Chapter 6: I'm Never Going Back

AN: I dunno why… it just kinda…happened. Filler chapter I guess, nothing much happening here. I just felt like writing this again. I'm mostly busy with other things, but it pays off to work on something else every once and a while. And it's been ages since I touched this, so…again I don't really know why. Anyway, I hope you like it, because I actually enjoyed writing it.

Meanwhile, Half a world away in Cadoa…

Birds didn't sing, sun didn't shine, wind didn't blow. People spoke, argued and haggled over prices, horse's hooves clacked on sandstone roads, driving deeper ruts into the rock with carts trailing bumpily behind and scattering muddy water on shopper's shoes as they passed. Market men called out prices, crying the merits of their wares, the origins of their silks and the freshness of their foods. The pang of a blacksmith pounding metal sang over the din, and a drunkard swung his mug around in inebriated song as he stumbled from a tavern door. The sounds of a city, and not just any city, Rankashar, the grand and huge capital of Cadoa. It was a fitting city to be capital of such a massive and powerful nation, the outer walls wide enough to ride three horses across the top, the three gatehouses each facing a different direction out into the grand realm, guarded by towers and two massive iron grate gates and reinforced wooden doors. A river ran through the center, gated off entrances as well so that no enemy could sail into the docks. Across that river lay the military center of the nation, teaming with training grounds, barracks and ranges, grounds to train on horse back, and on the backs of mighty wyverns. Inside there was the city citadel, surrounded by yet more walls. There lay the realm of the king, his elite guard, and the council of lords. The whole city seemed to be made of the same sandstone, reddish yellow in color, the streets old and worn from all the feet that traveled them. Guards patrolled the market streets, watching for anything out of the ordinary as they went. Here, they were not any normal city guards, they were the Elite Guard of the king, black cloaks tied around their necks with silver dragon broaches, shinning silver-steel bracers on their arms, their chest plates and leg guard made of the same material. Most carried swords, and that was what was clanging away in a blacksmith's shop.

Green eyes were narrowed upon the red hot metal as the hammer came down again, and again, pinging and sending shock waves of sound out into the world. With a sigh, the young man took the sword off the anvil and doused it in water, drawing a hand across his sweaty wet mop of brown hair, then poked the blade back into the fire of his forge. Near the back of his shop, a great black beast lay curled up, occasional opening his eyes to glance at the surroundings.

"Good morning Asljo. Have you been here working on that blade all night?" The boy looked up, finding a strong looking man coming the door. It was Coprrick, the boy's boss. He was a study man, old and bald, the only hair on his face the short cut beard he had trying to eat his face. His brown eyes were dark, but kind enough, setting off his burly and frightening manor.

"Hiccup. My name is Hiccup. And yes, I have been here all night. You know how the guard is about their swords." The boy said.

"I know very well how they are, which is why you should have gotten rest before making that. You could have burned yourself, boy." Hiccup scowled a little, taking the sword back out and resuming his pounding. "Ach, the neighbors are going to be complianin' again, Asljo."

"Why do you keep calling me that? Asljo, what does that even mean?"

"It's a draconic word. Means fool." Coprrick answered.

"Oh, so I'm a fool? Why did you hire a fool as your apprentice?"

"You're a fool because you stay up all night working on swords and keeping the Kilsie's awake. But you are a hardworking fool, and I take good work ethic over cleverness any day." The blacksmith replied, then glanced over at the dragon in the shop. "Dragon security system is a nice bonus too. Eh, Toothless? Gotcha something, Darquas." The man tossed the dragon a fish, which Toothless greedily ate.

"Darquas means darkness."

"You've been reading up on your draconic, have you boy?"

"No you told me." Hiccup replied. "What is wrong with our names anyway?"

"Who names a dragon Toothless? Tis only an insult to the poor creature's pride." Toothless growled lowly at the comment and Coprrick turned to Hiccup, arms out in a beseeching expression while his blacksmith's apron dangled off his neck. "See, the fellow agrees with me."

"I don't think that was agreement." Hiccup countered. "And it's can't be good for business if your apprentice is called Fool."

"Ah, but most people do not know the draconic language, dear boy."

"Most members of the guard do." Hiccup looked up at the voice, and found yet another man standing in the doorway. But this man was distinct, and he was Elite Guard. He was from the far east of Cadoa, dark skin contrasting with the shining silvers of his uniform, black hair blending into the black cloak that swept about his ankles. "Have you finished my sword, Asljo?" If Hiccup didn't know better, he would have thought the man was being humorous, but there was little place for that in the Guard.

"Nearly, Kadq. I should have it done by the end of the day." Kadq nodded and looked down to the smaller sword he had on his side.

"Thaner told me you were the best in the city. I hope you live up to the reputation."

"This sword is an heirloom, I know. You won't be able to tell it was ever broken when I am done, sir." Hiccup assured him, then got back to his work.

"Good. I expect it done by sunset. And if what you say is true, expect more business to come in from the Guard." Hiccup smiled and nodded, and the man left. Coprrick huffed and pulled one of the projects from the rack to begin work with the other anvil.

"Guardsmen. Always wanting it right now, or five minutes ago."

"They protect the city, keep crime down. And they give us good work." Hiccup shrugged. "I don't see the trouble."

"Who's the master here, Asljo?"

"It's been a year, and every single one of your names for me has been 'fool' in a different language. How do you even know draconic anyway?"

"People want it on their swords. And you make a remarkably good fool, Hiccup. But, if I were to choose a real Cadoan name for you, I would choose Rayson." Hiccup's head came up and he stared bewildered at the man in front of him.

"Wasn't Rayson the name of King Ryan's cousin? The one who died in that revolution 20 years ago?" Hiccup asked. Coprrick nodded, focused on his work.

"It was. But that's not why. Rayson means diligent and clever one, and you are certainly diligent and clever." Hiccup smiled. "Don't let it go to your head, Asljo."

"And you just ruined it."

"Finish that sword up, and when you do, deliver it. Go that little extra mile, eh boy?" Hiccup grumbled under his breath, but got back to work on the sword, back to beating metal to perfection.

He finished the sword in the evening, after giving it a good polish and even caring for the scabbard as well. It shone like new before he wrapped it up in burlap and strapped it to Toothless. Transporting things within the city was always much safer when said things were attached to a dragon, especially for someone like Hiccup. He may have grown up a little, and working as a blacksmith for a year had made his arms a heck of a lot bigger, but that didn't change that fact that he was scrawny. At the very least he fit in a little better here than in Berk. Thinking back now, Hiccup marveled at the strange journey that had brought him to this place. He'd started out from Berk not knowing where he would go, just going. No plan, no packing, no nothing, just a beeline in the general direction of away. He came across an island after nearly four days of flight, and they crash landed there, only to find it occupied. By dragons. Big, scary black and dark green things with horns like rams and mangled teeth. But there was something knew about them. They spoke. They called themselves the shadows, and after a bit of a territory squabble, they told him to head south and east, that he would find a nation of people there, and to head for a city known as Rankashar, that he would blend in there. Hiccup still felt like they had just wanted him out of their homeland.

Making it to Rankashar was interesting, as Hiccup discovered there was a pretty significant language barrier between himself and these people. None of them spoke Norse, and he didn't speak any of their languages. It had been a crash course in the common Cadoan language, along with charades and hand motions lessons as he worked his way through the country. He also found that while people were fascinated by Toothless, they did not fear him, simply found him a new curiousity. In one village, he had become a sort of jungle gym for the children, the parents just watching and laughing at the play. He'd met other dragons during his journey in the skies, sometimes flying with them and talking. Salui the forest dragon stood out in his mind as a particularly playful dragon, who had taken to showing off his flight skills and challenging them to a battle of acrobatics. The dragons here were far different from the ones he knew and grew up with. Long and lithe bodies, massive wings that could block out the sun, four long and strong legs and voices. They spoke, quite well, their voices deep and rumbling, but somehow almost human in nature.

Once he got to Rankashar, he'd tried to find work. It didn't take him long to find Coprrick, who was quite impressed on Hiccup's creation of Toothless's saddle and flight apparatus, and he was taken as an apprentice. That was nearly a year past now, and Hiccup knew one thing for certain.

He was never going back to Berk. Ever. He loved it in Cadoa, the people were good, they didn't mind Toothless, he was respected for his skill and not reprimanded or looked down on for his size. Coprrick was taking care of him, paying him well, and he loved his job, even if Guard orders got a little stressful. He was never going back. He belonged here more than he had ever belonged there.

"Hold up boy." The gruff voice of a Guard pulled Hiccup from his thoughts. "What's your business in the Citadel?" Oh, he must have made it all the way to the Citadel gates in his daydreams. Wouldn't be the first time.

"Got a delivery, sword for Kadq." He replied, pointing to the package on Toothless's saddle. The Guard nodded and let him by, into the Citadel grounds. This place, it was different from any other Hiccup knew. It was a strange cross between castle gardens and battle training grounds. The Guard and royal family lived here, their families and children running through the lawns and down garden paths while off to the side, intense sparring matches raged between the Guardsmen. It was a weird sight, children playing next to fighting warriors. Hiccup figured it was the reason many of the Guardsmen were generational members. He dreamed, sometimes, of someday being part of this mighty fighting force, riding on Toothless along side the wyvern riders he sometimes saw.

Tearing himself from his dreams, Hiccup looked for Kadq, and spotted him by the sparring grounds.

"Guardsman Kadq!" He called, making the black cloaked man turn around abruptly. "I have finished your sword." Hiccup grabbed the blade from Toothless's saddle and handed it to the Guardsman, who took it out of the cloth and it's scabbard. He ran his fingers over the shining surface, checking for undue marks or dents, and gave it a few testing swings. Hiccup stood, tense. He had faith in his work, but the scrutiny was still unnerving. But then Kadq smiled, and the nerves vanished.

"Well done. Here is the price you asked." He said, reaching into the bag at his side and giving Hiccup a few coins for his trouble. "Next time I am in need of any thing, you shall find me at your door." Hiccup nodded and smiled, then turned and walked away.

Yes, he was never leaving this place.

Funny thing that life always ruins the best of plans.