"His family no be seekin' vengeance," Bjarte said at the feast held in Hiccup's honor later that afternoon.

Stoick had not been worried about that. The fool took the coward's way by bribing Byrnjar before challenging Hiccup after his bribe failed and was revealed. The fool further voided what little honor he kept by facing Hiccup in the holmgang when he called Hiccup a cheater and then tried to attack after the duel was decided. Stoick worried about something else entirely.

"Who he be talkin' to?" Stoick asked.

Bjarte tilted his head. "I no understand."

Stoick's eyes narrowed. "He be speakin' of somethin' that happen 'fore any of ye came ta Berk. How'd he know of Hiccup's collapse after the fight wiv Alvin?"

Bjarte frowned. "I no be knowin'. Ogmundr kept ta himself while 'ere until he tried his stupid move. I'll be askin' me warriors."

Stoick tipped his head. "Thank you."

Bjarte moved away, heading into the crowd that filled the Great Hall. Stoick watched him go then turned as another person came to stand beside him. Stoick frowned. Steinar stared after Bjarte with a look that said much but revealed little.

"Stoick, I be findin' meself in a problem."

Stoick lifted an eyebrow. Steinar sighed.

"I be owed Bjarte a blood debt. He called me on it."

Stoick frowned, not entirely sure how this pertained to him. Blood debts were issues of honor the tribes in the Archipelago began to use during the dragon war. Normally outsiders had little to do with a blood debt. They rested between the two involved and the gods called upon at the striking of the debt.

Steinar looked across the Hall. Stoick followed his gaze. Stoick looked back at the Shivering Shores heir, eyes narrowed. The man's eyes rested upon Hiccup as the teen watched Ruff and Tuff speak about something that excited them. At least Stoick believed the wild hand waving meant excitement. No one really knew with those two.

Stoick felt anger and a father's desire to protect his boy rise. If the blood debt had anything to do with Hiccup and had resulted in the holmgang, treaty or no treaty, Steinar and Bjarte would be in the first ship off the island. Stoick would see to that personally.

"Bjarte asked me ta lie ta Hiccup," Steinar whispered. "Ta make'm believe Bjarte fancied Astrid."

"Why?"

Steinar flinched then sighed again. "He be sayin' Ogmundr be suspected of cowardice and treasonous talk 'gainst wot the chiefs all decided be the course we take."

Stoick frowned. "Course ye take? The callin' fer the Thing in the spring?"

"Aye. Chief Ingvar and Bjarte stood wiv me father and Chieftess Bertha in da belief ye no wish harm ta us, but Ogmundr be suspected of tryin' fer a coup so he be chief of Hopeless. Bjarte said Ingvar be sendin' the fool ta see iffen he reveal himself as they had nothin' solid on'm."

"So Ogmundr's bribe ta Brynjar?"

"He be wishin' ta distract Hiccup so he could take'm out. Save the tribes from da threat some tribes believe ye all 'ere ta be. Use 'is hero status ta gain help in takin' Hopeless."

Stoick's eyes narrowed. Steinar did not flinch and did not back down. He took the full brunt of Stoick's glare.

"I no wish ta lie ta Hiccup about it bein' Bjarte, but Bjarte invoked da blood debt. Said I be honor-bound ta help'm root dis traitor out. I argued too much could go wrong, but he be insistent. He be wantin' no eyes ta land upon Ogmundr and give da fool da sense he be safe ta act." Steinar grunted and growled softly. "I nare once saw Hiccup as anything more den a lad still ta grow, even if many others saw a weaklin'. I respected da lad 'fore I ever step onta dese shores. I still respect the lad, Stoick, but a blood debt be bindin'." Steinar sighed. "And now I nare no how ta fix this. Bjarte be pleased and cleared da debt but now I be owin' one ta Hiccup. I no want da lad ta hate me 'fer this. We talk when ye and Toothless' boys be asleep. Hiccup be a smart lad and 'is ideas be a boon fer all of us, iffen we all jest listen ta him." Steinar looked to Stoick. "What ye think I should do?"

Stoick sighed. Now that he knew the full story, his anger at Steinar faded. He still held it against Bjarte for conniving this stupid plan and executing upon Berk without first asking permission, much less getting Stoick's input in the whole affair. This was not Hopeless island and Bjarte would be reminded that nothing happened upon Berk without Stoick finding out about it. Bjarte would also be reminded what it meant to honor the chief of the tribe he was visiting and what it meant to not drag others unwillingly into plans enacted behind the back of that same chief. Especially when those plans put that chief's beloved son in danger of dying, again.

"Talk ta'm," Stoick said. "Explain it jest like ye tell me. Hiccup be forgivin' if the person be worthy of it and he be smart enough ta know who be worthy and who be not. Jest, best not ta tell'm where Astrid can hear ye. She be less forgivin' ta any who hurt'm. And she no be carin' that ye be heir ta the Shores. She scolded me while Hiccup be recoverin' from da Red Death battle."

Steinar gave a short bark of laughter. "She be loyal a'ight. Night ye be paralyzed by dat Speedstinger, she be takin' over, barkin' orders and gettin' everyone outta da village. I watched her while da holmgang be happenin'. She be fingerin' dat axe handle o' hers and iffen Toothless no get Ogmundr, I be believin' she'd bury dat axe in da fool's skull."

Stoick laughed. "That's me future daughter-in-law," he said proudly.

"She be good fer Hiccup and be a boon ta yer tribe, Stoick. I be talkin' ta Hiccup tonight. Thank ye fer listenin' and fer not, well, thank ye."

"Next time, Steinar, blood debt or no blood debt, come ta me 'fore me son be put in this position," Stoick growled. "I be lettin' it slide now. Never 'gain."

"It be never ta happen 'again, Stoick. I vow that. Any ta ask me help fer anythin' and it be includin' Berk in general and Hiccup in particular, I be draggin'm by dere ears ta ye."

"See that ye do."