Chapter 8

The Poor but Honest Farmer.

The man was tall and his dark hair, including his mustache, was sopping wet. He had incredibly pale skin, but Hiccup guessed that was from being locked in the box with sea water. The man was handsome, if the giggles and blushes of most of the women in the room were anything to go by.

Hiccup did not move forward. Instead, he slipped further into the shadows. The man looked friendly enough and he had a small grin on his face, but his eyes... The eyes told a different story. This man was not to be trusted, and Hiccup had the feeling that it was best if the man did not know who he was.

"Who are you and why were you in the coffin of Grim Beard the Ghastly?" asked Stoick.

The tall man coughed once more, then smiled at Hiccup's father. "I will tell you all, but can I please sit first? I am feeling very tired from my little trip."

Stoick nodded and pulled a chair up for the man. "Of course."

The man sat. He was stricken with yet another bout of coughing, and bent down under its force. When he finished, he straightened and looked around. Hiccup noticed as the man's eyes fell on Snotlout and he smiled.

"And who are you, son?"

The young man puffed his chest out. "I'm Snotlout."

Hiccup rolled his eyes at his cousin. How could he not feel the wrongness of the man? Something was definitely off and Hiccup didn't like it. It was that smell in the air, the smell of death, and it wasn't from the man that had been sleeping in the coffin.

The man turned his head back to Stoick and smiled. "I, my friend, am Alahan, the poor but honest farmer, and as to why I was in the coffin, well, that is a bit of a tale."

Hiccup would bet his armor it was a false tale.

"Well, you see, I was on my way to Berk, when -"

Stoick smiled at the man and clapped him on the shoulder. "This is Berk, my friend."

The man nodded slowly as an olily smile that almost reached his eyes spread on his face. "Then that means you are Stoick the Vast."

Stoick nodded with a grin on his face. "Yes, I am."

Hiccup saw the flash in the man's eyes and he sunk farther into the shadows, watching, waiting.

"Then I am safe! The Meatheads dumped me into this coffin and declared me a thief, which is absurd."

Old Wrinkle looked the man up and down, his face was emotionless but Hiccup could see the suspicion in those old eyes. "You say the Meatheads dumped you in the sea. They must have good reasons for doing this."

Stoick shook his head with a sigh. "Mogadon the Meathead is not the friendliest fellow in the Viking world."

Old Wrinkle shook his head but said no more as Stoick pulled up his own chair.

"Now, why is it that old Meathead threw you in the box?"

Alahan smiled that sly grin that made Hiccup shudder. He felt like he knew this man from somewhere.

"Ah, well, I went to them for directions, when they saw the coffin they asked me about it and I told them the story. Well, they didn't like it, so they tossed me in the drink."

"And what was the story?"

Hiccup looked at his cousin who was watching the man with wide-eyed wonder. He smiled: it appeared that Snotlout, just like his father, loved a good story.

"I'm glad you asked, because this has something to do with Berk."

Every one shifted closer then. Hiccup felt that even he had to step closer if he wanted to hear, but he didn't.

The man spoke in a clear, loud voice. "I was once a poor but honest farmer, minding my own business, when one day, as I was digging up a new field for potatoes..."

A few murmurs went through the crowed. Potatoes: the plant that was not to be named. Interesting, thought Hiccup.

"...when I struck this," the man knocked his knuckles against the coffin. "Well, not knowing what it was, seeing as I don't know what those golden runes said, I opened it," he held up his right arm for all to see: his hand was missing, in its place was a metal cap with a slit in it, "an' it clamped down with such force that it cut off my hand."

All the Vikings in the room grimaced.

"Sorry about that," apologized Stoick, "my great grandfather had a bit of a nasty side to him."

Alahan shrugged it off. "Nothing to be sorry about, it comes in handy to crush walnuts. Anyways, I opened it again, this time disarming the trap, and I found a map and a riddle in the chest."

Stoick frowned. "No treasure?"

Alahan shook his head fervently. "No, but, like i said, I did find a treasure map, so I thought you might want it."

It was Gothi who spoke next. "And why would you bring this to us?"

"It would be dishonest," he answered, with a small smile, "if I did not bring it to the people who the treasure rightfully belongs to."

Hiccup's eyes narrowed. No one was that nice, not even him.

"That and the riddle."

They all looked at him with excitement in their eyes.

"On wings of death he does fly, fire at the command of his beckoning hand.
He is the heir to my throne, and he whispers to the dragons of old. His dragon shall find my treasure, his right, through the wind of the skull, below the sea, hidden in stone."

Alahan unfolded the map and presented it to Stoick, who read off the top of the map: "Skullion Island."

A murmur ran around the hall. Hiccup growled gently. Skullion Island was a dangerous place, no-one with half a mind would go. But he was forgetting that, in this room, brains weren't in high supply.

"Seems dangerous."

Hiccup smiled. Leave it to his uncle to point out the obvious. But he was glad for it, at any rate, for if his uncle thought it was a bit risky then his father would think it twice.

"Yes, it does," agreed Stoick, against his will. "Alahan, we will have to talk about this tomorrow. Tonight, you shall stay as my guest."

Alahan the poor-but-honest-farmer nodded. "That sounds just fine, I could use a good night's sleep." The man stretched, standing up.

Stoick looked to the shadows where he, like everyone except Alahan, had noticed his son slip into. If he wanted Hiccup's opinion, he'd have to get rid of their unexpected guest first.

"Gobber will show you to the guest quarters." His look spoke volumes to Gobber.

The beefy Viking nodded, hobbling over. "This way. I'll be back after I tuck the wee farmer in, so don't break out the mead 'till I get back."

Hiccup smiled at the wording. What Gobber was really telling his father was "don't go talking about all the fun stuff without me".

Gobber hobbled out of the hall with Alahan right behind him. As soon as the door closed behind them, Hiccup decided it was safe to come back into the light and joined his father and uncle.

They looked at him, brimming with questions.

His uncle was the first to ask, "Well?"

"I don't like it, there is something wrong with his story. And I have a feeling that he is someone we will have to watch closely if you plan on doing this."

Stoick nodded slowly his face twisted in thought. "I feel that this must happen. If not us, then someone else will find it. And this Heir business, it makes no sense. Wings of death, fire in hand, what kind of heir is that?"

Hiccup shrugged. "I don't know. For all we know, he made up the poem himself. But this one line, 'through wind of the skull', I think it means that a dragon must sniff out the treasure."

They all nodded at this and then they all look expectantly at Hiccup, who sighed.

"Yes, I get it. Only one with a dragon, and all that. You need my help, don't you?"

His uncle smiled and his father nodded and smirked.

"Why, do you have something better to do? Maybe woo the young Viking girl that has pushed herself into your house."

Hiccup whirled to see Gobber hobbling back in with a large grin.

"You put them up to this didn't you?"

The big blacksmith smiled innocently. "I would never do such a thing! But, you know, if I happened to mention to the Elders that your house would get dusty with you away and it might be a good idea that you have a woman, well who can say that it was my fault?"

Hiccup sighed in defeat.

Hiccup pushed his door open and stopped at what he saw. Astrid had Crimson on her back playing with a small plant called a Cat's Tail, which gave off a smell that all dragons loved.

He heard the little dragon hissing happily, "Play, give, give, I will get it."

Hiccup felt torn. On one hand, he was happy that a Viking could play with a dragon without using the distraction to kill it, but, on the other hand, he felt like snatching Crimson back and yelling "Get your own dragon! And your own house, while you are at it!". Instead, he walked all the way in and shut the door loud enough to be heard.

Astrid looked up, the smile that had been on her face slipping into a frown. Crimson turned and growled happily before she jumped from the table and landed on her master's shoulder.

He did not growl or flinch when the little dragon dug her claws into his shoulder, the armor protect him. He petted the little dragon and looked at Astrid with narrowed eyes. "Having fun, are we?"

She was looking at the Cat's Tail. "Yes, we were."

Getting over himself, he nodded and hissed at the little dragon. "Go on and play with her some more. But quietly, I'm tired and want to sleep now."

The little dragon jumped from his shoulder with a happy purr and landed on the Viking girl's, rubbing her head against the girl's cheek. Hiccup walked towards his door and greeted Toothless, who had dropped from the rafters, with a pat on the shoulder.

"You're not going to kick me out?"

He turned his head to look at Astrid. "No. Turns out everyone thinks I made a oath to protect you from anything, not only your father. I never go back on my word, whether I gave it or people only think I gave it. Besides, I will need someone to look after the house when I am not here. You can make yourself useful."

Astrid didn't say anything and Hiccup went into his room with Toothless, closing the door behind them. Leaning on the door, he whispered:

"Goodnight Astrid. Crimson, keep her safe."

Hiccup stood with his arms bound by heavy chains. He heard the hiss of dragons around him, all begging to be set free. His body felt tired as he leaned heavily against the rock in front of him. The voice of his hated enemy shot through the dark and struck the boy like a cold wind.

"Sixth day and still alive. You are strong, Rider."

Hiccup glared at the four-headed monstrosity. "And you are a coward," he spat. "If I ever get out of here, I will kill you for what you did to your father."

The four head dragon laughed, its tail whipping around and striking him hard in his legs. Hiccup did not cry out, but he bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, to dull the pain in his legs.

"You will never leave, Rider, you will stay here and die slowly. Ah, and here is the entertainment for the day."

Hiccup turned his head and saw a dragon with a collar on its neck. Its talons were red hot.

Hiccup's eyes widened. "No..."

The four headed dragon smiled, all four heads showing off their wickedly sharp teeth. "Yes, brother."

Then the dragon with the red hot talons reached out and the smell of burning flesh caught the air and Hiccup screamed, and suddenly he found himself looking into the eyes of a Valkyrie.

I do not own How to Train Your Dragon..oka just a quick note, Alahan is Alvin, why the change of name, well to be honest my beta can't work when she is giggling, and that name makes her laugh, cause all she can see is the Chipmunk Alvin...sighs... that an I like Alahan more, it sounds well more evil, so I went with it.

Last thing to note, I usually am not one to advertise my opinion on things, but I must on this..If you have not seen Brendan and the secret of Kell THEN GO SEE IT NOW! Rent it, buy it I don't care what you do just go see it, trust me it is worth it...

-Writer out-

-Ark-D-gun-