Rescue Missions & My Horrendous Luck

Saving Shattermaster - Part 2

Hiccup's POV

"So this hooded stranger?" I started as I climbed out of the saddle on to a pristine beach. Mala had been waiting for us and this was her chosen spot for our arrival. I walked beside her down the sandy stretch as I verified, "he risked his own laugh (life, though knowing Dagur, he probably would've laughed too) to save you?" I was trying to make sense of her story. The Terror Mail she had sent only told us to come quickly. Mala nodded.

"If it weren't for him, who knows what would've happened. Though he did seem to have an accomplice. There was another smaller figure that he pulled from the shadows." Mala stated in her usual matter-of-fact tone.

I looked at her, mentally reviewing my short list of allies in the area and then cross-referencing it with my map. Only one name came to mind. Y/n... I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. "And you've bought weapons on this island before?"

"Yes, for many years." Mala answered.

Heather spoke up. "It never uses to be like that. That island was always a peaceful place to trade." I nodded. I had forgotten that Heather used to live in that area too, before she joined us at the Edge.

"Heather, we should go see what those hunters are up to." Maybe we'll find a friend. I thought as I turned back to Mala. "Thank you for filling us in, Mala. It was good that you sent for us."

"Actually, I summoned you here for a different reason entirely." I stopped, confusion spreading over my features. What could be more important than the hunters?

Leaves rustling and twigs snapping, suddenly the twin burst out of the bushes lining the edge of the beach. They were excited and out of breath.

"Hiccup, you are not going to believe this." Tuffnut said once he had composed himself, then he turned to Mala. "Hiya Queenie! Looking good. Black is definitely your color." Mala glared at him as I gestured for them to go on.

"This may be the greatest day ever!" Ruffnut exclaimed before Tuff corrected her.

"No, sis. It IS the greatest day ever. I mean, except for the first time I wrestled a boar. Whoa! That was spec-" He waved his arm in an arc, "-tacular, or the second time I wrestled a boar."

Astrid was losing her patience, hers was the shortest fuse out of all of us. "All right, out with it!" She snapped. Tuff held up his hand, fending off her temper. "Easy, A. This is too good to just blurt out. The village is setting up for some big crazy to-do."

"So?" Astrid demanded. My curiosity was piqued, even though I really wanted to be on my way north.

"We asked a couple of the natives 'What's the deal?' And do you know what they said?" Ruff asked. The twins could tell stories almost as long as Johann and they had a tendency to switch back and forth while keeping to the same thought train.

"Probably something like 'It's none of your business'." I answered sarcastically.

Tuff pointed at me, affirming my suspicion. "Many of them said that, at first," he admitted. "But then, they said it was for The Trials." This caught all of our attention.

"The what?" Heather asked, suddenly interested.

Exacerbated, Tuff said, "Oh, come on. We have to explain everything? It's a series of tests to choose a new king. They are totally impossible and they involve fire, poisonous reptiles, volcanoes. Basically, any cool thing that causes a grisly, painful death."

"How...lucky...are we?" Ruff asked excitedly, looking at each of us in turn. Tuff turmed to Mala.

"So Mala, who is the sucker?" But I already knew the answer. I winced as he ran out on to the beach.