by Sarah Noffke
She held up her hands as if in surrender. “I simply pointed out magical powers are connected to emotions.”
Hiker banged his fist on the surface of his desk, making papers and various objects hiccup and clatter around. “I already know that!”
“Okay, I was simply reminding you.” Sophia peeled back slightly. “You did ask for my help.”
“She said you were part of figuring out this power balancing issue.” He shot his accusatory finger at Mama Jamba.
Mama Jamba wasn’t lounging across the leather sofa as usual. Instead, like a little child, she was sitting on the floor, leaning over the coffee table and coloring in one of those adult coloring books. This one was full of fairies and woodland creatures created by Selena Fenech. The drawings were quite detailed and full of whimsy even before they were filled with bright colors.
“She can help you,” Mama Jamba sang, trading out a lime green pencil for a yellow one.
“How?” he growled, obviously not happy with how their first training session had gone. If anything, Hiker seemed more flustered. Perhaps from something Sophia had said about Ainsley or something Mama Jamba hadn’t said—dangling secrets in front of his face.
Right on cue, Mother Nature shrugged, coloring stars in a night sky over a centaur’s head. “I can’t really tell you. We’re not there yet.”
He threw up his hands, rolling his eyes. “How didn’t I expect that answer?”
She shook her head of short gray curls. “I really don’t know, son. You should have. Now try taking some deep breaths.” She indicated the teacup on his desk that was vibrating. “You’re going to make that thing explode.”
He closed his eyes for a half-beat. “It would be the third teacup today. Ainsley will be livid.”
Mama Jamba suppressed a laugh. “Yes, that’s why Ainsley would be cross with you and not for the more personal reasons—”
“Not you too,” he interrupted, cutting his eyes at Sophia. He was obviously going to hold grudges for her telling Ainsley the truth and then encouraging him to make amends with her.
So be it, Sophia thought. As long as he doesn’t make my head explode like a teacup.
“Try breathing, son,” Mama Jamba encouraged as the cup continued to vibrate on the saucer.
“Oh, is that the big secret you’re keeping from me?” he asked sarcastically.
“No, that’s just general advice for all living creatures,” Mama Jamba explained, giving Sophia a proud look. “I require it for a good reason.”
“Because it connects us to the Earth?” Sophia guessed.
Mama Jamba gave her a polite smile. “Good guess. Because I lost a bet with Papa Creola. He loved the idea of something so simple being the difference between life and death. You all are just minutes away from fatality at any given moment, depending on the circumstances.”
“That seems like Papa Creola,” Sophia said with a laugh. “Totally morbid.”
“It connects the Earth to you, ironically. Not the other way around,” Mama Jamba went on. “In the most poetic sense, the Earth is breathing you. I know how much you enjoy your poetry, dear Sophia.”
She nodded. “That’s a nice sentiment.”
“But yes,” Mama Jamba continued, returning her attention to Hiker. “No matter how powerful you are, son, you are as vulnerable as the weakest human when deprived of air. Your breath can give you strength, or it can take it away. It can calm you, or if you keep holding it, it will bottle up the anger in you more. The options are easy, but the practice not so much so.”
“I’m not holding my breath!” Hiker exclaimed, his face beet red.
She nodded, returning to coloring her picture. “Sure, son. Sure.”
Hiker cleared his throat and narrowed his eyes at the teacup, giving it a threatening expression, as though trying to force it into compliance. Apparently, it worked because it settled slightly, making less of a vibrating sound on the saucer.
“Anyway,” he said with a sigh, returning his attention to Sophia. “I have a mission for you.”
Hiker picked up a newspaper and handed it to Sophia. “It involves the House of Fourteen, which is why you were picked.”
She nodded. Her relationship, growing up at the House of Fourteen and being related to two of their members, made her the obvious choice when picking delegates to deal with the magicians’ governing body. Sophia also knew Hiker wasn’t in a position to talk directly with strangers. He liked them a whole lot less than his riders, and currently, they were making him livid.
Peering at the paper, she read the headline: “Hundreds of Magicians Continue to Go Missing, House of Fourteen Loses Credibility.”
“What?” Sophia gasped. “This sounds serious.”
Hiker nodded. “It very well could be. Right now, the fallout between mortal governments and the House of Fourteen falls under our immediate jurisdiction. The current political climate is making mortals untrusting of magicians.”
“Which after just learning they were the reason they were blind to magic for a few centuries, isn’t good for trust-building,” Sophia finished.
“Exactly,” Hiker affirmed. “There’ve been all sorts of disputes as a result. I need you to visit the House of Fourteen and meet with the council. Find out what’s going on with magicians. This will inevitably result in us having to preside over matters, but we need more information.”
Sophia skimmed the newspaper article, which didn’t have much on the mysterious disappearances. “This is unsettling.”
Hiker glanced up absentmindedly as though he had momentarily forgotten she was there. “What? Oh, the magicians? Yes, that’s concerning but might be nothing.”
“How can hundreds of magicians going missing be nothing?” Sophia asked.
“Well, it’s not like they are in danger of going into extinction like some,” Hiker said bitterly.
Sophia's eyes fluttered with annoyance. “I thought only magicians could be dragonriders. If the population dries up, then even when our eggs hatch, who will be left to magnetize to them?”
Hiker’s expression changed. “Good point. See what you can find out. Maybe they all are just at some retreat.”
“What like Burning Man or Coachella?” Sophia asked with a laugh. “They are magicians, not elves.”
Hiker shivered with disgust. “Elves are the absolute worst, always doing eccentric stuff like that.”
Sophia didn’t think it was a good time to remind him he was once in love with an elf. However, that did make her wonder how Ainsley and Hiker got together. She guessed the elf made Hiker cut loose and he reminded her of the more practical side of life. Or they bickered at each other all the time—like they did in their present roles.
“My point is magicians don’t just disappear,” Sophia argued. “They aren’t prone to going off the grid or escaping the confines of modern society like the other magical races.”
Hiker agreed with a nod. “Go find out more information.”
“Yes, sir,” Sophia answered, making for the door.
“Oh, and Sophia,” Hiker said, pausing her at the threshold.
“Yes?” she asked, turning back.
“Subtly,” he began slowly, his voice careful, “remind the House of Fourteen we are in charge and not the other way around.”
Chapter Seven
Bad blood had always existed between the House of Fourteen and the Dragon Elite, according to Lunis. It went back to when the House was run by corrupt magicians who wanted absolute control. The Dragon Elite was the supreme ruling body on the planet. What they said was law. It just so happened they disappeared for a few centuries, and reestablishing dominance was taking some effort.
The House of Fourteen had come back even stronger than before magic had disappeared, but the Dragon Elite was still struggling to rebuild. They had their thousand dragon eggs…well, 997…but still, eggs were just the beginning. The dragons had to hatch and magnetize to riders for the Elite to grow back to what it had been. In the meantime, Sophia, un
der Hiker’s direction, had to exert dominance over the House of Fourteen. As a very young magician, working for the Dragon Elite, which was near extinction, this was about like a lanky kid telling a group of cardigan-wearing soccer moms what to do. Sophia reasoned the kids really ran the show with their activities and preferences and whatnot.
“Just act the part,” Sophia encouraged, giving herself a pep talk as she stepped through the portal between the Castle and the House of Fourteen. “Don’t let them get the upper hand.”
“I think the phrase is, don’t let them see your hand,” King Rudolf Sweetwater corrected at Sophia’s back.
She spun around, not used to anyone being in the corridor when she stepped through. She was very surprised to find the fae there since the other magical races weren’t allowed in the residential section of the House, just the Chamber of the Tree. Then Sophia noticed Liv beside Rudolf and realized she must have taken him on an excursion.
“Yes, Soph,” Liv said, giving her sister a hug when she was closer. “If I’ve taught you anything, it’s that you can’t let them see your hand. You got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them.”
Sophia shook her head at her sister’s ridiculousness. “Right and know when to walk away and know when to run.”
Rudolf gave them both a disappointed expression. “There’s no running in poker. You should be seated the entire time and have snacks.”
Liv pursed her lips at the very attractive fae.
“What are you all doing?” Sophia asked, trying to figure out where they had come from. “Did you take Rudolf to the library?”
Liv laughed. “Whatever would he do there?”
He huffed. “You know, I have to nap just as much as the next fae.”
“Right,” Liv said, drawing out the word. “That’s what a library is for.”
He shook his head. “No, a library is the place to go if you want to seduce wallflower mortals. When one is bored with that, the places which contain portal stories are fantastic for naps.”
“Books,” Liv corrected. “Those little rectangular things are known as books. Not portal stories.”
He shrugged. “I say French fries and you say chips.”
Liv’s brow scrunched. “Why would I call them chips? I’m not British.”
“Then why do you always talk about the queen and what a dimwit she is?” Rudolf challenged. “More than once, you’ve said we speak different languages.”
“I’m talking about your queen,” Liv answered. “What language do you think the British speak?”
He sighed as though explaining this to her was costing him greatly. “They speak Great Britain, and we speak American.”
“I didn’t expect this of you, which speaks poorly of me,” Liv stated, glancing at Sophia. “House business?”
She nodded. “What were you two doing?”
“Oh, I needed to find some family stuff, and this one followed me because that’s what lost puppies do.” She pointed over her shoulder at Rudolf, who was smiling delightedly like a happy-go-lucky dog.
“Were you looking for stuff for the wedding?” Sophia asked and immediately regretted it.
The shock that jumped to Liv’s eyes told her something very important.
King Rudolf Sweetwater didn’t know.
“Sophia, you’re getting married?” Rudolf asked, surprise making his face light up.
She froze, her eyes shifting between Liv’s tense face and Rudolf’s excited one. “Um, actually, it’s not me.”
“Oh, good,” Rudolf said with a relieved sigh. “I mean, if it was, I’d pretend to be happy for you and not think that you were ruining your life.”
She gawked at him. “What are you talking about? You’re married.”
“Yes, and it took me over five hundred years to make that decision.” He leaned in and gave her a stern expression. “I hope you don’t jump into anything until you’re at least half a century old. You need time to know yourself. You and Liv are mere babies in your first century.” He nodded with sage confidence. “No, only a complete moron who notoriously made bad decisions would get married young. So…” He rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Who is getting married? Is it Rory and Maddy? John and Alicia? Clark and Gordon Ramsey?”
Liv blinked at him in confusion. “Clark is straight, and I’m fairly sure he doesn’t even know Gordon Ramsey.”
Rudolf shrugged. “Yeah, but he’s always watching the guy’s shows.”
“It’s none of those couples,” Liv told him, hesitation covering her face.
“Oh, well, I can’t think of any other couples then.” Rudolf screwed up his face, racking his brain for the answer.
“It’s Stefan and me,” she muttered, running her hand over her mouth to drown out the words.
“Oh, you and Stefan.” Rudolf at once nodded. Then it registered, and his mouth dropped open. “No, Liv, no. You can’t marry the demon hunter because you’re going to get fat and only want to hang out with him. You’ll ignore me. It will ruin your life. Haven’t you been listening?”
“I can’t get fat as a magician,” Liv reasoned. “Not if I’m using my magic. I don’t hang out with you anyway.”
He rolled his eyes. “Exactly. But really, you’re too young. Give it another four or five hundred years. Take the time to get to know yourself. Take time to get to know Stefan. Do you even know his last name?”
“Ludwig,” she answered immediately.
“Yeah, but is that his real last name?” Rudolf challenged.
“Well, it’s written on the magical wall of the Chamber of the Tree that’s spelled to only present Royals,” she answered.
He sighed, shaking his head. “That’s such faulty reasoning. I bet you’re one of those people who believes everything they see with their own eyes.”
“Versus?” Liv asked, tilting her head to the side.
“Believing what you see with your eyes shut, of course,” Rudolf explained.
“Yeah, you got me there, bud,” Liv said, shaking her head. She looked at Sophia, giving her a commiserate expression. “I was looking for our father’s wedding band. Clark had said that he thought it was in their stuff since he wasn’t wearing it when he went to the Matterhorn.”
The expression on Liv’s face was telling.
“You didn’t find it, though?” Sophia asked.
Liv shook her head. “No, but I’m not giving up.”
“Well, maybe it’s with mom’s,” Sophia suggested. “Then you can use both.”
Her sister laughed. “Like me, Mom didn’t wear a wedding or engagement ring. Warriors are always battling something, and rings would be a hazard. I don’t really need to lose a finger because my wedding band gets caught on some ogre’s dewclaw.”
“Good point,” Sophia stated.
“Wait, ogres have dewclaws?” Rudolf asked in surprise.
“So, what did Stefan give you when he proposed?” Sophia asked.
Liv held up her arm, showing a small rope fastened around her wrist.
“Is that a friendship bracelet?” Sophia asked.
“It’s a ‘lock you down’ bracelet,” Liv answered with a laugh.
Sophia laughed. “That’s more your style.”
“Wait, but Stefan is a Warrior,” Sophia said after a moment of realization. “Can he wear a wedding ring?”
“Yeah, because he has fast healing, and I want to put a ring on that,” Liv joked.
Sophia nodded. “Good idea. I see the way mortals look at him.”
Stefan Ludwig was attractive by any standard, with his jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes. Add to that the swords strapped to his back and his billowing black cloak, and he was most women’s fantasy.
Both sisters’ attention slid to Rudolf, who was busy scrolling through his phone, shaking his head like he was having trouble finding something. “That won’t do at all. No. That’s absurd.” He rejected options as he swiped through.
“What’s absurd?” Liv asked.
“All these options for your bachelorette party,” Rudolf told her, glancing up suddenly, his expression shifting. “I mean, unless you want a gnome stripper? Is that your thing? You are short.”
Liv shook her head. “No to strippers. No to gnomes and to gnome strippers. Why are you even looking at bachelorette party stuff?”
“Well,” he said, clasping his hand to his chest. “As your maid of honor, I feel that it’s my duty to throw the best bachelorette party. I mean, it’s only your first wedding. I’m sure, when I marry you off to your second or third husband, we’ll have real blowouts, but I still want to do right by you.”
A pained expression crossed Liv’s face. This was why she hadn’t told Rudolf yet. She’d probably been looking for the right way to break the news to him, and Sophia had revealed the information unknowingly.
“The thing is Rudolf, you’re not my maid of honor,” Liv said, her tone careful. Sympathetic.
“What?” Rudolf exclaimed. “I’m not. B-b-bu…”
“It’s just that—”
“I’m your best friend, though,” he cut in. “I’ve saved your life on many occasions. I’m always there for you. If you ever needed anything, I’d drop everything, including the fate of my people, to help you.”
Liv appeared crushed. Her shoulders drooped. “For once, Ru, I can’t argue with a word you’ve said. The thing is, I didn’t make you my maid of honor because—”
“You’re giving her away,” Sophia interrupted, the idea suddenly occurring to her.
Liv’s eyes widened slightly before filling with relief. “Yes! I needed you for the more important job of giving me away.”
Rudolf’s mouth fell open as joy took over his face. “Are you serious? I get to pretend to be your father for a day?” His features shifted, making him look strict. “You be home by nine, missy. Have you washed behind your ears? Where are the boots I loaned you?”
Liv gave him a reluctant expression. “You have a very strange father-daughter relationship with your girls. You’re not going to pretend to be my father. I just want you to walk me down the aisle and give me away.”
