Chapter 65: Knives In The Night

*Dragon biology is specific enough to be given its own distinct sub-classification within the realm of herpetology, for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, unlike most reptiles, dragons are endotherms, with the corresponding higher need for caloric intake and higher ability to maintain activity in a variety of temperature conditions. Secondarily, the draconic clade is home to a variety of unique anatomical and genetic adaptations, including the definitional petrochemical organ system and all of its myriad variations; the high silica content of their hides, tissues, and bones; and, in some breeds, the addition of a third set of limbs in the form of wings. The third reason is strictly pragmatic: due to the omnipresence of dragons within our society, the field of dragon medicine and biological research is in high demand and warrants specialization—which is probably why you are reading this textbook in the first place.*

*[…] Like all doctors, regardless of patient type, physicians who specialize in the treatment of dragons most often find themselves dealing with prosaic injuries, and we must remember to avoid the allure of the fascinoma and other zebras; a dragon shedding its scales out of season likely has mites, not skin necrosis, and a dragon whose flame is weak likely has swelling of the throat valves, not Flame Dousing Disorder (as the FDD virus, which ravages the dragon's symbiotic bacteria, can only be transmitted under specific circumstances and there hasn't been a recorded case in over eighty years). More common are simple injuries. While dragons are hardy and resilient creatures, they can still be tremendously fragile under certain circumstances. The wings, in particular, while sharing the fireproof nature of the rest of the dragon's hide, are simply skin with minimal scale cover, if any. Wing injuries are extremely common simply due to this vulnerability...*

*—An Introduction To Dragon Biology, 17th Edition, Oxford University Press, 1793*

## Major Events

* Hiccup and his companions fight the woodsmen sent to assassinate them, killing some and capturing others, whom Hiccup promises to let live. Under interrogation, their prisoners reveal that the rumors of dragons in the Dartmoor Mountains were deliberately spread as a trap for them. Most of the vikings and their dragons are injured, and they decide to go west to Cornwall.
* Sigurd and the other Varangians escape from Maniakes's fortress in Bari, with several men and dragons dying in the fighting.
* Ruffnut gives birth to twins, Segna and Olaf. A day later, Father Henriksson secretly performs a baptism on her without consent, and then attempts to smother her to death. Ruffnut is saved by the timely arrival of Einar, who helps her stab the priest when he attacks them.

## Characters

### Humans

* Wulfhild of Norway
* Hiccup clan Haddock
* Astrid Hákonsdóttir clan Haddock
* Gunvor Dugaldsdóttir
* Fritjof Hrodwulfsson
* Horsefeathers Hensteethsson
* Heather
* Ruffnut Thicknutsdóttir
* Magnus the Good
* Svanhildr Olafsdóttir
* Segna and Olaf (first appearance)
* Michael Henriksson
* Snotlout clan Jorgenson
* Gunnar Bræsisson
* Gudmund Hallvarsson
* Thorred Folkmarsson
* Benjamin Axelsson
* Ketilbjorn Káresson
* Georgios Maniakes
* Einar Thambarskelfir

### Dragons

* Toothless
* Mistletoe
* Stormfly
* Toast
* Nott & Delling
* Windshear
* Sunflower
* Trehofudh the hydra (first appearance)
* Hookfang

## Analysis

### Epigraph Tie-In

* The epigraph talks about dealing with dragon injuries and illnesses. The chapter shows Hiccup's retinue trying to deal with the injuries their dragons suffered from the assassination attempt.
* The epigraph mentions that wing injuries are common on dragons. The chapter shows that all of the dragons of Hiccup's retinue received wing injuries from the assassination attempt.