Chapter 8

A steaming cup of Jasmine tea was brought to pale pursed lips as Prince Grimmel listened to a report early in the morning in his office.

"..... trying to procure supplies but the farms can't keep up with the demand." A gruff voice stated. "Your Highness, maybe you should postpone this campaign until next year. Not only do we need the crops to survive the coming winter months but there have been floods in the east and droughts in the west. The grain is sparse as it is. If we take anymore the people will suffer greatly. Earl Deranged has been making waves during the council meetings lately. Many nobles are of like-mindedness that this will be a foolish endeavor."

The Prince's fist slammed on the wooden desk he was seated behind yet the man giving his report didn't flinch at all. "It's Earl Deranged again," Grimmel hissed as his eyes narrowed. "One would think that he would fall in line after we ruined his sister's reputation."

"The Earl is the least of your problems, your Highness," The messenger gruffly said. "The Royal treasury is near depleted."

"Yes, yes I know Drago. I'm working on that." Grimmel angrily announced. "You just focus on the tasks that I've given you."

"There is one more thing to report, your Highness," Drago announced. Even though the prince looked calm and composed, those who actually knew him could see the annoyed look in his eyes.

"What is it?"

"Yesterday night a carriage left the estate of the Dowager Consort." Drago announced. "The men I've stationed nearby have reason to believe that the Dowager Consort is making her way to the Dowager Regent's estate."

"That is inconsequential." Grimmel huffed. "Neither my great aunt nor my grandmother have any political power left. I made sure of that."

"But it's strange, my Prince! These women have not spoken to each other in over two decades! What's more the Dowager Consort is of Berk, the very Kingdom you plan to go to war with."

"The Dowager Consort was nothing but an insipid girl who volunteered to marry my grandfather in exchange for her Kingdom's safety. Her beauty lasted only until she bore my grandfather a child and that was a girl. Such a disappointment." Grimmel tisked. "She couldn't even bear him a son and was later forgotten."

"But...."

"You are dismissed, Drago. I hope you have better news for me next time." Grimmel announced, sipping his tea again as Drago frowned but retreated from the room.

"You know, you should really heed the words of your advisor." A voice stated from behind. Grimmel turned his head towards the large bay windows to see Krogan merrily lounging against the marble balustrade in the early morning sun. His purple hood was covering most of his face and he was cleaning his nails with the tip of his dagger, or one of his daggers Grimmel assumed. "After all, that man has been here in the palace even before your father became king."

"He worries over some women," Grimmel scoffed. "Can you imagine that, women? Those weak creatures aren't even worth my consideration." he then stood up and turned fully towards Krogan. "Krogan, we live in a society where women are but livestock to be traded within political alliances or debt settlement. They are of no consequence."

"Then what of Lady Arkas?! You adore her," Krogan asked as his brows furrowed.

"I only adore her to the point of her usefulness," Grimmel declared. "Enough about that. Has the Berkian delegation not made its move yet?"

"No, not yet," Krogan replied. None could see his eyes but there had been a glint of rage and fury in it on the behalf of Lady Arkas. Looking back at Grimmel he could see that the Crown Prince was extremely frustrated that the Berkians hadn't moved yet. So far that part of the plan seemed to be on hold. "Maybe they don't know where to look." Krogan suggested. "If my men spread a few rumors and you have it fight in the arena before the Founders Day celebrations...."

The implications were there. Grimmel noted. If this beast they had, fought before Founders Day then it might generate an even bigger crowd on the day in question. "But it would mean that the matchup for that day has to be revised. It needs to be bolder.... More vicious..." Grimmel told Krogan. "You'll need to bring me something much more tantalizing than the matchup I had planned."

"What did you have in mind, my liege?" Krogan asked.

"I think.... Dragon versus Dragon would be quite..... Exhilarating." The Prince mentioned with a sadistic glint in his eyes.

Meanwhile, a carriage had set off from the Hofferson estate. Astrid and Edwin sat together on one side while Atali, as Astrid's personal maid, was accompanying the pair as well. They were already nearing the marketplace as the hustle and bustle of the commoners increased. The noise too as people were yelling to sell their wares. Their destination was just beyond the marketplace area called the Tailors' Boulevard. A wide street lined with magnificent trees and lanterns. At night it was a sight to see. The boulevard hosted numerous tailor shops and boutiques that catered to not only the rich but also the common people. The further down the boulevard you went the more luxurious the shops became.

Pubs and restaurants were also present on this street, creating an atmosphere where people could go relax in between shopping trips.

"My Lady, what exactly are we to buy here? Wasn't your Coming of Age gown delivered to the estate along with the attire for the rest of the family?" Atali asked, confused.

"It was but our dear butler relayed a rather interesting piece of information to me yesterday." Astrid stated. "It seems Esmeralda commissioned a white dress for Rosalinda as well and it appears to be much grander than mine. I also need a whole new wardrobe given that my position in society will change." Astrid stated in a rather calm voice but she didn't expect to see the shock and horror on both Edwin and Atali's faces.

"Sister, how can you be okay with this!" Edwin exclaimed as he hadn't known about the dress. "For.... For my sister to even attempt something so... SO SHAMEFUL!"

"This goes beyond petty!" Atali hissed, while she unsuccessfully tried to hold in her anger. "Only the lady coming of age is allowed to wear white on that day. It's supposed to signify not only her journey into maturity and adulthood but to also draw in suitors! This... This is utterly disgraceful!"

"Relax Atali," Astrid held up her hand. "I am only required to wear the white dress for the passing of the rites. Which is only done in the presence of Father and a Royal official. While commonly unknown, it isn't required at the ball itself."

"Sis.... just what exactly are you planning?!" Edwin asked with worry as the carriage came to a stop.

"Nothing much." She said but at the sceptical look from both other occupants she added "Society will be the judge. I really don't need to do much though I do intend to make a splash. I will not be seen as pitiful."

Astrid went on a shopping spree like expected, charging the costs to the Marquisdom accounts for which she had a seal to. Edwin ended up carrying three hat boxes but most of the clothes were to be delivered to the estate later today. His sister had not only bought dresses for balls but also for everyday use including but not limited to tea dresses, nightwear and a disturbing amount of shoes.

Several sets of jewelry were also purchased. This was the area Astrid was most picky in. She scrutinized each gem with a fine eye for detail. Her family business was in ores and gemstones so she knew what she was looking for.

Three hours later the trio found themselves in one of the pubs. It was a rowdy place and Edwin made a face briefly before asking "Wouldn't it be better to eat at one of the higher-end restaurants?"

"Don't be such a prude, Edwin. Sometimes the best food is served in places like this." Astrid retorted. "Don't you always make a face when you get one of those little portions? I could see it in your eyes that you wanted to question why we would pay so much for so little,"

Edwin groaned. "Well mother seems to like it," He stated.

"Esmeralda likes it because they are fancy places manned by famous chefs. The prices are ridiculous and the portions are.... Small." Astrid huffed and then raised a brow. "Going to such places means that you want to be seen. It is more for show than anything else. Here... here you get to really eat."

Edwin didn't seem to mind the jab at his mother and he kept quiet when Astrid flagged down a waitress to order three of the house specials along with mead for all of them.

Soon their table was ladened with large bowls of Mortrew, a thick soup containing meat, mostly pork, and vegetables along with slices of stale bread. Three large tankards of mead were also placed in front of them and Astrid took a swig of hers while Edwin took an experimental sip.

"Let's dig in!" Astrid proclaimed as she merrily dipped her bread in the stew. They were halfway done when they seemed to hear the commotion from outside. They weren't the only ones though and many of the pub's patrons abandoned their tables to see what was going on outside. There was a brawl going on on the street between four people and many people were cheering while chanting two names. Astrid frowned because if the names were known then this must have been a common occurrence. As she and the others made their way to the front she asked one of the spectators what was happening. The story she got was not what she was expecting at all.

One of the spectators was kind enough to explain it to her. The fight that had broken out was quite common these days. It was usually between two brothers who had inherited their family's tailor shop and boutique. Viggo and Ryker Grimborn. They were quite famous craftsmen in their own right but when put together in a room they often resorted to fists as neither could agree to the direction they wanted their shop to go. Viggo wanted the shop to stay traditional while Ryker wanted them to explore the more avant garde styles of fashion. This led to the brothers splitting apart and opening shops opposite to each other on the boulevard. Them hurling insults across the street at each other had become the new norm.

As Astrid got to the front of the circle her eyes widened when she saw that one of the four men involved in the fight was none other than Earl Deranged. The other seemed to be a man sporting a blonde mustache with both a hand and leg prosthetic. There was hair pulling and biting going on to say the least and Astrid could make out Earl Deranged yelling "How dare you lob a heel at me!"

The crowd quickly dispersed when a shout came from somewhere behind about the local guards approaching. Astrid saw several people dressed in armor approaching the still fighting men and one stabbed a spear in the ground near Viggo's nether regions causing the man to squeak.

"You lot again!" A voice that was definitely not male muttered as the fight was broken up. Astrid told Atali to go pay for their meals as she was worried about how Earl Deranged was going to be perceived in this. Due to the Earl gaining his family title and position as Commander in the Royal navy quite early on after the death of his father there was some resentment among not only the Nobles but also the common branches of the Kingdom's military. Most didn't take kindly to a man much younger than themselves becoming their commanding officer.

"Just what is going on here?!" The knight that had jabbed the spear asked and now Astrid was sure. It was a woman underneath that armor.

"He bit me!" The blonde fellow pointed at the Earl who was too busy looking in awe at the woman. Earl Deranged also seemed to have noticed what Astrid had and stared in awe. "By heaven above a Valkyrie has descended," he muttered, completely ignoring the knight that was hauling him up and taking him into custody. Astrid was sure of it now. Earl Dagur Deranged was completely and irrevocably smitten.

"Gobber what the hell?!" A voice shouted and Astrid saw a lanky figure running to the blonde man that had been arrested. The figure however was stopped by two knights as the offenders were taken into custody.

"Your friend?" Astrid approached the young man that was groaning while running a hand through his auburn hair.

"My Godfather," the man muttered before looking to see who he had addressed. "Beg your pardon Milady." He quickly added as he didn't want to be rude.

"It's of no consequence," she announced. "If you want to bail out your godfather then we'd need to go to the guardhouse near the gate."

"Are you perhaps acquainted with the others?" The man asked before he hastily backtracked. "Where are my manners? I'm Hiccup. Hiccup Haddock."

"Astrid Hofferson," She introduced. "One is an..... Acquaintance of sorts. I think it might be prudent to bail him out seeing as his sister will likely murder him if she finds out."

The man, Hiccup, coughed nervously and then extended his arm. "Would Milady allow me to escort her to the location?"

"Why good sir, you are a gentleman indeed," Astrid laughed as she accepted the arm. 'This man had balls,' she thought. Astrid was clearly dressed as a noble woman while he wore a simple tunic, pants and fur boots. A normal man would have given her a wide berth for fear of offending her yet this one seemed to be quite chivalrous, not something men from the commoner class exhibited much. Both Edwin and Atali watched the exchange with interest as the four set off towards the guardpost.