Chapter Ten: Plans put to Action

"Ah, Darien."

Sighing, Darien turned to see Krogan and a few of his flyers walk up the stairs to her loft. "Krogan?"

Zekir, who was kneeling down and bonding with King then stood up and glared at Krogan. Even King was up on his feet, readying himself for anything.

"My men have trained their Singetails. We're ready to fly."

"Oh? Well have fun. It'll be different than how Zekir and I ride our dragons. Now, unless you have some actual news for me, I'm busy right now."

Banshee also growled, eyeing their visitors warily; as well as adding some validity to Darien's claim that she was busy.

Krogan let a soft chuckle out. "That's not why I came here. My partner is here."

Straightening up, Darien eyed him warily.

"He's ready to talk to you."

Letting out a long sigh, she walked over and took a seat at her desk. "Send him up then."

Smiling, Krogan dismissed his Flyer and simply leaned against one of her bookshelves.

Zekir himself stood himself next to Darien, drawing his longsword and resting the tip on the floor. Standing like a knight, he pulled up his hood and simply waited for the mystery guest.

"…remember to read him…" Darien whispered. "If you have any questions or concerns, make them heard."

Not saying anything, Zekir only shallowly nodded.

As the three waited, a soft pair of footsteps sounded off. Almost light and timid, Darien raised an eyebrow as she finally saw the mystery conspirator.

Trader Johann.

She knew Trader Johann. How was this the master mind behind the hunt for the King of Dragons? He could barely sail on his own! Let alone devise a grand scheme such as this! Unable to hold her thoughts in, she clenched her eyes shut and started to laugh out loud. Zekir, and even Krogan was caught off guard by her behavior, shocked to see her lose her composure so quickly.

"Hehehehe, are you kidding me? You? You're the co-conspirator?" She laughed, having to take a second look at Johann.

Then, the strangest thing happened. Johann's otherwise timid and nervous face switched as if someone pulled a lever. Scowling at her with the darkest expression she's ever seen, he flung his arm out as if he were pointing at her.

She didn't know what he was doing until she felt something nick her cheek. Shocked, she instantly placed her hand on the stinging feeling. She could feel a thin cut and a small trickle of blood. How did he do that?!

"Darien!" Zekir roared, stunned at what he just witnessed.

Looking behind her, she saw a knife sticking out of the wall behind her.

"I can assure you, Darien, I am not the person I portrayed myself to be to you, Viggo, Ryker, Stoick, Matt, or Hiccup." He replied with a strangely out of character, authoritative tone. "And let me correct you on one thing. I am not a co-conspirator. I am thee conspirator!"

"But…you're a trader. An ally to Hiccup and Berk!" She barked, ticked off that he had cut her. Even Banshee was growling angrily at Johann. It was everything for Zekir to not throw himself at Johann, which ironically, King was stopping him from doing.

"Hmm, you're no different than the Riders then. Stating the obvious, being shocked at seeing the truth." He muttered, sounding bored with the conversation already.

Seeing that he was nothing like the Johann she knew, she quietly settled down. Staring at him in awe and wonder, she simply studied him while resting her hand on Zekir's arm to calm him down as well. She had to do something to get her reputation back as the clever mind and new back bone of the Hunters. Gesturing to a seat across from her desk, she then began to greet him as the cutthroat mastermind he claimed to be. "Hmmm, well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't shocked to see you as…well, as you are now. How long have you been acting as a trader?"

"Too long. And now, I can finally break free from the sham." He huffed as he took the seat offered by her.

Sitting back in her chair in an almost too casual way, she simply eyed him with curiosity. "Why now?"

"Because you forced me to." He growled angrily. "You wouldn't have been cooperative if I didn't show myself to you. And the Hunters now have a capable leader. One that understands that everything is just business."

"I'm not sorry for making you tell me who you are." She replied with a nonchalant tone. Her old, musing way of toying with others was coming back, making even Zekir calm down a lot more. "And if you wanted a leader with a business mindset, you should have talked to Viggo. At least when he was still alive."

"You think I didn't try to talk to him before?" Johann growled.

"No, I do think you did. Probably being the reason why he told me he would never hunt the legend of the King of Dragons." She quickly rebutted. He didn't know it yet, but Johann played right into her hands that she could exploit. "He never mentioned as to you, obviously, but he told me the dangers and work it would take to find the dumb beast. You tell me, Johann; tell me, who you think acts only on business, why I should continue to help and assist you find this dragon?"

Johann's face grew dark. "Because of the money and fame."

"Oh, don't give me that crap. If it were all about money and recognition, I'd never have bothered to stop hunting dragons and sell to the islands I have as frequent customers." She quickly snapped. "I'm not stupid. I know what costs come with hunting something you don't know anything about. It cost Viggo and Ryker their lives! All I know about this King of Dragons, is that the Grimborns didn't want to bother with it. Tell me why it would be worth my time to hunt a dragon that Viggo didn't want to hunt. The same Viggo we knew who would never turn away a pretty penny?"

Johann glared at Darien with a look to kill, making Zekir silently relish in satisfaction. Darien knew exactly how to pull peoples strings. And it was a wonder to watch her work. He wished he had her as his diplomat when he was Chief of Thariin.

Not saying anything for a bit, Johann finally nodded. "You are completely different, and yet, exactly the same as Viggo."

"He taught me everything he knew, which I admit, is a lot of what my character is; but I promise you there's a lot more that you don't know about me." She whispered evilly. Letting a casual smile grow, she then lounged extra casually in her chair, letting her leg hang over the arm of it.

"What would your price be? What price would you require to enlist your services?"

That was what she wanted to hear. With a disappearing smile, she leaned forward with her elbows on the desk. "I want four times the number of ships promised. I want the men to be able operate them all. I want what Viggo had before he became obsessed with destroying the Riders. I want an empire. But. More importantly, I want to know everything you know about this...King of Dragons."

Johann shook his head angrily. "If I had an army and fleet, I wouldn't have needed your help!"

"Oh? Then I guess you'll have to find someone else to help you." She growled angrily, not backing down. "You know my price. You know what it'll take to get me on board with your idea. If you think you have a better chance with others, then go talk to them."

Johann simply glared at her with bulged eyes. Shaking his head angrily, he finally gave in to her demand. "I can't do anything now. But I do promise you I'll give you your payment during or shortly after we accomplish our goals."

"No. You won't." Zekir spoke up, making everyone turn to look at him. "I don't believe you, Johann. You've been living a lie all this time. A lie that caught even Darien off guard. I, and we in general, can't believe any promise you make."

"Who are you boy?!" Johann spat out angrily. "This is between me and Darien. Know your place!"

Darien simply raised an eyebrow and leaned back in her chair. "Johann, this 'boy' is Zekir. The former Chief of Thariin."

Zekir smirked at Johann's darkening face with a growing death glare.

Darien then casually added. "I use his counsel and advice with meetings like this. And he's right. I don't trust you or Krogan. I can taste the venom and flattering lies in the air."

Not caring for the death glare, Zekir continued with his observation and demand. "Give us half of our demands, and then we'll agree to help. You need to give us some collateral until we can actually start believing your promises. You'll pay off the rest of the payment during this campaign. Not after. During."

"I'll give you all the riches you need to purchase the men and ships you want…I know of an island you can 'buy' to produce everything thing you need. The people will work for all sorts of money and valuables."

"Good. You'll supply their payment and get us what we want." Darien replied, standing up and cutting off all attempts for another round of negotiating.

"Is that a yes then?" Johann snarled.

"For now it is. You have a week to make good with your promise. I expect a contract with this island and them supplying me with men, equipment, ships, and the assets to maintain and build larger fleets. Now, you need to tell me everything you know about the King of Dragons."

Still scowling at her, Johann stood up as well. "First, I need some specific lenses for the Dragon Eye. You have one of them. I too don't know much about the King of Dragons; but those lenses will unlock everything for us."

Sighing, Darien held up the lenses that Krogan gave her. "Very well. How many do you need then?"

Johann then let an evil smile grow on his face. "Five total. One for each of the classes of dragons. Together, they unlock the puzzle and map of where to find the King of Dragons."

"And where do we find these lenses?"

"Well…we have three already in our possession. Krogan gave you one, I have one," At that, he pulled out his from his pouch to show her. "And then Viggo had one. Which I know you have."

Darien pursed her lips. She was hoping he had no idea about the she had.

"But, I know where we can get the last two. One is in possession of a group called the Wingmaidens, and the other…well, is on Heather's person."

Darien's eyes shone. She finally put the clues together. "You put the bounty on her…"

"And Atali of Wingmaiden Island. I wasn't idle trying to get those lenses."

Shaking her head, Darien then pointed out. "I still don't have a way to see what the lenses have…"

"That is where I come in." Krogan announced, standing up next to Johann. "I'll be retrieving the Dragon Eye from the Riders. My Flyers will be more than able to get it. And even after, we'll be harassing and fighting the Riders to keep them busy from discovering what we're up to."

"And what will we be doing?"

"You will be retrieving one of the two lenses that we know of." Johann answered. "You will go to Wingmaiden Island, and force them to give up their lenses. I don't care how you do it. Krogan will retrieve it from Heather while he harasses the Riders. Since the bounty idea never worked."

"How about we trade…" Zekir growled, cracking his neck as if killing the anxiety of doing something. "I wouldn't mind a shot at the Riders now…"

Darien rested her hand on his arm, calming him. "Very well. We'll go with you to this island that you'll 'buy' out, and then we'll head immediately to Wingmaiden Island."

"Don't worry about the Riders, I'll get you plenty of time. I'll push them off Dragon's Edge and keep them floundering. They won't be able to regroup or retaliate." Krogan whispered evilly.

"Get going then. We have much to do." Johann ordered. "We have dragons to kill, Riders to end, and the King of Dragons to reap."

"Matt! Heather! You're back!" Hiccup called out, seeing him, Heather, the twins, and Fishlegs land at the Hanger.

"Yup. Back and safe." He called out, slowly dismounting from Wasatch.

"Did Mala say anything about having a bounty on her?"

Matt shook his head with pursed lips. Though silent, he was clear with his answer.

"She didn't even know I had a bounty on me." Heather followed up with. "Whoever is pushing the bounties, they're very exclusive with who they employ."

"We knew that when we couldn't find other bounties on you or Atali." Matt huffed, turning to see a storm thunder off in the distance. "Got anything to eat? I'm starving."

"Yeah, come on. The clubhouse is warm." Hiccup quickly replied as he guided Heather up the ramp.

Matt simply pulled off a saddlebag from Wasatch before following. "Go on bud. I know what you're thinking."

Wasatch roared happily, spreading his wings and launching himself into the air with a streak of lightning; heading straight for the thunderstorm in the distance.

"How was your trip home?" Heather asked, walking alongside Hiccup.

"Uneventful. Ukiah and Astrid have been doubling down on patrols around the Edge. I've been working on the Dragon Eye. That's pretty much been it."

"How is that coming?"

"Good. I just need the gems to help filter the light. After that, we should be able to use it again."

"I guess that'll be our next adventure. Getting you the gems."

"What do you need again?" Heather asked, looking at Hiccup with concern.

Sighing, he listed the daunting list. "An emerald, sunstone, amethyst, ruby, topaz, and a sapphire. Kind of a long list really…"

Her eyes brightening up, Heather quickly dug into her pouch. "Maybe not as long as you thought!"

Gasping, Hiccup watched her place an emerald into his hand. "Wh-where did you get this?!"

"Johann gave it to me on my birthday. Remember?" She quickly explained. "Come to think of it, I'm sure he'd know where to find the rest of your stones!"

"T-that's brilliant, Heather!" Hiccup cried ecstatically. "Come on! I'll get a plan put together of what we'll do!"

Smiling, Heather let him jog ahead, letting Matt catch up to her. "Well…at least I was able to help a little bit!"

"You're kidding right? When aren't you helpful?" He laughed, slinging his arm over her. "Come on. I'm really hungry."

Smiling, the two walked into the clubhouse to be greeted by Lasher and Arrow. The two dragons growled happily, with Arrow darting in-between them and pushing them apart. Lasher almost purred, resting his head into Matt's chest.

"They missed you guys." Ukiah observed, smiling at the sight. Sitting on a stool and leaning against the wall, the Thariin chieftain was maintaining his crossbow. Being a task with only one arm.

"Well, Heather's loved by most dragons." Matt teased, stroking Lasher's neck. "I swear Wasatch loves her more than me."

"Right. That's a lie. You bought Windshear's love from me." She quickly fired back with rolling eyes.

Ukiah let his face relax, enjoying the fact that he was back with his friends. The only person missing was…well his wife. However, it was nice to have a break from chiefing and ruling.

"Where's Astrid?" Matt asked, finally getting around Lasher and sitting down at the table.

"On patrol. I'm about to relieve her." Ukiah answered, returning his attention to his crossbow.

A little concerned, Matt looked at him with worried eyes. "You…think something might happen?"

Sighing, Ukiah stopped working on his crossbow. Looking at Matt and then Heather, he nodded. "I do. I can't explain it, but I just…feel like something's going to happen. Never mind the dream I had. The fact that Heather has a bounty on her, and that Darien and Zekir are more active now…I know something is going to happen. Just can't say when…"

"Well, we'll be ready for them." Matt whispered, looking at Heather with determination. He wasn't going to let anything more happen to her.

"That being said," Hiccup announced, looking up from a map. "Tomorrow we'll go find Trader Johann. See if he's got these gems. And if he's got an update on Darien and Zekir."

"Sounds like a plan." Matt agreed. Then with some sarcasm, added. "So long as I get something to eat right now!"

Laughing, Heather punched him in the shoulder, making him yelp in pain and glare at her.

With that, the group began to settle in, save Ukiah who went to find Astrid to relieve her. Unaware that other forces were already in action.

I'm back! I put something of an update on my profile if you want to check it out. I want to finish this story withing a month or two at most. I need to finish it. Anyway, those that have followed me in the past, I hope it was a decent chapter. Thanks for the patient support!