Hi everyone. It was good to watch the reader count going up so thank you all for coming back and thanks for the greeting Vin :D
Chapter 32
Nobody knew it at the time, but the following morning on Berk was something very special. First the dragons woke everyone up at the crack of dawn, then they all rose and prepared breakfast, and finally the leaders of the group spent ten minutes or so going over what needed to be done that day. So what was special about it? Well it turned out to be a blueprint of the way they would spend every morning while they were on the island of the Dragon Riders.
"Please Master Blue, visiting Gothi's cave should not take too long" Maximilian DeGroot begged.
"I told you last night, I want to explore the rest of the island first" Blue replied sternly.
Captain Branson hoped he may have the answer to the problem.
"Look DeGroot if this cave is so important to you, then I can spare you a couple of crew members to..."
"No Captain; I appreciate the offer, but the whole point is to show it to the Heir of the Dragon Riders."
"You could take Abby" Calla suggested "She's an heir too."
"Most certainly she can come, but Blue must be there; it is most important not to disturb the timeline."
"DeGroot, I have no idea what you are talking about" Blue shook his head "but know this; I will not allow an exploration team to go out beyond the safety of the village area without a dragon expert to guide them, and there are only two dragon experts on this island."
"You and I" DeGroot acknowledged.
"Yes; so you can either wait here for me to get back, or you can come too."
'I um... don't think I would be able to handle the journey" DeGroot admitted "I'm not as fit as I used to be."
"I understand" Blue smiled reassuringly "I'll do my best to get back early, so maybe we can go to the cave later today, or tomorrow morning at the latest. It's been waiting there for a thousand years, so I think it can wait a little longer."
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DeGroot was not the only man on the island who could not have things his own way. Because over one thousand years ago, Stoick the Vast found that being the Chief of Berk did not mean he always got what he wanted; especially when it came to his twelve year old son Hiccup.
The dragons had attacked again last night. Two housed had been burnt to their foundations and one third of the village livestock had been taken. When compared to the usual level of destruction and losses normally suffered in a dragon raid, this was actually quite a good result; the real problem for Stoick was Hiccup had tried to help again.
"When I look at how sour your face is Chief, it reminds me of that crate of lemons Trader Johann brought us last fall. They were good on the grilled fish though."
Stoick looked up to see the normally broad chin of Gobber the Belch, grow even broader as he grinned.
"Please Gobber, I'm not in the mood for levity this morning; Hiccups actions last night were inexcusable. We may have been able to save Sven's home if we hadn't been forced to rescue the boy from that Nadder."
"You gotta admit though, he's got courage" Gobber nodded.
"BUT WHAT GOOD WOULD COURAGE DO HIM, IF IT GETS HIM KILLED?" Stoick cried out in frustration.
The massive chief turned his back on his friend and adviser to look out over the smouldering village. The people of Berk scurried to and fro clearing, cleaning and fixing; each one with a smile on their face and song on their lips, directly contrasting the demeanour of their leader.
"Don't get me wrong Gobber I do love the boy dearly, but there's no denying he is a walking fishbone with all the co-ordination of a headless Yak."
"Well he's not totally useless Chief" Gobber noted "For example, do you know where he got the dagger he attacked that dragon with?"
"A DAGGER GOBBER" Stoick threw up his arms "Who in their right mind would attack a Nadder with a short bladed knife?"
"Only a fool" Gobber nodded "But my point is, he made it himself."
Stoick turned his head to see Gobber offering the weapon for the Chief to peruse.
"Notice how consistent the blade thickness is, and the quality of the handle binding. I like to think I'm one of the best sword smiths ever to fire a forge, but when I was a boy I had no hope of making such a blade."
"So... what are you saying Gobber?" Stoick asked "Hiccup is my son; I have to train him to be chief someday."
"Is there any law that says the future chief can't help provide his people with the best weapons?"
"I... I guess there isn't" Stoick realised "It would keep him busy during the fighting, and might just give him confidence knowing he was helping."
"Aye... I don't think telling him to hide in a hole was good for his self esteem at all."
"I had to keep him safe Gobber" Stoick scowled.
"Oh aye I don't blame you for that, but maybe working at the forge as my apprentice would be a better option."
"Yes... ... YES!" Stoick punched the air "I'll go tell him straight away."
"No you won't; Gothi wants to see the boy first."
"Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?" Stoick scowled.
"Uh... slipped my mind?" Gobber shrugged.
"Do you know what she wants?"
"Aye Chief; she wants to take him to the cave" Gobber revealed.
"The cave? Are you sure?"
"Oh Gothi made it quite clear; as you can see here... and here" Gobber had taken off his helmet to show Stoick the lumps on his head made by Gothi's staff.
"Ah... I see she was quite adamant about it" Stoick nodded.
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Sorry this one was so short, but there will be another one in a few days.
Bye for now, Marty :)