CHAPTER 20
It was two days before the ships arrived, and the Bog-Burglars had to bid farewell. Camicazi pulled Nraseri aside for a chat, probably to threaten him into visiting more often.
When training started up again, Hiccup tried to set aside more time to search for the Night Fury, but with the return of the warriors, it seemed like everyone wanted his attention. It was overwhelming. Even escaping to the forge between training was becoming difficult, and when he did, a feeling of trepidation hung in the air whenever Nraseri was present. After learning about his sister's death, Hiccup finally understood his friend a little better. Those odd moments of melancholy, disappearing each morning for hours, and yet still hovering when Hiccup or the other teenagers did anything remotely dangerous.
Something had changed. Nraseri seemed distracted, sometimes staring off into the distance, and Hiccup tried his best not to bother him. He knew that Nraseri tried his best to be cheerful when they were together, but he was distracted. Something was bothering him, but Hiccup didn't know how to begin asking what was wrong. When this happened, Hiccup forced himself to remember what Nraseri had promised him. That he'd tell him everything once training was over and Astrid won, and they were free from the prying eyes of the village.
But training was quickly becoming a bigger problem now that his father watched from the stands. He used the tricks Nraseri and the dragons taught him in the arena, as usual, allowing both Snotlout and Astrid to take the lead, but the extra eyes made his palms sweat and his anxiety spike because what if his father saw through it?
And yet, three days later, his father hadn't confronted him. Hiccup was torn between relief—that their plan was working—and disappointment—because it meant that his father truly didn't see him for who he was. He wasn't the son that his father wanted and maybe he would never be. But there was nothing he could do about it, not without throwing away everything he had learned.
So, Hiccup did what he could. And suddenly, despite his best efforts to delay to inevitable, it was just him and Astrid left in the arena.
Hiccup dashed into the forge, his hands pulling anxiously at his hair.
"It's going to be fine?" Nraseri said, following him in.
"The trial is tomorrow. Astrid already wants to kill me. What if I do something wrong and end up winning? I don't want to kill a dragon!"
Nraseri grabbed his shoulders. "It's okay. We talked about this. You're going to let Astrid win. I've already checked and it's the Gronckle. They've set up boards for cover. You just have to put on a little show and then take cover and let Astrid do the rest."
"You'll be there, right? In case something goes wrong?"
"Of course. I wouldn't miss it. You've got this, Hiccup. By this time tomorrow, we'll be free to do what we want. I've got a boat ready to go on the north beach and a course mapped out. We can finish that sword and fill your journal and go wherever we want."
Hiccup released a slow breath. "Okay, thank you. I can do this. It'll be fine."
Nraseri clapped him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit."
There was a cough. Stoick stood awkwardly at the front of the forge. "Hello, I don't mean to disturb you, but I'd like a word with my son."
Hiccup threw Nraseri an alarmed look, but he just patted his back in reassurance. "I was just about to go for a walk. Have fun. See you later, Chief."
He turned and gave Hiccup a thumbs up before walking off.
Stoick turned to his son and Hiccup had never felt smaller. "You've been keeping secrets."
Hiccup's eyes widened. "Wh—what do you mean?"
"Did you really think you could hide it from me? Nothing happens on this island without me hearing about it. so," he loomed over Hiccup. "let's talk about those dragons."
Oh. Oh no. He'd heard them talking. He knew. About the training. About Nraseri. About their plans free the dragons!
"I'm sorry," Hiccup started. "I didn't know how you would react. I thought you'd be angry?"
Stoick let out a bellowing laugh. "Angry? I'm thrilled! All those years of thinking you were the worst Viking that Berk has ever seen. It was close. I'll admit that I almost lost hope, and now look at you!"
Hiccup faltered. It felt like someone had punched him. his father continued, beaming, while Hiccup's chest tightened suddenly. His father had thought he was as useless as the rest of them. Tears pricked his eyes, but he blinked them away. In the back of his mind, he'd always known, but hearing it made it so much worse.
"I knew that boy would be good for you the moment I saw him," Stoick continued. "I was right! holding a sword, taking down dragons. Just wait until you kill your first Gronckle. Oh, and mount your first Nadder head on the wall."
His father sat, bursting with misplaced pride. "We finally have something to talk about."
Hiccup stood there. His tongue was leaden. What could he say? Nothing that would bode well. No lies came forward, no puffed-up excitement for the event that made him sick just thinking about it, no words to tell his father that he wanted nothing to do with killing dragons.
You were right. Nraseri changed me. Just not in the way that you were hoping.
The silence stretched. He looked anywhere but at his father, which was difficult as the Viking took up a good portion of the room.
His father finally broke the silence. "I want to give you something." He pulled out a helmet and handed it to Hiccup. Surprised, Hiccup ran his hand over the gleaming, somewhat dented metal.
"It's part of your mother's breastplate." Hiccup snatched his hand away. Stoick tapped his own helmet. "Keeps her close."
His mother. Taken by a dragon when he was a baby. What would she think of him if she was here? Hiccup looked at the helmet, then back at his father. "Dad, what was mom like?"
The question seemed to catch him off guard. "Well, she was…." His expression softened. "She was a kind and generous woman who had a reckless streak. There wasn't much your mother was afraid of." He smiled." She always getting into trouble. Always moving, always trying new things. She wasn't much of a fighter. She struggled in training as well. Thought that it was cruel to attack dragons that couldn't flee. She also had this fascination with the beasts. It was what led to her death." Stoick looked at him. "I see her in you more and more every day. Maybe that was why I didn't want you in training—because you remind me of her, but it seems that you've taken after me when it comes to fighting dragons."
The corners of his father's eyes crinkled. "She'd be proud of you, son."
Would she? He wasn't so sure.
Stoick cleared his throat. "I heard the last part of your conversation. You're thinking of travelling?"
Hiccup shrugged. "I thought it would be a good idea to see the world."
"Good. That's good. Right, um." Stoick coughed awkwardly into his fist. "I'll best be going. It's a big day tomorrow." He paused, one hand on the doorframe, and turned. "You've done me proud, son. I couldn't ask for more."
Hiccup gave him a lop-sided smile, eyes stinging. "Thanks, Dad."
He listened until his father had left the forge and sat heavily, feeling drained. He put his head on his desk and closed his eyes. His father's proud smile appeared behind his eyelids and he committed it to memory, sure that it was the last time he'd ever see it.
Toothless shot up, heart racing, head pounding. The amulet thrummed in his ears, the nightmare heat burning through his scales. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.
Red eyes bore into him, teeth gleamed, dripping and jagged.
"Bring me the Vinr Sætta."
He had to leave. He had to stop whatever it was. The amulet tugged at him, dragging him to his feet. He ran, kicking up dirt on the floor of the Cove, and in a flurry of wings, he shot like an arrow into the sky.
The crowd roared in the stands above them. Hiccup pushed the too-big helmet out of his eyes and looked up. His palms were slick, and he wiped his free hand on his shirt, the other gripped the sword. The entire village was here. He could see the other teens.
His father stood at the very front. Gothi was at his side, dwarfed by the chief. She would decide his fate. He prayed to the gods that she'd choose Astrid. For once in his life, he didn't want to be noticed. if there was ever a time, this was it.
His father beamed at him proudly, but Hiccup barely noticed him. His eyes swept over the crowd, scanning for one person in particular. Nraseri wasn't here. Hiccup hadn't seen him since the night before. He should have been here by now. He felt a sting of betrayal, but it was quickly overcome by concern. He pushed it aside. He could worry about it later.
He had to lose.
He had to.
He didn't know what he'd do if he didn't.
A hush fell. The match began.
The Gronckle burst from the cage, snarling. Its small wings beat so fast that they blurred as it moved with surprising speed. Hiccup ducked for cover. He just needed to say out of the way. Let Astrid handle this.
Right on cue, Astrid ducked behind the cover. She shoved his shield down. "Don't get in my way," she hissed. "I'm winning this."
"By all means," Hiccup said. Nothing would make him happier.
She was gone in seconds, executing a perfect roll to the next cover. Hiccup counted a few seconds before making a break for a cover closest to the exit, hoping the Gronckle would follow Astrid.
It didn't.
It barreled right for him. Hiccup scrambled back a few paces. The back of his legs hit one of the wooden covers and he glanced behind him. He'd backed himself into a dead end.
The Gronckle slowed as it came within a foot of him. It seemed to hesitate, its pupils dilating. Its nostrils flared as it breathed in his scent, obviously remembering the dragon nip from before.
Astrid shouted and charged.
The dragon's eyes narrowed. It began to turn, its mouth opening, the heat of its lava making the air shimmer.
Hiccup's hand shot out, fingers catching the point under its chin. He scratched, ignoring the scorching scales. The Gronckle jerked and went limp, crashing on its side, its tongue sticking out, foot kicking the air.
Astrid stood there, axe raised, and with a look of pure dismay.
"I—I didn't mean to—" Hiccup started, but she wasn't listening.
"No!" she shouted, swinging her axe wildly through the air. "You son of a half-troll, rat-eating…" The rest turned into incoherent shouting as the crowd screamed.
Stoick put up his hand and the cheering faded.
He had to get out of here. He turned toward to entrance, but Gobber caught him by the back of the shirt and lifted him off his feet before he could get more than a few steps. "And where do you think you're going?"
"I, uh, I'm kinda late for—"
He suddenly found himself on the receiving end of Astrid's axe. "What?" she demanded, her eyes dark with rage. "Late for what, exactly?"
The chief's voice rang out. "Okay, quiet down, everyone. The elder has decided."
All eyes turned to him and to the little woman next to him. Gothi stepped forward. Gobber raised a hand over Astrid's head. Gothi shook her head and Hiccup's heart sank. He closed his eyes as Gobber raised his hand over his head. There was a slight pause, then the crowd roared.
Toothless woke with a start. Disorientated, he pulled himself to his feet and shook the dew from his scales and glanced around. He was on a sea stack, shrouded by the thick fog of Helheim's Gate.
He racked his brain, trying to piece together the last few hours. He'd flown for hours, as the amulet drove him far from Berk. Night had fallen and he'd had to stop to catch his breath before he fell out of the sky from sheer exhaustion. He must have fallen asleep.
The sun was filtering through the thick fog.
Oh Stars, The match! Hiccup!
Toothless was in the air once more, flapping his aching wings in the direction of what he thought was Berk. He felt a sharp tug in his gut and yelped in surprise as he plummeted a few feet to the ground, fully human. He hit the ground heavily and rolled to his feet.
What the?
Toothless clutched the amulet tightly and stared in the direction of the Nest where he knew the Queen slumbered. It had been many years since she had awoken fully, but he could feel her consciousness brush against his, willing him to do her bidding. He felt the amulet hum in his mind and the feeling quelled. Toothless knew that without the amulet and his human form, he would never have been able to disobey her call. The blanketing fog in his mind returned with a vengeance, but he was ready, clenching his teeth and focusing on something of importance. Like the village too close to finding the Nest and the boy who had become his best friend.
The fog withdrew and he shook his head. Up ahead, dozens of dragons flew in the direction of the Nest, unable to resist the Queen.
"Hey,"he called, waving his arms."Hey!"
A blue Thunderdrum saw him and landed next to him, eying him distrustfully. "Human?"he boomed and raised his wings defensively.
"Not quite, kin." Toothless flashed his dragon eyes and dark plates formed across his face.
The dragon's own eyes widened and he bowed low."A Nraseri! It is an honour. I believed your clan to be gone."
"Not entirely. I am the last. He nodded to the other dragons. "Where are they headed?"
The Thunderdrum followed his gaze. "The Deceiver is calling."
"The Queen? She has not awoken yet," Toothless said, perplexed, but the Thunderdrum shook his head.
"The Queen is awake, but she is dying. He made sure of that. He is searching for something ancient, the Deceiver is, and that is what the others tell me. I cannot hear the Queen's call half the time. Not that I would want to." The dragon sniffed.
"Who is the Deceiver?"
"A great dragon. His words are sweet, but he does not bode well for our kind. He has tricked the Queen. She is not as strong as she once was. Some of my siblings have been able to resist her, but the Deceiver grows impatient and urges her to continue sending her followers out."
"Did he say what he was searching for?"Toothless had an inkling of what it was from the way the amulet was pulsing.
"The Vinr Sætta." Toothless' stomach dropped. The Thunderdrum eyed him again."From what you have shown me, I'm guessing that is you."
Toothless nodded. He had to know more about this Deceiver. "Could you take me there? I cannot go in my true form without the risk of losing control."
The dragon nodded and lowered himself to the ground. "As you wish, Nraseri."
Toothless climbed on his back and the Thunderdrum launched himself into the air and followed the rest of the dragons.
It didn't take long to arrive at the Nest. They glided silently into the volcanic entrance and landed on a small, shadowed outcrop of rock. Toothless slid off the dragon's back and ducked behind a stone pillar.
Ledges that housed hundreds of dragons rose along the walls. The volcanic pit glowed with a dangerously dim fire. It meant only one thing. The Queen was dying. As he looked down, Toothless could barely make out her girth through the smoke. The pull that she had used to keep the other dragons in her claws had diminished greatly.
There was another scent in the air. Toothless' mouth parted and he tasted the air, allowing his heightened senses to filter in. There it was again. That blanketing fog that had pulled him from the sky. The amulet thrummed loudly in his ears and he dropped to the ground in a crouch, alert.
Dragons poured in from the main entrance and the air was filled with the sound of fluttering wings. They landed in panicked huddles on the ledges, some dropping food on the largest ledge.
Toothless peered around the pillar to get a closer look.
A large Thornridge was perched on the highest ledge. It was slim, head crowned with a large, hard frill that ended in six spikes. It towered over the others, even more so from its elevated position. Its mottled green wings were tucked to its side, the tips jagged and sharp. The spines along its back were tipped a deep, sickly magenta.
Toothless' mouth went dry.
The Thornridge was a Titan Wing.
The dragon's crimson eyes glittered with malicious intent as he inspected the hoard of food that was in front of him. He picked up a morsel with one dangerously long talon and dropped it into his maw. The crunch echoed through the cavern.
The other dragons waited in tense silence as it ate. Toothless looked around at his fellow brothers and sisters. Their eyes were glazed, their shoulder hunched. They were hungry.
Toothless felt a pang of guilt. He'd been fed on Berk. They'd had to starve under the reign of the Titan Wing. This wasn't any better than the Queen.
A green Zippleback shuffled forward and the Thornridge looked up from his meal. His eyes raked over the smaller dragon and it flinched.
"The Vinr Sætta has been located, Great One. To an island not far from here." The Zippleback crooned. Its other head tilted and bobbed up and down as if it were following an unheard tune."We have found two humans but we cannot be sure which one but whoever has the amulet is them. Shall we procure them both for you?"
"No, I shall go myself."
Toothless scrambled back as the Thornridge rose to its full height. It towered over the Monstrous Nightmares as they tried to get out of the way.
Two humans.
His heart jolted.
Oh no.
Toothless shot into the sky. He flew faster than he'd ever flown, wind and sound screaming as he shot like an arrow through the storm clouds. He had to get back to Berk. He had to warn Hiccup—warn everyone.
It was coming!
Hiccup gathered up his tools and threw them into his bag. The village was still out celebrating his victory while he was searching for some way to disappear. A half-baked plan formed in the back of his mind. What if he tamed the Nightmare like he'd done with the Nadder and the Night Fury? Though he didn't know if his last encounter with the Night Fury counted as taming.
His father would be there. Stoick would know that he was cheating. That he wasn't good enough. No. he had to leave. Now. He had to find Nraseri and get out of there.
But Nraseri was nowhere to be found.
He'd left no note, nothing, and Hiccup was starting to get worried. He'd even gone into the forest to try and to catch a glimpse of the Night Fury, but it had vanished as well. It was as if both his friends had decided to abandon him.
He shook his head. Nraseri wasn't like that. Something must have happened. He hadn't even taken his satchel.
Hiccup was going to find him.
He glanced around, trying to think if he'd forgotten anything. He should probably take Nraseri's satchel with him so that they wouldn't have to come back for it later. that's the last thing Hiccup wanted to do. He pushed back the curtain to the backroom and went in. something stopped him. If he left, there was a chance that he would never see this room or the forge again. For the first time, he hesitated. He didn't want to leave. Not really. But he couldn't see a way out of it. He didn't want to kill a dragon. He couldn't.
He grabbed the satchel and slung it over his shoulder, and with one last look around the room, he closed the door.
"Going somewhere?"
Hiccup spun around. Astrid was leaning against the workbench, his journal in her hand.
"Astrid! Astrid, what are you doing here?"
Astrid flipped through the journal. "'Scratching a dragon under its jaw will render it prone.'" She flipped to another page. "'Approach the Deadly Nadder from the tail. They can be calmed by stroking their tail spines. These vain creatures enjoy their own reflection and prefer chicken over fish.' Should I keep reading?"
His heart sunk. "Astrid, it's not what it looks like. They're just notes."
"Then explain this." She flipped to the saddle blueprints and held them up. "Explain why there are drawing of a Night Fury and saddle designs."
"I was just…doing research. Getting to know the dragons."
"Oh, you're getting to know them alright. I want answers, Hiccup. Just what are you and Nraseri up to?"
Hiccup's eyes widened as his heart sank even deeper. He stepped back, knocking a stack of books over. They scattered across the floor. "Okay, just let me explain. The dragons aren't trying to kill us. Everything we know about them is wrong."
"We are in the middle of a war, Hiccup. How could you turn your back on us?"
"Why do you care?" he snapped. "You and all the others are only looking at me because of training. You're only here because I beat you. Well, you don't have to worry anymore. As soon as I find Nraseri, we're leaving."
That stopped her. "What? You can't just run away from this."
"And who is going to stop me? You? don't you want the prize of killing a dragon?" He spat out the last words. "Because there is no way in Hel I will do it. there's something else going on and I'm going to find out what."
Astrid released a pent-up breath. Her eyes searched his face. "What happened to you?"
Hiccup straightened and lifted his chin. "I figured out the truth. The dragons aren't mindless creatures. They're intelligent. I've seen it."
"You've seen it." Her eyes widened and flicked to the sketches in the journal. "The Night Fury. You shot it down."
"I did. And I found it. In the woods by Raven's Point. I took out my dagger and told it I was going to cut out its heart. I was so sure. So ready to do it but when I looked at it, I saw myself. It was afraid as I was." He shook his head. "We're missing something. Something huge. Something that could possibly end the war. I've barely scratched the surface but Nraseri knows more. Come with us. Come with me and Nraseri and we can show you. We can find a way to end the war together."
She wavered, and for a moment, Hiccup thought she would say yes. Then she shook her head. "This is insane. You're insane. These are dragons. They're not some pets you can train. They're killers."
"So are we. We've killed thousands of them. we train our children to kill them. You and I have been doing it for weeks and now the prize is to kill a dragon that's been locked in a cage for Thor knows how long."
Astrid was staring at him like she didn't recognize him. Hiccup sighed. "I can't change your mind. Just let me leave. Then we both get what we want. I get a fresh start and you get to kill the dragon and become the warrior you're meant to be."
"Hiccup, this is your home."
"You'll all be better without me. I've got nothing left here.
"what about your father?"
Hiccup smiled bitterly. "I told you before. My father wanted a warrior. He got me." He moved to push past Astrid. Then stopped. One of the books that had fallen had flipped open. He tilted his head to look at it. The page was covered in sketches of tribal crests from across the Barbaric Archipelago. One, in particular, caught his eye. Hiccup brushed passed Astrid and picked the book up.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
He ignored her. The crest glared up at him. The oval dragon skull with narrowed eyes slanting upwards, the duel swords snared within the skull's mouth. Underneath it was a short description scrawled in red ink:
Grimsavage Tribe. Located in the Grimdel Isles. Threat level: extremely dangerous. Do not engage.
His stomach dropped. He dashed into the back room and ripped open Nraseri's satchel and rummaged through it. His hand brushed leather and he pulled the bracer out. He ran back to the book and put it next to the illustration. He put his hand out to grab the side of the workbench, his knees suddenly weak.
No.
Gobber had said that the Grimsavage Tribe was disbanded. That they were still out there. Sly and cunning, they were murderers and thieves far worse than the Berserkers and the Outcasts combined.
But Nraseri had told him that he was from the outskirts of the Archipelago. His tribe was destroyed.
He was Hiccup's friend. He wouldn't hurt him, would he? Hiccup racked his brain, trying to think about all the things that Nraseri had said and done that could lead to this.
His tribe was gone and the only thing he had with an emblem was the bracer. The tribe was near Grimdel Isle. He knew so much about the dragons, far more than a Viking should. He knew about the Night Fury. He'd seen other Night Furies, knew things about them that only someone with extensive interaction with them would know. And there was only one tribe in the Barbaric Archipelago with that kind of knowledge.
"Hiccup, what's going on?" Astrid said.
Hiccup turned to her, his mouth dry. "Nraseri's a Grimsavage."