A Queen's War
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.
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Umbra Lycan:
(A/N: More rebuilding and reunions)
Chapter 5: More Guests
A few days later, Late morning
Most of the Rage's tribe were up and about, dutifully working around the village. their main meeting hall was almost returned to its previous glory. Rage's second-in-command, Ludin, was not a typical Viking, he was more skilled in trading and finance than with his hammer. after his wife and two daughters returned with their clan's wealth, he set about reinstating his influence in the village. after renovating his looted and dilapidated home back into shape, he began his duties in assisting the tribe. in his eyes, a strong relationship with the Citadel and the Alliance was paramount to their island's survival. in every meeting between their council and the prince, Ludin's voice kept pushing for more cooperation against the elder council members who viewed Hiccup and his brethren with fear and distrust.
Ludin's first major contribution to the tribe was rebuilding their corrupted meeting hall, similar to its pre-invasion state but decked with banners and tapestries created by the craftsmen that accompanied Hiccup's reinforcements. despite their high price, he knew that words could only go so far in diplomacy, so the familiar decoration could subtly influence his more reluctant tribesmen to accept the Alliance's presence. when the sessions returned to being held in the meeting hall, he hid his cunning smile behind his neutral mask. more and more decisions involving Hiccup's counsel were passed, bring the Alliance and Rage's tribe relations closer. he knew his hard work would pay off more than just increasing his profit from his businesses, the survival of his tribe and that of his family was assured when Rage would push for them to join the Alliance.
Two days later
Rage descended down his stairs, surprised by aroma of food flowing from his kitchen. when he entered into the dining room, he spotted his niece working fervently to prepare breakfast, "Tantrum, why are you up so early?".
"Uncle, I uh...", she stirred the eggs in the cast iron pan, "I've been sleeping really well recently". Rage began thinking back, he too was resting well since the Alliance had freed their island from the berserkers. only recently that he noticed Tantrum began preparing their meals, something that was usually left for him to do, "So, what did they decide?".
Rage swallowed a large spoonful of boar chowder, 'Odin, that's good!', "Well, so far, Ludin and I agreed that trade with the Alliance should be encouraged". Tantrum poured a mug full of alliance mead, "Thank you", he groaned after downing half the delicious brew. "That right there is why we should be friends with them!", Rage wiped his moustache clean of mead, "As soon as I can arrange a meeting with Lord Veran, I'll propose incentives to encourage trade with him and his allies".
"They've helped us so far, so maybe their prince would accept?", Tantrum began to clean up after they finished eating. Rage went back up to his bedroom to change into his outerwear, the weather outside was still cold but no longer snowing.
When he descended, he sees tantrum dressed in her formal outerwear combing her fiery shoulder length hair. he shook off shock of seeing his niece acting odd and cleared his throat, "Are you ready?".
"Yes, Uncle!", Tantrum responded excitedly at meeting with the Hive prince.
Rage and Tantrum walked through the main street of their village, bustling with life like before the berserker's war. children played and relaxed close to a group of Beartooth builders working on a heavily damaged watchtower, they whispered excitedly at the cutters carrying supplies from the piles and sekärs ferrying them up to the workers on the scaffolding. a different group of children and young teens followed behind a pair of patrolling troopers and their sentinels, keeping at a respectful distance behind them.
After a short walk, Rage spots Hiccup organizing his workers and their tribe's farmers at the newly cleared crop fields, "Lord Veran!".
"Chief Rage", he greeted him before turning to the chieftain's niece, "Morning to you too, Miss Tantrum". she stiffened and fought to suppress a weak blush at his gaze.
"M-morning to you, Lord Veran", Rage side glanced at his niece's nervousness.
"So, how have my tribesmen been with your people, cooperative I hope?", the chief looked at each farmer with a smile but a hard glare.
"Very cooperative", Hiccup responded, "My men have informed me that your farmers have been quite eager to listen and learn".
"That's great to hear", Rage turned to his kin, "Keep up the good work boys, remember, how much this means to the village". he and Tantrum watched alongside Hiccup as the farmers were trained how to use the newly bought tools from the Alliance, their effectiveness far above anything they could make or trade for from other viking tribes.
While her uncle watched the interaction, tantrum stole glances at Hiccup. closely examining his inhuman features, his graspers resting on exquisitely ornate weapon hilts. every time the winds would make his cloak flutter open; she watched his back limbs twitch and flex. when she came up to his face, what drew her attention more than his cheek coverings or sharp fangs when he called out, was his eyes. they were so alien to her, so mysterious as the forest green iris seem to glow with an inner light. she was so engrossed with his features that she didn't notice a large group approach their spot.
"Darling!", Heather called out, breaking Tantrum's concentration and getting Hiccup's attention.
"Heather, where's Mira?", Hiccup fast walked to embrace his betrothed.
"She had to help Hosver oversee the honor guard packing up to head home", Heather nuzzled her face into Hiccup's neck, making him emit a low trill with his hidden mouth parts.
"Ah, Chief Rage", Hiccup called out to the chieftain, "I need to look over the preparation for some of my men to depart".
"I understand, Lord Veran", Rage waved the prince off as Tantrum made her way over to her uncle.
Temporary beach docks
Hosver moved through rows of packing honor guards, the warriors in different stages of readiness. Mira was watching the horizon as specks of distant ships grew large in their approach. her bonded hive kin, Blanc, sat on her haunches beside her.
"Milord/Sir/Lord Veran!", various honor guards greeted Hiccup as he passed them in groups.
Hosver hastily jogged to the prince, then went down to a knee and crossed his right forearm on his chest plate, "Lord Veran, forgive me". most of the soldiers that were already pack went down to their knee and saluted as well, "The men are still not ready".
"No need to worry, Admiral", Hiccup calmed Hosver. "Mogadon only gave me a rough estimate when your men's relief will arrive", he patted his small fancy satchel under his cloak.
A small messenger sekär buzzed down to Mira, a scroll tucked into a bag strapped to her thorax, "Hello".
The princess removed the message and stroked the small female's head, "Off you go!". Mira unfastened and rolled it out, "Hiccup, Mogadon has sent someone in his son's Place!", she called out to him. Hiccup excused himself and jogged over to her at the docks end.
He came to a stop at her side, "What, does it say why?". Mira handed him the scroll, "Hmm, Looks like Thuggory has to meet a few chiefs".
"Are they trying to force him into a contract?", she asked while wrapping herself around his left arm.
"Probably, knowing Thugg, he must have a few plans to decline their requests", he rolled the scroll back up and stowed it into his smaller leather bag behind his satchel.
Hiccup, Mira and Heather stood on the main wharf, the meathead's fleet closing on the island. behind the three Hybrids, Hosvir and the honor guards waited with their bonded hive kin and packed possessions. a single heavy destroyer led the flotilla, a pair of frigates on either side of the fleet's flagship. behind the three larger warships, a trio of cargo ships followed with a pair of smaller corvettes flanking the entire fleet.
Mogadon preferred the Citadel's more powerful but slower and less maneuverable destroyers, requesting the New Beartooth's shipyards double the side armor plating and triple the plate layers on the bow of his destroyers. by contrast, the Bog Burglars commissioned mostly corvettes, their specifications tailored to more speed and agility to raid ships that ventured across their waters.
The heavy destroyer sailed into the harbor, dropping anchor just as it neared the main pier. from the rear of the ship, a side door groaned open, and a wide gangplank slid out onto the dock. a towering man with a long fiery red beard stepped out, leading a column of heavily armored warriors wearing red accented armor. like the large man leading them, their armors puldrons, lower chest plate and greaves were a deep marron with brown strips. at the leader's sides, a flagman followed behind holding up a maroon banner with the meathead tribe's insignia. warriors marched along the dock, their boot steps reverberating the structure.
A frigate docked at either remaining smaller pier, their passengers followed the main group's actions. when the leader stopped a distance from Hiccup and his group, he removed his helmet, "Greetings, Lord Veran, I trust you received Mogadon's message?".
"Indeed, Captain Kolsson, I do hope Thuggory wasn't in too much of a foul mood?", Hiccup smiled.
"Ah, the lad was quite upset", he sighed, "Last I seen, Mogadon was arguing with the boy".
"I do wish Mogadon the best of luck", Hiccup chuckled. he turned behind him, "Hosvir, are you men ready?".
"Yes, Milord, our ships are prepped for departure immediately!", the admiral saluted.
"Very well, have a safe voyage", Hiccup clasped his forearm with Hosvir's.
As he led his battalion to the awaiting transports, Rage and Tantrum approached, "Lord Veran, who are these men?".
"Chief Rage, allow me to introduce Trygg Kolsson, Captain of the Meathead's second battlegroup", Trygg stepped forward, offering his gloved hand.
"Trygg Kolsson's the name, you must be Rage", the chief shook his hand, "I wasn't aware the Uglithugs late chieftain had a brother".
Rage released his grip, "Our parents decided Ug would made a better chief than me", he replied with a sigh.
"Apologies, if I inadvertently spoke of a sore subject", Trygg stepped back from the chief.
"It's quite alright, Captain", Rage gave him a small smile, "It's all in my past now". the chief looked to the impressive sight of the docked warships, "I've never seen such a strange ship as yours, Captain".
"Ah, well most of it goes to Lord Veran", Trygg confessed, "The meathead isles' shipyards can only maintain our fleets". a cargo ship's crane lowered a large pallet of crates down to the wharf, "Bertha and her Bogs do have a greater yard, they can build as well as maintain their cutters and frigates".
"If you can't build these ships, where do they come from?", Rage, Tantrum, Trygg and his group stepped aside to let a laden wagon pass.
"Ah, well the Citadel lays the destroyers and galleons, then send them off to either us or the Bogs", the captain nods to another group of warriors and workers marching pass, "that's Lord Veran's home". Rage raised an eyebrow, "Nope, never been there myself". "No one from either my tribe or the Bogs knows where it is", Trygg stoked his beard.
"I see", Rage sighed, "I take it, Mogadon and Bertha are actively trading with Lord Veran's Island?".
"Correct, most of our special supplies come from his island by Colossus, those are the big flying ones, to and from", Trygg began walking towards the village. "The Meatheads and the Bogs are taking in refugees that have run from the Mad Chieftess and her goons", their large group pass through the beach gates.
"From what I've heard, there are a lot of smaller tribes fleeing their claws", a trio of Beartooth workers greet them as they walked pass their worksite.
"Very true, both tribes in the alliance have brought in many smaller one into our folds", Trygg thought back to meeting many grateful vikings joining the Meatheads.
"Isn't your village suffering from overcrowding?", one of the workers was guiding a small colossus behind a damaged watchtower rebuilding site.
"No, one of the benefits of induction to the alliance is having some of Lord Veran's inventions", Trygg moved his cloak aside, revealing a scaled down crossbow. "This little fella packs as much punch as our regular crossbows, but half the size", he looked his sidearm over before holstering it back into his belt. "Besides weapons, Lord Veran has shared his island's advancements in architecture too", a pair of guards saluted the group as they marched pass, "Most of the larger families have built their homes up pass three stories".
"Three stories, how is such a building possible?", Rage turned to Trygg, "It couldn't be able to support itself!".
"Ah, that's where the Citadel comes in, you know that fancy colored steel that most of the higher up's weapons and armor are made of?", Rage paused and recalled seeing Hosver and the other leaders sporting the unique gear, then nods. "That stuff is far stronger than anything the vikings can make!", Trygg chuckled. "Yup, most of our newer buildings use it in their construction, some of them could even shrug off a few catapulted boulders", he sees the shock on Rage's face, "It's true".
"How does a tribe join this... Alliance?", the group arrived at the village square.
"Well... Mogadon and Bertha had to sign a treaty at first, but they along with Lord Veran revised the process after the fall of old Beartooth", Trygg stroked his beard. "Now, a large enough tribe has to be voted in, not that Mog, Bertha and Ivor don't want to let everyone in", he shrugged. "Some basic rules are that if a tribe wanted to join, they needed to be able to bring something to the Alliance", Trygg tilted his head in thought, "Be it military like warriors or ships, logistical like craftsmen and builders, or even resources like food, iron and other supplies like that". Rage brow furrowed in deep thought, "But that's as much as I know, if you want to learn exactly what the Alliance is all about, you're going to have to speak with Lord Veran". With that, Trygg and his soldiers excused themselves from Rage and Tantrum.
(A/N: sorry for the delay, I've been very busy these last couple months)