Book 3, Chapter 40: By Their Fruits
Pre-modern dragon social structures and culture were based around the institution of the nest, a result of the necessity of these sites for breeding. Due to the hunter-gatherer lifestyles of the dragons, all pre-modern nests had a finite ceiling to the population they could support, which led to a lifestyle that was a hybrid of sedentary and nomadic elements, with many dragons moving from nest to nest over the course of their lives (especially in early adolescence), and yet still spending a large portion of their lifespans in one location.
At the center of each nest's social structure was the nest's lord, the Thengill, typically the oldest, largest, and most powerful dragon present. The Thengill would—ideally—protect the nest and the eggs and hatchlings inside, organize and direct the nest's members (including banishing excess members when the nest had exceeded the number the region could support) and act as a social and military leader for the members of the nest. Regardless, their word was law and their decisions final.
While abuses by Thengills were sadly common as a result of this unchecked power, the resource they commanded in the form of access to the nest and the breeding potential it represented was such that the vast majority of dragons would accept their terms without question. And due to their age and experience, few other dragons could challenge the Thengill—and often the second-strongest dragon in the nest was the Thengill's auxiliary, or even their chosen successor. Still, when a Thengill weakened from hunger, illness, or injury, challengers would appear.
—The Life Of Dragons, Ánslo Academic Publications, 1563
Tropes that appear in this chapter:
- Cliffhanger: Valka is introduced in the final scene of this chapter.
- Content Warnings:Chapter Trigger Warnings: Explicit Depiction of Illness, Explicit Threat of Torture, Explicit Threat of Mutilation
- Cutting Corners: The Byzantine Paymasters make another attempt to cut the fuel costs for the Byzantine's Broodery as they still don't believe the warning that some Dragon Eggs explode. However, one egg does explode, and explodes violently, so Sigurd now has proof of the necessity of the expenses.
- Due to the Dead:
- Hiccup and Toothless take great care of Fearless's surviving egg, and Hiccup makes sure to tell everyone else at Berk about Fearless' sacrifice so that they all know what they owe the lost Night Fury.
- Drago and the Pechenegs bury Berk in a mausoleum surrounded by rocks from every part of his empire and one rock taken from the lands of the Song Dynasty.
- Improbable Infant Survival: Fearless' last remaining egg is revealed to be intact and alive, and being taken care of by Hiccup.
- Internal Reveal: This chapter has Toiréasa tell Dagur about Heather.
- The Mourning After: The loss of his sister has caused Toothless to fall into a depression. Hiccup manages to help him recover at least a little by telling everyone about Fearless.
- Named by the Adaptation: The Bewilderbeast of Valka's nest is referred to by the dragons as Good-Cold.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Mac Bethad rejects the idea of attacking Hiccup and Berk's visiting forces while they're tired and vulnerable after the fight at Iceland because there are too many dragons for him to guarantee killing them all, and if even one gets away to reveal what he did he doesn't have the forces to resist a full counter-attack.
- Speaks Fluent Animal: Valka can speak and understand the language of Dragons.
