Next to the trebuchet was a large cannon that the Rogue Riders had no doubt stolen, as well as a tank. These weren’t the weapons of angel dragonriders. They used their swords and their hands, but more importantly, their minds and their words. Guns were for cowards, as Hiker had often said.
“If you’re going to kill a man, then you need to know what you’re doing—feel the full implications,” Hiker once told Sophia. “If you simply pull a trigger, you don’t have to mean the death. But to thrust a sword into a man’s chest, well that means you know you’re doing something that can’t be undone. You’re committing to that death, and hopefully, it’s because you have a good reason and no other options are available to you.”
Sophia spied the distant chaos as word spread that the Dragon Elite had passed through the barrier onto the island. Dragons rose into the air before diving back down again, mostly because chains tethered them to the ground. The sight of it made Sophia’s stomach rumble with disgust. Dragons weren’t pets to keep on leashes. They were the other half of a rider. They were equals.
Sophia hovered on Lunis beside Hiker on Bell with Ainsley at his back. Behind them, the other dragonriders did the same and took in the sights around them, no doubt feeling the same disgust as Sophia.
The disapproval was heavy on Hiker’s face. “It’s worse than I thought. I’ve seen a lot from demon dragonriders, but this is despicable.”
Sophia agreed with a solemn nod. “The leader of the Rogue Riders is crafty enough to create a group that governs the criminal world while also embracing and promoting chaos.”
“It reminds me of Thad.” Hiker’s words sounded hot. “Total disrespect for authority, chivalry, or order, but even he knew not to chain or abuse his dragon. That’s like cutting yourself.”
“This generation is from the modern world,” Sophia remarked. “That has created a different breed of demon dragonriders.”
Hiker shook his head. “They only know immediate gratification and believe that the world is as easy as restarting your video game.”
Sophia was impressed. The same man who had never used electricity a year ago had made a modern-day video game reference. However, this new knowledge and change in lifestyle hadn’t altered the way Hiker Wallace conducted himself. He still believed in the old ways—and they weren’t all bad. There was a time and a place for them. When mixed with Sophia’s modern thinking, they often worked well.
A ship materialized on the ocean and sailed through the barrier. Sophia recognized it as King Rudolf Sweetwater’s boat, but the fae wasn’t on it. He had his hands full at the moment, but he’d been nice enough to loan the ship to Liv and Stefan so they had a way to cross the barrier. Now here they were, ready to help the Dragon Elite.
Sophia nodded at Hiker. He’d seen the arrival of the Warriors for the House of Fourteen. He returned the gesture and wordlessly, they directed their dragons for the shore below where they’d start the next part of the plan.
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three
Lunis glided onto the sand in a perfect landing, his once-injured leg healed. Hiker and Ainsley landed beside them, followed by the others.
Liv and Stefan joined them on the beach after anchoring the majestic ship. If five dragonriders trespassing through the barrier didn’t get the Rogue Riders’ attention, then the large ship did.
“This place is a dump,” Liv observed while looking around.
Hiker nodded. “The Rogue Riders don’t believe in taking pride in their home.”
Liv glanced behind her. “That barrier is some rudimentary magic I hadn’t seen before. Funny that it simply takes a stone to pass through.”
Sophia agreed. “Yes, not the most foolproof of systems. Do you think you can bring it down?”
Liv pursed her lips and leaned closer to Stefan. “With this guy’s help, we’ll have it stripped in no time now that we’re on the other side.”
Sophia smiled, grateful that she enlisted the help of her sister and brother-in-law. Kicking the Rogue Riders off the elves’ land was the prime goal that day. However, reuniting the elfin population with their island would be impossible unless they pulled down the barrier since there were no more soul stones. Not only that, but Sophia and Hiker had a final card up their sleeves they were planning to pull if needed, and it would require the barrier to come down completely.
“Then we’ll leave you to it.” Hiker turned his attention to Ainsley. “Are you ready? It appears that Sophia was right and we’ll need you for that stealth mission.”
Sophia leaned in. “I heard that! You said I was right. I’m writing that down.”
“I have something else I’d like to say about you later too,” Hiker threatened with a smile hiding under his beard. “Maybe you’ll want to write that one down too.”
“Oh, you and your name-calling.” Sophia put her hands on her hips and pretended to be offended. “You’re so immature.”
“Yes, I’m ready,” Ainsley said after a laugh. “I know what needs to be done and I think that S. Beaufont is usually right on these things. Why fight completely fair when we can use strategy to get the upper hand, especially against heathens like these?”
Hiker nodded, but there was a heaviness in his eyes. “Be careful.”
Ainsley gave him a reassuring look. “You’re all the ones who need to be careful. I’ll be fine. No one will know I’m there.”
She turned at once, probably knowing that she needed to get out of there before Hiker changed his mind. Ainsley waved over her shoulder as she strode down the beach to make her way around the island and slip into the back part of the Rogue Riders’ camp.
Hiker turned his attention to the Dragon Elite. “Are you lot ready?’
“I’m sort of sleepy,” Evan stated. “Do you think there’s a Starbucks we can pop into real quick?”
“I think I can pop you on the face and that will wake you up,” Hiker warned.
Evan straightened. “No, sir. I haven’t forgotten that your twin power would make it so you sent me to a neighboring island with a single blow. I’m awake.”
Hiker nodded again with a twinkle in his eyes. “Well, mount up. We ride into battle. Look alive and watch each other’s backs. Angels above know that the Rogue Riders will probably try and attack us from behind.”
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Four
To say that Liv Beaufont was proud of her little sister was a severe understatement. As she watched Sophia climb onto her dragon and lift into the air, she suddenly was overwhelmed by sentimentality.
There had always been something unique about Sophia Beaufont, but no one could have predicted that she’d go on to be the first female dragonrider and the first new rider in a hundred years. Even more remarkable was how it seemed like she’d been doing this for a few hundred centuries. Alongside the other dragonriders, Liv would never guess that Sophia was the youngest because she fit her role completely. She was a born leader, and that much was clear.
Liv pulled her attention away from the dragonriders soaring into the sky and headed toward the impending battle. Yes, she’d worry about her little sister. That never really stopped. But Sophia was a dragonrider, and she fought for justice. That’s what she was made for, and all Liv’s worrying wouldn’t help. So she simply did as she always did and reassured herself that Sophia would be okay because she was brilliant, talented, and full of pure love.