze from Wilder’s, making excuses and avoiding getting closer.
“Right,” Sophia agreed, giving Mama Jamba a pleading look, hoping she could rescue her. Mother Nature didn’t look up from her nails to see the begging. “It just sort of happened…”
“I know that,” Hiker said with a sigh. “I watched it happen.”
Sophia gasped. “You did?”
“Of course, I did,” he declared, looking offended.
Worried thoughts began racing through her head. She didn’t understand. Sophia thought they had been so careful. “When? How? Where?”
“Oh, what does it matter?” Hiker questioned, glancing back at the Dragon Elite Globe. “I was standing right there, and then all of a sudden, well, it’s unexplainable.”
He pointed to the spot next to the window that looked out at the Pond. It was a spot where Wilder and Sophia had spent most of their time together when she allowed for such luxuries. She’d thought on the beach, they couldn’t be seen. Apparently, she was wrong. Maybe Hiker’s new powers allowed him to see through the rocks and cliffs that shielded the beach from the Expanse. Or maybe they had just been sloppy.
Sophia sucked in a breath. She couldn’t run from this. “Sir, it isn’t really unexplainable. It’s feelings and although I realize you don’t always understand those—”
“Feelings!” Hiker roared abruptly.
Sophia peeled back. As she suspected, his temper was heightened by these new powers.
He sprang into his normal pacing, and his boots thundered louder across the floor than usual.
Mama Jamba pulled her gaze away from her nails. “Now, it’s getting good.”
“How can you find this entertaining?” Sophia asked her, offense heavy in her voice. “This is my life. It isn’t some joke for you to laugh at.”
Mama Jamba simply smiled. “Oh, I flipped ahead and saw a spoiler. Can’t tell you, though.”
Sophia sighed, shaking her head. “Anyway, sir, we have feelings for each other. I know it doesn’t make sense to you, but—”
“Feelings?” Hiker repeated, his face growing redder. “Of course, you’d make this about emotions.”
“It’s about emotions,” Sophia argued. “I know you haven’t really allowed dragonriders to have them in the past, but you can’t control me.”
This wasn’t how Sophia pictured dying. As she stared at the angry eyes of the man towering over her, she waited for her life to start flashing before her eyes. Instead, the strangest, most unexpected thing happened.
Hiker Wallace started laughing.
Mama Jamba also appeared quite amused.
“What is so funny?” Sophia asked, the offense in her voice growing.
“Control you?” Hiker questioned, continuing to laugh. “Yeah, I think I know better by now. I wouldn’t even waste my time with such a lofty goal at this point.”
Sophia’s chest was buzzing with adrenaline. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad. She opened her mouth to say something, but Hiker beat her to it.
“I do expect if I put down my foot, you’ll listen to me, Sophia.” Hiker resumed his pacing. “I’m reserving that for other situations I suspect will arise, like you running an adjudication mission your own way or going over my head to Mama or when one of the other riders falls for you or when—”
“Wait, what?” Sophia interrupted, her insides freezing. Heart-stopping. Breath hitching.
“Oh, don’t think I don’t know you are just waiting until you disagree with something I say and supersede my rule by going to Mama,” Hiker said, throwing an arm at the old woman curled up on the sofa, who was watching the exchange with a curious smile.
“No, not that,” Sophia disagreed. “That part about the other riders…”
She couldn’t believe she actually came out with the sentence without throwing up. Her breakfast was definitely not sitting right in her stomach.
“Well,” Hiker began, throwing his hand through his short blond hair. “I’m not a fool. You are the only girl in his Castle and—”
“I believe Ainsley would take serious offense to that,” Mama Jamba interrupted.
Hiker rolled his eyes. “I meant eligible bachelorette.”
“Again, do you want to have your mustache shaved off in the middle of the night?” Mama Jamba asked seriously. “Keep that up and I’m certain our lovely housekeeper will do it for you. The last time I checked, there was no ring on Ainsley’s hand.”
Hiker protectively touched his mustache, as if checking it was still there. “I simply mean, that of all the options in the Castle, Sophia is the only one I suspect one of the other riders would be interested in. Ainsley has been here with them all the while, and they don’t think of her that way.”
“No, they don’t,” Mama Jamba sang, an emphasis on the middle word.
He shook his head. “Anyway, my point is that’s something I’d put my foot down on, but for the most part—”
“Wait, what are we talking about?” Sophia asked, completely confused now. Hiker was speaking about a romantic relationship with Wilder like it wasn’t happening but could become a possibility.
He threw his arm at the Dragon Elite Globe. “You and me. I realize you say this is about feelings, but all due respect, this is a logistical issue, Sophia. I know women like to think of things in terms of emotions, but I really need you to focus on the concrete.”
Mama Jamba sat up straighter. “Oh, it’s getting good now.”
Hiker threw a contemptuous glare at the old woman. “Would you mind?”
She shook her head of short silver hair, which moved together like a helmet. “I don’t mind at all.”
“Sir, what do you mean, this is about you and me?” Sophia asked her eyes on the Dragon Elite Globe. “And the globe? I don’t understand.”
“I thought you did.” Confusion covered his face. “You said you could explain. If you know why our dots on the globe are different than all the rest, I need you to tell me.”
Sophia’s eyes widened with understanding. “Our dots are different than all the rest… That’s what this is about.”
Mama Jamba smiled at her and winked. “There’s the spoiler. I told you this would be fun.”
“Oh,” Sophia said, putting it all together. She’d thought Hiker knew about her and Wilder. He was referring to the Dragon Elite Globe. That was curious, but what she’d just learned was of even more interest to her. What had he said? A relationship with a dragonrid
er would be something Hiker would put his foot down for. So, the good news was he didn’t suspect anything. The bad news was he wasn’t an idiot and knew it was a possibility. The worst news was he’d put his foot down, and probably not in the figurative sense. It would probably come down straight on Wilder’s head.
Sophia had been trying to tell herself when she allowed herself to think about the complexity of her new predicament that Hiker needed them. He only had four riders, but that was exactly why this wasn’t going to be tolerated. She also had to remind herself there were just under a thousand dragon eggs sitting in the Nest, which meant there would be many more dragonriders in the future. Ones who could easily replace Sophia and Wilder when Hiker killed them.
The confusion was heavy on the Viking’s face as he looked between Sophia and Mama Jamba. “What is going on here?”
“Oh, nothing,” Mama Jamba sang. “Now, Sophia, the Dragon Elite Globe. I bet you have some questions about that, dear, don’t you?”
Sophia allowed herself to finally breathe properly. She nodded. “So our dots are different?”
Hiker pressed his eyes shut and vigorously shook his head. “You said you already knew about it and you knew why.”
“Right,” Sophia said, drawing out the word. “I thought you were talking about something else.”
“What did you think I was talking about?” Hiker questioned with authority in his voice.
“So the dots?” Sophia asked, trying her best to change the subject. “You said you watched it change from right there.” She indicated the spot next to the Dragon Elite Globe. Now things were starting to make sense from earlier. Hiker hadn’t spied her and Wilder at the Pond. They had been careful.
He gave her a discriminating expression. For a moment, she thought he was going to question her again. Instead, he seemed to think better of it and shook his head. “Yes, so I was studying the Globe this morning when I noticed your and my dots changed.”
Sophia strode over and studied the Globe from a closer distance. There were three red dots. Even though they were all huddled on top of each other at the Gullington, she could still read the labels: Evan, Mahkah, and Wilder.
Next to them, and distinctively different were two other dots that were red, outlined with blue. They were labeled: Hiker and Sophia.
Chapter Seven
Sophia studied the dots on the Dragon Elite Globe for a long minute, thinking something would occur to her to explain why theirs were different. When nothing did, she glanced up at Hiker. “Why are we different?”
He threw his hands up, obviously irritated by the question. “I thought you could explain it. That’s what I’m wondering.”
Sophia glanced at Mama Jamba, a question in her expression. “You know, don’t you?”
“She won’t tell us anything helpful,” Hiker said with a growl.
“My helpful and yours are different,” Mama Jamba argued. “I think I offer you a lot of helpful information, but you just don’t value it the same way as me.”
He huffed. “This morning you told me I had pillow marks on my face from sleeping when I asked you about the Dragon Elite Globe.”
“And that was helpful,” she stated. “Imagine if you’d have shown up to breakfast with those. It would have been rather embarrassing.”
“What is embarrassing is Sophia and my dots have changed, and you know and won’t tell us,” Hiker protested, his voice rising.
“Maybe it’s because we are twins,” Sophia muttered.
Both Hiker and Mama Jamba looked at her. He had a skeptical expression on his face. Mama Jamba had a proud smile.
“You’d think the old man would have figured that out already, but he’s getting slow in his old age,” she commented, clasping her hands together in front of her chest.
“That’s it?” Hiker asked, looking between the two women. “But why?”
“Because…” Mama Jamba answered, a hint of mischief in her voice.
“Mama…” Hiker said, disapproval in his tone.
“Hiker,” she fired back, matching his tone.
“What is the deal with the twin factor?” Sophia asked.
Mother Nature pursed her lips, indicating to Sophia. “She knows how to ask the right questions. You should take notes from her.”
The annoyance was evident on Hiker’s face. “Are you going to answer the question?”
“Do you think I’m going to?” Mama Jamba asked in reply.
He shook his head as Wilder, Mahkah, and Evan strode into the office, none of them seeming to notice they were interrupting.
“I can do some research,” Sophia offered.
“You mean you are going to read through my book,” Hiker argued unpleasantly.
“You can have it back if you like,” Sophia offered.
“No, because every time you try to give me the Complete History of Dragonriders, it just ends up back in your room,” Hiker said. “One of these days, I’m going to lay into Quiet for reducing my office to nearly a closet for several weeks.”
“Yeah, because that won’t backfire on you.” Evan threw himself down next to Mama Jamba and put an arm around her shoulder.
She smiled at him, running her eyes over the clothes he was wearing, which didn’t appear to fit well at all. They must have belonged to Wilder or Mahkah, who were smaller in stature.
“Fine, Sophia,” Hiker relented. “Do the research and let me know what you find out.”
“Research about what?” Evan asked.
“That’s none of your concern,” Hiker told him. “I have missions for you all.”
“Although I’d like to help,” Wilder began, “I’m afraid Subner has something that demands my attention.”
Hiker sighed. “Fine, Sophia you’ll have to take on another mission because—”
“Actually, Subner wants her on this particular mission as well,” Wilder boldly declared.
Sophia was careful to keep her eyes away from Wilder’s gaze. He was being bold, but he didn’t know that Hiker already suspected something broadly. He was going to kill them, and she already had enough to do. She’d promised to help with the Cupid mission and couldn’t let them down now. It was just with the Trin Currante situation and lost dragon eggs, she felt torn.
“Remember when I mentioned putting down my foot earlier?” Hiker asked Sophia.
“You don’t have any leads yet, son,” Mama Jamba cut in.
He swung around to face the old woman. “What are you going on about?”
“Well, sometimes, when you are looking for something,” Mama Jamba started, “it’s a good idea to go looking for something else to find it.”
He sighed heavily. “That makes zero sense, Mama.”
“No, I get what she means,” Evan stated.
“Of course you do,” Hiker agreed, rolling his eyes.
“Seriously, sir,” Evan went on. “When I was looking for clothes earlier because someone took all of mine, I found the yoyo I lost last summer and also an entire package of chocolate.” He pulled a candy bar from his pocket and offered it to Mama Jamba.
She shook her head. “No, I’m watching my girly figure.”
Evan winked at her. “I’m watching it too.”
“Will you not hit on Mother Nature,” Hiker said with irritation.
“I’ll try, but no promises.” Evan sent a flirtatious glance to Mama Jamba. “Anyway, I get what she means about finding something else when you are looking for another thing. I think there’s merit in the idea.”
“Then we are probably doomed,” Hiker grumbled.
“Hey now,” Evan complained. “I’m one of the dragonriders who will actually take on your adjudicator missions, unlike some people.” He gave Sophia and Wilder very pointed expressions.
Wilder snapped his fingers. “Guess you don’t need to borrow that shirt after all, do you?”
The flannel long sleeve Evan was wearing disappeared, leaving him sitting topless on the sofa next to Mama Jamba. He didn’t budge but just shook
his head. “That’s fine. I don’t need a top.” Then he grabbed on to his pants, his eyes wide, giving Mahkah a pleading expression. “Please mate, don’t take my clothes. Don’t be like this guy.” He indicated Wilder on the other side of the room.
“Don’t worry,” Mahkah replied calmly, his hands pinned behind his back. “I think we all want you to keep your pants on.”
“Amen to that,” Sophia sang.
“Well, they are tight enough they aren’t coming off unless someone really pries,” Evan said, batting his eyelashes at Sophia.
She caught the paranoid expression on Hiker’s face. He was worried about something happening between her and one of the men, and she understood. Something had transpired between her and Wilder. It wasn’t because she was the only new girl in the Castle in centuries, or she at least hoped so. That thought was enough to ruin it for her. There were so many doubts revolving around her and Wilder. She’d told herself they had a spark, and there was chemistry, but maybe it was just because she was a woman who lived in the Gullington.
“Fine,” Hiker finally agreed. “Sophia and Wilder go on this mission for Subner, but I do want you keeping an eye out for information on Trin Currante. We need to find out where she is. We need to find those eggs. We also need to find out how she got the advantage over us in the first place. Otherwise, we might fall victim to another attack.”
Sophia nodded. That had been her concern too. “I’ll add it to my research.”
“Very well.” Hiker turned his attention to Evan and Mahkah. “You two will have to take on the adjudicator missions and pick up the slack.”
Evan sprang to his feet, his eyes wide with excitement. “You can rely on me, sir. I won’t let you down like Sophia and Wilder.”
Sophia was about to defend herself and make an antagonizing statement to Evan, but she didn’t have to, because the sound of the seam of his jeans bursting filled the room, making everyone but the young dragonrider laugh.
Chapter Eight
Something wasn’t adding up. Sophia knew it. Hiker Wallace knew it. The dragonriders all suspected it. But no one knew what they were missing. There were more questions when it came to Trin Currante than there were answers.