Chapter 37 - The Name Of The Enemy:
When Remola was in sight, thanks to Valka's extensive knowledge of the archipelago, they began orbiting it. Staying high enough to avoid being seen.
The small and circular island was covered in huts, and the gang could see lots of Vikings moving around doing their business in the remaining light from the late evening sun.
It also appeared that Remola was fairly high off the sea level. To put it another way, it was quite raised up high. With significant cliffs surround the island like a wall. They also noticed that Remola had a large wharf and a series of stairs travelling down the lowest part of the cliff, very similar to Berk's system.
The stinging icy wind of winter was biting savagely at the rider's limbs, also being high up in the air did not help.
"A lot of Vikings." Toothless noted.
"Yeah bud."
"What's that?" Spark called out, looking at something on the coast of the island.
The gang followed her gaze, and then Spark began descending sharply towards it. Vali looking closely from her back.
The gang followed quickly after, and discovered large circular cave. However, the further they flew into it, they soon realised it was much more than a cave, it was a tunnel.
"Everyone STOP!" Toothless roared, as the tunnel began to grow darker, coming to a halt in mid-air.
Spark stopped savagely ahead of him, unleashing a few bolts of electricity from her tail as if about to fight an enemy.
"What the hell was that for?!" Vali screeched, looking aggressively at Toothless. "You almost gave us a heart att-"
"SHUT UP! Let me listen!" Toothless yelled, looking angrily back at Vali. "Don't you all realise what this is?!"
Vali was just about to retort, but Valka silenced her. "Shh! He's right. This isn't just any tunnel. Everyone be quiet."
After that, all the dragons and riders went quiet. Unsure of what was going on. Hiccup had a suspicion of why Toothless reacted like that, but kept it to himself for now.
Toothless and Cloudjumper landed and began sniffing the ground, and observing the tunnel's walls. The other riders stayed airborne. And all the while they kept their ears up, listening for the slightest sound, but nothing could be heard. Just the howl of the wind outside the tunnel and the flapping of the dragon's wings.
Soon the riders began to look around nervously, as they began to realise the size and shape of the tunnel it was unlikely to have been made by Vikings. Kormak looked back to the entrance of the tunnel, where the light was coming through.
This tunnel is so circular. So perfectly shaped. Surely Vikings couldn't have done that. He thought.
"All right." Spoke up Toothless, looking to the rest of the group. His huge green eyes almost dazzling them. "I think this tunnel is abandoned."
"Well what was that huge reaction for?" Vali asked, much more calmed in her tone this time.
Toothless beckoned the others to land.
Valka dismounted Cloudjumper slowly, trying to not hurt her injuries, and said to the group, "This must have been the home of a-"
"Ground eater." Finished Toothless.
"A what?" The gang all said at once.
Valka took the initiative, having been the only Viking who knew what this place was. "A Whispering Death. The only dragon that makes tunnels like this. They can penetrate almost any type of surface, and they tunnel through the ground to stay away from the light." She explained. Her knowledge of dragons again surprising everyone.
The name brought chills to Kormak, shuddering nervously. "A wh-Whispering D-Death?" He struggled to even say the name.
"Don't worry." Said Hiccup. "We think it doesn't live here anymore."
Hiccup now looked around the tunnel, from the blackness of where the tunnel kept going, to the entrance where the light shone.
"This is perfect. Couldn't be better."
I think I beg to differ. Kormak thought to himself. He had never been so sacred in all his life. He tried to pull himself together.
It's just a tunnel Kormak! Pull yourself together! And an argument ensued in his head. Yeah, only a tunnel that was carved by a huge dragon that's got a name of Whispering Death.
"Should we bring the others?" Seaflare asked, the first time she had spoken since leaving the rocky island earlier.
They all looked at Hiccup.
"Yes, I think so."
"I'll bring them and our supplies." Valka said at once, struggling as she climbed aboard Cloudjumper. Gasping at times in pain.
"I'll go with you." Vali said also, doing the same with Spark.
Hiccup smiled at them both. "Thanks. Are you sure you'll all right to go Mum?" Hiccup was referring to her worsening wounds.
"Yes dear." She smiled at him. "I may be wounded, but I am going to stay with you as long as I can."
As they left the cave, sending dust everywhere from the huge wing beats of both the dragons, Hiccup shed a silent tear, watching his mother and friend leave. Knowing what was inevitable for his mum.
Kormak lost his nervousness, and walked over to Hiccup.
Then Kormak did something he had only done on a few occasions to Hiccup. He hugged him.
Almost shocked by the move, Hiccup hugged him back. Of all people, Kormak knew what Hiccup was dealing with. His own father was taken from him and killed by the Myrkians. His mother had been killed by the Shapeshifter. He knew loss all too well.
After a few minutes, Kormak still did not let go him. And Hiccup was truly moved.
"There are no words I can say to relieve you of your pain and upcoming fears, Hiccup. What I can say, is this."
Kormak took a deep breath. "Life is true, but those who wish to take it away, do not live. Those who give life, put others first and risk everything to defend the values of love and friendship, are those who are the true definition of life."
At this, Hiccup burst into tears. Never had he heard anything so beautiful.
Kormak himself began to cry, the memories of his loved ones replaying back in his mind.
"We will get through this." Kormak spoke comfortably to Hiccup.
Hiccup nodded into his shoulder.
Toothless came forward, and put his wings around Kormak and Hiccup protectively. A touching gesture from the Night Fury.
Seaflare came over and did the same.
"Together." She said.
A few minutes later, they returned. However only with some supplies.
Vali hopped off Spark and placed some supplies down, as Hiccup and the rest of them separated and looked at her and Valka.
"Savas said he was happy to stay and look after Fishlegs. Fishlegs wasn't looking too good, so we left them some food and promised we'll deliver more next week. Is that all right?"
Hiccup worried a little about Fishlegs, hoping he was okay. "Yeah I suppose. I hope he's all right."
"He'll feel better soon, I'm sure of it." Said Valka, limping over to Hiccup and Kormak. "He'll be back in shape in a few days."
At this moment, the only thing on everyone's was when they were going to enter the village above them. They needed a plan, and for the rest of the day, they sat in a circle and came up with one.
Far from Remola and its cave, inside a house that was numbered 194 in Myrka's village…
Oh why won't this come out?! He angrily thought to himself. Using two fingers in a attempt to remove a wooden splinter from his left hand.
His filthy hands and nails simply could not dig it out of his skin. And he was growing tired of trying.
"Slave! You left this here!"
The very thin and blue eyed young man, named Alrik jumped to his feet. Realised that he had spent too much time trying to remove the splinter and got distracted from his tasks.
His master had just arrived back at his home after his day of selling Apples in the markets.
"Sorry master, coming." He called, exiting the bathroom and pulling up his torn grey shorts.
He walked down the stairs in his bare feet, and arrived at the kitchen where his master stood right in front of the broom, and was pointing at it expectantly.
"What are you trying to do, trip me over?! Don't leave equipment hanging around!" He yelled, as Alrik took the broom and stood in front of him.
"Sorry master." Alrik deadpanned, not even looking at him as if he couldn't care less.
The large man grabbed him, and his angry eyes boring into his own.
"Lose that attitude boy! You wanna be back in prison?" He threatened, his moustache swaying dangerously.
Alrik did not change his expression. And the thin man replied, "I could not care less. It's not like I have any life. Why don't you just kill me? I've got nothing to live for. I'll be dead in a few years."
The response Alrik was expecting, did not happen. Instead something entirely different happened.
His master, named Erp, lost his angry expression immediately, and was replaced by a look of pure guilt.
Alrik's eyes widened in surprise, not believing what he was seeing.
He closed his eyes and sighed. Then he suddenly left Alrik and walked around the house, shutting every window, every door and then walked back up to Alrik and stood right in front of him.
"Say you heard it from another slave." His master said. Looking down at Alrik with the utmost seriousness.
"What?" Alrik asked, bewildered.
"Say it was another slave." He repeated. Not blinking, not looking away from him.
Alrik looked confused. His expression demanding an explanation.
"Say it was somebody else."
"Say you heard it from somewhere."
"Say you heard it from general chatter."
"Say it wasn't me."
"Master what are-!" The man stepped forward, slapping his hand over Alrik's mouth. Silencing him. Alrik tried to struggle out of his grip he now had on him.
"Do not reveal it was I. For death will come to many." He whispered.
Alrik went silent and stopped struggling. Beginning to listen to him.
"I am he who he trusts."
"Me and only me."
"We are all his puppets."
"He rules over the King. He rules over all."
"He is a master of deception."
"For his true name is unknown to the world. He passes off under another."
"I speak of the utmost evil."
"War. Slavery. Death. It all started from him."
"Remember this name. Spread word of the name, and the evil it holds."
"This name must reach the Six, and they will learn the true name of their enemy."
"For they are deceived."
"Until he reveals himself."
"Say you heard it from another slave." The man now started back at the beginning of his explanation. Alrik was listening so intensely to him, he would have been able to hear a pin drop. He was literally frozen to the spot, his ears soaking up the information. As if the entire world had evaporated and the only things in existence were himself and this man.
"Say it was somebody else."
"Say you heard it from somewhere."
"Say you heard it from general chatter."
"Say it wasn't me."
"After I tell you, you must never speak of it with me again. Pretend it never happened with me. However, spread the name amongst Vikings, and eventually the name will reach the Six. The prophecy must be fulfilled."
"Remember this name. Spread word of the name, and the evil it holds."
He now leaned in close, so close they broke eye contact. The man moved until his lips were less than an inch from his ear. Alrik was nervous he felt he was about to pass out.
"His name is…" He began whispering even softer, so quietly he could barely hear it.
He paused for a short moment.
"His name is… Viggo."
An hour later, just west of the Myrkian Bay and heading towards the Shapeshifter's island…
"I must say, you never cease to amaze me with your salesman efforts."
"Why thank you, Orah." Erp replied, giving his close friend a pat on the back from where he sat. "Although I find the Apple business is starting to slow. More and more people are seeking other fruits and dragon meat. But I have enough rupees if you want some." He offered.
Orah, the thin man of whom sat in front of him, shook his head.
"I have no need for treasure or valuable objects. I live to serve my masters, both King Harun and the master. Besides, I have enough money already. But I would happily go without if the master said so."
King Harun turned around and looked at Orah. "You wouldn't have a choice. The master's word is the only thing that matters. We live to serve him."
"Yes sire." Both Erp and Orah said at once.
"Enough." King Harun spoke deeply, silencing both his best servant Orah, and his favourite spy, Erp. "We are here."
The three men disembarked the chained and blinded Changewing. And it collapsed to the ground in pain, hoping to get a bit of rest before it took the three men back to Myrka.
It was now in the black of night. Virtually impossible to see for the three of them.
The sky revealed no stars, no lights. Just black. The wind had begun to pick up, and sleet was starting to hit the three men.
The cold bitterness of the wind biting savagely, although they tried to ignore its effects, and began walking up the hill together as one.
This was the first time all three of the creature's main servants were summoned at once. This had not happened once for a long time.
Together they walked, listening to each other's heavy breaths and trembling footsteps. All men were afraid of the creature, but would never disobey an order. They each would die before they ever disobeyed it.
Although, one of the three men had already broken one of his vows to the creature that day. But he was confident the creature would not find out for a while. He knew the creature would not doubt his loyalty, for now.
He knew eventually the creature would find out, and his death would follow. But upon seeing a young man's utter neglect of life, he changed his mind. If he could at least, be a tiny part of making the world a better place, he would take it.
He just hoped word would spread fast enough to reach the ears of those he needed it to, before the creature found out.
At last, they made it to the top of the hill, and got on their knees and bowed.
"Master, as requested, myself, Orah and Erp have arrived." King Harun announced, speaking loudly and clearly.
Two thuds in the ground indicated to the three that the creature was standing right in front of them.
"Good." It spoke.
The voice began sending cold shivers down all three of the men's backs. It was the most terrifyingly deceptive sound.
"You may rise."
The three men rose up, and yet, could not see their master.
"I cannot be long. So I will make this short and brief." The master spoke, and the three could hear more thuds in the ground, the creature must be pacing around them.
"My plan has worked exactly as I have wanted it to, and we are entering the final phase. My orders are to keep the entire Myrkian fleet at the bay and at the wharves. War is coming. We will be fighting dragons and Vikings within two years. All we have to do now, is prepare. The Six are almost united. They already have four, and soon they will have found the others."
The beast continued on. "Orah, your orders now are to send out wanted posters with the names of the Six, and draw pictures of them and their dragons if possible. Make sure these posters go out to every tribe, I want the Six to know they are wanted by every tribe. By the way, don't worry about Savas. I am onto his trail, and I feel confident I will have him soon in my custody to meet death."
"Harun, your orders are to step security to its highest level for all of Myrka. More soldiers listening for the names of the Six mentioned by anyone in the Markets. Also, more soldiers need to patrol the prison and dragon craters. It is likely we will be having more dragon raids soon, and also, our new friends in the prisons must be kept on watch constantly. Make sure they do not escape or die. Keep them alive at all costs."
"I will visit my second in command in Helheim's Gate shortly, and inform her of what is coming. All of you now leave and fulfil your duties. I will not be in contact for a long time. I will arrange when we next meet in due course." The master finished.
"Yes master." Spoke King Harun. "It will be done."
The three turned around to leave, when the master spoke once more.
"Erp, stay. I have more to discuss with you."
Erp gulped nervously, and turned back around.
Orah and Harun walked down the hill, and flew off on the top of the slave Changewing dragon.
Once they were out of sight of the Shapeshifter's vision, he spoke again.
"Erp, you may pick up the torch next to you. We must speak face to face." The master commanded.
Erp knelt down, and felt around the ground for a torch, after a while he found it, and raised it up high.
A line of brilliant white fire shot out of nowhere, and Erp closed his eyes due to its brightness. As well as shielding them with his other arm.
Erp was very surprised the master was going to reveal himself to him. He knew he was the only one the master trusted, and as such he had seen him in his Viking form before, but not for a long time. The Shapeshifter only granted this privilege to Erp, as he trusted him completely.
No one, not even King Harun or Orah had seen the Shapeshifter in any way. In fact, Erp was the only one who even knew his true name.
He removed his arm, and looked at the wooden torch which was now alight with burning flames.
The light shone only in a small area, as Erp's eyes scanned the area until his eyes suddenly met another pair.
Standing in front of him, was a regular looking Viking man. Brown eyes, and wearing a typical Viking leader outfit. Erp recognised him immediately, although he felt a shard of fear cross through him as he approached. His eyes glancing towards the ruby entrusted hilt of the sword attached to his back.
"It is good to speak to my most loyal servant properly once again." He spoke, his hands behind his back as he walked over to him.
Erp finally remembered he had a mouth that could speak, and so he began, "Viggo, it's an absolute pleasure to see you again. It's been a long time."
After the two men concluded their business, Viggo sent Erp away. And once he was out of sight, he transformed back into his black draconic form.