Riders of B E R K

Part 39: The Deal

I stared at Hiccup. Drago Bludvist was here? The man who organised our kidnapping and torture was an honoured guest in this Summit and we were supposed to be protecting him?

"Isn't he supposed to be a Terrorist?" I asked pointedly.

"Nothing proven," Hiccup said grimly, his green gaze flicking over the screen. "What Gobber has sent me barely covers the attendance list. Despite our affiliations, no one wants to help us." I stared up into the clouds: the cover which shielded us from casual observers could also shield our enemies. And they had a colour-changing dragon.

"It's a trap," I realised. "They want us to get blamed for whatever happens." I stared at him. "And they have a Changewing, Hiccup. It can go invisible-and attack. And whatever is nearest will get blamed..."

"Everyone-you are NOT to move until I give the order," he shouted down his com. "The situation is complicated. Do not make it any moreso!" He thumbed the com back to the base frequency. "Haddock to Gobber, come in. What the Hel is Drago doing here? What does he want?"

"Probably for yer tae attack him, laddie," Gobber replied without any humour. "Or seem tae?"

"Gobber-get my father on the line-I don't care how," Hiccup ordered. "He has fought Drago for years. He knows him better than I do."

"Gothi will have my ass fer breakfast, laddie!" Gobber protested.

"Please, Gobber," Hiccup said quietly. "I-I can't figure this out by myself..."

"Laddie-I'm sure ye will. And ye have Astrid tae help ye," Gobber assured him. "I'll get back tae ye if Gothi doesnae put me in the infirmary by him!" I smiled at his chagrined tone and Hiccup nodded.

"Thanks," he said in a depressed voice. I grabbed his hand and leaned close to him.

"Dragon Boy, think around the problem," I advised him softly. "We can't see. They can't see...in visible light."

"Thermal radiation?"

"Or echolocation-when they know they're near?" I suggest.

"...and we tagged Heather and Windshear," he considered quietly. "This is a big operation-and Heather warned us about it. She's in on this. They wanted us here...away from the base. She'll be in their team."

"Attaboy!" I murmured as he called IT and asked for a location on the treacherous Rider and dragon. He leaned against me and rested his head gently against mine.

"Thanks, Milady," he murmured. "You knew the answer, didn't you?" I smiled, enjoying his closeness, his warmth. I always felt safer with him there. And I knew he hadn't slept well on the way down-neither had I really. He had woken in the night, screaming with another nightmare. This time, he had been begging Dagur to leave him alone, pleading pitifully for the man to stop whatever he was doing. He had been thrashing and crying and I had to restrain him, though he had caught me a glancing blow across the cheek. So I had clung to him, shushing him and holding him until he had calmed and woken...and then he had seen the red mark on my cheek and he had almost started crying in shame for hurting me. I had spent a long time holding him and soothing him until he realised it hadn't been his fault and had dropped off to sleep. But it had taken me longer because it knew it had been mine. I had mentioned Dagur and I had shaken loose whatever horrible memory he was reliving.

"Heather's location is currently 52 degrees 34 minutes 58 seconds north, 1 degree 58 minutes 12 seconds west," the voice came over the com. "She is flying over Walsall on a south south easterly course..."

"Ground speed?"

"One hundred miles and hour and closing," the reply came.

"Heads Up!" Hiccup shouted. "They are less than six minutes out and closing!" He turned to Toothless and leapt into the saddle. He leaned forward and laid a hand gently on Toothless's neck. "Ready, bud?" The dragon gave a rumbling croon and looked back at his rider with big trusting eyes. He gave a series of little barks. Hiccup sighed.