Ultimate Resolve (The Exceptional S. Beaufont Book 12)

by Sarah Noffke

  Chapter Seventy-Two

  “What’s happened, Ticker?” Sophia asked in a rush, worried that the little Brownie’s limited communication would make explaining difficult.

  He pointed at the wall where the door to the Brownie Official Headquarters was typically located. “Dlosed cown.”

  Sophia nodded. “Yeah, but why? Is your dad okay?”

  Thankfully Ticker nodded, mirroring her action.

  “Does this have to do with the union?” Sophia wondered if she would have to play Twenty Questions to get to the bottom of this.

  Another nod.

  “Did they close down the headquarters?” she questioned, trying to figure this all out with the limited information she had.

  “Tig brial,” he answered.

  “A trial…” Sophia replied, her gaze falling to the ground. “For what? For helping magicians?”

  Ticker’s eyes were so big when he nodded.

  “Oh, this is all my fault…”

  “No, no!” Ticker stated at once. “Hou yelp!”

  Sophia chewed on her lip. “I try to help, but if I’ve caused problems for your family, I feel the opposite of helpful.”

  He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “Prom Fapa.”

  “Thanks.” Sophia opened the rolled-up parchment. She recognized Mortimer’s handwriting right away.

  Dear Sophia Beaufont, Rider for the Dragon Elite,

  If you’re reading this, it’s because you’ve come to me for help, which I’m always happy to offer. I’ve been detained at the Brownie Union for an undetermined amount of time. Do not worry about me. I’m awaiting a trial to see if I’ve acted against the Brownie code, offering intel to magicians via my employees in the field.

  I have, and I will plead guilty.

  Sophia gasped, looking up from the letter suddenly, her heart aching for her friend.

  “Reep keading,” Ticker encouraged, pointing at the letter.

  She nodded, returning her gaze to Mortimer’s words.

  This is an opportunity for change, which we’ve needed for a long time as Brownies. I’m going to make the case that helping you and Liv Beaufont, Warrior for the House of Fourteen, was mutually beneficial for all. That without you all, mortals wouldn’t have the chance to be better and live in a safer world. As Brownies, our chief priority is mortals’ happiness, so helping you helped us.

  This will be a hard case to prove, so I will need your help.

  “Anything,” Sophia said in a rush, skimming the rest of the note.

  You must stop the Rogue Riders. They’re creating problems for mortals, making them do bad things, making it so we have fewer of them to serve and look after. You, Sophia Beaufont, and the Dragon Elite must stop them but only with my help. I’ve written this all down to use it as evidence in the case.

  I, Mortimer, the leader of the Brownies, am going to help you find the Rogue Riders so that you can stop them, take over the organization, and make mortals happy once more. Then the union will see that helping magicians like you and Liv is a worthy venture and something we should do going forward.

  In my absence, I’ve charged my son Ticker with finding out where the Rogue Riders are. I think you’ll need that information to stop their evil leader, Versalee. He will also investigate what they’re planning, which is undoubtedly bad and will create more problems for mortals.

  Once Ticker has this information, he will relay it to you, Sophia Beaufont, Rider for the Dragon Elite. I have every confidence you will use the information to stop problems that if you didn’t have our, the Brownies’, help you wouldn’t have been able to, meaning that we’re supposed to work together to create peace and protect the mortal world.

  Please take care of yourself, as I know you live in constant danger but would have it no other way to make the world better. Thank you for all you do. Please don’t worry about me. Together, you and I will change the world—one perception at a time.

  Best wishes,

  Mortimer, Leader of the Brownies

  Sophia lowered the letter, shaking her head. How was it that the one thing she’d come to Mortimer for, he had anticipated and was already working on with Ticker? These Brownies truly amazed her. She planned to stop Versalee no matter what, but now the fire inside her burned even hotter. This proved the ripple effect that the demon dragonriders’ efforts had on the world at large. Versalee wasn’t only hurting the mortal world and causing problems for the Dragon Elite. It was affecting magical creatures across the globe.

  “You’re going to help me,” Sophia stated rather than asked while looking at Ticker.

  He nodded and pointed at his chest. “Lind focation.”

  “Thank you,” Sophia said, relief sweeping over her.

  The feeling was short-lived though because the disturbance down Roya Lane intensified, stealing Sophia’s attention.

  Chapter Seventy-Three

  Of all the possible causes, Sophia should have guessed the disturbance would be something related to her.

  Standing in front of Heals Pills, holding a sword that looked much too large for him, was Ramy. Around him were many of the faces Sophia had seen attacking the shop the last time she was there. Again, the mob was angry with their fists raised and yelling obscenities at the store clerk.

  “What you sell is unethical!” a magician yelled.

  “You’re playing God!” another complained.

  “My wife is pretty now and doesn’t want me anymore,” an ugly gnome boomed.

  Sophia was about to intervene when Ramy lifted the sword in his hands, dropping into a lunge. He looked somewhat similar to how Sophia had when she confronted the mob before, scaring them away with intimidation and threats.

  “What we sell is a chance,” Ramy stated with confidence. “A chance to look better, to heal an ailment, to feel better. As the product says, there’s no guarantee. If we were playing God, then it would work without fail. Sometimes Heals Pills fixes people. Sometimes it doesn’t. It’s simply medicine. Are you going to tear down every pharmacy after this? Are you going to attack doctors and healers for using their skills? Where does it end?”

  Like a wave of calm settling throughout the crowd, the mob started to show visible signs of relaxing. Many of the magicians’ shoulders untensed. Faces relaxed. Some pulled their fists out of the air, looking around and muttering to their neighbors.

  “He has a valid point,” someone whispered.

  “I think we’ve gone too far,” another stated.

  “Fear started this,” Ramy continued. “You all fear Heals Pills because it’s new. The same thing happens when anything revolutionary starts. I’m tired of you all attacking this shop and me. It ends today. You don’t have to like what we sell, but you can’t stop others from buying it. This is a free market. Deal with it. Otherwise, meet your end with my sword!”

  Ramy held the large sword at an angle, looking around the crowd as though tempting someone to charge him. Sophia couldn’t believe it, but she was impressed with the guy who used to be a pretty clumsy bodyguard. She remembered when Ramy had challenged her the first time when she was trying to get to Zac Efron. His attempts to stop her were fairly comical at best.

  It appeared that Ramy had come a long way and was a formidable force. The crowd, almost instantly backed down, apparently not wanting the wrath of Ramy Vance—the new hero.

  Feeling victorious, Ramy stuck his sword into the pavement, making it sway back and forth when he took his hands off it.

  He stuck his hands on his hips and smiled triumphantly, watching as the crowd dispersed, many losing the angry expressions on their faces.

  Sticking his finger into the air and taking a step backward, Ramy sang, “You’ll always remember this as the day you almost—”

  The back of Ramy’s shoe caught on a lip of pavement, and he tethered back as if he was about to lose his balance. His arms waved in circles beside him as he tried to catch himself, his eyes wide with horror. He threw himself forward, apparently trying to ov
ercorrect for the near trip. His weight sent him forward, and he collided with his sword sticking out of the ground.

  In a blur of movement, the blade flipped up and around as Ramy fell…on his sword. It impaled him in the chest, going through cleanly and killing him at once.

  The crowd all froze regarding the unnecessary death with horror. Sophia slipped through the thong of rubberneckers and waved them off. “Go ahead, clear on out. I’ll take care of this. As most of you know, Ramy can’t really die. Please leave so that I can remove the sword.”

  Many in the crowd nodded, their faces still covered in shock as they moved off, looking over their shoulder as they did.

  Sophia stood in front of Ramy’s dead body, lying face down in the middle of Roya Lane, having fallen on his sword.

  She shook her head, preparing herself for what she’d have to do next. “Damn that guy! That death totally could have been avoided.”

  Chapter Seventy-Four

  Because Sophia had to pull a sword from Ramy’s chest, she was a little late for her appointment with Jeremy Bearimy…and a little bloody.

  “Are you okay?” Trin asked as she ran her eyes over Sophia when she entered the tailor’s shop.

  Sophia glanced at her bloody hands and nodded, using a spell to clean them up. “Yeah, it’s not my blood.”

  “I guess the guy you put an end to regrets meeting you today.” Trin shook her head.

  “I think he regrets looking in the mirror,” Sophia corrected. “I’m the reason he’ll go on to live another day…which I guess is a good thing, but ask me again tomorrow.”

  She glanced around the Silk Armor, searching the dense shop for the giant tarantula known as Jeremy Bearimy or his assistant, Juergen.

  Sensing the question on Sophia’s mind, Trin pointed to the back. “Jeremy Bearimy said he’ll be with us in a moment. He’s trying to figure out what patterns to use based on what Ainsley wants for the bridesmaid dresses.”

  Sophia nodded. “Not yellow. I look awful in that color.” She then flushed with embarrassment. “Not that it’s about me, and my opinion shouldn’t at all count on the matter. I bet you’d look great in yellow.”

  Trin nodded a little nervously.

  “You okay?” Sophia noticed how the cyborg was twisting her hands together, an obvious sign of unease.

  “Yeah, it’s just that I don’t really like the idea of Jeremy Bearimy putting his hands on me for measurements,” Trin admitted.

  Sophia gave her a consoling smile. “I think they’re legs, but I can understand your initial hesitation. It is a little unorthodox to have a giant tarantula taking your measurements and making us dresses, but I assure you that he’s excellent. The very best and what he makes will make you look beautiful—even more beautiful, I should say.”

  Trin offered her a look of gratitude. “It’s not the fact that Jeremy Bearimy is a giant tarantula that bothers me. Surprisingly, that’s the least of my concerns. I’m used to the bizarre.”

  Sophia laughed. “Yeah, you do live with a bunch of dragons, I guess. What’s the problem?”

  Trin lowered her chin, a look of shame on her face. “It’s that someone will see and feel…well, my metal body parts. Under this suit,” she swept her human hand at the black catsuit she wore pretty much full time, “I’m more chrome than I am flesh and skin.”

  Sophia nodded with understanding. “I’m sure it’s difficult for you to get a fitting in that regard. However, I think if anyone understands being treated differently, it would be the huge tarantula who’s been persecuted all his life for being a monster. That’s how Jeremy Bearimy and Hiker met. The Viking saved the spider from a mob of angry villagers.”

  Trin laughed. “Did they have pitchforks and torches?”

  “Probably,” Sophia answered.

  “I’ve met these small-minded villagers before,” Trin admitted.

  “Besides,” Sophia continued. “I think you and Jeremy Bearimy are awesome. Everyone else I know has skin and regular old parts. You two are the only ones I know who are unique and more than you’d expect on the inside.”

  Trin beamed, her eyes twinkling. “Thanks, Sophia. That means a lot.”

  Before Sophia could respond, a loud disturbance echoed from the shop’s back room.

  Both Sophia and Trin looked up in alarm, ready to spring into action as something crashed to the ground on the other side of the wall.

  “You’ve done it again, you bumbling idiot!”

  Chapter Seventy-Five

  The first time for Trin to see the large tarantula was definitely going to be jaw-dropping, as it was for most. Jeremy Bearimy’s sheer size was incredibly impressive and intimidating. However, seeing the usually graceful spider flip head over legs as he rolled in from the back was an even more surprising sight.

  The tailor’s legs were tangled in thick thread, and the more he tried to free himself, the tighter the knots got. There was such a web around his hairy legs that Sophia didn’t know where to start if the spider was ever still enough. Obviously upset by his current situation, Jeremy Bearimy was rolling around the shop, trying to free himself and bumping into bolts of fabric and shelves, knocking objects down on him—adding insult to injury.

  Juergen, the Silk Armor’s assistant, sprinted into the room from the back, sweat dripping from his brow and a frantic look on his face. “I can help! I can! Just give me a chance.”

  “You made this happen. You’ll only make it worse.” Jeremy Bearimy rolled to a halt. His body rose and fell from the big breaths he was taking, trying to calm himself. The thread tied all of his spider legs together, and it appeared impossible for him to move them even a centimeter.

  “Can I help?” Sophia tilted her head to the side and tried to find the tarantula’s beady eyes somewhere in the mess of knotted thread.

  “Yes, that would be most welcome.” Jeremy Bearimy sounded exhausted.

  Sophia approached the strange sight with caution, trying to figure out the best way to tackle the knot. The pretty seafoam green thread had a mesmerizing shimmer to it. She didn’t want to destroy the material so she chose a spell that should remove it from Jeremy Bearimy if she did it right. That also was the safest option, she reasoned, not wanting to risk cutting the spider to free him.

  She pointed her finger at the tangled mess and muttered an incantation. The knotted material disappeared and reappeared beside Jeremy Bearimy in a heap on the floor.

  The tailor rolled over onto his legs, relief covering his face. “Thank you, Sophia Beaufont.” He stretched and checked himself over as though looking for an injury.

  “You’re welcome. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine now.” Jeremy Bearimy’s eyes swiveled to Juergen. “But my assistant is fired and for good this time.”

  “Bu-bu-but sir,” Juergen begged. “Please give me another chance. I didn’t know that you’d stepped into the thread when I went to yank it up.”

  “Thereby tangling me awfully in the fabric Ainsley picked for her bridesmaid dresses,” Jeremy Bearimy stated. “That would have been bad enough, but then your efforts to free me simply made things worse and someone else had to fix your foolish mistake.”

  “It sounds like it was an accident,” Trin offered thoughtfully, giving Juergen an apologetic look.

  He nodded and tugged on his beard. “It sincerely was.”

  “A mistake that might have damaged this rare and expensive material.” Jeremy Bearimy scuttled over to the heap of fabric on the floor.

  “That’s what Ainsley picked out for the bridesmaid dresses?” Sophia asked. “It’s beautiful.”

  “It really is,” Jeremy Bearimy affirmed. “But as lovely as it is, I can’t figure out a dress pattern worthy of such wonderful material.” With one of his hairy legs, he picked up the mound of fabric, his mouth suddenly falling open. “Ooooh…this is interesting.”

  “What is it?” Sophia looked around the tarantula to find that the knotted material had formed an interesting design.

  �
��I’ve got it!” Jeremy Bearimy exclaimed, suddenly excited. He scuttled around, holding up the knotted threads. “I have the perfect idea for the dress pattern. Something that will be new and unique and totally do justice to this material.”

  “You do?” Sophia asked, squinting at the thread, not seeing it but trusting the tailor.

  “Yes, and I never would have figured it out if it wasn’t for Juergen.” The spider turned further and looked at his assistant fondly. “What a happy mistake that was. Good work, Juerg!”

  “So I’m not fired?” Juergen asked.

  Jeremy Bearimy shook his head. “Like I could do that. I was angry. What would I do without you?”

  “Trip less?” Juergen asked, quite seriously.

  The tarantula laughed. “Yes, there would be that. I also wouldn’t have discovered the perfect dress design.” He glanced at Sophia. “If this is any indication, this wedding is going to be the event of the century.”

  Chapter Seventy-Six

  The event of the century wasn’t going to be complete without a wedding cake to impress. Ainsley had asked Sophia for recommendations, and she didn’t hesitate before mentioning Crying Cat Bakery. After the cake that Lee and Cat made for Lunis for Christmas, Sophia knew that they’d do something to impress.

  She met Wilder outside the bakery and smiled, grateful to see his face in a place that wasn’t the Gullington. It seemed that it was always work, work, work for them lately, with little time for them to get away or relax together. Sophia told herself that it wouldn’t always be like this, and one day there would be other Dragon Elite to help to fix the world’s problems so they didn’t all fall on their shoulders.

  The guys were scheduled to have their fittings that afternoon at the shop, but before then, Sophia thought Wilder could keep her company during her many errands on Roya Lane.

  “Subner asked me to stop by the Fantastical Armory after this,” Wilder said after greeting Sophia with a kiss on the cheek.