So… I made this decision as I was writing this chapter, but I'm going to stick with it: Hiccup and Astrid's respective storylines are not happening at exactly the same time. I'll try to keep each story at a similar pace while they're separate, but Hiccup's happens over months, Astrid happens over about a week.

Prodigal Son 12

Two months had passed by since he had met Artemisia, and Hiccup had attended her sessions religiously. Yanick had not taken well to his new calling, but money was money and the government had given him a generous sum. Now Hiccup's life was divided between the Forge and his studies. He spent half his days either in the classroom or the library.

The evenings, however, were free.

At least, this one was. He had always been able to wrangle a few hours after classes to visit with Shahira. A quick meal in the marketplace, followed by a visit to some interesting sight or other. Perhaps a long walk around the markets, or a musical performance, or a play. Hiccup had read Aristotle's Poetics, and the philosopher's insights into the basic construction of stories piqued his passing interest.

Tonight, however, he and Shahira had found a quiet place on the Heptastadion, the enormous dyke which connected the Island of Pharus to the mainland. At one end of the causeway was the Temple of Isis, which had fallen somewhat into ruin. At the other lay the Agora, and an old military fort manned with a skeletal garrison of overworked and underpaid imperial soldiers.

Shahira had been growing more and more silent over the past few weeks. He was starting to worry that something was really wrong.

The view Hiccup had found looked out east across the harbor. The Pharos lighthouse, and Cleopatra's needle were both alight with the orange glow of the early sunset. He and Shahira could both see the brown and yellow sails of the fishing fleets docked across the harbor. Far above them, a multitude of seagulls circled, searching for scraps of food. The water in the harbor was calm and placid. Almost mirror-like except for the occasional gentle wave.

"I was doing some more research in the library." Hiccup told her.

"Shocker."

He snorted. "Wow. Curb that enthusiasm."

"Sorry." She flashed him a smile. "What were you researching?"

"The movement of the planets." He said eagerly. "I was looking at the old Astrological records."

"And?"

"And… look, the heliocentric model does actually work. It explains the planets' movements."

Shahira drew her knees up. "I'm sensing a 'but' coming on here."

Hiccup stared at her, opening and closing his mouth. "…However…"

"Aw, come on!"

"Well I couldn't say 'But' without –aaand you're laughing anyway. That's… that's mature."

Shahira bit her tongue and grinned at him. "What's the problem, Hiccup?"

"The problem is time. Circular orbits don't work. They explain the movements of the planets, but the timing is all wrong. They still aren't where they should be at the end of each given month. It also doesn't explain the seasons. I mean… the epicycles explain it; the world gets hotter and colder depending on how far the planet is from the sun."

"And?"

"And that wouldn't happen with a circular orbit. We'd have night and day, but no change in seasons."

"Can't you include Epicycles in the heliocentric model?"

He shook his head. "I don't like them on principle. I don't trust them. No matter which model you use, everything revolves around something else. The mood orbits the Earth. The Earth and all the other planets orbit the sun… But what would cause the planets to travel on an epicycle? What exactly is at the center of those circles? What is at the point of rotation, and why can't we see it when we look up into the sky? There's no object there."

She chewed her lip, thinking hard. "It could be colored black so that we can't make it out in the night sky."

"But it would still eclipse the light of the sun, right? Someone still should have noticed it but I can't find anything in the library!"

"How many hours, exactly, did you spend on this?"

"I dunno…" He shrugged. "A couple days?"

She picked up a small stone and tossed it into the water where, with a plop, it sank and spread ripples across the surface. "To what end?"

"I want to know."

"Well yeah but what difference does it make? Epicycles or not you're still stuck here in Eskendereyya."

"Alexandria."

"Whatever."

"What's going on with you today?"

"I guess I'm just in a mood." She murmured. "I just wonder what the point is, sometimes."

"Hey! You were the one who introduced me to her." He pointed out indignantly.

"I know. The lessons are good. And they're free- which is great! But sometimes she sends us off on the dumbest searches."

"Learning about the world isn't dumb!"

"I want practical lessons, Hiccup! Heliocentric or not, what good does it do me to know how the planets work? It's not like we can get to the others…"

"Not today." He said. "Maybe someday."

"But it's not useful now! All the geometry and math you've learned has helped you at the forge. It helps with your job. The philosophy helps the writers and actors in her class."

"I'm sure there's something in there that can help fishermen as well."

"Well I haven't seen it yet." She said sourly. "I've been going for a couple years now assuming I was going to be able find a job or something." She picked up a rock and weighed it in her hand, then threw it into the harbor with some amount of ferocity. "But I went around the markets today, looking for work. The moment I tell them I can read and write they act like it's some fucking scandal! Learning can be a curse, Hiccup. It'll tell you all about the world and make you realize exactly how much you don't have! I just feel like I'm spinning my wheels here."

"I'm sure someone out there would hire you, Shahira. Artemisia would give you a reference."

"I doubt it. I'm not exactly her star pupil. I have fishing to do. I can't afford to go to all her lessons, or spend half my nights in the library."

"Ouch! Hey!"

"Sorry." But her heart wasn't in the apology and they both knew it. She hugged her shoulders and leaned forward, drawing herself inwards.

Hiccup leaned over and put an arm around her, pulling her close. "What's going on, Shahira?"

The young woman rubbed her eyes and planted her face in her hands, "The fisheries are drying up and the pirates are getting worse and worse. Dad's thinking of sailing us west around the Iberian Peninsula, and then maybe north to Britain."

Hiccup's heart took a swan dive. "You're leaving Alexandria?"

"There's nothing here. Artemisia says it's the most civilized place on the planet, but there's nothing for us. I'm a fisherman's daughter." She said bitterly. "The only way I'm getting out of this is if I find someone to marry. A farmer, or a baker, or a cartwright, or a-"

"…Or a blacksmith?" He asked as certain pieces of the puzzle quietly clicked into place. She stopped in mid-sentence, meeting his gaze. They stared at each other, and she leaned in, kissing him softly before the moment grew awkward. Their lips melded together for just a moment, but in that moment, Hiccup was reminded of blonde hair and captivating, burning blue eyes. He flinched backwards, cursing at himself all the while. Loki's balls! Every time! Every! Damned! Time!

"I knew it!" Shahira said. She crossed her arms and flopped back against the stonework, scowling across the bay. "No wonder you're always running away to the 'library' after sunset. What's her name?"

"Shahira, I'm sorry-"

"Don't. Just… just don't." the young woman replied harshly. "What's her name?"

Hiccup sighed, feeling defeated. "…Astrid Hofferson."

"Astrid Hofferson. I knew it." Her voice was tart. "And what does she do here?"

"She's not here. She's from… from Berk. From my home." Hiccup managed to get the phrase out. He was busy trying to quell the emotions which had suddenly ignited in his chest.

Shahira snorted. "Can't even compete with someone who's half-way around the world. Fantastic."

"It's not like that!" he protested.

Shahira whirled around to face him. "Then what is it like, Hiccup Haddock? What exactly is it like? What have you and I been doing the past two months? After damned near every lesson. No wonder you've been slower than a glacier!"

"That's not fair!" he protested.

Shahira rocketed to her feet. "What's not fair is you wasting my time!"

"I thought I was over her."

She glared down at him. "Shouldn't you figure that sort of thing out before you take up with someone else?"

When he neglected to comment, she just growled in frustration. "I don't blame you for carrying a torch. I just wish you hadn't been leading me on."

"I'm sorry." He said feebly. What else could he say?" He still hadn't told her. Not about Berk and his father, nor about Toothless. When Hiccup sat and looked long and hard at his own feelings, he realized that he had no intention of telling Shahira. He liked her very much, and enjoyed her company. She was certainly beautiful, but…

But what?

But Astrid, that's what.

Hiccup had carried a torch for Astrid Hofferson for as long as he could remember. He had memories of loving that girl since before Gobber had taken him in at the forge. He'd never had a hope, of course. But that hadn't stopped his day dreams. She was his distant star. Her courage and determination and loyalty to the tribe were ideals he always shooting for, but somehow always fell short of. The way that she, even as a teenager, had been such a help to Berk…. Gods above, he had envied her so much. She was everything he had ever wanted to be, to the point where there were only two possible things he could feel towards her: hate, or love. Hiccup regarded himself as many, many things, but hateful was not one of them.

Then he had discovered Toothless and the truth about Dragons. Much distance and even more time had been put between them, yet neither had extinguished that flame. During the worst moments of his travels, she had always been floating in the sky above him, a guiding light every bit as strong as the North Star. The true north of his moral compass.

Heh… not that he'd managed to stay the course all that well; the thought caused the weight in his chest to increase tenfold. The sudden constriction in his chest was almost painful.

Hiccup had never found glory on the battlefield. None the likes of which Astrid had always celebrated. And as for courage and loyalty, well…

He had run from Berk when he didn't fit. He had run from the Varangian guards when he didn't fit. He had run from practically every town or village which had ever taken him in. Every damned time they started to accept him, he'd do something stupid, like balance a bible on a couple of eggs.

Then it was torches, pitchforks, and ridiculous amounts of anger. And he'd never had the gumption to stay and fight. Not the way Astrid chose to soldier through every situation, with her head held high.

His own cowardice was the worst part, and it was what made thinking about her so utterly painful that he actively stopped his thoughts from drifting in her direction, and in Berk's direction.

He had other questions. Things which haunted him in the dark of the night, when the world grew too quiet to drown out his thoughts. Was Astrid married? Was she happy? Was there any way in Hel's realm that Hiccup could have been her partner? How could things possibly have ever worked between two such different people?

How would Astrid react if she saw him now? He knew that she would kill him immediately just for riding Toothless. But what hurt the most was the disbelief, disappointment, and betrayal which he always imagined her eyes carrying as she swung the axe at him. Or perhaps Stoick would carry out the act. Either way his executioner would have that same look in his eyes.

That gulf hurt. Hiccup knew that Berk would never accept him back. Not if they knew the truth. Perhaps they wouldn't regardless. He doubted he was missed much; his over eagerness had caused enough property damage. But if they let him back in, he would still be living a lie. Toothless would be hidden away in the Cove for his entire life. What would happen if someone found the dragon? What if they killed him while Hiccup was in Gobber's forge, or doing the chores? Toothless' life was in danger every minute he was on that island.

There was too much at stake. As painful as it was, at least Hiccup could live in a world where Astrid hated his guts, and the whole village viewed him as a traitor. A world without Toothless, on the other hand, without flight, was completely intolerable. Leaving was the only decision he could have made. It was just the worst decision of his life.

Hiccup realized that Shahira was walking away, her arms crossed and her shoulders hunched. He watched her for a few seconds. He could do it, he knew. All he had to do was get up, and kiss her. They could talk through the problem. Shahira was reasonable enough. But he wasn't willing to take things further with Shahira. It would mean tying himself down for good, and tying Toothless down with him, and he couldn't do that to his friend. Not when there was still a risk of pitchfork and torch-toting hordes.

Instead he found his gaze drawn to the Library. The sun was setting, and Toothless would be gearing up for their nightly tour of the coastline.

A silent day was spent at the Forge. Yanick hadn't even acknowledged him when he'd arrived. He suspected Shahira's father had said something to the smith. Still, he had enough work to distract him. Yanick still paid him, and he was out the door a few hours before sunset. Bereft of Shahira's usual company, Hiccup found himself wandering aimless through the quiet streets until he found himself outside an ancient Roman villa.

Artemisia's Villa, to be specific. It was set back a little from the street, with a pale, yellowing outer wall hiding its interior garden. Hiccup had been there several times. Artemisia had helped him work through his heliocentric equations, and search for errors.

The villa was spotlessly maintained. Artemisia kept several slaves including a gardener, as well as a cook. She was one of the few people in the city wealthy enough to afford them. Vikings also had thralls and slaves, though Berk was too poor and too busy to let their economy grow through the trade. Hiccup found the practice a little unpalatable, mostly because he could imagine how utterly trapped he would feel had their places been reversed. Yet Artemisia seemed to treat her slaves with dignity and respect, and they seemed quite content. Hiccup was so taken with her ideas and enthusiasm that he found it easy to forgive.

He tread up the path to her front door, and knocked a few times. A small panel opened, and the stern face of one of her slaves greeted him.

"Hi." Hiccup said.

"Who is it, Lugos?" that was Artemisia's voice.

"One of your students, Mistress." The man reported.

"Well open the door and let him in!"

The door creaked open, revealing the red and white tiled interior. Gold trimming lined the window sills, and wound its way up narrow pillars. The entrance hall was lined with marble statues of varying types and sizes. Artemisia was standing in the center of the foyer, looking surprised, but not displeased. "Hiccup?"

"Hello." Hiccup waved awkwardly. Lugos the slave stood sentry at the door. He was an older fellow with graying hair and suspicious eyes. He was dressed in a modest grey robe, which offset Artemisia's stately white dress.

"Who's there?" Another man's voice called out, echoing down the hall.

"It's one of my students." Artemisia called back.

"He here to ask for money?"

"Martius!" she barked uncharacteristically.

"Alright, easy…" the man's voice said.

"My mistress is currently occupied." Lugos reported, giving Hiccup a cold glare.

"Lugos, close the door, please, will you?" Artemisia asked. She strode forward a few paces and smiled at Hiccup. "It's always a pleasure to see you. What's going on?"

"Sorry. I think I really upset Shahira, and I was looking for…" Hiccup paused, not entirely sure why he had come over.

"Advice?" Artemisia guessed, the corner of her mouth curling up into a smile.

"A distraction." He corrected awkwardly. "You know what, it really isn't important. You have company, and…"

"Nonsense." Artemisia gently grabbed his arm and gently but firmly propelled him down the hallway, with Lugos following behind at a respectful distance. The Villa was a square building with a small lush garden in the center, open to the sky. A set of two finely upholstered chaise lounges were set up in the courtyard. A man was lying across one of them, one hand occupied with a glass of wine, the other picking grapes out of a bowl in front of him. Hiccup's pace slowed considerably when he spotted the black eagle insignia on the man's leather cuirass. Not to mention the armor he had piled beside his chair. The man looked to be similar to Artemisia in age. His beard was thick, but greying. A few scars dotted his features, one across his eyebrow and another cutting across his cheek towards his chin. It gave his face an irregular look. He was pressing the wineglass to his forehead.

Hiccup found himself skillfully maneuvered onto the sofa across from the stranger. Artemisia circled and took up station leaning against the man's lounge chair. "Hiccup, this is Martius, captain of the city guard. He's a… a friend."

"Is that all?" the guardsmen asked cheekily.

Artemisia tsked and slapped him across the head.

"Ow!" the man glared up at her. "You're going to do more damage than the rock did, you know."

"I'm sure there's nothing inside to bruise." She said pleasantly. "Lugos!"

"Mistress." The slave materialized.

"Bring another glass of wine for Hiccup, please. And have the cook prepare a meal for us."

"It will be done, Mistress." The slave bowed respectfully and dematerialized.

Martius, the guard captain, was staring at Hiccup. "So, troubles with women?"

"It's complicated."

"Let me let you in on a little secret, my friend." Martius leaned forward, his leather cuirass creaking. "Romance always is."

"We get along quite well, I suppose." The woman mused, taking a seat beside the captain. She shot him a subtle glare. "Though you could speak of your work a little less while under my roof."

"You asked for news." He shot back defensively.

"You two are living together?" Hiccup said, surprised.

"Not entirely sure that's your business." The man said. He was still holding that glass of wine to his forehead.

"Excuse Martius, Hiccup." Artemisia said patiently. "He's had a very trying day."

"Sorry. It's just… you didn't strike me as the… domestic type of person." Hiccup told her.

"Oh, we're not married." Martius gazed down bitterly at the garden's grass. "Situation's a little too delicate to make a political statement like that."

"How do you mean? Surely in a city this large, no one would care about that."

"In a city this large, everyone cares about something." Martius' free hand joined Artemisia's at his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. He said, "Artemisia doesn't get along with the people I always have to pander to." He smiled up at her and they shared a kiss. Hiccup politely averted his eyes, feeling wholly embarrassed, but he could still hear them.

"You run your mouth too much, my dear."

"A habit I have no intention of curtailing." She replied.

"Yeah, well… till you do…" the captain died away into somewhat bitter silence. When he spoke again, he addressed Hiccup. "What's your name?"

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third."

"Ha ha ha!"

"Martius!"

"Sorry. Well Hiccup… you know where you are?"

"A city devoted to natural philosophy and the preservation of knowledge." Hiccup said earnestly.

Martius snorted, watching him carefully. "Oh, you've done a good job on this one, Artemisia."

Hiccup's teacher scowled down at her partner. Martius leaned forward, ignoring her reaction. He lowered his wineglass revealing a horrendously ugly purple bruise. "You're sitting at the ass end of a crumbling empire, you know that? Up north you got the former Roman Empire. They used to be effective, but that lion lost its teeth a long time ago. They're under constant attack, and the emperors are too busy killing each other off to bother with proper defense. You know they had four in one year? It's been insane. You can hardly find one that gets a rule over ten years long, and he's nearly always murdered. There's no stability. At least in the west Charlemagne did a lot of good, and he put europe back on its feet, but his brat Louis' in power now, and the Caliphate hounds have been chasing him all the way up the Iberian Peninsula." He grunted thoughtfully, and looked Hiccup up and down. "But you already know that. I mean… you were a Varangian."

Hiccup's jaw dropped. "How did you know?"

Behind Martius' chair, Artemisia had raised her eyebrows. She was giving Hiccup a thorough and curious examination. He hadn't shared much of his past with her either.

"You're a Dane." Martius said. "Every Dane who ever came this far south was a Varangian. It's not hard to figure out. What interests me is that there are no Varangians garrisoned here in Alexandria." Once again the Captain was giving him a thorough examination. "That would mean you're either here on special assignment… or you're a deserter."

"I…" Hiccup was very aware of the black Imperial eagle crest which adorned so much of the man's clothing. It was on the front of his shield, which he had propped against the side of his deck chair.

"Relax." Martius said, sensing the direction of Hiccup's thoughts. "You're one of Artemisia's students, so as far as I'm concerned, you're not a troublemaker. That's good enough. I'm not about to turn you in."

"I…" Hiccup's shoulders slumped. "I left them. I don't like fighting."

"No one does. Only the insane. But some people seem to have a knack for it." The guardsmen took another sip of wine.

"They asked me to march into people's homes and burn their stuff. And sometimes…" Hiccup sighed.

"Sometimes they'd just steal whatever wasn't nailed down?" Martius guessed.

For the second time, Hiccup fixed him with a look of amazement. "How did you know?"

"It's what most people would do if they were given free rein to charge into people's homes and churches and ferret around."

"I think most people are better than that."

"That makes one of us. This morning I was trying to unjam the canal's sluice gate-"

"I helped rebuild those!" Hiccup said proudly. "The mechanism was my design!"

"Well you didn't make them corpse proof." Martius said sourly. "Next time put up a goddamned net. Someone had slit a few throats and tossed the bodies in. A kid found them, and I spent my morning fishing them out."

"Could we perhaps find a more civil topic?" Artemisia asked.

"It's alright." Hiccup assured them. "I don't mind."

Martius said, "By noon I was standing in a shield wall in the delta quarter to keep the Christians and Muslims from stomping the Jews flat again. The Jews weren't helping. They were tossing rocks right over our heads at the other two groups, and yelling all kinds of savory words."

"Lovely." Hiccup murmured. He himself stayed away from the eastern end of the city; it was full of rough neighborhoods.

"Yeah. We arrested a dozen of them, but they're all just young lads with bellies full of hatred and booze."

"Why would anyone want to form a mob and start a riot like that?"

"It's complicated. Everyone's got a different reason."

"Like what?"

"Well…" Martius frowned into his glass. "Usury is one reason. One of many."

"Usury? Like… money-lending?"

Martius clarified. "Money lending with interest. I'm a Christian myself. And the empire which this city is a part of is predominantly a Christian empire. Most imperial citizens are Christians. Now, in my religion, lending money and expecting it to be paid back with interest is immoral. So I can't do that. I'm not allowed. Islam has similar rules."

"And the Jews don't?" Hiccup guessed.

Martius shifted uncomfortably. "They have rules as well, but due to Imperial Law, they also aren't really allowed to own land, so they can't be farmers. They can't be artisans or blacksmiths either. No crafting or creating of any kind. So what can they do? How are they supposed to feed themselves and their kids? Moneylending with interest is necessary for a complex economy. It is a job someone has to do, and it is something the Jews are allowed to do. They do it because it's the only way they can feed their families, rules or not."

"That's unfair!"

"Absolutely it is. But your average deadbeat drunk doesn't see that big picture, and he certainly doesn't understand the intricacies of the money-lending business. I think there is such a thing as fair interest. After all, moneylenders have to make a living too. But no, what the drunk sees is that the Jews over there have some control over money when he has none himself. So he picks up a stick and gets a group of friends together to go over there and take some of that money in the name of what he thinks is fairness. What the Jews see is just the latest terrible act against them. One in a centuries-long story of persecution. They riot and strike back. Maybe a few stones are thrown. Maybe a few people get killed. Then everything goes to shit." The guard captain downed his glass in one go and set it down next to the grapes on the table in front of him.

"And you guys have to step in the middle?"

"Well what can we do? They're working from such radically different perspectives that even if you get both groups in a room talking, they'll just talk past each other. How is one drunk supposed to even grasp the mindset of a community suffering from centuries of persecution? And do you think the Jews are going to listen to him rant about fairness? Will there be any sympathy there?"

"It wouldn't be deserved."

"No." Martius agreed. "But it is likely that the people killed in the Jewish counter-riot weren't even involved in the plot. It is also entirely possible that the Jewish community has been persecuted for so long they don't see a difference between the citizens who attacked them and those who didn't. Everyone is their enemy, and that bunker mindset doesn't help resolve the issues. You just get persecution going in the other direction. Sympathy and empathy are needed on some level if you want them to actually resolve their grievances."

"But surely with enough explaining, they can understand each other." Hiccup reasoned. "We're all human. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing, right?"

"That's an idea which angry rioters aren't usually willing to listen to. You gotta separate them and let things cool before you start making speeches like that."

"And that's where your shield wall comes in."

"Damned straight. My boys are still patrolling that area now, trying to discourage more violence. Take my advice, Hiccup: If you ever find yourself having to police a city, never let a crowd get too big. The bigger the crowd, the stupider it acts." The guard glanced fondly around the villa. "This place is quiet and sensible. That's why I love it."

"And the people in it?" Artemisia prompted lightly.

Martius grinned at her teasingly. "One or two."

She leaned down and kissed him again. She said, "Martius, you know you're welcome any time, but…"

"I know." The man said patiently, rising and gathering his equipment. "One of your pups is whining for milk." He gave Hiccup a dry smile and headed for the door.

"Martius," Hiccup said, a thought striking him.

The captain turned expectantly.

"Some of your guards have been shaking down fisherman for extra money." Hiccup told him.

The guardsman scowled. "They shouldn't be."

"Well it happened to Shahira and her father."

"Who?"

"Anton Pandev." Artemisia said. "He usually docks his ship at the cheaper quay, so his daughter says."

The man nodded slowly. "I'll look into it. Can't have guards shaking down citizens. We have enough trust issues as it is."

Hiccup and Artemisia watched in silence as the guardsmen strolled out, his armor jingling quietly. Lugos escorted him down the hall and out of sight.

"You'll have to forgive Martius, Hiccup." She said fondly.

"He seems very… worldly." Hiccup replied as diplomatically as he could.

"It is Martius' job to keep the streets safe." She explained. "Which means that while you and I are in our classroom, roaming the worlds of philosophy, mathematics and imagination, he is investigating murders, wrestling drunken thugs to the ground, stepping between rioting crowds… all manner of terrible things. He is in constant conflict with the most thoughtless, horrible people this civilization has to offer. I fear it has given him a rather… jaded outlook. It is easy to call him crude or vulgar, but we must remember that people like him are the reason people like us can work and live in peace."

"How did you two meet?"

"A group of young Saracens decided they were going to burn my school to the ground. Martius stopped them. He'll bloody his sword to protect Alexandria's citizens from foreign dangers and one another. That is worth a lot more respect than he usually gets." She chewed her lip for a moment, then smiled at him. "Follow me, Hiccup."

She led him through the villa, their steps echoing quietly on the pristine tiled floor. Lugos materialized and shadowed them at a respectful distance. "What happened between you and Miss Pandev? I thought things were going rather well…"

"They were." Hiccup said, grimacing. He had been hoping to avoid thinking about it. "But we… hit a wall."

"Yours or hers?"

"Mine." He said shortly.

Artemisia chuckled as she directed them towards a heavy door at the back of the Villa. "Very well, let us leave that topic alone for now. I'll show you what I do in my spare time."

The room was enormous. Lugos floated past Hiccup as he entered, and began using a striker to light the various strategically placed candles. The flickering flames revealed wooden shelves full of scrolls, and a dozen chalkboards with intricate calculations systematically scrawled across them. A large part of the floor was taken up with another sand pit. The straight wooden staff planted in one corner confirmed Hiccup's suspicion that it served the same function the classroom floor did; a means to explore visual ideas, and show diagrams quickly. It was a means to write and think without using paper or chalk. To look at ideas from a different perspective.

There was more. An enormous ornate table was at the far end, piled high with scrolls. Two models were placed on stands between the table and the pit. One of them Hiccup recognized as Aristarchus' Heliocentric model of the solar system. The other was a strange construction of three dimensional polygons. A Cube was on the outside, serving both functions as an object within the model, and as the frame around it. A large three-sided pyramid was suspended in the middle of the cube. Inside of it lay three other polyhedrons, each one smaller than, and nestled within its predecessor.

It was a strange construction, and had it been anywhere else, Hiccup would have assumed it merely a tacky piece of art. But this was in Artemisia's inner sanctum. He was in Artemisia's inner sanctum! Hiccup knew by its placement that it held extreme significance to his teacher and mentor.

"There was a Greek philosopher named Plato. Have you ever heard of him?" Artemisia asked, an eager light in her eye as she circled around to the desk.

"The name rings a bell, but I haven't explored his writings yet." Hiccup told her.

Artemisia stared down at the table with an almost wild look, like a starved animal seeking food. She said, "I would like you to imagine that our entire civilization is sitting in a cave, Hiccup. We've been chained up, fastened to the floor in such a way as to keep us staring at a wall, unable to see what is behind us, or to either side. We may only witness the shadows which appear on that cave wall. We may believe of them what we wish. We may name them. We may worship them. We may curse them. But they are all most of us are allowed to see, and most of us are perfectly happy to sit there in the darkness of that one single cave, watching those shadows move across the wall."

"Alright." Hiccup said, picturing what she described. He couldn't help but insert Berkians into the thought experiment. He could see his tribe, the Hairy Hooligans, all lined up in their cave staring dreamily at a fire-lit sandstone wall.

Artemisia kept speaking. "However it is both the burden, and the blessing of inquisitive minds that we are capable of breaking those chains, and when we do, we may turn and find out what is creating those shadows. More than that, we may stroll out of the cave and learn of the world beyond it. Bask in the sunlight of reason. And when we are done wandering the outside world, when we have learned what is true, we may take that knowledge back into the cave, and free the others. It is our job to seek the truth."

"We're already well outside the cave." Hiccup said proudly. "Look at this city! Look how big it is! Look how advanced-"

"No!" Artemisia shook her head. "All that we see and hear, all of this… this civilization. The markets, the harbor. All that Martius deals with. All the comings and goings… all of these common things which most men observe… are merely the shadows on the wall of that cave. While I disagree with Plato on many counts, he and I both agree that the cosmos so much grander than we could ever imagine. But that does not mean that it is all beyond our comprehension. We are merely chained." She stared hungrily at Aristarchus' heliocentric model. "On your first day, you said that Mercury was actually Odin, the Wanderer. Tell me, Hiccup, when you see that planet up in the sky, do you believe you are looking at Odin?"

"I… did." Hiccup said carefully. "Now I'm wondering if I'm looking at another world. Muspelheim perhaps, home of the fire giants. Mercury is closer to the sun, after all. It must be very hot there."

Artemisia pressed her knuckles to her mouth, staring down at the model. "Perhaps it is just another shadow on the wall. The planets can't literally be the Gods; they wander the same paths every year. Every day, Helios circles us, riding his chariot across the sky. Does that make sense? Is that all he does? How many things do you do in a day, Hiccup? East to west, east to west, east to west… is your path always the same? Surely the Gods have better things to do than simply circle us.

"Perhaps the planets are effigies or totems of some sort. Perhaps as you say, they are other worlds, but there must be some mechanism in place. To make them move, to help them choose their path. Their movements are predictable, therefore they are subject to mathematical laws. To Geometrical laws. The planets and their movements are yet more shadows. To map them is a step forward. But to know what makes them move, what structures support them… What are the mechanisms of the Cosmos? What does it look like when the curtain is pulled away? When we have freed ourselves from Plato's chained herd, and can finally look behind us at what is making these shadows, that is true progress, Hiccup. And Natural Philosophy will get us there!"

Moving rapidly, she strode over to the geometrical model, and laid a careful hand on it. "We are going to crack open the Gods' systems! Plato found the five perfect solids. The points of their geometry, where each match and intersect are nearly an exact match to the movements of the planets in their phases. All it'll take is a little more observation. A little more refinements in my calculations!" she pointed excitedly at the model. "We are inside Plato's perfect solids. A giant, nested model. Whatever gods are in charge, their plans are here, locked in this model!"

Hiccup was feeling dizzy. Just this morning he had been wondering how it seemed that the Earth would be different distances from the sun at different parts of the year, and now… he said, "That's… ambitious."

Artemisia frowned, "Of course it is. But once we know it… we can start asking the real questions."

"I'm just a student here, Artemisia. I haven't even been in your class for a year. How can I possibly help?"

"You've been in my classes for three months, and mastered ideas which are still causing others a problem after a decade of hard work. Hiccup, if anyone I know can help me, it's you."

"But it's all so… big!"

She quirked a smile. "I know I've said this to you before, Hiccup, but distance and size alone should not be impressive. It is merely geometry. Whether a cube is a meter across, or a thousand kilometers across, it is still just a shape. It can be explained, predicted and calculated. This is all merely a matter of geometry and observation." She gestured at the surrounding shelves, piled high with scrolls. "I have copied nearly every Astrological record in the Mediterranean, but the records are incomplete, and very often inaccurate. I need more precise measurements."

"Well you've got the geometry down." Hiccup said. "But how on Earth can you observe the planets? The nighttime lights from this city block out the sky."

"And it is cloudy quite often. I know. I know." She sighed. "If it weren't for my school, I would have moved to the countryside long ago. I do have an estate there, with the equipment necessary for observation. But it is forty kilometers away, and I cannot spend four hours a day riding constantly in and out of Alexandria. I have too many responsibilities here."

Hiccup felt a chill creep down his spine, as if someone was sliding a chunk of snow down the back of his neck. An idea had taken root in his mind. It was growing more powerful by the moment. At his top speed, Toothless could cover twenty kilometers in a matter of seconds.

"Martius does a wonderful job in this city, dealing with mobs and politics. But that isn't my arena! I want to know what goes on in the Heavens!" her arms dropped to her sides. "If only I could get closer to them…"

Hiccup stared down at the model on her table, with its intricate polygons. This was what drove Artemisia; the search for truth, and a greater understanding of the world. If anyone in the world could handle the truth… it was her.

To trust her was a heavy choice, but he made it quickly. He said, "What if I told you I had a way to get you anywhere you needed to go, in just a few minutes?"

She gave him a sharp look. "Outside the city?"

"To your estate. To the top of a mountain. Anywhere." He smiled at her. "Even above the clouds."

A one reader pointed out that 'Prodigal Son' is not an appropriate name for this story. I had understood that phrase to refer to a wayward son. I was wrong. Prodigal, in point of fact, means 'unwise with one's money', and irresponsible is not exactly the picture I was going for with this particular version of Hiccup. If any of you have any suggestions for a different Fic name, please send me a message.

[*Update!*-14/04/12- I decided to keep the name the same afterall.]

I would like to address two concerns which were raised about Chapter 10 (Hiccup's first lesson with Artemisia).

Firstly, I would like to apologize for an editing flub in Chapter 10. I had originally intended to simply use Hypatia, but I in the end decided to change the name, as well as a few facets of her opinion, research, and fate to better fit the story. Making her 'Artemisia' instead granted me more flexibility as I'm working with a fictional character. However I failed to change the name in all instances and that caused a little confusion. My apologies.

Secondly, a few readers wondered where in the Bible it states that the earth is flat. The "Four Corners" of the earth are referenced multiple times in the Bible. Spheres do not have corners. This could very reasonably be interpreted as the four points of a compass, but that is not what was being taught and preached at that time. People were told by teachers and pastors alike that the earth was both flat, and at the center of the solar system (if not the universe). Copernicus and Galileo had yet to disprove it. These hypotheses were considered fact at that time, and they were taught as such by most people.

As for this chapter, I understand that sympathy for Martius (a policeman) may perhaps be difficult, given the recent events in Ferguson and New York. Racial and religious tensions have always been an aspect of any civilized society, and one of my goals is to bring Alexandria to life, its aspects both wondrous, and unsavory. Putting Hiccup in the middle of a riot could do that, but we're going slow enough as it is, and this way I get to save a chapter, explore the issues of big city life, AND show more of Artemisia's character and background. It's a matter of efficiency.

The Black Eagle crest mentioned on Martius' shield is significant as well. Traditionally, the symbol of the Byzantine Empire was a blue cross, yet that was introduced around forty-five years AFTER this story takes place. Before the symbol was changed to reflect the Empire's new Christian heritage, Byzantium still used the Black Eagle, a symbol the Romans had been using for centuries. Expect it to make a few more appearances in this story.

Artemisia's Cave is actually a philosophical metaphor presented by Plato in his book "The Republic". From what I understand, this book is probably one of the most influential in human history, second only to the Bible and The Origin of the Species.

Plato would not actually have gotten along very well with Artemisia. He did not believe in comparing his ideas to reality, in large part because he felt reality was merely the shadows on the wall of his cave. Thus to discuss and compare with reality was to compare with a compromised test sample, so to speak. Better to find the source. He did not believe in the Scientific Method and Experimentation. But he was a very intelligent man nevertheless, and the human race was greatly affected by his ideas.

Plato's philosophy was passed through his student Aristotle all the way down through the ranks of history's philosophers to St. Thomas Aquinas, and as I understand it, it is to that man we owe Modern Christianity. His three-tiered system of God's Law, Natural Law, and Human Law revolutionized the way the Church approached the world. While it did somewhat distance God from everyday life, it was a much needed update which resolved an enormous number of moral inconsistencies between the Biblical accounts, and reality.

Through Aquinas, Plato helped to shape Christianity. Christianity in turn shaped the history of the western world. I do want to state that my understanding of Church History is not complete, and I would appreciate any input you guys have!

Artemisia's ideas about what drives the universe, about the planets movements tracing the points of Plato's perfect solids are stolen straight from the theories of a 17th century German scientist named Johannes Kepler.

In the end, he turned out to be wrong. The observations and calculations which he felt proved his theory, happened to be no more than a coincidence. He spent years trying to make the Perfect Solids model work, utterly convinced he had cracked God's mechanisms open like a hard-boiled egg. Yet none of his calculations ever quite worked out, no matter how carefully he observed the planet's movements.

In the end, he abandoned the idea in favor of another: the Elliptical Orbit, and the formulas he invented in the last few years of his life are today the basis of every prediction we have ever made about the movements of solar bodies.

In 1961, the Russians put a man in Earth's orbit. In 1969, the Americans put a man on the moon. The two voyager missions were launched into our solar system, and they spent a considerable time looping around the orbits of our various planets, taking amazing pictures and gathering vast amounts of data. Just a month ago we landed the Rosetta spacecraft on a passing comet. We have a permanent space station in orbit, and are currently planning a manned mission to Mars. None of these ventures would be possible if three-hundred years ago when the evidence didn't fit his hypothesis, Johannes Kepler had been unwilling to throw away his life's work and start again from scratch. That is the legacy of a very brave man, and a true scientist.

On a final note, I bought HTTYD 2 on Blu-ray. In the dragon facts, it says that Toothless can move faster than the speed of sound. That is to say, he can cover over a kilometer of ground every three seconds. This means that in fact his most devastating attack would be the sonic boom which follows in his wake. This is an interesting fact. I plan to revisit it at a later date. It also means that for Hiccup and Toothless, Artemisia's townhome is mere minutes from Alexandria. He could truly take her anywhere.