Beyond the Skyline

PROBLEMS IN THE ARCHIPIELAGO

The torches that lit up the Great Hall on Visithug Island flickered in the gust of wind that came in as the great front doors opened and closed, but didn't go out.

A group of men and women at the back of the large room spoke in low voices between strained glances, milling around a small round table made of stone and wood. 

The island chief, Birger the Bushy, was in the center of the group, leaning over the table, staring at a large map of the archipelago spread out before him. He opened his mouth to speak, but heard the front door slam shut with a big but slow slam that echoed in every nook and cranny of the room, and he looked up alertly. Before he could even comprehend who had entered, a feeling of unease and care settled in his chest, squeezing him. Nothing good was coming.

The other council members, when they stopped seeing him speak and staring at the entrance, fell silent and looked in the same direction. Some of the older members also recognized the immense, dark figure leading the group that had just entered at a slow pace, but the newer members looked at each other, confused by the interruption and reaction of the others.

Chief Birger instinctively reached for the sword on his leather belt, but noticing how some of his men guarding the harbor were following the unknown figures, he relaxed his posture a little, but did not remove his hand from the handle of the sword.

He narrowed his eyes and stepped away from the table to surround her without breaking eye contact with the dark figures walking calmly toward them. 

They drew closer and closer to the inner torches, and the dim light at last allowed the council and chieftain to see the great man's scarred face covered in dark scales.

Birger bit back a gasp of surprise and squeezed the handle of the sword.

Drago Bludvist

The last time he had seen him he wasn't even a chief yet.

He was in his early twenties and his father still ran the village. But he would never forget the man with black hair and lifeless eyes who spoke of dragons in a low, severe voice.

That day he left Visithug with a promise to return. The young future chief didn't doubt for a moment that the man would keep his word. Only he didn't think it would be almost twenty-four years later.

The chief heard several gasps from the older members of the council, no doubt that they had also recognized the man who stopped several feet from them.

"What is it, Egil?"

The doubtful but firm voice of one of the younger council members behind the chief rang out throughout the Great Hall.

The aforementioned guard took a step forward, keeping a safe distance from Bludvist, and looked hesitantly at the chief, not the Viking who asked him.

"He has asked to speak with you, chief" he finally said swallowing hard, as if he had done something wrong "He arrived at the port a few minutes ago with three ships and twenty men" he finished informing with more conviction and objectivity in his voice.

Birger nodded slightly and straightened up, puffing out his chest with air in an attempt to appear less intimidated.

"What do you want to talk to me about, Bludvist? If I remember correctly, my father already told you that Visithug was not interested in your offers twenty years ago."

A few eternal seconds of silence crossed the room with several gusts of wind that managed to cross the boards of the doors until a calculated smile crossed Drago's features.