[PLEASE READ]
I'm sorry. Is all I have to say. Actually, that's not quite true. What I mean to say is I'm sorry I just disappeared, and that this story has an uncertain fate. I'd like to finish it, I really do. But a lethal mix of writer's block and homework has murdered my will to write. I've reached the part of my education that now requires an insane amount of time, and effort. Hence, I cannot write all the time. THIS DOESN'T MEAN THIS STORY IS OVER. I'm going to continue, but I don't know for how long, or how regularly. I'd like you all to acknowledge that every new chapter that is posted from now on could very well be the last one. And that I can't guarantee a regular schedule. I'm the writer, I choose when I post a chapter.
Thank you though, for being so patient and understanding. AND YES, I KNOW DREKI'S TREBUCHET ISN'T REALISTIC, BUT THEN AGAIN, NOR ARE DRAGONS.
Please enjoy this chapter, even if it's a little rusty and rough around the edges.
Rant Over.
" A trireme ?! You're sure ? " Exclaimed Hiccup with disbelief.
The Nightmare/Breton scout pair both simultaneously nodded, each as serious as a dead man. Then again, that's exactly what they might be by the end of the afternoon if they didn't deal with the situation accordingly. Hiccup thanked and dismissed the scouts, then stood motionless in front of the great hall, staring at the ground. The towns buzzed around him, oblivious as to what could happen in an hour or so. The leader thought long and hard, trying to squeeze out and idea or two from his creased brow. How did things get this complicated ?
He took a deep breath and wiped the slate of his mind clean. He needed to organise his thoughts, and get his hands to stop shaking. He stared harder at the cobblestone floor, as if he were able to melt the stone with his stare.
The ship itself wasn't the issue. They could blast it out of the water with their new siege engine or burn it to a crisp before it even reached the shore. And even if it did, Marcus' flexible line defence strategy would cut to pieces even the most experienced warriors. No, the issue was more complex. It was political. Things aren't so clear cut : The ship isn't necessarily hostile. Granted, it's a military ship, but it could well be an exploration vessel or transport for a diplomatic envoy. Sending a powerful nation's diplomat to the bottom of the ocean before introducing oneself isn't a good way of making allies. And Thor knows they don't have many of those these days.
On the other hand, the ship could very well be reconnaissance. To test their military response to a threat. Then, a larger incoming invasion force would know exactly what to expect, and how to counter their moves. Hiccup knew very well, that their only chance to survive any invasion, be it Viking or other, would be through the originality and never-before-seen nature of their strategies. Revealing them would be burning their ace before the game even started.
But what puzzled the young leader most of all, was the very nature of the ship : A trireme. These ships were rare in these waters. Any ships from the Mediterranean hardly ever navigated so far north, for lack of motive. As a consequence, most northerners of the Archipelago ignored the very existence of such civilisations. In fact the only reason Hiccup knew about these, was through the multiple readings of his home island's limited book and scroll collections back when he-...
He shunned the thought away. Sweeping the parasite from his train of thought. ' Focus Hiccup !'
Back to the point : The scouts failed to perceive the colour of the ship's sails, the craft could very well be Egyptian, Roman, Greek, or anything else ! And if one doesn't know the nature of the intruder, one cannot predict his intentions. Romans would most likely be crafty and hostile, due their constant incursion attempts in the archipelago over recent decades. They would most likely try again. But Greeks, or Egyptians, that was a whole other matter. Hiccup hardly knew anything about them, other that the Greek's early innovation with the concepts of democracy(similar to theirs), as well as their economic dependency on the concept of slavery...Funny, they had both aligned, yet differing ideologies.
The boy felt a hand on his shoulder.
" You alright Hiccup ? " Asked his Roman friend, who had just heard the news.
Hiccup turned his head to look at Marcus in the eye with a decisive frown. " Wha- ? Yeah... I'm fine. Muster the men. "
The Roman was expecting that. " Are we mounting a defence ? Will we be fighting ?"
Hiccup shook his head and gazed in the distance thoughtfully.
" Not sure..."
This was going to be tricky. Very. Very. Tricky.
Hiccup stood on Dreki's only beach, trying to contain his apprehension. The ship drew closer and closer. Long and heavy, it's mighty battalion of rows smacking the water rhythmically as if the ocean were a formidable drum. The front of the ship, armed with the iron-coated ram, pointed menacingly at the small detachment that stood by the teenager. Cuts and scraping marks streaked the iron, proving the ship's past battles, as well as it's history of stabbing other ships, imploding the hull with all it's speed and might. Toothless rolled his eyes and grunted, unimpressed. Their ship was taller and faster.
The boy turned around, and gave a nod to WarBear. The giant man clapped twice in his large hands and waved a pointed finger to the sky nonchalantly. All men, women, and dragons responded to the signal, and moved with tense silence and discipline to their allocated positions, forming dual row alternating human and dragon soldiers on either side of Hiccup. The dragons tucked their tails to the side, and tidied their wings. The humans planted the end of their spears into the sand by their foot, and held their secondary weapon, the gladius, in their other hand. Twenty spears pointed to the sky, and twenty swords pointed to the ground.
Hiccup gulped and ignored his pounding heart. This was a gamble. The military parade welcome party was tradition for most cultures, and couldn't be a bad idea. And saying Dreki didn't wasn't somewhat based on military tradition would be a lie. This welcome would help make that clear for the strangers.
Furthermore, the rest of Dreki's force was lying in ambush by the path that led to the village, in case things went southward. And an air-support wing was circling above them, hidden by the low clouds, ready to dive down and spit fire and spikes should things turn sour. No, what concerned Hiccup was the fact that the dragons too, were part of the parade. They stood proud, tall and terrifying, adorned in their thick leather battle-armour and defended by scerated claws as well as menacing spikes ( "the shinning dragon menaces with spikes of bone" not sure how many will get the reference, just ignore this if you don't ). No one would be sure of how these unidentified strangers will react. Who knows ? Maybe they will make use of that ambush plan after all. And Hiccup was more than glad that Marcus was leading it.
The ship had stopped. And three rather large embarkations had been deployed to shore. The rowers, were Roman soldiers. Decorated with red and iron. At the tail of each bobbing craft, was an officer with a helmet decorated with what seemed like a red brush angled towards the sky. In the centre boat, was an important looking man. In golden armour, without a fancy red-brush-helmet, his short grey hair exposed to the limited northern sunlight. The ambush plan was now looking dangerously appealing to the boy, as well as the rest of the Drekians exposed on the beach.
The ships made it to shore. And withing seconds, the soldiers had disembarked in a storm of metal sounds and formed two squares around the man and his officers. The rectangular red shields rested in the sand, and the soldiers peered over them nervously. The dragons always made an impression. But they kept their composure, their discipline was intact. After all, they were a roman elite guard.
WarBear rose his spear above his head, it's length parallel to the ground. The Drekians raised their spears over the path formed by the two rows of soldier, forming an arc-like structure. The dragons raised their spine-spikes, adding to the aura of lethality they emitted. Hiccup stood immobile, and raised his chin. He tried his best to give an impression of that of a leader. Though, with his young age, and median height, his posture was actually underwhelming in comparison with the surrounding Drekian parade. At least his armour radiated some exotic impression of mystery and importance. And toothless sat cat-like beside him, ears drawn back, looking as lethal as he did glorious.
The man in golden armour paused, soaking in the scene. One hand resting on his gladius, though not menacingly, more as a gesture of etiquette as military man. He was reasonably tall, and well worn. He wasn't decrepidly old, but he had definitely seen the world. He was slender, skeleton-like, and he held his elegantly hooked nose neither too high nor too low above his curious smile. A smile neither too happy, nor mocking. And all that accompanied by a solemn, yet amused look of curiosity.
He started taking steps forward, his sandals somewhat sinking in the wet sand. The dual squares of soldiers stayed put, though his officers followed suit, forming a triangle of three behind their leader. They glared around standoffishly at the Drekians, who merely maintained their gaze into emptiness, holding their spear high above them. The four men made their way to Hiccup and the captain, who stood a little behind the teenager, sword drawn.
The man made his final step and stopped, staring at Hiccup. The boy stared right back, though softened his gaze as the Roman loosened his. There was no hostility in his expression. But rather a chilling sense of past loss, of internal wounds that still ache. This man had seen quite a bit, and not simply a war or two like the pink scar on his right cheek testified. Hiccup could see it in his eyes. That look. The very look he saw every day, every year, of his life when he still lived on... It was the look of a man who had lost something. Who's heart had been broken. It was the look Hiccup remembered his father wearing every day.
He cleared his throat, and talked softly, humbly. He held a formal tone, even if his voice seemed to hold an ulterior meaning. He spoke with a light chuckle, making fun of his own words. He'd said them a thousand times before. To him, it was all ridiculous.
" I am Lord Admiral Novius Ordanae, commander of the 4th Colonial Auxiliary Fleet, and chairman of the council of Eboracum. Are you the leader of this island ?"
Hiccup smiled. The idea of ambushing this man vanished entirely, he obviously didn't want to be here. " I am. " Confirmed Hiccup. " I am Hiccup, Representative of the people of Dreki, and leader of the 2nd Mounted Air Wing."
" Very impressive." Scoffed the older man. " And pray tell, where is your glorious island's first air wing ? Not hovering above us, I hope ?"
Hiccup panicked. If only for a second. Brains couldn't beat experience, not for diplomacy. He was going to have to employ another technique : Honesty. " That all depends on whether or not your soldiers behind you accept to drink with us today. It's nearly high noon, and we eat early around here."
" I see. " The Roman blinked slowly, and scratched his scarred cheek. " My informants were right...You do live with dragons. Quite impressive ! And you're very young for a leader-...Sorry ! I meant ' Representative...' "
" Do you imply that I'm not worthy ? "
The Roman gave a hearty laugh. " No ! No ! Not at all...Not at all...I'm saying it's all very impressive, and uncommon. "
There was a short silence. Hiccup gave a suspicious look at the careless man, who had dropped all decorum and stood visibly amused, barely hiding it. " And what else have your informants told you about us ? " Inquired the boy, pretending curious.
The man's smile dropped. " They told me I would die if I fought you. "
Hiccup winced playfully. " I was hoping we could avoid those sort of unpleasant activities."
" As was I. I have a quite few things left to do before I die."
" Does that involve sharing lunch with us ? " Hiccup raised an eyebrow.
" Amongst other things. " Chuckled the Roman.
Hiccup smiled. Inviting them to dinner was a first step. But he had yet to figure out why this Roman was really here. He turned to Toothless and gave a friendly nudge of the shoulder. The dragon rolled his eyes and leaped up into the air, a few seconds later, he landed down onto the beach a few metres to the left of the Drekian formation with the entire 1rst Mounted Air Wing.
" Impressive." Admitted the Roman. Genuinely impressive, though not speechlessly befuddled like his officers.
" So..." Proceeded Hiccup. " What brings you to Dreki, Mr. Ordanae ? "
" The past, Mr... ? "
" Just Hiccup."
" The past, Hiccup. The past."
" And why does your past lead you to Dreki, Lord Admiral ? "
The man gave a sly smile, curved in a corner. His hand left the pommel of his sheathed gladius too embrace his other and warm both of them in the cold northern air. His strands of grey hair blew in the wind like short, dense, reeds. And he gave a nervous lick of his dry lips, chapped by the cold. His words, while spoken with perfect fluidity and nonchalance, seemed to weigh heavy on his tongue. Even though they were perfectly incorporated into the fluidity and rhythm of the conversation, they seemed to stand apart. As if they were separated by an extensive moat of silence and grave meaning.
" Because my children have."