Behind the mighty Great Hall, surrounded by a tall wooden fence, a lone man sat. He was quietly admiring a map he had laid out on the dirt in front of him. The Great Hall was where the training happened, but once finished, the large courtyard was where they went to rest.
The bushes around the man rustled with movement, though he continued to examine the map, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings.
In a single leap, the Dragon's Five emerged from the bushes, sprinting up to the man with a war cry emitting deep in their throats. Without any form of surprise in his dark eyes, the man jumped to his feet and pulled his sword out from where it rested against his back, fighting back all five teenagers with ease.
The teens rolled, or in some cases, tumbled, across the ground, before hurrying to pick themselves up, each with a weapon in hand, directed towards the man as they all took up a defensive stance.
"Well done, my students," the man spoke softly, "if you were trying to disappoint me." He turned to each teenager, addressing them each in turn. "Snotlout, you need more ferocity. Fishlegs, speed. Tuffnut and Ruffnut, more swing to your weapons. They're swords, not bludgeons, for Thor's sake. And Astrid-"
"Master Grimborn!" The man turned on his heel as the messenger boy approached him.
"What is it, Gustav?" he snapped. "Can't you see I'm in the middle of a lesson?"
Gustav flinched back slightly, but otherwise held his ground. "It's Old Wrinkly. He wants to see you."
Concern flashed in the man's eyes for the briefest moment, before it disappeared without a trace. He made quick work of running from the courtyard and through the giant doors of another great building that housed the many priceless artifacts of old Viking warriors.
"Gustav said you require my presence?" He quickly addressed the very old, and-like the name suggests-very wrinkly man, who sat in a corner of the room, meditating.
"Ah, Viggo," Old Wrinkly wheezed out. He smiled, though his eyes remained closed. "Please, have a seat."
Viggo did as he was told, sitting himself down directly in front of the old man, although a little begrudgingly. "What seems to be the problem?" he asked.
"Why must something always be wrong for me to summon you here?" Old Wrinkly asked, finally opening his weary eyes.
Viggo frowned in annoyance. "So, nothing's wrong?"
"I didn't say that," Old Wrinkly said. He slowly stood and motioned for Viggo to follow him. The two walked over to a large pool of water that had been placed in the middle of the floor. Viggo looked down into its depths, and once again laid eyes on the shadowy silhouette of the Dragon Egg.
"And?" Viggo guided, growing a little irritated with his old master.
"I've had a vision," Old Wrinkly began. "Krogan will return."
Viggo's eyes widened slightly at the news, but he pushed his concern aside, and said, "how can you be sure? That's impossible; he's in the most heavily armed prison, guarded by my own brother."
"Nothing is impossible, Viggo. Only improbable."
Viggo's fists clenched and his expression grew hard. Old Wrinkly may have had problems with his soothsaying in the past, but Viggo wasn't going to take any chances when it came to Krogan. "Gustav!" he called out.
"Yes, Master Grimborn, sir!" Gustav appeared, saluting Viggo proudly.
"Go to Hunter Prison and tell my brother to double the guards and defenses! Krogan stays where he is!" Viggo ordered.
As Gustav scurried out the door, Viggo turned back to Old Wrinkly questioningly.
"It is time." The old man spoke the three words so delicately, but with such power. Viggo immediately understood, and he gazed down at the Dragon Egg once more. It was time to find the Dragon Warrior.
"But who is worthy of such an honor?" he mumbled, for even though he was as smart as they come, not even he knew which of his students would receive the power, though he did have his suspicions.
"I don't know," Old Wrinkly shrugged.