Chapter 2: Deal Breaker
Hiccup and Astrid flew back to Berk with very little to no words exchanged between them. A tornado of thoughts filled Hiccup's mind which Astrid could sense, but she abstained from asking. She could tell he already had a lot on his mind.
The sun had almost set when they returned but torches throughout the village were lit while the people broke bread in their homes. Silence blanketed the town save for the beating of their dragons' wings. When they reached their home, Astrid led Stormfly to their dragons' stable before turning to Hiccup to break the ice.
"Hiccup, are you sure we shouldn't help Heather and Dagur? Sleuther is still out there and I don't even want to imagine what the dragon hunters could be doing to it." With a hand on her dragon, Astrid affectionately caressed Stormfly's beak to hide her worry. "We could give them our help even if Dagur doesn't agree."
"I know Astrid, but this is something Dagur and Heather must do for themselves." Hiccup answered but the frown on his face only deepened. He remembered Heather's face after he left the Berserker Hall and apologized for being unable to convince Dagur. She stormed back inside the hall with Hiccup and Astrid hot on her trail.
Once inside, a loud thud was heard, and the couple found Dagur on the floor cupping his cheek from where Heather punched him. Heather expressed more heated words at her brother, she called him a coward and weak before storming out of the Hall. This time both Astrid and Hiccup went after to console her.
Following the others, Hiccup paused with one last look of piety and disappointment, then turned to the other chief. Dagur said nothing then got up before turning his back to Hiccup. Nothing else was exchanged between the two then Hiccup strode out to follow Astrid and Heather.
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens." Astrid answered but her tone was unconvincing, pulling Hiccup back to the present.
Nonetheless, Hiccup closed his eyes and nodded then stared at the horizon. The sky was almost covered in darkness with the last few moments of sunlight peeking through in the distance. A heavy sigh left him before turning to his fiancé.
"I wish I can help them Astrid, you know I do but Dagur and Heather have other things to resolve and I don't think it is right to get further involved." Hiccup pointed out somberly then Astrid nodded disappointingly in response.
She took off Stormfly's saddle and placed it away, before bidding her dragon goodnight. When she headed to the door she noticed that Hiccup hadn't taken Toothless' saddle off.
"Are you coming in?" Astrid asked while she kept the front door open with one hand.
Hiccup turned to her, took in a deep breath before he answered, "I just need to clear my head. You go on ahead."
"I understand." Astrid replied with a comforting smile on her face. She let go of the door to approach her one-legged chief to place a kiss on his lips followed by brushing her fingers on his cheeks. Astrid's eyes gleamed with such adoration that it hurt Hiccup's very core.
"Don't take too long. The bed feels cold without you." Astrid stated then Hiccup reached for her hand on his cheek to place it before his lips and kissed it.
"I'll be back before you know it. Get some rest." Hiccup whispered to her hand before letting it go and watching her walk into their home. Hiccup then turned to his Night fury and with much guilt, they took off into the sky. It was almost difficult to discern both Hiccup and Toothless in the distance because of the fast approaching night. Only their silhouettes could be seen by anyone in Berk but once the sun was gone, they were impossible to see.
It was darkness that Hiccup yearned for and hoped to bury the guilt, by flying past the rock platform and toward the horizon.
Despite the guilt curdling in Hiccup's stomach, his mind focused on the resolve he made earlier that day. Hours before Hiccup flew in the darkness of the night, he was gazing upon the dragon eye lens in Dagur's grasp. Shock had not left his body since he found out that not only Dagur was exchanging secretly with Sleuther's captors, but he is also in possession of a dragon eye lens. They had not invested on the Dragon Eye since the Edge was destroyed and Drago happened. But the fact that Johann wanted the lens would mean that Drago was still out there, and he was in search for something which was why they needed to hold Sleuther captive.
"Another dragon eye lens…" Hiccup muttered as if reliving his life these past few years all over again. "This one doesn't look like any of the other dragon eye lenses Dagur, this-," Hiccup pointed at the item in Dagur's grasp. "We cannot let Johann and the dragon hunters get their hands on this."
"I know Hiccup. Which is why I'm planning on keeping it and getting my dragon back." Dagur narrowed his eyes in determination. Glancing over the table and lens clutched with his left hand, Dagur reached in his pocket to reveal a folded piece of paper. "This morning, I went to the Northern Markets to contact Johann's messenger. The location of the exchange is in here. We're making the exchange today." He waved the folded paper at Hiccup whose face wore a disgruntled look.
"And you were thinking of going by yourself? Dagur are you crazy? You're walking right into their trap! You can't expect to get through this by yourself! Even if you're Dagur the Deranged, you're still no match against their numbers. You'll stand no chance of keeping both the dragon lens safe let alone rescuing Sleuther. You don't even know if Sleuther will be there." Hiccup's eyes narrowed to challenge Dagur's and his voice raised.
Dagur cut the air to the side with his left hand while angrily shook his head to disagree. "I know it's a trap and I wasn't just gonna let them get what they want. I'll take Johann as hostage and use him to make the other dragon hunters free Sleuther, before making my escape." He said while gesturing his hand as if he was holding a box to point at his right before shifting to the left.
Hiccup followed the same cutting gesture. "That's still too risky and you'll likely end up dead!"
"What choice do I have Hiccup? If there's a chance that I can save my dragon, then I'll take it even if it means losing my life." Dagur asked while pressing his left hand on his temple then waving it up frustratingly in the air.
Hiccup stepped closer to Dagur then pointed his right hand to the side. "There are other ways to get Sleuther back." Then Hiccup jabbed his index finger on the palm of his left hand. "We'll fly to the location of the exchange and give you support!"
"You think that's a smart idea? Johann is watching our moves Hiccup, if he gets even the slight sense that you and the others are going to help me then the deal is off, I'm already at risk by you being here! I can't accept your help because if I do, I will never see my dragon again. I'm going to face Johann alone Hiccup." Dagur adamantly stated with a deepened voice.
The one-legged Viking shook his head then stepped closer to the other chief. "Listen to me Dagur, I'm not gonna let you take that lens to the dragon hunters! You'll only make things worse." He said with stomp of his metal prosthetic on to the floor.
The Berserker Chief decreased the gap between the two of them by stepping closer, so his face was right up at Hiccup's. "No, you listen here Hiccup Haddock, you're the one who'll only make things worse! I know you don't want the dragon hunters to get what they want and win. I know that! But this isn't about settling scores Hiccup, this is about saving my dragon."
With that, the two chiefs stared each other down for seconds. Their gazes did not relent as if fists were about the fly.
Instead, Hiccup cursed to his side then slammed both hands on the table. "Argh! There's gotta be another way. If you go ahead with the exchange, we'll lose the lens, Sleuther and you…"
Though boiling rage filled Dagur earlier, he could not maintain it at the softness in Hiccup's revelation. He sighed deeply then before resting one hand on the table to try capture Hiccup's attention. "I know Hiccup, but today's the only chance I'll have to get Sleuther back. Better that than having no chance at all. If you leave this island with me Hiccup, Johann will know, and the deal is off."
The Berserker Chief then placed a hand on Hiccup's shoulder, the leather gear felt cold under Dagur's finger almost like the day when he visited Berk for Stoick's wake. "I'm sorry brother, if only there was another way."
Hiccup glanced at the Berserker and saw the same sincerity on the other chief's face in his father's wake. Every fiber in his being cried against Dagur's reckless plan however as difficult as it was to swallow, Dagur was right. The risks were too high, and they lost too much from the dragon hunters already. The smell of ash from the ruins of the Edge from memory reminded him of this.
Amidst the crippling weight building in his chest, he took a moment to breathe as Dagur would whenever he was close to snapping. Suddenly, a flicker of Stoick appeared in his consciousness like a phoenix emerging from the embers, 'A Chief protects his own'.
The words rang truth to Hiccup and something else, something he had not felt in a very long time since losing so much from the dragon hunters-
-Hope.
"Where and when did you say the exchange was going to happen?" Quickly, Hiccup turned to Dagur and asked as an idea began to blossom in his mind.
"This evening, in the place where you found the dragon eye and where the Reaper ship used to be." Dagur answered then memories of the place flooded back to Hiccup like water from a broken dam.
"Plenty of jagged rocks, thick fog and weakened line of sight due to the time of day. It would be difficult getting in and out of there with a ship." Hiccup said to himself which made Dagur raise an eyebrow. The Berserker nodded but he was intrigued by Hiccup's curious expression.
"I know, I think Johann picked a good location and time to use in case I send out the Berserker Armada to go after them. I would do the same if I were him." Dagur answered while trying to read Hiccup's thoughts.
"What is your escape plan?" Hiccup turned to the other chief, face filled with curiosity as if they just discovered a new species of dragon. There was a pause as Dagur wondered about Hiccup's sudden interest.
"I'm planning on flying out of there while trying to not get hit by dragon root arrows along the way." The red-headed chief answered with his arms crossed.
"And if Sleuther is not there?"
A devious smirk formed on Dagur's face as his hands made a fierce strangling gesture. "Then I'll find a way to get close to Johann to grab him by the neck then use him as hostage." He felt the inner derange side of him resurface until the concerned look on Hiccup's face pulled him back to reality.
After a small apology which Hiccup accepted from Dagur, the brunette chief crossed his arms to contemplate. "You'll still be outnumbered, so you'll need support. Up in the air or even holding Johann hostage, the hunters will only have one target and you'll surely be hit…" Hiccup stated as he turned to the other man. "You said that if Johann gets the impression that we're going to help you, he'll call the deal off but if you go ahead with the deal then you'll need help, or you'll fail. Unfortunately for Johann, his plans aren't perfect." By which Dagur raised his eyebrows and responded with a curious nod.
"What're you thinking?" The Berserker asked placing his hands on his hips as the suspense was killing him.
"I'm thinking…" A confident smile began to form on Hiccup's face. "We give Johann and the dragon hunters the impression that we're not going to help you. We let them see what we want them to see and using the cover of the night, Toothless and I will help you escape." Hiccup pointed at the main door where Toothless and their dragons waited outside.
"If you can stall the hunters until the sun sets, Toothless can hide in the night and we'll be able to provide you support. And Toothless is more than fast enough to get to the location before one of Johann's men can warn Johann that I've left Berk." Hiccup curled his hand into a ball and as he stated his thoughts.
Dagur took a moment, with his mouth pursed to think about it. "Sounds good and everything but…"
"But?" Hiccup raised a brow.
"Like you said before, what if Sleuther's not there?" The Berserker asked with fingers tightly gripping at the dragon eye lens.
"Then we take Johann as hostage, and if he wants to stay alive, he'll help us get Sleuther back. A coward like him would save his own skin over the dragon eye lens." Hiccup answered with firm conviction as the memories of Edge, Stoick and Berk burned in his mind.
Dagur was quiet, with a frown for a moment before a wide smile formed on his face followed by his usual maniacal laugh, "MuwahahahahaHAHA! That's brilliant! You're so smart Hiccup! I knew I can always count on you." The Berserker stated before lunging at the other man and wrapping his arms around for a tight hug.
Bones cracked and eyes almost rolling back to Hiccup's head, the one-legged dragon rider squeaked, "Can't breathe! You're squeezing me!"
Dagur quickly let go. "Oh! I'm sorry, I don't know my own strength." The Berserker cooed with hands gesturing.
While Hiccup caught his breath and readjust his back, Dagur asked, "So, what now? We can't let Heather and Astrid, or anyone know about this. It'll be too risky to involve them, and they may not even let us go through with the plan."
The image of Astrid's worried face immediately filled Hiccup's mind, "You're right, and we still need to give Johann the impression that Astrid and I couldn't help even after coming to Berserker Island…"
A moment of silence passed before Hiccup turned to Dagur with an idea. "Dagur, I have a plan, but you may not like it."
Which brought Hiccup back to where he was now, flying above the clouds to hide from anyone who might be looking for him. It was Astrid who immediately came to mind as he was sure she'd notice he was gone by now.
But, it was too late to turn back, both he and Toothless knew that. They had lost too much from the dragon hunters already and Hiccup was not about to let them destroy more.
Sensing his rider's guilt, Toothless warbled affectionately at him. A smile eventually formed on Hiccup's face as he brushed his fingers on Toothless' scaly head.
"Thanks bud. I wouldn't be able to go through with this without you", he stated before staring to the darkening horizon where they were sure danger awaited.
When Hiccup and Astrid left Berserker Island, they wouldn't notice a boat missing in one of the harbors. Nor did Heather as she was in the stables with the combat division, training to blow off some steam. Being the chief of his tribe, Dagur was able to sail into the sea without further questions from his men. Unbeknownst to the Berserkers, their chief was about to undertake a mission so dangerous, they would not hesitate to send the Armada for help.
But alas, Dagur was able to slip off to the sea and even caught a glimpse of a ship, possibly belonging to the hunters. The Berserker chuckled softly to himself.
If he were to come alone with the dragon eye lens, there was a very high chance Dagur would surely get caught in Johann's trap. Possibly losing both Sleuther and the lens. But he was ready to accept his fate so long as it was for saving his dragon. He would not allow the hunters to take another dragon from him again.
Fortunately, Dagur was no longer alone. He was when he lived a life of villainy with no care toward anyone else but himself. Ever since he found out that he still had family left and friends to count on, his identity as Dagur the Deranged became less deranged and more Dagur.
With a little more faith in himself and others, he ventured to the place where Hiccup and fellow dragon riders found the dragon eye.
A place where the waters were infested with feral eels, fog covered the place like it was made of ghosts of the people who perished within, and with jagged rocks which gave the horizon teeth ready to crunch any ship unfortunate enough to pass through.
In the distance, Dagur saw torches on a vessel dimmed by the thick fog while he carefully sailed pass the quickly blackening water as the very little traces of sunlight began to fade in the horizon. Dagur could just hear men on the vessel along with the creaking of his ship's hull. The sound was faint until the torches grew clearer revealing the copper hunter insignia on the distant vessel's sail.
When his ship came close enough for Dagur to see the figures aboard the ship, he yelled out, "Don't come any closer until I see my dragon!" A figure aboard the ship crept closer until the fog revealed it to be Trader Johann, wearing the age-old turban and bushy brown beard as always.
It had been a while since Dagur saw the trader, not since he betrayed them all and stole his sister's dragon eye lens. Today, Dagur intended to give the trader a taste of his own medicine.
"Show me that you have my dragon, or the deal is off, and I leave." He cried out again with Johann and the hunters standing behind the trader gazing at him.
"The fool thinks he can get the better of me." Johann whispered irritatingly at the hunter beside him before commanding, "Do what he says."
The Berserker chief saw the hunters at a large item covered by a dirty sheet behind Johann. When sheet was pulled off, Dagur's Triple Stryke dragon Sleuther was revealed, trapped inside a hunter's cage.
"Dagur! I'm so glad you came, you certainly took your time." Johann grabbed Dagur's attention and stepped forward, so the Berserker could hear. "So cruel of you to keep your dragon waiting in starvation. And you even had Hiccup visit you on the day of our exchange, very naughty indeed." The trader pointed to Sleuther who barely moved and could only growl out weakly.
"I was beginning to think you didn't care about your dragon."
Dagur gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He wanted to wrap his fingers around the trader's neck until Johann's air pipes break and eyes roll to the back of his head. Instead, his fingers dug on to the edge of the boat as he leaned forward to answer, "Heather was the one who called for Hiccup. None of them are coming, I'm sure you know that. I wouldn't be stupid enough to have you call off the deal."
"But stupid enough to come here alone." Johann whispered to the dragon hunter beside him who chuckled menacingly. Johann turned back to Dagur and held a hand next to his mouth to yell out, "Show me that you have the dragon eye lens."
Dagur reached for the item behind him and held it up. Even without much light, the crystal at the center of the chrome black lens glistened for the hunters to see.
A devilish smirk appeared on Johann's face as he placed his hands on his hips. "Very good. Now here's how this is going to work-,"
Loudly, Dagur interjected, "No, here's how it's going to work." With the lens still in his grip, Dagur holds it up at the edge of the boat, right above the water. "You let my dragon go or the lens takes a dive into the eel infested water."
Teasingly, Dagur waved his hand around and leaned it over the side of the boat making sure that Johann and the dragon hunters could see.
"Must you make this difficult? "Johann whispered to himself then placed a hand on his forehead. He sucked in a breath before calling out to the Berserker chief. "Tell me Dagur, surely it has come across in that thick skull of yours that you are at a disadvantage here. Do you honestly think that I was actually going to exchange your dragon to you?"
Tapping his index finger on his temple, Dagur answered, "I thought of that, then again you brought him here."
A diabolic cackle escaped the scrawny trader which echoed in the fog. "Oh, my poor Dagur, it's so sad that you would even think you have a semblance of an advantage over me."
The Berserker noticed that Johann's expression quickly changed from amused to rage. "I bet you're thinking that if I set your dragon free, you'd fly away with it." The trader pointed at Sleuther accusingly. "Well, I'll make sure that you get a dragon root arrow right in that stupid head of yours. Because if anything happens to that lens, your precious dragon here will pay. So, you either give me the dragon eye lens or we'll skin your dragon right in front of you."
Johann's pupils shrunk, and his eyes narrowed sharply as he added to the threat, "Your choice."
Though Dagur hated to admit it, the trader was not only cruel but cunning. Dagur released his sails to sail toward the hunters' ship. When he was close enough, he hopped aboard to approach Johann. As soon as he stepped on the hunters' deck, he felt eyes on the back of his head as hunters crept around him like a pack of wolves cornering a boar.
"Now you're thinking smart Dagur." Johann commented before approaching Dagur.
Even in the thick fog, Dagur could make out the color of the sky, or lack of at least. The berserker held out the lens which the trader snatched immediately.
The trader's eyes focused intently on the item clutched in his hand. The crystal glistened in his eyes like founding a pearl inside an oyster. Glancing to the side, he waved a hand up to order his men. "Hold him down."
Quickly, the hunters were on Dagur like wolves coming in for the kill. At least four men were required to hold the chief down, testament to Dagur's strength. But his strength alone was not enough to escape the hold, nor would it be useful against the archers aiming at him and Sleuther on the deck.
"Ah ah! Don't even try it. One false move and your dragon gets it." Johann threatened with his hand up to hold the archers from firing.
When Dagur conceded, an angry and guttural groan left his throat. The trader stepped closer to stand before him. Looking up, Dagur saw the trader make a devilish and toothy grin. "So typical. This is the problem with you dragon riders. Your love for your precious dragons will be the end of you all."
Johann rolled his eyes then held the lens up to inspect it again. The trader clutched the item and placed his hands on his back to lean down to whisper to Dagur, "You could've been something Dagur, you could've been so much more in the dragon hunting industry but instead, you chose to pursue friendship with those annoying dragon riders."
Pulling away, Johann looked around searching for something. "But where are they now? In your darkest hour, where are these so-called friends of yours hmm? Can't even go to them for help, so pathetic."
All around him, Dagur heard laughter from the dragon hunters and even though he knew it were not true, it still stung.
"I for one no longer care for such attachments." Johann paced around Dagur while he spoke. "As a trader, I make it my duty to only look out for myself and nothing more. All allegiances must be administered in fine print. When you grow attached to anyone or anything, you inevitably get consumed." The trader stated with such conviction that it made him curl his fingers into a ball.
A deep sigh left Dagur before responding, "That's- that's so lonesome."
The comment made Johann stop pacing.
"I've done that before…" Dagur continued frowningly, "…to be completely selfish and care only for oneself. No matter the consequence to anyone or anything around you. I've been through it before and it's…" Flashes of Dagur's evil past rushed back to him like it just happened yesterday. The guilt surely felt as fresh as it was since he changed. "…it's an empty existence."
Looking up, Dagur noticed Johann standing right in front of him with a hand raised to the side. Suddenly, the back of Johann's hand landed on Dagur's right cheek hard enough for it to echo and render everyone quiet.
"Don't you dare presume you are better than me!" Johann spat at the Berserker chief. "You disgraced dragon-loving lowlife!"
The pain on Dagur's cheek began to call out for the inner berserker rage inside him. The side which made his teeth grit and fists clench so hard that the hunters holding him down tightened their hold.
Just as soon as the rage built up, he remembered his time alone in the island where he found Hiccup and Toothless helpless against the Dragon hunters. The very thought of Hiccup's frightened expression from earlier as well as the many others before that was enough to call Dagur back.
Out of the silence, Dagur began chanting, "I am the sea calm and wide, my sense of peace comes from the inside…"
A piteous huff left Johann when the trader realized that the berserker chief was no longer a threat. "Look at yourself, pathetic excuse of a Berserker. Meditating like some hapless lunatic whenever your temper gets a little too much."
Dagur halted his chanting as if Johann's words were just as hard as the slap he felt earlier.
The trader continued with narrow eyes staring Dagur down, "If my existence was so lonesome then how come you're currently at my mercy with no one to turn to?"
Dagur glanced to his side to look at Sleuther whose expression was filled with fear and concern for its rider. "I'm not alone. I have Sleuther."
"Ha! Your dragon? Your dragon will be back to how your dragon loving friends found it: in the arena fighting for survival!" Johann exclaimed before gesturing for the hunters to drag Dagur to the side of the deck. The trader held a hand up which stopped the hunters momentarily.
"And you Dagur, will be eel-supper." Johann added with a cruel grin on his face.
Darkness blanketed the sky as the sun faded into the horizon. "I don't think so Johann." Dagur stared at the night sky and prayed for an angel to descend from Valhalla and save him and his dragon. After a short prayer, he turned to the trader with a smug grin.
"You know what your problem is Johann? You talk too much even though it's a complete waste of time!"
Suddenly, Dagur headbutts the hunter on his left before kicking the other two on the right. The archers fired at him as expected but he dodged them, even using one of the hunters who held him down as a shield, before throwing the body overboard for the eels to feed on.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Johann grabbed his attention as he held a hand up to one of the archers aiming at Sleuther.
Though Dagur felt panic in his chest, he couldn't help but smile at the piercing sound heard in the distance. Thank Odin, his angel arrived.
"I know you won't-," Dagur pulled out some knives hidden in his sleeves. "-but that's because you're alone." Out of the darkness of the sky, purple rapid-fire shots landed throughout the deck. One of the shots broke the lock of Sleuther's cage which helped free the dragon.
"And I'm not." Dagur stated before charging toward Johann with a Berserker yell.
Johann ordered the archers to shoot Dagur and the Night Fury but only one target was visible. Dagur dodged the arrows as he made his way to Johann who ran behind his men. Fire and screams filled the air as arrows and dragon breath were released.
Even though Johann had numbers, they were unable to find the Night Fury in the night and fog. They tried to fire dragon root arrows at Sleuther, but the archers were hit by arrows that seemed to come out of nowhere. Dagur thanked Hiccup's ornate shield doubling as a hidden crossbow for covering him as he knocked Johann's men out of the way to get to the trader.
The cowering trader eventually found himself pinned between Sleuther and Dagur while Hiccup and Toothless took care of the rest of the hunters. Sleuther's tail coiled around the screaming trader and with a single sting, Johann was rendered motionless by the Triple Strike's venom before Dagur snatched the dragon eye lens back. Then the berserker hopped on his dragon's back before soaring into the sky and dropping Johann's paralyzed body into the water which was immediately ripped to pieces by hungry eels.
A final plasma blast pierced through the boat's deck to the hull which sealed the fate of the dragon hunters on board.
"That was amazing muwahahahaHAHA!" Dagur clamored as he petted the back of Sleuther's head. Beside him, the Night Fury soared with Hiccup wearing a wide grin and filled with relief. Dagur turned to both Hiccup and Toothless and gleefully exclaimed, "We did it Hiccup! We got Sleuther back!"
"And we get to keep the dragon eye lens safe from the dragon hunters." Hiccup added before receiving a firm nod from Dagur. Turning to the horizon, Hiccup took in a deep breath of the sea breeze as relief spread in his chest. "Let's head back to Berk, bud."
End of Chapter 2.