HHH: Prince of Thieves

Part 9: An Afternoon Out

"You are sure?" Alvin asked the spy. The man nodded, certainly.

"The traitor, Hiccup Haddock, was seen consorting with Lord Hofferson following the theft of the taxes," he reported. "He handed over a chest. I believe it contained stolen tax revenue. And I felt it was my duty as a loyal citizen..."

"Can it!" Alvin snarled. "You report because I pay yer well!" The man cringed at the fierce tone as the Sheriff paced back and forth. Then the man gave a nasty yellow grin. "It's perfect!" he announced gruffly. "Now we 'ave a perfect excuse ter attack that treacherous Lord 'Offerson and dispose of 'is feisty girl!"

"We have other problems," Dagur announced, entering the room lazily, a small green Terrible Terror in his grasp. The creature whimpered as the Berserker maintained a cruelly tight grip. Alvin glared.

"What?" he scowled. Dagur waved a small roll of parchment that the dragon had brought. Dagur gave his manic laugh.

"Things are about to get a lot more fun, Al!" he said. "Stoick's escaped!"

oOo

Astrid had been practising what Hiccup had suggested and was paying far more attention to those round her. That wasn't always the most enjoyable experience, what with Snotlout's extremely questionable personal habits, Alvin's apparent aversion to soap and Dagur's penchant for extreme violence but she discreetly watched them all. But her attentions were not just reserved for the main players but all the others within the castle, from the drudge who sneaked in to scrape the ashes from the fire in her room all the way up to the elegant and unobtrusive Lady Heather.

Undaunted, she headed for the stable to check with Stormfly and go for a ride. She hated training in the castle because she was always watched...always judged. There were always disapproving eyes, reminding her that a Lady does not use an axe or ride like a warrior or threaten her prospective suitor. She huffed, shifted the axe across her back and walked confidently into the stable.

The lad glanced up, grey eyes recognising her. He dipped his scruffy head, overlong jet hair half-concealing the features of an early-mid teen. He gave a small respectful bow then turned back and continued brushing her coat. Astrid was please to note that she was looking in excellent condition. She glanced at the boy and watched him stare carefully at the floor, trying not to meet her eye or appear disrespectful.

"I've seen you around the castle," she commented, lifting her axe and inspecting the blade. "But you usually hang around the Great Hall or the offices of the Sheriff. Why are you in the stable now unless you're hiding-or watching me?" Her eyes narrowed. "And you're Heather's little brother, aren't you? Gustav?"

Gustav's eyes widened in shock and he bowed his head. "Um, yes, Lady Astrid," he mumbled. "But-but I'm n-not watching you. That-that would be treason..." Astrid stared at him and saw the faint longing in his eyes as he stroked the spirited mare. Then she gently took the brush from his hand.

He stared up and started. He knew he could be cheeky to his sister and treat Hiccup almost like the brother he never had because they cared for him. But around the more powerful people in the castle, the boy was servile and respectful. He knew he was worth nothing and not many people liked him-or his sister. And he knew Hiccup had caught Hel for bringing them into the castle and insisting they were given a home. Gustav stared at the straw-strewn floor and recalled the day the young Prince had been caught, hiding the two orphans in the castle, the way they had been restrained and the fourteen year old boy had been marched in front of his father. The way Hiccup had bravely stood up for them against his father, had pleaded for their lives and a place in the castle-and had accepted a terrible whipping for his transgression. Gustav winced. The boy's strangled screams had been pitiful, but the brutalised boy had still staggered to his feet and faced his father with courage and demanded his friends' safety. Gustav knew he could never match Hiccup in bravery but he could protect what Hiccup held dear: Berk...and Astrid.