第五章：门的另一边(11)

and he’d lost a bit of weight, but he could still be described as ‘a hugely fat man with a beard as red and out of control as a forest fire’. And to Hiccup’s passionate relief, Stoick seemed to be in some sort of position of importance and respect among the slaves, or at least in the group seated at this particular table.
Once a Chief, always a Chief. ‘New boy, eh?’ said Stoick, as Hiccup helped himself. ‘What’s your name, kid?’ Hiccup forced himself to look his father right in the eye. This was awful. He was in two minds about this, because he was undercover of course, and it would be deadly dangerous if people started recognising him, but surely, surely, Stoick must know who he was? Valhallarama was away questing a lot, so she had some sort of excuse. But Stoick and Hiccup had sat together every single day at the breakfast table for thirteen years! How unmemorable exactly was he? For Thor’s sake, he knew he’d grown up a little but it wasn’t as if he was wearing a large curly false moustache or anything. But no, Stoick clearly hadn’t a clue, not even the merest smidgeon of an idea that the boy he was sharing his supper with was his own only son. ‘My name is…