Viggo stood on the edge of the cliff, looking out on the dark horizon, shimmering stars filling the black background. His gaze was sharp, focusing on the thin line separating the ocean from the sky, directly towards the Dragon Riders' base.
Ryker approached him from behind; joining his younger brother for the short time left before they sailed to Dragon's Edge to finish what had been started. The man cleared his throat to speak, placing a fist in front of his mouth as he did.
''The fleet is ready, Viggo.'' Ryker informed, bringing his hands to his back.
''Excellent...'' Viggo said calmly, a masked desire of spilling blood hidden behind his peaceful expression. ''We'll land on the north side of the island, under the cover of night.'' he briefed, growing a wicked smile.
''Why aren't we taking the whole army?'' Ryker asked, talking to his brother's back.
''Because Hiccup will be expecting us to,'' Viggo clarified, turning to face Ryker, arms crossed. ''And we don't want that.''
''Last time we attacked, they managed to sunk two of our best ships in a row! And there were only two riders defending the base!'' Ryker informed him from the last attack.
''Yes, but you see, that's the difference between last time and now,'' Viggo purred, ''We aren't going there to fight them, brother.''
Ryker gave him a confused look when Viggo paused.
''We're there for the boy, big brother.'' Viggo purred, turning back to face the ocean before him.
''And you think it'll be that easy? The boy might not be as weak as you think he is. Trust me, that chair of yours didn't made a number on him.'' Ryker argued, ''He hung though, he never cracked and never talked.''
''Perhaps,'' Viggo said, rubbing his beard thoughtfully, ''Perhaps you're right. Maybe the boy can't break when he's used alone. But his friends...''
''You really think the other riders will be easier than the lad? Have you looked at them all? The boy isn't a breaking stick. And he's the thinner of them all.'' Ryker said, waving his arms in the air as he spoke.
''That's because he's their leader. Haven't you noticed? The others came back for their missing friend.'' Viggo pointed out.
''So?''
''Without their leader, they're like Night Terrors without commands. They can only function as a group.'' The younger of the brothers continued.
''You don't plan on capturing the other riders are you?'' Ryker asked, hoping the answer would be negative, because he didn't know if he could take down all the riders. And he hated disappointing his brother. ''Or using them against their leader?''
''Of course I don't.'' Viggo answered to Ryker's great relief. ''We're killing Hiccup.''
Ryker took a moment to recover from his brother's words, for it wasn't really like him to talk about murdering people, unless that person truly irritated him.
''Or you sure about this?'' Ryker asked uncertainly. He did hate Hiccup, but never actually planned on killing the boy. ''I've never seen you this upset since—''
''The boy is a threat to us. He must be removed from the picture once and for all.'' Viggo said clearly, fixing the dark horizon, eyes hungry to see real blood.
''Alright.'' Ryker growled, disliking seeing his brother in this state. ''Where do you want me to strike?''
''You won't. I will.'' Viggo said flatly, taking no pleasure to the job he just assigned himself to.
Ryker bared his teeth and walked away, back to the heavily armed ships ready to sail to Dragon's Edge.
Viggo brought back his attention on the endless ocean before him, thinking about the Dragon Riders collapsing as soon as their leader would be out of the picture. Unlike a man like him would usually do, he smiled and thought of it more detailed.
He'll have Hiccup's head.
...
Hiccup hid behind a pole, holding his trusted sword firmly with both hands. He looked around him, searching for any close danger before running straight to a barrel and hiding behind it as well.
''Alright...'' he mumbled to himself before going in. ''This time, for sure.''
He jumped above the barrel and ran straight for the target that lay a couple meters from him now. He was about to sink the blade in the objective when his sword met an axe and collided with a harsh clank, both blades pushing against each other as long as possible. Hiccup stared in his opponent's eyes and pulled back his sword for his adversary to be sent behind him as he rushed in for the final blow.
He raised his weapon and brought it down on the target, his hopes so high at that precise moment. But they soon crushed.
Before his blade went through his target's center, the handle of an axe was pressed against his throat, his adversary holding it in place from his rear, a chin relaxing on his shoulder as he tried to free himself from the grasp.
''You know what they say... You don't have to be faster than the hunter, you just have to be faster the next time.'' Astrid murmured in Hiccup's ear before letting him go.
''Argh..!'' Hiccup gasped as he fell on the floor of the arena. He rubbed the back of his neck and picked up his sword he so called the Endeavour, and pulled himself back to his feet. ''Not fair, you took me by surprise!'' he argued.
''Element of surprise, key to any battle.'' Astrid replied, sheathing her axe to her back and crossing her arms. ''Hiccup, you need to be better than this. If Viggo comes back for you you'll have to learn how to fight him in case Toothless isn't around to protect you. Plus, since you managed to injure him last time you two fought, he's gonna have some bodyguards around him to shield himself. ''
''I know, I know... I just never really needed to fight someone until blood spilled out, before...'' Hiccup said lowly looking down at the ground as if he was ashamed.
''That's not entirely true!'' Tuffnut shouted, enjoying the show below, sitting higher with his sister, Fishlegs and Snotlout, who had been watching from beginning to end as Astrid trained Hiccup on how to swordfight.
'Uh... guys, nooo...'' Hiccup warned, reaching his hands forward to stop the twins before they got carried away.
''Yeah..! He could take out Viggo's entire army all by himself, simply by using Thor's mighty hammer!'' Ruffnut added, her and her brother already gone. And Hiccup couldn't stop them anymore.
The young leader face palmed as soon as he heard the twins tell the story from when him and Snotlout got in a fight, and could only hope Astrid wouldn't get mad and be harder on him for not having told her.
''Oh, Thor...'' Hiccup moaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. ''Guys! Can we focus..?''
''But we didn't finished yet!'' Tuffnut complained, looking down at Hiccup as if he was about to murder him for interrupting.
''It doesn't matter.'' Astrid said, putting an end to this nonsense story. ''Come on,'' she gestured to Hiccup to follow, ''you've got some hard work to do.''
Hiccup didn't add a word and followed her to the center of the arena, the Endeavour in hand. The blonde girl put away her weapon and came behind Hiccup, grabbing his hands to help him make the right moves when fighting.
She took hold of Hiccup's left hand holding the Gronckle Iron sword and made some gestures, Hiccup's entire arms following her every move.
''They say once you become an expert,'' she spoke while swinging the sword with his arm following hers, ''your subconscious takes over. That's what we call the muscle memory...''
She made another move, bringing the sword up to attack the adversary and brought it back in a defence pose to block a blow, then the offensive move and finally back in its sheathe.
''And that's how you swordfight.'' she finished letting him go, tracing her hands on his arms as she backed away. She grabbed another sword from the barrel filled with weapons and positioned herself in front of him, ''Now let's see what you've learned.'' And without a warning, she charged at Hiccup, and their weapons collided with a sharp clank of Gronckle Iron against iron.
Hiccup managed to block the her blow, bringing his sword in the defensive pose and brought it back up and attacked, Astrid succeeding to avoid his as well, almost as if she didn't even tried. Astrid was the offensive one, so Hiccup was always the one backing down while she advanced forward.
''You have to fight back, Hiccup. If you keep backing down you'll lose ground and your adversary can easily finish you once you're jammed.'' Astrid advised, swinging her sword offensively at Hiccup who blocked the blow with difficulty. He tried to attack but every time he tried Astrid managed to block and fought back, causing him to keep walking backwards. He suddenly tripped over something and before he could figure out what it was, Astrid's sword's sharp point pressed against his throat just under his chin, forcing him to lift up his face and look up at her. ''Game's over.''
Hiccup looked up at her, giving her his best poker face.
''Come on. Let's go see what the others cooked. I'm starving.'' she said helping him back up to his feet.
''The shield can also be used as a weapon you know...'' Hiccup pointed out; missing his shield he had left in his hut while he trained with Astrid.
''Yeah, I know it can. But you need to learn to be on the offensive and not always on the defensive. Which is why I'm not allowing you to use any.'' Astrid explained as they walked up to their dragons.
Hiccup gave a quiet groan as he climbed up on Toothless, clicking his prosthetic in place and taking to the sky, higher to the Club House where the others had joined to eat.
He knew it was for him she was doing this. In case he happened to bump into Viggo again and needed fight him off. And since Viggo's weapon of choice was the sword, Astrid had been training him to swordfight. He had forged himself a Gronckle Iron sword from the formula Fishlegs had wrote down on paper and gave to him so he could use it to fabric new weapons for the group and armors for the dragons. Since he was the only rider experimented in blacksmithing, he was the one with the job.
Not only was Gronckle Iron strong, but it was also light, easier for Hiccup to hold his sword in combat without struggling too much when it came to make quick gestures.
Not that he was a fan of stylish moves, but he still took it as a helpful bonus.
Toothless and Stormfly landed in front of the Club House. The two riders dismounted and entered the building, leaving the Night Fury and Deadly Nadder to play with the other dragons.
''Harder! I said I wanted to see stars!'' Tuffnut shouted as Ruffnut swung a mace at her brother's head for he asked, ''Ahh...''
Astrid rolled her eyes and sat around the fire pit and grabbed a roasted fish that lay on the grill above the fire, placing it in her plate.
Hiccup did pretty much the same, sitting beside her.
''So? How was it to get beaten for the fifth time?'' Snotlout mocked, resting his chin on his knuckles. ''Not that you could've won anyway.''
''Ha ha, very funny, Snotlout. But Hiccup's actually made some improvements today.'' Astrid said, turning to face Hiccup sitting by her side, smiling kindly.
''Yeah, right. Like he's made a step forward. Oh right, he can't do that because he only has one leg! Ha ha ha!'' Snotlout laughed, leaning on the two back feet of his chair.
Astrid kicked at one of them, sending Snotlout on the floor immediately.
Snotlout growled, glaring at the blonde girl once he lifted his helmet that covered his eyes and sat back on his chair after replacing it for it had followed him.
''Really?'' Fishlegs said, unable to help himself overhearing their conversation about Hiccup making some improvements today. ''Where, exactly?''
''Well he's often of the defence, which isn't a bad thing. He lasted longer than the last time, and his skills have sharpened. Which I take as improvements.'' Astrid notified.
Hiccup didn't really know when he improved for he was too busy fighting her than admire his skills. Not that he dreamed of becoming an awesome swordfighter, but at least learn to use a sword when he'll need to fight off enemies if Toothless' isn't around.
''Hey, Hiccup!'' Tuffnut called, advancing towards him, Ruffnut following him closely, her mace leaning on her shoulder. ''You gotta try this! The first blow is a little rough, but you get used to it.'' Ruffnut raised the mace and swung it for Hiccup's head.
''Wait! What?!'' Hiccup cried out, putting his hands forward. ''No! No blows, blows hurt! UH!'' He ducked just in time, barely missing a mace to the head, and fell on the floor, his legs up on the chair while the rest of him lay lower. ''What is wrong with you two?!''
''Testing if what Astrid said is true.'' Tuffnut answered him, smiling smugly while his sister attacked him.
''So you're just making Ruff attack me?!'' Hiccup gasped, ducking another blow.
''Surprise, is the word we prefer to use.'' Ruffnut said while swinging her mace at him without caring the risk she's taking of injuring him.
''Alright, alright...!'' Astrid interrupted, placing herself between crazy Ruffnut and Hiccup. ''I never said he was ready. So lower your weapon before you hurt him again and we have to start this whole thing over. I'm not feeling like staying on the ground for another three weeks.''
Ruffnut grunted and walked away, leaning her mace back on her shoulder, letting it drop in the corner of the Club House.
''Sorry, lost my head there for a second.'' Ruffnut said, placing her helmet back in place.
''Yeah. Something you and Hiccup would've had in common if you went too far.'' Astrid growled menacingly, as Hiccup sat back on the chair he fell off from.
''Alright, guys, knock it off.'' Hiccup said, before those two got carried away. ''I'm gonna take a quick flight around the island with Toothless. See if I can spot any of Viggo's ships.'' he said, changing the subject quickly.
''I'm coming with you.'' Astrid said, not waiting for him to protest, and followed him out of the Club House.
They both climbed on their own saddle and took the night sky for a flight around Dragon's Edge.