Siren

I loosened Rupac's grip on my neck as I dismounted Toothless. I smoothed out the wrinkles in my kimono once my feet hit the ground and patted Toothless' nose. He purred happily in response.

Up above, the sky was nice and clear, and the sun shone brightly, but not too bright. That made it satisfactory enough to teach my students today in the Meathead arena.

"Come on, bud," I said, wrapping my arms around Toothless' neck. "We're going to walk to the arena."

I sat on my chair as Brunhild, who was often one of the first pupils to show up, took out her notes and set them on the table. More students began to arrive. I could recognize their faces and name them at once. They all wore kimonos with swords tied at the sash, since I made it clear that was their uniform. Since I visited Japan many, many times, Ichigo and Rukia gave me them in support of me teaching these kids. They also gave me some instruments from Japan. The merchants I'd traveled with on one visit gave me some Korean attire and books, along with Chinese clothes as well. I kept them all in a room at Dragon's Edge since there were so many of them. I usually wore them everyday, even when I wasn't teaching the kids. This was because I had no Viking clothes-I outgrew them.

Once all the students were seated, I began the morning's lesson. It was a gorgeous Thor's Day, and as always, we began with one hour of studying Viking history, followed by more one-hour blocks. Usually, after studying Viking history, we then went to dragons and how to classify them. I had the Book of Dragons and Fishlegs' cards to help them with their studies. After that, we studied Japanese, along with their etiquette and how to translate Japanese to Nordic and the other way around. Next, I taught them Celtic and the Celts' customs. Originally, this was going to be the Mayans', which I really wanted to do since I learned their language via Rupac, but since the Meatheads were one of the tribes at war with the Celts, I felt it only suitable that they learn my account of my time with them and the language so they could negotiate a treaty.

Of course, this being Vikings, we have stubbornness issues, so that treaty might not be happening any time soon.

After studying Celts, I gave the kids a lunch break. They already had four hours of learning, and they always became restless after the fourth hour. I made them lunch each day, whether it be rice, squash, fish, corn, you name it. For lunch today, they were going to have corn, rice, a side of yak, and cocoa with sugar mixed in it. I liked the taste of cocoa a lot better after I added the sugar extracted from the sugar canes of India. They were given to me by one of the Japanese merchants I traveled with.

After their one hour lunch break, it would be fencing, then dragon-riding, which the kids loved a lot. Next, we would do rock climbing, followed by lessons on how to craft a weapon. After that, it would be dinner. This time, the kids would make their own food, so then they could learn to take care of themselves when they married. Then it was time for them to go home and do their homework.

I kind of enjoyed teaching the kids, but it was a little frustrating when they didn't listen, which happened a lot. The youngest were around five or six years old, and the oldest were around twelve to thirteen, only a few years younger than me. As of right now, it was a month before my fifteenth birthday, while many of my pupils had their birthdays already.

Then again, when your birthday is a month before Snoggletog, everyone has birthdays before you.

It was after school, and I had just finished writing a Japanese exam the kids were going to take next week. Next week was exam week, and I wanted to see how much attention the kids were paying in class. On the last exam week, which was two months ago, the average was around 70%, which isn't half-bad, but I'd like to see better from the kids. I wanted to increase the average to 85%. Then again, maybe I was expecting way too much from the kids. I'd only been teaching them for four months.

Still, teachers want to see their students do well, otherwise there's no point.

I set Rupac a perch I created for him during classes.

"Do you think the adults suspect anything?" I said, speaking in Mayan.

"For the gazillionth time, girl, what do you expect?"

I sighed. I made the kids bring home two kimonos each home so if one got dirty, they could wear the other. I also told them to speak to each other in not just Nordic, but also Japanese and Celtic so they wouldn't forget what they learned. They had schoolbooks of their own to study from. "You have a point." I turned toward Toothless, who was sitting on his hind legs, looking at me patiently. I was so eager to ride him. I loved riding Toothless after school each day. It was nice to let go and ride him after a long day.

"I'll be back!" I called toward him as I walked to Toothless. He went to all fours and crouched low enough for me to climb onto him. I was just about to do so when I heard a voice call out.

"Hey!"

I was freaked out. That sounded like a Viking, and the voice did not belong to one of the kids I worked with. It was deep and masculine. I heard footsteps coming to me. They were fast and loud. Quietly, I turned around to be face to face with a Viking. He had blonde hair and blue eyes, and some damn nice arms. He was wearing an axe at his waist, and a sleeveless brown shirt with furs at the shoulders. His pants were ripped, and he had knee length boots.

"I hear you teach the children in my dad's tribe," he said, panting. "I've seen the clothes you make them wear. At first, I wouldn't have believed them, but," he stopped to take a breath, then examined Toothless behind me and Rupac on his perch. "I've never seen such clothes before. One of them told me you said to change in the forest so the adults wouldn't see them leave with these 'kimonos' as they call them." He rubbed his hands on his pants, then looked back up at me. "You told them to take every precaution necessary to keep the older ones from finding out."

I let my breath go. I hadn't realized until then that I'd been holding it. "Yes," I said. "I was bored, and I wanted to teach them what I learned on my travels since I-"

I stopped. I didn't want to talk about it since I felt so guilty about my birthplace, and I didn't want him to find out who's daughter I am.

"You left Berk. I know. Your mother lived with us until your dad came saying you were missing." The Meathead's words surprised me. One of the kids I told must've told him.

"I didn't believe you were real at first, but I began to think so when I first saw Brunhild wearing a kimono. Then I found more of them in some of the other kids' closets. It was around then that I decided to meet you to see if you really did have a talking dragon." He looked at Rupac, who was snoring very loudly.

I could already tell what he was thinking. "Rupac doesn't like being awoken unless it's me waking him up. If he's just fallen asleep, it's best to wait a few hours before waking him up. That rule applies to even me."

"Okay," he said.

A long silence followed. The Meathead broke it.

"I'm supposed to tell my Dad if there are intruders on the island, but I don't want to tell him about you," the Meathead explained. "My dad's the chief here, and he wants to know every single thing here. If there's an intruder or an unknown person, then he would probably execute them because he's worried about corruption.

"However, I don't want to report you because I'm interested in you. Your kimono alone is proof that you've gone to other places, Siren. I've also heard you've been captured by the Celts as hostage for six months. Is that true?"

"Yes," I snapped. "And why did you call me Siren? I don't even know your name."

"It's Alastair. Call me Al." He held his hand out, and I shook it. I liked how rough it was. He must do a lot of hard work, I thought.

"I'd like to learn what you've taught these kids. I think it would be very useful for us Vikings, especially since we're at war. You know the Celts' language and customs, correct?"

"Yes," I said to Al.

"Good. You'll teach me on Saturdays, because that's when you're not teaching the kids. I'd like to have a different day for me."

I decided not to question that. I thought a change of pace for Saturdays could be good. I felt like I needed it.

"Alright, then. I won't make you wear the uniform."

"That's good. They don't look comfortable." Al wasn't entirely wrong about that.

"Meet me at noon here. I'll take you to Dragon's Edge."

"Deal."

"I think I did the right thing, bud," I said, as I looked down at the sea. Toothless and I were going for a midnight ride. The wind blew my knee length hair back as I looked up.

"I feel like I can trust Al," I said slowly. "He seems decent enough."

Toothless purred in agreement. I could imagine him smiling toothlessly.

"I know, bud. I wonder what he'll be like." I looked toward the horizon. The sun was slowly rising. I scratched Toothless' neck.

"Time to go, buddy."

Quickly, he turned around, and we went home.