A Dragons Tale; The Dragon Queen

Play Like A Dragon

Well this was a situation Freya never though she would be in. The dragon riders had gotten the idea to create armour for the dragons to stop the arrows bringing them down in battle after bringing the Skrill egg back to the edge and noticing the way the shell protects the dragon inside. They spent days collecting different dragon scales and planned to take down a single hunter ship as a test run. What they didn't plan on however, was that particular ship being Viggo's privet ship with double the defences and twice the amount of ammunition. They also didn't plan on the armour's stitches burning when Hookfang ignited himself and falling apart allowing the arrows through. Of course, the most shocking part of the day was when Hiccup challenged Viggo to a game of Maces and Talons upon conversation. Freya didn't blame the Rider for panicking. The way Viggo had confronted them had been enough to send shivers down even Freya's spine. The amount of raw power that radiated off of him was purely overwhelming and intimidated her more than she would admit. It was moments like this, that reminded her just how powerful he truly was and drew her in even more that she already was intrigued by him.

"You want to play a game Viggo? Fine. Let's play a game. Maces and Talons. The winner takes all,"

"My dear Hiccup, I could beat you within the hour," he replied laughing

"Ok then, if we can verse you in Maces and Talen and last longer than an hour, we go free,"

"And what if you lose?"

"You keep us,"

Viggo stopped pacing in front of them and paused, shocked that the leader of the dragon riders would risk so much. Had he heard right? Did Hiccup Haddock just bet the lives of his dragon riders and their dragons on a game of Maces and Talons? He looked directly at Hiccup watching his movements to give him any indication on what he was planning. It seemed to him that the boy was now regretting what he had said. A smirk graced his lips.

"Well than, let the games begin,"

***

"What were you thinking?" Astrid screamed at the frightened boy as they were thrown into a cell to wait as the game board was set up, "You just challenged the King of Maces and Talons to his own game and bet our lives on it!"

"I...I just. I,"

"We can't beat him! I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you haven't been at the top of your game lately Hiccup. And we all know how Viggo toys around with you, this is our lives and the lives of our dragons at stake. If we don't win..." Finshlegs trailed off. It was true. Any time the group had played Maces and Talons recently Hiccup had been defeated easily. Even Snotlout had beaten him at it the other night!

"I know, I wasn't thinking. My pride reached my mouth before my head did,"

He looked at the ground solemnly "I'll never win, I'm so sorry. Viggo's going to win and were all going to die,"

"Err....that's not entirely true my one legged friend," Tuffnut piped up

"Yeah," Ruff finished wrapping her arm around her brothers' shoulder in emphasis, "Just because Hiccup sucks doesn't mean that someone else will. Hiccup never said that it was him playing against Viggo, he just said 'one of us'," It was quiet for a moment

"The twins have a point, but who will play against him?"

"My vote goes to Heather, she wins nearly every game she plays," A round of agreement sounded around the teens. All but one.

"What! No. I can't," Heather stuttered

"Please Heather, you're the best we have,"

"That's not entirely true," She answered slowly turning to look at Freya who had stayed quiet up until now. "Freya should play, I've seen her work ambushes and defensive setups that not even I could get out of," This shocked the other riders. Freya included. She had never actually played the game Maces and Talons in front of the group. Hiccup wasn't even aware that she knew the rules, but Heather seemed determined.