Electrified

Chapter 3

     It's morning on Berk.
     To be honest, I usually get up before the sun for my early rides with Storm, but with the details of last night whirring through my head, I couldn't hardly get a lick of sleep. I had stayed at the sea stack as long as the Ravers chief and Brennan were talking. Their conversation leaks through every crack in my mind, and I am unable to focus on anything else.
     "What about the chief heir? When will you rid him from the picture?" The Ravers chief asks Brennan. Brennan folds his burly arms across his chest in defiance.
     "Patience is a virtue. Besides, all I have to do is gain his trust enough to eliminate him at a vulnerable time. For Odin's sake, he doesn't even have a dragon!" The adviser shifts his weight as I eye them like a hawk to a field mouse. "But," the red headed man continues, "he brought a girl to the village with a skrill. She claims to have grown up with a flock of night furies." Brennan scratches the back of his neck. "Although I don't think I made an excellent impression on her."
     Heck no you didn't, I think bitterly.
     The Ravers chief runs a hand through his ink colored hair. The lines on his face show signs of stress and make him look older than he should. "You imbecile! Now there's one more threat like an ambush in Maces and Talons. When will you consider that your narrow-minded actions have consequences?" He sighs heavily. "A night fury warmed girl you say? With a skrill?"
     Brennan nods as his shockjaw swims around the ship. The Ravers chief grins. I swear I could see his teeth gleam from this far away. "Well, it looks like we have a new priority."
     I roll over on the wooden bed, missing grassy fields under starry skies as my home. Storm, I see, has gone out for an early flight. Without me. I tremble from last night's memory. I didn't realize Kendrick was serious about this whole "over-throwing" thing. Why did I have to go to Dragon Island yesterday? Curse my curiosity.
     A knock on the door makes me jump. I fly off the bed and fall onto the floor. Fear blooms inside my chest. It's Brennan. He's going to stab me with his dagger, and this time, he won't be stopped.
     "Woah there. Are you okay?" Kendrick's voice causes relief to flood my insides. He walks in with a loaf of bread and a mug of water. "You came back late last night. Thought you had flown off forever." He sets the tray down on the nightstand next to the bed and furrows his brows. "Guess you keep promises?"
     I grimly nod my head and accept his outstretched hand. My voice is shaking as my unsteady muscles quiver with unused adrenaline. "You won't believe what happened."
     After I gave him the summary, he doesn't stop staring at me with that interesting look on his face. "I believe it," he finally says.
     "You don't understand . . ."
     He laughs and gives me a look that says "You really want to go there?" "I 100% understand. Anais, we have to tell Dad. We have to interrogate and--"
     "Kendrick!" I shout to get his attention. He pauses and looks at the ground. "You don't understand. He wanted to kill you and your dad! Now that I've showed up, I've become their priority! Don't you get it? I'm going to be the first to go!" I let out a frustrated squeal, probably looking utterly ridiculous. Storm booms just outside the roof. I give the chief heir an irritated look and storm down the stairs. As much as I admire his bravery and ambition, when it comes to toying with my or Lightning's life, I just can't risk it.
     "Anais--"
     "Kendrick, I--"
     I'm stopped when a viking sprints toward us. I can see Hiccup's hut just up the hill. I can feel the heat radiating off of Kendrick when I stop just outside the door. The viking halts in front of us and doesn't give me a second glance. For all I know, he could think that I'm just another doll Kendrick brought home to play with. Instead, the viking hands over a letter, eyes wide. Kendrick takes it from behind me.
     "The Chief wants to see you, it's an emergency," the viking rambles, wringing his hands.
     The heir narrows his eyes, most likely looking menacing behind me, towering over me by a whole head. "What kind of emergency?"
     "There's a panicking typhoomerang flying around Berk. And," the viking says before abruptly stopping and swallowing hard, "Tuffnut's gone missing."