Selene

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Abel and Willing

At last! They were once again flying over the rivers and forests of Northern Wotādīni. Along with the quiet but ever-present knowledge of how paramount this mission would be to their success, another feeling rose in Hiccup's soul. Excitement for the challenge of meeting and training a new species of dragon; a species that promised to be quite the challenge to outwit.

"Would you stick to YOUR end of the dragon please?" Liam's voice rose up against his thoughts. "Give an old man with a broken arm some space."

"How much more SPACE can I give you?" Dragonai snapped back, the crackle in his voice slipping. "I'm practically riding its tail!"

"Well then actually ride it's tale."

"Ungrateful old coot," He muttered, edging further down while still holding on for dear life. "Don't you dare fart now, dragon."

Shattermaster made a wicked face as his stomachs gargled.

Whhoooosh,

Ebony flew over Hookfang and Hiccup to match pace with Windshear. Her ears perked as she listened carefully. Hiccup studied her and found her focus to be on Heather. He couldn't hear it, but he could see the raven haired viking swaying gently to a hummed tune.

Ebony stared...

And stared...

And stared...

With those ridiculous wide eyes she stared until Heather could take it no more.

"Ooookay, Ebony. You can stop now with what... ever it is you're doing."

"Stealing your soul?" Camicazi suggested.

"There's our rendezvous where we first started looking for the Mindbender." Dagur pointed to an old snag. Out of the goodness of his heart he permitted the Roman to sit behind him on the dragon. "...I think. That's all kind of a blur now."

"Oh you're right, Dagur, that's the one. Care to lead us on toward Ryker Rock?"

Before the words were fully out of Hiccup's mouth there was an explosive sound, shortly followed by Dragonai shouting, coughing and gagging all at the same time.

"OHhh! Oh! That's not right!" He choked, waving away the smell in an apparent lapse of memory over how far above the ground he was.

"Oof. I- I probably shouldn't have fed Shattermaster that block of limburger this morning.. or those five old heads of broccoli... or those ten ripe pounds of cod I found yesterday in Sleuther's saddlebag."

"Eww was that the stink following us everywhere?" Heather had to resist the urge to gag. "Why would you feed your dragon those things???"

"Hey. Who am I to judge if he likes being a living recycling bin? Besides it's eco friendly."

With every word Dragonai swat harder at the air in front of him, holding his breath.

"Watch it!" Pallus warned, eyeing the gronckle. "You better stop you're going to tip-"

Too late!

"Whoa-whoa-whaaaahhhh!" Dragonai's blue sleeves whipped every which way as he tottered to regain balance and failed, sliding off Shattermaster's back.

"Dragonai!" Liam reached out with his good arm and caught the old man by his beard. But with a snap and a Velcroey rip, he was left with a seven foot long hairpiece, a hat, and a horrified look.

"Heeeeellllppp meeeeeee.....!!!" the falling man screamed with the most excellent set of lungs. Even so the cry was fast shrinking into the distance.

Raur-rar-rar-rar-rah! Shattermaster grunted, distressed. He couldn't go after for fear he'd lose his other rider in the process!