The Whole Story

Hiccup wants to tell the real story of the Red Death.

Tense as a bow string, hiccup addressed to his father.” hey dad, can we talk?” Stoic the vast, chief of the tribe, raised his eyes, taking in his son‘s face. Stoic full attention, unnerved his son, a result of years of his father‘s discontent.

“ What is it son?” Stoic leaned forward, as if listening. He had been doing that More now, and hiccups was still uncertain how long it would last.

“ you know, this can wait; there are other things that need your attention. I won’t keep you from the tribe.” Hiccup robbed his neck. “It’s not that important.” The conversation was important, and hiccup had to to speak with his father before the envoy arrived. “ but if you have a minute, I’d like to talk to you about something.”

“Aye, there’s plenty of time for you. I won’t be able to do much anyway, with the meathead representative arriving soon. What did you want to say?”

“It’s it’s about the envoy. He’s going to arrive and want the story of the red death. We both know he’ll report it to Mogadon,” Stoick nodded at that, “ and Mogadon will harass you once he hears it.” Hiccup stared his father in the eyes, and said “I want to tell the envoy personally.”

“I have no quarrel with that. You’ve done that every time a guest comes to Berk, unless you expect envoy Haraldsson to want a saga from one of the skalds.” Stoick stroked his beard. “what makes this time different? I don’t have a problem with Mogadon harassing me, as you put it. It’s all in jest, the same as between you and Mogadon’s son.” Stoick smiled, but Hiccup knew better.

Stoic and Mogadon had always competed. They compared mead quality, beard thickness, and the like. The competitions that never were mentioned aloud were about more sensitive subjects. Hiccup knew about the tacit competition about who had the best heir. Thuggory wasn’t as smart as hiccup, or as quick thinking, but that didn’t matter. Both men knew fighting prowess and physical strength were what mattered most, and Hiccup failed in all of those categories. Hiccup waited during the Meathead Chief’s visit for the remarks.

Are you still working in the smithy, lad? Your father tells me you’re making weapons there. A spar between you and Thuggory would make a good test of your work. Thuggory didn’t want to spar—he knew about the competition—and Hiccup suggested the two of them go to the smithy and look at the weapons anyway.