Hiccup soon met up with the others in his house and told them of his decision to disobey Mimir's orders.
"We are seriously going to disobey Mimir?" Fishlegs stared.
"Isn't this a bit extreme?" Jill asked.
"Personally, I think it's ridiculous that we've been told to stay put despite knowing Loki is gathering his forces," said Heather. "Plus, I'm worried about Ragnar."
"I'm down for it," said Ruffnut.
"Yeah, this is the kind of rebellious stuff we live for," said Tuffnut.
"If the twins agree on this, then it's clearly a bad idea," said Fishlegs, looking at Hiccup. "Hiccup, we don't even know where to start. Mimir once a word, and I very much doubt Gobber will help."
"But there is one person we know who knows quite a lot," said Hiccup.
"Viggo?" Astrid stared. "Come on, Hiccup, how do we know we can even trust? Did he try to kill your ancestor a number of times?"
"Yes, but then he gave his life to save him," Hiccup pointed out. "He's the only one in the Academy who might tell us where Ragnar was sent."
"I say we should vote on the matter," said Fishlegs.
"Fine, everyone who agrees with me raises their hand," said Hiccup.
The twins naturally raised their hands, but Fishlegs didn't and neither did Astrid, which did hurt. However, Heather also raised her hand, and Jill then reluctantly raised her eyes.
"It looks like we're going through with it," said Hiccup.
Astrid groaned. "I can't believe that when actually doing this."
"But what are we going to tell Mimir?" Fishlegs asked. "He'll surely notice the absence with final exams coming up…"
"Final exams mean nothing if the world is going to end," said Hiccup strongly.
"I don't like disobeying the rules either, Fishlegs, but it has to be done," said Heather.
Astrid looked at Hiccup. "I'll back you up, even though I don't agree with his, but I do hope you know what you're doing."
Hiccup remained silent; the truth of the matter was he was making this up as he went along.
Fortunately, their next lesson was indeed with Viggo, who taught battle tactics, which was ironic given the circumstances. Once class was finished, Hiccup and his friends remained behind.
Viggo looked up at them. "Ah, I assume you have business with me?"
"We need your help," said Hiccup.
"Planning on gallivanting off on your own against the unknown?" Viggo smiled.
"Something like that."
Hiccup was about to make a speech about just how important it was that they couldn't just sit and wait for the enemy that they had to do something, but Viggo smiled.
"Say no more; I actually happen to agree with you that something needs to be done," he said.
"Come again?" Hiccup gasped, a little disappointed he wasn't going to make an inspirational speech.
"I happen to agree with you that the best course of action is to go on the offensive," said Viggo as he stood up. "Or, the very least, doing some sort of espionage and discovering what the enemy is. I doubt in any certain terms that you will be able to stop the upcoming attack, but the more information we have at our disposal, the better prepared we can man our defences."
"But Mimir thinks it's best that we do nothing?" said Fishlegs.
"I have the greatest respect for Mimir, but with so many unknowns and chances of a spy, he deems it an unnecessary risk," Viggo explained.
"And you don't?" Astrid frowned.
"It is a risk, but with Ragnarok on the horizon, taking a risk might be the only choice."
"But the spy," said Fishlegs.
"I assume you have told no one else of this mission of yours?" Viggo assumed.
They all nodded.
"But no one besides any of you will no way you're going, so either the spy will be oblivious here, or you might be taking them with you, and if that is the case, they will no longer be here to give away our defences to the enemy."
"But it puts us in danger if they are among us," Astrid pointed out.
"Aren't you forgetting that your leader is capable of seeing into the future?" Viggo asked.
"I'm not a clairvoyant; I only get smaller images of the far future, like looking through a keyhole," said Hiccup. "The only bidder clairvoyant I do have is doing battle when I can see a few seconds in the future, but that's about it."
"That's more than most, but you honestly think that anyone among your friends will betray you?" Viggo asked.
"No," said Hiccup.
"Then you don't have anything to worry about, do you?"
"I feel so reassured," said Astrid dryly.
"Now I believe it is information that you come forward," said Viggo.
"We want to find Ragnar and help Snotlout if that's at all possible," said Hiccup.
"Snotlout is indeed having trouble maintaining his control of the dwarfs; a few riots but nothing more. As for Ragnar, his last report stated that he had found the enemy encampment within Vanaheim."
"In Vanaheim?" Hiccup gasped.
"How is that possible?" Astrid asked. "Freya practically rules that land; there's no way they would have escaped her notice."
"Ah, but you're forgetting that among the enemy is the former Queen of Vanaheim," Viggo reminded her. "Together with Loki, I have no doubt they have created a powerful glamour strong enough even to fool the goddess of magic herself. Also, do not forget that the other realms are just as vast as Midgard."
"And also more dangerous," Fishlegs added.
"I can give you the last known coordinates we have a Ragnar, but I'm afraid you're on your own after that," said Viggo. "I do believe that you will need a very skilled tracker in order to locate him."
"And there's only one tracker we trust," Hiccup sighed.
"And there's only one real tracker we trust," said Heather.
"Eret," Hicucp nodded.
"Eret is quite the hunk; I'm sure he will be very useful," said Ruffnut.
"How does being good-looking classifiers become useful?" Fishlegs asked with a hint of jealousy.
Astrid looked at Hiccup. "Hiccup, I'm sorry to say, but I think this endeavour is getting too out of hand. Convincing Eret to join us is not going to happen."
"How do you know we don't ask?" Heather asked.
"Because he's a stickler for the rules."
"I always found him quite the rogue," said Ruffnut with a dreamy look.
"Can you please stop that? It's disturbing," said Tuffnut with a face of disgust.
"You might find him agreeable," said Viggo. "He has been out scouting and knows the danger coming towards us."
"Is asking more people really a good idea?" Astrid asked.
"No, I'm afraid you're not going to get anywhere without a good tracker," Viggo pointed out.
"What about Heather?" Fishlegs suggested. "I mean, she has excellent hearing and sight."
"That just makes me an excellent scout and doesn't make me a tracker," said Heather. "Eret is the one with the tracking skills we need."
"It couldn't hurt to ask," said Hiccup.
Astrid sighed. "All right, but promise me that if you can't convince him to help us, you give up this idea."
"I promise," said Hiccup.
"So where can we find him?" Fishlegs asked. "He may not even be the Academy for all we know."
"Actually, he is," said Viggo with a small smile. "Mimir asked him to return in order to set traps for the upcoming attack."
"Then is it wise to pull them away from at?" Astrid questioned.
"No amount of traps will be able to stop the enemy's advance," said Viggo. "If we are to have any hope of success, we must take the fight to the enemy."
"Then let's go and ask," said Hiccup.
Viggo told them exactly where Eret would be, and they saw him already working on several traps in the fields.
Eret was a muscular man who was five years older than they were. Eret was, in fact, the son of Skadi, the goddess of hunting, who was previously a frost giant.
"Eret, I hope we haven't caught you at a bad time," said Hiccup as they made their way up the hill.
Eret turned around and smiled. "Not at all. I was just about to finish this particular trap. Is there something you want?"
"Your help," said Hiccup.
Eret's smile suddenly vanished, and looked at him suspiciously. "What kind of help?"
Hiccup then began explaining their plan, making sure not to leave out any detail. As he talked, he could see that Eret was hating the idea more and more.
"You can't be seriously suggesting this," said Eret.
"Actually, it was Viggo who suggested it," Fishlegs corrected.
"That makes it worse," he said, looking back at Hiccup. "Hiccup, Mimir has given strict orders not to do anything apart from mounting defences."
"And what goodwill did they do against Loki when he attacked us with full force?" Hiccup asked.
"Better than dividing our forces. Nearly died in one mission. You really want to tempt fate so soon."
"We nearly die on missions all the time," Astrid pointed out. "But having you with us would increase survival odds."
"That as it may be, what exactly are you hoping to accomplish?"
"Either we can delay them or know more about what's going on," said Hiccup, now starting to feel like a broken record after repeating that answer so many times.
"As applicable as it may be, it is still disobeying orders."
"Come on, Eret, what would be the harm?" Ruffnut asked, bashing her eyelashes at him, which was rather disturbing.
"Uh, how long do you have? It's a long list," said Eret, looking slightly uneasy.
"Eret, I know it's dangerous, but we've been on deadly missions before," said Hiccup.
"But this time, you are facing the Prince of Darkness himself," said Eret. "There's only been one person who was ever able to outsmart Loki, and that was Kvasir."
"Can't we just get his help?" Tuffnut asked.
"He's dead," said Fishlegs.
Tuffnut blinked. "If he was so smart, how did he die?"
"He was too trusting and far too prideful," said Eret. "He was foolish enough to trust in the dwarfs Fjalar and Gjalar."
"I have heard of them," Heather groaned. "They would offer people ride to the Island of Lyngvi, which is where the gods imprisoned Fenris. However, once they drop them off, they would demand them to hand over all their valuables only to kill them afterwards by either throwing them in the sea or chucking them on a deserted island."
"They sound delightful," Astrid muttered.
"Never mind those two dwarfs; they are long gone now," said Eret, looking at Hiccup. "However, my question still stands: how are you supposed to outsmart Loki? It took four gods to capture him, and you think a handful of demigods can do the job?"
"I'm not looking to capture Loki and merely trying to get information about his army," said Hiccup. "The best way to do that is to track down Ragnar. Surely, you must agree that his silence is concerning."
Eret nodded. "I admit that it is disconcerting that we haven't heard from him for a long time. However, I can't just abandon my duty here, and I most certainly can't let you go on such a dangerous quest."
"Why hasn't anyone stopped us from going on dangerous quests before now?" Fishlegs asked.
Hiccup looked at him pleadingly. "Eret, please, do you honestly think I wouldn't suggest this if I didn't think it was important."
"Ragnar is our best hope for both the light and dark elves coming together," said Heather. "You have to help us."
Eret turned his back on them, placed his hands on his hips and sighed.
He then looked at Hiccup. "I have only one condition for my cooperation."
"What's that?" Hiccup asked.
"It looks as if we're getting into deep. We're coming back here not a second later," he said.
"Agreed," said Hiccup.
"Then we better go before Mimir finds out," said Eret.
Hiccup nodded and stretched out his hand, conjuring up some runes and moments later, a portal appeared in front of them.
"Down the rabbit hole we go," said Hiccup and began stepping through the portal.