Book 3, Chapter 50: Something Wicked This Way Comes
One of the core tactical principles of an ambush is to attack from a prepared position onto an unprepared and unsuspecting enemy force, thus taking full advantage of the element of surprise as a force multiplier…
Note that an ambush can be spoiled and turned around if the targets of the ambush become prematurely aware of the trap. In such circumstances, a retreat by the aggressor force is suggested, as they are no longer in a position of tactical superiority and face prepared opposition.
The worst time for the ambush target to become aware of the ambush is when the ambushers are only partially but not fully situated…
—NSE Skytrooper Tactical Manual, 19th Edition
Tropes that appear in this chapter:
- Arbitrary Skepticism: Harald didn't believe Sigurd when he told him how big the Black Sea nest-lord was. Then he sees it flying to Constantinople and finds out it really is that big.It could only be the nest-lord of the Black Sea nest, as Sigurd had described it, and now he could only mentally apologize for disbelieving the short man as to its size.
- Content Warnings:Chapter Trigger Warnings: Explicit Battlefield Scenes, Character Deaths
- Cruel Mercy: Hiccup decides not to kill Dagur because he doesn't think he should get off so easily for all the terrible things that he has done.
- Death by Adaptation:
- Mac Bethad dies in a duel with Astrid, fourteen years before his historical death date.
- In canon Savage's fate post-TV show is unknown; here he is killed by Jacob stabbing him in the back with a sword.
- Death Seeker: Dagur in his fight with Hiccup intentionally leaves himself open in the hopes that Hiccup will kill him.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: In Real Life, Mac Bethad dies at the Battle of Lumphanan
; here, he is killed in a duel with Astrid. - Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Mac Bethad continues to protest that he was only preparing his own dragon army to pre-emptively defend himself from Berk's own ambitions of conquest, ignoring Astrid and Wulfhild's insistence that Hiccup had no such plans in the first place.
- Going Native: William's inner thoughts show that by this chapter, he fully identifies as a Hooligan.
- Internal Reveal: Hiccup, Astrid, and Wulfhild discover that Mac Bethad was Mildew's patron.
- Mythology Gag: Although the prophecy regarding Mac Bethad doesn't exist here, he was still killed by "no man of woman born", i.e. a woman.
