The Night Rider: Book Two

Chapter 22: To the Death

HICCUP/THE NIGHT RIDER POV.

"It has been some time, hasn't it, dear boy."  Said Viggo, his voice calm and crisp, matching his expression. The Night Rider lunged out of his chair at Viggo, but Ryker grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed him back down into the seat. He drew one of his swords from his back and pressed the blade up against his throat, keeping him in his seat. 

"You move, you die." Ryker threatened. Pressing the sharp edge harder against his throat. 

"Brother." Interjected Viggo. He raised from his chair and placed both of his hands on the desk. "He is our guest. This is not very polite." 

Ryker grumbled before removing his sword from the Night Riders throat and returning it to his back with his other weapon. Ryker walked over to a corner of the tent that had a vacant chair and sat down. "Thank you, dear brother." Viggo said. 

Viggo hadn't changed at all in the years since there last encounter. He still had the look of superiority in his uptight posture, and a trace of it in his words. He treated him with respect even though they were enemies. It was admirable, in a way. The tent remained quiet and Viggo took a seat again. The Night Rider thought about charging Viggo and trying to attack him. But what would he do? He had no weapon to defend himself from Ryker who would definitely attack him immediately when he made a move. "There is no point in wearing your helmet. Everyone here has already seen you without it." Said Viggo. 

The Night Rider reached up and removed his helmet and placed it in his lap. He took in a deep breath. He'd been wearing his helmet constantly for the past week. It was hard to breath with it on. 

"Oh my. Look how much you've grown since our last encounter all those years ago." Viggo shifted forward in his chair to more closely examine Hiccups matured face. "And a prosthetic leg as well!" He exclaimed. 

"You couldn't kill me then and you won't be able to kill me now." Hiccup warned and Viggo laughed. 

"I'm not going to kill you. If anything, I should be worried about you trying to kill me." Hiccup shifted uncomfortably in his seat. 

"I've changed since then." Hiccup said, "I don't kill anymore." 

"It's true. The boy had me dead to rights months ago and could have killed me. He didn't." Said Ryker. Hiccups mind returned to that day. It was when he had been taking Astrid back to Berk after she had been taken. He had convinced her to help him fight a Hunter ship. It was the same day she had found out who he was beneath the helmet. 

"Well, then that will make things today very interesting." Viggo murmured running two fingers along each side of his goatee. 

"What are you planning, Viggo?" Hiccup questioned. 

Viggo rose from his chair and began to pace around the perimeter of the tent. "You see Hiccup. You have cost me a lot of business recently. You've sunk dozens of ships, freed hundreds of dragons, set me and others back a lot of money. So I've come up with a simple solution to get business back on track." 

"And that is?" Hiccup asked. 

Viggo knelt down in front of Hiccups chair and looked at him in the eyes. "You and my brother will fight in the arena. To the death." 

Hiccup lunged from his chair at Viggo and was an inch away from him when Ryker's strong arms intertwined around his arms and pulled him away. "You said you weren't going to kill me!" Hiccup yelled. He desperately fought against Ryker's pull to try and get back to Viggo but couldn't.