“So this errand,” Sophia encouraged this to move along.
“Yes, I have a craving for something sweet. I guess it’s the time of the year.”
“Oh, with Halloween and harvest coming up?”
“Hallo-what?” Bep gave her a confused look. “No, I was saying because of the time change. Daylight savings ending always makes me crave sugar.”
Sophia nodded while thinking she should have seen this illogical connection coming. “Right. So you want me to pop over to the store and get a candy bar?”
“I’m afraid that won’t do,” Bep countered. “My tastes are a little more refined.”
“I’d expect nothing less. How complicated will this seemingly easy task be?”
“Well, the ingredients for this sweet treat can only be secured from a Brownie,” Bep explained. “Of all the people I know, I’d guess that you have access to those little helpers who hardly associate with anyone.”
“You’re a regular Sherlock Holmes.”
Bep nodded. “I thought so. Anyway, so you ask them for their special chocolate nibs, rainbow sprinkles, and ganache.”
“That’s easy enough.” Sophia made a mental list of the ingredients.
“Then you should ask them how they would be best put together for the most delectable and sophisticated treat,” Bep continued.
“Sophisticated?” Sophia questioned.
“I don’t eat desserts often. It needs to be worth it,” Bep answered.
“Of course.”
“They’ll advise you and tell you who can make the dessert.”
“So it’s more than a shopping trip. I’m sure that nothing whatsoever could go wrong on such a simple journey,” Sophia said sarcastically.
“Knowing you, Sophia Beaufont, it will turn into a complete circus with tons of hidden dangers,” Bep said formally. “But do try and hurry. This craving is quite stubborn, and I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
Sophia saluted the potions expert. “I’ll be back in two shakes of a dragon’s tail.”
Chapter Eighty-One
Once back on Roya Lane, Sophia headed straight for the Official Brownie Headquarters while telling herself that this could be an easy errand.
“Grab some magical ingredients and have them made into something sophisticated,” Sophia said to herself. “How hard could this be?”
She realized that she’d spoken the powerful jinx curse with that last phrase. Before she could curse herself, the phone in her pocket rang. Recognizing the ring, Sophia grinned, welcoming the distraction that was about to come.
“Hank’s Automotive,” Sophia sang into the phone. “You wreck it. We’ll repair it.”
“That sounds like my company motto,” Liv said with a laugh. “The magical world of jerk wads wreck things, and I’m expected to repair it.”
“Oh, how we live parallel lives,” Sophia related. “To what do I owe the honor?”
“Wish I was calling under better circumstances,” Liv began, her tone shifting, “but unfortunately there’s no honor related to this phone call. You might delete my number after this.”
Sophia paused on the busy street. “I expected this. Everything is going along too smoothly right now.”
“Yes, it’s when everything is going to hell that I feel most comfortable,” Liv offered. “Then I know the universe is stirring things up right. If no wrenches are being thrown at me, I get instantly suspicious.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Well, let’s start with my general complaint because I need to vent,” Liv began. “Do you know what kombucha is or how to erase it from the Earth?”
“It’s a tea made from fermented mushrooms, and why would you want to do that?” Sophia asked.
“Because the dumb hippie elves you have me rehoming keep asking for it to settle their nerves, and I think if I wipe it out, they’ll shush it.”
Sophia laughed. “Oh, yeah, how’s that going? Still having to deal with all the elf refugees, huh?”
“It’s like they multiply daily,” Liv complained. “Their concerns about preservatives in their food or whether the air conditioning is running and drying out their dreads definitely multipies second by second.”
Sophia laughed. “Well, believe it or not, I’m indirectly working on solving the whole elf homeland invasion problem. I hope to have a resolution soon and relieve you of the hippies and all their concerns over the use of microwaves and organics.”
“I don’t like the sound of this indirectly business,” Liv stated.
“Well, I have to get into the Rogue Riders’ border, which means I have to determine what kind of barrier they have. To do that, I have to fix the fairy godmother college. To accomplish that, I have to get a sweet treat for a potions maker, and that involves getting special ingredients from the Brownies.”
Liv laughed on the other end of the phone. “We’re, like, the same person. That sounds like my morning.”
Sophia nodded. “I’m glad someone gets it. How is it that nothing is straightforward in this business?”
“Because that would be boring.” Liv cleared her throat. “Don’t worry about the elves. I’ll take care of them. They’re a huge headache when talking about their star charts and about how their child Dusk’s dreads are a sign that she’s showing her independence. First off, Indigo, give your child a real name. She’s not a My Little Pony. Also, she has dreads because you haven’t taught her personal hygiene, not independence.”
“Let it all out.” Sophia giggled.
“We’ve been feeding these hippies and most refuse to eat because the food isn’t organic,” Liv continued. “So let me get this straight. Not washing your hair or using deodorant is healthy, but putting conventional food in your body that literally keeps you alive is bad. Thank you very much, you hypocritical walrus-hugging drain on our work ethic hippies.”
“That was beautiful.” Sophia smiled.
Liv let out a long breath. “Thanks. I think I feel better now.”
“Are you done?” Sophia asked.
“For now,” Liv answered. “Anyway, the next bit isn’t as much fun.”
Sophia tensed and prepared herself. “Go on then.”
“Well, the House of Fourteen wants an in-person update from a Dragon Elite member on this Rogue Rider business that we have to manage, and by us, I mean me because none of the rest of them have my patient sunshine disposition to deal with the hippie elves.”
Sophia blew out a breath. “And by a Dragon Elite member, you mean me?”
“Yeah, sorry,” Liv replied. “I think they’re going to be kind of grumpy too, so be warned. These Rogue Riders are real jerks and giving dragonriders a bad name. There’s no distinction yet that they’re demon dragonriders, so education is probably in order. But yeah, the council requests a meeting with you.”
“Okay. I’ll head that way after I finish up some business here. Don’t worry. I’m good at handling the House of Fourteen.”