Chapter 32- Revealed by Happenstance

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Unmarked Island, Nightfall

It had been five days since departing from Beserk, a week total since venturing off from Berk. My mind reeled on what might be happening back home; thoughts of more earthquakes, more dragon mauling, Astrid and Mom being overwhelmed, what my people must be thinking knowing their Chief left without a word.

It made my stomach churn with anxiety.

I knew I was being unreasonable, but I couldn't help but try and live up to the standards set by my father. He gave his life for mine thinking I would be the one to lead Berk into a prosperous future. I had to wonder what he might think of my latest decision. Would he have supported it, knowing I was doing it for something bigger than Berk, or would he be opposed as he was to me trying to find Drago?

Toothless nudged my side, breaking me from my thoughts. I looked at him at my side and returned a small, but strained smile.

"I'm alright bud. Just a lot on my mind." I reassured, taking a moment to glance back out to the ocean and noting a storm encroaching on the horizon. "Let's head back."

Toothless warbled lightly and took the lead, seemingly happy to have removed me from my ruminating. I followed him off the beach and into the small patch of woodland that occupied the flat island we had made camp on for the night. The glow of a campfire broke through the thin trees, and coming up on the camp I saw Fishlegs lounging at Meatlug's side. He had his nose deep in the Knower's book which was something he had a hard time putting down no matter how many times he read it.

"Anything new pop out to you yet 'Legs?" I asked as I took a spot next to him to sit, Toothless quickly joining me to lie down.

He sighed heavily. "I'm not sure just yet. We didn't really find anything at Springland that I could use to piece together a new lead so I'm trying to make one like I did the first time around." he explained as he lowered the book for a moment to rub his eyes. It seemed the stress of the situation was beginning to creep into him.

"Yes, but at least we were able to help them out with their little problem."

Springland was fairly remote compared to most islands, so they had trouble getting into contact with anyone who might be able to solve their dragon problem. The island was very flat and open and had numerous rivers and pounds scattered across it which the local Scauldron population was making their homes in. While they weren't harming anyone, they were blocking the waterways the people of the island used to get around. Thankfully it wasn't all too hard to herd the dragons out and back out to sea, while also teaching the islanders methods of dissuading them from returning.

I did find it strange, though, that the Scauldrons had ventured into their waterways to begin with. They didn't tend to like shallow bodies of water and preferred the open sea. It made me consider that the strange behavior of the dragons on Berk wasn't an isolated occurrence.

It felt good to help them though, and eased my disappointment at having not found anything belonging to the Knower on the island. The mysterious writer had mentioned they had stopped for a summer there to enjoy the warm waters of the island's springs, which on its own didn't mean anything particular.

However, the Knower seemed to be quite the maven.

While the things he wrote about and what he practiced would have likely landed him in hot water among most of the Viking tribes, he still wanted to share what he knew so he would leave behind small snippets of his book in whatever constituted the closest thing to a library. And to avoid leaving a trail, he changed the name of the island he mentioned or didn't mention it at all and would instead leave hints as to where it was. It was a dumb thing to do, but I was thankful now he had done it.

Unfortunately, Springland's library had been destroyed in a storm decades ago, and while it had been rebuilt most of the original content had been lost or ruined. As for their archive, we were told they had been sealed off for generations and no one even knew how to get into it anymore. I found it strange they would have done such a thing, but didn't question it at the time.

Fishlegs huffed. "Yeah, at least there was that."

"Maybe we'll get lucky and find something at Sterway." I added to lighten his mood.

Sterway wasn't an island that had been mentioned in the book, but it was one of the older islands in the archipelago. It seemed a decent place to check out while Fishlegs continued to try to decipher one of the other locations the Knower had visited. I could only hope it didn't end up being a waste of time.

I was still slightly angry with Gothi at having not specified what was putting the archipelago in danger as it made it difficult to assess how much time we could spare on hunches. She had only said I needed to be as quick as I could. While I did not regret helping the people of Springland, we did end up spending three days there which was not planned. It already took a day or more to get to these islands that were further from the core island chain, and I needed to make sure that in the future I kept a quicker pace.

"Hey, Fishlegs. Does that book happen to mention anything that might hint at what Gothi was talking about? Some ancient threat sealed away maybe?" I asked casually despite the serious nature of the question.

He eyed me. "No, unfortunately. I already tried looking after you filled me in and couldn't find anything that had to do with magic or the Veil, but there was this one passage I thought was interesting."

I raised an eyebrow. "Interesting how?"

He thumbed through the pages, seemingly looking for the passage. "It had something to do with a talisman and the Veil…" he stopped and pointed to a page. "Right, here it is. Says here that a talisman was made to remove the Veil."

I nodded slightly. "Yeah, I remember that. Gothi had brought it up."

His brows furrowed. "When did she do that?"

I hesitated to respond for a moment. I had not told Fishlegs everything that was going on, specifically concerning Christopher and the talisman he had. It wasn't something I thought he needed to know at the time, and I didn't want to let that secret out without Christopher being involved.

"I hate to say this but I can't exactly explain that. Gothi is making me keep my mouth shut about certain things. All I can say is she told me a few weeks ago." I replied, lying slightly about my reasons. I felt guilty doing so but I promised that when this was all over I would explain things, hopefully with permission from Christopher.

He returned a confused look, and it looked like he was about to dig into me further but changed his mind for the time being. "Well, did she tell you the part about why the Veil would need to be removed?"

"No, and I assumed it was a 'just in case' kind of deal." I replied, my interest becoming piqued.

He shook his head. "Not quite." He then turned his attention to the book and began reading it aloud.

The Veil Talisman. Truly the most astonishing talisman I have come to learn of.

Created by some of the last High Mages of their time, this talisman was the strongest of its kind only rivaled by one other. I will get to the reason I say 'was' in a moment. This talisman, as its name suggests, was forged with the express intention of being used alongside the Veil. You can read my previous entry on the Veil and what it is. The passage is quite worth the read.

The Veil Talisman had one specific function: to remove the Veil. I can only begin to imagine the power of magic required to achieve such a task. Though I find that function is made irrelevant when no one has been able to determine the location of the source of the Veil, but I can understand why the mages thought it necessary. Believing themselves to be the last to be capable of forging such a talisman, they felt it was their responsibility to create it for the future in case the Veil must be removed.

Interestingly, my talisman hinted to me that these mages felt guilt as well and that it was a strong contributor to their decision. I can only ponder on what it was they felt this over as my talisman was unable to share the reason.

I said that they created the Veil Talisman in case the Veil needed to be removed, but with my own knowledge and the fact that guilt was a steering factor in their choice, I offer you my best interpretation of their true motive.

Magic is a fickle thing. It bursts into our world with ferocity and power, but quickly dies. It is not a force meant for our realm. It best exists in ourselves—in our minds. That is why we make talismen. To give support to magic, to nurture it and sustain it. But it still wishes to leave. The stronger the magic, the stronger this desire. The stronger its dying breath.

Talisman cannot last forever. They must be maintained. I can only imagine what would happen if whatever it is that maintains the Veil, The Source as I have come to call it, were to expend its support.

I hope that the mages who crafted it had the foresight to account for this, as the only thing that could stop such an event would be something that could remove the Veil. I believe that is why the Veil Talisman was forged. Something needed to be left behind in case no mages were left.

It is a true tragedy then that it was lost by those who were tasked to pro—

Fishlegs sighed and looked at me. "The rest of the page is unreadable. Looks like water damage. And as you already know there's no passage or mention elsewhere of this 'Source' of the Veil so it's not much to go on."

A cold chill ran down my spine. I had read a few of the other passages myself and heard another handful read to me by Fishlegs, and in all of them, there was a particular way the author wrote. They usually seemed eager or fascinated; writing things down like an excited child wanting to share a new fact they learned. That passage, however, gave me a different feeling. It almost seemed as if he was genuinely scared of what they learned.

My thoughts then circled back to Christopher. He had the Veil Talisman, and I wondered if he was made aware of its significance by Gothi. She had said there were people working to stop what was coming, and Christopher had a habit of disappearing in the mornings. Add those with what Fishlegs had read to me my mind started piecing together the puzzle.

Is what the Knower feared might happen exactly what Gothi was warning me of? And if that is the case… Does Christopher know?

It made sense in my head. It explained why Gothi wanted to find the Source; because then we could use the Veil Talisman to…

Remove the Veil?

The ramifications of that idea sent my mind into a frenzy. Wild ideas and imagined scenarios of what could happen if the Veil was removed and we had access to the rest of the world, or conversely what might happen if we failed to find anything that would help find the Source.

I could understand now why Gothi withheld the details. I needed to stay focused, and these ideas spiraling around in my mind would get in the way of it.

Toothless whirred in concern and nudged me, once again breaking me from my thoughts. He looked concerned but also annoyed; probably because I had let my thoughts get to me again. I rubbed his head in appreciation but didn't smile.

"That's why we need to find it." I said after a moment of silence and turning back to Fishlegs.

It didn't take long for him to figure out what I was implying and his expression turned serious. "That does seem to make sense. But we still don't know enough to be sure if that's what is going on. The Knower themselves said it was only their interpretation. Besides, they said this 'Veil Talisman' would be required to stop that kind of situation, and that talisman is apparently lost."

I considered telling him that the talisman was in actuality on Berk, but that would again mean having to also reveal Christopher was the person who had it. Sure, I could lie about his involvement, but Fishlegs was smart. He had already met the man and all his never before heard of technology. He would likely figure out he was involved one way or the other.

No, Fishlegs didn't need to know. Not yet at least. It would only bring more stress into our already stressful situation. It should only be my burden to bear.

I sighed. "Maybe. But I can still see why Gothi wants it found. It is of some importance and might be the source of some answers."

Fishlegs chuckled slightly at my impromptu joke that had successfully lightened the mood. "Right. Just need to find our next stop."

I left Fishlegs to his reading and retreated into my thoughts again. I fell asleep not long after, and my dreams were all of Berk and what it could be.

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Berk's Great Hall, Noon

"If there is one thing I can say I love about this island: their mead is intoxicating…" Frid slurred out before downing his third cup since arriving at the Hall.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm pretty sure all mead is intoxicating." I replied as I folded my arms onto the table and continued to scan the building.

"Well… this mead is even more so!" he announced loudly, gaining the cheers of a nearby table.

"Whatever you say…" I muttered, absently staring into the crowd of villagers around us. While I had taken up the habit of egging the older man on while drunk to see if I couldn't get him to let loose some more details of his past and the captain, I was in no mood to do so at the moment.

We had been scoping out the island for eleven days now and in that time we had found absolutely nothing. Nothing or no one who looked out of place, no interesting or out of the ordinary dragons, no secret society, nothing! Berk had been fun to stay at when I first arrived weeks ago, but the novelty of their strange architecture and dragons had long since worn off. At this point, when I wasn't spying on people doing normal things, I spent my days either in the Hall with Frid simply socializing or taking the time to spar with some of the villagers. While Frid didn't like the idea of me doing so and bringing attention to myself, I didn't worry about it. Berkians were a simple lot and didn't think too deeply about why I was on their island or where I learned my skills. They simply relished in a good fight and went about their business afterward.

Honestly, it wasn't the worst of experiences, but I thought my talents were being wasted simply sitting here on this island watching over Frid. I still couldn't understand Raulin's reasonings, and every time I brought it up with him on that strange rock he would simply say the time would come when I realized why he needed me there.

Frid wasn't all too surprised to hear about that. He was more than happy to belittle the captain and call him a 'short sighted fool who when is unable to do as he likes forces others to do it for him'. I was quick to point out that he was the one who was supposed to be gathering information and that I was only here to make sure he did so, and yet he spent most of his time complaining or being drunk while I did his job. He had simply replied that he didn't care and that it wasn't his fault I wasn't forcing him to do anything.

I had only been doing so because I pitied the man and also felt I was better at doing what he was tasked with.

Maybe that's why Raulin left me here? Because he knew I would be better equipped to find what he is looking for?

That would mean his speech in his quarters about me simply being there to watch over him was more to demean Frid. It didn't feel in character, though, for that to be the reason. Raulin treated all of his crew with respect, he would never go out of his way to belittle any of us. I then remembered what Frid had angrily proclaimed to me days prior.

'And the one time I finally stand up to him, to try and prevent another death, he forces me to stay on an island full of Vikings that he knows full well would throw me back into slavery the moment that caught a glimpse of my brand!'

It was the only way it made sense to have both of us on the island. Me to do the job, and Frid as punishment. Suddenly my earlier despondent mood dissipated and was replaced by an urge to question the old man again. I turned to him, finding that he had been striking up a conversation with the table next to us.

"Frid? Mind if I ask you a question?"

He surprisingly heard me through the noise of the Hall and glanced at me for a second before excusing himself from the conversation. He heavily turned to me, placing one of his hands on my shoulder while the other stayed firmly wrapped around the handle of his mug.

"The easiest way to cover up embezzlement is simply to create a fake shop that you invest into—,"

"Frid whatever it was you were talking about with them, I wasn't a part of." I interrupted him, and despite my annoyance, I couldn't help but crack a smile.

His mouth fell open slightly as his eyes narrowed before his mind seemed to catch up. "Right then. What is it, Neyla?"

I removed his hand from my shoulder and returned a level stare. "Is this the first time the captain has left people behind to find things for him before?"

The older man seemed suddenly very sober as his expression darkened. "No… no it is not." he muttered as he looked away from me and stared down into his mead. "A few years ago he left behind some men to hunt someone down he was unable to convince to help him. A mage I believe. I'm not sure the circumstances of why he needed to have someone else do it for him, but my guess is he had something he saw as more important to do."

I leaned forward to be at eye level with him. "What happened?"

Frid gave a short laugh. "We came back a few weeks later to pick them up. Now I know they had used the witchcraft of that stone to inform Raulin they were done there. I remember their faces when they came on board. They seemed as if they had seen walking dead. And their bodies had burns and cuts but they never said what happened. Only that they were successful. They left the crew not long after."

"That mage… they…?"

"Killed them?" Frid finished as he glanced at me. "Of course. That is what they were there to do. Kill the mage that dared to refuse to help Raulin."

I raised an eyebrow. "You sound sympathetic to this mage. I thought you hated witchcraft?"

He took a swig of mead. "Aye. But those mages stay in hiding not bothering anyone. I can relate to that kind of life. And no man deserves to die because they refuse to help a madman."

There was a sadness in his voice I found surprising, but didn't question. "That's why you said we were here to hunt someone. Because it's happened before. But we weren't told to kill anyone though."

He stared at me. "Be that as it may, he has quite the history of killing those who don't agree with him. Finding this man might as well be killing him even if we don't do it ourselves."

I hesitated to respond as I thought it over. I couldn't see Frid lying about something he seemed so sincere about while also being drunk, but I still found it hard to believe that Raulin was some rampant killer. It simply didn't match the man I knew.

At the same time, though, I couldn't help but feel cautious about what we were up to now. I needed to make sure that if we found this man he stayed safe. I didn't want Frid to turn out to be right, both for the sake of the man and for my own state of mind.

Or maybe we will simply find nothing here, and no one has to be right.

"I suppose we will see, then." I replied simply.

He huffed, seemingly disappointed I was still dismissing his stories. He went to take another swig of mead only to find his mug empty. He sighed heavily and went to get up before I stood and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Here, I'll get you your fill." I said firmly. I wasn't sure Frid would be able to get to the back of the Hall where the mead was stored in his intoxicated state, and I also wanted a moment to myself to think.

He sat back down and muttered thanks before I grabbed his empty mug, turned, and walked away.

I was formulating a plan in my head as I walked. I needed to find some way to get answers out of Raulin about his past. I didn't think Frid was lying, but I felt I needed to hear both sides of the story. It could be that the older man was exaggerating or falling victim to rumor and that there was a completely reasonable explanation for whatever it was the captain had been doing. It wouldn't be easy though. If Frid was right, and the captain was some sort of madman with a bloodlust, I couldn't merely ask him if he was guilty or not. He could lie knowing full well why I was asking. No, I needed to be subtle about it. I knew Raulin was a proud man, and Frid had mentioned he hated it when anyone dismissed his 'quest' as pointless.

I wasn't even sure if the story about his quest was true, but it wouldn't be hard to find out and get the captain talking about it according to Frid. If I simply inquired about it and pretended to be interested, I might learn more.

It felt wrong to plan to lie to Raulin, but I needed clarity. It would all be worth it if I had a better understanding of who I was being employed by.

I made it to the large barrels at the back of the Hall. There was a small line of other people waiting to get their fill. Soon enough I had gotten mine and turned to make way for the next in line.

I then walked straight into someone, spilling the fresh mead over the both of us.

"I am so sorry about that!" the man I had bumped into quickly said as he tried wiping the drink off his now-soaked brown tunic.

"No, it's my fault. I wasn't paying attention." I quickly replied, wringing out my own tunic before looking up and eyeing the man.

Mead was dripping from his shaggy brown hair and beard, and he had a guilty expression plastered over his face. A face that was rather cute compared to the other villagers of the island; Soft and unweathered features, and an overall skinny build with little to no muscle which only further separated him from others on the island.

"Guess that makes two of us, then. I've been so exhausted lately I feel like I fall asleep while walking around." the man replied with a small laugh.

His accent was strange in that I couldn't place it. It was almost like he didn't have one at all yet also had a mix of every single one. It was utterly strange.

"Not from the island I take it?" I said back, voicing my assumptions about all his strangeness.

His eyes widened slightly, revealing specks of blue in his otherwise dark brown eyes. Another thing I had never seen before. "Uh, yeah, I'm not. I'm just visiting to help the Chief out with a project."

"Didn't he leave the island a week ago?"

He shrugged and returned a smile. "He, uh, had something he needed to do. I still have to work on the project while he's away."

I hummed. "Sounds like you must be very busy with it if you're so exhausted."

He chuckled. "Yeah, what can I say. Get lost in the process."

"I can understand that." I replied, thinking about all the times I got so invested in my training I lost track of time and lost sleep.

He seemed to have remembered something as he glanced behind him. "Oh, uh, I was actually in a hurry to get somewhere. Again, really sorry about the beer."

I waved him off, not paying too much mind to the name he had given to the mead. "No harm done. Just pay more attention in a crowded place like this."

He nodded and quickly turned to leave, disappearing into the crowd. I sighed as I looked down at my soaked clothes knowing full well I didn't have a clean pair to change into back at camp. I went to get back in line to refill the mug, but was thankful to find that the person who had been behind me had filled a mug for me after seeing what had happened.

As I walked back to the table where, hopefully, Frid was still at, I found my mind still trying to place the strange man's origin. I had been to almost every island in the archipelago and simply could not place his accent. He was just completely out of place.

I stopped in my tracks as everything clicked in my head.

A man. Out of place. Brown and Blue eyes. Could he be…?

I swallowed a lump in my throat as I realized the implications. I shook myself from my stupor and rushed back to the table. Frid was still there, having once again joined in the conversation of the villagers next to him, but was quick to turn his attention to me as I stormed up to the table.

My expression must have betrayed my conflicted thoughts as he was first to speak up. "Neyla what's wrong? And what happened to your clothes?"

My expression hardened as I stared back at him and leaned over the table.

"I found him."

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A/N:

Three months into the new year and finally a new chapter, a good promise of things to come. Been a bit as per usual with me, same normal excuses too besdies adding being in a relationship on top of it all. Been a fun several months for me, and I hope it has for you as well.

I have not much to say for this chapter other than being happy the Hiccup arc is now in motion, and I am excited for you all to see how it plays out. I feel where it leads will be very unexpected.

As usual, thank you to all who read, liked, and reviewed. Didn't get much feedback on the last chapter but I hope you all still enjoyed it and enjoyed this one too! Please feel free to leave your thoughts!

Hopefully I will have more chapters out this year.

Until next time.

3-19-23