Book I, Chapter 11
...due to the actions of merchants, couriers, and word of mouth, it is generally assumed that knowledge of Hiccup Haddock's victory over the Green Death, and the associated domestication of the Nest's dragons, had reached all of the major and minor capitals of Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor within a year of the event, eighteen months at most.
Most of these feudal sovereigns and lesser lords reacted dismissively, especially at first, when evidence was minimal, while others, especially those who had seen evidence at first- or second-hand, reacted to the emerging power as a threat to appease or suppress. And a rare few acted otherwise...
— Origins Of The Grand Thing, Edinburgh Press, 1631
Tropes That Appear In This Chapter:
- I Got Bigger: Hiccup is suffering from growth spurts, outgrowing his last set of clothes before accidentally ripping his shirt by the shoulders. Astrid and the tailors seem to find it funny.
- Mood Whiplash: One minute Astrid is laughing at clumsy Hiccup ripping his shirt and falling over himself, the next things get serious the second a canister of highly explosive Zippleback gas is unleashed.
- Nepotism: Discussed. Astrid thinks that Hiccup is appointed her the position of Master of Dragons because she is his girlfriend, but Hiccup corrects her by pointing out the various things that she was already doing (experimenting to see what kinds of food the dragons like, keeping an eye on leather supplies, helping with saddle construction, training new riders, organizing lookout watches, handling disagreements between riders) fit the job description, and that the only other person qualified for the job (Fishlegs) was already busy with various other projects. He's just giving her formal legal authority to do all that.
- Not What It Looks Like: Gobber catches Hiccup and Astrid in a compromising situation that happens to be the result of a work accident.That gave Gobber a perfect view of Hiccup, the lad's hair smoking slightly, his shirt torn halfway open and smoldering, lying flat on his back, and Astrid, her shirt and pteruges also smoking slightly, crouched over him, her hair askew. She was breathing heavily, which was interrupted by a spasming hiccup.Gobber took one look and felt a grin sprout. "Aye there lad, that's more like it!" he teased.The two of them looked at each other and a moment of comprehension crossed their faces. Astrid leapt off of him like he was on fire, and they both started babbling."It's not what it looks like!""One of the Zippleback canisters cracked open!""We weren't doing anything!"
