I don't own How to Train Your Dragon, Chinese Paladin 3, or Never Exchange by Blue Bird Flying Fish.
Chapter Four: Propaganda
Hiccup lay in the cell he had been put in, strong steel bars all around him, and the door to his cell a menacing sight of metal. His dragon, Toothless, which they had graciously put in his cell with him lay curled up, in a deep sleep.
Hiccup was resting by his dragon, laying on his side, feet up to his chests as he lay close to a fetal position, arms around his legs, tears in his eyes. A lone tear escaped his eyes and trailed down his cheek as he awaited his trial which would more than likely be rigged to his demise by Lady Jue. His fate would be known soon.
Hiccup lay thinking about Astrid. Here he was, stuck in a place called the immortal realms that he admitted felt familiar though it didn't seem familiar. And just as he was trying to get home he had to get caught! Here he was due to be executed more than likely by someone who had framed him. But all this time he couldn't help but wonder why? Why had Lady Jue singled him out? It couldn't be because he was a stranger from another place for she seemed to show no deference to him. That and surely she would have known that his dragon would be executed as well for being an accomplice?
They seemed to see dragons as intelligent creatures, equal and on par with humans. In fact they seemed to revere dragons. From what he could tell, dragons were sacred them. So why would they want to execute a dragon?
There had already been talk (he had heard the whispered, the rumors, of releasing the dragon by claiming that the boy had coerced his hand, or rather paw, and that the 'poor dragon hadn't had any choice in it'. But then there were others that had said that the dragon deserved to be executed for it had insulted the name of the dragons by committing an evil crime. That and they pointed out that this dragon was an abnormal creature, being from the mortal realms, and that it was nothing like the dragons in the immortal realms. In fact, some said that the mortal realms had tainted Toothless and his purity.
Most, however, seemed to think that the dragon was innocent and vowed to make sure he was released one way or another, even if his 'friend' as they called Hiccup, had to be executed. "If we don't," they pointed out. "We'll anger the goddesses. Dragons are sacred to the goddesses."
But one thing was sure. The dragon would not leave the human, in life or in death. And another thing was sure; there were strange occurrences as it seemed some people or some group of people were strangely enough for some odd reason trying to stir up trouble for the dragon which was viewed as a sacred creature. This is where the rumors of the dragon being an accomplice and being coerced by the boy had come from. Why, Hiccup didn't know, but after gaining more knowledge on the culture it was indeed odd. And Hiccup suspected that Lady Jue was behind it.
'It's probably because I insulted her by not accepting her job offer,' he thought, though he wondered what would have happened if he did. Would she have merely killed him in private? 'Why on earth can't Toothless see past her?' he thought. Even after everything they had been through, being jailed and awaiting trial for execution (Toothless seemed very aware of what was going on) the dragon seemed to trust Lady Jue still. Even when Hiccup told Toothless as they lay in their cell what happened the dragon seemed to refuse to listen when Hiccup insisted that it was Lady Jue and Ying Hau as they matched the description in height and other ways.
And so Hiccup had been forced to agree to disagree. It wasn't easy for him, and he could tell that it wasn't easy for his dragon either.
But they were still friends and Toothless was more than kind enough and understanding enough to let his human friend curl up beside him. He wasn't angry with him or anything, merely understanding, as if assuming that the boy had been deceived somehow (and Hiccup thought it was the other way).
And so here they were, in their cell, still friends and in a disagreement, but not mad, merely sad and fearfully awaiting what was coming.
Another tear poured down Hiccup's eyes as his thoughts once more drifted to Astrid. Oh, how he wanted to see her, even if it was just for one last time! Even if he were to be executed! Just to talk to her and tell her that he loves her, and that he's sorry that he won't make it home to see her again.
'But I have to see her again!' he thought. And at that point the determination he had sparked again. Though he knew he would probably die, he was desperate to see her again, so he would fight for his life until that dream would not be a reality. He would plead his case before the court and expose the true bandits: Lady Jue and Ying Hau. He would make sure that his name was cleared, even though there was a very high probability that he wouldn't succeed. But he was determined. He had to try and if not for himself, for Astrid. 'I will try,' he promised Astrid in his mind, knowing that she couldn't hear him. 'I will try.'
At this point, as if sensing his distress and his want to be home and see Astrid, Toothless woke up some and cooed, then proceeded to give him a quick lick for comfort. "Thanks, bud," Hiccup murmured, another tear going down his face. He needed the comfort.
Slowly, a song snaked it's way into his mind and he began singing. It was a song that had become familiar with him, though it was almost as if he had heard it before, almost as if it was written in his heart. But whatever it was, it sure fitted now, and his feelings for Astrid.
The song had become familiar to him during his stay here, being sung by various employees, and others he had heard on the streets. He had memorized the words, being drawn to the song from the very beginning, almost as if it expressed himself, his thoughts and his feelings. It was like it sang his soul and his life's story.
The Mandarin rolled off his tongue beautifully, perfectly as he had long since mastered the language, and tears were in his eyes as he began:
(Look up Lyrics to Never Exchange by Blue Bird Flying Fish)
Though the song was not originally about his love story, but a love story very well known in the immortal realms, he thought that for once the song had been written for him and Astrid. Hiccup had never caught who the original song was written about or for, this curiously familiar song that seemed to tell the story of his life, the story of him and Astrid, but then again he hadn't truly had enough time to learn about the immortal realms and everything there was to know about them.
But as he finished the song, another tear rolled off his eyes and he imagined Astrid closely, her encouraging gaze pushing him to never give up, and punching him for when he scared her. If only she knew what he had accidentally gotten himself into by his own foolishness! It was, after all his own curiosity that had led him to investigate the two black shadows outside his window. If she knew, she would have punched him and said, "That's for being a fool!" But he couldn't help his curiosity, a trait that he admitted had often gotten him into trouble in the past.
He smiled sadly. Yes, it would be nice to see her again.
Suddenly there was footsteps heard outside and Hiccup sat up immediately. Toothless also sat up, braying softly.
In walked three guards, all dressed in long black overcoats that matched, looking at him with a sneer. The two behind were skinny, but the one in front was big. "All right," the lead one with a black beard said. "Time for your trial!"
Hiccup got up, and he knew that they were prepared to put the shackles on him. And, just as he thought, when they stepped in, they slammed him to the ground. Immediately Toothless growled and was prepared to leap on the man when Hiccup said, "Let it go, bud. I'm okay!" Toothless got the message but didn't appear to like it. But both of them knew what the people here in the immortal realms were capable of, and the power they held. Even Toothless knew he wouldn't stand a chance if he attacked.
Once Hiccup's wrists and ankles were in chains, Toothless was the next to be put in chains, his paws chained together. He didn't look happy about it, and he growled as they put them on, but he didn't attack for which Hiccup was proud of him for. Whatever they did, they had to show that they weren't a threat, and Toothless seemed to get that, well mostly. The growling may not have helped but at least he didn't attack. They could work on the growling later.
Finally Hiccup was shoved to his feet and marched out to the courtyard outside, thousands of spectacles gathered to witness his trial. The judge stood in front in his ceremonial robes, and guards lined the outside courtyard, trees dotting it.
The guards were dressed in black whereas the judge was wearing a multicolored outside coat, some gold woven in it no doubt. But Hiccup highly doubted that it was his. More than likely it would be handed down to whoever the next judge would be.
The judge had a short beard and mustache, his beard nowhere near as long as Hiccup's father's. Hiccup stood passively next to his guards, trying to show that he wasn't a threat. Suddenly he was pushed forward and the crowd surrounded him, the judges, his dragon, and the guards.
The people were dressed in their ordinary every day clothing. Hiccup could see houses in the distance, the tilled roofs a wonder to him, coming from the viking homes that he did. From where he could see, it looked like they were made of clay, the paper windows a wonder as well.
The judge stood behind a desk, various things in front of him. A piece of long paper, a document no doubt, was spread in front of the judge as well as a cup with sticks in the cup. Some symbols were inscribed on them and Hiccup wondered what they were for.
Then the people began shouting. "Death to him!" they shouted. "Free the dragon! Death to him!"
Upon hearing this Toothless brayed worriedly, seemingly able to know that his rider's life was in danger.
Hiccup wanted to soothe his dragon, but he didn't know what to do. So he put one chained hand on Toothless's, attempting to calm his friend down, and Toothless shut his eyes to the touch.
Suddenly, the judge, having enough, put his hands up and the people quieted immediately, awaiting the fate of the young boy in front of them.
"Young man," the judge began, not using his name as he did not have a full name to address him by. Hiccup had only ever given his first name to people. "You know why you are here. You are accused of being the black jade bandit and by the laws of Nan Zhao you must be tried and hanged for your crimes."
"And what if I'm not the jade bandit," Hiccup quietly replied.
Unexpectedly, there was an out roar from the crowd. "Kill him!" they shouted. "Inflict justice upon him! He's wasting our time!"
Once again, the judge had to hold his hands up, the long flared sleeves of his robe draping to the desk in front of him, the gold glistening off of it momentarily. "Enough!" the judge cried in a loud voice. "There were be a fair trial, else it be upon us!"
Hiccup sighed, not knowing how to pacify the people. Even if he was declared innocent by the judge, unless he could prove he was innocent to the people, there was no knowing what an angry mob would do.
"I would like to address the fair people of this city," Hiccup began to say, only for the rioting to start again.
"Kill him!" the crowd shouted. "He's trying to get away with the crime!
"I'm not-" he began only for the crowd, desperately angry to get even louder in accusation against him.
"Do you hear his blaspheme?!" the crowd accused.
"But-"
"Be done with him now!"
"You're not even-"
"Execute the bandit! Get it over with!"
For about fifteen minutes this went on, the judges orders to the crowd and to Hiccup drowned by the noise of the crowd's accusations. Finally the judge seemed to have had enough and it was then that Hiccup found out what the sticks in the cup were for. Throwing one of the stick's down the crowd immediately quieted.
"Enough!" the judge reprimanded the crowd. "Whomever is the next to speak shall have fifty strokes!"
Hiccup immediately paled. Being confined and sure he would be sentenced to death was one thing, but to be beaten before he was sentenced to death was another. Not willing to go through that, Hiccup immediately shut his mouth and noticed Toothless do the same thing. That, and Toothless immediately scooted closer to Hiccup without the notice of the others, for which Hiccup was grateful for his best friend's comfort. But Hiccup also knew that the dragon did if for his own comfort as much as for his rider's comfort.
"Now," the judge announced, clearly satisfied that not even so much as a pin dropped in the crowd; that was how silent things were. "Seeing as I have an uproar to deal with, we are going to postpone this case to the afternoon, that way everybody can take a chance and cool their heads off."
The crowd looked as if it were ready to murmur in small voices because of what the judge decreed, but as everyone was eyeing the stick on the ground, no one seemed to want to speak before the judge dismissed them. Hiccup, too, warily eyed the stick, and he gazed nervously up at the judge. His father, as neglectful as the man had been at his early age, had never beaten him. In fact Hiccup had never been physically abused before, even if he had been verbally abused and teased by his peers who later became his friends. But at least Snotlout and the gang had never actually beaten him up. He had merely been the laughing stock of the village.
Not even his father or his mother, for he remembered her and when she had disciplined him, not even they had ever even so much as spanked him. No, they would give him time outs, take away belongings, or in his father's case, exile him to be an apprentice to a blacksmith (who later became a friend of his as well) and in the end the latter turned out to be a blessing for him and one of his greatest talents (besides leading, not that he would acknowledge it).
But never, had he been beaten, not whipped, not spanked, not anything. It simply was not the Viking way. Hiccup even doubted that Dagur's father had ever beaten the boy, bad and mischievous as Dagur always was. It was simply taboo in Viking society and was highly punishable if it was found someone did that, whether to their spouse or to their kids.
And so Hiccup gulped upon seeing the stick and knowing he couldn't even so much as make one sound. The guards quietly came up and pulled on his chains, and on Toothless's as they escorted him back to his cell and threw him in. Shutting the door behind him and Toothless, they were abandoned as the guards walked away, but no doubt there were guards stationed outside the room that the cells were in.
Hiccup had fallen to his knees when they shoved him in and and he remained that way as they left, Toothless coming up to nudge him gently and give him comfort. Suddenly, unexpectedly, and Hiccup didn't know why, all his feelings suddenly left him and he burst out crying quietly, tears falling down his face. He was miserable, and he was beginning to feel just how miserable he really was, how much misery he had denied and lied to himself, even, that he actually had.
He was in an unknown place, far from home, and there was the high possibility that he would never make it back to see his friends and family again. He missed his father... and he missed Astrid. More than likely he was going to be executed when he was in fact innocent, and this was all because he was framed. He felt homesick, lost with his friend in an unknown place.
And yet, at the same time, this place felt somewhat familiar, like the feelings had come from a dream from a magical fairy world.
Why these conflicting feelings?! What was going on with him?! He was beginning to believe that he didn't know who he was any more. Even Ying Hau was beginning to seem familiar! Did they do something to him?
But he did know that he was innocent and that Lady Jue and Ying Hau were framing him. They were lying to him and everybody else about being the bandits.
But would anyone else believe him?
The tears trailed down his cheeks and his face, and he put his head in his hands, seeking comfort, feeling completely humiliated. Toothless would more than likely get away with what they would inflict upon Hiccup. They viewed dragons as sacred for some reason. But his poor best friend would be forced to spend the rest of his life far away from home, however long night furies lived, or dragons in general. That had to be a long time, regardless, even if they lived a normal human lifespan.
"I didn't even get a chance to see Astrid again!" the poor boy whimpered and the dragon nudged him as if saying, 'This isn't over yet.'
Suddenly Hiccup wrapped his arms around Toothless's neck and buried his head into the dragon's neck, weeping silently. The dragon brayed, sensing his rider's inner turmoil and not quite sure how to help and alleviate it. Truth be told, the dragon didn't know if there was anything he could do.
For how long Hiccup wept into his neck the boy didn't know, but the dragon brayed and swayed slightly, attempting to rock the boy back and forth to soothe him. Soon, Hiccup quieted, and he sat up and wiped the tears from his face.
"S-Sorry Toothless," he stuttered as he wiped his face only for the dragon to give him a huge lick across his face. Hiccup immediately burst out laughing and the dragon gave a toothless smile, pleased that he had at least cheered his rider up somewhat.
In the distance footsteps were heard, and Hiccup immediately stood up, wiping his face more, trying to look presentable. He only hoped, for his viking pride's sake, that it didn't look like he was crying. He didn't want to appear weak, though he didn't know what was considered weak in this culture, let alone what this culture considered as looking weak. His small size may have been enough already (as it was in the Viking culture) and he didn't want to appear weaker than he already looked. Though truth be told, if his size was considered weak, then why was he considered a big threat? And why would the man who kidnapped him think of him a great fighter? No, size must not translate to strength or weakness in this culture. They must view weakness by some other means and standards.
The door to the outside world opened and in stepped the three guards. There was a tray in the lead man's hands and a large sack of fish in the other. They motioned for Hiccup to step back and he did. When they were satisfied that he couldn't escape (not that he could with all the chains wrapped around his ankles and wrists, even if he weren't attached to the cells) they opened the doors and placed everything inside, closing the door again.
As they turned to leave Hiccup stood up and ran to the front of the cell. "Wait," he pleaded and the men stopped, though they didn't so much as look at him. "Let me talk to the judge!" Hiccup pleaded, desperate for his side of the case to be heard. "Please! Just let me talk to him for a few minutes."
The guards said nothing and instead they walked on, closing the door to the room behind them with a slam.
Hiccup stood stunned for a few minutes, in shock and not sure how to respond. Why were they treating him this way? He wasn't a criminal! He was a prince! Not that Viking princes really got special treatment, and especially like nothing in this culture from what he had seen so far (and it somewhat disgusted him, truthfully, the kind and amount of special treatment that individuals of high birth received). But it was true that people were showed more respect to viking royalty, the chief's family as they were called, and more especially their heirs, the chief, and the chief's spouse. Especially if they were visiting a foreign tribe, or a foreign tribe were visiting them, they would show more especial attention to the royal chiefly family and especially to the chief, chieftain, or chieftess, and the heir. Next in their attention was the current chief's siblings and the current chief's children.
But then again, these people didn't know that he was a prince, did they? And he probably wasn't a prince by their standards. In this culture, who would believe that a blacksmith was a prince, after all? This wasn't simply something that royalty and nobility did in this culture, though why Hiccup didn't know. For him it was a useful hobby and a way to express himself through inventing.
But regardless, Hiccup's message seemed to have gotten through for soon the guards came back. Hiccup hadn't even as much as touched his food. They motioned for him to stand, and they led him out of his cell, leaving Toothless behind who brayed worriedly.
Hiccup was blindfolded as he was led through the halls, up some stairs, or at least he could tell he had gone up stairs. He had gone left, he had gone right, and soon they stopped temporarily. The sound of knocking on a door was heard and the judge's voice said, "Come in."
Hiccup heard the door open and he was shoved inside. As he was shoved forward more he heard the door close behind him, and finally the blind fold was taken off, no doubt by a hand signal from the judge.
Hiccup didn't take much time to look around, but what he did see is that the room was very spacious. There were curtains which prevented him from seeing outside the window, and there was a desk which the judge sat by, as well as some chairs in the room. Various things stood in the room, and Hiccup didn't know what any of them did. Also, guards outlined the room.
"Leave us," the judge ordered and all the guards left, the door behind Hiccup shutting softly.
Hiccup didn't say anything as the judge sat down, now in plain black robes, the ceremonial robes hung up somewhere else no doubt. A tea pot (as Hiccup had come to recognize it as) was on one side of the desk and the judge poured himself some tea. None was poured for Hiccup and the boy wasn't surprised. He didn't like the foul tasting stuff anyways.
"So," the judge began, taking a sip of the drink and setting the teacup down. Then he looked up to Hiccup, his eyes seemingly penetrating him. "You wished to see me?"
Hiccup, suddenly nervous, nodded stiffly. The judge continued to look at him for a little while and then suddenly he motioned for him to sit in a chair in front of the desk. Hiccup complied, not wishing to offend the man who held to the key to his life or his death, so to speak.
Hiccup waited until he was invited to speak and when the man waved his hand for him to continue Hiccup took a deep breath. "I'm innocent," he declared confidently, but in a small voice.
The judge raised one eyebrow, his teacup in his hand, and upon hearing this he set it down. "That is not for you to determine," the judge replied, watching him carefully.
"But I was framed!" Hiccup exclaimed, desperate to get out what he knew. "I saw too much so the real bandits want to kill me!"
The judge sighed. "Perhaps you can tell me how this all started then?" And with that Hiccup launched into his story, not holding anything back. He told about his culture, where he grew up, that he was a prince of this culture, and how he was kidnapped by the mysterious man who attacked his village. He told about the mysterious sword that the man seemed to think he had, and how the man wouldn't believe him when he said he didn't have it. He told them how he fought the man as he was trying to cross realms, and how he ended up here.
"Believe me," Hiccup explained. "I knew nothing of the immortal realms, let alone what the 'mortal realms' were until I came here. We never called it that where we came from. We'd never heard of a realm! I still don't even understand what a realm is! All I have known my whole life is Berk, the Barbaric Archipelago, and the Vikings that live there!"
"Vikings sound dangerous," the man almost mocked, looking him up and down apprehensively. "After all they were more than able to defend themselves from the attacks you described, now didn't they?"
Hiccup visibly flinched. "We had never encountered anything of the like before," Hiccup whispered. "I had never encountered it. We thought our dragons could defend us."
"And clearly you were wrong," the judge narrowed his eyes.
"Clearly we were," young Hiccup agreed. "I was surprised, caught off guard by his tactics. I'd never witnessed such power that people can hold."
The judge seemed to hesitate as he put his teacup down once again. It seemed like the man believed him. But as he took his time, Hiccup wondered what the man had perceived that he hadn't, because it seemed to him like the man had put some of the puzzle piece together that even Hiccup couldn't, due to the boy's lack of knowledge of the culture. But to the boy's surprise, the man started with a different subject. "What you speak of," he explained. "This 'power' that you describe is what we call chi-power. Everyone has chi, it flows in everything. And with proper training and discipline, anyone can cultivate their chi and use it as a weapon, to defend oneself, to harm and kill, and even to heal. Yes," he replied at Hiccup's surprised expression. "Chi has healing properties as well. And these healing properties can also be used in self defense." Hiccup sat up straight, even more surprised now. "Anyone, even mortals can use it for everyone has chi. One can even access the chi of others and the chi in the earth and trees and other places. Immortals, and other powerful beings, also have their own powers, but that is for another time to explain."
Hiccup thought on these things. Could that be how they were able to subdue their dragons so easily? "The vast majority of people," the judge continued to explain. "Here in the immortal realms are trained from the youngest of ages to cultivate discipline and mastery of their chi, as well as in use for self defense. I take it that they don't do that where you come from?"
Hiccup quickly shook his head. "I had never heard of chi before now," he admitted.
The man nodded. "You probably don't do that where you come from because you don't have a need to. But here, the immortal realms, though beautiful, are incredibly dangerous. In fact, a very vast majority from the mortal realms who travel here do not survive. They do not have what it takes. And those who do are seriously maimed and receive major injuries, and they die many times before they make it out." At this the judge gazed at Hiccup curiously and in confusion. He looked at him as if wondering how he had survived so long here without even so much as a scratch.
But for Hiccup, upon hearing the news the judge brought out, he didn't pay attention to the judge's curious and confused gaze and merely gulped at the knowledge. 'Am I really going to die?' Hiccup thought. 'So even if I am found innocent in the eyes of everyone, I really can't survive here and I'll more than likely die?'
The judge shook his head, taking his mind off of the puzzling situation. Then his face darkened. "As for this man who attacked you," he looked away in thought. "I have a good idea who it is."
Hiccup shot up once again. "You do?" he inquired in worry and fear. Who was this man?
"He is a very great enemy of ours," the judge acknowledged. "In fact, the entire immortal realms are at war."
Hiccup's eyes widened in fear. 'Great, just great,' he thought. 'So not only am I very far from home and accused of a crime that I didn't commit, but I landed right in the middle of a war!' Hiccup dared to voice his next concern to the judge. "Just how dangerous... are the wars in the immortal realms?"
This time the judge raised both eyebrows as if replying that it should have been obvious. "Dangerous, very dangerous. In fact over a thousand times more dangerous than the most dangerous war in the mortal realm is." At this Hiccup shook. "You're just luck boy," the judge continued, one finger pointed at him. "That our part of the realm hasn't been on the war front yet. You certainly wouldn't have survived if that was the case." Suddenly, the man gave him the curious look again.
"Great, war," Hiccup muttered aloud. "Just great."
"Which is why the mortals here are a lot more dangerous and a lot more powerful than the mortals where you come from. Ever since the creation of the realms we've had to adapt to a lot harder life. It used to be that very few learned how to cultivate their chi and the chi power, and very few learned self defense. But when the realms split and we chose to live with the immortals and the other creatures of immense power, those who did not cultivate it were killed off. Soon everyone learned for survival's sake. Everyone here knows some amount of self defense, even our women. Most train as high as they can, and that's why there are fewer casualties here, except in war, like as we have now. The more you learn, the more chance you have to survive. The ones who don't learn as far or are incapable of learning as far don't get far in life and don't survive. And those who can't learn..." he trailed off and Hiccup shuddered. "Well, they don't survive," the judge finished.
Hiccup shook slightly, wondering what his fate was. "Those who remained in the mortal realms, however," the judge added. "Well, not only was the knowledge not really available to them, but they never grew up in as dangerous of circumstances, so they didn't really need to learn to cultivate their chi. It wouldn't really have mattered if they didn't learn it. The dangerous creatures and beasts that exist here don't exist there, and the most dangerous beasts and creatures they have there are a lot more docile and less dangerous than the weakest and least dangerous of creatures here."
Hiccup nodded, understanding. "Yes, Hiccup," the judge murmured. "That is why those few men could overpower the many of you so quickly. They didn't need to use much power to do it either. They were either from here or from the demon realms, though I highly doubt they were from the demon realms."
Hiccup looked up. "Demon realms?" he questioned.
But the judge shook his head again. "That is for another time. And now, about that man and the sword," he paused for a brief moment, looking away. "He is a very famous and infamous man here," he murmured, seeming disturbed. "The way you describe him, he is the captain of Hui Bao Li." He sighed before continuing. "The man follows Hui Bao Li's orders to the exactness and is hardly full of mercy. What he wants, he gets what he wants, as long as it doesn't go against his superiors. As does Bao Li. However, he does not go after those who hold little importance, but those who do, he does." Once more the judge looked at him curiously. "But as to why he would consider you important...as to why he would want someone from the mortal realms, that is a mystery. What threat could you pose?"
"That's what I was wondering!" Hiccup piped up.
The judge shook his head, somewhat disturbed. "And this sword you say he dropped hints about... the man seems to be talking about a Yang Sword..."
"Yes!" Hiccup perked up again. He hadn't remembered what the man had called it because the man had only mentioned the so-called name of the sword once. But upon hearing it, the boy immediately recognized the name. "That was what he called it!"
Once again the man gazed at the boy curiously. "But that's impossible..." he murmured silently, looking Hiccup up and down to which the boy was confused. "There's no way you could have it... There is no way you do have it... It wouldn't be in the mortal realms... Why would he think that you have it... Why would he think one would be in the mortal realms...?" the man continued to murmur in confusion. Then, he shook his head as if trying to clear something disturbing out. "There must have been some sort of mistake. There's no way you have it." But then he gazed at the boy curiously. "And yet he and Bao Li rarely make mistakes, and certainly not with something as a drastic nature as this..."
He stared at him for a moment longer before taking a sip of tea and acting as if nothing had happened. "This sword," Hiccup ventured carefully, sensing that this was a sensitive topic. "What is this Yang sword?"
But the man shook his head. "Never mind it." Hiccup, though dangerously curious, decided to drop the subject, not wanting to create more trouble.
"Now," the man began again, changing the subject. "About the bandit. That is what we're supposed to be talking about, isn't it?"
Hiccup nodded and waited for the man to let him begin. "Why don't you tell me more of your story and what you think you know about this bandit?"
Hiccup sighed and began his story again, starting at the place when he found out that there was such thing as an immortal, to the kind woman who helped him find work. When he mentioned that he was a blacksmith the judge's eyebrows raised and Hiccup explained how his culture worked, and how everyone, even nobility and royalty, or the chief's family, worked and had jobs. He also explained that a blacksmith was something that anyone could learn to be, even the chief. "Those of our noble and chiefly birth don't necessarily have the same amount of special treatment that you do," he added. "Though we do have some special privileges that the average doesn't. But we pride ourselves in work and independence, even our women. Everyone has job. Some women work in the public kitchens. Even my mother did. Many nobles work as farmers, as livestock raisers, as fishers, as rangers, hunters-"
"Rangers?" the judge inquired.
"Wanderers who gather medical herbs in the wild for our medicine elders to use," Hiccup explained. "They also do minor medical work, though nowhere near as much as the elders and those training to be elders do." He paused and sighed. "But the bottom line is that just as much as those who are common, we also have jobs to do. We just have extra jobs on top of what we do for a living, and that is what we are expected to do. My dad builds houses," Hiccup expounded further on his family. "He also repairs them. But he also has his chiefly duties on top of that. The chief's family, our royalty, the nobility, and those on the council do more than the common folk. The difference between the 'royals' along with the nobles, and those merely on the council, is that the 'royals' and nobles inherit their position and also inherit positions on the council, and the commoners earn spots on the council, sometimes by popular election. Even in the Viking Kingdom it is pretty much this same way, with a few differences," he admitted.
The judge looked at him curiously. "Why do you put royal in quotation?" he asked. "Are you not a royal?"
"Technically I am," Hiccup admitted. "And we use them interchangeably because the chief's family are indeed royalty, not that we admit it, but the official term and the one preferred is chief's family. But yes, I am royalty. Chief's family and royalty are one and the same thing, as well as honors and princess being one and the same thing; same position and thing, just a different title and word used. The reason we use chief's family and honors more often than royalty and princess is because those terms are used by the Viking kingdom and no one likes the Viking kingdom. We wanted to distinguish ourselves from them. But yes, we also use royalty and princess, for we are, but we use them sparingly and rarely because for the tribes it is an offensive term. In fact, our chief is a king or queen, and it is one and the same as king and queen. He or she rules the tribe as a king or queen, but we use chief, because, once again, the Viking kingdom uses king and queen and for us it is an offensive term. Same thing, different word used. In fact, the only difference is in wording."
The judge nodded in understanding. "And you are first prince of your tribe, are you not?"
Hiccup looked curiously, not understanding. "A crown prince?" the man inquired again. He smiled in amusement. "Same thing, different word," he quoted Hiccup in explanation.
Hiccup nodded. "Yes, I am heir prince. Same thing, different word. Only the Viking kingdom uses crown prince or crown princess. We use heir prince or heir honor to avoid offense."
The judge nodded and he seemed somewhat amused at the Vikings' quarrel with the Viking kingdom. "And so you got a job at Dong Guo's."
Hiccup nodded and continued his explanation of his stay, including his embarrassing incident. He also defended himself, stating that he meant no offense. He also explained right down to the part where he saw the shadow outside his window and pursued it. He explained how they found him, and how they framed him, and how they left before the crowd came and he was left alone with the evidence in the incident. "But I am positive that she is the bandit!" he told the judge.
At this the judge seemed to shut off. "Hear me out!" he pleaded and then he went and explained what he noticed. The judge seemed to open up, though only slightly.
Finally, when Hiccup was done explaining the judge seemed to have had enough. He raised his hand, palm towards Hiccup, and the boy immediately went silent. The judge proceeded to get up and walked to the door, summoning the guards in. Then he quietly shut the door. "Inquire," the boy heard him say to one of the guards. "If there is a Lady Ming Jue in the local inn at the orders of the judge," he ordered. "And make sure to do it quietly. I don't want this getting out. And if she is there she has a right to her rest."
"Yes sir," they nodded, bowing and then leaving. The door was shut again.
They waited for a good half hour before they returned, Dong Guo with them. The man glanced at Hiccup nervously, as if believing he was the bandit, and when the judge ordered him to speak the man did. "Yes," he admitted. "The second Lady of the Ming family is indeed staying at my inn, but at her orders we were not to talk about it, let alone that she is staying here in our city."
"And have there been attacks on your inn since her arrival?" the judge inquired.
Dong Guo thought for a moment, before replying honestly, in confusion, and somewhat hesitantly, "No. None at all."
"And were there attacks on your inn before her arrival?"
The man hesitated for a moment, in confusion, and thought some more before replying, "Yes, I believe there were."
The judge nodded. "That will be all for now." And with that Dong Guo was escorted out.
The judge sighed, some acceptance in his looks and Hiccup for once had hope that he won. The man nodded and when the guards returned Hiccup was taken back to his cell.
Toothless immediately got up when he saw the boy and began licking his face, pinning the boy to the ground to do so. "Yes, Toothless!" he exclaimed. "I'm happy to see you to! And I think he believes me! I think he knows that I'm innocent!"
Toothless nudged Hiccup, looking happy that they might make it out. "He knows that Lady Jue is the bandit!"
But upon hearing this, Toothless immediately growled at the boy and walked way, curling up on the far side of the cell after warming the place with fire. Burnt straw was scattered around for it and Hiccup sighed. "When are you going to believe me, Toothless? Lady Jue is the bandit!" But at this Toothless merely growled again Hiccup, knowing that he had breached a sensitive topic between them, decided to drop the subject for both of their sakes.
Hiccup immediately sat down with a sigh and began to eat his uneaten meal. Toothless hadn't touched his, and it was a while before the night fury was willing to eat. That was how upset the dragon was.
Hiccup didn't understand it. It was so obvious that when Hiccup explained it to the judge, the judge got it! So why wouldn't Toothless believe him, even though he had explained everything to him? Why was that dragon so stubborn?
By the time afternoon came Hiccup and Toothless were taken once again out for the trial. But immediately Hiccup noticed a difference with the judge. Something had happened. His countenance seemed different and the judge seemed disturbed. And, of course, once again though everyone in the city had practically shown up, occupying even rooftops, Lady Jue and her servant Ying Hau were not seen. Hiccup sighed in frustration.
The guards lined the inner court, standing near trees and keeping the people at bay as the trial began again. But Hiccup was worried. The judge had seemed to positively believe Hiccup one hundred percent near the end of their discussions, and they had confirmed that Lady Jue must be the culprit. But from the look on the judge's face, he still believed Hiccup, he was merely afraid of something.
'Oh, no,' Hiccup thought again, looking downcast. 'Did Lady Jue get to him to? Did she threaten him?' That would of course explain her absence.
"Order!" the judge called. "Order in the court!" Immediately, everyone stood at attention. "We are here for the trial of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III," the judge began, now knowing Hiccup's full name as the boy had been truthful and honest and told him. The crowd stirred in surprise at his name, wondering what kind of name that was, and for once Hiccup was embarrassed at his name.
"Bring the evidence forward," the judge ordered, and immediately witness after witness repeated the same incident of finding him with the stolen items, and in black ash.
When they were done, the judge looked at him, almost apologetically. "Is there anything you wish to say?" he inquired of the young boy, and Hiccup knew that although he said anything it was too late. Something had happened to change the judge's behavior. But he decided to try anyways.
"I wish to explain my side of the case," Hiccup replied firmly and the judge nodded.
"Make it quick."
This surprised Hiccup. "Well, it's kind of a really long explanation-"
"We don't have time for long explanations, now do we, Hiccup?" the judge firmly and coldly replied and Hiccup stared at him in shock. Why the change?
Hiccup took a deep breath. He had to try. "Lady Jue is the bandit!" he declared aloud and immediately the crowd went crazy, trying to get at him. They would have if the guards hadn't been holding them back.
"He insulted the Lady of the Ming family!"
"Hang him!"
"Put a noose on his head!"
"Let me explain!" Hiccup shouted desperately, even though the crowd was not willing to hear him out. He looked at the judge pleadingly, and the judge looked away.
"Order! Order in the court!" the judge demanded and immediately the crowd went silent. Then he looked at Hiccup. "Is there anything else you would like to say?"
Hiccup nodded. "I can't possibly have been the bandit. The bandit has been attacking you for far longer than I have been here. I arrived just barely over a month and a half ago. I come from the mortal realms and I was kidnapped from my home. I'm a lost prince from the Viking-"
"A prince?" the people called in outrage.
"Impossible!"
"He's lying!"
"He's no prince! He's a blacksmith!"
"Off with him!"
"Hang him!"
"No, just let me explain!" Hiccup shouted desperately. "Our royalty are not like the royalty where you're from-"
"Hang him!"
"Order!"
Once again the crowd quieted down and Hiccup looked up to the judge desperately, but the man would not look at him. Instead the judge looked at the crowd. "There have been many witnesses," the judge announced. "And by the laws of our land, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is found guilty and will be hanged tomorrow morning. As his dragon is his accomplice, he will be punished too by death."
Immediately Hiccup paled and Toothless brayed in worry. The crowd, while cheering for Hiccup's death, were outraged at the dragon's sentence.
"Let the dragon go!"
"The dragon is innocent!"
"The dragon was dragged into this by that boy!"
"The dragon had no choice in anything!"
"Enough!" the judge suddenly ordered, and everyone went quiet when a stick was thrown to the ground. "My decision is final. Anyone who goes against it can join them." Immediately he motioned and Hiccup and Toothless were taken back to their cells.
Hiccup fell to the ground in shock, shaking. What had happened? "I-I-" the boy stuttered. "I d-don't u-understand!" Tears began falling from his face again as he knelt in shock. "He knew! HE KNEW!" Immediately the boy began sobbing again, and despite their differences Toothless brayed sadly and curled around his boy. "He knew we were innocent! HE KNEW WE WERE INNOCENT!"
They stayed like this for some time, Toothless nudging Hiccup gently and occasionally licking him to comfort him, and Hiccup, head in his hands, crying. "Th-They knew! Th-That's why they want us killed! They knew! Th-They knew we knew too much!"
He continued to cry for a little while, and eventually the guards came with food. Hiccup didn't look up, let alone eat, too depressed to do anything. Why were they doing this anyway? They were just going to kill him!
Hiccup did his best to sleep, but that night he was riddled with dreams of Lady Jue and Ying Hau laughing at him, taunting him, telling him he was going to die, but for some reason it didn't seem realistic, or like them. After all, they were more than likely to let him die quietly, right? Regardless, each time Hiccup woke up, it didn't feel right.
Hiccup's hair was completely messed up and tangled by the time morning came. His hair had grown out some during his brief stay here. Hiccup really didn't care what it looked like and as the guards came and chained him and his dragon, tears ran down his eyes. The judge knew, and yet he still had delivered him up unjustly to the pretended law. Why he gave into bribing, the boy didn't know, but it didn't seem fair. It was selfish if anything.
Hiccup was led along and out into the courtyard, his hands behind his back, chained. As he looked out, he saw a crowd formed, surrounding the post with which they would hang him, the noose already set up. He looked at the judge and the judge merely looked away coldly, refusing to meet his gaze.
They pushed him up the platform, his dragon not far behind. A separate noose hung for Toothless and the dragon brayed worriedly. Upon seeing the dragon pushed up to the platform, the crowd immediately cried out in outrage, only to be silenced by the judge.
Once the noose was placed around both of their necks, the judge stood up. "Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, you and your dragon have been found guilty of not only murder, but theft. As the jade bandits, you will be hanged according to law. Do you have any last words to say?"
Hiccup took a deep breath, nodding, and the judge waved his hand, allowing him to speak. "I'm am innocent," he began, only for the crowd to shout insults at him. "Everything I have spoken is the truth!" he declared loudly to the crowd and the crowd shouted more at him before quieting.
The judge then looked at the dragon, as if expecting him to speak, the people not surprised, and Toothless shook his head sadly.
The judge sighed, and turned around. "Seeing as you have said your piece," he announced. "We shall continue."
And with that, he gave a wave of his hand.
One of the guards walked towards a pole that no doubt would drop the boards so that they could hang, and Hiccup braced himself for the worse, gulping as he watched. Everything seemed slow motion, and the guard's hand reached forward to pull the pole.
But as his hand was placed on the pole and had pulled slightly, a voice rang out. "And why is this crowd gathered here?"
It was the voice of Lady Jue! So Hiccup's worst enemy had indeed turned up for the execution!
Hiccup watched as the men pulled back and bowed slightly to the lady as she and her servant emerged in all their glory of noble clothing, the golden strands of the weaving glittering in the sunlight and the sun reflecting off of her gold and silver earrings, the gold and silver jewelry on her forehead glittering as well. The crowd gasped in surprise that she was here and Lady Jue seemed to glide forward, her servant Ying Hau right behind her, dressed well and colorful with the exception of jewelry and gold in the clothing.
The judge's mouth parted slightly in shock as he stood frozen like everything else. "Lady Jue! Second lady of the Ming family!" he greeted her, shaking somewhat.
Lady Jue glanced briefly at Hiccup. "And why is this boy and his dragon tied to a noose, may I ask? You won't dare try to hang him before I'm informed, will you?"
The judge, shaking slightly shook his head. "Y-You know I wouldn't d-dare!" he stuttered out. "Why, it would be illegal! I cannot possibly hang someone before informing a noble present as to the accusations and crimes!"
Hiccup looked up curious. Why was Lady Jue doing this? Wasn't this what she wanted? After all, he had almost exposed her, and he had exposed her to the judge. So why was she interfering? Was she trying to toy with him more?
But what he did understand was more of the prerogatives and privileges that nobles had. Apparently, she held some sort of authority over him in this judicial matter, and they could not hang him with her present until she was informed as to what was going on.
"He is the jade bandit," the judge explained at which Hiccup immediately shouted, "I'm not! I was framed and you know it!"
The judge then glared at him, almost pleading forgiveness. "We are punishing him according to his crimes! He is guilty of death!" he added, finger pointing to the boy.
Lady Jue narrowed her eyes. "And the dragon? You would dare kill a sacred creature?"
At this the judge froze. "I-I," he stuttered. "But he is an accomplice!" He then bowed his head slightly at this and waved his hand again. "Hang them!" The guards immediately proceeded forward again and the hand was placed on the pole once more.
Lady Jue raised one eyebrow briefly at this outburst and then raised her chin slightly in authority. But what she said next surprised Hiccup. "Cut them down!"
"But-"
"I said, cut them down!" Lady Jue ordered. "Or are you going to dare go against the order of a daughter of the Ming family?"
To everyone's surprise the judge stood straight up and squared his shoulders. "Yes," he admitted rebelliously and the crowd muttered and gasped. "I have done what the law asks and requires. I have informed you as to his crime and guilt. You have no more authority in the matter."
Hiccup was eyeing Lady Jue suspiciously, unsure what to make of her, and he watched as Lady Jue got outraged. "I am a daughter of the Ming family!" she stated in outrage and authority.
"And I don't have to listen to you anymore," the judge declared, ignoring her, giving the signal to hang them again!
But Lady Jue seemed to have enough. Pulling out her card as a member of the Ming family she raised it above her head. Immediately the men who would have hanged Hiccup froze in confusion as of who to follow. "As the daughter of the Ming family, I order you to stop!"
"And you have no right or authority!" the judge yelled at her. "Only if you appeal to your father in time can that card do anything for you!" Once again he waved his hand. "Hang him!"
But the Lady, angry and outraged at his treatment of her (which was certainly worthy of death) reached into her pocket again and raised another card quietly above her head. "How about this, then?" she smirked slightly, and the crowd gasped. Hiccup, confused looked at the card as the crowd and the guards immediately knelt before her. It had what Hiccup guessed was the imperial seal on it for the card was in the name of the Empress and Emperor.
The judge turned around when he saw everyone kneeling and gasped when he saw the card, standing in shock, looking as if he wondered how on earth she had such a card.
Lady Jue stared almost haughtily at him and accused harshly, "You dare not kneel before someone acting in the name of the Empress and Emperor? Surely someone of your stature and authority knows the consequences of such? It is death to anyone who does not kneel and obey!"
Trembling, knowing this, the judge knelt before her. "With this card," the lady began. "I have authority to act in the name of the Empress and Emperor, with death to anyone who defies. Whatever I speak, it is as if the Empress and Emperor had spoken it! Death immediately to anyone who does not submit! They shall lose their head!"
Immediately knowing the power that the lady now held, Hiccup gulped, not understanding why she was doing this.
Lady Jue turned to face him, and Hiccup stood in confusion as Lady Jue ordered, "Cut them down."
Immediately the guards acknowledged her and did so, confused. The crowd did not look happy but they knew that they had no choice but to obey. When he and Toothless were cut down he looked deep into Lady Jue and Ying Hau's eyes, not sure why they were doing this. As she looked back at him, chin high, Lady Jue declared, "There will be a retrial scheduled for tomorrow, and this time we will hear all sides of the case. I shall be their judge this time."
Hiccup's eyes widened in confusion and uncertainty. They were really going to do this? If so, was Toothless right that they were really not the enemy?
As he looked at them in shock, Lady Jue and Ying Hau stared back at him. 'Well,' Hiccup thought. 'This just got interesting.'
All right, so that's the end of this chapter.
Also, the song is a loose translation (no I did not translate it). The Pinyin title is Ci Sheng Bu Huan, and by Blue Bird Flying Fish for the Chinese Paladin 3 soundtrack. Loosly translated, Never Exchange. The song is really pretty. It is available on itunes for purchase, but be aware that if you type it onto the itunes search box it will not show up let alone that it exists on itunes for some odd, crazy reason. What you have to do is go on google and type in Chinese Paladin 3 + itunes, or more specifically, how I found it, by typing into google Ci Sheng Bu Huan + itunes, and then it will give you a link to it on the itunes website. Another thing to be aware is that it is sold in pounds, or whatever the currency in the UK is, but if you're in America you can still purchase it with an itunes card even though it's in pounds.
The song is really pretty! Check it out sometime!
And no, the song is not mine. All credit goes to the artists!
Please read and review. I decided to go ahead with this chapter and give this story a second chance, but if I can't get reviews, I may cancel it if me and my beta can't get this story where people like it.
If you like it or are reading it please review! That is unless you want it axed.
Sincerely,
Firestar'sniece
