Chapter 3

Lord Kiefer

As she sat and watched the new arrivals, more and more Vikings gathered around the cliff to get a good look. Fishlegs was first among them. Ruff and Tuff soon came to see what was going on, and eventually Snotlout arrived as well. It seemed like half the village came over — if they hadn't heard the Night Furies announce themselves, they had heard through the rumor mill.

There really wasn't much to see. About fifteen minutes after they had arrived, they started setting up a campsite, apparently with her dad's permission. Some started to care for their dragons. The commander continued to negotiate.

Once it became clear that nothing was going to happen, most wandered off back to whatever they were doing. Hiccup and her riders remained, though. Fishlegs scribbled in his notebook as he observed. Snotlout leaned against Hookfang, cross-armed, with a nonplussed look on his face. The twins distracted themselves chasing a Terrible Terror, but stayed nearby. And Astrid . . . she kept a firm grip on Hiccup's hand as they sat side by side, resting their backs against Toothless.

She couldn't help but imagine herself down there, immersed in the scent of Night Furies. She imagined playing with them, tossing sticks, wrestling. . . . Her eyes wandered to the clouds as she imagined being up there, Toothless leading an entire flight as they soared around the island. They'd come around back to the village. The Bork Week Festival would be just starting, everyone would be outside watching. Fishlegs and his Gronckles would do some hovering dance; Snotlout and the Nightmares would lay a carpet of fire; the Zipplebacks would set off air bursts; Astrid would fly low with a V-Formation of Nadders; and for the finale, Hiccup and the whole flight of Night Furies would dive from on high. They'd weave between buildings, left, right, then come up on the flower baskets. They'd snatch them off the rooftops and raid torches, and spread the petals as an official start of the ceremony. The foreign commander would be there; he'd love it. He'd smile that beautiful smile. He'd say he was impressed, he'd admire her abilities. He'd lean over —

"They're coming back," Snotlout said.

Her eyes descended to the ground once again. Gobber had climbed onto Thornado. He managed to pull the dragon around, but Thornado obstinately refused to take flight again. She could see Gobber arguing, and then pleading, until her dad yelled at his dragon. Finally he took off without his owner and started back.

Stoick trudged his way back across the beach, the foreign commander and a pair of his people with him. One looked like a guard, still wearing his armor and holding several blades at his hip, while the other was more weasel-like and only carried a book.

"Only took 'em an hour." Snotlout turned at Hiccup and laughed. "Looks like you're not special anymore! Turns out Night Furies love riders — you got the easy one! What a worthless Dragon Master!"

Astrid stood up and marched straight over to him.

"Not the face!"

Which was exactly where Astrid punched him. He stumbled and Hookfang caught him.

"Looks like it's good news, at least," Fishlegs called over, completely unconcerned about the familiar violence. "I mean, he wouldn't be bringing the foreigners if it went bad. Right?"

Hiccup nodded. "Probably."

"I can't wait to see what they know about Night Furies, an' — and Gronckles and other dragons! How many d'you think they know?"

"What I wonder," Tuffnut said as he and his sister returned to the cliff side, "is what kind of damage six Night Furies can do!"

He grinned and rubbed his palms together.

"Think they could give us a demonstration?" Ruffnut shoved her brother's shoulder. "I volunteer Tuff as the target!"

"Puh, whatever!" He rolled his eyes and flicked his hand dismissively. Then, after a pause, added, "Just tell me when to be there."

"Spitelout!"

Gobber had finally arrived. Thornado landed hard and he jumped off.

"We're having guests! Real guests. Diplomatic sort. Be friendly." He turned toward the town center, then turned back to add, "By which I mean, don't attack them."

He looked around the village, scratching his chin with the tongs still replacing his hook hand. "Now then. Mulch, Bucket, gather some fish and cabbage. Enough for six men and dragons, deliver it to the beach. What else did Stoick say? What else..."

He scanned the village before his eyes reached the Great Hall, up the hill. "Oh! Right. Rockboil! Prepare a feast! Make it better than last time — you almost started a war, and my skivvies still haven't recovered."

The Vikings dispersed to take care of their jobs. Gobber started to follow Rockboil, likely to ensure that the food was palatable, but suddenly noticed the tongs. He shook his head and went back to the smithy chuckling.

Hiccup looked down at the beach again. The foreigners had removed the saddles from their Night Furies, who were now mingling in a group. Half of them found someplace to lie down, while the others sat or stalked around the camp.

"I hope they get along with Toothless," she said. Astrid turned around; Snotlout was still rubbing his jaw. She came over and knelt down, eyebrows raised in concern. Hiccup looked away, feeling guilty. "I just mean, I'd like him to have a family."

Astrid put a hand on her shoulder and gave her another reassuring smile. "I'm sure he'll be fine." She looked out at the Night Furies. "They look friendly, at least. I just hope their riders are. That's the big thing. Think about it, Hiccup! Riders! And if they're friendly? I . . . I can't even imagine it."

"I know." Hiccup nodded. "I hadn't even considered it before. Everyone else is so afraid of dragons . . . the Outcasts, the Berserkers, even villages like Forlorn Point and Hopeless." She drew a breath and shrugged. "Maybe . . . Maybe they can help us. Against Alvin, or Dagur — if he ever, y'know . . ."

"Figures out our ruse?"

She actually wanted to say 'grows a brain', but shrugged. "Sure, that's a better way to say it."

"An ally would be one thing, but really, I'm just amazed that we aren't alone."

Hiccup smiled. She was right. There was someone else with the same philosophy, who didn't hunt dragons, who wasn't afraid. She, her riders, her village wasn't a fluke, a flame that would burn out all too soon. Dragon training was something real.

She heard her father's voice growing. " — and once introductions are done, I can show you around. My daughter's been trying to get me to offload things like this to Gobber, but . . ."

She jumped to her feet and brushed herself off. He crested the hill, the commander right behind. Her heart jumped at the sight of him. He looked even more handsome up close — his square jaw, his confident brow, and his bright, blue eyes. The way his look darted around the village was that of genuine interest, a curiosity borne from a thirst for knowledge.

Astrid leaned over to whisper, "Wow." Hiccup couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"Actually, she should be right around . . ." Her father looked straight at her, exactly where he had left her. He grinned his wide, toothy grin. "Ah! Perfect. And she's even gathered the rest of our riders!"

He strode up to them. The commander stopped beside him, flanked by the other two foreigners. His guard rested his hand on the hilt of his longsword. He had two other weapons, a shortsword and, on the other side, a dagger. His face was hidden behind a riding mask. The weasely looking man held up his book and a thin pencil.

"Everyone!" Stoick put his fists on his hips and met each of the riders' eyes. "This is our guest. He's from a place far, far to the south, called Mesa Del Cadre. He's an ambassador, and a Lord in their lands, so you will give him the same respect you would give me. His name is Lord Kiefer."

"I have heard much about you," Kiefer said, his voice smooth and commanding. "I look forward to speaking with you, sharing and learning techniques and, hopefully, becoming friends and allies."

"Allow me to introduce them." Stoick motioned at the blonde-haired siblings. "These are the twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut."

He tilted his head and his eyes flicked between them. He covered his mouth to whisper aside, "Which is which?"

Stoick's laugh boomed across the village. "I often ask that question myself! Ruff is the girl."

His brow furrowed and he looked between them again. "That doesn't help much."

Well, Ruff is the one eyeing your muscles, Hiccup wanted to say.

"It's not that hard!" Ruffnut straightened and jabbed a thumb into her chest. "I'm the strong one!"

Tuffnut scoffed. "I'm the tough one. It says so in my name."

Ruffnut shoved her brother around to face her. "Yeah?" She drew in close. "Well Mom didn't know when she named us, otherwise she'd have named me tough!"

"Ruff, Tuff," Hiccup growled. They stepped back and turned away from each other. She sighed in relief. She glanced at Kiefer, but his expression was inscrutable. Still, she knew, she just knew, that they hadn't been a good first impression of her riders.

"Anyway. This is Fishlegs." Stoick motioned at the heavy-set rider. "I understand he's an expert on the Book of Dragons. Our Book of Dragons, I mean."

"Ah, the book-keeper." Kiefer gave Fishlegs a respectful nod. "Very good. Glad to meet you."

"I'd, uh…" Fishlegs held his notebook tight to his chest, tapping his index fingers against it. He swallowed. "I'd like to know about your Night Furies… We only have one... so we… we don't know that much about them, and you have so many…"

"'Night Furies', huh?" Kiefer pinched his chin, looking past Fishlegs at Toothless.

Fishlegs opened his book and snatched up his charcoal pencil. "Anything, anything you could tell us! I'd like to know about any dragons you know!"

"Not now, Fishlegs," Stoick said. He motioned to the next rider. "This is Snotlout. He's…"

Stoick paused for a very long moment and frowned. He was obviously searching for something positive to say about the eldest of the dragon riders.

"...He's my cousin's son."

"And the only one who knows how the Academy should run!" Snotlout interjected. "I tell ya, you want to know anything important about our dragons, talk to me. You want to know anything geeky, talk to him." He jabbed his thumb at Fishlegs.

Hiccup scowled. She was quite certain this wasn't impressing the foreign ambassador, either. Kiefer didn't even say anything.

"This is Astrid." Stoick moved on. "A good lass. She was our most promising dragon fighter, and has become one of our best dragon trainers, the first to be taught, in fact. She did a lot to convince the rest of us."

Kiefer smiled that nice smile of his as his eyes lingered on Astrid. "And such beauty to go with that strength. A pleasure."

Hiccup shifted her weight to her other leg as a strange pain gripped her chest. The spring in her faux foot sunk under the pressure. Her eyes fell, but she couldn't help but shoot a jealous glance at Astrid.

"Oh! Uh." Astrid's eyes widened and she seemed to freeze. Freyja, what happened to the girl that could rebuff Snotlout from halfway across the academy? She didn't know what to do with someone she actually liked? "Thank you. ...Uh, you too."

Speaking of Snotlout, he had turned a dark look on Kiefer. At least he was smart enough not to say anything. At least, she hoped he was smart enough.

Stoick leaned sideways and uttered in a hush, "Saved the best for last."

He motioned at the final dragon rider. "Our Dragon Master, and my daughter, Hiccup. She befriended a dragon, convinced Astrid, taught her and the others to train, and together, convinced all of us, that dragons aren't the enemy. She's done me proud."

Hiccup smiled at that.

"Which makes you the one I've heard so much about." Kiefer smiled and bowed. "It is a pleasure to meet such a smart and —" He looked her over once before finishing, " — fetching young lady."

Her cheeks felt like she'd spent too much time in the sun. She tried to swallow a lump in her throat. "The pleasure is mine, Lord Kiefer."

His smile broadened. "You can call me Kiefer, Lady Hiccup."

Her cheeks now burned like the skin of a Fireworm. She couldn't meet his eye. "Just Hiccup, please."

"As you wish." He turned to her dad, which made it much easier to look up. "Chief Stoick, I'd request both Lady Hiccup — sorry, 'just' Hiccup — and Miss Astrid attend the feast with us. I would like to hear their perspectives."

"Of course Hiccup was coming," Stoick said. Yes, of course, it's not like he'd bother to ask. "Astrid, you can come too."

He knelt down and lowered his voice. "Hiccup, I want you to wash up and put on your best furs. Astrid, if you could help her with that… She's never been that good at making herself look, well, good."

Hiccup rolled her eyes. "Thanks."

"You're fine." Astrid smiled and massaged her shoulder. "But I'll help you be better."

"Good. You should put on something formal, too." Stoick stood and turned back to the foreign ambassador. "Now, what would you like to see first?"

"Well, I'm interested in your day to day tasks. What is it like to live here?"

"In that case, to the docks!" Stoick motioned for the opposite side of the village where wooden cranes jutted out over the cliff side. "Fishing is one of our most common tasks. We'll work our way back from there . . . "

She lost her father's voice in the overlapping chatter of the other villagers as he and the foreigners continued on their way.