They found a small, flat stone with symbols carved onto its surface set against the wall. Skulder moved in close to examine it. Hiccup split his attention between that and Gyda taking Astrid though her first lesson as a mage. He had heard everything Gyda had to say. Astrid had actually heard everything Gyda had to say, but now Astrid had the practical means to understand. Given that many were around, Hiccup knew Astrid's lesson would be short and not really involve her learning any of the spells. He even doubted Gyda would touch upon the mage's tongue. Those were things taught with no prying eyes and no listening ears.
"I have never seen these symbols before," Skulder exclaimed, seeming unaware, or uncaring, that he stood next to a massive magical barrier that crackled with lighting.
[Elder Gyda,] Onyxwing called. [Please come here.]
Hiccup saw Gyda frown before moving to join the dragon and Skulder by the carved stone. He heard her gasp and ducked around Silent to join her. His eyes widen. The style was old and the lettering placed in different places. The word choices reminding Hiccup of the way Johann said many in the south spoke. Still the symbols was the written language of magic.
He shared a glance with Gyda who stared at him. Whoever carved the stone had been a mage. He wondered if it was Onyx's rider until he remembered they said Kaja, Sunburn's rider had set these tests. He turned back to the stone.
"Greater than wealth. Greater than all knowing your name. Yet upon it much rest. Upon it a nest can be led." Hiccup tilted his head but continued reading. "Two come before you. Two hold the same claim to a child. To whom does the child go?"
Hiccup frowned. He turned, his gaze finding Onyx. The dragon just returned the stared but did not seem inclined to offer any aid. Hiccup looked to Gyda but she offered no aid as well.
"Bah!" Snotlout cried. "A dragon can smell the answer. Some test."
Hiccup did not respond to his cousin. He had long figured out that Snotlout's boisterous outburst kept a side hidden that the teen was still unwilling to show. Hiccup did hope that none of the others ridiculed Snotlout over his actions and mannerisms would mean that one day his cousin dropped the act altogether. Hiccup wanted the others to know they were safe and wanted in the group. He wanted them to know their true selves could be shown to each other, even if they kept a facade to the rest of the tribe.
Still, in that moment, Hiccup knew Snotlout was right. Some dragons could smell family lines. That had been proven not long after the dragons came to live on Berk. Two of the smaller clans, both who worked the docks and were apart of the fishing fleet, had fought over a child. The child had been found right after a particularly bad raid a month before Hiccup shot down Toothless.
One clan, who held a greater number of people and thus placing them higher in hierarchy of clans upon the island, claimed the child. The other clan refuted that. The dispute lasted for days until the war ended and the dragons became nest-mates.
One day, after a particularly angry sea that sent waves half way up the cliffs, the child slipped on the docks. A Nadder that chose to aid the dock workers, helped the child to stand and then guided that child to the smaller of the feuding clans. The Nadder nuzzled against a young woman who did not speak until that woman placed her hand upon the child's head.
The Nadder had been pleased. The more dominant clan had not. Stoick had to call both clans off the docks to keep the shouting and the almost brawl from happening. The Nadder joined them and explained the child's blood held the scent of the clan he had led it to.
Hiccup would also never forget what his father said he had planned to do before the Nadder solved the issue. His father's plan had been outreaching but Stoick had said he found the answer in old journals passed from chief to chief throughout the years. Journals Stoick confessed to shoving aside as the raids got worse. Hiccup blinked and wondered if that plan would work here.
"Neither," he said. "The child goes to neither person."
[You would make the child have no flock?] Onyxwing asked.
Hiccup shook his head. "No. I would split the child."
That caused reactions in everyone except Gyda, Onyx, Sunburn, and Silent. Hiccup held up his hand. The loud cries from his flock faded. He felt their stares and confusion though.
[Why?] Onyxwing questioned.
"A real mother would rather the lose the child than have the child harmed in any way. I would announce that child had to be split and see which of two reacted with deep seated horror."
Hiccup saw Onyxwing, Sunburn, and Silent exchange glances. He saw as it seemed all three visibly relaxed.
[My rider once had to give that order,] he said. [Two females from different flocks both claimed the same hatchling. My rider had grown tired of their shouting as both walked some of the walking paths of the human's territory. He ordered myself and another dragon to rend the hatchling in two. One of the females immediately backed off, begging my rider to let the hatchling live. She was willingly to let the hatchling go with the other if only my rider stopped us. My rider gave the hatchling to that female and ordered the other to stay away from both.]
Onyxwing titled his head. [What caused you to choose such a flight?]
Hiccup shrugged. "We had a similar issue after a bad raid. A Nadder aided us in finding the child's true mother. The woman had watched her husband die in front of her during the war. Dad said that her mind could not handle what she had seen and the child crying so she had set the child aside and did not speak again."
Onyxwing nodded his head. [My rider found out later that the female who was not the hatchling's mother had lost her hatchling as he came into the world. You show your wisdom, young Hiccup. And you show that you are willing to learn from what came before you. You pass the test.]
At his word the barrier crackled once more and then faded completely. The chest it protected now accessible. Skulder scurried over, glancing once over his shoulder, before kneeling and opening the chest.
He pulled out what looked like another part of the tablet he had found before. Everyone gathered close around him. The top half showed humans and dragons working together to build the village the first tablet had been found in. The bottom half showed a human placing a small object in the center of a round carving upon a stone wall.
Hiccup looked up at Onyx.
[Yes, your goal lies behind that door. You must pass the tests to reach it and to find the key that opens it. I can then tell you everything but the parts my rider wishes to tell you himself once we both stand in that room. I can say that there remains only one more test that will show us if you can handle the power you wield. Shall we continue?]
Kirika: I'm glad you still like it. And yep. We are learing things all around ;)
Literally Nobody: Yes. They teach Hiccup or make him recall teaching he had already received. They also test his character and his ability to handle all that will happen to him. I love writing those moments between Hiccup and Astrid. I started with a buffer of chapters but I quickly over took that and now each chapter is written the day it is posted. There are days that I want to not post, but I made a promise to do so. Have a good day/night as well.