The Lost Boy III - Tales of the North

4 - Threat on Berk

The sun was slowly setting on Berk. Stoick may have been tired from a long day of work, he was still smiling and greeting the villagers.

''Hey there, Stoick !''

''Hey, how are you ? Beautiful day. Hello, Spitelout. Great race !''

Spitelout rolled his eyes, he had to admit he was not really proud of his son's performance. Snotlout had not win the game, neither did he had put a single sheep in his goal.

A lot of vikings were gathered around the smithy. The chief found Gobber there, still working. The day was not over for them. The black-smith was sharpening a teeth he was about to put on an anxious Zippleback. Stoick walked to his friend and asked some news in a low but concerned voice.

''Any sign of him ?''

''Ah, he's probably flown off the edge of the world by now. You sure you want that kid running the village ? You can still delay your retirement.''

''He's ready. You'll see.''

They lifted their head as they heard a whistling sound from the sky, then the villagers welcomed with cheers Toothless and Lumiverse. They landed in front of the smithy, Hiccup the first to dismount his dragon.

''Ha, ha ! There he is !'' Stoick beamed. ''The pride of Berk !''

''Who finally decided to show up for work. Yay !'' Gobber added.

''Sorry, got held up.'' Hiccup said as he passed by him.

He dodge the small hammer that was Gobber's hand at the time and quickly followed his father into the smithy.

''Hey huh... Dad, can I have a word ?''

''Something you're itching to tell me ?'' The chief asked with a large smile while patting his son's shoulders.

''Heh... Not quite the itch you're thinking of, but yes.''

''Good man !'' The chief said before alsmot throwing him a leather apron, dragging him on the other side of the forge where vikings were waiting. ''Now, lesson one : a chief's first duty is to his people.''

Hiccup put the apron back on a table and followed his father to the front window, where stood the workshop for saddles. The chief took a card with a number on it.

''So... forty-one !''

''Can we just talk in private ?'' Hiccup asked.

''Forty one !''

''That's me ! That's me ! I'm next !''

In the line of vikings, one of them jumped, arms up, and quickly came to the counter.

''Look, Dad, if we could just talk-''

''Excuse me, I've been waiting for hours. Okay, okay, I want one of those high seaters with lots of spikes and a big stowage compartment.''

''Absolutely. You got it, sir.'' The chief said before going back inside.

But Hiccup was not going to give up that easily.

''Dad, this is actually a little more important thant building saddles.''

''Ah, ah !'' Stoick cut him. ''Lesson two : no task is too small when it comes to serving your people- Oh !''

He turned around and started as he had almost stepped on Grump, Gobber's lazy dragon.

This one was a Hotburple, a relative to the Gronckles.

''Excuse us, Grump.'' He said patting the dragon's snut.

''Dad, can we just talk-''

They skirted him, then the black-smith's voice interrupted their conversation.