"We need to evacuate the civilians," Dagur said as he stared at a map. Iris swore she saw this scene before but with fewer people in her living room. "The Riders can stay back to fight against the Dragon Hunters as can some of the squadrons. Captain Jon, how many do you recommend we keep behind?"
"At least three squadrons," Jon answered. "At thirty warriors a squadrons, that will give us sixty warriors. I don't know the Hunters numbers but we need to be ready. A trio of dragons equals about a squadron based on my observations of their training."
"Those being evacuated still need to be protected," Arlx commented.
"Ellie and the Gronkle Riders will be evacuating with them," Iris said firmly. "As will Shadow, her young, and the Terrible Terrors. Each squadron leader will have a Terrible Terror with them to send urgent messages."
"You'll be with them as well," Dagur said.
"Absolutely not." He glared at her as she glared back. "I'm not leaving you."
"Yarrow needs you."
"My mom will take Yarrow. She will be protected with Enigma's egg. I'm not leaving."
"Now's not the time you two," Jon interrupted. "Ir-Chieftess, I know you want to stay but you are needed with the ships. If anything happens to Chief Dagur you will be the next in charge of Berserk. Even if the island is lost our people will survive and they will need a leader."
"Dagur won't die," she said firmly as she stared at her husband.
"As much as I want to agree with Captain Jon," Rohan began. "We need to continue. Time is limited if what Healer Vivian saw is to be trusted. Ships will need to be loaded with supplies and our storehouses emptied into ships. It is not safe to keep anything on land now."
"Thank the gods harvest is over," Arlx grumbled. Everyone agreed quietly. "Elder Rohan is right though. Supplies need to be moved. Can we allot a number of ships to just carry the bulk of supplies?"
"It is possible," the dock master said slowly. "We still need to have rations for each ship carrying people though. Plus there will need to be a ship for the Gronkles and Timberjack to rest on. Shell will follow by water by my ship." The Scauldron had finally bonded with the seasoned Dock Master when he tripped over her tail and fell into the water only to be fished out by her.
"I want three scouts," Dagur said. "The fastest Riders we have. Headed west, northwest, and north. The moment they see any Dragon Hunter ships I want them to report back. Terror Mail needs to be sent to the Murking Tribe. I want three different Terrible Terrors headed that way in case there are Dragon Hunters watching."
"We should warn the Dragon Riders," Ellie said.
"It will be too late," Dagur answered. "Chances are they will miss any Terror we send their way. Right now we need to focus on getting as many people off the island as we can." He looked around the room. "Everyone knows what to do. Dismissed."
"Dagur," Iris began but he just shook his head. "Don't you ignore me."
"I have a lot to deal with right now Iris," he said. "Your mom hit me with all this at one time. A giant dragon sleeping in the middle of our island that will destroy most of it when it emerges? Plus Dragon Hunters that want to catch it which is why it'll wake up. Forcing us to leave our ancestral home. All that she saw in a book of all things!"
"I get it. Its weird. Weirder stuff has happened or did you forget?" She watched as he rubbed his face. "Its crazy, I know. Its a lot to take in and I can't shoulder it for you. You can still talk to me though."
"If she had this book then why not say something before we left your homeland?"
"My crazy grandmother apparently showed up and dropped it all on her head after we left. I told you before my mom's family wanted nothing to do with us after she married my dad against their wishes."
"Its still weird!"
"I know." Iris sighed and walked over to him, tugging his hand down from his neck to hold it. He tightened his grip once their fingers laced together. "If its any consolation, that book doesn't like me. Tried to burn my hand off for touching it."
"So that's why your hand is wrapped up." She gave him a sheepish smile. "I planned on asking when I had a moment to breathe. We could just feed it to a Gronkle."
"No it might make them sick."
"Good point." He sighed. "What are we going to do? We need to find a safe place to move everyone to and I have no idea where to send them."
"We'll find someplace. Somewhere in the Archipelago there is a place waiting for the Berserkers. We just gotta find it."
~Break~
"Did you have fun with grandma?" Iris cooed as she scooped up Yarrow. The baby gurgled, waving her hands around.
"How was the meeting?" Vivian asked. "Your father hasn't come home yet."
"He went to talk to the guards and give out orders," Iris replied. "The meeting was, well, okay. Understandably everyone is shocked and more than a little freaked out. Who wouldn't be?" Yarrow tugged at Iris' shirt. "Yes sweetie."
"We decided to evacuate the civilians," she continued after she sat to nurse Yarrow. "As well as move all supplies to some of the ships. With the warning we have time to get things done that we'd have to do last minute. Yarrow and Enigma's egg are going with you on the ships. I'm staying back with Dagur and Dad."
"Absolutely not," Vivian protested. "No. You will come with us. You're needed."
"You know I can't do that. I'm staying, to fight. I can't abandon Dagur or the Dragon Riders. They need Enigma and me."
"Your daughter needs you." Low blow.
"She'll be safer with you. Ellie with be with you as well to protect Yarrow."
"Iris-"
"Dagur already tried honey," Jon said as he walked in on their conversation. "Didn't work. Everyone is packing and preparing to load the ships. The Riders are on patrol and I sent some out to scout out islands we could possibly move everyone to."
"Thanks Dad." Jon just nodded.
"Jon she wants to stay and fight!"
"I know."
"But-"
"Mom! I'm staying!" Iris stood up and grabbed Vivian's hand and held it tight. "You know as well as I do that you would be doing the same thing. Yarrow will be safe with you and hopefully we can find someplace safe for everyone. Otherwise we will be screwed."
Vivian tightened her hand around Iris' as they both stared at each other. Yarrow chewed on her hand in wonderful baby innocence. Finally Vivian sighed and grasped Iris' hand in both of hers.
"I still don't like it," Vivian said quietly. "But you are right. Doesn't mean I have to like it or agree with it."
"I know Mom," Iris said. "I need you to help me though. Does that book of yours have any leads on a safe place for us to go to?"
She frowned slightly before letting go of Iris. She was thinking. Iris watched as her mom, still frowning, pulled out the chest again to undo all the locks again. She had the book out and stood there staring at it. The book just sat in her hands not doing anything.
"If it does Dagur should be here too," Vivian said quietly as she continued to frown at the book. "Jon. Go get him please."
With a nod Jon quietly left the house. Meanwhile Vivian went to their dining table and set the book down. Iris stood by her, looking at the odd book while they waited. Whatever that book was, it still made her skin crawl.
Soon enough Jon came back with Dagur in tow. He took one look at Iris and went to stand by her. She felt his arm slide around her waist before he tugged her close. Yarrow cooed at him, flailing her hand at him.
"Your dad said your mom might have an answer," he said.
"That book might," she corrected. "Mom wanted you here to see it since she's the only one that can work it."
"Shush," Vivian scolded.
Taking a deep breath the older woman placed her hand on the cover of the book. The three of them crowded closer to watch what would happen. Jon had seen it before but Iris and Dagur were still unaware of how weird the book truly was.
Vivian yanked her hand back just before the book flew open. The pages moved on their own at an unnatural speed. Iris could just imagine the paper cuts someone would get turning pages like that. It was a weird thought to have but this whole thing was just weird.
The book suddenly stopped. Iris watched in awe as images seemed to float off the pages to hover in the air before them. They rippled like a scene on water. These images were of massive ships with large sails that had their new tribe symbol, the Fury Howler, on them. Only the ships they had now looked nothing like these. Vivian began to speak as words appeared below the images.
"The Berserker Tribe, their fleet now complete, left the waters of the Archipelago," she read. "It was no longer safe for them to stay on the Mystery Isle with the Dragon Hunters attacking them. They couldn't call on Berk, who was fighting against the Dragon Hunters themselves, so they decided to take a chance to head to new lands with their loyal dragons at their sides, a land called Vinland."
"How true is this?" Dagur asked quietly. His face was pale with shock.
"I'm not sure," Vivian answered. She closed the book and the images disappeared. "So far though it has been accurate. Perhaps, if we avoid the Mystery Isle, it will change."
"Its smaller than Berserk," mused Iris. "But it could handle our population for the time being. Plus its not far from the Murking Tribe on the Waterlands Island. Could we make it defensible? So we wouldn't have to leave? Did that thing even say how long we would be there?"
Vivian shook her head. It was a possibility then that they could stay there for a good period of time. Maybe they could make it defensible enough to not have to leave. Besides, why would they head for America of all places?
With dragons it would be possible to make it there with little issue but there was an issue with the natives. Granted Iris wasn't sure how much was different compared to her old world to her new world. Dragons could change things, obviously it did a lot but possibly more.
"Vinland is your homeland isn't it?" Dagur asked quietly as Vivian put the book away. "In your world?"
"Kind of," Iris said. "If we go there, we would be on the east side. Where we lived was on the north west side. Vinland, North America someday, is a massive continent. Seriously huge. So there would be no problem with space. Do you want to take our people to a place like that though?"
"If it's safe I would," he replied. "Right now all I care about is you and Yarrow's safety as well as the tribe's safety. You two are the most important to me though."
"Let's evacuate our people to Mystery Isle first," she rationalized. "We'll send scouts before sending ships."
Dagur nodded slowly at her words. She glanced at her dad, who had been listening, and he nodded as well. Both agreed with her. Hopefully it would work out then. They had to try.
