Adapt Or Be Crushed (The Exceptional S. Beaufont Book 9)

by Sarah Noffke

  Wilder stuck out his arms and appraised the golden tan he now sported from their time in Bora Bora. “Nah, I think I’ll be all right.”

  “Well, it will no doubt give you wrinkles and freckles later,” Evan replied.

  Sophia shook her head at the antics of the two. “So it sounds like they’re coming through the portal from the Great Library.”

  Evan shrugged. “One would think, but we can’t get the door to open so who knows.”

  Sophia glanced up at the staircase and watched as Mahkah led an equally confused group of mortals toward the dining hall. All wore similar expressions as Mr. Dickenson and seemed completely disoriented as they studied the Castle while marching in a single line like reporting for basic training in the army.

  The mortals had all been given rooms and allowed to rest since they seemed weary after entering the Castle.

  “Where is Quiet?” Sophia asked, although she knew that it was probably a lost cause to rely on the groundskeeper to answer questions on the subject.

  “He’s been mad busy with the sheep situation,” Evan replied. “You know they’re exploding, right?”

  Sophia nodded with a concerned expression on her face. “Yes, we were gone for a few days, not a fortnight.”

  “A few days, huh?” Evan questioned. “Must be nice. I’ve been managing things in your absence, which wasn’t at all missed.”

  It was clear from the way Evan said it that he missed them, Wilder especially. As much as the younger dragonrider tried to act otherwise, it was clear he was a social being and adored his comrades. He seemed happy to have Sophia and Wilder back, and told them a series of jokes that he must have stored up, just for them.

  The group of unintended trespassers paraded by the three and into the dining hall, not paying them as much attention because of the obviously overwhelming details of the Castle all around them. One lady with short brown hair and wearing a nightgown gave Sophia a strange expression, apparently thinking that she looked weirder than her in her armored top with her sword on her side.

  When they’d all filed past, Sophia said in a low voice, “So, they all came through the portal from the Great Library from…” Her question trailed away, knowing that Evan would infer the rest.

  His gaze studied the group of oddballs. Most were half-dressed, like they’d been interrupted during their normal routine. “They went into their closets to get clothes or whatever and when they came out, they strode out into the Castle.” Evan laughed loudly, making many of the strangers in the group jump. “Imagine going to get ready for your boring job and winding up in a magical Castle in Scotland. Talk about a great story for dinnertime.”

  Wilder blew out a breath. “Let’s hope we can get them home by dinner.”

  Sophia nodded and watched as Mahkah dutifully led them to where Christopher Dickerson was still trying to make his phone work, with no luck. They reluctantly took seats, their expressions flat as the overwhelming factors increased when they stared around at the large hall. Most seemed speechless, like the questions of “why” and “how” hadn’t quite formed in their mouths yet.

  “They’re in shock,” Sophia observed.

  “I would be too,” Wilder agreed. “I mean, look at what Evan is wearing. It’s simply atrocious.”

  The other dragonrider huffed. “I was the first friendly face most of the blokes saw. I rescued them.”

  “From what?” Wilder asked. “Getting lost? Real jokes? Discovering a place no mortal has ever seen?”

  Evan rolled his eyes. “Whatever, man. I hope that no more come through. Trin is having a hard enough time feeding us. Imagine having to feed a bunch of mortals all of a sudden.”

  Wilder nodded. “So the Castle sealed the door. I wonder why the portal door malfunctioned.”

  Sophia considered this for a moment. “It has to be because Plato is moving the Great Library. I bet it’s going to several places in the process, and the portal is being shoved around until it finds its final location.”

  Evan laughed loudly again, making more of the half-dressed mortals whip around to face them, startled. “So when the portal malfunctions, it brings blokes into the Castle.”

  “Well, it probably creates a schism. Makes sense,” Sophia offered.

  “When is the Great Library supposed to be in place?” Wilder asked, suddenly serious.

  “When the paint dries, apparently,” she answered with a laugh, then added, “I’m not sure. But we need to get these people home.”

  “Oh shucks! I was hoping they’d become our merry bunch of court jesters,” Evan said in mock disappointment. “Can’t we keep them?”

  Sophia shook her head. “No, they need to go back since they’ve been questioned.”

  Mahkah joined them with a thoughtful expression on his face. “I’m not sure the Castle is the best place for these people. It seems to disorient them more than they should be.”

  Sophia nodded. She’d noticed that many seemed to be having a hard time staying awake, and were falling asleep in their seats. The rest were almost paralyzed when Trin materialized from the kitchen carrying a platter of plates. The sight of the cyborg housekeeper must have been well over the threshold of what they could take.

  “Yeah, it’s time to get these people home,” Sophia agreed. “And since the portal appears to be closed, hopefully this problem won’t keep happening, but we still need to keep an eye on things.”

  Evan saluted dramatically. “Yes, Captain. We’re ready for our orders, Captain.”

  Sophia ignored him. “Where is Hiker?”

  Mahkah leaned in, his voice quiet. “I think he’s been preoccupied by something in his office lately. He’s aware of this situation, but not as concerned as one might have suspected. He told us to handle it.”

  Sophia nodded and chewed on her lip. She thought she knew why. It had to do with Ainsley’s absence, she thought, but didn’t dare say anything to the group. None knew what she’d seen that night when Ainsley left the Castle, and Hiker and she said their goodbyes. “And we will handle it. Can you guys get these people back to their homes and check their closets to ensure they won’t end up back here or in some black hole?”

  Wilder nodded, but Evan pursed his lips.

  “How much does this job pay?” Evan asked.

  She rolled her eyes. “It pays your room and board, and is why you work for the Dragon Elite.”

  “I’m listening,” Evan said. “Keep talking.”

  Sophia shook her head. “I need you all to get these mortals out of here before they lose their minds from the Castle’s magic. It can’t be good for them.”

  “I agree,” Mahkah said, always the voice of reason. “We need to get them out of here. It’s clear they don’t know anything about how they ended up here and don’t have any reason for their presence. It seems to be a fluke.”

  “Which I can research,” Sophia offered, but noticed Quiet materialize in the doorway. The gnome’s sudden presence almost startled her for some reason. It was the solemn look on his usually expressionless face. “After I see what he needs.”

  Everyone turned their heads as she automatically strode in Quiet’s direction.

  “Yeah, fine,” Evan called. “Just go gallivanting off with that troublemaker while the rest of us clean up the messes. Sounds good, pigtails.”

  Sophia ignored him as she headed for the door where Quiet strode out to the Expanse, seeming to know that she was following him. At her back, she heard Evan say, “Man, Wilder, that short guy is gonna steal your gal. How you feel about that?”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Once on the grounds of the Expanse, Sophia had to pull her attention away from the angel dragonettes streaking through the air in the distance, their various colors like kites in the wind. She was always mesmerized by how the tiny dragons moved, so graceful from the beginning.

  But like Lunis, they were playful and enjoyed gliding on the breeze and diving toward the grass. Their landings were less practiced than the elder dragons a
nd more like that of football players victoriously rolling over the touchdown line.

  Sophia pulled her gaze to the groundskeeper and tried to focus. “What is it, Quiet?”

  He didn’t look at her right on, but instead, pointed his stubby finger toward the little white specks that lined the hills. It didn’t take Sophia’s discerning eyes long to zoom in and determine that the spots on the grassy slopes were the herd of sheep.

  A moment later, a small explosion scattered the herd in the opposite direction from the commotion. The sheep that was the epicenter of the ignition was only a scorch mark on the earth, which made Sophia grimace with regret and disgust.

  “What’s happening?” she asked Quiet.

  He had his attention on the glossy lawn too, and looked back at her with somber eyes that very distinctly said, “I don’t know.”

  She lowered her chin. “I have to figure this out, don’t I?”

  He nodded gravely.

  Sophia sighed and wondered where she could go to figure out this complexity. It was true that someone had to figure out what was going on with the sheep. It was so ill-timed with the strange appearance of the mortals in the Castle. She wanted to ask why one thing couldn’t happen at a time or what was Quiet doing about the invader problem in the Castle, but she realized that he was overwhelmed. As usual, they were all overwhelmed. The Gullington was overwhelmed. That was status quo at this point.

  Finally, she nodded. “Okay, so find out why the sheep are exploding and stop it, right?”

  Quiet simply gave her a nod that said so much more than yes.

  “Okay.” Sophia drew out the word. “I will devote my attention to the sheep problem. There must be a reason for why they’re exploding.”

  Quiet nodded again. His eyes said, “Are you ready to set off yet?” Impatience hung heavy in his every movement. His Castle was being invaded and his sheep exploding. It must have been annoying. More than annoying. He was used to being in charge of this territory and suddenly so much was outside his control.

  Sophia turned to him. “Don’t worry, Quiet. I’ll devote my attention to this. Keep the portal door to the Great Library sealed until I check with Plato.”

  He agreed simply.

  “I’ll find someone to help with the sheep,” she went on, and jerked her chin back in the direction of the Castle. “But first, I need to check on someone.”

  Quiet mumbled, and Sophia could have sworn it sounded like, “It won’t help.”

  However, she still set off for Hiker Wallace’s office.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “Son, I’ve told you a hundred times—”

  “I don’t need to hear it again,” Hiker interrupted. His voice boomed into the hallway and made Sophia halt before she came to the crack between the door and Hiker’s office.

  She gasped, feeling very much like a voyeur similar to when she watched Ainsley and Hiker’s goodbye that final night. She still felt guilty for witnessing their intimate moment. But, she couldn’t help what she saw or that she saw it. The Castle woke her and led her to it, and showed her what was now imprinted on her soul…the goodbye of two souls who had spent five hundred years together and were now separated by circumstances—and choice.

  “What does the message say?” Mama Jamba asked after a moment, sounding like her usual calm self.

  Hiker blew out a breath. “It says… It says…” He seemed unable to get the words out.

  “Do you want the youngest dragonrider to join us before you read the message from the Elfin Council?” Mama Jamba asked.

  “No!” Hiker boomed at once. “I’m not calling Sophia up from the dining hall or away from the Expanse or from whatever mission she’s on to hear this.”

  “Oh, but son,” Mama Jamba began casually, “she’s outside the door.”

  Sophia tensed on the other side of the wall and thought of running. She suddenly felt like an invader.

  Hiker hiccupped and looked at the Dragon Elite globe. “Of course she is. I knew she was home.” When he said the last word, he sounded relieved. “Sophia!” he boomed.

  She straightened against the wall, feeling like she was playing the world’s stupidest game of hide and go seek with the best finder, and was doomed no matter what. Sophia pressed her eyes shut and pretended like she wasn’t there.

  When she peeked through one eye, she knew the game was over. There between the crack of her lids, staring at her from his office door, was none other than the leader than the Dragon Elite.

  “Hey, sir,” Sophia said when she saw Hiker Wallace.

  “Get in here,” he ordered while looking at her hiding place outside his office.

  “Yes, sir,” she replied as he marched back inside.

  Once in his study, Sophia found Mama Jamba arranging sunflowers and whistling like there was nothing else of consequence going on in the world. “Well, isn’t it better in here with us than spying in the corridor?”

  “I wasn’t spying,” Sophia began, but decided there wasn’t any point. “Honestly. I was about to knock.”

  “Doesn’t matter anyway. Now Hiker can stutter through the message that’s been getting the better of him for an hour or more,” Mama Jamba interrupted.

  “It hasn’t,” he argued, but didn’t seem that adamant about. “Anyway, it’s nothing. It’s a message from Ainsley.”

  “Ainsley?” Sophia was excited to hear the elf’s name. “How is she? What’s she up to? What did she say?”

  All the questions fell out of her mouth without her permission, and now she stood there looking excited and young as she stared at the two and felt dumb. But Mama Jamba simply cut the stem to a sunflower and smiled. Hiker sighed and looked at the message in his hand, then sighed again.

  He began, “It says that Ainsley is gaining insights at the council and getting more intel on things that could become of interest to the Dragon Elite. Resources we could use to our advantages in the future if we forge certain alliances.” Hiker suddenly snorted. “It’s like in the old days. She wants us to create partnerships.”

  “What’s wrong with partnerships, son?” Mama Jamba tried a large sunflower in a position and changed her mind.

  “It’s not the way it was designed,” he answered. “We’re in charge. If we sign on for that, then that’s what we’re seen as. Partners. I won’t bow.”

  Like he was being challenged, Mama Jamba nodded in appreciation. “Right you are, son. Hold your ground. Don’t bow.”

  “But can you find a common ground where they still have to stretch?” Sophia offered. “Something that’s out of their territory? Something that’s out of their normal? Then you seem like you’re still in the right and have the supremacy, and create the partnership but with higher ground? However, you’re in their territory.”

  Mama Jamba indicated her with a sunflower. “See why I chose her?”

  Reluctantly, Hiker nodded. “Why were you snooping?”

  “Just trying to help, sir,” Sophia offered.

  Whether Hiker knew that Sophia had witnessed the intimate moment with Ainsley or not was unclear by the expression in his eyes, but what was clear was the regret. It seemed like he was waiting for someone to rescue him. Like there was a dragonrider out in the sky waiting to swoop down and fix his problems. Ironically, the only one who could save Hiker was probably him, and it would only happen if he allowed it.

  After a long moment, he strode for his desk. “Well, there’s lots you can help with. The strangers—”

  “The men are on that, sir,” she answered.

  “Well, then go to the Elfin Council—”

  “That’s for you, son,” Mama Jamba interrupted. “But not yet.”

  Hiker turned his chin and gave Mother Nature a long, cold look.

  Finally, he glanced back at Sophia. “And the sheep?”

  “I’m on it, sir. I think I know exactly who can help.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Fairy Godmother College looked different.

  Not bad. Not sc
ary. But definitely different.

  It put Sophia on edge and made her pull Inexorabilis when she stepped through the portal created from the bite of macaroon.

  It wasn’t large monsters or fire or rapid winds that put Sophia on guard. Instead, to her surprise it was something small that buzzed through the air and streaked past her at lightning speeds, making her jerk from side to side.

  “Are those bugs?” she asked aloud to no one at all.

  “They’re robot spies,” a voice at her back answered dutifully.

  Sophia whipped around, sword held at the ready, and found a familiar face although one she hadn’t seen in a long time. It was Amy, the math professor Sophia had chanced upon once before.

  “Oh, a robot…spy,” Sophia repeated. Then added, “Why?”

  The professor strode up next to Sophia and shrugged while holding out her hand as a bug—or what the dragonrider had thought was a bug—landed on the palm of her hand. Its wings flapped and showed their metal workings as it landed. “They give us intel on our Cinderellas and Prince Charmings. More for our knowledge than anything else. They help us to know how to help them.”

  “By help, do you mean intervene?” Sophia asked.

  The professor simply smiled. The look seemed to say, “Fill in the blanks as you wish.”

  “I’m looking for Mae Ling.” Sophia glanced around the always pristine grounds of Happily Ever After College through the swarm of strange robot spy bugs. She never seemed to know where to start at that place because the grounds went on and on, but she was always inspired by the college’s beautiful environment.

  “When you’re looking for your fairy godmother, you have to know that she’s always looking for you,” Amy answered with a smile.

  Right on cue, the short, unassuming woman known as Mae Ling materialized beside the two with a studious expression on her face as she appraised the robot bugs buzzing around. She shook her head. “I never much liked the spies. I think there are better ways.”