With you ~ ?????? ????????? ? ???! ??

37. Sir Ulgerthorpe AKA The Archipelago's Most Annoying Viking

Viggo stopped my before I could walk off. "There is one thing. I feel like I know you from somewhere. Do I?"

I stayed silent. "My brother asked you a question. Does he know you from somewhere?" Ryker grabbed my tunic.

"Wha-Ha! Does he know me from somewhere? Does he know me from somewhere? Hey, does he know me from somewhere?" I looked at Gobber.

"It's none of your beeswax who he is oe where you know him or don't know him from." Gobber said with a frown.

"Beeswax?" I laughed, pushing Ryker off of me. Then I slapped Gobber across the face. Then again. "You do not speak for me. Do you understand?" I nervously awaited his response, hoping he knew this was all an act. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir Ulgerthorpe. Please accept my humble apologies." Gobber said.

"Try getting good help these days. Boof. Very hard." I joked. "All right, be a good boy and tip the attendant. Come on." I walked past.

Ryker grunted angrily. "We don't want to refuse the man's money, now, do we?" I heard Viggo say.

Talulahh's POV:

"I'd turn around. You've no bussiness here." I heard Ryker's booming voice.

"Says who?" Johann asked timidly.

"You haven't the gold now the constitution to stomach this." Ryker replied.

"Ow." I whisper-yelled as someone elbowed me.

"Sorry." I heard Heather's voice, not being able to see from where we were.

I then continued to listen to the conversation above. "While you certaiy speak the truth, Mr. Ryker, I do bribg your brother an offering." Johann said.

"What kind of offering?" Ryker asked.

Johann led Ryker to the hull. "Get Viggo. He needs to see this." Ryker said.

"You must have missubderstood me, Mr. Ryker. I've simply brought an offering. I'd just as soon offload it and be on my merry way, if it's all the same to you." I heard Johann.

"Yeah, well, it's not all the same to me. Get Viggo." Ryker repeated.

"No need, big brother." I heard Viggo's distinct voice.

"Mr. Grimborn. What a pleasant surprise." Johann said.

I heard footsteps down the stairs, who I'm guessing were Viggo's. The dragons that where offered to Viggo were Barf and Belch, Stormfly, Meatlug, River, Hookfang, and Windshear. We thought that putting a Death Song and Night Fury up there would give us away.

"I wanted to present to you with these dragons for your auction as a sign of respect. And as an exchange for future safe passage in my trading lanes." Johann explained. "Maybe?"

"Trader Johann, perhaps I've judged you a bit hastily." Viggo said. "This is a splendid and most generous gesture." I heard the floorboard above us creak.

"The downside to an old ship." Johann explained nervously. "Not nearly the quality and excellenxe you have, no doubt, come to expect from the vessels in your fleet. Perhaps when the day comes that you feel the need to part-"

Viggo shushed Johann. Suddenly, a coin fell through the cracks of the floorboard. I tried to catch it, but it hit the ground. "The trade has been a bit sluggish, lately. My stores are as empty as a tree following a ring-tailed lemur migration." Johann covered. Is that a metaphor?

I heard footsteps walking away. Then I heard them stomping back down. Viggo kicked his boot through the floor. Saph moved out of sight as Toothless covered us, his dark scales making it impossible for Viggo to tell we were there.