p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup swallowed thickly and nodded, before slowly unrolling the message. He read through the text, taking into account that his former merchant, Trader Johann, was from Draconia. Once he finished reading the message, he frowned at the parchment. Berk had not been mentioned at all. Yes, it was one of the strongest villages in the Archipelago, but-/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""How about we go and sit in my study", Magrinsk put a hand on Hiccup's shoulder and smiled reassuringly, although he had no clue about the confusion Hiccup was enduring. "You can bring Halvar if you want, too"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup nodded, and as he walked out of the study, he paused, before turning to Magrinsk. "Sir", he said, his voice wavering slightly, "I can help you with this map, but my past has nothing to do with this. Nothing"./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Magrinsk nodded in understanding, before smiling at Hiccup. He had caught him. And Hiccup, understanding this, sighed and bumped his head against the wooden doorway. 'Oh my gods, Hiccup, you idiot', he thought, groaning internally. "I believe you were going to call Halvar?", Magrinsk said, with a raised eyebrow, and Hiccup nodded, slowly walking out of the room. As he crawled back into the dining room, he looked at his team. They were like his family, and he had been lying to them for over a half a decade. Well, not exactly lying, but he hadn't really been completely honest with them either. This part of his life was what he wanted to forget. What he didn't want anyone to know, so he could start anew. He gestured for them all to meet him outside. They all looked at him in confusion before following him into the study with Magrinsk./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Uh, guys, I have something to tell you", Hiccup nervously looked at Magrinsk who gave him an encouraging nod, eager to hear his story. "I haven't really been honest with you"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He looked down, trying to avoid their penetrating stares./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hiccup, what do you mean?", Halvar asked, worried for his friend. Hiccup had never spoken like this. Like he was nervous. Or maybe even scared?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup cleared his throat before continuing. "My name is Hiccup Haddock the Third, and I am the heir to the Island of Berk. Berk is a dragon killing tribe, and I could never shoot one. I could never run as fast, or lift an axe. I couldn't hold a shield, or even impress my dad. So, one day with an invention I made, I shot down a Night Fury./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He paused, trying to gather his his sense for the next part of the story./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You shot, him down? You shot Toothless down? How could you?!", Lice screeched, standing up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup shot out of his seat at the jab. "Don't accuse me of things you don't know anything about"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Lice was about to fire back another insult when Halvar leapt between them. The last time those two had an argument, it became an extremely violent one. They ended up setting fire to the stables and completely destroying a sea stack off their west coast./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hiccup didn't mean to, I'm sure he has an explanation"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But he-"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Let's just listen, shall we?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But-"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I did it to impress my dad, but no one believed me because I was the weakling. The runt of the village. The fishbone. I found Toothless in the forest, and I was about to kill him, when I saw something in his eyes. I saw what I saw in my eyes. Fear, and helplessness. And I thought, how could I kill something who is just like me? I cut him loose, and tended to him for a few months before fixing him a tail and teaching myself how to ride him. And then my father put me to dragon-killing training, and I...just...ran away"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup despondently looked down again. Lice had calmed down, and Halvar was staring at him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""So you ran away because you didn't want to kill dragons? Well that's reasonable", Lice sat back in her chair, before noticing that everyone was staring at her. "What? It's the truth"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But I also left because I didn't belong there. I wasn't 'viking material', as everyone, especially my dad, said to me. My cousin spent every spare minute of his day teasing me, pranking me and making me a bigger weakling and fool than I always was", his tone was bitter and had a slight dark edge to it. "But if he could see me now, I could beat him to the pulp and happily drop him off a cliff"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His angry comment sliced through the tension of the room. Magrinsk was watching him patiently from behind his desk, and Halvar was staring at him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Why didn't you tell me?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"This was what he hated. Having to explain why. "Because-because I wanted to start fresh. I didn't want to bother you all with my troubles because they are what I have to face. Emperor", he said, trying to change the topic, "which village are we inviting here? If mine had turned against Drago I am sure I would have heard, from somewhere, at least"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Magrinsk was silent for a moment, before he cleared his throat and stood up, his majestic navy robes hanging off his body. "So you faked your death?", he asked, completely ignoring Hiccup's previous statement./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup was at loss for words. He never told them that. Nobody needed to know that. He stuttered a yes, once again shocked at his perceptiveness. That seemed to satisfy the Emperor, as he stared into space, thoughtfully, before answering his previous question. "We are inviting the Berserker Tribe. They will be here in another three weeks time, so they can receive the letter and decide, not that they are going to have a choice. Now, off to dinner. Hiccup, stay here."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His friends had been silent, but stood up and left, leaving the the young man and his father-like figure alone./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hiccup", Magrinsk started. "You are definitely not a Berserker", he continued, looking at Hiccup knowingly. But we may encounter people you knew, people that hurt you. I know this is going to be painful, but I know you. You are determine, strong and courageous. You are so innovative, and compassionate. Hiccup, you can do this", Hiccup forced himself to look at Magrinsk's face, and relaxed slightly at the sight of his kind eyes. his man was more of a father to him than his real one actually was./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Are you sure?", he asked in a small voice, feeling small and vulnerable for the first time in a good long while./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm so sure, that I'd bet Toothless on it.", Magrinsk grinned at Hiccup, and pulled him into a hug./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup relaxed fully, this time, and smiled contentedly in the arms of his father. Well, the man he thought more of as a father. The best and kindest man on the planet./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""How about we go and sit in my study", Magrinsk put a hand on Hiccup's shoulder and smiled reassuringly, although he had no clue about the confusion Hiccup was enduring. "You can bring Halvar if you want, too"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup nodded, and as he walked out of the study, he paused, before turning to Magrinsk. "Sir", he said, his voice wavering slightly, "I can help you with this map, but my past has nothing to do with this. Nothing"./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Magrinsk nodded in understanding, before smiling at Hiccup. He had caught him. And Hiccup, understanding this, sighed and bumped his head against the wooden doorway. 'Oh my gods, Hiccup, you idiot', he thought, groaning internally. "I believe you were going to call Halvar?", Magrinsk said, with a raised eyebrow, and Hiccup nodded, slowly walking out of the room. As he crawled back into the dining room, he looked at his team. They were like his family, and he had been lying to them for over a half a decade. Well, not exactly lying, but he hadn't really been completely honest with them either. This part of his life was what he wanted to forget. What he didn't want anyone to know, so he could start anew. He gestured for them all to meet him outside. They all looked at him in confusion before following him into the study with Magrinsk./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Uh, guys, I have something to tell you", Hiccup nervously looked at Magrinsk who gave him an encouraging nod, eager to hear his story. "I haven't really been honest with you"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He looked down, trying to avoid their penetrating stares./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hiccup, what do you mean?", Halvar asked, worried for his friend. Hiccup had never spoken like this. Like he was nervous. Or maybe even scared?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup cleared his throat before continuing. "My name is Hiccup Haddock the Third, and I am the heir to the Island of Berk. Berk is a dragon killing tribe, and I could never shoot one. I could never run as fast, or lift an axe. I couldn't hold a shield, or even impress my dad. So, one day with an invention I made, I shot down a Night Fury./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He paused, trying to gather his his sense for the next part of the story./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You shot, him down? You shot Toothless down? How could you?!", Lice screeched, standing up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup shot out of his seat at the jab. "Don't accuse me of things you don't know anything about"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Lice was about to fire back another insult when Halvar leapt between them. The last time those two had an argument, it became an extremely violent one. They ended up setting fire to the stables and completely destroying a sea stack off their west coast./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hiccup didn't mean to, I'm sure he has an explanation"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But he-"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Let's just listen, shall we?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But-"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I did it to impress my dad, but no one believed me because I was the weakling. The runt of the village. The fishbone. I found Toothless in the forest, and I was about to kill him, when I saw something in his eyes. I saw what I saw in my eyes. Fear, and helplessness. And I thought, how could I kill something who is just like me? I cut him loose, and tended to him for a few months before fixing him a tail and teaching myself how to ride him. And then my father put me to dragon-killing training, and I...just...ran away"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup despondently looked down again. Lice had calmed down, and Halvar was staring at him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""So you ran away because you didn't want to kill dragons? Well that's reasonable", Lice sat back in her chair, before noticing that everyone was staring at her. "What? It's the truth"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But I also left because I didn't belong there. I wasn't 'viking material', as everyone, especially my dad, said to me. My cousin spent every spare minute of his day teasing me, pranking me and making me a bigger weakling and fool than I always was", his tone was bitter and had a slight dark edge to it. "But if he could see me now, I could beat him to the pulp and happily drop him off a cliff"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His angry comment sliced through the tension of the room. Magrinsk was watching him patiently from behind his desk, and Halvar was staring at him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Why didn't you tell me?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"This was what he hated. Having to explain why. "Because-because I wanted to start fresh. I didn't want to bother you all with my troubles because they are what I have to face. Emperor", he said, trying to change the topic, "which village are we inviting here? If mine had turned against Drago I am sure I would have heard, from somewhere, at least"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Magrinsk was silent for a moment, before he cleared his throat and stood up, his majestic navy robes hanging off his body. "So you faked your death?", he asked, completely ignoring Hiccup's previous statement./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup was at loss for words. He never told them that. Nobody needed to know that. He stuttered a yes, once again shocked at his perceptiveness. That seemed to satisfy the Emperor, as he stared into space, thoughtfully, before answering his previous question. "We are inviting the Berserker Tribe. They will be here in another three weeks time, so they can receive the letter and decide, not that they are going to have a choice. Now, off to dinner. Hiccup, stay here."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His friends had been silent, but stood up and left, leaving the the young man and his father-like figure alone./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hiccup", Magrinsk started. "You are definitely not a Berserker", he continued, looking at Hiccup knowingly. But we may encounter people you knew, people that hurt you. I know this is going to be painful, but I know you. You are determine, strong and courageous. You are so innovative, and compassionate. Hiccup, you can do this", Hiccup forced himself to look at Magrinsk's face, and relaxed slightly at the sight of his kind eyes. his man was more of a father to him than his real one actually was./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Are you sure?", he asked in a small voice, feeling small and vulnerable for the first time in a good long while./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm so sure, that I'd bet Toothless on it.", Magrinsk grinned at Hiccup, and pulled him into a hug./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Hiccup relaxed fully, this time, and smiled contentedly in the arms of his father. Well, the man he thought more of as a father. The best and kindest man on the planet./p