Fire in our veins

Give and take Only works when both sides really Give and take

By agreeing to Viggo's proposal, she knew that sooner or later she would have to confront Ryker again. Of course, Ryker was a scoundrel and a son of a bitch, and a bigger asshole than his younger brother, which was quite an accomplishment. However, when she thought about it, she could name a few people she would feel worse about. It wasn't that she had any sympathy for him, and she couldn't forget what the man did with dragons, after all. However, she figured that if she could act neutral with Viggo and the rest of the dragon hunters, she would be able to do the same with Ryker. She had expected him screaming with a sword in his hand, but none of that happened. There was a suspicious silence on the ship.

At first she heard voices coming from the corridor. As they got closer she could mainly recognise Erik's voice, although she could also hear Ryker. The voices quieted down at the door itself. She heard only the echo of footsteps moving away before the door to the room opened. Ryker himself looked tired, the dark circles of his eyes making him strangely similar to his younger brother. Eira stood up to collect the bottles and bags of herbs she had used when dressing Viggo. At the same time she heard Ryker walk across the room. She heard the creak of the chair Erik had placed on the opposite side of the bed, and a quiet intake of breath. When she had stowed most of her things in her bag she risked a glance at the older man. All of Ryker's attention was focused on his younger brother. The wound was too fresh and tender to put bandages on, so the dragon hunter could see everything.

- 'That doesn't look like an ordinary burn. - His voice was hoarse and he spoke rather quietly for him.

- It's Scauldron venom . - She sat down on the opposite side of the bed. - I gave him the antidote. He should wake up soon.

Ryker furrowed his brow looking at his brother. Eira felt her throat dry up at the same time. She tensed when Ryker moved, and then she noticed that he was looking at her.

- Why? - she shuddered. The tone of his voice was cold.

- Why what? - She swallowed her saliva when the man pointed his hand at Viggo.

- Why are you saving him? I am not stupid I know how the Scauldron venom works. - They both looked at Viggo who suddenly moved, but did not wake up. - Without the antidote I would not have my brother by dawn. - He continued, but now he was looking only at Viggo. - The rest of your friends would be happy to watch him die and don't even try to deny it.

She wanted to disagree with him and even opened her mouth to start but closed it quickly. It didn't make her happy but Ryker was right. Just because she wasn't capable of killing anyone herself didn't mean the rest of them weren't capable of it. Her heart ached at the thought that Hiccup could do something like that, but who was she kidding? Her little brother wasn't a child and if Viggo's death would keep the dragons safe... And then there was Astrid who would be the first to throw herself at a man with an axe. Viggo was an enemy, maybe not of her specifically but certainly of her brother, her friends and all the dragons in the archipelago.

- I know what the others would do. - she paused, thinking how to say what she wanted to say. - I tried, believe me I tried. But I'm not like them.

- Are you telling me that you had the chance to stop someone hurting your precious dragons and you did nothing? - Ryger looked at her suspiciously.

- 'Maybe this is something new to you, but you don't have to kill someone to stop them. - She got up to bring more medicine. - Look, I hate what you guys do with dragons. I think it's cruel, but... my own tribe used to hunt and kill dragons until recently. I was taught how to do it myself and believe me it was not pleasant.

- Now you don't hunt these beasts, you fly them. - There was something bitter in his voice. - And you, out of all those monsters, had to tame that damned Skrill.