Morning found a merchant at the docks with a message for Dagur. Stoick met the man as his ship was tethered to the dock Snorre had used. Most sea-faring merchants plied the sea lanes until late Autumn before hunkering down at their home island to wait out the winter. They resumed their trade several days after spring arrived. Stoick knew all merchants had seen the dragons, and likely had dealing with dragons during the war, so he stood to ensure no harm befell the dragons who chose to aid the dockworkers or those assigned to patrolling the harbor.
The first meeting for the Thing after everything that happened last night was not scheduled until after mid-day so he had the time. It also gave him a moment to ready himself. He knew Henrik, and possible Ingvar, would realize there was far more to why Hiccup did as he did at the end of the war. Stoick knew he would face the judgement of his old friends.
"By da gods."
The man's words severed to pull Stoick from his thoughts. Stoick watched the man glance around the docks, gaze out over the waters he just sailed through, and then look up the cliff face. Stoick was grateful the man kept his hand away from the sword on his belt. It would not end well for the man if he chose to fight, and this time it would not be a dragon who defended the nest. Stoick would gladly remove the threat if the man chose to be one.
"Don't be knowin' why Dagur be seekin' dat Skrill. He canna buy any dragon 'ready tamed from ye."
Stoick's eyes narrowed. "Berk no be sellin' da dragons."
The man blink then smirked. "Smart, Chief Stoick. Be smart ta keep dis ta yerself. No one be fools ta think 'bout harmin' ye wiv dem beasties 'round."
"Ye be 'ere ta sell yer wares," Stoick growled. "Be not 'ere ta give me advice on runnin' me island."
The man froze. "I be meanin' no offense, Chief."
The man paused and glanced around. Stoick heard many dragons gathering close. He knew they had heard the man's words and Stoick's growl. As before, they moved to back the father of their alpha and Stoick found himself humbled once more by their actions. Even he could not claim all of his Vikings would do the same. The man paled and stared at Stoick as if beseeching him. Stoick just stared at him in silence for several heartbeats then spoke.
"Dey leave ye be, iffen ye leave dem 'n me people alone."
The man swallowed then tipped his head. "Uh, 'fore I begin sellin' me wares, I be havin' a message fer Dagur."
Stoick stared at the man then, fully trusting the dragons to guard his back should the man turn hostile, turned and headed for the cliff.
"Come."
"Dagur," Stoick began only to be interrupted by the young chief.
"Don't go getting your trousers twisted. Your man will be safe. I will treat him as if he was my own brother."
Stoick's eyes narrowed. Given Oswald's concerns over Heather, and the full knowledge of what Dagur did to Hiccup any time the two were together growing up, that statement did not fill Stoick with any real comfort. Though in all honestly, Stoick had not even been thinking of Banson right then. Something else worried him.
"Ye be sailin' ta a storm," Stoick said, "be no sure any of ye be safe."
Dagur made a pleased sounding coo. At least Stoick believed that was what Dagur was trying for. It sounded more like a dying frost giant finding some enticing prey and only realizing in that heartbeat it could do nothing.
"You do care." Dagur turned to Hiccup, who now stood next to Stoick as honor demanded both the chief and his heir see a leaving chief off. "Pity you can't come too, brother, but we'll be back. Once I find that Skrill I know is causing that storm, I'll drag it back here so you can train it for me."
"Dagur," Stoick said. "Da Thing no be done."
Dagur waved a dismissive hand and made a noise as if Stoick's statement meant nothing. "I already know what my brother intends with the dragons and I'm all for it. Berk will have no issue with the Berserkers over their pets."
"Men be ready, Chief."
Dagur glanced over his shoulder at his general and nodded his head. He then turned back, staring at Hiccup. He grinned. "Show'm up, brother."
With that, Dagur turned and boarded his ship. He moved to the bow, where Banson stood with Dagur's other general. Dagur clamped a hand upon Banson's shoulder.
"Wave goodbye," Dagur said with a cheerful tone and an over dramatic wave. "Helmsman, take us out."
Hiccup glanced up at his father as the ships slipped away from the docks and began turning for the mouth of inlet. Despite every word of warning against the endeavor, Dagur declared he and his tribe would leave as soon as he took the message the merchant had for him. Said merchant merely returned to plying his wares after delivering the message. Hiccup had seen the man doing so as he and his father headed for the secondary docks behind Dagur and his men. Hiccup could well believe the man did not realize he had removed one weight from Hiccup's shoulders only to drop another firmly upon them.
Finding a Skrill was an obsession to Dagur as finding the nest had been to Stoick during the war. Hiccup knew tragedy waiting Dagur, just like tragedy waited Stoick. Every adult Night Fury currently on Berk said the same thing about the Skrill, and their words were backed up by every adult dragon living in the nest, even Gyda's kids. Leave a Skrill be when they flew amongst the lighting of a storm.
To a Skrill, riding the storms was seen as a test. Young Skrills would find a thunderstorm and would fly amongst the lighting to prove themselves. Surviving marked them as adults in their flocks. It also awoke the magic in them which allowed them to harness and use the lighting as an attack. To disturb one was the same as someone purposively disrupting the fledglings learning to use their breath attacks, or even to fly. The dragons all warned Hiccup that the Skrill and their flock would respond to the disturbance with vengeance. Dagur, and all with him, would be lucky to survive.
Hiccup also knew what would happen should Dagur remain and hear the truth of the dragons. He would not have cared much for speaking to the dragons. He would have wanted to use Hiccup's status as a means to find that Skrill. Hiccup knew how his nest would have responded to that and knew it would have resulted in another war.
"Be nothin' we canna do, son," Stoick said, running a hand down his face. "Come, we be havin' some chief duties 'fore mid-day meal and da meetin'."
Hiccup sighed but turned and followed his father back up to the village. He prayed that none of the others left. He was still leery of Cami and Thuggory learning the truth, but he knew Bertha and Mogadon would keep them in check. If more left, Hiccup feared his nest would not gain the peace they needed. The peace that would allow them to live. The peace he vowed to give them when Berk became a nest. When it became his nest.