Electrified

Chapter 5

     There was an interesting stir in the air this morning.
     Kendrick was now looking into the mystery of now stolen gold while search parties continue to search for Tuffnut. I am stuck with Snotlout and Ruffnut's daughter, Briona. She is nice and all, but something just seems . . . off. I can't quite put my finger on it. It's as if the hammering from behind my eyes is not only from the lack of sleep. I'll have to think about it later. Right now, I'm being given a proper tour of Berk.
     Briona stands on the saddle of her silver phantom, Nightstar, and points to a building with smoke coming out of it. "That's the armory, where saddles are made." Then she points to a few more buildings and identifies each of them and their contribution to the tribe. I block her out, instead only focusing on my --for once-- relaxed skrill.
     But the serene moment doesn't last long when I absentmindedly ask her a question that's been lingering on my mind. "You don't have to answer this, but why don't you and Kendrick talk much?" She instinctively tucks a strand of dark hair behind an ear, brown eyes glimmering in the fading light. We circle toward the back of the island.
     "He's become so distant after we found out that we had an arranged marriage. I mean, we are cousins, after all." She sighs deeply and I start regretting the decision to ask the question. It isn't fair that I pestered into their business. But another part of me wonders what the connection between them could signify. Aren't there plenty of other suitors from neighboring tribes? Besides me, since I am the last known Beserker . . .
     I can't stop myself when I ask, "Who's idea was the marriage?"
     I already know the answer before she says it. "Brennan, of course. He's been so obsessed with finding Kendrick a wife. Very strange." Very strange indeed. A distraction is what that mysterious red-headed man is after. He may as well be responsible for the stolen gold, as another one. How was he so clever?
     We fly past the giant statues on either side of the Great Hall, veering lower to the waters, and finally to the docks. Our dragons cruise just above the sea. "Do you trust Brennan?" The words tumble out of my mouth before I can even think. She furrows her brows. If she has to think about the answer, then that tells me all I need to know. For Odin's sake, she could be a traitor as well. If only . . .
     "To some extent, I guess, but if it was mine or Kendrick's life to save, it would be the chief heir's." I highly doubt that. This is too easy. Way too easy to figure out. If he could fool this young girl, then he could fool the entire village. But how did Kendrick find out? Strange behavior? Eavesdropping? Interrogation? That might have to be a question saved for tonight.
A man on a hobblegrunt sails beside us. "Briona, the chief needs to see you."
And that rounds up the day; Briona goes on another search party and I go back to the house. Kendrick is already there, head buried in his arms as he sits at a desk with scattered papers. Storm hobbles up the stairs, not caring how loud he is.
I quietly tip toe toward the stairs when I hear the faintest whisper.
"How did it go?" I lean against the floor-to-ceiling pole at the base of the stairs.
"Good, I guess. The only "important" things I learned was that she doesn't completely trust your future adviser and--" I pause. The arranged marriage isn't that important, right?
     Kendrick tilts his head at me, expecting me to continue. "What is said in this house, stays in this house."
     I exhale deeply. "Well, this may be connected, but she had also told me that the two of you--"
     "Have an arranged marriage," he finishes. He sighs very hard.
     "I promise you that Briona is not in this, so let's not drag her into the suspicions."
     He doesn't entirely seem convinced with the words he just said, and neither do I. "Let me ask you this, Kendrick. Who arranged your marriage?"
     "Brennan."
     "Who met up with a dangerous tribe without the chief's consent?"
     "Brennan."
     "So, tell me, Future Chief Kendrick, if you can figure out that your future adviser is going to kill you and I, can't you figure out if your future wife will too?"
     He thinks about what I just said. I know he believes me, but he's too stubborn to admit it. "Briona has nothing to do with this," he growls, standing up.
     I can feel my own anger rise. "Kendrick, you can't just be blindsided by your cousin like this, you have to listen in order for you to survive."
     He's started stalking over to me. The look on his face makes my stomach churn. He's going to kill me.
     "Storm!" I call desperately.
     Five feet away.
     Four feet away.
     "Lightning Storm--"
     A shriek echoes from the upstairs. Storm zooms down the stairs and picks me up in his claws, bursting through the front door, flying into the night.