~J~
This outpost was teeming with drunks and brutes, but Johann needed their help. With the resources at his disposal, he couldn't afford to be choosy. Seated at a worn wooden table across from a tall, brutish thug, the trader met the man's glare with a calm demeanor.
A waitress approached, barely sparing them a glance as she took Johann's order for a cup of mead before retreating. The thug leaned forward, the dim light catching the gleam of a long, wicked knife at his belt.
"Get out of here, lad," the thug growled, his voice low and menacing.
Johann chuckled softly, unfazed. "I need some warriors—the kind who are loyal to their employer. Not gold," he said, his tone steady.
The thug leaned back, his sharp gaze appraising Johann anew. "How many?"
"Ten should do," Johann replied, a sly smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "Though fifteen would be better."
The thug nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "Come back in the morning. I'll have some men ready for you."
Johann's smile widened, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.
~HHH~
Traveling down to the city, Hiccup snacked on a strip of jerky. There was much to do before he ventured up north again. He needed to gather more information about the hunters—and, if luck was on his side, rescue more dragons. But first, he had to ensure that Kari and Steen could keep the store running smoothly in his absence. Last time had been a calculated risk that worked out, but he couldn't afford to gamble again, especially since this trip would keep him away longer.
As he reached the bustling city, the streets were alive with activity. People visited friends and family, bartered in the markets, and moved through the crisp winter air with cheerfulness. They were blissfully unaware of his quiet war—if it could even be called that.
Arriving at the store, Hiccup saw that Kari and Steen had already opened up for the day. So far, so good. Stepping inside, he noted that business was slow, with hardly any customers browsing. That was fine by him—it would make things easier. Kari worked diligently at the desk, her focus unbroken, while Steen rearranged the shelves with care. Everything seemed to be running smoothly, giving Hiccup a small sense of relief.
"Hey, Steen, want to help me unload some new merchandise?" Hiccup asked.
The young boy nodded and rushed over. The toymaker led him outside to a cart filled with crates, each one packed with cloaks made of dragon scales. Hiccup had collected them for years, saving them for an opportunity like this. Now, he was using them to prove that dragons had far more value beyond the old tales. As the two carried the crates inside, Hiccup explained his plan.
"While I'm gone, Kari is in charge. You both need to be here early and make sure the shop is ready before customers arrive," he said, placing a crate in the back of the shop. "If you run low, I have labeled crates of merchandise stored in a tent on my farm. I'll leave a map here for you both. But only go to the tent—nowhere else," he warned.
Both employees nodded. Letting them onto the farm was a risk, but Hiccup would have the dragons hide out by the North Mountain.
Once they finished unloading the crates, Hiccup crossed that task off his mental checklist. He said his goodbyes and left the shop. As he headed back to the farm, the toymaker could only imagine what the coming days would bring. What dragons needed help? And how many of those hunters still remained?
~EA~
In the castle, Elsa was in the library, searching through her books alone. No royal duties to attend to, no treaties to sign, no ambassadors or nobles sweet-talking her—just her. It was a bit lonely with Kristoff taking Anna on a picnic, but that was fine. Their sisterly bond was stronger than ever and growing deeper with each passing day.
As she passed a rather old book, a familiar name caught her eye. Berk and the Barbaric Archipelago. Berk? That was where Hiccup was from.
Elsa wondered why Arendelle had such a book. Perhaps an explorer had traveled north, or it had changed hands over the years. She knew Hiccup had complicated feelings about his old home, and it would be wrong to pry into something so personal. But curiosity gnawed at her. Giving in, she pulled the book from the shelf and sat in a nearby chair.
The cover bore a dragon symbol, and beneath it, she noticed an engraving:
Translated from Barbaric Norse.
Opening the book, she saw strange symbols on the pages, but below them, the familiar script of her own language. This was indeed an original copy from Hiccup's homeland. Elsa began reading the translation and quickly found herself amused. She knew from Hiccup that dragons were a central part of his culture, but the writer of this book truly seemed to believe that dragons were real and actively raiding the Archipelago. Not to mention the stubbornness of the people of Berk—it was almost endearing.
Time slipped away as Elsa remained engrossed in the book. When the library doors opened, Elsa jumped, startled. Looking up, she saw Anna walking inside.
"There you are! I thought we were going to make ice sculptures today," Anna said, her tone playful but expectant.
Elsa couldn't help but smile. "Sorry, I got a bit distracted," she admitted, setting the book on a nearby table.
Anna picked it up and read the title aloud. "Berk and the Barbaric Archipelago? Why does that sound familiar?"
Elsa took the book from her and placed it back on the shelf. "It's where Hiccup is from," she explained as they began walking away together.
Anna frowned slightly. "I didn't know we had something from his home."
"Neither did I," Elsa admitted.
As they reached Kai, Elsa turned to the loyal servant. "Kai, would you be so kind as to send a book from the library to Hiccup Haddock?"
"Of course, my Queen," Kai responded with a respectful nod.
"Thank you. The title is Berk and the Barbaric Archipelago," she said as she and Anna continued on their way to spend time together. Kai, ever dutiful, made his way to the library to retrieve the book.
~HHH~
Flying through the sky, Hiccup guided the flock of dragons over the mountains, carefully avoiding areas where the Ice Harvesters were known to travel. As they approached the North Mountain, he once again found himself in awe of Queen Elsa's ice castle—a breathtaking reminder that, in Arendelle, secrets never stay hidden for long. Not like they do in Berk.
He turned to Gale and signaled for her to lead the dragons down to the lakes. The Deadly Nadder obeyed, guiding the group downward, while Hiccup and Toothless continued north. Their mission was simple: rescue more dragons and uncover more about the Hunters.
Maybe, when he returned, he would be one step closer to revealing his secret. Or he'd be forced to flee once more.
~J~
As Johann returned to the foul-smelling bar, he noticed a sizable group of men gathered together, each armed with an assortment of weapons strapped to their sides and backs. The trader approached them, his eyes settling on the brute from yesterday, who sat at the center of the group, lounging at his table. Taking a seat, Johann prepared for negotiations. "Twelve. A nice number. Now, how much do they cost?"
The brute chuckled, his grin revealing gaps where teeth should have been. "500 Krones per man." His tone was smug—he was clearly hoping for an easy payout while parting with as few men as possible. But desperate times called for desperate measures. Johann untied a pouch from his belt and tossed it onto the table.
The brute scoffed. "500 Krones per man? That might get you seventy at most."
"Look inside," Johann said coolly. The brute grabbed the bag, opened it, and his expression shifted to one of awe.
"That will cover each man," Johann continued, "and whatever's left in there is to buy your silence." Rising from his seat, the trader led his newly acquired men out the door.
Hello everyone. Sorry for getting this chapter out late. I got COVID after dodging it for nearly 5 years and that nightmare plunged me into a bit of a Writer's Block. So here we are. Also, to the Artists trying to do work for me. Thank you, but I can handle my own work and I got a new tool to try for my next story.