Chapter 18 - Savas:
"Now how this is going to work, is that each and every one of you will have a specific soldier who will be personally training you every time you arrive here. You'll be assigned to a soldier, and you won't get to change. I won't be training you, I'll be judging and watching from the sidelines, giving out tips and advice here and there." Vali explained.
Her arms fell to her sides and Hiccup stopped looking at them. It was hard to concentrate on what he was being told, he just found out that this woman had a dragon mark!
"Once two months of your training is done, I will pick which ones of you are suitable to join our ranks. The ones I don't pick, I'm afraid you'll have to try again next year. The ones I do pick, you'll be required to prove your strength, skill and loyalty to Myrka by killing a dragon and executing a slave. But that's ages away. Time to start your training!"
She smiled and many people in the crowd smiled nervously back.
Vali gestured at the soldiers behind her. "These soldiers are well trained and ready to be teaching. They have many years' experience behind them, so it would be wise to listen to what they have to say. I will now begin the process of assigning each of you to one."
A soldier walked up to her and handed her a clipboard with parchment attached. And a charred stick to write with.
"You, come here." She spoke, pointing at the muscly guy who before escorted Hiccup into the arena, also with the young bloke.
She took him around the soldiers till they arrived in front of one at the end.
"You're assigned to Halvar. Good luck." Vali affirmed.
This process took about ten minutes. Vali went around and assigned each and every Viking to a soldier. Hiccup was the fifth last one to be assigned.
"Hiccup, you're assigned to…" She paused, fiddling with her outstretched fingers as she scanned the remaining soldiers.
"Savas. Hiccup you're assigned to Savas. Good luck." Vali instructed, now humming as she walked over to the next person.
Savas was a tall, strong willed looking person Hiccup judged. He looked extremely fit. He had large and very obvious looking muscles in his arms and chest. But his most notable features were his short jet black hair and dark brown eyes. He looked around twenty-five years old.
"Ah, so you're Hiccup. Nice to meet you, I'm Savas." He greeted, extending a hand out to him.
Hiccup nodded to him and smiled. "Yep I'm Hiccup. Nice to meet you too. So you're my trainer?"
Savas nodded. "Yes I am. I'm looking forward to teaching you, I haven't been in a sword fight for a long time. Should be good to help you reach your level."
Hiccup chuckled. "Thanks. I may not be very good at first, I've never been in a sword fight before."
Savas patted him on the back. "Not to worry lad. That's what I'm here for." He said, as they both watched Vali finish up assigning everybody.
"All right!" Called out Vali loudly, bringing silence down once again. "We're all assigned and now it's time to begin! I'll be watching you all, try your best and good luck! Begin!"
"Okay, come over here Hiccup. We're all spreading out." Savas instructed. As all the other soldiers and their apprentices spread out across the blood stained arena. Vali and her five guards around her walked to the seats and sat down, watching.
"Okay Hiccup, we'll start with the absolute basics. Defence and avoidance." Savas began.
Nearby in the forge, connected to the arena…
He heard voices outside. He was sure of it. Toothless had his ears raised and eyes open, staring at a rock wall and imagining what was behind it.
The Night was still chained and muzzled to the cart, but he was left in the forge today, not the dungeons. Though he knew that this was the beginning of that sword training exercise.
The dragon was alone in the forge, many of the soldiers were outside in the arena training the recruits.
Toothless was really anxious, he knew Hiccup would be out there. He hoped he would be all right. He wished him the best in his mind as he listened to all the voices outside.
Back outside in the arena…
"Draw your sword, and hold it in front of you, at the ready." Savas instructed as he did the same with his own.
They stood several metres apart from one another.
"Now, attacking the enemy or waiting for an enemy attack is useless unless you know how to defend yourself with and without a weapon. Depending on the enemy you're fighting, at times attacking is best and other times waiting for the enemy to attack you is best. Now are you right or left handed?" The soldier asked him.
Hiccup grasped the sword in his left hand, and replied "left handed."
Savas smiled. "Good, same as me. Now, put your sword down on the ground. Don't sheath it, just leave it. First I'm going to teach you how to defend yourself and attack without a sword."
Nodding, Hiccup placed the sword on the ground and stood up. As Savas did the same.
Suddenly Savas ran at him head on with his fists out, giving Hiccup little chance to react. He moved to the left but didn't see his right foot suddenly stick out, and Savas tripped him over.
Hiccup crashed on his back hard onto the stained gravel dirt.
"Ow." He muttered. His old wounds from the whipping lashes giving a sting of pain through his shirt.
Savas smirked. "A very important thing. Always expect the unexpected. Be aware that a sudden attack could happen when you least expect it."
"Okay." Hiccup said, getting to his feet and standing, feeling embarrassed.
And so they trained and trained. Time wore on, and minutes turned into hours.
There was no break, no rest, no time to stop. Though strangely enough Hiccup never felt the need to. He did get tired at times, but his tiredness dissipated when he was thrown into a sudden intense situation.
Savas was not getting tired either. Which was surprising Hiccup. As he taught him how to block a punch or how to avoid a kick, Hiccup would occasionally glance around to see what everyone else was doing. What he was noticing, was that everyone else was taking breaks once every hour or so.
Whilst neither Hiccup nor Savas did. Hiccup knew this was because he had dragon strength in his muscles, but what confused him was how Savas kept training at the same speed and strength he was.
Even the other soldiers who were training the other recruits stopped sometimes for a break.
Suddenly a fist connected into Hiccup's shoulder, and a foot landed on his chest and he was sent metres backwards by Savas.
"Guard up! Focus! Don't ever lose concentration!" He shouted at him.
Hiccup stood up as fast as he could. As many others around him were watching, amazed.
"Well played Savas. You two both seem to be far more energetic than everyone else I've seen."
Vali was standing on the sidelines, watching intently.
Hiccup smiled at her nervously, as Savas commented "Thank you my lady."
Vali looked up at the sun. "One hour left!" She called out.
"Okay Hiccup, I want you to try and land a hit on me this time. See how you go. Use any means you want. Except your sword. We'll start sword training once you've mastered these abilities." Savas instructed.
Hiccup nodded and he and Savas circled each other. Neither one taking their eyes off one another.
Eventually Hiccup charged at him, and attempted a punch with his left hand. Savas blocked it as then Hiccup tried to trip him but Savas avoided it. Hiccup attempted many more but Savas blocked them with an easy counter.
"Oh this is too hard." Hiccup sighed, backing off and panting as Savas walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It will be at first. But you'll get better, don't you worry my friend. I'll give you one compliment though, you've got a lot more strength than what you appear to have. All you need is experience and this training."
Hiccup looked at him and smiled. He was beginning to grow rather fond of Savas already. "Thank you."
The soldier nodded and spoke, "You're welcome."
"Okay, come on. Back to defence." Savas stood straight up and ran a couple metres away.
"Remember to move your fists, limbs and elbows into a good position where a strike wouldn't hurt where you're blocking it from. Also try and do something the attacker isn't expecting. Like if the attacker is doing only hand and fist movements, go for a sudden and unexpected kick." Savas suggested.
"All right." Hiccup replied.
And as the hour expired, Hiccup still had not managed to block any hit successfully, or land any hits on Savas at all. Hiccup thought he was just too fast.
"Okay the hour is up! Training is over for today! Well done everyone! See you back here right at dawn tomorrow!" Called out Vali.
Hiccup picked up his sword, ignoring many of his bruises along his body, and sheathed it to his belt.
Savas did the same. "Well done Hiccup. A pleasure to meet you at last, I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Hiccup half smiled at him. "Thank you." They shook hands, and Hiccup departed the scene. Following the rest of the Vikings out of the arena.
As he was leaving the arena at the back of the group, he glanced down at his wrist and saw a blue glow seeping through the shirt's sleeve material.
He quickly whipped it back, and noticed Night's mark glowing very brightly.
Yes! I knew he was alive! He must be underneath here. Near the entrance to the arena. Maybe that's where the forge leads to. Hiccup thought excitedly.
The young man at sixteen pushed his sleeve back as fast as he possibly could, and covered it entirely.
Now it was nearly midday, Hiccup wasn't really sure what to do for the rest of it. So he did the easiest thing, he went back to the house one hundred and ninety five.
He went in and sat in the armchair by the fireplace, which wasn't lit at the moment. He just sat there, rocking the chair back and forth.
He looked down at his right wrist, pulled back the sleeve and looked at the birthmark again.
This time it wasn't glowing as he had not expected it too here.
After gazing at it for a while, he pushed his sleeve back down.
I was really lucky that I found an empty house here. I can barely believe my luck. What were the chances of Kormak and I finding a house that would end up having everything that suited our needs perfectly?
It has beds, a table, chairs, fireplace and even clothes!
Hiccup looked at the shirt he was wearing. It was still the oversized jet black shirt, then he examined his trousers, which were dark green.
"I wonder if I should use this clothing when I eventually leave Myr-"
Hiccup cut himself off from his own sentence, a brilliant idea having suddenly entered his mind. Quite surprised he didn't think of this before, he was glad he had now.
He remembered he wanted to have black clothes that he could use whilst flying Toothless so he would camouflage into the saddle, and the dragons hide. Only he never found any such black material back on Berk.
Also he wanted to make a black saddle. But again the material was not there on Berk.
Realising this, as Toothless would no doubted be captured and imprisoned, surely the saddle would have been taken off him or destroyed by now.
What an opportunity! Myrka markets have hundreds of stores that sell clothes and materials. This should be perfect for me to make or buy some black clothes for myself, and get the materials to make a black saddle for Toothless.
All I'd have to do is seize them from this house whenever we escaped.
Hiccup smiled at his thoughts, and stood up. He went up to his room and collected all the coins he could and put them into his pocket.
This was going to give him a good project to complete, and something to keep himself occupied for a while after training every day.
The black shirt he was wearing was good, it was completely black but oversized. So Hiccup only needed a pair of trousers that were black, or make a black pair. Also, he wanted black boots and a black fur coat.
Thinking about clothing, this made him realise that when he escaped Myrka with his companions, he might need another pair of clothes for one person in particular.
The money now safely in his pocket, he walked back down the stairs and out the door, shutting it behind him.
He casually walked along the paths leading to the Myrkian markets. Joining in with the crowd of Vikings going to and fro.
When he entered, he was jammed into the midst of thousands of people walking in every direction possible and talking at the top of their voices once again.
Unsure of where to start, he walked to the right and looked at the stores on either side him. The majority at the moment seemed to be food outlets.
"Hiccy!"
Recognising that voice among all the others, he turned in the direction and saw Erp waving dramatically from his store, selling apples.
Walking up to the store, Hiccup smiled and shook his hand. "Hey Erp! How's business going?"
Erp smiled as he whispered to a customer and the person in question gave him some money and took several apples before walking off. "Good my neighbour! How was training?"
Hiccup drew a confused expression. "How did you-"
"He did well for a first timer, Erp. You'd be surprised with his strength, that's for sure."
Hiccup spun around, and saw the uniformed soldier Savas standing behind him. He smiled at Hiccup and ruffled his hair as Hiccup himself looked up at him.
"Savas! Good to see you! Are you Hiccy's trainer?" Erp asked enthusiastically.
Hiccup smiled at the situation and looked between Erp and Savas often, thinking that these two must be friends or perhaps Savas is a frequent customer.
"Hiccy?!" Savas laughed, throwing his head back before leaning forward and putting a hand on Hiccup's shoulder, as said boy's face turned bright red. "Oh that's a hilarious nickname! Who gave you that?" Savas cackled, looking down at him.
Erp chuckled at Savas's laughter, and responded before Hiccup could reply, "His older brother, Kormak!"
Hiccup's stomach gave a lurch of warning. Nerves starting to tick as the hairs on his neck stood on end.
"Rightio. Well yes, I am Hiccup's trainer. Speaking of which…" Savas began dropping his voice and bent down to Hiccup. "…If you ever want private lessons on training, for defence, attacking, or with swords or anything, let me know as we can use the arena all by ourselves if you want."
Hiccup nearly jumped at the offer, but thought better of it. This was a good offer, and he'd like to accept it in time. For the moment he had other priorities on his mind for the time being. Like the reason he came to the markets in the first place.
"Thank you sir. That's-"
"Don't ever call me that. Please just Savas will do." He interrupted.
Hiccup nodded. "Okay, sorry Savas. Thank you very much for that offer, but I have some other stuff on my mind at the moment. But can I take you up on that offer perhaps in a few weeks?"
Savas smiled. "Absolutely."
Savas stood up to his fullest height again, "Well, I better be off guys. Some patrolling to do. I'll see you both soon. Hail Harun!"
"Bye Savas." Hiccup farewelled and watched him go. As Erp called out "Until next time Savas!"
"So Hiccy, what can I do for you? Want any apples?" Erp offered, gesturing to the huge stock of fruit before him.
Hiccup shook his hand in front of him and said "Oh no thank you, I'm good. I'm just looking around for some clothing stores. I might try and make or buy a really awesome outfit."
Erp rolled his eyes. "Kids these days. Always wanting something cool to show off with. Okay then, I'll see you later. Good luck!"
Just as Hiccup farewelled him too, other people suddenly came up to the store and starting picking up apples and asking Erp how much they were.
Taking his cue, Hiccup left. Feeling in quite a good mood.
After several more minutes of walking, the first clothes shop he found was called CCC. Which stood for the writing that was written underneath it saying 'Coats, Coats & Coats!' It had a huge queue out the door with many impatient people waiting in line. Hiccup skipped that one and went on to look for the next.
The next place he saw was a shirt store, called very originally 'Shirt Store.' It sold many different types of shirts, and had only a normal amount of people walking in and out of it.
Hiccup decided to go for it, and walked in.
This really is a shirt store. Thought Hiccup, as in every square inch of the store, the only thing that could be seen were shirts. Of many different colours and sizes.
There were two people over at the counter, one person was angrily throwing his fists onto it, and the other was waiting patiently behind. The store salesman was desperately trying to deal with the clearly infuriated customer, who was yelling now and pointing at some silver coins on the counter.
After a few more minutes, the debacle was over with the customer muttering under his breath with no new shirts and walked to the door. Hiccup approached the counter but then heard a shove at the door.
He turned around and a female slave just walked in, she was leaning against the wall, and the man who just was leaving just withdrew his hand from the woman's shoulder. He had obviously shoved her against the wall as he exited.
Hiccup turned back around again and walked up to join the queue, waiting behind the person in front of him who just bought several shirts.
When that Viking's business was concluded, Hiccup walked up to the counter after having collected no shirts.
"What can I do for you sir?" Asked the salesman. Speaking quite politely and friendly. His eyes gazed down Hiccup's front and clearly he noticed that the shirt he was wearing was far too big for him.
"Zack! Another one. Are you ready?" The storeman suddenly turned around and yelled behind him into the back of the store. Before Hiccup could even speak.
"Yep!" Came a voice from within the shop behind the door which was at the back of the store.
"Oversized shirt?" Asked the salesman, now looking at Hiccup.
"Yes." Hiccup nodded.
The man gestured behind him, "go through there and see Zack. He'll fix it for you."
"Thank you." Hiccup replied, walking around the counter and opening the door.
"Uhh, Zack?" Hiccup called out. Seeing many doors on his right and left now, which seemed to lead to many different boxes and storage places for clothes and sewing equipment.
"In here!" Came a voice.
Hiccup followed the voice and walked to the very end. He opened the door and as soon as he did another person was standing there.
"Thank you Zack." A woman spoke, who smiled at Hiccup then walked out.
"You're welcome!" Called out a man sitting on a chair at a table which was covered in materials and cutting equipment.
"Hello. Please come in. I'm Zack." He spoke, standing up.
Hiccup shook his hand. "Hi Zack, I was just wondering how much it would cost to get this shirt fitted to my size?"
Zack walked closer to him and touched the clothing. He looked at Hiccup's height, and walked around him.
"Hmmm, if I were you I wouldn't get it fitted to your size, because you're going to grow out of it soon after you get it fitted to you. You're what? Fourteen? Fifteen?" Zack guessed.
"Sixteen." Hiccup replied. He didn't look as young as fourteen, did he?
Zack placed a partially surprised expression upon his face, but did not elaborate. "You'll still grow out of it within a year for sure. I'd recommend to have it shortened, so it's only a little big for you. So you can grow into it."
Hiccup considered this. Then made up his mind. "All right, that seems like a good idea. How much would it cost to get it shortened a little then, so it's just a little big for me?"
"About twenty rupees." Replied Zack.
Hiccup nodded. "Do I pay you first or after?" He requested politely.
"After. Would you like me to do it now?" He piped, looking keen now.
"All right. Thanks."
"My pleasure."
Zack went over to the door and locked it. Preventing anyone from coming in.
He walked back to the table, and got some things ready. "Just keep the shirt on. I can do it whilst it's still on."
Ten minutes later it was done.
Zack had neatly given the shirt a trim at the bottom, and it was no longer hugely oversized on him. It was a little big as requested, but he'd grow into it.
"Thank you very much, it works well!" Hiccup complimented, examining it. He reached into his pocket and got all the coins out.
"You're welcome." Zack replied, smiling proudly.
"Twenty rupees was it? Is this enough?" Hiccup handed him a handful of coins.
"Whoa whoa! That's way over twenty! Here let me take twenty out and give you back the rest!" Zack sorted through all the silver and gold coins, picking out the right number of rupees before giving the rest back to him.
"Thanks. And just to ask, do you know any stores nearby that sell black trousers?" Hiccup remembered, realising he needs the trousers too.
"Oh there's heaps of stores that sell trousers near here. I'm sure all of them would have black trousers." Zack reckoned.
"Ok thanks again. Bye." Hiccup shook his hand, and left.
Now back in the crowd with the flow of Vikings, he felt even better. The shirt was already done. All he needed now were black trousers and black boots.
It didn't take him long to find a shop that sold trousers. What was even better about the appearance of this shop, was that it apparently sold boots too. Even boot and trouser combos. The store was called 'The Trouserd Kicker.'
It seemed very populated, Vikings going in and coming out looking happy. Except for the slaves of course, they always had blank, nervous or sad expressions.
Hiccup approached and went inside.
It had a very similar appearance to the last shop he was in, but a little larger. Lots of trousers, lots of boots and many bundles of the two all over the place. Even some lying on the floor or hanging from the ceiling.
All in many sorts of colours, shapes and sizes.
Looking around the room with about ten other people who were browsing, he looked for the darkest shade of clothing in the room. And it wasn't long before he found them.
Many black trousers, boots and bundles were all grouped to one little area, as were many other colours of the same items in the shop.
Once again, the trousers were oversized as he tried them on. Designed for adults. Hiccup glanced around the room again and saw a 'kids' section, but most of the colours there were not ones he would wear.
He hoped he would be able to get the trousers trimmed like he did with the shirt. He tried on the boots, which were large and a rather deep black. They looked tough, if he kicked something he'd feel like he'd break whatever it was.
Though the flexibility in his feet with the boots was good. So he was happy with that pair. He took the boots and trousers over to the queue and waited for a while till he was served.
"Hello, I'd like to buy both of these. But is it possible to get these trousers trimmed a little to fit me better?" Hiccup asked kindly.
The woman at the counter nodded, "Yes sir, but we can't trim the trousers for you. The place opposite on the other side of the road out the door can though, but you can buy them here."
"All right."
Hiccup got some money and paid for the items in question.
Afterwards he did what the woman said and went into the other shop. He spent all the remaining money on getting the trousers trimmed.
Over two hours later it was nearly evening, and Hiccup was back at house one hundred and ninety five. His clothes were done, shirt, trousers and boots. All black and suitable. He had placed them into a basket (except the shirt, it was still in use) and left it in his room.
Now he was gently rocking on an arm chair just next to his front door, watching all the people coming back from the markets.
He began to dose off, when suddenly he heard a voice.
"Hiccup! How was your day?" Erp came strolling around the corner, approaching his house. Holding a few apples in his hands.
"Hi Erp. Yeah it was great. Got some things I needed, and all went well. Did you sell many apples?"
"Oh, hundreds boy. Too many to count! I got a new load of them coming in tomorrow which should be good. Anyway, I'm exhausted. Catch you later!" Erp waved and walked into his house next door.
"See ya!"
As it approached night, it began to get cold and Hiccup went inside. He made the fire, ate his dinner and prepared his clothes and things for tomorrow's training.
He went to sleep thinking about how he hoped Kormak would be all right, and that now training has begun, the time is drawing nearer.