Chapter 114: The Paragon Of Animals

*The **Saami** are a Finno-Ugric ethnic group indigenous to the Sápmi District of the North Sea Empire. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Saami's ethnic roots originated from the Uralic peoples to the southeast in the Volga Region between five and four thousand years ago. Migratory tribes of these people eventually pushed towards the Finnish Lakeland region approximately three and a half thousand years before present, and eventually spread through the highlands of the Scandinavian and Kola Peninsulas, mixing with the isolated groups already present and integrating them, creating the predecessors to the Saami people…*

*As one of the Sovereign Peoples of the North Sea Empire, the Saami, as a political unit, have the legal right to organize their own Things for internal self-government in their District, full representation in the Grand Thing, and to determine Saami tribal identification according to their own criteria…*

*Many Saami who live in the Sápmi District continue to maintain their traditional lifestyles, with herding reindeer, fishing, hunting, and forestry being dominant activities, while Saami who live outside of the District are noted as being disproportionately employed by House Haddock as Dragon Tenders for the Imperial Brooderies and Rookeries, a tendency that goes back to the founding of the Empire.*

*—Saami. (n.d.) In Wikikenna. Retrieved January 8, 1891*

## Major Events

* Eret is encouraged by Heike to accept Camilla's and Merida's advances.
* During a meeting, Sigurd reports to Empress Theodora that there are several thousand dragons at the Black Sea nest. To ease logistical burdens, Theodora orders that research be done on the possibility of rearing fish like they do other livestock.
* After the meeting, Theodora explains to Sigurd that she learned of why he converted, and offers tutelage in Christianity. Sigurd accepts.
* A courier from King Mac Bethad arrives at the Berserker holdings. He relays that the king wants Dagur and as many as his best men at Inbhir Nis as soon as possible. Dagur answers that they have to wait for the spring thaw and the courier leaves to relay his answer.
* Eret talks to Camilla and Merida and explains that he wants to be courted properly before he accepts becoming their concubine. They accept.
* Jonna leads a Berkian delegation to Jomsborg. There, they offer employment to the remaining Jomsvikings to work as guards for Stoick and Hiccup.
* Fearless' mate arrives at Good-Cold's nest and spreads the mistaken belief that humans destroyed the Screaming Death's nest.
* The Pechenegs catch Roman spies and bring them to Drago. Knowing the Romans know about them now, Drago orders that they take the dragons at the Black Sea nest.
* Kurya is informed his father is dead and Drago succeeded him. In the mistaken belief Drago seized power, he gladly provides information on him.
* Esther informs Stoick that the Jews on Berk are making a huge show of trust to Stoick using Jewish ceremonies. Stoick accepts.

## Characters

### Humans

* Eret Eretsson
* Heike Eretsson
* Sigurd Trondsson
* Constantine Dalassenos (first named appearance)
* Theodora Porphyrogenita
* Logothetēs
* Harald Sigurdsson
* Jorn Eriksson
* Toiréasa
* Dagur mac Oswald
* Savage
* Cami Berthasdóttir
* Merida Dunbroch
* Jonna Asgersdóttir
* Boarguts clan Ingerman (first appearance)
* Gudbrand Larsson
* Tóki Ingisson
* Thorbrand
* Valka clan Haddock
* Hiccup clan Haddock
* Drago Bludvist
* Kasim
* Erdem (first appearance)
* Kurya
* Kuanfu
* Stoick the Vast
* Esther bat Rivkah

### Dragons

* Beamcutter (first named appearance)
* Dawndrum (first appearance)
* Cloudjumper
* Fearless's mate

## Analysis

### Epigraph Tie-In

* The epigraph gives background details on Eret's people, the Saami, and how they are a sovereign people and their own political unit in the North Sea Empire. The chapter opens with Eret's point-of-view and how he is still getting used to Berk, the centre of the North Sea Empire.