The Dragon Master and The Lightning Rider *Hiccup Fanfic*

44. The Display

A week after the feast and meeting Hiccup, Skye had awoken to another morning cold and guilty. Hiccup would've found out that she had stolen the whistle by then, and the fact that there was no other sign of him meant that he was planning something else.

She hated that Hiccup was with her on Shruiken. At any second, he could be caught. She wanted to do this alone, but the fact that he was here meant that she had to tread carefully. She couldn't use her old plan—planting the seed of doubt in the foreign leaders. She wanted to spark a war between them and desert Aym while the leaders fought.

She had no idea of Hiccup's plan. A week had passed and she hadn't heard even the tiniest squeak from a dragon or attack. Every night she had kept herself awake longer than usual, waiting for some sound or call.

The door was unlocked, earlier than usual. Tye strode in, grinning, with a tray of food in hand. He nudged the door shut after him, placed the tray on a table, and stood before her. He would always be this cheerful on the ship, and the feast night seemed to have gone over his head.

Skye glared at him as he stood there quietly, smiling. She shoved the blanket off her and sat up. She first made a big show of scoping the food. "I remembered ordering breakfast every morning. I didn't expect it to come with a side of betrayal today."

Tye snorted as he sat on the chair. "I was busy the past few days."

"I wouldn't have minded if you were busy today either."

"Oh, don't be like that."

"Do you even remember what you made me do?" Skye snapped. She could feel the rage that flowed through her, her face burning and limbs paralyzed in shock and humiliation that night at the feast, when she was pushed to the stage like some animal. Tye didn't even fight for her. "Do you remember pulling me there and not even bothering to wait for me or see me after you shoved me on the stage?"

Tye clicked his tongue. "I know quite well what happened, Skye." His voice turned hard. "But you do know I'm Shruiken, too. And I have my orders."

Skye's heart sunk. She did forget that part. She hadn't even realized she had considered the man a future ally, perhaps even her friend. "I-" she paused. She thought of apologizing when she realized that she didn't need to. He was the one who had forced her onto the stage like some puppet. "Why have you come here?"
She briskly got up and snatched up the bread and cheese, putting a little ham in it before rolling it and biting it viciously. She eyed Tye, who hadn't moved.

"Demonstration day," he replied. He reached to pick up a strawberry, but a fork was suddenly stabbed into the table, right next to his finger. He flinched and drew away. She was scowling and her nose was flared. She yanked out the fork and stabbed the same strawberry, stuffing it in her mouth.

"I thought they had already seen me."

He nodded. "You'll have to display your skills in front of all the higher bidders."

"Aren't they here for the Skrill pack?"

"The generals like a little extra...spice. If you can prove to them that you're as great as acclaimed, they'll love it."

"And they'll bid higher for me, no doubt." She murmured under her breath. "Aym had this planned out, hadn't he?"

"That's why I came here to warn you," Tye stood up and gingerly patted her shoulder. "Don't do any tricks. Aym won't take it well."

"I thought he liked it when I was feisty."

"Oh, he doesn't," he replied. "He didn't appreciate you nearly biting off the Ambassador's hand either. Aym might look complacent, but that just means he'll punish you later."