Alvin the Treacherous was not happy.

He was rarely happy. But now he was ESPECIALLY not happy. Images of dragons danced in his mind's eye, dragons that carried him across the sea and obeyed his every command. All Vikings feared the creatures; if he bent them to his will, the tribes would bend as well. He would rule the sea and everyone on it. That whelp had let Alvin glimpse a power he'd never dreamed was possible-

And then it had slipped through his fingers, vanished like the black dragon had vanished into the night with his prize.

"MORE MEAD!" Alvin bellowed, pounding his fist on the table. The wood shuddered under the blow. A serving maid quickly moved to refill his empty stein, but it was not quick enough to appease him. His crew had been stuck on the trading island for days now-that thrice-cursed overgrown salamander had incinerated their ship. They'd been lucky to reach land at all before their craft sank completely.

Alvin's first order of business had been to send a message to his tribe for a pickup. His second had been to set a bounty on Heagl's head, one large enough to tempt even the most neutral Vikings. He doubted the boy would return to this village again, but news from Auðrland traveled across the whole archipelago. No matter where Heagl went, hunters would dog his footsteps. With time, he'd be back in Alvin's grasp. The Viking chief chuckled darkly and took a swig of mead.

As he gulped, the buzz of the tavern abruptly ceased. Only footsteps interrupted the sudden quiet. Much like a silent forest, a silent tavern meant danger was imminent. Perfect. Alvin thrived on danger.

He lowered his mug to see what predator had spooked the crowd. He was surprised-though not disappointed-to see the chief of the Hooligans approaching him. A worthy opponent. Too worthy, in fact; Alvin was not in the mood to deal with an actual rival. Fate was fickle lately. Oh well-he was not one to let an opportunity go to waste.

"Stoick, my old friend," Alvin jeered. "You're a long way from home."

Stoick merely tossed a paper down. One of Alvin's bounty posters-those had traveled fast.

"...So? Are you here to collect? Use your words, Stoick."

"Don't bandy words with me, Outcast," Stoick hissed. "Ye and I both know the boy's no horse thief."

Alvin raised an eyebrow. "He's a Hooligan?"

"O' course he is, what else would 'e be?!"

"I wouldn't have expected a Hooligan to have his talents." Alvin took a leisurely sip of his mead. "I suppose you exiled him for it. Or did you try and fail to recruit him as well?"

Stoick paused. Alvin saw the confusion on his face before he masked his expression. "Ye...tried ta make 'im an Outcast?"

"I made him an offer he couldn't refuse." Alvin scowled. "And he refused it anyway. I'll show him the error of his ways once we meet again."

Unbeknownst to Alvin, Stoick was hardly listening. Did Alvin not know who Hiccup was? Hiccup had never met any of the Outcasts-Stoick made sure of that- and he'd been going by an alias here in the market. Perhaps Alvin was truly ignorant. But if he didn't want Hiccup for his heritage, then why-

"...Yer after the dragon." Stoick murmured.

Alvin's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "As are you-aren't you, Stoick the Vast? Or is there some other reason you have for wanting to catch the whelp?"

"..." Stoick sat down across from his rival. "Treason. Boy committed a serious crime, muckin' about with dragons."

Alvin glanced around the tavern. Most of the patrons had fled by now-everyone knew of the bad blood between the two chiefs. That was fortunate. He didn't need anyone else catching wind of Haegl's ability. "Finders, keepers, Stoick. If he's not a Hooligan anymore, he's fair game-unless you feel like competing with my bounty. In which case, we'll have to settle this the Viking way." Alvin laid a hand on his sword hilt. "I don't like competition."

"It don't have to be a competition." Stoick said, surprisingly calm. "We have different quarry, they just happen ta be travelin' together. Between our ships, we could suss 'em out quick as a Nadder's tail, and ye'd save yerself a bounty."

Alvin's jaw dropped, the words were so shocking. "...Are you suggesting we work together?!"

"I ain't pleased about it either, but it's the fastest way to get what we both want. That's why Vikings have survived so long; we don't let grudges get in the way o' being practical."

"...You make a compelling point." Alvin rubbed his chin. He hated himself for considering it, but… if Stoick knew the boy personally, then he'd know his weaknesses and habits. Together, they could narrow down his location and search more thoroughly than Alvin's fleet could alone. It was tempting.

Alvin had never been good at avoiding temptation.

"A temporary alliance then. We pool resources to track them down. You take the boy, I'll take the beast."

"An' we'll go our separate ways, the best of enemies." Stoick spat on his palm and offered it. "Deal?"

Alvin reciprocated. "Deal." The Viking chiefs shook hands, not breaking each other's gaze. They both knew how this would end-with betrayal and blood on one side or both-but that was a risk worth taking.

"So-" Stoick swiped the dishes off the table and spread out a map. "When an' where was he seen last?"

This chapter is short because the next one is long. Enjoy! Please leave a review.