Wilder’s eyes flashed wide. “And here I thought you were a lost cause, mate.”
“Don’t count me out yet.” Evan winked. “Oh, and it looks like you got too much sun on vacation. That’s going to make for a nasty burn.”
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.”