by Sarah Noffke
“And how do you propose we do that?” Bianca asked, setting her glass down with a clinking noise.
“We have good reason to oppose the diversity of the House,” Lorenzo began. “It doesn’t work for the simple reason multiple races shouldn’t be in charge of world affairs.”
“You’re not telling me anything I don’t know,” Bianca quipped.
“If you’d let me finish,” Lorenzo snapped. “I think the best way to fix this problem is to accelerate it. Currently, the House is stalling on inviting the Dragon Elite to have a seat on the council.”
Sophia nearly gasped at the mention of the Dragon Elite.
“Well, for good reason,” Bianca argued. “There aren’t very many of them, and they are so out of touch they really can’t offer perspectives of any use. Having the gnomes and giants on the council is bad enough since they are so poorly educated. Having the Dragon Elite on the council would really set us back.”
Bitterly, Sophia clenched her fingers into a fist, wishing she could punch Bianca in the face.
“Exactly,” Lorenzo exclaimed victoriously. “They can’t even successfully do their jobs as adjudicators, and they are allowing a madman to run rampant. What if we encourage them to take their place on the council?”
“I’m not following you,” Bianca said, her tone tentative.
“The Dragon Elite,” Lorenzo said, drawing out the last word, “are supposed to protect mortals. We are currently swimming in too many on the council who have votes that outweigh ours, two to one.”
“A ridiculous rule that should have never been made,” Bianca said bitterly, taking another drink.
“I agree,” Lorenzo stated. “Fighting it is useless when our goal is to get rid of the mortals. So why not pit them against the Dragon Elite? We invite Hiker Wallace to have a vote and give him enough rope to hang himself on the council. It’s only a matter of time before his dragonriders screw up something which impacts mortals, putting their population in danger, maybe even killing hundreds of thousands of them. I haven’t really worked out the specifics, but—”
“It’s perfect!” Bianca cheered, interrupting Lorenzo. “We orchestrate something, the Dragon Elite fail and the mortals will reject them. Then the council will momentarily fall into chaos as the magical races choose sides, and bickering is the ultimate result. You and I will be the voice of reason and state too many votes will only create problems and imbalance.”
“And the House will return to being comprised of only magicians,” Lorenzo said, a pleased tone in his voice.
“This plan will take some instigating on our part,” Bianca warned.
“I understand, but I think it won’t be enough to ever come back on us,” Lorenzo agreed. “We just have to get the ball in motion because inevitably, the current model would never work. That’s why the Sinclairs had the good sense to do what they did.”
“Maybe we will even be lucky enough to debunk some magician families from the House in the process,” Bianca said, glee in her voice. “I know Olivia will do just about anything for those pesky other races. Maybe she’ll die for them.”
Sophia had to restrain herself. It took everything she had, but she remained hidden in the dark closet.
“That would be ideal,” Lorenzo agreed. “She really has a way of grating on my nerves.”
Bianca’s heels clanked against the floor as she passed the closet on her way back to the entrance. “Okay, well, let’s meet again.”
“When I have updates,” Lorenzo said, following her out, a promising tone to his voice.
Sophia waited until the two left before she let out a hot breath, her mind reeling with anger. She hadn’t found the right closet, but she’d discovered something of great use. What to do with it was the question. She had to be a lot more strategic than Lorenzo and Bianca if she was going to bring them down, her new goal.
Chapter Eleven
Lost in thought, Sophia found herself wandering through the House of Fourteen. She didn’t notice when she passed magicians on the stairs, and she suspected they didn’t notice her, even if she was angrily muttering to herself.
That snobby Bianca Mantovani thought the Dragon Elite only “needed enough rope to hang themselves” was infuriating. Hiker might have some challenges assimilating back into the modern world, but he wasn’t a moron. They were making a difference in the world as adjudicators. It might be taking time, but there were only a few dragonriders. And Thad Reinhart had an advantage, but that wasn’t going to last forever.
Sophia felt like she was trying to dispel all the reasons Bianca and Lorenzo had stated, which only made her feel what they were trying to do might actually work. If they pitted the Dragon Elite against the mortals and something catastrophic happened, the dragonriders would be blamed.
The Dragon Elite didn’t have the reputation they once did. There was nothing to point at to explain how important they were to the mortal world. Right now, they seemed like a liability at best.
Sophia’s heart began to ache as she realized Bianca and Lorenzo’s plan could actually work. The ultimate result would be disintegrating everything Liv had worked for. The structure of the House would revert to what it once was and magicians would rule the world, which meant only their interests would be considered.
That wasn’t what Sophia’s parents had wanted. She hadn’t known them and didn’t remember them, but she knew that much, and she believed in what they wanted. Even as a magician, she didn’t want the absolute rule of the world. She wanted the power to be balanced. She wanted the influence of the other magical races and of the mortals, who without, there would be no magic since that’s the element they governed.
On autopilot, Sophia was surprised when she awoke from her daze to find herself standing in the middle of her old family home. Her legs must have led her there, or maybe her heart.
All the furniture was covered in white sheets, the place having been closed up after Clark officially moved out. The residence still belonged to the Beaufonts in case they ever decided to return. And since Liv didn’t want the stuffy old furniture, it had remained here, covered up, waiting for a second life.
This wasn’t the apartment where her parents had lived. That place was much larger, with enough room for all six Beaufont children. Of course, there had only been five since Sophia’s twin, Jamison, died at birth. Still, the residence had been allotted for them.
When Sophia’s parents, Guinevere and Theodore Beaufont, had died, Ian had moved them to this place. Maybe it was to escape memories. Or maybe he was just being practical, as was his nature.
Sophia’s earliest memories lived in the small apartment where she currently found herself. She remembered pretending to fall asleep on the couch so Clark would carry her to bed at night. She remembered when she came into her magic and set fire to Reese’s dress. Her sister had simply laughed with delight. After putting out the fire, she’d lifted Sophia and swung her around, her eyes dazzling because no one expected a four-year-old to have magic. And then her brothers joined, and they danced around the living room, celebrating a Beaufont child. It was something incredible. She wondered what Ian and Reese would think about her becoming the first female dragonrider in history. She smiled to herself, knowing they’d be proud.
Sophia brought her eyes up, feeling overly sentimental as her gaze ran over the family motto, sketched across the wall.
Familia Est Sempiternum.
The words her parents had said to their children almost every day, according to Clark and Liv. They had insisted, no matter what, their children remember what was important in the world.
“It’s easy to forget who you are when your job is maintaining justice,” Liv had recounted their father saying. “However, we can’t fight for anyone if we don’t remember what’s most important—family. That’s why we do what we do.”
Sophia was surprised when the tear edged out of her eye and rolled down her cheek. She wasn’t crying for the father she couldn’t remember, or the siblings she’d lo
st that she could remember. She was crying because she was afraid the Beaufonts were on the edge of losing. It had been a miracle they’d held onto this much for this long when threatened, but what if it was the end? What if Liv and Clark lost their positions in the House of Fourteen? What if the Dragon Elite failed and she lost her position as a dragonrider?
The tears fell more rapidly and she allowed it, knowing a good cry would make her stronger when the time came.
Footsteps at her back put her straight into warrior mode. In a fluid movement, Sophia withdrew her sword and whipped around, brandishing the blade inches from her brother’s throat.
Chapter Twelve
Sophia’s chest was rising and falling with great rapidity as she ran her eyes over Clark’s fearful face. He was pale in the darkness of the apartment, his hands reflexively in the air.
“Soph, it’s me,” he said, his voice shaking.
She felt she should be shaking too, with her cheeks fresh from tears and her heart aching, but to her relief, the hand holding her sword was steady. She lowered her arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect anyone. What are you doing here?”
Clark gave her an uncertain expression. “Soph, what are you doing here? I work in the House of Fourteen. I come up here between breaks to unwind.”
She nodded. It made sense. “I-I have business that brought me here, investigating.”
He gave her a scrutinizing expression. “Business. Do you want to expand?”
There was no reality where Clark was going to like her breaking into other people’s apartments and investigating their closets. She shook her head. “It’s nothing. Just a way to find out more about the Dragon Elite.”
She felt good about the explanation because it wasn’t lying. Telling Clark the truth would only make him worry unnecessarily, and he already did enough.
“Have you been crying?” Clark asked, concern springing to his voice as he stepped forward.
She sheathed Inexorabilis before rubbing the backs of her hands against her cheeks. “I’m fine. It’s just being back here…well, it brought back memories.”
He nodded, looking around. “It does it for me too.”
Letting out a weighty breath, she turned to face her brother head-on. “I need to tell you something. And I need you to listen with objectivity and an open heart.”
Clark gave her a skeptical look before nodding. “Yes, of course, Soph. What is it?”
Sophia told her brother what she’d heard Bianca and Lorenzo say. When she was done, she was unsurprised to find his face lined with stress.
“Are you sure you heard this right?” he asked her three times.
“I’m certain,” Sophia stated.
“And they don’t know you heard them?” he asked.
She hadn’t expanded on where she was when she overheard the conversation, and he didn’t seem to need more details. “No, they don’t know I heard. But Clark, you have to believe me. I know you want to believe the council members are all good but—”
“There is no one I believe more than you,” he interrupted. “It’s true I want to believe my fellow councilors are good-hearted, but after the Sinclairs, I don’t have delusions anymore. Liv has seen to that.”
“They are trying to set up the Dragon Elite,” Sophia argued.
He shook his head. “It won’t work, though.”
“But it could,” Sophia stated. “I’m sorry to be the one to say this, but the Dragon Elite don’t have their act together. We are on the brink of extinction. Our leader is struggling. We are up against an enemy even Mother Nature doesn’t want to face and thinks will be the Earth’s demise. It’s not far-fetched to think we could be set up and then ruined. Clark, their plan could work.”
He chewed on his lip. “So you don’t join the House.”
She shook her head. “That won’t work for long. And we’ll just look weak. We have to figure out how to not fail mortals. We have to hold the House together when everything falls apart. Because if it all goes to hell, then Bianca and Lorenzo will be able to state everything failed because of the inclusion of other magical races.”
Clark nodded. “Things will go back to how they were. I can’t say I haven’t seen this coming. Even those who were in favor of diversity are struggling. We are constantly arguing among ourselves, the mortals bickering with the magicians. The representatives from the other magical races are constantly butting heads. It’s hard to even have a conversation without issues, let alone a straight-up vote.” He threw his arm out at the room. “Why do you think I come up here? It’s to think.”
“You still agree diversity is the way, right?” Sophia questioned.
He nodded at once, making her feel better. “Of course, I do. It’s harder, yes. That’s the way of progress, and we have to be patient with it. But I could see how Bianca and Lorenzo would position the chaos in their favor.”
“What do we do?” Sophia asked.
He combed his hand over his chin. “I need time to investigate. To try to figure out something. We just need to stall. If they invite the Dragon Elite into the council, just tell Hiker he needs to wait. When he actually joins, hopefully I’ll have everything in place to keep anything bad from happening.”
“What else can I do to help?” Sophia asked, feeling desperate.
“You have to take down Thad Reinhart,” Clark said darkly. “I know that’s a tall order, but his dominance is specifically what will degrade the Dragon Elite’s reputation. It’s what Bianca and Lorenzo will use to discredit you all. There will be other things to threaten mortals, and I’m sure Bianca will unearth those for her own advantage, but if you can get rid of Thad Reinhart it will put you ahead.”
“Okay,” Sophia said, feeling a heavy weight on her chest. “I feel better having your help.”
Clark stepped forward and took her hand. “I’m always here to help. I only wished you would ask for it more often.”
She gave him a pained smile, not really knowing what to say.
“It’s so weird to see you all grown up,” he remarked. “I’m still not used to it.”
Sophia giggled. “Even after I just held a sword to your throat?”
Clark joined her, laughing too. “Yeah, even after that. I think I’ve just been waiting for the day when you held mom’s sword and rode off on dragons, without knowing the specifics of it. You don’t watch a young child come into magic at an unprecedented age and not expect her to go off and do great things.”
Sophia’s mouth twitched from the tenderness of the moment. “I’m only who I am because I had you.”
He returned her look, emotion in his blue Beaufont eyes. “Can I interest you in a cup of mulled wine? The stuff is flowing like…well, wine around this place right now due to the holidays.”
Sophia was grateful for the relieved smile that crossed her mouth. It had been nice to stroll through the House and see all the Christmas decorations. “I would love that.”
Clark held out his arm, offering it to Sophia. “Shall we?”
She took her brother’s arm and allowed him to lead her to the doorway. “Hey, I have a question. What do you think Liv wants for Christmas?”
He gave her a look. “Besides world peace?”
“Yes, besides that,” she stated.
“Well, you know, I’ve been thinking about it, and there’s something, if I could get my hands on it, that would be perfect for her,” he answered.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, our father had this journal where he kept all these notes,” Clark explained. “It had all the sage-like things he always said in it. I remember seeing it often. He used to keep it in his desk in his study. Ian forgot to clean out the contents when he got rid of many of their possessions.”
Regret filled her brother’s face as he fell silent.
“Ian was overcome with grief and was just trying to clear out the things that brought back memories, wasn’t he?” Sophia asked.
Clark nodded. “I think so. He was overwhelmed, taking care of
us and taking on his new position for the House. The desk traded hands before the book was collected. There wasn’t really anything else of use in the desk. Just maps and books. But that book…well, it was Dad incarnate. His words. His teachings. His wisdom. I can’t think of anything that would mean more to Liv, or actually to me, to have than the book. You’re busy with so many things. It doesn’t even seem right to ask you to look for it.”
“Of course, I’ll look for it,” Sophia argued. “There’s nothing more important. Familia Est Sempiternum.”
He smiled. “I’ve tried to find the desk, of course. It was moved out of the House of Fourteen. The best I can determine, it was given to a magician family, but then the lead dried up there.”
“Leave it to me,” Sophia said, thinking this was a job for her fairy godmother to help her with. “I’ll find Daddy’s book.”
Clark hugged her in tightly as they descended the stairs. “If anyone can, it will be you, Soph.”
Chapter Thirteen
Sophia felt much better after a warm glass of mulled wine and a relaxed conversation with Clark. She left him at the Chamber of the Tree and decided to keep exploring the House of Fourteen, hoping to find this mysterious closet the Castle had sent her after. She didn’t think the Castle’s motive was to have her overhear an evil plan being hatched by Bianca and Lorenzo. That had just been a side benefit.
She climbed the stairs and tried to think which residence would be the best to try next. Many residents were down at dinner, so it presented a good opportunity for Sophia to sneak into places, although the guilt was starting to get to her. She consoled herself with the fact she was doing this for the Castle so she could get hold of the only copy of The Complete History of Dragonriders. She had no idea why the book was so important, but deep down she knew it was, and that was enough of a reason.
“I have a message from Subner for you,” a voice popped up next to her.
