In The Archipelago's Secret Service

19: Asgard

Chapter Nineteen: Asgard

Asgard was a step up from the main Casino, a more intimate salon with rosewood panelled walls, deep crimson carpets and a single very long oval poker table in the centre. Waiters spun and dipped, sliding glasses of champagne and and cocktails to all comers, discreet and efficient as cocktail lounge piano played in the background. The dealers here were in full evening dress, hair swept up in tight knots, discreet coms in their ears. Most of the seats were taken, each main player seated with a bodyguard, companion or second standing behind him. Tuff walked past the table, lowering his eyes as the last pair were conducted in by the elegant hostesses.

Hiccup walked in, head up and shoulders back with Astrid's arm linked through his. The chit VA3 had given them-marked with the famous Casino motto 'Play Along'-had Hiccup treated like royalty and they had been whisked through with a rudimentary pat down, though the guard on the door had been very reluctant to touch the scowling Astrid. As she slid her arm through his once more, he leaned closer.

"You do realise they are expecting a simpering blonde companion, not a totally ferocious Valkyrie?" he hissed and she flashed a brilliant grin, her azure eyes glittering with humour.

"I'd suggest I was the agent and you were my arm candy, agent boy, but the gym girl has picked you out as our player," she hissed back.

"Um...I do have some clue how to play poker," he admitted and she stared at him as they were steered to a seat on the far side of the table. Hiccup slid in and undid the button on his jacket, sitting back by a preprepared pile of chips while Astrid leaned decorously on the back of his chair and glanced around the table. Alvin was sitting at the head of the table, his silver Tux shimmering in the subdued light with Savage at his shoulder. Dagur was seated at his left, idly flipping his chips. Opposite Hiccup, seated to Alvin's right, were the Grimborns-Viggo seated with Ryker standing at his back. At the other end, a huge woman in a steel vest with titian locks, red tattoos on her cheeks and icy grey eyes was seated with two escorts-a man in a spiked helmet and Toothless, telling Hiccup that he was looking at the infamous Red Queen. A tall elegant woman with strawberry-blonde page cut and long black gown-Queen Mala-was seated between Hiccup and the Red Queen with Throk at her back. The First Ministers of Murderous, Hysteria and Meathead were also at the table with female companions of varying appearance-though not one approached Astrid in beauty. And seated to the left of the dealer was the familiar and shocking tux-clad shape of Eret.

"I see we are now all here," said a very large, heavyset woman with blonde hair restrained in a tight bun. Her intelligent eyes flicked over the table as her jade-sheathed shape shifted inelegantly and she nodded as the familiar buxom shape of Cameron sashayed up. "As your host, I welcome you all to Asgard, the most exclusive gambling salon in the Archipelago. It is my honour to host this gathering. I trust you all recall our terms and conditions? Yes? Then I am pleased to introduce my daughter, Cami, who will act as your dealer..."

"What's he doing here?" Viggo growled, gesturing at Hiccup. "That spy is my prisoner! He escaped from my custody and I want him back...now..."

"Tsk tsk tsk-Viggo, I thought you were supposed to be smart," the large woman-Bertha-told him forcefully. "The terms and conditions guarantee that Asgard is neutral ground and that all vendettas, blood feuds and quarrels are left at the door."

"Howsabout contracts?" Dagur asked lazily, eyeing Hiccup like a piece of meat. Forcing himself to stare ahead, Hiccup picked up a chip and idly rolled its across his fingers and back.

"Ditto," Bertha said. Norbert 'the Nutjob', the semi-psychotic First Minister of Hysteria who had a reputation for vanishing journalists who published unflattering articles about him as well as denouncing them as fake news and banning their papers from all press conferences, leaned forward.