The sea of sands
Hiccups POV:
It has been five months since I got back from collecting the new dragons and they seem to have settled into their new roles nicely. Dune now spends his time checking out the beaches for anything of interest that may have washed up over time. So far, he's found me some old buried swords, shields, gold coins, some nice sea shells he seems to like and some old bludgeons one of which used to belong to Snotlout and I know this because he used to try to bludgeon me with it when we were kids. Dune also took the liberty of making his den his own by filling it with beach sand and those shells he likes which I didn't mind since it was his bed. Ruble had taken well to doing the heavy lifting around the cave and he has come in handy when it comes to moving lumber in to be chopped into planks for my projects along with smashing some rocks that got in the way from time to time. He had littered his den with the ruble he had created from some boulders and I guess this made feel more at home so he'd have an easier time sleeping I assume. Hatchet now worked as a wood collector keeping me the place with a steady supply of firewood while also helping Bladewing chop down trees for wood. Hatchet built himself a nest in his den with leftover branches from the trees and firewood he got. Oracle had settled in nicely to her role of calming any anger or hostility my dragons and animals have along with keeping me up to date on the coming weather. Sapphire had taken up the job of aiding Bladewing and Hatchet when it came to chopping down trees and she was also kind enough to help violet give me a steady supply of spines for my ballista arrows and spear heads along with providing me with her poisonous tears for my more lethal darts.
A few new things had been added to my cave like the new statues of my new dragons in my library. The tough part was getting my new dragons to hold still long enough so I could draw out their forms for their sculptures first. With all the extra wood I was getting I took up carving figurines of my dragons and animals along with some animals I wasn't able to train like wild boars, Peccary, some birds, etc. I had plans to take them to a market and possibly make a few coins. I had also made two new suits of armor which were the mining armor I had designed. This armor was full body gronkle iron armor like most of my suits of armor and was painted black with some very light green almost white stripes which I used a special luminescent paint I made so if I get lost my dragons would have an easier time finding me. For equipment, I had a helmet with a small open hatch in the front of it with a glass cover witch I put a small glowing crystal in to help illuminate my way, (AN: Old mining helmet with luminescent crystal instead of torch!) on the back there is a pick axe and shovel crossed over each other with the heads facing up, on the right side on the side is an empty bag to help carry anything I find out of the mine, on the left side is a bag for food along with a tankard of water and around the neck is a small dragon whistle so I could call my dragons for help should something happened.
I had also designed and built a new armor inspired by Burned Toe Beach. This armor was designed and made for places like that as it would make keep me nice and cool. Unlike most of my other armor this one had a top which covered my torso but didn't have sleeves leaving my arms uncovered and only had one thin lair of gronkle iron with some small holes around the waist because it made it easier to air out so I wouldn't cook, the armor was painted yellow to reflect the sun off it, on both sides on my thighs were water canteens because places like burned toe beach were darn hot, on the back was twin speed stinger injecting swords in case I needed to defend myself, there was a small bag on the lower back to carry dried meat and a thin linen was around the top to cover my head except my eyes to protect my face from the sun and finally I had named this suit of armor my desert armor. I had also designed another new armor that I could wear underneath clothes so people wouldn't get too suspicious of me in a public setting like a market but should someone try to mug me I'd still be protected. This armor was made out of black painted gronkle iron but I made it so thin that it would look like I wasn't wearing anything under it. For equipment on the back is a speed stinger injecting gronkle iron sword, on top of the wrists were mini crossbow like the ones on my regular armor, a speed stinger injecting gronkle iron dagger in the belt and one in the right boot. This armor I had named this armor my discreet armor.
Another thing that has happened is I went back to the ship graveyard and brought back a new ship but this one was different to the others because the others I restored and this one I had disassembled to create an entirely new ship. This new ship was designed specifically for long journeys to foreign lands like my visits to the Mayans. This ship had the top deck and two lower floors and was about as long and wide as my dragon collecting ship. Took a week to design it and a month to build but it was worth it. The first floor of the lower decks opened up at the front leading outside which then lowered a draw bridge leading into the room which had pens and coops for livestock I collected along with a large room in the back which held my food and water. The next level was built for the housing and storage of items I gather from the location. On the top deck, there were two cabins at the top of a small stairway was one cabin while the other rested underneath it. They were both quite large since the top one was able to house me and a dragon. It had a bed resting in the back a stone slab resting against the left wall, against the right wall was a ladder leading to the cabin below it, a table in the middle which I could use to go over maps and a side table next to the bed with a candle on it along with a metal water jug and cup, against the walls circling the room were armor stands and there were enough stands, for all my sets of armor such as my formal, hunting, stealth, flight, jungle winter, desert, discreet and mining armor. I had put enough stands for my armor on the ship because I want this ship to be ready for anything and incase I needed that kind of armor. The cabin below had four animal beds, three stone slabs for dragons and in the middle, is a large metal bowl for fish. This ship was going to help me get the alpacas and turkeys I left in the Mayan empire since my ship couldn't hold them last time. It was also going to help me explore new lands and collect both treasures and livestock to be brought back to my lair, which would make life a whole lot easier for me.
Anyway, right now I am busy prepping the ship for a trip to the Mayan city right now. I was looking forward to seeing Gukumatz and the other Mayans again. Hopefully this time some of the girls won't be so bold when bartering with me because I'd rather not have to tell them no to a feel of my chest, a kiss or a date. On this trip were my jaguars and Ikan since I wanted them to sharpen their skills in their own habitat. On the dragon team was Toothless since he's too stubborn to let me go without him, Dune since I wanted to train him for more difficult maneuvers and the jungle would be perfect for that, Scaulder since he was pulling the ship and Nimla since the Mayans would be happy to see her again and she is from the jungle so she could spend some time in her old home! I would have brought my capuchin and night monkeys but two months ago Jocko and Chac had an accident when they were playing up a tree and both fell off. Fortunately, it wasn't that long a fall but Jocko broke his arm while Chac broke a leg! The first few weeks were nerve racking after I tended to their wounds using some mixtures for pastes and gels I learnt from the Mayans but they healed up nicely in a month before I took their casts off but I still wanted them to stay behind and rest a little more and their mates were staying behind for moral support and to help them.
I marked off everything I needed for this trip that is now on the ship as Ruble finished loading the last barrel of water. I smiled at him and said.
"Great work big guy."
He just nodded before he walked away. My ship was now loaded with a large supply of water, fish and dried boar meat for the long trip. With this amount, I had enough to last me four weeks instead of the one-week it takes me to get to the Mayan city. I had also loaded up a large chest of gold in case I saw something I wanted to buy and it never hurts to have some money with me. I smiled at the ship and said to myself.
"Hope the sailing is as smooth as it was last time."
I boarded the ship and went around to do a quick check up just to make sure everything is all ship shape for the long trip since tomorrow I'd be setting sail for the jungle. Before I did though I decided I should pay the village a visit because I needed to drop off some herbs I got for Gothi from healers' island. She asked me to get them a week ago when I came by to get something to help Jocko and Chac with their pained broken bones. She gave me some herbs for them to chew on but in return I had to get her some herbs from healers' island. I then walked over to the entrance to the tunnels where Diggs was waiting before I grabbed the bag that had the herbs in and turned to my dragons and animals as I said.
"I'll be back in a bit guys!" They all gave growls, croons, squawks and screeches of approval before I hopped on Diggs and we were off.
As we flew through the tunnels I couldn't help but think back to when I last confronted the village. I admit I was mad at them but they were still my people even though they made an outcast of me in my own village but like Gobber always told me when my dad was mad a person cannot stay mad forever. It wasn't long before we reached the trapdoor leading to the back room of the forge. I opened it up and told Diggs to wait there for me before I left the tunnel through the trap door and entered the back room. I heard Gobber pounding the metal out front so I walked into the front and smiled at the old blacksmith who hadn't noticed me yet. I walked up to him and said.
"Hey Gobber how are you doing?" I smiled as he jumped up in fright before turning around raising his prosthetic hammer limb up to hit me before he realized it was just me and as soon as he did he said in shock.
"Hiccup!"
Before he smiled and wrapped me in a hug, which probably would've cracked a few of my ribs if I wasn't wearing armor but I still smiled at my old mentor. When he put me down he put his hand on my shoulder and asked.
"What are you doing here lad and how did you get through the village without being seen?" I smiled at him.
"Just dropping off some herbs for Gothi and was hoping you could deliver them to her."
"No problem lad." I smiled at him before handing the bag over to him.
"So, anything interesting happen in the village since my last visit?" Gobber sat down in his chair.
"Quite a few things actually. Since your last visit everyone has realized how badly they all were to you and how wrong they were. Heck I once walked in on your father practicing his apologize to you. Besides that, the twins are still on yak dung duty for sabotaging your inventions!" My eyes widened at this.
"Wait did you just say the twins sabotaged my inventions?"
"Ai, they confessed to it after you left explaining how they were jealous that you could make those things so they messed with them which is why your inventions always backfired. When Stoick heard this, he was furious with them and later on the council decided their punishment would be to clean out the yak pens until you agreed to come back to the village!" I frowned at him.
"Well they're going to be doing that job for the rest of their lives."
"Come on lad you can't stay mad forever." I was about to reply but Fishleggs walked in. Fishleggs was examining the head of a spear and saying.
"Hey Gobber my dad sent me to see if you could sharpen his spear and- "He stopped as he looked up and saw me before dropping the spear and yelled! "HICCUP?" I groaned in annoyance before I said.
"Hello Fishleggs!"
A few seconds later a few more people gathered at the window no surprise since Fishleggs yelled my name so loudly. I glared at those at the window and Fishleggs before my dad walked through the small crowd telling them to let him through. As soon as he laid eyes on me he ran towards me but when he was within arm's reach of me I held up my hand and said.
"That's close enough!" He stopped.
"Hiccup I'm glad to see you're back!" I glared at him.
"Just to make a drop off for Gothi! She asked me to pick up some herbs for her so I came to ask Gobber to deliver them. Now I'll be on my way!" He held up his hands.
"Hiccup wait please just listen to what I have to say." I glared at him.
"You have five minutes!"
"Hiccup I'm sorry for everything. I admit I never should've ignored you, let the rest of your generation bully you, been so quick to dismiss all your ideas, let the name Hiccup the useless catch on so easily, ignored you for so long even when you were trying to make an important point -" I cut him off.
"Speaking of points can we get to yours because I can't spend my entire day listening to you list off how you were a horrible father because if your listing all the points, then we'll be here till snoggletog six years from now!" He sighed.
"What I'm trying to say is I'm sorry for everything and if you just give us one more chance to earn back your trust we can prove to you how sorry we all truly are!" I glared at him.
"Why should I come back when I'm perfectly happy with my life now? I've been to accomplish so much without you lot constantly destroying my confidence and putting me in so much pain that I can't train." Dad looked down.
"Please just one more chance is all I ask!" I thought it over before an idea popped into my head.
"Fine but I'm not staying in the village at most I'll pop in for a day every now and again when I'm on Berk and not traveling. However, when I do come in I am not to be forced to stay a night, I am not to be pestered to move back into the village, I get to bring either one of my dragons, two of my animals or both for protection and nobody can complain about them!" Gobber than cut in.
"Protection? Lad do you really think we'd try to hurt you now?" I turned to him.
"Not my protection Gobber! The villages protection because knowing you lot you'll find a way to anger me and I'm going to need them to hold me back!" He nodded uneasily. "By the way Gobber do you still have that rash on your lower back?"
"I do since it's hard for me to reach with only one hand so I can't really apply the gel to soothe it." I smiled at him before turning to my father.
"And one more thing! As punishment for all the pain and trouble Snotlout and the twins have put me through they have to help Gobber by applying that gel to his rash with their bare hands." Snotlout and the twins gagged at this.
"Done!" Dad presented his hand for me to shake which I did.
"I'll see you in a few weeks then!" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Few weeks?"
"I'm going on a trip to the Mayan city to see some old friends and pick up some stuff not sure when I'll be back though!" He nodded before I walked past him and through the crowd as I heard Snotlout and the twins begging my dad not to make them rub on Gobbers rash gel.
I entered the forest and got back into the tunnels using one of the trapdoors I had in it. When I got back to my cave I gave my dragons and animals giving them all an update on what happened in the village greeted me. None of them were happy to hear that we'd be returning to the village. I couldn't blame them since I had told them of all I had gone through in that village and knowing they cared about me I could understand why they weren't too happy about it. I spent the rest of my day doing final checkups on the ship and calming both my dragons and animals since they were pretty nervous about me leaving tomorrow and about the news about the village.
Next day
I was wearing my sailing armor while I was doing one more checkup of the ship before I set sail I had already informed Glacia that I'd be gone for a few weeks and promised her I'd be back. She wasn't happy but she did understand and I will miss swimming with her in her cove but I needed to get going and besides I was just going to the Mayan city for a few weeks not forever. Well Toothless, Nimla and Dune were on deck, Scaulder was all hooked up and ready to pull the ship, Ah Tabai and Maya were with them and Ikan was on my shoulder. The cargo hold was full of food so we were all set to go. I said one last goodbye to the dragons and animals who were staying behind before I set sail.
2 weeks later
I had just finished loading up all my alpacas and turkeys with Gukumatz standing next to me. When they were, all loaded on board I turned to Gukumatz and said.
"Thanks for having my alpacas and turkeys looked after while I was away Gukumatz!" He smiled and patted my shoulder.
"It's only a pleasure Hiccup and besides you have helped my people in so many ways in the past it's the least I can do."
"Oh, come on you give me too much for just a few simple things I do and I'm only too happy to help out my allies."
"That's what I like about you Hiccup! No matter how much you accomplish you always remain humble and always look out for your allies."
"It's what I do my friend so until next time?"
"I'll be here as will my city and who knows next time you come one of the girls might catch you with your guard down and succeed in stealing a kiss from you." I blushed before giving him a playful punch on the shoulder before we said our final goodbyes and I was off again.
6 hours later
The first four hours had been smooth sailing after we left the jungle behind but unfortunately, I can't say the same for the last two. We had gotten caught in a pretty powerful storm and I was trying to hold the ship steady but I could tell Scaulder was having a tough time keeping it together himself with how powerful the waves were hitting him. I could barely see the ocean in front of me while I was at the steering wheel, which I was having a hard time keeping still. As the rain poured down as the thunder roared I said to myself.
"I've got to remember to design a suit of armor for storms when we get home." Before a powerful wave, it the boat making it rock and nearly made me fall over. I yelled at Scaulder. "DIVE SCAULDER I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET HURT AND YOU'LL BE SAFER BELOW THE WAVES!"
He roared in understanding before diving into the water. I continued to fight to regain control over my ship as lightning struck and thunder roared. I had Toothless and Dune keep an eye on the jaguars and Ikan in the cabin while Nimla focused on the animals below deck. The storm was fierce but I knew we could pull through it as the waves crashed against the hull.
2 hours later
We had finally reached the end of the storm and I did a check up on the ship's hull. Fortunately, no damage was done to the ship unless you count a few scared alpacas and turkeys that needed to be put under control in their pens and coops. Other than all of us being a little shook up everything was fine. Then I realized during the storm we got knocked way off course. I sighed and remembered we had more than enough food to last us a good long time and if we needed more I could do some fishing. I just hoped we'd be able to get home safely.
1 and a half weeks later
We've been lost for one and a half weeks now and still no sign of Berk. Unfortunately, it has also been raining quite a bit so I'm guessing it's the rainy season in this region of the world but fortunately it hasn't been near as bad as the storm that knocked us off course and it is because of this I have been able to refill some of my canteens. Unfortunately, because of the rain I've been having a hard time keeping an eye out for islands to dock at. I still had plenty of food and water for us that could last us a lot longer but I still hoped we'd find a place to dock soon.
I looked up at the sky wondering where we were but then much to my joy I saw seagulls flying around which meant we were close to dry land. I turned to Ikan who was resting on the ships railing and said.
"Ikan fly up and see if you can spot anything!" As soon as I said that he spread his wings and took to the air flying into the distance but not for long because when he returned he landed on my shoulder and dropped a branch into my hand. I smiled and said.
"Dry land is definitely near." I turned back to Ikan. "Any sign of a town or city big guy?"
He screeched before taking off and I knew that meant he was leading us to it so I had Scaulder follow him. As Scaulder followed I ran into the cabin where my dragons and animals slept. I saw Toothless and Dune were eating some fish while Nimla was asleep in the corner and my jaguars were just lying next to each other. I turned to Toothless and Dune before saying.
"Ikans' leading us to a port guys so stay in here and out of sight because the last thing we need is trouble with the locals." They growled in understanding before I returned to the top deck.
It wasn't long before land came into sight but when I got closer I saw a structure that made amazed me and as we got closer I couldn't help but go slack jawed at the structure. It was a huge tower with a large fire burning at the top of it and I could tell there was a fire due to all the smoke coming out of the top along with the bright light. (AN: The lighthouse of Alexandria) This structure was built on a small island with a bridge that lead straight to another island that was slightly larger and seemed to hold a few houses but there was another bridge that lead from that island to a much larger island which held a large city which seemed to be full of buildings which at least had to have one building with a map that could get me back on track but I just hope they're not violent towards strangers. As we got closer to the city I saw a port where many ships of different kinds were docking so I knew I could dock my ship there but it would be a little difficult with my ships size. I decided it best I sent up the white flag to show I came in peace so they didn't think I came to cause trouble and I had Scaulder hide his large body underneath my ship. As we got closer I saw a lot of people at the dock and some of them were holding weapons while some were staring at my ship with either worry or suspicion. As we docked and laid anchor the people with the weapons approached my ship. I let my gangplank down and kept a hand on my sword just in case I needed to defend myself. A few seconds later one of the men wearing what looked to be a toga from the waist down that ended above his knees, a gold manacle on each wrist, sandals and a strange white and blue headpiece made of material carrying a spear and a strangely shaped shield walked to the edge of my gang plank and said something in a strange language I'd never heard before so I said.
"Sorry I don't understand what you're saying!" He merely glared at me and said something else in the language. "Please I don't understand you!"
He then angrily turned around and yelled something at the men behind him. Before turning back around in battle stance with his spear pointed at me as him and the other armed men began to advance. I was about to draw my sword before Nimla flew out of the cabin and wrapped herself around me protectively before roaring at the armed men who drew back in shock. Then much to my confusion some of them ran but most stayed and dropped their weapons before getting down on their knees and bowing while some did the same but started saying strange words. This confused me as I gently stroked Nimlas head and said.
"Easy girl we're on their turf." I was confused by the behavior of the people but also by Nimla leaving the cabin when I told her to stay inside. I then remembered she was asleep when I told them so she missed my orders.
I spent a few minutes trying to figure out the behavior of these people when all of a sudden I heard trumpets being played as if royalty was entering a room. I remember hearing the music on Berk when this stuck up chief and his heir arrived on Berk to sign a peace treaty. I always hated the heir since she treated not only me like dirt but everyone on Berk saying the village was just a pile of wooden caves and mud roads. They acted all high and mighty because they were the richest family in the archipelago and believed themselves to be better than everyone else. I turned my attention back to where the music was coming from and much to my shock I saw multiple armed men walking forward while surrounding a beautiful woman being carried on a litter! (AN: That chair royalty was carried around on) As they got closer I could easily tell that this woman was no ordinary citizen as she was wearing an expensive looking white dress, gold that had been encrusted with precious stones that coiled and made to look like snakes that cuffs around her bicep, and gold jewels in her hair. As the litter was lowered she looked towards me and her eyes widened at the sight of Nimla.
The woman approached the ship staring in amazement at Nimla who remained wrapped around me protectively. The woman turned her attention from Nimla to me and spoke in that strange language again. I replied to it by saying.
"I don't understand you!" She then much to my joy.
"Miláte elliniká, ísos?" Which is Greek for. "Do you speak Greek perhaps?" (AN: True fact! Cleopatra spoke multiple languages including Greek!) I smiled in relief since I did study Greek enough to speak it fluent Greek so I replied.
"Nai miláo áptaista elliniká!" Which means. "Yes I speak fluent Greek!" She smiled at me before asking in Greek. " (AN:I am not writing every Greek word so when the words are in italics it means they're speaking in a foreign language!)
"Who are you stranger and what brings you to my kingdom with such a magnificent creature?"
"My name is Hiccup and it was a storm that brought me here when it threw me off course! May I ask who you are?"
"I am Cleopatra! Queen of the Nile and ruler of these people!" I immediately bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you your majesty!" She smiled at me as she eyed Nimla in a way that made me feel a little uncomfortable. She slowly approached us, as she seemed to examine Nimla before asking.
"How did you get this magnificent creature and how do you control her?"
"Well first of all her name is Nimlas and she's an Amphiptere dragon. As to how I got her well it's a long story!"
"I must hear this story. You and Nimla shall accompany me to my palace where you shall tell me all about how you got her!"
"Would it be alright if I took care of something on my ship first?"
She nodded before I ran back into my cabin where Toothless, Dune, my jaguars and Ikan were waiting for me. I looked at them and said.
"Guys I'm going to be gone for a while with the queen of these lands and I need you to stay and guard the boat with Scaulder!"
Toothless and Dune got up before they walked up to me Dune giving me gentle nuzzles as if to say good luck while Toothless gave me a look which said I wasn't leaving without him and I know what the look meant because he always gave it to me before I left on long trips. I smiled at him before petting him and said.
"Listen bud Nimla will be with me and I need you hear incase something happens! Don't worry I set your tail so you can fly on your own and if I'm not back by nightfall come find me. Okay?"
He nodded before I left the cabin back to the top deck where Nimla was waiting for me. After I told her to be on her best behavior we returned to the dock where Cleopatra was waiting back one her litter. Once I had informed her I was done we were escorted away from the dock.
10 minutes later
We had been following Cleopatra and her guards through the city for 10 minutes and the things I saw in this city beyond amazed me. I saw huge buildings, weird carts known as chariots being pulled by horses, plenty of stores with tons of strange items on sale, buildings which had an incredible architectural design, people in strange outfits and much more. It was then we arrived at a very large building that rested by a large river. We were lead in and to say I was more than amazed by the architecture of the inside. The walls and pillars were incredibly decorated, there was furniture in some rooms that looked incredibly expensive, statues of cats and what looked like some breed of dog made of some strange black stone (AN:Schist is the name of the stone) lined with gold, multiple statues of Cleopatra and other people made of the same rock and other types of stone, many people who were cleaning, carrying plates or trays with food to people who seemed to have more expensive looking clothes on. All in all, this place was incredible and it gave me some ideas for my own place back on Berk. It wasn't long before we entered a large room with a throne that just seemed to be made of gold and encrusted with jewels that rested on top of an alter and behind it was a balcony looking out to the city. It was quite impressive! Cleopatra took her seat on the throne and said.
"Hiccup Haddock now please explain to me how you got such a magnificent creature like Nimla and how you got Toothless?"
"Well the island I was born and raised on has constantly been attacked by dragons. My people have been fighting them for generations then one night I shot Toothless down. When I found him in the forest I couldn't kill him so I let him go but his tail was damaged which means he couldn't fly and got stuck in a cove. I slowly befriended him and built him a new tail which allows me to fly with him and soon enough I left my village to live with him and the rest is history!" Cleopatra nodded before turning her attention to Nimla.
"Very interesting Hiccup Haddock now would you mind telling me how you got a creature of such beauty and how you control her?"
"Well I was disarming some traps in the Mayan jungle that were left there by this cruel hunter and I found Nimla with her head wrapped in a snare trap. At first, she didn't trust me but I showed her I meant her no harm and that simply wished to help her. After that she allowed me to help her and once I got her out of the trap she was grateful to me and saw she could trust me after I gave her a snack and then I simply trained her!"
Cleopatra merely nodded before getting up and walking down the steps of the alter towards Nimla before walking around and examining her in a way which made me feel uncomfortable. She did this three times before turning to me smiling and said.
"She is truly magnificent!"
"Yes, she is thank you!"
"I must have her! Name your price!" I looked at her in shock before asking just to be sure I didn't misunderstand her.
"What do you mean?" She merely replied as if it were no big deal.
"I wish to buy her from you. Tell me how much gold you will take for her!"
"I'm not selling her for any amount of gold!" She merely raised an eyebrow before smiling.
"Oh I understand! How many slaves or servants will you take for her?" I couldn't believe she was offering me a person now in exchange for Nimla who was now wrapping herself protectively around me.
"I'm not selling her for any price!" She stared at me in wide-eyed shock before she composed herself.
"Are you sure about that? I have many well-trained servants for you to choose from many of which are woman who are quite lovely and more than willing to tend to all of your needs and I do mean all of your needs!" I knew what she meant but I was not interested.
"Listen your majesty I am not selling Nimla for any price! She is loyal to me and I am loyal to her because she is one of my friends and I could never sell my friend. Heck you could offer me your entire kingdom but the answer will still be-" I stopped when I noticed someone behind Cleopatra who was about to launch an arrow right at her so without hesitation I yelled. "LOOK OUT!"
Before pushing her out of the way as I unfolded my shield and blocked the arrow. As soon as the arrow was blocked the guards quickly tried to grab the man who released the arrow and surround me and Cleopatra but much to my shock he threw himself off the balcony. I heard a sickening thud as I ran to the balcony and looked down at the man who shot the arrow who now lay on the ground motionless. I backed away from the balcony in horror. I admit growing up in a village, which was constantly attacked by dragons, I saw a few dead bodies but I had never seen a person take their own life before. Cleopatra put her hand on my shoulder and said.
"Bravo Hiccup Haddock that was very impressive." I looked at her in shock.
"You do realize a guy just tried to kill you and when he failed he took his own life?" She walked back to her throne.
"Yes, I do but he is not the first to try and kill me only to take his own life. You however are proving to be very observant and skilled therefor I wish to hire you." I looked at her with a cocked eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" She sat on her throne and looked down at me.
"There have been many attempts lately with the same outcome. I believe someone is plotting to end my life and I wish to hire you to get to find the leader of the group."
"Why would I do that?"
"Rest assured Hiccup Haddock you will be rewarded handsomely with whatever you wish for!"
"If I do this I'll need the assistance of some of your men, a place for me, my dragons and animals to stay and someone to teach me your language."
"Consider it done!"
Before clapping her hands before a young girl with black hair which went down just past her shoulders in a white dress who I'd say is three years older than me came through the door. She bowed to the queen before she said something in that language I didn't understand before turning to me and saying.
"This is Aloli! She is one of my servants and she will be tending to you while you are here. She will be sleeping in the room across from yours and should you need anything just find her and don't worry she speaks Greek so she will know what you're saying! Now she is to take you to your room to settle in!" I nodded before being led away by Aloli.
2 weeks later
I was currently in the bedroom I was given to stay in sitting at a desk by a window looking out to the city while Toothless, Dune and Nimla were laying around on the floor napping. The room I was staying in was pretty big since it had a double bed against the back wall, a desk with a chair I was using right now, four decorated pillars around the room holding up the ceiling, a torch hanging on the wall on either side of the bed and a side table with a tray of fruits next to the bed. Over the last two weeks I was able to stop seven assassination attempts on Cleopatra's life but all ended the same with the assassin ending their own life one way or another. I had also been learning the language and like the Mayans I was able to learn their language easily but their writing, which was called hieroglyphics, proved to be more of a challenge but I was able to learn it. Anyway, the time I wasn't investigating the assassination attempts on Cleopatra's life, I was tending to my dragons, Jaguars and Ikan, studying the local's creations, like the lighthouses architecture, their booby traps and secret passages, learning about their gods, ships but I spent most of my time in the library since it was incredible and full of info which I was able to study and come up with new ideas for my place. Fortunately, I didn't have to tend to my alpacas since Cleopatra had one of her farmers tend to them under my jaguar's supervision. As Cleopatra had said Aloli took care of anything I asked for like a tour, food etc. She never said a word though but I later learned she wasn't allowed to speak unless she wanted to be punished! (AN: True fact in those times servants and slaves weren't allowed to talk except at night and in secret!) I had also formed a partnership with Cleopatra's captain of the guard Asim who had been after this group of assassins for a while now.
After a while and catching two of men who belonged to the group who had been trying to kill Cleopatra we formed a mutual respect for each other but we did see the man giving them their orders. We didn't see his face and he was able to escape by losing us in a crowd of people in the city but I got one clue to help me recognize him and that was a tattoo of a Jackal on the back of his neck. Cleopatra was still trying to buy Nimla from me and even offered me a large piece of land with a palace by the Nile but I turned her down which unfortunately is when she turned up the heat. She flirted with me, gently rubbed behind my ears, kissed my cheek, offered me wine to drink with her, gave me bedroom eyes and much more but I didn't fall for it since I could tell she was just trying to break me down into selling her Nimla. According to Asim she had worked her way into the hearts of many men and bent them to her will! I had found out the reason she wanted Nimla so bad was because when her people first saw her they assumed she was a messenger of both the goddesses Isis and Wadjet, because she looks like a snake with feathered wings. Nimla didn't like the land too much since she often got send in her feathers which I had to help her with by brushing and washing them out.
Right now, I was going over the notes I had on the assassins. They all worked for the same guy, all well trained, well-equipped with weaponry so their boss must be wealthy and they are fiercely loyal since they all take the secret of who they work for to their graves since if they're caught or fail they take their own life. I continued to go through the notes I made on the assassins but I landed at a dead end. Every lead would just lead me to a dead end like when I think I found the guy he's either in the prison or dead. I was staring intently at the notes when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Cleopatra there with a concerned look before saying.
"Hiccup you have been looking through these notes for hours take a break there's a gathering in the ball room in two hours and it might help you relax a bit." I sighed. "I suppose a little relaxation wouldn't hurt!" She smiled and nodded before leaving the room.
3 hours later
I was currently in a very large room full of nobles and priests socializing while guards watched the event making sure there was no trouble. I was wearing my regular armor and keeping an eye out for trouble but blending in listening to some of the nobles who were trying to have a conversation with me. Well the men were trying to have a conversation the girls were trying to get me interested in them. It was just like the Mayan city except colder at night and these nobles just wanted to get closer to me to get at Nimla and closer to Cleopatra.
Right now, I was just watching people go by while keeping an eye out for trouble with a cup of wine in my hand. It was then I saw something that made my blood ran cold. A guy I had met before named Adio who to put it basically an Egyptian version of Snotlout with double the arrogance and thirst for power. I never liked him and had my suspicions but the way he was acting tonight just made me even more suspicious. His eyes were constantly darting around as if to check if anyone was watching him, he had a devious smile but the most suspicious thing was that he was quiet which was suspicious because normally nobody could shut him up so I decided it best I keep an eye on him. It was then I saw him do something really odd. He took out a small vile from his robe and turn around as a servant carrying Cleopatras Goblet walked by. He stopped her and not sure what he said but he had her full attention before walking away after a few moments. I then saw the servant take the goblet to Cleopatra which is when I realized that he might have poisoned her drink so I ran through the crowd pushing people out of the way who were more than displeased and yelled out in anger but I ignored them. Just as Cleopatra was about to put the goblet to her lips I yelled.
"DON'T DRINK THAT!" She pulled the goblet away and looked at me confused. "I think your drink hass been poisoned!" She looked at me shocked.
"By who?"
"Adio! I saw him with a vile and I think he slipped it into your drink while distracting the servant who was bringing you your drink!"
"Hiccup this is a serious accusation!" Adio then stepped forward.
"And it's ridiculous! Why should we even listen to you outsider?" I thought quickly before smiling and taking the goblet and holding it out to him.
"Then you won't have any problem drinking from this goblet yourself!"
"Oh, I could never drink from the pharaohs goblet for I am not worthy!" I glared at him before I noticed a potted plant by Cleopatra and asked.
"Your majesty do you have any sentimental value or love for this plant?"
She looked at me confused before she shook her head. I smiled before taking the goblet and pouring the contents of the goblet into the pot that held the plant and a few seconds later the plant drooped as the leaves turned brown and died. Everyone looked in shock before Adio ran up and said.
"So, the wine was poisoned but that doesn't automatically mean it was me!" He then glared at me. "It was probably you who poisoned the queens wine and faked saving her to get closer to her so you could get closer to the treasury after all that's all you foreigners want is the riches of the pharaoh." After he said that many nobles and guards murmured in agreement before he turned to some guards and ordered. "Guards take this despicable man away!" It was then Asim stepped in front of me.
"I can assure you all he did not poison the wine. These past days I've gotten to know Hiccup and he is an honorable man who would not poison our queen!" Adio then stepped up to Cleopatra.
"It's obvious he has convinced your captain of the guard to join him and betray you my queen and he must suffer the same fate as all traitors!" His back was facing us but as it was then that I noticed two black markings on the back of his neck sticking out from his tunic. I felt like I had seen them before but then it hit me as to where I saw them.
I then let out a dragon call for Nimla who immediately flew through the door as I ordered.
"Nimla restrain him!"
As I pointed to Adio. She immediately wrapped herself around him like a snake I read about called a boa constrictor and it's known to strangle its prey to death but she was just holding him and not strangling him. Everyone backed away in shock before Cleopatra stood up and asked.
"Hiccup Haddock what is the meaning this?" I turned to face the queen.
"Just a hunch but I have a feeling that we've just found the one who's been hiring those assassins!"
I walked up to Adio's back and pulled down the top of his tunic down to reveal a jackal tattoo but not just any tattoo but the exact same tattoo the man who was hiring those assassins had. Asim walked forward and his eyes widened in shock before saying.
"You're the one whose been hiring those assassins to kill our Queen!" I had Nimla turn him to face us as he glared at us before turning it to Cleopatra who was walking up to him as he said.
"I regret nothing! You are no queen of Egypt but a filthy creation who should have been left to perish in the sands of the desert. You the filth who openly allowed this filth and his flying reptiles into our land instead of sentencing him to parish in under the hot desert sand like all fil-"
I cut him off with a hard punch to the face which knocked him out cold. Cleopatra and Asim turned to me as I pulled my fist back. I looked at them as they stared before I said.
"I am sorry but I could not hold back the urge to punch him!" Cleopatra smiled at me.
"Don't worry about it. I was close to doing it myself." She then turned to the guards and pointed to Adio. "Take this piece of trash to the dungeons!" They saluted before four guards took dragged the still unconscious Adio away before Cleopatra turned to Asim and I as she said. "I'd like to see the both of you in my throne room tomorrow morning but until then enjoy the party!"
We both nodded before I spent the rest of my evening talking with Asim and thanking him for standing up for me. We mostly talked about battle strategies and past battles we had gone through.
Next morning
I was currently kneeling before Cleopatra who was sitting on her throne with Asim kneeling next to me. Cleopatra smiled down at us before she said.
"You two have both done a great service for me. The queen of Egypt! Thus you have both earned a reward. Cover them in gold!"
Next thing I knew two men walked up to my sides holding pots before pouring gold coins onto two men and me were doing the same thing to Asim. Once the pots were empty two more men came forward and did the same thing and this continued till I was completely covered from head to toe in gold. I popped my head out and said.
"Thank you your majesty!"
"One more thing Hiccup! As you saved me from being poisoned you shall also receive a house in the city. It use to belong to Adio but he will no longer be needing it." My eyes widened but before I could protest Cleopatra held up her hand. "I won't take no for an answer Hiccup!" I knew there was no way to go against her.
"Thank you your majesty!" She then turned her attention to Asim.
"Asim for your services you shall also receive a raise in payment and promotion to general!" He bowed to her.
"Thank you your majesty!" She then called servants to help us collect our gold before I was to be guided to my new Egyptian home after I picked up my dragons, jaguars and Ikan.
When we arrived to say, I was amazed would be like saying Odin is powerless. Just the building's exterior was beyond amazing and huge. I guess it shouldn't be surprised by how big this place is since Adio came from a very rich family and he was known as one of the greatest Architects in all of Egypt so he was highly sought after by multiple rulers of many of Egypt allies. Outside laid a huge stone front gate with hieroglyphics inscribed on it and beyond that lay two rows of pillars leading to the front door. I walked down the rows of pillars admiring the architecture before reaching the double door, which had a reed pattern on it. I pushed the door open before I walked through and was amazed at what I walked into as it was an incredibly beautiful room with smooth green marble stone floors, stand up limestone torches, in each corner of the room, beautifully painted walls with working people, and in the middle, was a large round table with a large decorated vase sitting on it. I knew I couldn't stand in the entrance room all day so I went to explore the rest of the house while my dragons and jaguars followed while Ikan stayed on my shoulder.
Half an hour later
I had just finished exploring this house and to say I was amazed would be a major understatement. The bedroom was huge and had a large soft bed in the center of it with velvet red silk sheets and pillow covers along with an incredibly soft red blanket all resting on a platform with drapes coming down around it, four marble tables each one in between the beds corner and the platform but closer to the platform and resting on each a differently shaped gold vase, metal standup torches at on either side of the platform, a side table with a bowl full of fruits, a few large windows that in height started from my waist to a foot below the ceiling with six foot distance between each of them with velvet red curtains, also behind the bed leading outside to a balcony which used red drapes for a door which was being blown by the breeze and mighty pillars holding the ceiling up, a lounger with red material covering it and a shelf with some books resting against the wall, a bath a few feet in front of the bed with gold statues of falcons spraying water into the tub. There is also the dining room which is a large room with four windows on each wall letting in sunlight but in between each one was a standup torch for light, in the middle is a long table, with four seats on either side with one at the head and one at the end. Past that is the kitchen which consisted of a window above a stone counter against the back wall, a wooden table in the middle some vegetables and herbs were laying on the counter, there is also a basket next to the counter containing some meat, there is also a rack on the wall above the counter holding multiple blades and next to the counter is an oven to cook food. There is also the study which is a room full of book shelves which were filled with scrolls and books all surrounding a fine wooden desk and chair with statues of the Egyptian god of wisdom Thoth standing on either side of the entrance. I could already tell I was going to be spending a lot of my time in here. There was a guest room that wasn't as big as my room since it just had a double bed at the back against the wall with brown sheets, a side table with a metal bowl on it and a metal standup torch in the two back corners.
There was also the garden that was incredible, which had a wall surrounding it and against the wall were many beautiful plants and flowers and they were surrounding a big pool for me to enjoy. A large living room which has a small table in the middle with a hookah and bowl of tobacco next to it and the table, three fancy chairs, two loungers around the table, a large open door leading out to a patio by the pool with two loungers on it. A horse stable with three fine stallions and a chariot I know I could sell for a good price so I could convert the horse stable into a dragon stable. There were multiple hallways with statues of jackals, cats and falcons made of multiple materials along with some fans crossed together hanging on the wall with the paintings. The balcony that was outside allowed me a complete view of almost the entire city and the architecture was incredible (AN: Think of the view we get of Urshus home in the movie Gods of Egypt just take away all the gold statues.) There was also an empty basement which I'm guessing Adio used for storing old junk since he kept some dusty old clay jugs, bowls, lanterns, etc. I figure once I clear it all out I can turn it into a pretty good training room I could use. Also, while I was down there I found a small hole in the wall which held a switch to open a hidden passage which lead to a room which had a table in the center, a bookshelf against the right wall full of scrolls, a standup torch in each corner and on the table, was an open scroll full of places Cleopatra went during her day with a dagger stabbed into it so I'm guessing this is where Adio hatched his plans to kill Cleopatra. I guess I could use it for a private study to come up with and design new inventions. All in all, after I gut this place and turn it into my own I could see myself vacationing here from time to time but still it was going to take me a while so I immediately walked around the building thinking of ways to change it.
AN: Well that ends this chapter and I hope you all enjoyed it and will send back positive reviews. Oh and a special thanks to Rogue Deity Master and Amari45 for their help with the research for this chapter. To see what Hiccup does to the house and what happens next just wait and see!