AN: Let me start this by saying I realize I am dealing with a lot of ancient cultures on this story, none of which are my own. I will do my best to be as sensitive and respectful as I can (while still being semi historically accurate) but if you see me make a mistake know that it is not intentional and that I mean no harm. And feel free to respectfully call me out on it! I am all for learning new things!

Chapter One:

"Hm," the tall, brooding man stroked at his well shaven chin as he look over all the information his spies had brought him. He chuckled to himself.

"It's all too easy!" He smirked as he slumped towards his study to give the orders.

IIIIIIIIIIIII

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Hullo? Hullo!"

Hiccup grumbled as he opened his eyes. It was still dark out! Who was knocking at this hour? And for what? If it was Bucket and Mulch arguing over whose yak was whose again, he swore!

He rolled over onto his side, fumbling for his prosthetic leg.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Hiccup shouted as he strapped on his leg, stood up, and stumbled towards his trunk of clothing.

"Who ish it?" Astrid grumbled as she raised her head.

"I dunno," Hiccup grumbled as he got dressed. "But I'll handle it. Go back to sleep."

He pinned the chief's mantle to his shirt and headed downstairs. He opened the door and found Magda, a young mother whose husband was away on a fishing trip. This was certainly more urgent than a fight over a yak.

"Magda?" Hiccup asked.

"Chief, I'm sorry to bother you but my Ivar has a horrible fever. Little one can barely get a breath in."

Hiccup nodded solemnly. "Wait here."

He disappeared back into the house and climbed back up the stairs. He ran past his and Astrid's room and stopped to knock on the door to the right.

"Zephyr," he called as he creaked the door open. "Zephyr."

His teenage daughter lay on her back, still on her day clothes, a book covering her face, her hands still stained with charcoal, and a melted and dead candle by her bedside.

"Typical," Hiccup sighed, knowing full and well he had no room to talk as he made his way to her bed and knocked on the headboard of her bed.

Zephyr startles awake, sitting straight up and knocking her book into her lap.

"Hello?" She groggily asked.

"Why all the knockin'?" A voice whined from across the hall as a young boy who was not quite a teenager but no longer a child stumbled into the hall from the room across from his sister's. "It still dark out."

"Go back to sleep, Nuffink," Hiccup said before kneeling to Zephyr's eye level.

"Whatsa matta?" Zephyr yawned as she stretched.

"Ivar, Magda's boy," Hiccup answered. "He's got a fever and can't breathe."

All signs of sleepiness left Zephyr in a snap. She jumped to her feet, scrambling to put her boots on and grab a satchel off a peg by her bed. She grabbed a ribbon off her nearby desk to tie her messy auburn hair into a ponytail before heading out into the hallway.

Nuffink rolled his eyes as he shuffled to the railing overlooking the main room of the house. He leaned his head in his hands as he watched his sister run about collecting things.

"Your ground mustard's in the cabinet," he reminded her. "Other cabinet. No, other one. Getting warmer. Warmer. Hot! Lava! Oh, nope, you're cooling off. Cold. Ice cold. Frozen. Go back!"

"Shut up!" Zephyr grumbled as she retraced her steps and found the small bundle she'd been looking for and stored it in her satchel. She rubbed her hands together as she thought of what else she might need.

"Your oils are to the left," Nuffink called.

Herbal oils! Of course. Zephyr moved to another cabinet before she heard Nuffink call:

"Other left."

Zephyr grumbled in her throat as she slammed the cabinet shut, only to be greeted by a stamping on the floor from upstairs, most definitely her mother telling her to quiet down. Zephyr cringed as she collected her oil bottles, and grabbed some cheese cloth while she was at it.

"You'll need more than that to make a plaster," Nuffink pointed out. Zephyr glowered at him, but he simply jerked his head towards the steps.

"Under the stairs," he said. "Your tea leaves are there too. Take the ones on the right, left aren't dried yet."

"I know what leaves are dry and which are not," Zephyr hissed.

"Just saying," Nuffink shrugged as his sister headed to the front door, but not for long.

"Your not taking any water?" Nuffink asked. "How are you going to make tea without water?"

"If you know so much about medicines why don't you become the healer?" Zephyr snapped as she went to grab a canteen.

"Because I don't like people," Nuffink answered. "But I do like sleep so I'm going back to bed."

"Good riddance," Zephyr sighed as she dunked her canteen onto the water trough in the kitchen to fill it. Hiccup came down the stairs with two coats. He threw one over Zephyr's shoulders then slipped on his own.

"Ready?" He asked.

"Mm-hm," Zephyr nodded as she set the canteen in with the rest of her supplies.

"Alright, lets go."

The two met Magda back at the front door and followed her through the snow to her house. Little Ivar was bundled up in a blanket next to the fireplace. A barking sort of cough wracked through his entire body.

Without missing a beat Zephyr pulled a handkerchief out from her satchel and tied it around her mouth and nose as she knelt at the boys side and placed her eat to his chest.

"Croup," she said began digging through her satchel.

"Is it bad?" Magda gasped.

"It's not the worse I've seen, but it's not good," Zephyr answered as she pulled out her bundle of ground mustard. "Do you have any flour?"

"Yes ma'am," Magda nodded as she shuffled to the kitchen.

"We'll need to heat up some water, and I'll need a bowl," Zephyr said.

"I've already got a kettle over the fire," Magda called.

"Perfect," Zephyr smiled as she used one of the many rags she always kept on her to take the kettle off. Magda came back with the flour and bowl. Zephyrs mixed the the flour, water, and mustard together until she made a paste. She then scooped the contents into the cheesecloth and folded it up into a strange pillow like thing she then set on one arm as she unwrapped Ivar from his blankets with the other.

Ivar whined and shivered at the cold as Zephyr open his shirt.

"Sh," Zephyr whispered as she stroked his head and placed the plaster on his chest. "You'll be okay."

Ivar coughed again as Zephyr wrapped him back up.

"That should help his breathing," Zephyr sands "I'll need to go get some willow bark to help his fever, though."

"Want me to come with you?" Hiccup asked.

"No, stay here," Zephyr said. "You'll have to make another plaster of that one cools off before I get back. I'll go as fast as I can, though, I promise."

And with that she headed to the stables to get her horse.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Iris yawned as she sat up and stretched. A warm breeze blew through her window overlooking the pyramids that held the bodies of her ancestors. She sighed as she stood, but on her thin silk robe, and headed towards her window to watch the sunrise over the Nile.

Her tutors would be coming soon, but not before her attendants got her ready for the day. And what a day she had planned! First her usual lessons, then a chariot race between her, Lapis, and Net. Then she'd be fencing with some of the palace guards in the town square. Who knew? Maybe she and her sisters would even perform a dance?

She sighed. It was all silly, really. Her father and brothers were away at war, trying to stop a tribe of desert travelers from attacking their farmlands. The tribesmen had become exceedingly difficult to handle. Even with all their dragons.

A flock of hatchling Uraeus, serpentine dragons that looked like winged cobras, landed on Iris' window sill. She smiled as she held her hand out to them, letting their tongues tickle her palm before their mother called them away.

Yes, even these magnificent beasts were at risk, for the tribesmen had begun to steal them away. Still, it was her duty as princess to keep her people safe and happy. And if that meant some silly races, tournaments, and dance to boost morale and confidence, so be it.

"Good morning, Princess," a chorus of voices called as Iris' ladies-in-waiting came.

"Good morning ladies," Iris smiled as she let them help her get dressed. Once her pure white gown had been laced to perfection on her body the ladies-in-waiting let the royal advisor's in.

"Much to see today, Princess," one said.

"Go ahead and throw out all the marriage proposals," Iris sighed, causing the elder men to clear their throats as they stuffed various letters and gifts away.

"I've said it once and I'll say it again," Iris heaved an exasperated breath. "I will not wed until Egypt is at peace once more. Besides, ruling in Father's stead is hard enough as is. I don't need a husband getting in my way."

"Speaking of which, the construction of the new southern gate is far behind schedule," another advisor said.

"Oh, well we can't have that," Iris stated. "For is the harvest going?"

"Excellent, much more plentiful than expected," the same advisor answered.

"Send someone to select 100 farmers to leave to harvest and assist at the Southern gate," Iris ordered. "Those who volunteer will be awarded with twelve gold pieces."

"Twelve?" the oldest advisor asked. "Don't you think that's a bit much?"

"Not as much as we'd lose if the southern tribes were to invade us because the gate and wall isn't complete," Iris answered.

"What eye paint do you want today, Princess?" one of ladies-in-waiting asked.

"You know, Nubia, I'm feeling a bit green today," Iris answered.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Excuse me, Princess, but I believe one gold piece will be sufficient payment," the old advisor continued. "If you become too generous with the people they will come to demand more."

"I'm asking them to leave their homes and venture to a dangerously compromised area of the kingdom. If anything they are the generous ones," Iris stated as she closed her eyes to allow her maids to paint her eyelids.

"With all due respect, your highness, you are young. Only eighteen. I have lived for many years, and have seen many-"

"Then why did my father appoint me as temporary ruler in his stead and not you?" Iris turned to glare at the older man, her green eyes paint only intensifying the gaze of her hazel eyes.

The old advisor ducked his head, a crimson blush forming over his face. "I'll send out the order," he said before leaving.

"Mm-hmm," Iris murmured as she closed her eyes again so the rest of her make-up could be completed.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Liling craned her neck to watch the sun rise over the Forbidden city's walls. She waited until it had risen high in the sky and flooded her face with warmth to bring her flute back to her lips and keep playing a soft and humble tune she'd learned yesterday.

"Cheep! Cheep!" a Hong called as it slithered to her, curling its rainbow colored body so that the heads on either end of its body could watch and listen to her. Liling smiled, stopping her playing to pet the tiny dragon. A few more Hong began to slither up to her, their bright scales glistening in the early light of dawn. They all cheeped at her, sounding like baby songbirds, begging her to play some more.

Liling sighed as she fulfilled their wish. They were just like her, these little dragons. Tiny and pretty, but frail and timid. They had no wings, no venom. Their fire was only strong enough to cook the fruits growing in the trees they called home. They, like her, were as delicate and helpless as a nightingale, kept safe in the gilded cage that was the palace walls.

"Liling!"

Liling gasped as the Hong screeched and slithered away. Liling quickly stood to her feet and curtseyed.

"Second brother! Fourth brother! I was not expecting you," she said.

Chen, her fourth eldest brother, stomped towards her and jerked the flute from her hands. "What are you doing bothering the Imperial dragons? And at this early hour?"

"I...I wasn't...the Hong like to hear my music," she insisted.

Chen's eyes narrowed, making Liling shrink in fear. She knew Chen hated her for many reasons. She was the only daughter of their father's favorite wife, and thus perhaps his favorite child. Her full-blooded brother, Pan, was to be the next emperor, Despite Chen being the Empress' son. Liling was beloved to all in the palace. And dragons of all kinds flocked to her, but ran from Chen.

Dragons and royalty were supposed to be kindred spirits. Being the Empress' only living son dragons should rush to be by Chen's side, but they always came to Liling instead.

"Chen, enough," Pan said as he stepped in between the two. Though he was not the empress' child, he was the second born prince. After the first born prince, Chen's older brother, died of a horrid illness Pan was declared to be the heir. The fact that he, like Liling, was the favored Consort's son, probably helped in that decision as well. As well as

"It's not good for her to be out this early," Chen insisted. "There's no one to watch her. What will people think when they hear of the first princess of China wandering about on her own?"

"What bad can come to her while she's still in the harem's walls?" Pan asked with a soft smile. "Besides she was practicing her music. Any deserving princess of China will know all the sacred songs of the empire. Heaven should smile on her for being as diligent to wake with the sun every morning in order to improve herself."

Liling smiled softly, but Chen wasn't done.

"And the fact she was disturbing the dragons? Our imperial equals? You have nothing to-"

"Dragons, as you know fourth brother, are attracted to goodness and purity. Our sister is only twelve, still a child. What is more pure than a child? And her heart is great and full of kindness that of course dragons would flock to her. Unlike some people," Pan's eyes narrowed at Chen.

Chen glowered, but he said nothing more and stalked off.

Liling watched him go, shuddering slightly. "I hope I don't marry a man like him," she whispered.

"You're still too young to worry about such things," Pan chuckled as he set a hand on her shoulder. "But don't fret, I will make sure Father chooses a gentle and caring man to be your husband when the time comes."

Lilling smiled and nodded as Pan kissed her forehead. "Now go have a walk in the gardens to calm yourself before your lessons," he suggested. "It's not good for you to be so frightened all the time."

But how can I not be? Liling thought as Pan walked off. As the eldest daughter, the first princess of the empire, all eyes were on her. She had to be perfect, pretty, and poised at all times. There was no room for error. She sighed as she took Pan's advice and headed to the gardens to calm herself so she could go back to playing her assigned part in life: being China's perfect little nightingale.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Claudia whispered one last prayer before standing to her feet, She open the small bottle of perfume she'd brought and poured it on the altar in front of Minerva's statue. She then turned to walk back to her bodyguards, smiling and nodding to all in line behind her who had also come to pray. There were even more people waiting outside the temple. Some of them had come to ask the goddess for wisdom or protection, but others had just come catch a glimpse of Claudia, the beloved princess of Rome who came to the temple every day to pray for her kingdom's protection.

Claudia smiled and waved at all of them, but only spoke to one, the boy holding the large fan waiting for.

"I hope I wasn't too long," she said as the boy lifted the fan to shield her from the sun. "And that your arms aren't tired."

"Not at all, your Grace," the boy said.

"Antonio, you know you can just call me 'Claudia,'" she smiled.

"Not in public, your grace," Antonio whispered, glancing to make sure none of the guards had heard him. He let out a sigh of half relief half annoyance. When would Claudia learn? No matter how close they were there were still classes and rules. She was a princess. He was a slave. Even after he'd bought his freedom, she'd still be high above his reach. They could only be friends behind closed doors.

She never understood though, no matter how many people explained it to her. She was too innocent for this world.

As the procession passed by the colosseum a loud cheer shook the air. A gate opened up and a group of burly men carried out a bloodied and dead Hydra. Claudia gasped and held her hands to her mouth, tears brimming her eyes.

Antonio moved the fan to shield her eyes, but the damage was done.

"Oi!" the captain of the bodyguard shouted. "Check before you drag that carcass out! There's a lady present!"

"Sorry, princess," the men shouted as they scrambled to drag the hydra away and out of sight. Claudia's brow knitted together as she set a hand on her chest.

"Shall we go back to punish them once you're home, Princess?" the captain asked.

Claudia shook her head but kept frowning.

"Your Grace?" Antonio asked softly.

"That was a little one," Claudia grumbled. "No more than a baby." She took a shaky breath and wiped at her tears. "What good does outlawing the hunt of dragons do if we're only going to kill the in arenas?"

"I know the gladiator fights displease you, Princess," the captain said. "But this is the price we must pay for Rome's strength."

"How is shedding the blood of innocent creatures supposed to make us stronger?" Claudia asked.

The captain smiled pitifully at her. "It would be impossible for you women to understand. You're such tender beings."

Claudia hung her head, and Antonio quickly hid away his anger. The most powerful woman in Rome still being treated like a naive child by a mere body guard. Such was the life Rome's only princess.

"You've been greatly upset today," the captain continued. "Let us take you home so you can rest and recover."

Claudia nodded. The rest of the trek was made in silence. The guards left once Claudia was safely brought to her chambers and handed into her maid's care.

"Is there anything else I can do, your grace?" Antonio asked with a bow of his head as the maids help Claudia remove her jewelry and let down her golden hair.

"Guard my door," Claudia answered. "I don't want to be bothered by any visitors today.'

"Yes, your grace," Antonio nodded as he closed the chamber doors and sat down at the chair next to it. Not long after Claudia's father appeared coming down the hallways towards Claudia's rooms.

"Hail, mighty Caesar," Antonio bowed deeply. "The Princess has requested no visitors. She is resting."

The Caesar sighed as he stared sadly at the door. "Oh, Claudia. Such a delicate young thing you are," he mused.

Antonio kept his face blank, but inside he was quite agitated. Claudia was not delicate! Gentle, yes. Tender-hearted, yes. Sensitive, to a fault! But never delicate!

Not even in health as her mother was. It was one of the few differences between them. Though, that did make everything a bit more understandable. Claudia's mother died only a few hours after her birth. The Caesar spent almost a year in mourning. As frail as the late queen had been the Caesar loved her dearly. So no wonder he kept Claudia so tightly guarded. She wasn't just his only child, but she was the spitting image of her mother.

"When she wakes tell her I sent for her," the Caesar ordered.

"Of course, your grace," Antonio bowed again.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Rima grinned ear to ear as she bounded through the vastness of the mostly empty harem. A few servant girls waved to her as the made her way to the Valide Sultan's chambers.

"Granmama!" she called, running towards the elder woman's side as she sat in her lavish throne going over the palace's financial records.

"Ah, my little sparrow," the Valide Sultan smiled as she held her arms out to hug the girl.

"Look what I made for you," Rima said as she held out the flower she'd knitted. The valide Sultan's eyes narrowed.

"What do you want?"

"I'm insulted," Rima gasped. "Must a girl need a reason to give her grandmother a gift?"

"No, but you do," the older woman said, setting the flower on top of her head. "You want to go outside again, don't you?"

"Please," Rima batted her eyelashes and clasped her hands together under her chin.

"Ah!" the Valide Sultan threw her hands in the air. "My little sparrow is just like her father, caring nothing for tradition!"

"No one would have to see me," Rima said. "I just want to go riding in the meadows."

"The meadows again? You and your sibling have the entire harem to yourselves! You do not have to share with other wives like all those before you, but it is still not enough for you, eh?"

"Granmama, please?" Rima begged.

The Valide Sultan sighed deeply. "Alright. Alright! But you take a dozen guards with you!"

"One?"

"Eleven."

"Two?"

"Six."

"Deal!" Rima kissed the older woman's cheek and bounded off. "Thank you, Granmama!"

The Valide Sultan sighed as she went back to the finances. There was a reason she called Rima her little sparrow. Her spirit was as free and boundless as the little bird's wings. A grand thing, to be sure, but dangerous for a Moorish princess. Especially now. So many people her father had angered. So many traditions he'd broken. He allowed all people of all walks of life and religions to live in their lands unprosecuted. He allowed boys and girls to attend the royal academies so long as they could afford it. He took only one wife, and refused to have any concubines.

He'd brought about too much change in too short a time. Now here Rima was, a wild and rambunctious child, nothing like the poised and proper lady a girl of her stature was expected to be. Still, she was only fourteen. She had two more years before she would be considered a woman. Why not let her be a child while she still could?

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Rima laughed as she and her horse bounded down the hill, the wind tearing at her head scarf. A loud roar sounded above her. Rima looked up and gasped as a massive dragon flew over head.

"Faster," she urged her steed, now racing the gigantic beast. The guards followed close behind her, making sure to keep their horses back a bit so Rima could enjoy her moment of freedom.

That turned out to be a mistake. One by one each of them dropped off their horses, a dart sticking out of their necks. Rima was so caught up in her race against the dragon that she didn't notice her guards slowly being replaced by Roman soldiers. That was until one road ahead of her and cut her off.

"Wai-Wha-?" Rima asked as she and her steed were surrounded.

'Who are you?" she asked. "What-"

"Don't worry," one of the soldiers said in broken arabic. "We're not going to hurt you. We just need you to come with us."

Before Rima could respond another soldier threw a scarf over her face, covering her mouth. Another grabbed her hands and tied them tightly behind her back. Rima tried to scream for help, but it was no use. The soldier that had spoken to her lifted her off his horse and tossed her over the back of his saddle like a bag of grain.

"Let's go," he ordered in latin and the group rode off.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Senator Phineas," Antonio stood and bowed. "What a pleasant surprise."

The senator in question said nothing as he moved towards Claudia's chambers.

"I'm afraid you can't go in," Antonio said. "The princess is-"

A sharp pain shot through Antonio's neck and he collapsed, but didn't black out. A familiar, warm sense of drowsiness overcame him. This was not the first Chimera venom had been used on him. Not by a long shot. Still, he wasn't fully immune. Just enough to keep from passing out, meaning he saw as Phineas shot each and every maid inside the chambers with a similar dart, before finally shooting Claudia.

Claudia collapsed against her bed. Phineas strode over to her, lifted her into his arms, and then tossed her out the window. He then turned and left, never noticing Antonio was still awake and slowly crawling towards the window.

"Claudia…" he gasped as he shakily stood to his feet and looked out the window. Claudia, thankfully, had been caught by four soldiers. Unfortunately, they were storing her into a carriage. Antonio swung one leg out the window and began climbing down the winding vines. It was slow going as he was still woozy from the dart. By the time he made it to the ground Phineas had returned and the carriage took off. Antonio ran, then tripped, then got back up and ran once again. It didn't take long for him to lose sight of the carriage, but he continued to follow the tracks. There was no way he was letting them do anything to his princess!

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Crack!

Liling gasped as she turned towards the noise. She'd thought she was the only one in the gardens.

"Hello?" she asked softly. She saw no one, but she knew she'd heard something.

"Pan? Chen?" she called. "Mother?"

No answer.

"Hello?" her voice wavered as she lifted her skirt a bit, ready to run, but too late.

A strong hand slapped across her mouth as two men appeared on either side of her. She gasped, but in doing so she inhaled to substance on the cloth over her mouth. The world began to spin, then blur, and then go completely black.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Don't be too disappointed when I beat you," Net called as Iris stepped into her chariot.

"Hah," Iris scoffed to her younger sister as she took up the reigns. "In your dreams."

"Both of yours," Lapis called from where she stood in her own chariot.

The crowds were already cheering before the signal was even given. Iris' horses took off, leaving both of her sisters in the dust. She cackled loudly at their protests.

"You started early!"

"You cheat!"

"Not my fault you're both slow," Iris shouted as she turned a corner out of town and into the desert. The crowd's cheers left her as she galloped into the sandy openness. She urged her horses to go even faster, leaving her sisters even further behind her.

Then it happened. She felt a sharp pain in her neck, then blackness.

Iris fell straight back out of the chariot. A group of horsemen rode over the sand dunes and towards her.

"Simple enough," one of them said as another tossed her onto the back of his saddle.

"IRIS!"

The horsemen turned and saw Lapis and Net's chariots racing towards them.

"Let's go," the leader said as they rode off into the desert.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Whoa," Zephyr urged her horse to stop outside a willow grove not far outside of New Berk. She hopped down and fed the steed an apple she'd brought with her as she patted it's mane. She then made her way to a large willow tree and began carefully carving out a bit of the bark.

She'd just cut off a decent size triangle when she heard footsteps crunching through the snow towards her.

Turning around she saw a group of Roman soldiers stalking towards her. At least a dozen of them!

"Is that her?" one asked.

'Yeah, that's her."

Zephyr's stomach began to churn. That didn't sound good. They were beginning to close in, separating her from her horse. She gripped the bark and her knife tightly in her hands, using the blade to scratch a note into the wood. If nothing else the willow bark had to make it back to Ivar.

She put the knife away and set her hand on the hilt of the sword she'd stopped at home to grab, waiting to see what would happen.

One of the soldiers pulled out a small crossbow and took a shot at her. She deflected it with her blade, catching the soldiers off guard long enough to slide between the main one's legs and to her horse. She jumped onto it's back, dug her heels into its sides and stuffed the bark into her saddle bag as the horse galloped off. A sharp pain shot down the back of her neck and she blacked out, toppling from the saddle. The horse, however, kept running towards New Berk.

"Phew! Feisty, that one," one of the soldiers whistled as he walked to her side. He picked her up and slung her over her shoulder. "Alright boys, let's go home."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Zephyr slowly opened her eyes, vaguely aware of the fact she was moving. She tried to yawn, but there was something covering her mouth. She snapped awake. She was in a cart of some sorts. Well, a cage on a cart to be more exact. Her hands were tied behind her back and a scarf around her mouth. What on-

Then she remembered,

And became aware of how hot it was!

Slowly she sat up and looked out off the cage bars. The land around her was covered in plush green grass, with few trees to block her view. Neat and tidy rows of strange, vine like plants full of tiny round, purple fruits occasionally appeared, tended by well-tanned men and women dressed in what looked like thin, white ship sails wrapped around them. Wherever she was she was clearly a long way from New Berk.

"She should be the last of them."

Zephyr turned her head towards the voice. Two men sat at the front of the cart. One was driving, the other held a crossbow in his lap. They were speaking latin. That probably meant she was in Rome somewhere. That made sense, seeing as Romans had attacked her.

But why?

Roman and Viking interactions were relatively new. The first Roman ship landed at Berk only ten years ago. Still, so far the interactions had been peaceful. The two nations traded goods approximately four to seven times a year, enough that Hiccup found it necessary to see to it that she and Nuffink learned latin. She'd keep that a secret for now. Maybe they'd let some information spill if they thought she couldn't understand them.

"Other four should already be there," the driver said.

"Good," the bowman answered. "This whole operation is making me nervous."

"Which you think is gonna figure it out first?"

"I don't know, but someone will."

The cart stopped at a gate.

Other four? Zephyr thought. So perhaps she wasn't the only one they took?

The gate opened and the cart rolled in. Zephyr looked about her surroundings and gasped. She squinted at a sight that had caught her attention in the far left. There was no way…

But sure enough, there it was! And suddenly she had plan….

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Gentlemen! And lady!"

Griselda cringed from where she sat between her two comrades in the middle of a Roman Senator's study of all places. It was the last place she, or Chantai, or Ragnar expected to be.

"I so greatly appreciate all of you coming," their host, Senator Phineas, said as he stood up from behind his desk and walked towards them, two of his slaves busying themselves preparing wine goblets behind them.

"We have much to discuss, my friends," Phineas continued.

"Such as?" Chantai asked.

"Why, conquering the world of course," Phineas answered as one of his slaves brought him an ornate, bejeweled goblet. The other shuffled humbly to the three warlords with a tray of gold wine glasses on it, all luxurious but not as shimmering as Phineas'. It was a signal to them. A signal claiming who was now in charge. Griselda knew it, but dipped her wine nonetheless.

"Now, don't be discouraged, good friends, over your failure 20 years ago. You had the right idea, just not the right direction or connections," Phineas said before sipping his drink.

"And you can give us that?" Chantai asked, an eyebrow arched in doubt.

"Certainly," Phineas nonchalantly twirled his wine. "As I already said, you had the right idea. As far as conquering the world is concerned dragons are the way to do it. I'd even say you were wise in where you planned to obtain those dragons." He gestured to a map of the world on his study wall. A far more complete one than any Griselda had seen in a long time.

"The dragon population in the north is, or was, the most plentiful. And in theory it should have been the easy to gain control of. There's no civilizations in the north. Just a few villages of savages scattered here and there." Phineas sighed in a dramatic fashion. "No one would have guessed one of those infidels would find the northern keep before you did."

"Northern keep?" Ragnar asked, leaning forward in interest.

"As I'm sure you know, though those savages do not, there are five regions in the world with dragons. Some more bountiful than others, but still. That must mean there are five keeps, or lairs, or hidden words, what have you. One, we've already established, is in the northern archipelago and is apparently under the control of one of the savage chiefs."

"Yes," Chantai nodded slowly.

"There is a central one here in Rome, though only our Caesar knows exactly where. There's one to the east in China, one to the south in Egypt, and one to the west in the Moorish lands. I'm sure only their respective leaders know where they are as well."

"And you expect them to just tell us?" Griselda asked.

"No, of course not," Phineas shook his head. "I expect them to trade them."

"For what?" Griselda scoffed.

"Their hearts," Phineas answered.

The three warlords exchanged confused and suspicious glances.

"Do you know what the Chief, Caesar, Emperor, Sultan, and Pharaoh all have in common, dear friends?" Phineas asked.

When no answer came he continued. "They are all fathers. And do you know where a father's heart lies? Not in his chest, but in the smile of his daughter."

"And you want us to go get 'me for you, don't you?" Ragnar barked.

"On the contrary," Phineas shook his head. "As we speak my men are ushering our five little princesses to their chambers."

"Wha-" the three warlords gasped as they glanced at each other.

"Consider it an act of good faith for our new alliance," Phineas lifted his goblet, and the three warlords did the same, smiling wide. After 20 years of humiliation things were finally starting to look up.

"Senator!" A guard yelled as he busted the study's doors down.

"What?" Phineas grumbled, eyes narrowed.

"Princess...from north...got away..." the guard panted.

"What?" Griselda's eyes darkened as she turned to Phineas.

"Then go and find her!" Phineas shouted. "She couldn't have gotten far."

"Oh, we did," the guard answered. "But you won't like it."

Phineas set his glass down and followed after the guard, Griselda, Ragnar, and Chantai in tow. They walked through the ornate halls, out past that gardens and to a small arena where Phineas kept his many beastly pets. He was quite proud of them. They'd all been well-trainer and had yet to lose to a gladiator. His hydra was his greatest monster, but it was hidden by a crowd of guards gawking outside its cage.

Phineas raced to it, pushed through the crowd, and gasped. "What in the name of Jupiter?"

All eight of the hydra's heads were snapping and hissing at the sea of people outside the cage, but what caught Phineas' eye was a young girl, no more than 16, standing behind the hydra's upper left flank. Only half of her face and her auburn ponytail could be seen as she peaked out at the men behind the cage's door.

"Beast won't let us near her," the captain of the guard said. "Already sent one man in to get her, but...well..." the captain pointed.

Phineas looked to see the girl had now moved out from behind the hydra and held up a sword that looked eerily similar to that of a Roman soldier's. In the corner behind her lay a pile of bent and bloody armor.

"Oh, great, now she's armed!" Ragnar grumbled.

"She's a little girl," Phineas scoffed.

"A Viking girl," Chantai corrected. "She's probably been using one of those since she could toddle."

"How ghastly," Phineas cringed. He then sighed and shrugged. "Well, if she'd rather stay with the beast it's fine with me. So long as she stays out," he glanced at the captain.

"I'll send my best troops to guard her," the captain answered.

"NO!" Griselda shouted. "Do you have any idea who her father is? Leaving her with a dragon is the LAST thing you should do!"

"You want to go get her out?" The captain asked.

The girl raised the sword again, a glimmer of challenge shining in her eyes, daring someone, anyone to try and come get her.

"Besides, where will she go?" Phineas sniffed. "She is quite a long way from home after all."

Slowly everyone but five guards newly appointed to watch the cage began to file away. Griselda was the last to leave, still watching the girl who was now sitting cross-legged next to her new scaly friend. She was calm. Far too calm for a teenage girl who'd just been kidnapped and taken to the other side of the world. Griselda glared as she followed after her comrades. There was something cooking in that girl's mind already, she just knew it.