Hiccup and Eric made their way outside and standing there waiting with arms crossed. She was giving them both a murderous look which gave Hiccup and uneasy feeling in his stomach.

"Is everyone all right in there?" Astrid asked.

"A little shaken, but they're fine," Hiccup assured her. "They think it was an earthquake."

"Not surprising could feel the ground shake when I got here."

"I didn't notice," said Hiccup.

"We were a little preoccupied trying to stay alive," Eric pointed out.

"Speaking of which you promised an explanation of you being here," said Astrid narrowing her eyes.

"And I do, I was sent to keep a close eye on Hiccup," said Eric.

Astrid looked as if she was fighting the urge to grab her battleaxe."On whose orders?"

"Odin's."

Hiccup and Astrid stared at him in shock. Odin was the King of the Aseir and ruler of Asgard. Hiccup never met him, but he was his stepfather, and the fact that Eric was sent here to watch over him by Odin himself was astonishing.

"You spoke with Odin?" Astrid stared.

"No, he spoke through one of his ravens. He told me to watch over Hiccup this summer and make sure no harm both upon." He then looked at Hiccup. "You'll be surprised how many times I saved you. Big Boy must have been either extremely brave or stupid to try to kill you with me watching over you."

"Why would Odin give this important task to frost giant?" Astrid questioned.

"Hey, not all of us giants want Ragnarok to happen, we are as diverse of people as you humans," said Eric. "Besides technically, I am a demigod as well as a frost giant, but my father was human."

Astrid looked incredibly confused. "So your mother is a god, but your father is humane, and yet you're a frost giant?"

Realisation then dawned on Hiccup, he knew precisely who Eric's mother was. "Your mother is Skadi, isn't she?"

Eric smiled. "10 points to Hiccup."

Astrid slowly nodded. "Of course, Skadi was a frost in before she became an Aseir."

"Yeah, as reparations for killing my grandfather," Eric nodded. "Anyway, perhaps you should explain why you're in London? Hiccup here thought you were spending the summer with your mum?"

"I was, but then I received an important raven from Ragnar," she said.

Hiccup's eyes lit up, Ragnar was his best friend as well as an elf and son of Frey. "What about Ragnar?"

"He said that he was on a deep undercover mission to find out more about Johann and said to bring you to the Academy," Astrid explained.

"What kind of mission?" Hiccup asked.

"He didn't say, but judging how quickly he was writing, he must have been in a hurry. I tried to get you before you went to the shelter, but I was too late.

Hiccup remember it about the feeling that someone was following him.

"That was you?" Hiccup stared. "Why did you say anything?"

"Because I had hoped to talk to you in private, I tried your home first, but you had already left. I was going to wait until after you finished your shift, but then I saw those hoodlums entered the shelter, and I could tell one of them was a frost giant. When I saw them running in knew that you were in trouble."

"Good instincts," said Eric.

"You still haven't explained why Odin asked you to watch over me," said Hiccup looking at him. "I get the feeling that he doesn't do this for every demigod."

"You are his stepson that might have something to do with it," Eric shrugged.

"Doubt it," said Astrid. "The gods don't usually interfere with the affairs of their children or stepchildren if they can help it. All of us have to follow our own path and fight our own battles."

"It might also do with the fact that you were prime target last year and you did foil Johann's plans for the dragons."

"Or it could be more likely that Ragnar's undercover mission has something to do with it," said Astrid.

Hiccup nodded. "Yeah, then we had better figure out what mission he was sent on."

"Then there's only one person in Midgard that can tell us that," said Eric.

"Mimir," Hiccup nodded. "We better get to the Academy and fast."

"Hold on, we can't just take him," said Astrid gesturing to Eric.

"I have you know that I am a former student at the Academy," said Eric standing proudly. "In fact, I am in House Thor."

"You are?" Astrid stared.

"Look guys, obviously we're all going, but how are we supposed to get to Yorkshire it's over hundred miles away, and I don't like the idea of having my dad take us there again," said Hiccup.

"Especially since your dad is going on a date tonight," Eric added.

Astrid blinked. "Your dad is going on a date?"

"Focus," said Hiccup. "We need to think of a way to get to the Academy without endangering any mortals."

"Can't you just use your dragons?" Eric asked.

Astrid looked at him suspiciously. "How do you know about them?"

Eric rolled his eyes. "Do you really think that Odin would have given me an assignment without telling me everything about the person I'm meant to guard?"

"He has a point," said Hiccup.

Astrid groaned. "Fine he can come, but I'm keeping a close eye on you."

With that agreed on, they quickly made their way to an alleyway, and Hiccup took the opportunity to phone his dad. The last thing he wanted was in the worry that said finding out that he had just been attacked by a frost giant was bound to do that anyway.

"I'll see you soon," said Hiccup and then switched off his mobile.

"Your dad, okay?" Astrid asked.

"Worried, but more for me than himself."

"Should we be concerned that someone will go after your dad?" Astrid asked.

"Don't be I very much doubt that Johann use the same trick twice," said Eric. "And even if they do Odin so that you would keep a watchful eye."

"I'm surprised my own would go to such lengths to protect his wife's old boyfriends," Hiccup frowned.

"I wouldn't be the Norse Gods do actually care about their stepchildren, you should see the dresses my stepmom sends me," Astrid groaned. "I mean do I look like the kind of girl that likes frilly things, but he can't say no to Sif."

"Especially considering you don't have her address," Eric added.

"Not the point."

Eric chuckled. "Though I do have to admit that the Norse Gods do more for their family than other gods I care to mention."

Hiccup blinked as he thought he misheard him. "Other what now?"

Eric merely smiled. "Let's get moving. I'll ride with you if that's okay with our dear fair lady here."

Astrid narrowed her eyes. "Let's just get moving."

With that, they summoned their spirit dragons and mounted them. Once they make sure they were secure, they took off and were soon flying over the city of London.

"Now it always surprises me how mortal eyes are affected by the glamour," said Eric getting the down. "I mean they've got a couple of dragons flying overhead, and they don't even look up."

Hiccup was wondering about that as it did make much sense to him as people in ancient times apparently were able to see such magical creatures.

"Why aren't mortals able to see past the glamour?" Hiccup asked curiously. "I mean I'm assuming that during the Viking Age they were able to see dragons and trolls and stuff."

"Not entirely sure, but I suspect belief has something to do with it," said Eric.

"I heard an extremely powerful sorcerer from Joturnheim caste of a powerful glamour spell over the entire earth," said Astrid.

"It's possible, giants are extremely skilled when it comes to glamour."

"We know, we had a little experience of that during our challenges against Utgard-Loki and his ilk."

"Yeah, I heard about that you made quite a splash in Joturnheim. I suggest that you try to avoid those giants at old Utgard-Loki's party if you want to stay alive, the giants don't exactly like been humiliated."

"Yet they like to humiliate their guests," Astrid muttered under her breath.

Hiccup looked at Eric. "So did you become friends with me only because you order to by Odin?"

"No, us becoming friends was real," Eric assured him. "Though I admit it didn't start out like that, I think it would be the best way to shield you from any attacks. Big Boy wasn't the first to try to kill you only the boldest."

"Sounds if you had an easy summer," Astrid sighed.

"I take it things didn't go well for you," said Hiccup.

"At first they did, but then a gang of orcs harassed my mother's home."

Eric looked at her, intrigued. "Did you recognise the clan markings?"

"Yeah, it was a flaming skull."

"The Firebringer clan," Eric grimaced.

"Who are they?" Hiccup asked.

"One of the most dangerous orc clans around and one of the biggest. I believe you were acquainted with their leader Zar."

Hiccup recognise the name, he was the orc that accompanied Johann when they try to acquire their dragon army.

"So when after Astrid for what revenge?" Hiccup asked.

"I wouldn't put it past him," said Eric.

Hiccup was now concerned about the others and quickly turned Astrid. "What about the gang, you heard anything from them?"

Astrid shook her head. "No, Ragnar was the only one I had contact with, and that was only a confidential message. I know the twins are staying at the Academy are not exactly wealth but there dad's place. Fishlegs went home to his mother, and I think Snotlout is in Nidavellir."

"Well, the two of you were attacked, and Ragnar seems to be in some sort of trouble, so there's a good chance they're going to be targeted," said Eric.

"Well, aren't you a ray of sunshine," Astrid muttered.

"Hey, I'm just calling it how I see it. You may not know this, but you and your gang cause quite a stir last year."

"What kind of stir?" Astrid asked curiously.

"One that sending ripples throughout all the Nine Worlds and it has made you a few enemies. Mostly the ones that wish for Ragnarok to happen."

"I can understand why so many people are so excited about Ragnarok?" said Hiccup looking at Astrid. "I mean almost everyone dies what's so exciting about that?"

"Because it gives them a chance to finally kill their sworn enemy," said Eric. "Many of the giants would be thrilled to smash the Aseir, and Loki would like nothing more than revenge. I personally would like to avoid doomsday if possible."

"Still…"

"Also, quite a few people believe they would be able to escape their destinies. Do you say that Loki believes that he can escape his own death during Ragnarok?"

Hiccup had a few conversations with Loki last year, and he didn't exactly enjoy. Loki was currently tied to a rock with his face slowly melting thanks to a poisonous snake. The man was dangerous, even imprisoned; one could only imagine what kind of chaos he would unleash if he was freed.

"Are at all concerned that Johann my plan on releasing his father?" Hiccup asked.

"Loki's location is top-secret only a handful of people know its true location," said Astrid.

"The same to be also said for the Hidden World," Eric pointed out. "It is sad to say that sequence do you find a way to slip through the cracks, especially if there is help on the inside."

"You're not suggesting that one of the gods of Asgard would release such a dangerous secret," Astrid scoffed.

"Not intentionally, but sometimes all it takes is a small amount of poison the slip through the cracks everything to fall apart."

"Look we don't know what Johann planning, he may not even be considering trying to free his father. We should wait until what Mimir says before we jump to any conclusions."

"I agree," said Astrid and her eyes then turned below. "And it seems we've arrived."

Hiccup looked down, and sure enough, he saw the Academy setting out there in the open fields next to the large forest. It was so large that anyone would mistakenly for some sort of mansion, but thanks to the glamour mortals never see it which was good because it was near hiking route.

Hiccup smiled. "We're back."