Chapter 19 - More Training & A Saddle:
Hiccup awoke to a rather warm morning, though early it was quite warm which was different. Already as he just lay in bed, he could tell it was early but getting closer to dawn.
This fact reminded him that he shouldn't be late anymore as he was scheduled to arrive at a certain place before dawn. He has his training to do.
Thinking this over, he got up out of bed and got dressed. Hooking the sword once again to his belt, he went downstairs to get himself some breakfast.
When he arrived at the kitchen, he discovered he had a limited supply of food left, and he was also beginning to get lower on water. So he made a mental note to remind himself that when training was over, he'd take a visit to the Myrkian markets to purchase some. After he'd done some more pick pocketing of course.
Still, he ate what he had left, and took a large few gulps of water, before he finally headed out the door. Ready for some training.
It was overcast in the skies; though the clouds looked like they would behave for a while. Hiccup decided to place his trust in them, not bothering to pick up a coat as the temperature was still quite warm.
Shoving past all the hundreds of people heading to the markets to start their work, he noticed that it was beginning to get brighter.
He really didn't want to be late, he knew he had to arrive just before dawn so they would start their five hour training session.
After practically sprinting to get past everyone at last, he made it to the arena, and ran around to the left side of the entrance that he went into before.
Once there he noticed the same little boy that was there beforehand, holding the chains inside the arena for opening the gate. Hiccup walked up to the gate.
"Hi, I'm Hiccup and I'm here for the sword training." He spoke politely to the boy.
"Hi, hang on I'll let you in." The boy replied, pulling on the chains and the gate raised rather slowly.
Strolling in once open, Hiccup walked up to the kid and said, "Thank you. How was your first day yesterday in training?"
The boy smiled and replied, "It was all right. I doubt I'll be selected to go into the army, I'm pretty young. But I like the physical side of this. Learning to fight so people won't bully me."
Hiccup nodded in understanding. "Yes I know what you mean. I wish you all the best, Mr?"
"Logue, Jake Logue. And thanks Hiccup!" He beamed at him.
Smiling again, Hiccup turned around and began walking down the steps to the main area. Noticing the majority of the people there already. Most Myrkian Vikings were standing next to their trainers, talking.
"Hiccup! Good to see you here. So that's thirteen people here, we'll just wait for the other two." Vali greeted, her beauty radiating out like waves that drew heat to Hiccup's face and ears automatically.
Hiccup nodded, and looked around at all the soldiers. He spotted Savas and walked over to him.
"Good morning Hiccy." Savas greeted.
Rolling his eyes again, Hiccup sighed and stood next to him.
"Good morning. Please call me Hiccup." He replied, he didn't mind being called Hiccy, but he kind of liked it when Kormak and Erp said it, no one else.
Savas smirked. "You don't like Hiccy? Is it because your brother called you that?" He asked, smiling. One of his hands on his hips, while the other was on his sword's handle.
Brother? I don't hav- Oh! Kormak. Right. Hiccup thought to himself, remembering the fact that everyone thought Kormak was his brother.
"Uh, yes…." Hiccup drawled.
Savas chuckled. Before saying, "All right then."
Hiccup looked up and saw two more people descending down the steps, one was the little boy and the other was that muscly guy he first saw yesterday.
Vali greeted them and sorted them out. Before standing in the middle of the area, and calling out for quiet.
As silence reigned, she spoke up. "Welcome to your second day of training! I'm sure you're all full of bruises and exhaustion from yesterday still, but in time it will go! Now, good luck, and begin!"
Immediately, everybody spread out in exactly the same way as they did yesterday, and the second day of training was now in progress.
And as Hiccup trained with Savas, throughout the morning learning defensive skills, movements and blocking measures with his body, he started to try and think over what possibilities he could enact to make Vali realise what she was and had to do.
She seemed to be a fairly strong willed and disciplined person, slightly similar to Savas. Though Savas seemed much stronger willed and determined.
Hiccup did have a couple ideas. One involved a slightly risky issue, which included forcefully taking her from Myrka when he escaped, and possibly using Toothless to hold her hostage while he tried to explain things. Though that didn't sound like the best idea.
Another solution which seemed more realistic, might be to try and become friends with her first. To attempt to try and earn her trust. Though through this, presented many risky attributes.
Vali was not any ordinary soldier. She was a high ranking official, in charge of training and the forge. She also seemed to have many soldiers guarding her at all times. What was even more, she was the daughter of the King, Harun.
It would be unlikely for Hiccup to manage to convince her that she is one of the Six, and tell her she needs a dragon bond in a short period of time. That just didn't seem possible to him.
"Good try, but try to be a little quicker with it and use it to hit me in a spot that isn't guarded, or where I would least expect it."
Hiccup sighed dramatically, taking many steps back and preparing his aching hands again. "I am trying, you're just too quick!" He exclaimed.
"Not for you I'm not! Come on!" Savas barked, bouncing up and down with energy on the balls of his feet.
Hiccup tried to summon as much adrenaline as he could, and charged at his trainer.
He flung a punch with his left hand to Savas's stomach, but he blocked it with a counter with his elbow, but at the same time Hiccup moved his left leg back quickly, and he aimed a kick at Savas's right leg.
Savas blocked it again, but Hiccup took a sneaky shot with his right hand and landed an unblocked strong punch to Savas's left shoulder.
He staggered backwards a few steps, and Hiccup seized the chance and flung himself at Savas, using his strength to twist himself 360 degrees and swing his left leg around in a circle, and tripped Savas's feet from underneath him so he landed on his back on the ground hard.
Hiccup was staggered. Barely believing he just achieved that.
Savas smiled widely, and leapt to his feet.
"Well done! Good manoeuvres there! See? You're getting the hang of this already!" Savas complimented.
"Good form Hiccup!" Chorused Vali, smiling at him from a distance. Hiccup turned around to smile at her, then turned back his trainer.
He smiled back at Savas proudly, "I think that was luck." Hiccup confessed.
"Bollocks!" Savas growled at him. "Come on, let's see if you can do it again!"
So he tried and tried. Unsuccessfully. Two more hours went past, and still he had not managed to do it again.
They took a break, the first one they had. Hiccup was really getting tired from this now. Plus Savas kept giving him more and more bruises and aching joints. Though Savas himself never seemed to get tired, he just walked around with Vali looking at the other people training.
He must be extremely fit, and have worked out for most of his life to be that strong, especially with the fact that my dragon strength can hardly seem to make a bruise on him. Hiccup thought.
As Hiccup was sitting down taking his ten minute break on the steps, Vali began walking towards him, while Savas got chatting with another soldier.
Vali walked right up to him and sat down on his right.
She sighed, before saying "Don't tell anyone this, but geez, most of these people are hopeless at fighting. Even some of the soldiers here are useless at sword fighting. I've been watching all of them, and in some cases the new recruits are better than the trainer!"
Hiccup smiled nervously. "Yeah? I-I… Haven't seen m-most of the others fighting, you think they are that bad?" He asked.
Vali turned and faced him with a smile. "You don't have to be so nervous. You're cute. I'm not going to bite you. And yes I think most are, though there are some good cases of course too. Like Halvar and Tim."
Hiccup's heart began beating far more rapidly, and his stomach did a backflip in his chest. He had never been called cute before. This was turning frightening.
Vali turned and pointed to two people currently training. Hiccup recognised the recruit.
"See, the soldier is Halvar and the recruit is Tim. They are training well." She chatted on.
Hiccup just remained quiet. Still trying to digest the fact that he had just been called cute.
"But I have to say that you and Savas are by far the best here. I've never seen anyone land a hit on Savas. I can't even land a hit on him with my hands or sword. He's the best at fighting with everything in Myrka, while I'm second best at sword and normal fighting. Though I don't know how good father is."
Hiccup suddenly perked up at this, becoming really interested. "R-really? So am I the only one who has ever landed a hit on him?"
Vali turned and looked at him, smiling. "Yes. I'm extremely impressed with you. When I've watched you, you seem to have an equal amount of strength that nearly matches Savas's. I think you're most definitely going to win this training, and you'd be an invaluable asset to me- I mean, Myrka's forces."
Hiccup remained silent. His face was bright red. Was Vali…flirting with him?
"Come boy! Time to resume!" Called out Savas, who had finished his conversation with the other person he was talking to prior.
"Thanks." Hiccup muttered nervously to Vali, slowly standing up.
Vali stood up at once and glanced at the position of the sun. "Good luck, you've got two hours left."
Hiccup nodded and walked away, as Vali did the same.
"You fancy her."
It was a statement. Not a question. And Savas had a very smug expression clearly present on his face, which was irritating Hiccup.
"No I don't!" Hiccup's voice dropped slightly as he spoke, and all his body heat rushed to his face and ears in a blush of embarrassment.
"I don't believe you."
As they circled each other with their fists out, Hiccup had enough and out of frustration charged at Savas, bringing another round of bruises.
Savas punched him in the chest, then Hiccup blocked an attempted kick to his knee but this allowed Savas's other hand to punch an area of his neck, and Hiccup backed off backwards as Savas tripped him over and he landed on the ground.
"At least you blocked one thing that time. Come on. On your feet!" He instructed.
Hiccup rolled his eyes and got up.
The remaining two hours came and went rather fast. Hiccup had managed to achieve one more hit on Savas which was a kick to his knee. That was applauded by Vali and some onlookers, and also Hiccup had learned how to block several moves, but not all of them.
"And that brings day two of training to an end! Well done everybody! See you tomorrow!" Shouted Vali, as the crowd began to disperse.
Hiccup was exhausted now. The training really took it out of him.
Savas put an arm around him.
"Well done Hiccup. I'm very impressed with your performance today, especially with the fact that this is only your second day. I can't wait for tomorrow. See you then!"
Hiccup smiled at him, "Thank you and bye."
He glanced at Vali on his way out, and he could have sworn she gave him a wink.
Blushing, Hiccup limped out of the arena. A wide smile on his face.
As soon as Hiccup walked into his house, he made straight for his bed upstairs, and collapsed onto it.
Never had he been so tired since he acquired dragon strength. Savas was a really tough person physically to train with.
As he lay down, he felt tired and passed into a doze.
In Myrka's forge…
"Hurry up you stupid dragon! We haven't got all day!" Vali screeched, beckoning Toothless to blow his purple fire out of his nostrils for the welders.
He growled back at Vali.
"Don't you growl at me! I'm just doing my job! You do yours! And will you stop looking at it!"
Toothless still kept his eyes focused on the Spike Bolt dragon mark on Vali's arm. He had nothing else interesting to look at. Plus it kept giving him thoughts about how it might be possible to convince Vali she is one of the Six.
It was going to be difficult, he knew that much. Plus he wasn't even sure if when the time came that he and Hiccup escaped, how they would even take her from Myrka in the first place. But he thought Hiccup would be able to think of something.
He always had ideas, Toothless admired that.
The Night Fury suddenly gave a roar in pain, as a rope was moved in a whip motion slammed across his back.
"Now will you blow fire?!" Vali almost snarled, whilst the Viking with the whip stood ready to use it again, waiting for Vali's command.
Toothless snarled to himself, and growled as he began blowing out fire through his nose again. He couldn't wait to seek some revenge, these Myrkians were going to pay for what they have done to him and whatever they did to Hiccup.
I wonder how Hiccup went in training. Toothless suddenly wondered as he was thinking about his friend.
He was glad he had activated the Night's mark on him. Surely all that strength and improved senses would have been helpful by now to him. He should be beating the trainers easily.
Pride surged through him, he was very happy he had done that.
Back in house 195…
Hiccup had pick pocketed some people in Myrka's markets after his little doze, and now he was walking to his house after having bought as much food and water as he could carry. Once home, he made himself some lunch, and sat down at the table to eat.
And whilst he did so, he realised that he needed to design and make a saddle. This was one of the last things on his list. Once he had finished the saddle, he knew it would be a good idea to accept that offer of additional training with Savas.
He finished gulping down the last bit of food, then he walked over to the window shutters and took a look outside.
It was mid-afternoon, and the sun was going down quite fast.
Hiccup decided that he was going to wait till after tomorrow's training till he would go into the markets. So he now he needed to make some designs on paper and draw out some sketches.
However, he needed paper and a charred stick to write with in the first place. So he walked into the kitchen and began opening every draw and cupboard that was there.
And after extensive searching, which even led him to searching the wardrobe upstairs he had not found any material to write with or on.
Sighing, he gathered his money and put it in his pocket, and once again headed out the door to go to the markets to once again buy some things.
Approaching evening, there were scattered clouds littering the sky, and a light breeze pushing some crisp, chilly air over Myrka. Even tiny snowflakes drifted down from the heavens above, creating an almost calm and peaceful atmosphere on the ground.
He trod on, walking towards the markets through the incoming crowds, as the majority of the Vikings had finished their errands and were returning home.
Once he finally arrived, he passed the shops he recognised like 'The Trouserd Kicker' and 'Coats, Coats & Coats!' Then finally he slipped unnoticed past Erp's Apple store.
The stores now varied, most weren't food produce or clothing, they seemed to be a mix of furniture and bedding. Then he saw a store that was called 'Bits and Pieces.' It didn't appear to have much out for display in front of it, other than a towel and a couple of bed sheets.
He decided to give it a chance, and gently opened the door.
Inside was every piece of fabric Hiccup could possibly imagine. Every type of fabric that's used in carpets, towels and clothing was here. Though he was originally looking for paper and charred sticks, this looked like the sort of place he'd find the material from.
And it didn't take him long to find something.
It was a metallic looking black sheet of leather, looked in high quality and quite sturdy. He knew right away this was a perfect material for the saddle.
When he went up to the counter he noticed they sold nails, pins, buttons and some types of string, and he bought a fair amount of each along with the black leather.
He had very limited money left now as he left the store, but he still needed that paper and a charred stick.
Beginning to walk around again, it took him half an hour before he found a store called, 'Stationary.' He went in and saw two charred sticks and several pages of parchment.
He bought the two sticks and paper with the rest of his money, and finally just managing to carry it all, he went to the house just as darkness fell over Myrka. Not feeling hungry, he placed all the items down on the dining table and went up to his room to sleep.
Outside Myrka's Castle…
"Orah, what time did you say master is coming? And is the area clear?" Spoke the King of Myrka, Harun.
Harun was standing behind Myrka's Castle just to the north, facing the deserted plains ahead of him, where the snow was building. Though he didn't feel cold, he was covered in thick and warm clothes.
"Just as it hits night sire. And yes sir, as you had commanded I had it done." Orah, the main servant and messenger for King Harun replied.
"Good. Make sure it stays that way. If anyone tries to see or come out here, tell me as soon as I'm finished. You are not to come out here again till I call out your name, you must retreat to the Castle now, clear?"
Orah nodded and bowed. "Yes sir. Hail Harun!" And with that, the servant turned around and ran back towards the castle as Harun watched, and told the two guards standing either side of the back doors to go inside till they disappeared from view.
Harun turned around and faced the sky. He knew it was nearly time. It was already pitch black, and he couldn't see a thing. It was overcast and the thick clouds blocked out the light from the stars and moon.
He made a bow and leaned his head down, ready for his master's arrival.
Harun suddenly heard the beating of powerful wings and a heavy thud on the ground in front of him. He knew this was it.
"Master, welcome to Myrka. I'm honoured to have you here on my land." The King greeted his master, remaining in a kneeling position.
"Rise, Harun. You know why I'm here." Spoke the beast, in its darkly fierce and authentic voice. As Harun felt tingles of fear crawling up his spine.
Harun stood up and stared into the darkness. Not once in his lifetime had he ever seen his master, or to his knowledge had anyone seen it.
"Yes master, I do. Orah told me you were coming fo-"
"I do not need to hear what I have already said once, it is a waste of time. Tell me what I want to know." Interrupted the beast, a hint of aggression leaking in its voice.
"My apologies master, forgive me. The news I have to report from my intelligence is that Hiccup is excelling at sword training far greater than we were expect-"
"I already know this! What else have you got to say?" The creature boomed angrily. It began making hissing sounds.
This confused Harun, how would his master possibly know that? He hadn't told it in any letter, did his master have other loyal servants in Myrka who told him? Harun wondered.
"Sorry master! We also have found this! It was only handed to me yesterday." Apologised Harun, he handed the object to his master, and he felt it leave his fingertips.
Several minutes past, before the beast spoke again.
"Well well, now that was useful. Good work Harun, you keep this for now and keep to your plan. You'll need it."
Harun felt the object being pressed into his chest, and he took it quickly.
"Thank you master. You finished it? That was fast. By the way the only other thing to report is that he is now getting designs and materials ready to make a saddle." Replied Harun, bowing once again to the darkness.
"I finish things off fast. And I know that. This concludes our meeting. Keep to your plan Harun. If you fail, if your plan fails, you will regret it. Do not fail me." The beast threatened.
Harun stood to his fullest height. "I won't master. Farewell."
"This is your warning."
There was the sound of thrusting of powerful wings, and the beating became consistent and repetitive. Then Harun closed his eyes and heard a ferocious loud breath and suddenly he felt very hot air being blown onto him. Ruffling his hair and sending him whimpering in fear, before there was a very loud thrust and the sound of wings disappeared in a matter of seconds, as the beast flew away and Harun retreated to the castle.