Chapter Eighty: When everything makes sense -Part2-
The morning air was damp and cold on their skin. Conner gave them extra furs to wrap in. The change from hot dry desert air to damp and cold took its toll on all of them.
But soon they were wrapped in makeshift fur-waistcoats and capes and were walking through the forest.
Hiccup could see his breath in the chilly morning air before him and somehow that made him happy. It'd been a long time since he'd been somewhere cold enough to make the breath visible.
The atmosphere was surprisingly light and comfortable.
Though Hiccup felt the dread of last night still on his shoulders. The deep sleep had recovered his body but not his spirits.
Hiccup was walking next to Conner who had his bow loaded with and arrow as he walked, but nothing stirred around them.
"Better safe than sorry." Conner said with a shrug. "It's still too early for them to come out but then again we're very close o the borders so even if the beasts are already awake I doubt they will follow us or attack us. And if they caught something yesterday then they're probably still full so we just need to look out for wild boars. They can be quite annoying. Oh and be careful, sometimes there are still old traps from the time of the purge that have never been activated or removed. Believe me, it's no fun dangling upside down from a tree for hours."
Hiccup shook his head and interrupted the older boys chattering.
"I really don't get it."
Conner looked at him confused.
"Why did you stay here when your father disowned you in first place? Why not leave, why do you come with us now?"
Conner sighed and kicked a branch of rotten wood aside.
"First it was anger, I guess. I wanted to show that I was capable of surviving on my own. That I had learned to be responsible and that I could care for myself. Then it was because I had hope."
Hiccup raised an eyebrow questioning.
"I was hoping that my father would calm down after a few weeks or even months and would seek me out to talk to me. I was hoping that he might accept me after all."
"And?"
"We met." Conners eyed darkened. "It was not pretty. He was hunting with friends and we ran into each other quite literally. He was surprised that I was still alive and I could see the disappointment about that in his eyes. He cursed and tried to kill me." Conner touched the faint scar on his cheek.
"It was the only time I was glad to be attacked by Revatoren. They gave me the opportunity to escape."
"And then?" Hiccup asked.
"I was devastated. I lost all will to live and nearly died. But I guess I'm too stubborn to really die." He said with a shrug.
"And why do you suddenly want to come with us?"
"Like I said. If I must die, it might as well be doing something for the greater good. I know that my father will never accept me. It's enough self-pity for me now. Besides, you all give me a strange feeling of comfort. Like we've been friends for ages already. I don't want to lose that feeling. I've been alone for so long. You are the first to understand and somehow like me. And if I want to get on with it I have to leave this place. And I don't care if that sounds selfish. It's how I feel."
Hiccup nodded slowly. "I see." He said and looked up into the trees.
"When will we reach the city?" he asked, changing the topic.
"If we keep up this pace I say early afternoon." Hiccup nodded. Then he frowned.
"Conner, have you….did you ever went to the city after your father discovered your secret and banished you?"
Conner grinned. "Of course. Especially after I learned that he survived our little encounter. It makes me feel good. It feels like I'm rubbing salt into the wound in my father's soul where I used to have a spot. Even though he doesn't know. It's silent satisfaction for what he did to me. My way of showing myself that he doesn't control me anymore. That's also the reason why I can help you. My dad is a hunter. But he doesn't only hunt in the woods, no, he hunts everything. From birds in the sky to deer in the forest to fish in the sea. He owns the biggest fishing boats in the whole town. He has his own dock for them. You only get in, if you have the keys" He reached into his pocket "And lucky for us he never bothered to take mine when he banished me. He probably though I'd be too afraid to ever come back. But the woods don't provide you with everything. A lot, yeah, but not certain medicines or material for weapons."
"Why didn't you settle down in a part of the forest with no beasts?"
"The risk of being discovered earlier would have been greater." Conner replied shrugging.
Hiccup shook his head laughing softly.
"What?" Conner asked.
"It's just that I don't get it."
"What do you mean?"
Hiccup pointed at Kate who was cutting of small pieces off an apple and tossed them at Josh who tried to catch them with his mouth.
"Kate joined me because she didn't want to be locked up anymore. She wanted an adventure and I was the first to come along and give her the opportunity. She didn't think twice about it yet she has followed me through every up and down. Josh followed me because he couldn't go back and felt it was time for a new adventure. Hope followed me because she knew she didn't belong anymore and wanted to find out where she belonged to and George…well, he's a story for himself. But he stayed too even though he'd many opportunities to leave. I think he knows too that he has a different purpose somewhere else. He's just too proud to admit it. Well, and I went because I knew it was the right thing."
"And?" Conner asked confused.
"Somehow all of you followed out of some impulse. Not out of common sense or because of a real reason. We followed our instincts. We followed our gut-feeling if you get what I mean."
"So what? Sometimes the voice of reason isn't right. The easy way doesn't always mean the right way."
Hiccup shook his head. Thinking of Heimdall's words he felt a strange sensation in his chest. He felt like he was close to some sort of realization but couldn't quite grasp it. Like catching fog with bare hands.
"I just have the feeling that there is more to this than meets the eye."
.
.
.
The City of Fallen Heroes was cramped into the bottom of the long bay. On one side it was shielded by water, on the other three sides by twenty feet tall walls.
There was one main gate, guarded by the huge golden statues of two ten foot tall lions.
The light reflected off their golden skin and made it impossible to look at them.
Four guards guarded the entrance but they looked bored and let them pass without even looking at them properly.
Two were playing a card-game, one was drinking from a brown bottle and the fourth leaned against the wall, looking as if he was about to fall asleep.
So they walked through the lower city, down the slight hill on which the city was build, Hiccup noticed that it was not so different from Barn.
People looked at you suspiciously and sneered when you passed. Many were armed, some reached for their weapons when they got closer.
The streets were narrow and the smell of excrements and rotten food invaded their nostrils.
The houses, though tall, were simple and grey and towered above them.
Stray dogs and cats lay along the road or dug their way through old trash. Even an old goat crossed their path.
"Hmm, feels like home." Josh muttered.
Hiccup snorted slightly and looked at Conner who had pulled the hood of his fur-coat over his head. It shadowed his eyes and only showed his mouth and chin clearly.
All of them were armed and on guard. They had left their dragons in safe distance. Once they had a boat and were out of sight Hiccup would call them.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked as the streets slowly widened and they hushed first glances of the sea. Slowly the houses turned from simple and grey to colorful big and wide buildings with real windows and roof of stone and not straw. The streets were cleaner and the people less aggressive though not any friendlier.
They passed shops, taverns, churches and libraries. A small park opened up to their left and Hiccup could hear children laughing.
He turned around and looked back the way they had come.
"This is sad." He muttered. "Poor and rich living so close together yet they are miles apart." He said when he spotted a woman sitting in the shadows, dressed in rags, asking for some money while a family of well clad parents with three children walked right past her, ignoring her pleas.
"You can't help everybody." Conner said silently and led them on, down the main street towards the water.
The harbor was an amazing sight. It was a floating maze of gangways and bridges and islands. Hundreds of boats, all different were anchored there. Colorful sails and flags flattered in the slight wind, their names were carefully painted across their sides or sterns.
Hiccup read them as they approached.
Belladonna, Queen of the Waves, Riptide, Northern Star, Ophelia, Andromeda, Light Bringer, Wave-breaker, Ocean-tamer, Poseidon, Child of the Waters…
Each boat was different, some had two masts, others three, he even saw a boat with four! Some were long and wide, others small and light. Some were higher than others; some had cabins build on deck and the more luxurious ones looked like floating palaces.
There was a lot of action on the docks and gangways. Next to the owners of the various boats also servants and crew-members were bristling along, some carrying equipment like tows or fenders. Others carried boxes with food or chests with cloths. One was holding dogs on a long leash.
There were boats leaving and entering the harbor, people talking in foreign languages and accents. People of different nationalities and looks were gathered here. Some were exotic looking with strangely done hair and different clothing.
"This is…amazing." Hope mumbled. "I have never seen so many people before in one place." She added.
George snorted at that. "No wonder. You always stayed in that sand-hole of yours."
She glared at him.
"It's not like I had a choice."
"Guys, concentrate." Hiccup interrupted them.
He turned back to Conner.
"Where are your father's ships? You said he had his own dock?"
Conner nodded.
"They are down there. But we have to wait till evening. Now most of the boats will be out there fishing, including the one I have in mind. But that doesn't mean that there is nothing to do. But I need to make sure that my father won't interrupt. So why don't you go and gather food and whatever we need while I check out the area?" "Sure you want to go alone?" Kate asked.
"Yes. I know these docks like the back of my hand. I grew up here. I know how to hide in a crowed. Besides, it's a workday. With the right disguise people will just assume I'm a worker or a crew-member. And as long as I don't run into any friends of my father's I will be fine. I meet you here an hour before dusk. That gives us enough time for everything."
Hiccup hesitated.
"Okay." He finally said.
"Great." Conner beamed at them. "And make use of the time. This place has some interesting things and nice shops. Oh and there is a bakery down that road. Go there and get some of the bread. It's heavenly."
Kate turned to Hiccup and grinned.
"You promised me shopping." She reminded him and wriggled with her eyebrows.
"Really? The worlds ending and you're thinking about shopping?" Josh complained.
"It's not ending yet." Kate argued and looked at Hope for support. The other girl smiled too. "Come on boys; let us have some fun too. All the fighting is nice and everything but we girls have needs too. And I so need cloth that fit me properly. Especially if we keep going north."
Hiccup sighed in defeat. "Well, looks like we have no choice but to obey." He said shrugging. Both girls beamed at him. George just shook his head. "Ladies pet." He mumbled. Hiccup just poked out his tongue.
"So mature." Josh said.
.
Maybe it was fate, some godly influence or maybe just a coincidence, but then again they all knew too well that there were no coincidences, but somehow the remaining five of them ended up in a relatively silent street far away from the main road and its shops.
They had gotten all necessary things like warmer cloths, the bread Conner had asked for, provisions, medical supplies, some rope and a new bag as well as something against Hope's seasickness.
Now they had another hour to kill and went to explore a bit. It was the first time they had not to fear anyone in this city. They were like the rest of the foreign people that landed here each day. The people were used to figures like them and didn't ask questions.
It was Kate who spotted the small shop first.
It was hidden at the end of a small side-street, nearly overshadowed by the tavern in front.
The display window was decorated with carpets and tapestries, table-runners, hand-made pillows and blankets and that kind of stuff.
"Oh look, please let's go in there." Kate squealed.
Whereas the boys groaned, Hope nodded eagerly. "Yeah, I love different kind of fabrics! Maybe I could make us some new dresses or things like that!"
"Please, no more bags to carry!" Josh whimpered.
Hiccup had to agree, his arms were hurting from all the things they had to carry.
Kate snorted.
"Please, half of what we bought is for you guys."
Then again, she had a point.
Hiccup nodded and said: "Okay, let's go."
The shop was dimly lit and kinda gloomy. To their surprise the whole entire floor was covered with piles of carpets. Some of those piles were taller than Hiccup! And only small paths led through the piles. The walls were also covered in many layers of tapestries. The smell of incense sticks waved through the back of the shop towards them.
This place reminded Hiccup of Illionas weaving room where she kept all the tapestries she ever made. Among them was also the thirty meter long tapestry of his journey.
From all across the room pictures of landscapes, people, events of just different patterns welcomed him. All were of great detail and expertly made.
The colors were rich and seemed to fade into each other, creating the illusion that it actually was a painting.
From between the many stacks of weaving a small bird-like woman appeared. She was walking hunched over and her skin as nearly as dark as Hopes. She was dressed in a deep red tunic and black trousers. A dark green shawl was draped around her shoulders and she wore no shoes. Golden bracelets hung from her wrists and ankles and gave merry little tunes from them whenever she moved.
Her hair was thick and black, braided down her back in one braid. Her eyes were deep honey-brown-golden and framed by thick eyelashes.
Her skin was wrinkled and she was clearly old.
"Good afternoon." She said in a slightly scratchy voice.
"What can I do for such youngsters like you? I'm afraid we don't sell any weeds to smoke here." She said apologetically.
"Oh no, we're not looking for anything specific. Just…looking around if that's alright with you." Hiccup said politely.
Respect your elders was one of the few things his father had ever taught him and Hiccup respected his elders usually, if they deserved it.
And this woman strangely reminded him of Illiona.
She smiled friendly and nodded. "Of course. I'll be back there if you need me. Just call." "Thank you."
She retreated and they went to explore the small shop.
The girls went to fuss over the different textiles and the pros and contras each had.
George just strolled around aimlessly and lifted a carpet every now and then.
Josh was fascinated by the softness of one of the tapestries and the picture of a woman with bow and arrow in hands. He kept touching it and sometimes frowned as if he tried to remember something.
Hiccup found himself in a corner, were dozens of paintings were stacked atop each other or leaned in rows against the wall.
He began flipping through them, throwing short glances at them.
They were beautiful and looked pretty old. Some had words scribbled down on the frame and dates but only few.
"Urgh, man this place is dusty!" George coughed behind him.
And let go of one of the tapestries she had lifted up to look at the one underneath.
Hiccup looked up and his eyes caught on the picture next to which George stood.
It caught his eye almost instantly.
Not because it was very big or especially noticeable or colorful. In fact he usually would have overlooked it because it was so plain but he quickly pushed back and stared at it, eyes widening.
"I swear, I will probably suffocate in here if we don't get going soon. The smell, the thick air, the dust, it's not good for my lungs." George continued complaining.
With stiff movements Hiccup dumped the pictures he'd been looking at carelessly back against the wall and hurried over to where George was standing.
"Yeah, sure!" Kate laughed and turned slightly towards the approaching Hiccup.
"If it bothers you so much, why don't you wait outside?" she asked.
"Because it's cold outside." George said folding his arms.
"Gods above you are so complicated. You are like a fragile daffodil. One too strong breeze and you will break." Kate said shrugging.
"Am not."
"You are! Don't you agree Hiccup?" she asked still smiling.
When she received no answer she turned around.
"Hiccup?"
Said young man was standing next to George as if in trance.
"Hiccup?" Josh asked too, who had joined Kate only moments before.
The other two too turned around to their 'leader' and watched as he approached the picture hanging on the wall in front of him.
It was the portrait of several people.
Six of them stood in a semi-circle around a woman sitting on a chair in front of them.
Hiccup now stood in front of the picture, eyes wide, fixed on something in the picture.
"Hiccup?" Hope tried.
"It's him." he breathed.
His voice was nearly inaudible.
"Who?" George asked bored.
"Look." Hiccup said silently and pointed his finger on the person standing in the middle right behind the woman on the chair.
He was tall, over towering the others by a head.
His hair was reddish-brown and a mess; he had dark green serious eyes, a sharp chin, visible cheekbones and a scar down his left cheek.
He was dressed in a black tunic and brown trousers. Hiccup could see the hilt of a sword. The man had his right hand on the sitting woman's right shoulder and the other arm draped around the shoulders of the guy standing next to him.
"Hiccup? What's the matter?" Josh asked confused. But Hiccup ignored him and said lowly: "Kate, do you remember, the Gallery of Heroes, one of the earliest pictures. Don't you recognize him?"
Kate narrowed her eyes and tried to remember.
Suddenly she took a deep breath and looked alarmed.
"That's not…" she started but stopped and looked at Hiccup. He nodded.
"I'm sure it is." "But…how?" Kate asked disbelievingly. "We're like…thousand miles away in a totally different country." "I don't know. But it's him."
"Him who? Somebody care to explain?" Hope asked frustrated.
"Look at him closely. Look like someone we know?" Kate asked.
They all looked at the red-haired man intensely.
"Okay, I pass, who is it?" Josh asked after a few seconds.
"He…looks a lot like Hiccup. I mean he's older and more mature and grown and everything. But the hair, the eyes, the way he looks, his posture…" Hope trailed off. She blushed when he saw how everybody looked at her.
"What? It's true." She tried to defend herself.
George shook his head.
"Could you possibly be any dumber than you already are?" he asked annoyed. Conner looked down.
"Leave her be George. She's right."
"She is?" "I am?"
"That is me." Hiccup said calmly.
When he saw their irritated and confused faces he added: "Not Me me, obviously! The painting is hundreds of years old. But that's Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Second!" he explained and saw how their expressions lightened like a torch.
"You mean your ancestor who nearly ended the world some millennia back?" Josh asked. "Thanks for putting it like this Josh." Hiccup sighed exasperated.
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Second as in the Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Second who enslaved my family?" George asked with a frown.
"Oh Thor love it! For the last time he didn't enslave your family." Hiccup hissed angrily.
George just rolled with his eyes.
"So, what's the big deal?" Josh asked.
"The big deal? Nothing except the fact that this is like the first lead since Port East we have about him?" Hiccup asked sarcastically.
"Sorry, but I thought we were all interested in fighting the evil and uniting the seven nations, not about your family history." Josh replied.
Hiccup shook his head. "You don't understand. Everything that has happened is connected to him. I've been trying to find out for so long who he really was and how I, and hence you, are connected to him. I never get straight answers."
They were silent for a few seconds.
Suddenly Hope, who had studied the picture while Hiccup spoke, gasped.
They all turned around. "What is it?" Hiccup asked.
Hope had her arm stretched out and was pointing at something in the picture.
But as Hiccup followed her finger he saw it was rather someone.
His heart skipped a beat when he recognized him.
It was the man Hiccup the Second had his left arm slung around.
He was tall too but not as tall as Hiccup the Second.
His skin was deep brown, his hair a curly shadow and shorter than Hiccup knew him with. He had high cheekbones, a thin jaw and was dressed in black robes. A saber hung at his side and knifes were strapped across his chest. But Hiccup recognized him through his eyes.
They were bluish-silver.
"It's Brave." He mumbled.
"They knew each other." Hope said silently.
"Pretty well by the looks of it." Kate added.
"But how? Did they even live at the same time?" Hope asked.
Hiccup shrugged. "Well apparently." he said and shook his head.
"What a coincident." Josh mumbled and looked amazed at the picture.
"Except it's not." Kate said and her voice was grave.
They looked at her. She pointed at the guy standing on the far left side of the picture. He stood proud; his cloth looked expensive and contained many shades dark royal blue. He had chestnut-brown hair with a few blond strands and pale green eyes. His chin was covered in a light beard. He too had a sword strapped to his side and they could make out the edges of a shield, strapped to his back.
Hiccup wouldn't have recognized him immediately, had it not been for the big ring on his right index finger.
Heavy and golden with a red surface.
Hiccup had seen this ring before. Just at slightly different looking King.
Kate looked pale, like she was going to be sick any minute now.
"That is my father. At least one of his earlier forms."
"You're right." Hiccup agreed. "And he and Hiccup the Second definitively knew each other. After all, your father was the one to take him in after he ran away from the Archipelago."
"But how's it possible that three very significant men of human history are in one picture? What are the odds of them getting to know each other?" Hope asked.
"Four." George suddenly said with an excited grin on his face.
"Pardon me?" Hiccup asked.
George pointed at the picture. "See there, standing between Kate's father and you ancestor? It's actually four important people." He said smugly.
They all looked at the man.
He had thin black and grey hair, hard grey eyes and his lips twisted into a smirk that warned everybody beforehand.
"Hamish?" Sure, hair and eyes were different but that face was undoubtedly his.
George shook his head.
"No, not Hamish but his ancestor. His name was Rupert the First. He was Lord of Port East, back when it was not dragon-infested. And he knew your ancestor all too well."
They all rolled with their eyes.
"But I thought they were enemies?" Hope said.
"Not always. Before Hiccup the Second betrayed him, killed him and married his wife Achnatea, Rupert was Hiccups friend. They fought a lot but used to be like brothers. That's what made his betrayal even worse."
"Oh sweet Freya; he didn't betray you George!" Hiccup shouted.
"How would you know?" George shot back.
"Because that's nothing like him!"
"You didn't even know the guy!"
"Did you know that Rupert dude? No? Then shut up!"
They all took a step back at Hiccups sudden anger. This was nothing like him.
"Hiccup, what's wrong with you? You've been acting like this now for days! Ever since Loki showed up." Kate said, anger and worry fighting in her voice.
"Like what?" Hiccup snapped. "And don't mention that pig."
"Not like yourself." Josh said, arms folded and a frown etched into his brow.
Hiccup rolled with his eyes and turned away from his friends.
"I don't know what you are talking about. I'm fine." He said and started walking down the small path between the carpets.
His friends and George remained where they were standing.
"Yes you do. Something is putting you off." Kate argued.
"Is it Loki? Hey man, don't think too much about it. Everything will turn out alright." Josh added.
"Yes, he will come and help us next time." Hope tried to ease him.
But Hiccup had enough.
He swirled around, fire burning in the depths of his eyes.
"You think it's bout that son of a bi***?" he growled.
The others flinched.
"It's not. And if it was I couldn't care less! But this is not about one god with a self-esteem problem; no this is about all of them! And their stupid lies, their riddles and inability to speak clearly, their godforsaken prophecies, their heroes and all the other things that ruin your life!" he exploded.
Yet that was exactly what this all was about, the tiny voice n the back of his head said. Shut up, the emotional part of Hiccup replied.
For a second it was silent.
Then Josh cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Okay, if you say so. But that doesn't lead us any further. I mean, even I can see that this is not normal. What do we do about it? And who are the other three people in the picture? Who are the women?" he asked around, trying to change the topic and do something against the sudden tension in the air.
Hiccups shoulders slumped.
"I'm sorry for shouting." He muttered. "It was totally inappropriate. But….but there are things even I must get over and…there are things Heimdall said that I don't quite know how to handle."
There was a slight awkward break.
"It's alright." George said. "You're an idiot but I wouldn't want to switch places with you."
Hiccup looked at him surprised. It was as close to a compliment as he would probably ever get with George.
"Maybe the shop-lady knows something." Hope suggested.
Hiccup nodded in agreement.
"That's a good idea." He mumbled and hurried over to where the little lady had disappeared.
He found her sitting behind a small counter in a rocking-chair, knitting.
She looked up when she heard him approach.
"Can I help you?" she asked friendly, putting aside her knitting.
"I hope so. There…there is a picture we're interested in. It's…it's hard to say, we would just like to know a few things about it." He tried to explain. She smiled and started to get up and hiccup jumped forward to help her.
She smiled and thanked him.
"Now show me the object of concern." She said smilingly.
He let her to where his friends were still standing, silently talking to each other.
Their conversation died when they saw them approach.
Hiccup had a strange feeling in his gut.
"This picture." He said and pointed at the portrait.
The woman nodded but some of her smile had vanished.
"It's old, that much I know. It was given to my grandmother by a passing trader. He didn't want anything for it but the direction to the nearest tavern. It's hung there ever since. Nobody ever wanted to buy it."
"Do you know anything about the people in the picture?" Hope asked.
The old woman sighed.
"Some say so and some say different. I don't really know. This picture was old before it even got here."
Hiccup stared at the face of his ancestor. He wasn't smiling but he wasn't looking angry or unfriendly either.
He looked determined and in his eyes laid a certain kind of…softness.
"I've heard that they are traitors, thieves and murderer. And from others I have heard that they are heroes, champions of the gods and knights of the realm. All I know for certain is that if someone knows something about anything old and very historic, it will be Eyeless." She said the name with a certain amount of disregard in her voice.
"Eyeless?" George asked.
The woman nodded.
"Yes, he's and old fellow. He lives down by the water. You know that you've found him when you see an old man sitting on a stone and he starts shouting at you for no apparent reason. Beware his temper but he does know a lot. Many go and seek his council but they would never admit that openly. Eyeless has a…certain reputation you don't want to be associated with. Everyone is warned of him when he enters the city."
"Thank you." Hiccup said.
"Ahm, could we maybe…buy the picture?" he asked uncertain.
The woman waved it aside.
"Take it. I give it to you. It hasn't done me any good anyway. It'll be good to be finally rid of it." "Thank you." Hiccup said sincerely.
Carefully he unhooked the picture from the wall. It was relatively small and easy to carry. He slipped it between the cloths they had bought so it wouldn't be damaged.
With a small last thanks they left the shop.
The atmosphere was still a bit tense and not even George dared to say anything.
They made their way back to where they would meet up with Conner.
Surprisingly he was already there, sitting on some boulders, playing with some keys.
He looked up when he heard footsteps.
He obviously wanted to say something but when he took in the mood he stood up and folded his arms.
"Okay, what happened, what did I miss?"
Hiccup showed him the picture and explained what was behind it and what the old woman had told them.
Conner raised an eyebrow.
"She told you to see Eyeless? The first thing every child learns once it is old enough to go out alone is to stay away from strangers and Eyeless." He said.
"But what if he does know something?" Hiccup asked.
"One way to find out." Kate said.
Conner shook his head. "You're crazy seeking him out."
"Why?" Josh asked.
"Because he's crazy." Conner replied.
"Where's the problem then?" Hope asked innocently.
Conner groaned.
"Don't you want to know what I found out and organized?" he asked instead.
Hiccup laughed.
"Alright, tell us."
"Well, the ship I have in mind is The Huntress, my dad's favorite ship. It's a strong boat, designed to hold loads of caught fish so a few dragons won't be a problem. There is massive space under deck with a direct access from the deck to the loading area.
The ship is build for high-seas so it has cabins, a kitchen, even showers and a common area. It's fueled by steam power and sails. It's easy to maneuver. The only thing that needs to be done is hissing the sails once we're out. The rest can be done by two to three people. That's important n high-sea when the weather is bad so more people can concentrate on the actual job. For her size she's pretty fast and maneuverable. She can easily outrun other ships if necessary and she can even withstand, to a certain amount of course, if shot at. But there's still a lot of wood so we have to be careful with the dragons."
"Great, and how do we get on to her and out of here without raising suspicion? Because somehow I doubt that they're just going to hand over the ship." Kate said.
Conner showed them the key.
"As long as you have a key they don't question what you are doing on the dock. There are so many people working here, the guards at the gate won't care. And when I went into the Control-House and did some research I found out The Huntress is due for an inspection tomorrow evening. I just changed the date to today. That way the crew that is suppose to bring the boat to the dockyard, won't be in our way and we can pose as the actual crew. Then they will leave us with the boat and they won't know it's missing until tomorrow morning. And by then, we hopefully will be long gone." Conner explained.
"And you sure that's gonna work? Because that sounds a bit too fantastic for my liking." Hope said doubtfully.
"I'm certain it will. I did it before. For amusement trips with some of dads smaller boats when I was younger. I always returned them before they noticed what was going on."
Hiccup wasn't sure what to think of that plan. He sort of agreed with Hope. This was way too easy but he tried to think positively.
"Alright and when will the boats return?" he asked.
"Oh they are back alright. But right now they are being emptied from today's catch. It's tuna-time so it could well take another hour before we can make our move."
"Perfect. Then we'll use that time to seek out the old man. Lead the way Conner."
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AN: And things are still not making sense. Damn it. But I promise on the river Styx that the next chapter will reveal everything! Well, everything that is important. Oh and I will write another chapter about Berk, I realized that I haven't told you in a long time what's going on there. After all, Gobber and Stoick just found out something….shocking!
Okay, enough spoilers, thanks, please review and see you,
Love Kate