It had been a year since Phoenix and the Light Furies came to Berk. That was how the villagers referenced it, as if the two were two parts of the same event. A year since that, and five months since the village had officially split, half of the dragon and human populations moving to found a new village on the neighboring island of Trasnya. That village was being led by a council of elders and would elect their own chief in a few months.
Rand woke as he did every morning, to a blinding glare of light. He sat up, a hand to his eyes, knowing this was only Ice's first resort in a series of increasingly unpleasant methods designed to get Rand up. It was an hour after dawn. He stood, glaring sarcastically at the dragon in question, who had deftly opened the skylight with his teeth, pulling the rope across the room.
Ice rumbled happily, carefully stepping across a still-sleeping Ruby and Amber to greet Rand, who automatically reached out and scratched around the base of Ice's ear stub, knowing that area always itched.
After a minute Rand stood, dropping to the stone floor of the central room, going about his morning business.
Now that the Light Furies were comfortable in the village, Rand and the Light Furies had jointly taken over an unoccupied house across the street from the Chief's house, one left open by a departing family, one of the many that moved to Trasnya. The house, like most places on Berk, had been built during the expansion and was built with dragon tenants in mind. Rand avoided the other side bedroom, the one set aside for Rose and Toothless. Those two dragons alternated at random between their families, and though both usually slept over at Hiccup's house, they did sometimes stay here. He had no desire to intrude.
By the time he had eaten a quick breakfast, everyone was up. Ruby nodded happily at Rand as she headed out the dragon door, and Amber, now almost full sized, trotted over for a quick scratching before following her mother out. Ice went with them, to get his own breakfast, as was routine.
After a few minutes of quiet, Rand suited up and went to work. Which for him meant going out to sit on Hiccup's doorstep, watching the village wake up. Not a bad start to any day and the village of Berk might be one of the most entertaining to simply watch in all the world. Even with its population cut down to a far more manageable size, the streets quickly filled with dragons and humans going about their business, the sky flashing every color imaginable as dragons soared over.
He set his helmet at his side, going over the scaled exterior with his hand. It was custom here for riders to make armor out of their bonded dragon's scales when that dragon shed. His suit, however, was special. Ice's scales often came off warped or misshapen by the scars, but Ice had convinced the other Light Furies to contribute as well. His suit of armor resembled Hiccup's, as their dragons were of similar types and therefore scale properties. His, however, was white instead of pure black and glinted quite oddly when caught by the sun. The helmet glinted blue, his arms and gauntlets a light pink, his chest orange, and his legs red. This was only visible at certain moments, and the majority of the time he was a pure white in color.
Other times, however... Hiccup still didn't understand why the scales retained their odd light-bending properties when heated, despite having been shed months ago. Rand personally suspected some use of the Power, though that would raise a thousand more questions if it were so, and they had no way of testing that. Regardless, they had built his armor to be entirely fireproof and heatproof, so Rand was entirely capable of walking through flames, just like Hiccup. However, every time he did, his heated scales bent light around him, effectively rendering him invisible until the scales cooled down, just like a Light Fury. He was told it was an amazingly thorough effect. At the moment though, he was an almost blinding white.
Another white figure dropped down next to him, Ice curling up around him, purring drowsily.
"Oh, sure, now you want to sleep in." Rand griped, smiling. This was an old argument. They both knew Hiccup wouldn't be up for another half hour or so, but Ice still insisted Rand get up at a certain time, like everyone else. Rand didn't really mind, because this was about the best start to the day he could think of.
Though it could be better. He was hoping either Min, Aviendha, or Elayne would come to find him eventually. Ideally Min, because she didn't really have to lead a nation like the other two. But he was content to wait until they sought him out.
A while later Hiccup and Toothless came out of the house, right on schedule. Toothless warbled to someone behind him, and the responding croon told Rand that Rose was going to be accompanying them, as she often did.
Rand stood. "What's on the plan for today?"
"Meeting with the ambassadors from the Bjord tribe," Hiccup responded quickly. "They're pretty far out. Really near the fog wall, actually, though a bit East of where we ran into you. Other than that, nothing new. The big inter-tribal meeting is two months from now though, so there is that."
Rand nodded. He'd known about that meeting, having seen the Terror-mails Hiccup sent out about it, and the returning messages. Over the last year, he had very carefully revealed his past to a select group of Vikings. Hiccup, Astrid, and the one called Fishlegs. By the time he had finished Fishlegs had filled five notebooks and fainted twice, and the other two had looked simply overwhelmed. The aftereffects of that long discussion were that Fishlegs had become very interested in the world outside the fog, and Hiccup had taken Rand into his confidence completely, trusting him to see political subtlety in such messages, among other things. Rand helped where he could, though Vikings were quite straightforward, a lot like Borderlanders, so there wasn't much he actually could do.
The first part of the day passed without incident until at noon a ship put into port, seven Vikings and a few less bulky assistants getting off, to be greeted by Hiccup and Toothless in full gear, Rand and Ice standing off to the side.
Rand had positioned himself to carefully examine each ambassador from the Bjord tribe. Looking for any little sign that they might be untrustworthy, have ulterior motives. Ice stared with him, subtly smelling each man as he walked by. After a year, he and Ice were both very practiced at all of this.
The ambassadors almost all passed without comment. One of the less bulky ones warranted a rumble of unease from Ice. Not a red flag, but something to watch. Rand couldn't see his or her face with the cloak they wore. It was an overcast day, so the cloak was understandable, but another small warning sign.
Hiccup shook hands with the leader, a calm smile on his face. "Chief Ragnar, of the Bjord tribe. It is nice to meet you in person."
The bulky man nodded. "And you, Hiccup of the Hooligan tribe. We have much to discuss."
Hiccup and Ragnar began walking towards the Great Hall, the retinue following behind. Ice very deliberately stationed himself behind Hiccup, appearing to do so by chance to an outsider. Rand took up his position off to the side, watching the walkers. They were thorough, though there had never been a reason for these precautions in the last year.
The cloaked stranger walked a little faster, hands shifting beneath the cloak. That was a red flag. Rand sped up, intercepting the figure just as they lunged, apparently trying to vault over Ice and reach Hiccup.
Ice actually snorted with disdain before slapping the would-be attacker out of the air with a wing. By the time the person hit the ground Rand was there, a sword out as fast as lightning to the figure's throat.
Everyone has stopped, and the ambassadors looked shocked.
Chief Ragnar's face was turning red. "What is the meaning of this! You treacherous worm! Don't vows mean anything to you?"
The cloak fell back to reveal a dispassionate face, unremarkable and unbothered by the sword at its throat or dragon growling nearby. She spoke blandly, as if not caring. "I hold to the vows that matter. The Empress ordered a reconnaissance of this land, and if possible for her operatives to upset any consolidation of power we found."
Rand frowned. "Seanchan." He gritted out, the sword digging deeper. "What does she know?"
The operative laughed feebly. "Nothing yet. But I am one of several, and the others are-"
Chief Ragnar smiled, his face brightening. He cut the operative off with a short laugh. "In my dungeons. I assume the four idiots who tried to assassinate me were your compatriots."
The operative paled for an instant before regaining their affected ease. "It matters not."
Rand nodded. "No, it doesn't." He looked up at Hiccup. "She's Seanchan. But apparently, they know as much as the rest of the outside world does. Nothing."
Hiccup nodded in agreement. "That is true. But it's good to know they're looking our way. We were going to discuss such matters at the meeting in a few months anyway." He turned to chief Ragnar. "And we may now as well. I have more knowledge of the outside world than any other chief, thanks to my bodyguard."
The spy looked up at Rand, her face inquisitive despite the sword. "You are from outside." It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
"Then why are you here? The Seanchan would pay a king's ransom for what you must know."
Rand didn't even bother to hide the scorn he felt at that. "I've fought your people once, don't make me do it again. Besides, all the gold in the world couldn't pull me back out there." He glanced over at Ice. "I've found something better. If your people try and take it over, I'll be first in line to step up to the line and turn them back."
"So be it. Enjoy what little time you have left." The spy's face began to pale. "For the Empress..."
Rand sighed, standing and sheathing his sword. He turned over the cloak to see about what he had expected. A short, oddly-dyed dagger, and a small cut on the woman's palm. When she had been captured, she'd killed herself with the poisoned weapon meant for Hiccup.
In a moment he'd go inform Hiccup and share his analysis of what all this meant. In a few months, they'd rally the entire archipelago because a common enemy brought people together. The Seanchan knew nothing, but they had their eyes on the archipelago. The Isle of Madmen.
Rand stood, his armor glinting his colors in the pale light, a break in the clouds showing the sun for a moment. He held his hand out to Ice, and the dragon readily pressed his nose into Rand's palm.
"A storm's coming." Rand smiled nostalgically. "Just like old times. Wish I had you by my side back then." He turned to face North, towards the rest of the world so far away. "Mat, you'd better stop your power-hungry wife this time. Because if you don't, we will."
The Kinslayer became the Dragon Reborn. The Dragon Reborn died against the Dark One, leaving Rand Al-Thor behind. Rand Al-Thor found a purpose and became Phoenix. It was not Phoenix's place to lead this war, not this time. He would defend the ones who would.
Phoenix and Ice were ready for the storm that would break itself on the sharp cliffs, unforgiving seas, and fiery spirits of the archipelago, man and dragon.
Author's Note: To Be continued in Of Ravens and Dragons. That one will be much longer, more complex, and will involve the outside world (obviously). A war between the Isle of Madmen and the conquering Seanchan, with a troubled Matrim Cauthon stuck between his wife and his dubious moral compass. That will be fun. Who knows how long it will take to write though.