The Treasure of Eyja Nott

Defence and Attack

THIRTY SIX: Defence and Attack

Crowds were waiting outside the Archipelago High Court in Berk Town as Tallon Fury arrived. In fact, a few cheers rang out as his limousine pulled up, the tinted windows adding to the air of mystery as the familiar shape in the mirror shades emerged, his slim-fit black silk suit and white open-necked shirt elegant but casual enough to have a few female admirers gasping and whistling. Heather emerged in a little black dress, also wearing sunglasses in the bright sunshine. Snotlout emerged from the front seat while Cami looked up from the driver's seat and winked, then pulled away as soon as her charges were dropped off by the waiting Fishlegs. Immediately, the billionaire was surrounded by journalists, all hoping for a word before the proceedings.

"Mr Fury-do you resent being dragged through the courts?"

"How will you answer the allegations?"

"Do you think you can defeat First Minister Grimborn?"

Hiccup raised his hands and offered a broad smile, showing no signs of irritation or exasperation.

"The First Minister has to do what he feels is in his and Berk's best interests," he said equably. "Regrettably, I do not agree with his ideas of what is in Berk's best interests. And maybe that is at the root of this case. He seeks to prevent my ideas for your future prosperity being put to you, the people of Berk and allowing you to make the choice. But I can guarantee that I am fully eligible to stand for election. After all, Berk is my home and all I want is what is best for my home."

"But...what about the First Minister's claims?" a brassy-haired woman asked. Hiccup paused and fixed her with a stern look, his emerald eyes flinty.

"That's why we're here," he reminded her, the humour slipping from his voice. "To test his claims in a court of law." And then he winked. "But-spoiler-he won't win. He has his allegations and I have the truth. And sometimes, the truth isn't what you want to hear and isn't what you want other people to hear but if you play the game of litigation, you have to be prepared to lose."

"Are you prepared to lose?" a reporter from 'YAK MONTHLY' magazine called. He was a typical Berkian-solid and unimaginative with braided Viking hair and a magnificent brown beard. Hiccup turned back towards the court.

"I have already lost everything once," he said. "So I know possessions are fleeting, life is transient. I know exactly what is at stake and I would never have entered this contest if I had not been prepared to pay the price. The question you should be asking is: How much is First Minister Grimborn prepared to lose?" Then he nodded. "Thank you for coming!" And with that, he vanished into the building.

oOo

He sat in the little room they had been assigned outside the court to finalise their case. Fishlegs was already within, dressed in a three piece brown pinstriped suit, a crisp white shirt and spotted green bow tie. Husky and generally thoughtful, he looked stern and on point as he carefully checked his papers and handed the bundle to Hiccup for his perusal in the court. Frowning, the lawyer smiled at his client.

"Are you ready?" he asked Hiccup.

"Are you?" he batted the question back unanswered. Fishlegs shrugged.

"This is what we have plotted for years, Ingen," he murmured. "This is what I trained for, what Grimborn tried to deny me. My face didn't fit and I had this unfortunate knack of finding the holes in his cases. I'm ready. But are you?" Hiccup flipped through his packet and glanced down the first page.

"This is probably the most personal," he admitted. "Because I have to strip away some of my mystique. If we don't win, I'll be almost fatally vulnerable. But Viggo Grimborn has to fall. What he did to Mayor Stoick and the island can never be forgiven."