Chapter 117: Reverberations From Silence

*Espionage is one of the dirty secrets of statecraft, in that everyone does it, even on their allies, even if no one wants to admit it. Generally such spying takes mild forms that aren't even considered to be such—an attache officer at a consulate simply keeping their eyes and ears open as they walk around the capital city is technically spying if they report back their findings, even if the information is freely available for the local citizens with their own senses.*

*Deeper levels of espionage tend to be reserved for opponents and threats, and it is these methods that are popularly associated with the term in the public awareness. Informant networks, agents-in-place, penetration agents, disinformation agents, double agents, and other such human assets make for the common concept of the term 'spy'—often conflated together in popular imagination and lurid novels—and in modern times, the official reactions to such individuals can be anything from banning them from the country for those with diplomatic immunity, to arrest with an end result of imprisonment, asset trades, or even torture or execution.*

*—Statecraft: The Great Game Of Diplomacy, Espionage & War By Other Means, 1732, Rouen University Press*

## Major Events

* Gregor, Alan and Iain are all arrested and held in gaol.
* Drago meets the King of Alania, Durgulel the Great. Durgulel says he's upset with the Byzantines and offers loyalty to Drago in exchange for good treatment. He also tells Drago the Byzantines are trying to get the dragons of the Black Sea nest.
* Stoick and Hiccup decide to send Hiccup and his retinue to King Mac Bethad for an explanation on why he sent spies.
* Yishai ben Yaakov discovers Mildew's letter among the documents confiscated from Adhamh and tells the Dubh Linn regent who sends Ross with the letter to Stoick.
* The Berserkers and Toireasa arrive at Inbhir Niss at the same time as Hiccup's retinue.
* King Mac Bethad and Hiccup meet over the former's spies. After Hiccup leaves the chamber, Mac Bethad orders that Hiccup and his retinue be captured.
* Toireasa reports to Hiccup on the Berserker situation and says Dagur's situation is more complicated than at first glance. Hiccup learns Toireasa doesn't trust Heather with Mhairi's well-being.
* Ross arrives in Berk and gives Stoick Mildew's letter. He confronts Gregor, Alan and Iain who corroborate the letter and also admit to reaching out to Clodgall. He mobilises as many dragon-riders as possible and head to Inbhir Niss.
* Sigurd and his tagma encounter the Pecheneg Dragon-Riders and they enter battle.
* Jacob catches Mac Bethad's forces in the act of trying to ambush the Hooligans and sends out a warning.

## Characters

### Humans

* Gregor
* Alan mac Iomhar
* Iain
* Jonna Asgersdóttir
* Drago Bludvist
* King Durgulel the Great of Alania (first appearance)
* Stoick the Vast
* Hiccup clan Haddock
* Heather
* Yishai ben Yaakov
* Toiréasa
* Astrid Hákonsdóttir clan Haddock
* Wulfhild of Norway
* Dagur mac Oswald
* Jacob Rodericksson
* Mac Bethad
* Gruoch ingen Boite
* Taskill Thaddeusson
* Ross Alansson
* William of Normandy
* Sigurd Trondsson
* Gunnar Bræsisson
* Gudmund Hallvarsson
* Lulach

### Dragons

* Toothless
* Stormfly
* Mistletoe
* Mjolnir
* Thornado
* Hookfang
* Pílahridh (unnamed)

## Analysis

### Epigraph Tie-In

* The epigraph is about how every nation does espionage, even on allies, the different levels of spying, and the potential responses to a spy getting caught. The chapter shows the following:
	+ Mac Bethad's spies being caught and the Hooligans deciding Mac Bethad has a good reason to keep an eye on them.
	+ Hiccup recognising that there are different levels of spying based on Heather's own operations.
	+ The spy the Hooligans sent to the Berserkers reporting back to them that the situation with the Berserkers is more complicated that it first appears.
	+ Stoick being outraged that Mac Bethad's spies went further than keeping an eye on them and were in fact taking active measures to undermine the Hooligans from the inside.