RECOLLECTIONS

The chilly air lapped against their faces staining their cheeks with pink colouration. Extended beyond the four of them, a blue matte blended without a line to separate sky from sea. The coming of dawn was clear with only the sun breaching the horizon from the East shooting rays across the lapping waves some many hundred feet below them. Since the straights, the flight was calm and without disruption; a reassuring notion to the riders steeped in slumber upon the aged and beaten saddle. Toothless maintained a steady line but for now, they could rest assured they would reach Berk unchallenged.

Awoken with the unfiltered light, Hiccup slid his chest down against the battered saddle reaching out to the stirrup mechanics. He stroked the lines leading from the pedals around the fastening rings; the ropes were brittle against his skin with small tears in the fibres prominent along the entire length. He peered down at the bolts fastened against the metal framework circling around the Toothless's front leg. There was rust around the edges and it creaked against the resistance of the stiffened leather; cracks ran with abundance along the surface layer. A shift in the air pressure caused the Night Fury to sway without warning. Hiccup felt the sudden movement whipping his hands back to the grips with force.

'Easy Toothless, we're almost there,' he calmed, a hint of worry embedded in his tone.

Toothless rumbled in agreement angling his glide on a calmer current. Hiccup pushed himself back up into a sitting position feeling the gentle sway between his legs. Noticing the adjustment in height, Astrid directed Stormfly into a glide beside Toothless being careful not to disrupt the gentle flow of the Night Fury. Astrid looked across to the flowing locks of auburn hair fluttering in the wind; his eyebrows were softened, brimmed with ease. Cast in the morning light with the wake of destruction to reminisce, battered, torn and ever at peace during this chaotic time. Even with the probability of a mechanical failure, Hiccup looked untroubled from anything; he looked as if he were in sense, free. She caught his emerald green eyes as they scanned the blurred horizon looking for any form. Toothless retained his vision forward, a calm expression upon his scaly face as his eye lids slowly slid together drifting into a mid-flight snooze, captured serenity.

'How are you holding up?' she asked breaking the stillness in the sky.

Hiccup arched his back stretching his vertebrae, taut from riding. 'The saddle should hold out until we reach Berk so that's going for us,' he said letting out a relieving sigh.

Astrid returned a smile shaking her head at his simple miscomprehension. 'I meant you Hiccup, are you feeling alright?'

He stared at her for a moment considering his response. He took into account all that had happened in the last day and a half relishing in the fact that while it was a necessary trip home, he had also found a relative escape from the chaos and destruction. The lingering pressure of their time frame remained a constant, but he still felt at ease nonetheless.

'Nothing half a nights' sleep couldn't fix I'm sure,' he remarked.

Astrid felt her heart warm; this was the Hiccup she knew was at his best, fearless and in control. 'Sure, but at first glance you don't look like the epicentre of tranquillity; how bad were you clipped?'

He mulled on the thought for a moment too long. 'Shoulder's definitely bruised, multiple frays… yeah. Add it to the pile I suppose?'

'And your sword?' she inquired.

He shook his head subconsciously subduing the rising trepidation. 'I'll figure it out. Look, with a busted ship it'll take more than a day for the Hunters to reach Viggo, add that to his mobilisation time; I'd say we have five days at best,' Hiccup ran the numbers allowed. 'Either way, Heather'll keep us posted.'

Astrid acknowledged the logic at hand; the time frame was still tight but they could make it work. 'Speaking of which and I know I already asked but, why Snotlout? I'm happy to stand by that choice but there's more to it isn't there?'

Hiccup chuckled, a grin spreading across his face. 'Not really, it's a chance to prove himself a leader not only to us but himself. You saw how he immediately withdraw; under dire circumstances he opted in defence for those with experience. The truth is he is perfectly capable at doing, it's listening that I hope he learns.'

'You believe he'll appeal to the ideas of the others,' Astrid landed on the conclusive idea.

'If it means defending the Edge, absolutely,' Hiccup replied with confidence. 'That way, the only thing that can stop us is Viggo. But… not to discount the possibility of cutting us some slack once he sees how hard it can be,' he added content with his justification.

It was Astrid's turn to laugh. 'Nothing more to it, right,' she quirked an eyebrow.

The familiar peaks of the Meridian of misery glistened against the rising sunlight at last; their journey was near an end and there they could finally renew what was broken. 'So I hear the Southern Woodlands are nice this time of year,' Astrid quipped earning a hearty laugh.

He ducking his head in regards to her tacit implications. 'You could take any Island along the South Eastern province and I'm sure they'll all surprise.'

'And beyond that?' Astrid cast her gaze towards the South.

Hiccup shrugged his shoulders, his knowledge not yet versed. 'I dunno, we've never gone farther than Eel Island.'

'One day,' she smiled with surety. 'One day you'll get there.'

Berk…

A wintery haze breathed across the sky as the waves lapped against the higher cliffs on Berk's Northern coast. The dragons passed over forest hills and plateaus to finally feast upon the beauty of their home. This was Berk, the centrepiece of stubbornness and bad breath. Its newly built structures may be vibrant with colour but within the welcoming village was home to something far more sinister; a winter that clung worse that foul air. Sure, it made leaving the cosiness of one's home a battle of a less violent kind, but thankfully there was always someone close by to lend a hand. In turn, the small village they once knew had since transformed into a colourful paradise on the verge of completion.

'Dad's kept busy that's for sure,' he turned in his saddle to see Astrid and Stormfly gliding with grace in the calm circulating air. 'Care to look around?'

'After you,' she replied angling Stormfly along his wing.

Hiccup leaned forward resting a hand on Toothless's head. 'Take it away Bud,' he received an agreeable bark.

The new additions to accommodating the dragons were finally completed and decorated with an array of exciting flavours. The stands rising from the sea just off the cliffs stood with stability and strength, elevated rows lined the stadium and a large wooden throne stood at its apex; the new spectator gallery for the dragon racing no doubt. They passed directly over it climbing with the steep slope of the isle. The windmill sat to their left collecting the winds in its blades and behind it, the first lines of homes drawing around the winding slopes and footbridges. Toothless and Stormfly dipped towards the water tower. They lowered their claws and skimmed the water startling some other dragons and a few Vikings below. As they looked up to see the silhouetted shapes streak across the sky dawning sky they called out with a cheer to the others informing them that the pride of Berk was home.

'Hey look, Hiccup's back!' They cheered.

The riders heard the faint cheers of their fellow Vikings as they passed around the towering weather vane in a wide arc. Hiccup peered down to see Gobber making his way from his bustling workshop to the main plaza. Toothless continued on his banked path diving down over the cliff's edge by the hangar; the sea lapped at the rocks spraying both riders with salted water. Hiccup eased the pedals adjusting the fin's pitch as to rise in a high arc back over Berk, the resistance increased with applied pressure as Toothless soared back into the sky. Together they reached the climax of the arc feeling the pull of two forces suspend them in a weightless void.

Hiccup leaned forward against the saddle compressing his form to minimise the drag. 'Easy does it bud,' he advised.

Stormfly twirled around in his wake with Astrid freely flaying her arms out to feel her fingers plow through the winds. Together, they glided in another wide arc by the Great Hall to see the immensely large doors swing open and a powerful figure emerged; his mighty, flame red beard unmistakable to anyone who knew the name.

'Hiccup! Boomed the jolly voice of Stoick the Vast; Hiccup shifted the pedals in for a tight manoeuvre to greet his father. Instead a loud snap echoed in his ears and the world suddenly flipped as Toothless cried out in alarm.

'Hiccup!' Astrid instinctually reached out.

Toothless' tail slipped awkwardly sending them both on an undignified collision course with a nearby hay wagon. The gathering crowds all winced at the impact as Toothless emerged from under the piles of straw with a sneeze. He began to prod amongst the wagon for his fallen rider as both Stoick and Astrid ran to join him.

'Ow,' Hiccup groaned from within the hay.

'Are you alright son?' Stoick's voice echoed across the plaza.

'Oh gods. Yeah, yeah just, need a moment to hide away from the public shame,' he groaned before Toothless gummed his arm and hauled a straw riddle Hiccup to his feet. 'Well that went well.'

The ropes were finally at their end as they dangled idly in the grass; at journey's end no less as if there wasn't some poetic irony amongst it all. Hiccup stretched out his back feeling the vertebrae pop from the strain.

Astrid appeared and immediately began wiping him down only to feel the various areas of abuse his riding armour has suffered. 'Gods, a couple of clips? Looks like you've been mauled by a Gronkle.'

He considered the circumstances with an ironic expression despite her concerns. 'Kind of feels that way too.'

'Well I'll be honest. Today was looking dull until just now,' Stoick finally towered over them with a smug grin.

'Oh, good morning to you too,' Hiccup replied with as best a smile he could manage despite the various straw pieces still sticking out from every nook they could wedge themselves in.

Stoick rested a meaty hand on his son's shoulder. 'Are you alright son?' He asked, his voice half trying to sound concerned but at the same time humoured all the same.

Hiccup stretched out his right leg for good measure. 'Should be… yep, still there.'

At last, Stoick drew the duo in for a bone crushing hug. 'Ha, it's wonderful to see you two again, what brings you back to Berk all of a sudden? Viggo hasn't pushed you off the Edge has he?' Hiccup and Astrid were released from the embrace as he knelt down beside Toothless to stroke his head; Toothless crooned gleefully at the touch, leaning in for more contact.

'No… well, not yet at least,' Hiccup admitted retrieving his satchel. 'But he'll be ready to strike by weeks' end,' he watched as his father's brow furrowed at the thought.

'And you're in no condition to fight. Right. Well, first thing's first. Breakfast!' Stoick vibrantly announced. 'They're cooking up a feast in the Great Hall. Let's get you fed and then we can see about knocking Viggo into your volcano,' he wrapped both hands on the riders' shoulders, catching Hiccup's bruise but nonetheless leading them up to the Great Hall with their dragons in tow.

The Great Hall…

Stoick drew a great whiff of the flavoursome scents drifting throughout the hall. 'I'm smelling a feast worthy of the Gods Hoark. I'll take three. Now how about you?' Stoick chuckled heartily as the riders shook their heads in amusement. 'Fill her up eh?'

With their stew in hand they settled around one of the outer tables away from the main consortium. 'So the other riders are prepping the Edge for an assault. Now you're sure he's coming?'

Both riders affirmed with a firm nod. 'After we escaped Thunderclaw bay, Viggo's sent non-stop waves of ships to attack the edge; he's been prodding at our defences looking for any weaknesses but we've managed to build them up. It's taken its toll both sides,' Astrid explained setting her bowl down.

Hiccup retrieved the schematics fragment from his satchel and lay it flat against the table. 'He's amassed his fleet for something called Project Sunspear. Given the stain we've put on his operation he's reached desperate measures; whatever this thing is, it's meant to wipe us out for good. So we've lain a trap,' Hiccup flattened his personal map of the surrounding archipelago over the top. 'Snotlout, Fishlegs and the Twins are working on preparing the base itself, anything to wear down his ships when they arrive. We've sent Heather North to spy on Viggo's position, she'll keep us posted if anything changes; given our dragons are faster, we still have the advantage. In the meantime, Astrid and I attacked a scout convey this this morning; with any luck they'll report back to Viggo sometime in the next day. That'll give us a three days to restock and if we time things just right, we should return right as Viggo reaches the Edge; we attack from behind, catch him by surprise.'

Stoick stroked at his beared as he followed Hiccup's layout. 'Viggo's no fool, he'll suspect something.'

'Only one way to know,' Hiccup returned to the bench where he found Astrid idly beaming in his direction. 'What?'

'Hmm? Nothing,' her cheeks flushed as she settled back to her stew.

He was prepared to investigate further when a loud clatter from the main doors caught their attention. Two Terrible Terrors yapped as they soared into the rafters amongst a few of the other friendly denizens camping in the warmth.

'Oh, bloody cretans! Stoick, we got a pack of Terrors loose; tell the old bat if she can't keep em' under control I'll put dragon nip in her next bowl of noodle soup!' Gobber exclaimed as he hobbled through the busy hall. 'You know I say it every time you're back but without you riders to herd the pack its worse than bedlam. Next thing you know they'll be nibblin' at me undies, I only got so many spares.'

'I'm sure Gothi won't mind sewing you a new pair in return,' Hiccup remarked.

'Ehh, her handiwork isn't near what it was, not with those fingers,' Gobber grimaced.

A third party joined in from the fray passing out a spare bowl and tankard for Gobber. 'Among other things there Gobber you could say that three times over. Some of the stuff she's been scribbling is bit on the nose if you don't mind me saying.'

'Dad?' Astrid exclaimed before leaping from the bench.

Walther furrowed his brow at the familiar voice before his own smile boomed. 'I thought that was you I saw flying over earlier, what are you doing on Berk Astrid?' He caught his daughter leaping against his broad shoulders before they knocked wrists in greeting.

'Supply run. Hiccup's run into a bit of technical trouble again.'

'More crazy inventions? I thought you said you were keeping an eye on that.'

'You know Hiccup, there's no Viking more stubborn.,' she remarked.

'Except his father,' Gobber quipped circling around by their chief. 'Meaning no offense there Stoick.'

Stoick rolled his eyes. 'You're the one who taught him how to smith.'

'Aye, that be true,' Gobber chuckled heartily as the Hoffersons joined them.

'Still making village gossip I see, even if it's just my tinkering,' Hiccup remarked apathetically.

'That what you're calling it now,' Gober jabbed as Astrid rocked his good shoulder.

'Don't worry, you'll be seeing a lot more him this week Gobber. Hiccup's got what? Toothless' saddle, sword, armour?' Astrid tried detailing the growing list of refinements.

'I've run my stores out on the Edge; both saddle rigs are wrecked, my armour is…' he pulled at the tattered remains, 'And I lost my sword during the raid.' Hiccup explained, before carefully folding his maps back into his satchel.

'Well the forge is hot and the waterwheel's flowing, come down and I'll get you sorted,' Gobber offered.

'Soon,' Hiccup reassured him but the look in his eye suggested a second coming. 'Given the fight we're going into, we'll need more than just repairs.'

'Upgrades?' Astrid suggested.

'A complete remodel,' Hiccup affirmed placing his hand flat on the table. 'I've brought my journals, months' worth of ideas that never made the anvil. Give me time to sort them out and I'll be ready.'

Astrid considered the proposition against her utility and turned to her father. 'In the meantime, we should assemble the Auxiliary riders; if we lose the Edge…' she didn't miss the idea close a cold chill around them. 'We can rally our defences to the Straights of Baulder, cut Viggo off before he reaches Berk.'

'What about our allies?' Walther inquired.

'It's not in Viggo's nature to antagonise needlessly; he'll sail straight for Berk, vanquish his foes at the roots,' Hiccup enforced taking note of their past encounters. 'We can send word but it's unlikely they'll reach us in time.'

'Then we hold our own,' Stoick settled the matter. 'Ready every available rider and mount a defence the likes of which Viggo and his hunters will never expect.'

'Aye, we got your back laddie,' Gobber offered confident grin.

The strange reflection his home created was all too much like the Edge; all around him was pride, faith and the support to see his plans through. 'Alright then. Gang, let's get to work.'

Together they rose with a new direction and the means to see their aspirations rise. Astrid cast Hiccup a cheeky grin taking note of his synonymous word choice; with a hand over his heart she left a soft peck on his cheek.

'Let me know if you need hand,' she said before adjusting her top and leading a path towards the main doors with her astounded father in tow.

He could feel the mark burn on his skin before hoisting his satchel. 'Let's go Toothless, big day ahead,' he called to his dragon as he pawed away with a nearby Gronkle.

The riders were gone before their seniors could splice a word. 'I feel like we've forgotten something,' Gobber said, scrunching his nose.

'Walther included,' Stoick noted as the ginger topped man sent them mixed expressions. 'They're living their own lives on the Edge.'

'How many years is that now?' Gobber considered the accompanying details.

'Hiccup and Astrid?' Stoick confirmed. 'Unclear, depends who you ask.'

'Ohhh, I guess that's what happens when different people try to tell story. Oh well, I'll be at the Forge if you need anything,' Gobber patted his old friend on the shoulder.

'Aye, See you soon,' Stoick placed his hands firm to his hips before an obscure sight caught his eye. 'Gustav! Put that down before you take someone's head off!'

Dragons Edge…

Wood creaked upon its hinges the higher it was raised; the supports were stable as the last of the supporting nails were hammered in. The designs were moderately experimental, an extension on traditional ballista technology with the riders' personal flare. With Fishlegs aiding his knowledge on the hardpoints and bottlenecks of the base, Tuffnut and Snotlout a rigorous construction on several launchers modified for his Nightmare gel bombs.

Tuffnut wound the crank, feeling the tension build on the bow. 'Not to question your aptitude for nautical domination but how do we know the bombs won't fly off course.'

'Hey Fishmaster, care to share some wisdom?' Snotlout said loading a test rock into the firing mechanism. 'Fishlegs?'

'Yeah one sec,' he said, standing at the edge of the gangway staring out across the bay.

He was running the previous siege tactics used by the hunters in his mind; the width of the outcropping islands always forced them to converge in the bay. Adding that detail to the single-entry point, they could reduce the hunters' ability to effectively mount their assault. He'd need Gronkles, lots and lots of Gronkles.

'What's up?' he finally returned to the others.

'We're wondering about accuracy with these things; how do we know the bombs won't just fly into the ocean?' Snotlout inquired as he wound the last crank on the bow.

Fishlegs arced an eyebwow before loading a small rock into the mechanism and releasing the firing winch. The rock was instantly flung across the bay in a long arc before crashing into the still waters below. Snotlout and Tuff merely stood in silence, pleasantly surprised by the seemingly successful test fire.

'You test it, simple,' Fishlegs patted his shoulder. 'Weren't you the official weapons tester on Berk?'

'Eh, it depends who you ask,' Snotlout replied as he loaded another rock into the launcher.

Tuffnut released the winch and cheered as another volley cascaded through the air, further catching their momentary attention. 'This my main man, this right here is now my new favourite thing. I think I'll call them, flingshots!'

Fishlegs rolled his eyes. 'Anywho, I just thought of an idea to limit the hunter movement in the bay,' he pointed between the outlying spurs of land. 'We can run a low sitting wall of rock just beneath the water's surface; the hunters sail in and their ships are torn from the bottom out.'

'Not only that, you'll create a bottleneck in the bay,' Snotlout's grin grew at the awesome sight that would ensue. 'So if we line the… flingshots along the coast, we can rain fire on them before they even have a chance to land.'

'Better yet,' a flash of brilliance struck Tuff's mind. 'Hidden rock spires, really draw them in. Line up these bad boys and Fenris is not just my uncle but yours too.'

'Who's Fenris?' Fishlegs inquired, drowned out by Snotlout and Tuff's collective intuition.

'You know what would be great, if Hiccup were here to see this. Rub it in his face!' Snotlout exclaimed rubbing his hands together.

'That's real mature Snotlout, really showing your leadership potential,' Fishlegs tried to counter object.

'Shut up Fishface, this plan is awesome and you know it,' Snotlout rejected throwing finger down in emphasis. 'Tuff, go get your sister, these Nightmares aren't going to milk themselves.'

'Have fun with that guys,' Fishlegs parted ways through the clubhouse to where Meatlug was resting. 'I'm gonna going round up some Gronkles.'

Meatlug popped her eyes open with a warming grunt before they departed over the forests; Tuffnut idled up beside Snotlout who was basking in the theoretical brilliance their plan beheld. 'Oh man, when the Dragon Hunters arrive, they won't know what hit them.'

Tuff rested his elbow on Snotlout's shoulder. 'Well they'll assume it's…'

'Tuffnut!' Snotlout balled his fists with a dominant tone. 'Don't ruin the moment.'

With the sun falling into the later heights of the day, the seas were masked with a deeper hue that mirrored the shadowed horizons. Where the waves rocked below the air remained remarkably calm; it was quiet amongst the clouds and Heather couldn't help but feel unnerved by breathless currents. Her path had ranged further into the East where the ice massed in amongst snow peaks biomes and scattered shelves. Windshear cut along the cloud canopy with an eye to the sea below; their route trailed the common lanes used by the hunters serving to their advantage. She pointed towards a misty outcropping that overlooked a narrow pass that fed a direct channel to Thunderclaw bay. Her time with the hunter paid many rewards, most Viggo had used against the riders but there were still a pocket of secrets she'd learnt unawares to his critical eye.

Just as Hiccup and Astrid proposed, a ship laden with battle scars and a skeleton crew crossed the line Viggo once marked separating the Northern isles from the allied tribes of the Archipelago. Heather and Windshear held their line as it charted a precarious path into the frozen wastes; against the mist, they were nothing but a shadow, a trick to the eye that only chilled their superstition. Windshear tucked low against the rocky ledge as Heather reached into her pack for parchment and a charcoal stick.

'We'll hold here until the ship passes through the veil girl,' Heather brushed her hand along the dragon's shimmering scales. 'Viggo's likely to have increased the guard since the raid.'

Windshear hummed a soft tune contently resting her head against the stone. 'And now we wait,' Heather mused before scribbling down her report.

Thunderclaw Bay…

Maps and charts lay strewn across the desk. Scrolls of half opened parchment were scattered on the floor and left to the small breeze whistling into the tent. The glow of the fire lit the room casting the shadow of a man fretting around the pages searching with ravenous hunger for his prize. To his right, a luminous aura of golden light projected images and runes upon the wall. The man picked out another scroll and searched down the scribbles of writing and drawings, his cold eyes were sharp and calculating as they found nothing valuable in prolonging his campaign.

Anger was building below the surface; a sign warning to others not to cross his fury. His fist slammed down against the table at yet another false lead. The man closed his eyes and allowed for the air to fill his lungs and calm the raging frustrations. It had to be here somewhere, the answer to this mystery that had plagued him for many infuriating months now. The tides of this conquest were drawn into rough seas and he couldn't deny the desperate urgency in his decisions. The most recent attack on his scouting fleet had ended in no more than splinters as the ships lay to rest at the bottom of the ocean; the loss was conclusive on his rival's defensive aptitude, but it was aggravating, nonetheless.

As for this young nemesis, he couldn't help but notice a great change in his attitude, ever since the liberation of the Eruptadon. His bout of deception was countered; the dragon riders' allies grew still and even the bounty failed to draw a profitable return. In hindsight, an actual reward would have proven more potent; the bounty hunter Krogan despite his formidable reputation remained true to his wares. Of course, the same decision was not mistaken; in the end, his services proved useful for project Sunspear. Regardless, Hiccup Haddock the third proved he was more ruthless than even he realised; Viggo Grimborn suffered the from grievous losses, some light though roughened in their long term expense. As he scavenged desperately through his information about the young man and his dragon, he was met by yet another dead end. For hundreds of years, the Dragon Hunters sailed the seas hunting for the greatest prize, bested by no one; even those who sought greater conquest ignored their operations for the most part. But in the span of a single year, he had been challenged and suffered from the dealings of this Berkian and his competent friends.

The flap entrance into his tent was pulled aside capturing Viggo's attention. A muscular man stepped through; his scaled armour was laden with the history of battle and fire. His face was hard and fierce, the workings of a loyal soldier and his beared was trimmed leaving only a moustache and a finger goatee.

'Evening brother. How was your expedition?' Viggo asked.

Ryker approach his younger brother clasping his hand and holding an embrace of unity. 'Aye, we found them, right where he said,' he replied, the cloaked bounty hunter Krogan filing in silently behind him.

Viggo clasped his brother on the back. 'Excellent, at last the tides may turn. Did you have any resistance?'

Krogan stepped out of the shadows, undressing his indigo hood to a trim head of black hair. 'The locals were very welcoming, no threats and no dragon riders,' he remarked with a sly grin.

He couldn't help but notice the small twitch in Viggo's eye as he mentioned the riders; he began stroking his beard pondering over their lack of interference. 'This is an interesting development. I was sure Hiccup and his company would've intercepted your party. Then let it be to our fortune they didn't,' he concluded, the thought still lingered in his mind as to why.

Ryker stepped forth, his face holding another thought in relations to the topic. 'I suspect they were occupied with our scouts scoping the perimeter of their island. The latest convoy failed to report in.'

'Once again, your men make peace at the bottom of the ocean; I could suggest a formal intervention?' Krogan idly picked at his nails with his hunting knife.

'You're paid to hunt dragons, not talk,' Ryker chipped him with a glare.

'Precisely the point; the art is easily taught and I can simply pass on my knowledge provided the necessary accounts are settled?' Krogan pointed his knife between the brothers.

'Arrogant thief!' Ryker snarled clenching his fist.

'Enough, both of you,' Viggo cast them an icy glare. 'Your differences were settled in full Krogan and your ego is a crass means for the inflation of your price. Project Sunspear will eliminate the riders and then there will be no consequent need for your services.'

'Give them an edge and they will take it. Beware your oversights…' Krogan was cut short.

'Thank you Krogan,' Viggo reprimanded him to silence. 'Your services are appreciated, you may retire.'

Krogan subtly gritted his teeth with an eye of malcontent before submitting to his employer's request. He flourished his cloak upon exiting the tent at last leaving the brothers to their private quandaries.

'That cutthroat'll sink us of our gold before this is over,' Ryker grunted at last releasing his fists.

'It's the price of quality, even with his unpleasantries,' Viggo mused reluctantly acknowledging the irritating truth before returning to his chair. 'So our ships are spent yet again; the dragon bait no doubt freed and the blind spot in their scouting defence now secured… I admit, this complicates things direly.'

'I wouldn't discount our chances yet; there may be an opportunity to exploit the Dragon Rider's defences if we move fast enough,' Ryker countered before turning to the entrance. 'Helen, Istvan!'

Viggo eyed the two rugged and injured hunters as they limped inside with a tall satchel. 'We intercepted them on the return East of Melody Isle, the surviving crew of a surprise attack by the dragon riders,' Ryker explained

'Where were you stationed?' Viggo inquired noting the layer of soot that covered their torn tunics.

Helen stepped forth. 'The Straights of Baulder, my crew and I were part of the convoy sweeping through from the Eastern depository.'

'The shipment of flare powder we ordered last month; Krogan's idea,' Ryker elaborated.

Viggo wrapped his hands together and pursed his brow. 'How many riders?'

Helen gestured for Istvan to approach with the satchel before he unsheathed a mangled blade rich with elemental scarring and place it upon the desk. 'Just two, the leader and his first command. He used it to ignite the flare powder in their escape, took out most our crew including Captain Olan and Ramsis,' Helen explained massaging her side.

Viggo's smirk was maliciously subtle as he gently raised the aged weapon. 'Hiccup Haddock and Astrid Hofferson. Now that is interesting,' he analysed the fine artistry involved even in the blade's decaying state.

'Those of us left scrounged together what we could to get back and found it amongst the debris,' Istvan input.

'I see,' Viggo spared a brief glance from the blade. 'It's masterful craftsmanship; like many things, Hiccup emotes a great deal of care. As I'm sure I've told you before brother, his empathy can be exploited but at the risk of underestimating his ruthlessness. Regardless, the question remains, why?'

'We don't know,' Helen shook her head. 'They didn't question any of us; I'm not sure they even had a plan beyond destruction.'

Viggo's eyes widened in realisation. 'Because it didn't matter so long as you returned,' he rose from his chair and cleared away a map of the outer archipelago. 'To deliver their location…'

He traced his finger along the scouting routes of his ships down to the line along the Straights of Baulder. He then calculated the various times and routes against their aerial advantage to known allied islands. The convoy was no accident; regardless of the cargo, their consequent target was in perfect tactical position with Berk. Viggo's features were tense as his mind formulated the intentions in such a manoeuvre; Dragons Edge lay in the centre of their conflict each with the means to reinforce either side. He cast an eye to the mangled blade before the shine of a carven playing piece captured him completely. The Maces and Talon's board lay open upon a table stacked with old journals. Between Hiccup and himself, the nature of the game and its history was interwoven to the very core of their morals. As it began, it would also end with them one way or another.

'…And leave their base open for assault,' he concluded before turning a menacing grin. 'Hiccup intends to bait us.'

'Then it's a trap; we should hold off until they return,' Helen stated firmly.

'Against a larger and prepared force?' Ryker frowned with eye of discontent. 'Haddock'll have the Berkian fleet at his back.'

'What about the new dreadnaught?' Istvan suggested.

'It's designed for a landing assault; the open seas limit its offensive bounds,' Ryker explained before turning to Viggo. 'We haven't the gold to sustain us for long, let alone strengthen the fleet.'

'It's irrelevant,' Viggo paced out from behind his desk. 'Neither of us will risk open warfare, not on a large scale; we have to be precise, quell them with a single blow.'

'What are you suggesting brother?' Ryker could see the inner machinations from behind his cold eyes.

'I believe we should honour their engagement. Captain Helen, Istvan, alert Krogan, it's time to launch project Sunspear,' Viggo declared, precuring the chief totem from the game board. 'Ryker, a word if you will?'

As the captain and her new officer filed away, Ryker held his feet with a slow nod before joining Viggo by the game board. 'I feel strange asking this of you. If mother or father were here to see this, would you say they'd be proud?' his brow was pursed, plagued with a rare sentiment.

'It's never concerned you before, what's changed?' Ryker narrowed his eyes.

Viggo's expression twitched ever so subtly. 'I'm not sure. Maybe when I look at our legacy I can't help but think of those before us; lest they died hunting dragons, they chose nonetheless when to pass on the mantle. The cycle continues on, generation after generation and here we stand at the cusp of annihilation, forged only to follow in their footsteps wondering if it was worth it?'

Ryker folded his arms with an air of concern. 'I know Dad wouldn't like hearing that,'

'And you were always his favourite for it,' Viggo pointed at him, pushing away from the board. 'Age old resentment from our childhood as if any of that matters now. Grandfather always favoured me and I supposed I could say the same for our mother; we were meant to be the same, I realised it long ago but the world is without its perfections.'

A scoff to settle his brother's incentives and heavy footsteps that followed, Ryker set his sights firmly. 'Don't get sentimental on me Viggo. As you say, it's only business.'

'As if it were only so true; perhaps we've been playing this game too long,' Viggo relinquished his gaze to the maps. 'And what do we have to show for it? The line ends with us. Krogan will be paid and return North to his master, our hunters disperse and later collapse under individualist ideas. Business as it were, emotion and ethics were never useful for a critical decision, a cold notion but it's the truth,' he continued to vent.

'Get to the point,' Ryker's patience as ever was wearing its worth.

'Emotion is precisely the point, resentment, frustration, the catalyst of error. Hiccup Haddock, a name we knew not until a year ago has completely overturned us. We could have cut our losses and disappeared, but I made it personal; that, is my fault,' he set the Chief totem in the middle of the map.

'So you let your game get out of hand and for what?' Ryker said in a low voice.

'I don't know,' Viggo whispered. 'To make it last?'

'You've grown fond of the boy's intellect. Destroying him rids us of challenge, a challenge you enjoy too much. I think you're afraid of victory.'

'It's not that simple,' Viggo stated.

'Maybe it is, with the riders gone there's no meaning for you beyond the trade,' Ryker exclaimed throwing his arms out in emphasis. 'But It'll be our heads if we lose,' Ryker slid the piece until it rest over Dragons Edge. 'Destroy them once and for all, no games, no clever tricks. If not for the hunters, then for family.'

Viggo's expression twitched with wry grin. 'Even if the irony isn't just a little poetic, at least we can still agree on something,' his features slowly morphed in a state of realisation

'Aye and it's what we've exploited them for time and time again,' Ryker bluntly stated.

'Precisely, empathy holds them together more firmly than trust; fracture it and their scaly mesh deteriorates. I believe we can still do more, bend Hiccup's will per say.'

'Capture the dragon?' Ryker barely raise an eyebrow with uncontested dryness in his gruff voice. 'Ever the original plan Viggo…'

'No, not Toothless; they'll never expose themselves long enough. There is however, another,' Viggo noted the blank reaction his brother portrayed. 'I don't blame your eye for missing certain subtleties, but if there's anything I knew about our parents, they did love one another. It's an expression you seldom forget, a constant wherever you go,' he carefully placed the totem on Berk.

Ryker followed the line of movement between the riders and themselves. 'Hofferson.'

Viggo's grin grew ever more menacing. 'And on younger minds riddled by impulse; they'll be stripped of their will. There's only so much one can balance before the weight simply crushes them. Dragons or not we have that to our advantage.'

'But without eyes in the South, Berk has the means to send forth their forces unscathed, they could arrive at the island and crush us; we can't fight them all,' Ryker pushed the totem through the Straights of Baulder.

'We may not have to. Open war is not in our interest, and even with all their might, they cannot withstand the power of Sunspear; it'll cut a path right to Berk and even their allies will be too late to stop us.' Viggo retrieved the piece from the maps and carefully followed the carved channels of its design. 'Hiccup and his band of riders stand on the eve of destruction; our game has reached its finality; Dragons Edge will be razed and when the dear couple return, they will find only ash and pain. From the shadows of their ruined fort, we will take them down. The price of the Night Fury will buy us all we need to rebuild; a new world shaped by our mutual ally as it were.'

'And the riders?' Ryker inquired.

'We make Hiccup watch as their future is destroyed. Then and only then may he die,' he released his grip upon the totem and watched as it fell to the stone shattering into tiny fragments.

To be continued in RECONSTRUCTION