Chapter 2

When I gave my explanation, I expected a different reaction than the one they gave me. Seeing as though I had no way of proving my royal linage, I was thinking that they wouldn't believe me. But instead, after a moment of silence, Astrid spoke. "So," she said with a bewildered look on her face, "you left home because your father, the Emperor of Norath, said something that you didn't want to hear?" I simply nodded in response, to which she nudged her husband. "Remind you of someone?" She said to him. As they shared a laugh, they must have seen the confusion on my face.

"See," Hiccup explained, "a few days before my dad passed away, he told me that he wanted me to succeed him as chieftain of the Hairy Hooligan tribe." I shook my head at his explanation as I leaned against Shadow.

"I wish my dad had gave me that speech when he talked to me." I replied.

"What are you saying?" Hiccup looked at me with concern. I guess he could tell I was getting angry.

"When my father finally talked to me," I explained, "he had told me that since I was of age to succeed the throne, he had arranged to have me married off to the daughter of the only lord of the Imperial Court that had one." The look on their faces urged me to go on. "I mean, heck, she was attractive, but that's all she was. A pretty face. She treated her servants like they were lower than the ground she walked upon. If nothing went her way, she would lash out in anger, quick as a whip. Though, in public, she would hide that flaw. She was like a mirage in the desert, deceptive and dangerous."

"And there weren't any other girls?" Astrid asked.

"There were a few," I replied, "but they were all servant girls. I wasn't allowed to talk to them."

"Why not?" Ruffnut questioned.

"Because it is improper for one of royal blood to mingle with a commoner." I explained. "Even if I tried, my father's viceroy would usher me away, saying it was not my place to speak to someone beneath me." I pinched the bridge of my nose as I shook my head. "The empire has changed since it began." With a sigh, I stood straight. "Aw well, no sense thinking about the past. Best to look to the future." As I said that, my stomach began to grumble. "And right now," I said with a smirk, "my future has lunch in it." Gently making my way back to my bags, I saw a Terrible Terror make off with what was supposed to be my lunch before I dropped it. Opening the bags, I reached inside and pulled out a small leather bag, whose contents held the rest of my food. I opened the bag and pulled out the rest of my honey bread, another slice of meat, and some more cheese.

"How were you able to keep those Terrors away from your food?" Tuffnut asked.

"That is because," I replied as I cut a slice out of the bread, "this bag is made out of eel leather." They all looked at me as if I was mad. "It's just a leather that's coated in eel oil on the outside." I explained as I spread the cheese onto the slice of bread. "Keeps the dragons out of the food stores."

"Ah," they all replied. As I laid the slice of meat down, I took a bite, and was instantly reminded of home. Not the things I had just discussed, but the good things. Like when my sister and I would be caught by the chefs trying to sneak sweets when we were kids. I looked at the group around me, and offered them some, which all of them, except Fishlegs until he was elbowed in the gut by Ruffnut, automatically declined. Finishing my meal, I placed the bag into my saddle bag, and whistled for Shadow.

"Sorry about that, I was in the middle of eating lunch when I heard the scream." I said as I placed the saddle and saddle bags onto Shadow's back. "Anyway, I guess you're wondering the reason Shadow and I came here instead of heading to your village."

"The question did cross my mind." Hiccup replied. "Then again, the last time Berk traded with Norath, the Vikings here were still at war with the dragons."

"And even though Stoick was okay with Norath training dragons," I continued as I tightened the final strap, "what would have happened if I came riding in on Shadow Faux."

"You would have been shot right out of the sky," Fishlegs said.

"Exactly," I replied. "But still, it's good to hear that that war is over with. Dragons can be very useful creatures." As soon as I said that, we started to hear a couple of voices calling out. One male, the other female.

"Hiccup!" The owner of the female voice said as she came out from a small opening in the rock wall. When she got a good view of Shadow, her jaw dropped. She was a middle age woman from what I could see, though she still held a youthful beauty. Her eyes, blue as the crystal lake of Dornagar, yet as fierce as any storm.

"Valka," the male voice said from inside the opening before he finally came out, "what's wrong?" Turning around, he had the same reaction as she did.

"Adin, Shadow," Hiccup said, "let me introduce you to Gobber the Belch, and my mother, Valka."

"It's an honor to meet you both," I greeted them as both as Shadow and I bowed officially.

"It's not possible," Valka said as she walked over to me and Shadow. "An actual Wraith Dragon." Her voice became excited as she began to poke and prod Shadow. "Oh, it must have taken you years to train him." She said to me.

"Not really," I replied, "all I needed to do was look in his eyes and fight his control. I'm apparently the only person to succeed in doing so in the last century." I knew I was bragging even before Shadow wacked me in the head with his tail.

"Odin's beard," Gobber said in awe. "I remember reading about this beasties in one of my great-great-great-granddad's books. I just assumed that they were just myths since I haven't seen any up here."

"Oh no, Gobber," Valka replied, "Wraith Dragons are the southern cousins to Night Furies. They only live in southern countries like Norath."

"Funny you should mention that," Hiccup said as he walked over to his mother. "Adin here is from Norath."

"Truly?" She said, turning her attention towards me. I was just about to answer her, when out of nowhere there was a large splash behind us. Looking toward the lake, I saw a Nadder with an empty saddle pull itself out of the water. "TERA!" Valka cried out in horror when she saw the empty saddle. Not thinking ahead, I quickly dove into the water. As I swam around in the murky depths, I spotted someone sinking to the bottom. Swimming as fast as my arms would allow me, I caught up to the person, and dragged their body to the surface. Upon breaking the water's surface, I swam towards the shore. It was when I laid the person down, that I realized the person I was saving was in fact a young woman around my age. "She's not breathing." Valka said in a panic.

"Let me," I said as I gently moved her over. Tilting her head back, I pinched her nose and placed my mouth over hers. In doing so, I began to force air into her lungs. After about a few minutes of this, she began to cough out the water. Backing away, I let Valka lift her up to carry her away. As she left, the other's followed in suit, until it was only me and Tuffnut, who was standing in my way with an apprehensive look on his face. "Can I help you?"

"Yeah," he replied angrily, "you can help by staying away from Tera." And with that, he left to follow the others.

"What was that about?" I asked Shadow.

"It seems that he believes you wish to steal his mate." Shadow replied simply. I just looked at him before we followed the group to the village.