Hiccup felt his queen give his hand a gentle squeeze. He glanced down at her and smiled before facing the visitors once again. He took a deep breath.
"Toothless named me his brother before he bowed to me and declared me his alpha," he said, his insecurity and his headache still present but both were beginning to fade as the Vikings remained calm. "Before Devastating Winter, we traveled to Toothless' hatch nest so he could see his flock, er, family, and we could meet them. The night we arrived, Obsidian named me his son."
Bertha frowned. "So he bein' yer," she paused for a heartbeat, "father means he no bow ta ye?"
"Hold up," Mogadon stated, standing. "How ye still heir ta Berk, boy?"
"He be me son," Stoick said, standing as well. "Ye be knowin' dat."
"He be 'dopted by dis dragon, Stoick," Mogadon pointed out.
"And?" Stoick questioned. "I named Toothless and Sharpshot me sons as well."
"So yer boy be leadin' Berk from dis dragon's…nest?" Mogadon questioned, arms crossing over his chest.
[No,] Obsidian answered before Stoick could speak. [Hiccup is a prince of my nest, but he is not my heir. His is my fourth offspring. My oldest son will take over the nest when I either fly with my ancestors or step down as alpha.] Obsidian tilted his head. [I know not what your issue is, human nest leader, but you and your son fly precariously close to violating Civility Laws while you both are a visitors to my son's nest. Breach those laws and face exile by the judgement of the resident nest alpha.]
Ingvar, Henrik, and Bertha stood. All three glared at the Meathead chief.
"Ye also be dangerously close ta da dishonor Snorre be spewin'," Henrik growled. "We be 'ere ta learn why Stoick be allowin' da dragons ta live on Berk. We no be 'ere ta antagonize dem or dishonor dem or ourselves 'fore da gods."
Mogadon grunted. "Dem dragons be responsible fer much," he said. "Dey killed hundreds of Vikin's."
"And Vikings killed, and are still killing, thousand more dragons," Hiccup stated, Link and Nightjaw flaring to join his soul rising in anger at Mogadon's words. "The one responsible is dead, Chief Mogadon. In a war between two tribes do we blame the members of the tribe we fight or do we blame the chief who declared the war? If the chief is defeated do we seek vengeance upon the entire tribe when their warriors sheath their weapons?"
"Yer voice," Henrik breathed.
"It be like dat, but deeper, when dem Night Furies be landin' at yer hut," Bertha stated.
[It is his alpha's voice,] Obsidian said. [It is part of being an alpha,] Obsidian glanced over at the Changewings and chortled, [or queen of dragons.] He turned back to the Vikings. [Hiccup used his that day because those three violated Civility Laws. They landed without permission of the resident alpha, then proceeded to insult and threaten him and his flock.]
"The Red Death used her voice to force the raids," Hiccup said. "I have learned from my dragon father and from the queen of the Changewing nest who allies with my nest how to be an alpha to the dragons who live on Berk. They have told me many things, one which also explained how the raids got to be so brutal or how the Red Death got to be so powerful." Hiccup paused, sighing. "And explaining how much damage the Red Death did to her nest." Hiccup frowned, looking up at the rafters. "Iggy, go get Quickcut. Tell him to find Stonefire and that both of them are needed here."
[Aye, Alpha,] Iggy said before leaving through a tunnel in the cavern's roof.
The tunnels had once been air vents and the reason light could travel into the Hall during the day. Something Hiccup realized came from Obsidian's nest, and he wondered if Old Wrinkly's son had made sure the idea found its way to Berk. They had been chiseled when the Hall had first been constructed, according to tribe history. Ringfire, with Stoick and Hiccup's permission, used them as a teaching tool for her children. Since the Terrors loved to roost in the rafters and now had a duty to preform up there, Ringfire had her children smooth out the jagged edges left by the Hall's builders. This allowed every Terror in the nest the ability to come and go as they needed or were ordered.
"Who be dis Quickcut 'n Stonefire?" Henrik asked.
"Quickcut be da Nadder wot be guardin' da doors when we came in," Steinar said. 'Stonefire be 'is battle brother 'n ye all be well served ta hear deir words," he added, looking down at the stone at his feet.
"Dat bad?" Henrik asked.
Steinar lifted his head. Given the look of dismay that crossed Henrik's face, Hiccup could only guess the look upon Steinar's face. He had little time to wonder as the doors opened. Iggy, riding upon Bjorn's shoulder, flew over the visitors' heads as Quickcut, Bjorn, Stonefire, and Aksel walked into the Hall. They rounded the visitors, glancing between Stoick, Hiccup, and the Vikings but moving to stand in front of the table. Iggy flew off Bjorn's shoulder, landing upon the table. As one, the three dragons bowed, wings spread, to Hiccup.
[Magnus and Clubtail have taken over for Bjorn and Quickcut, my alpha,] Iggy said.
"Thank you," Hiccup said. "Do you want to remain down here or return to the rafters?"
[I shall return, my alpha,] Iggy said.
Hiccup smiled. Sneaky was not the only Terror female Sage believed carried eggs, so he understood why Iggy wished to return to Buttercup's side.
"Go on," he said before looking up at Quickcut and Stonefire as Iggy's wings flared and he rose to land beside his mate. "Thank you all for coming so quickly," Hiccup said. "Quickcut, Stonefire, our visitors have allowed Gyda to heal their ability to speak with you. Will you please share with them the story you told our Changewing allies and the humans of the nest?"
[Aye, Alpha,] Quickcut and Stonefire chorused before turning to face the visitors.
Hiccup saw the horror none of the Vikings could hide as Quickcut and Stonefire finished their tale. Even Mogadon and Thuggory looked disquieted and disgusted. Given their actions and words since regaining the ability to speak the Common Tongue, Hiccup hoped their disgust was because of the Red Death's actions. He would be hard pressed not to physically throw them off of Berk if he learned they were disgusted by Quickcut or Stonefire.
Their tale finished, Hiccup allowed the dragon/human guard pairs to return to their duties. He knew his dragons were willing to aid the humans in understanding but he also knew his dragons were apprehensive about being in an extended proximity to those humans as well. Quickcut and Stonefire also were still considered young. They were adults in the eyes of every dragon and human in the nest, but it had not been that long since they were younglings. Hiccup would not ask them to remain when he knew they would like nothing more than to return to the tasks he had assigned them.
"Why?" Ingvar asked in the silence that fell after the doors closed. "Why did dat…." His gaze fell to the stone and he frowned as his voice trailed off.
"Worm," Hiccup provided and prompting Ingvar to look up. "To a dragon a worm is nothing more than a being whose only task is to, um, well, eat what is left when they relieve themselves. It's the ugliest insult you could give in dragon culture."
Ingvar grunted. "Be thinkin' we need ta teach dem dragons Vikin' insults. Worm be too kind fer dat monster." The Hopeless chief ran his hand over his face. "Why'd dat monster do all of dis?"
The doors opened again, preventing anyone replying to Ingvar's question. Hiccup looked over the visitors' heads with a frown. His eyes widen as he recognized the Prickleboggle, which Gyda informed them was the Calm-healer's human name. Hiccup felt his heart drop. The Foreverwing's dragons rarely came to the nest unless they were sent by their alpha. Hiccup's mind raced, trying to figure out what would prompt this visit.
The dragon rounded the visitors and Hiccup noted the Speed Stinger was with him. Both dragons tipped their heads but did not offer wing bows. Hiccup saw the confusion upon the visitors' face but had no time to explain as the Prickleboggle began to speak.
[Forgive us, honored alpha, but our alpha wishes to speak with you, your entire nest, and all of your visitors. He knows you all have questions and he wishes to explain as best as he is able.]
"Not all of our visitors have accepted Gyda healing their connection," Hiccup said, his brow furrowed.
[Our alpha was alive when humans and dragons first conversed,] the Speed Stinger stated. [He remembers how.]
Hiccup's jaw dropped.