Daggo “A Tale of Two Chiefs” Chapter 1:
Dagur had heard about what happened with Hiccup and Grimborn in the caves. But he didn’t, for one second, believe he was dead. Certainly not when no one had even found his body. The Berserker chief told his brother he was going out on a flight to relieve his troubled mind, and he was, but the only way to do that now was to find Viggo. Dagur knew, but would never admit aloud, he wasn’t as clever as Viggo, but Dagur was good at sneaking around. And during his time under Ryker’s command, he had over-heard discussion of Grimborn’s birth place and how it had always been a place of comfort for the man. So that’s where Dagur was heading. He’d been flying through the first light and now to last light. He was tired as was Sleuther, but he knew they were close and he wasn’t stopping now. He brought the triple stryke to a halt as he noticed and island down below, he told his dragon to head down seeing no sign of a trap. Dagur searched the island for what seemed like hours, until he found a cave leading underground. Torches lined the walls and lit the way downwards and Dagur was caught thinking “Of course Viggo had born in darkness.” He chuckled then headed down, Sleuther following close behind. Silently they moved ever forward through the dimly lit path, but came to sudden stop when they heard ragged breathing followed by a grunt of pain. “Viggo?” Dagur called out.
The voice coughed but then responded. “I knew someone would come looking for me eventually, but never once did I envision it would be you, Dagur.” He wheezed. “Do not linger in shade, come in.”
Dagur went into the cavern where the voice came from and was shocked at what he saw. Viggo laid on a rock bench carved and protruding from the wall, furnished of course, but rock nonetheless. His back toward Dagur exposing his remaining two arrows in his back. Dagur knew by this action alone he meant no disrespect, he couldn’t lay on his back so laid on his side. “You’re hurt.” Dagur whispered in pure shock.
Viggo sat up to look at Dagur, which took some effort, but he managed. “Look upon my face, Dagur. You know I have survived worse.”
Dagur nodded. “You are a strong man, if nothing else.” He heard growling from the corner.
A skrill emerged from the shadows and stood defensively in front of Viggo.
Dagur recognized the skrill he had once tried to tame and knew that he now belonged to Viggo.
Sleuther growled back protectively, smacking his tails on the ground as a warning.
Dagur quieted him then proceeded to drop all his weapons, leaving him vulnerable. “I come in peace, dragon."
The skrill’s eyes narrowed and he growled again.
”I’m not here to hurt you…either of you. I swear it.“ Dagur said respectively.
”Onyx, let him speak. Away.“ Viggo said giving him a hand signal.
The skrill ruffled his wings but moved aside, watching wearily.
Dagur sighed in relief. ”You trained him?“
”Cool name, Onyx.“ Dagur said with a smile.
”Thanks.“ Viggo responded. ”I’ve never named a pet, let alone a dragon before, but I thought it suited him well.“
Dagur was concerned about the arrows wounding Grimborn. He approached the man but hesitated. ”You are a worthy man and I wish to help you. But only if you will allow me. So I ask you, may I?“
Viggo was unsure, but eventually nodded after giving it some thought, exposing his back. ”Remember Dagur, attempt to kill me and Onyx will not hesitate to act first.“
Dagur looked at him. ”I already gave my word. I have no intention of hurting you further. We are in the same boat Viggo.“ He reached for his saddle bag with his healing supplies. He had brought some medical shears to help him remove the barbs. ”Viggo, the barbs will hurt more and possibly damage something important if I just yank it out. I need to cut some of the surrounding skin so I can pull them out without puncturing or tearing something vital.“
”Do what you must.“ Viggo said bracing himself.
Dagur worked quickly, precisely but gently removing the unnecessary skin, then removed the arrows slowly. ”Done with the removal, I just need to make sure it doesn’t get infected.“ He said.
”You don’t have to. As a matter of fact, I prefer you to not.“ Viggo said concerned.
”Viggo, you would die from the bacteria with the wounds you have. I won’t have your blood on my hands.“ Dagur said getting his herbal anti-bacterial paste and applied it to his back.
Viggo winced, it stung, then burned, and then melted into an icy coolness.
”One last thing. Just to make sure.“ Dagur said getting out some some surgical vines. He’d used them on himself before, so he knew as bizarre as it was they worked. He took out his needle and starting sewing up his wounds so he wouldn’t bleed. ”If you tell anyone I can sew, I swear to Thor.“
”It’s our secret, on my honor.“ Viggo said sitting up. He could move freely again without being in danger of hurting himself. He stood up, surprising himself at how effortless it was to do so. He noticed scraps of his clothing on the ground and assumed Dagur had had to cut his suit in order to heal his wounds. ”Well, I might as well change my shirt. I do hope you don’t mind.“
Dagur shook his head. ”No, it’s alright.“
Viggo nodded his head and went to a chest against the far wall, his valuables were obviously stored somewhere more secretive, but his necessities where there. He slowly took off his shirt, grabbed another and walked back to Dagur, intending to give him a reward for his work. ”Why did you help me?“
Dagur wasn’t listening, as a matter of fact he was drooling. He was shocked by the state of Viggo’s body, besides from the scar on his neck, he was untouched and ripped as all hell. He had abs, a six pack of them. He licked his lips at the muscles rippling all throughout his chest and arms. But Dagur tore his attention away from his lust when Viggo coughed to get his attention. ”Sorry, my mind drifted. But I told you. You and I are in the same situation. We both used to be on the wrong side of the war, we were both thought to be expendable by our employers. We both now see and own dragons as equals, we respect them. I was once where you stand now.“
”You’re not wrong, Dagur.“ Viggo said with a chuckle. ”but you were never expendable, my dear. You were just too much on an opponent. I excel at tactics and planning. But you…you’re excel at hand to hand combat. I’d have never been able to best you, and that had me concerned.“ Viggo smiled. ”Because, let’s face it, Dagur, you don’t listen to anyone. You’re your own man. Orders don’t suit you unless you’re giving them.“
Dagur laughed, knowing he was right. But then his eyes were torn to his neck scar. He touched his three talon scar tattoo that he had on his eye as his other hand reached for the scar on Viggo’s neck.
Viggo watched his hand but didn’t flinch away, he was like a wild dragon, but he was starting to trust Dagur like he had never trusted anyone before. He let Dagur touch his scar.
”How?“ Dagur asked. ”How did this happen to you?“
Viggo sighed, he hated this question. ”It’s why I became a dragon hunter. Nothing more than a reminder.“
Dagur moved his hand to caress Viggo’s face. ”Grimborn.“ He said sternly. ”Tell me.“
”It’s a long story.“ Viggo said trying to avoid discussing it, but saw Dagur wasn’t letting up. ”How much time have you to spare?“ He sighed, giving in.
”I’ve got all the time in the world Viggo.“ Dagur responded coolly.
”I was young when this happened,“ he said gesturing to his scar. ”a child. My only passion back then was learning more about dragons. My tribe was known for hunting them but I never was interested in destroying their species. I’ve always had a thirst for knowledge, but it was the dragon species that I could never seem to learn enough about. But one day, as fate would have it, my curiosity got the best of me, and I got too close to the wrong dragon. An angry and injured dragon that I had never seen before or since. And as I moved to help it, it scratched me, deeper than the scar that remains today, nearly killing me. My father killed it, got me to a healer, but later died from his own wounds. I never knew my mother or what happened to her, all I knew was with me out of commission, Ryker was left to rule the tribe.“
Dagur rolled his eyes. ”Bet that went well.“ He said sarcastically.
”Fantastic.“ Viggo replied with an equal amount of sarcasm. ”Nearly started three wars, and then his argument for why he should stay in charge was that he cleverly avoided three wars just because the other tribes didn’t think that immature child was worth their time.“
Dagur chuckled. ”The dragon, what was it?“
”My father called it the Deathwing.“ Viggo growled aggravated, putting his shirt on finally. ”But he made sure that the lens that revealed all the knowledge of it’s species was destroyed along with it. Declaring the dragon too dangerous to encounter before he passed.“
”I’m sorry for your loss, Viggo.“ Dagur replied quietly. ”Your father died for you.“
”More like because of me. If I had just let that dragon be, he’d still be alive.“ Viggo sighed, sitting down next to Dagur. ”I wish he were. Sometimes even I don’t know what to do.“
Dagur wiped a tear from his eye. ”My father died because of me as well.“
Viggo looked to Dagur in shock. ”Oh Dagur, you have my deepest condolences.“ His eyes narrowed. ”But that means you found him?“ He questioned curiously.
”Shipwrecked, fighting off Grim Gnashers from the dying dragons on Vanaheim. Shortly after I took over the Berserker tribe.“
”And how is that you’re fault?“ Viggo raised an eyebrow at him.
”I refused to let anyone search for him, those who defied me were executed.“
”I see. No wonder Krogan’s idiotic plan didn’t work.“
”Heather.“ Dagur growled lowly. ”He planned to trap her and possibly kill her in order to gain her lens. Promised her he found our father alive, said he’d take her to him.“
Viggo looked away awkwardly. ”I was against that plan from the start. But unfortunately Krogan and Johann are not good listeners, especially when reason and common sense are involved.“ He sighed. ”I heard news of a battle of the armies. I do hope your sister and the others are alright.“
”They’re-they’re fine.” Dagur said nervously. “No one was hurt on our end. but Johann is dead.“
”Oh really? How did he meet his demise?“ Viggo said smiling, he hated Johann.
”Frozen to death by the king of Dragon, then his statue was shattered and decimated by yours truly.“
”No, he escaped.“ Dagur answered thinking Viggo was asking.
”Oh that wasn’t a question, Dagur. Someone left his body out to sea, it washed up on the shore a few days ago.“
”It wasn’t us.“ Dagur replied holding his hands up innocently.
”I didn’t think it was. I knew that the riders and even your berserkers wouldn’t have been the cause of what made him arrive in the state he did. He’d been put through torture while he was alive and died by decapitation. But he showed up even more ravished by beasts of the ocean who decided to sample him as a meal. It was pretty gruesome and I suspect it was his employer from the north. His men captured Krogan, took him back, and his punishment for failing was torture and then…death.“
”Wow. That guy sounds like bad news. I’ll have to tell Hiccup about him, as well as our allies.“ Dagur said on alert.
Dagur smiled. ”Viggo, I know you were once a proud chief, and while I can’t give you that title back with most of them wiped out by Johann’s attack. I’d like you to be my adviser to the berserkers. Thor knows I need one.“ Dagur outstretched his hand.
Viggo eye’s widened. ”You’re serious? You want me to advise you? Me?“
Dagur nodded. ”I can think of no one better for the position.“
”Then…I accept.“ He took Dagur’s hand, but wound up hugging him.
Dagur didn’t expect it, but hugged back.
”Thank you.“ Viggo said, pulling away.
”Giving me a second chance.“ Viggo smiled.
”No problem, we should head out.“ Dagur said, standing up.
”It’s late, Dagur, and it’s long ride back to Berserker island and I know you had a long day riding here. You’re welcome to stay here for the night and get some rest.“ Viggo said gesturing to a cot in the corner.
Dagur yawned and nodded, taking up on the offer. ”Thank you.“ He said yawning again, and quickly fell asleep.
Viggo smiled as he saw Sleuther curl up next to Onyx, and Onyx accepted him. He laid back down to sleep, dreaming of his position to come and how he could benefit the tribe.
@thederangedgrimborn Here it is, hope you love it!
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