Maces and Talons pt 1
Far away in Asgard, the world of the gods…
Loki, the god of pranks and tricks, watched with amusement the battle between the Dragon riders and Hunters on Midgard, the human world, through a water mirror in a big marbled bowl.
At the moment, the Riders attacked a convoy of Rykers ships. When a Hunter from a support ship was trying to shoot Hiccup down with a ballista, Loki waved his hand-and the bolas slightly missed the Hooligan Heir. The god grinned and waved with his index finger.
"Don't you dare to shoot this precious boy, Dragon Hunter!" he said. Then he leaned back in his big thronelike chair.
"I can´t believe what the norns had talked about when I went to their place to the roots of Yggdrasil to watch them. This only happened once since the beginning of times and now it will again? And it sounded very interesting…"
"Are you planning again some mischíef, Loki?"
Thor enters the marbled room.
"What? Me? What are you thinking?"
"Don't play your tricks on me, Loki!"
"I would never dare! One strike with your Mjölnir once taught me a lesson!" Loki growled.
"Be warned. Don't mess around with the destinies of the people of Midgard!"
"I mess nothing around! The Norns are doing it!" Loki snapped, as Thor left again. "Skulds Prophecy was not for your ears, only for mine!"
He remembered exactly Skulds exited words two days earlier. And he couldn´t nearly belived what she has foretold...
Back on Midgard, the fight against the hunters went on.
"Fishlegs! Flaming boulder incoming!" Hiccup yelled, as a catapult launched the burning rock in their direction. Fishlegs let Meatlug catch the boulder and eating it in one gulp.
"See? I told you, there would be flying snacks." Immerman said to his dragon.
"The arrows are next, guys!" Astrid yelled. The Hunters aimed their arrows at her and the twins, but as they fired, Snotlout and Hiccup blocked their attempts with their dragon armour and shields.
A lava blast from Meatlug caused the archers to scatter.
Ryker was watching everything from his flagship through his spyglass and was starting to get annoyed.
"Come on, bud, lets set these prisoners free." said Hiccup. Toothless fired a plasma blast at the deck of Rykers flagship and flew straight into the hold below. Then they ran through the break and Hiccup opened every cell with a pull of the chains mechanism. The metal doors swung open.
"Come on, guys, lets get out into freedom again! AAAHUUURRR!" Hiccup called and the dragons followed him and Toothless as they exited the ship through the hole in the deck.
To say this annoyed Ryker and Dagur would be an understatement. But deep inside him he grinned how his little brother fooled the Hunters again and stole their freight.
"I keep saying-Don't underestimate them!" Dagur growled to Ryker. "And what do you do? You underestimate them!"
When Astrid let Stormfly fire several of her spikes at them, Dagur dodged them behind the mast, but Ryker blocked them with his wrist guard, without even looking.
"Someone is giving them information! Someone who knows our every move!" Ryker said, looking up as Heather flew by on Windshear. Then he shot Dagur a warining look.
"You think, my sister is a spy? She hates the riders! And so do I! Enough now of this playing! Its action time!" the Berserker said and let out a whistle. Shattermaster came running and Dagur jumped on his back. The looks Ryker gave them, meant that he was starting to suspect them. So he needed to prove that he and Heather were on his side.
"Sis, Ryker is starting to get suspicious!" he said in a low voice.
"Then lets get into action!" Heather said. Then she saw Snotlout flying past over the support ship.
"Sorry about this, Snotlout." she whispered and let Windshear blast the sea stack he was flying towards knocking him off of Hookfang.
"Hey, nice shot, sis!" Dagur grinned.
Fortunately, the twins appeared and Barf catched Snotlout before he hit the ocean.
"You scream like a girl." Ruffnut grinned and flipped him onto the Zippers back. Now Dagur got into action and began to chase them down blasting them to it look convincing that the Berserker siblings were still Hunters and unfortunately it was much to the twins expense. Ruffnut was blown off Barf, but Hookfang managed this time to catch her, preventing her from falling into the ocean.
"Her you save? Thanks a lot, Hookfang!" Snotlout grumbled as he soared past them.
Ruffnut took Snotlouts place on Hookfang.
"I know I am not as stocky or annoying as your rider, but lets have a try and work together, okay?" she said to the dragon, who gave an approved snort.
She then forced Hookfang to fly down towards the flag ship and snatching a boulder from one of the catapults. But they were not able to dodge the net launcher and fell into the sea.
Heather groaned, this was not what she wanted.
"They´re down! Pull them aboard!" Dagur ordered. While the hunters were busy pulling Ruffnut and Hookfang aboard, Dagur noticed, that green gas started to billow over the deck.
"Look out!" he shouted, but it was already too late. Tuffnut ordered Snotlout to let his Zipper head spew gas, and the male twin ignited it with Barf. The huge explosion knocked the Hunters off their feet.
"Cursed Zipper!" Ryker growled who watched it from the other end of the ship.
Snotlout and Tuffnut whooped and cheered over they great move.
"Hey, when you are done with handing out the "Viking of the year"-awards, you mind getting us outta here?" Ruffnut asked, when she reappeared on Hookfang, looking extremely exhausted and wet. So the three flew off as Rykers Flagship was on flames, Snotlout and Tuffnut still cheering.
"You-Snot! Get off my dragon!" said Ruffnut glaring at the Jorgenson.
"Uh, actually Snot and I are gonna hang out for a bit." said Tuffnut. "You know, relive the glory of battle. You don't mind riding Hookfang a little bit more, do you, sis?"
Ruffnut snorted and flew away, Hookfang was snarling at Snotlout before he turned.
Meanwhile Ryker and Heather had just encountered Hiccup soaring right past them.
"Finish him!" the bald Hunter shouted.
"I do this, sis! Hiccup is mine! Lets go bud!" Dagur growled. He knew he had no choice and chased after Hiccup cutting his path.
"You will pay for this, you runt!" Dagur roared.
"Dream on." Hiccup rolled his eyes. Then he saw the Berserker winking. He knew that there was no choice.
"Brother, should I not backup you?" Heather asked.
"No, sis! Stay out of it! That's personal." Dagur sneered.
"Okay, bud. Plasma blast. But don't hit him with full power. Even if he is a gronkle." Hiccup said.
"Shattermaster, I´m sorry, but it must look real." Dagur whispered. "Go!"
Dagur steered his gronkle onward, who prepared to fire a lava blast.
Suddenly a weakened plasma blast hit the green Gronkle at the flank and with a painful screech he let himself fell from the sky and crashed with his rider on deck. Shattermaster was not only a loyal dragon, he was also a good actor.
"Brother!" Heather gasped and landed with Windshear near the fallen Gronkle and his rider.
"Well done, Bud." the Berserker whispered and helped his Dragon up. Then he looked for injuries.
"Phew, everything okay."
They watched as the other riders retreated at Hiccups command to return to their base. Hiccup looked back at Dagur and could help but felt concerned, but when he saw Shattermaster on his legs again unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Okay, bud. This Plasma blast just nicked you. Hiccup will never real injure a dragon." Dagur whispered.
Ryker approached the Berserker Siblings and crossed his arms.
"Hey! What were you doing up there?!" he spat.
"And what did YOU do? Why didn´t I get backup from you! Because of you Shattermaster could have got injured!" Dagur retorted venomly.
"Something diddn´t look right."
"Hey, which part? Why do you left my brother and his dragon exposed up there?" Heather growled.
"And why did YOU just floating there, not shielding your brother?" Ryker asked.
"I told her to did so! I don't like my sister getting eventually hurt!"
Ryker grumbled.
"Let me put it in another way. If you touch one hair of my sister´s head, or let getting her injured, I´ll run you through and wear your ribcage as my battle armor!" Dagur growled.
Ryker grunted and sheathed his sword, when one of the Hunters appeared.
"We just received a message. We´re heading back to the island." he said.
"On whose orders?"
"Viggos. He is waiting."
Rykers expression suddenly changed, he almost looked a bit frighten and then he looked back at Heather and Dagur.
"Good. We let HIM settle this." the bald hunter said, put his sword back and walked away.
"What do you know about Viggo?" Heather asked.
"Oh, just that he is very much the opposite of Rykie."
"How so?"
"He is smart. And when I say smart, I mean supposedly cleverer than me, which is almost inconceivable, its very hard to fathom and I´m still gonna need some proof." he laughed uncontrollably and Heather smiled nervously. "Well, that´s what they say about him. - But I am sure, my little brother Hiccup is much smarter than him."
Dagur then leaned closer to his sister and continued: "And he loves the art of the kill. And when he puts you to sleep his is like a fart of wind, you never seen him coming."
"What does Ryker say about him?"
"Not much. I think the big boss scares him. Can you belive it? Scared of his own little bro."
Dagur then looked at Heather with sympathy in his eyes. "Sad. Nothing is worse than a family rift."
Then he gave her a big hug. "How great is it that we´re here? Together?" He then pulled away from her and she smiled at him nervously. Then Dagur shot her a serious look. "Be careful, sister. One false step and we are the next snack for a whispering death! Its most important not to blow our cover!"
"I will. Don't worry. I have always took care of myself! And don't forget Windshear!"
"Good. Now lets go meet this…." Dagur then acted all big and tough. "Viii-go Grimmm-bornn! Ooh! Now I got the shivers!"
When he walked away Heathers face went serious. Now she would meet for the first time the man who stood all behind this hunting business. Now they will have a chance to capture Viggo and put an end to the Dragon Hunters.
Later that evening at Dragons edge.
The Riders had just returned to the stables, Snotlout still riding on Barf and Ruffnut still on Hookfang. When they dismounted and put their dragons in the pens, Snotlout and Tuffnut still were so much in high spirits about the fight with Ryker, praising each other. Ruffnut huffed and went to her hut.
Hiccup and Astrid were discussing Dagur and how his cover has almost been blown.
"We have to pull the two out. I fear especially for Heather." Astrid said.
"But I and Toothless have reacted as we had made it up, if we met in battle. And it worked." said Hiccup.
"I wanted her out weeks ago, and somebody talked me into-"
"I know I did. But things were different now. Its getting too dangerous for them!"
"Its always been a way too dangerous. They will soon met with this Viggo character and he is not such a fool like Ryker, I fear." Astrid said.
"You are worrying about Heather. But-Viggo Grimborn leads the Dragon Hunters. If we can take him down, the whole Dragon Hunter Army will be without a leader and will collapse."
"And if we keep her in there too long, they will discover that she is a spy-and then Dagur is in danger too! I don't think these Hunters will go soft on them. Should we really risk Heathers life?"
In the background Snotlout and Tuffnut wrestled playfully knocking over some buckets and a broom.
"Hiccup, if something happens to Heather-Dagur will never forgive us." Astrid said.
"But he is with her. He will not let that someone hurts her. And she is a way too smart for letting herself caught. And there is Windshear and Shattermaster. Besides, would you think, Heather would let herself pull out of there so easily?"
"Exactly. She would never go for it." Astrid sighed.
The conversation was interrupted when the rattling of a wheelbarrow was heard. Snotlout and Tuffnut were still fooling around, overloaded with excitement.
"Wow-we just became official best friends! Yeah!" Tuffnut shouted and the jumped around.
Finally Astrid had enough of the noisy background.
"Hey, will you two quit this and take it somewhere else? I cant hear myself think!" she growled and walked off in a huff.
"Go play outside, you dorks." Hiccup grumbled and pointed to the stable door.
"Okey-dokey." Snotlout grinned, put his arm around his new friend an they walked out of the stable. "How did they still have so much energy?-Come, bud. Lets get some sleep."
Later they had found a cave and were now sitting around a fire with Barf and Belch. Snotlout just stared at it speechless. Then they poundered for a moment about a name for their small hideout and got the same idea in their minds.
"The awesome Viking Cave club North!" they said in unison. Then they gasped and looked at one another, pulling into a hug.
"This is too real! It´s getting so real!" said Tuffnut. Then they broke apart and laughed.
It was late in the night and Ryker has docked his ship on an island that held the Dragon Hunters operation base. As they made their way down a slope to the tent that was located in the centre of the island, Heather noticed dozen maybe even more dragons in chains or in cages.
A big dragon skull that hung over the entrance of the tent, makes her shiver. They then made their way inside and were met with a handsome young man who was sitting at a heavy desk. He had short dark brown hair, brown eyes with light dark circles under them and a goatee. On the left side of his neck were three long scars, no doubt from claw marks from a dragon. His face was deeply calculative as if he was trying to find their fatal flaws just by looking.
He was wearing a black tunic with red shoulder pads made of dragon scales and a belt around his waist. He has also spiked shoulder Pads of metal and black wrist guards. His belt buckle showed the Dragon Hunters tribal crest, the raised fist. Heather also noticed that he seemed to be fiddling with a figure from a game board. It took only several seconds to realise that the game board belonged to Mace and Talons. She never played the game herself but she knew that it was more a test than a simple game for future chiefs to test their battle strategies as if there were facing a real battle.
"Its said that there are two ways to be fooled. " Viggo began as he fiddled with one of the pieces. "One is to believe what isn´t true, the other is to refuse to believe what is." He looked at them with a slight smirk. "Mace and Talons. My favourite game, when it comes to use your brain. And I like using my brain."
He then got up and made his way to the newcomers. "I began playing with my grandfather when I was just a boy. I always insisted upon being the Honourable Viking chief. I could never understand how he bested me time and time again."
Viggo chuckled and Dagur and Heather exchanged puzzled looks. "For years, I assumed his skill transcended mine. I belive what wasn't true. But, you see, in Maces and Talons, as in real life, the line between good and evil is often unclear." The Leader of the Hunters tapped the lantern with the game piece, letting it swing back and forth, shining light on the small figure and covering it in shadow in the process. "Black and white can change to grey so easily. What one soul considers evil, another might consider righteous."
Viggo placed the figure down on the board and picked up another piece, a miniature mace. "The Honourable Chief who fails to see this is found to be..-" He knocked the Viking Chief piece over with the mace. "…-the fool."
Then Viggo turned around, letting the game board behind him and outstretched his arms.
"I thought he will never finish with this strategy babble." Dagur sighed in his mind.
"Welcome, brother!"
The two Grimborns hugged one another and when they pulled apart Viggo placed a hand under his chin, studying him.
"You must be weary. The dragon trade is an exhausting business." he said. As if by a secret sign, the tent flaps opened and a Hunter stepped in shoving another one in, pushing him to the ground.
"Even more when profits wane because the inventory goes missing!" Viggo sneered and pulled his sword. He pointed the blade at the hunter.
"Look Boss, I only borrowed the hide in exchange for food. It wasn't missing for more than a day." the man said quickly. Viggo pointed his sword at the hunter´s neck and brought his face near him. A long strict look -and the man was totally intimidated, his eyes wide open in fear, while Viggos were narrowed and his brows furrowed. Everyone could see the fear in the hunters eyes, as he stared at the emotionless, cold orbs of the Dragon Hunter leader standing before him. Then Viggo looked at the other man and nodded. This was for the other hunter the sign to pull the now relived man away.
"Oh thank you, Viggo. Thank you." said the hunter, as he was dragged outside. Viggo then noticed Heathers look on Heathers face. "We are not barbarians." he said and sheathed his sword. "Rest. We have much to discuss tomorrow- But she can stay."
Dagur looked from Viggo to Heather. He had a bad feeling. But he did not say anything and left with Ryker. Viggo looked at Heather. "Come. Walk with me."
They walked outside and began to patrol the Hunters base.
"My brother treated you well, I presume?" Viggo broke the silence between them.
Heather looked at him in curiosity. "You forgave that man. I wasn't expecting that." she admitted.
"Forgiveness. Not really a sound business practice now, is it?" he said. The next moment she heard the screams of the Hunter from earlier and let out a small gasp. This man was really coldblooded.
Viggo led Heather towards the cliffs edge. "Trust, however is imperative, Heather." They stopped just before it and she noticed, that he still had a hand on her shoulder. "And we simply don't allow a traitor among us." For one horrifying moment Heather believed that Viggo knew she was a spy.
"A man will never know how far he is willing to go until he steps to the edge and looks down." he said as they got closer to the cliff. He then looked at Heather. Wouldn't you agree with me?"
"Ah, I suppose, metaphorically." she said. Suddenly a part of the cliffs edge broke away under her right foot but Viggo pulled her out of danger. "I always hated the use of metaphors."
He brushed an imaginary dust from himself and continued:" Now back to business. I need your assistance, my dear."
Heather blinked. "You do?"
"Yes. In exposing the foul fruit in our rows."
"Oh, of course." A stone weight fell from Heathers chest, when she realized that Viggo had no idea that she was the spy. "Do you have any ideas who it is?"
"Unfortunately, yes." he admitted. "Ryker has always been a bit jealous of the power structure amongst the Dragon Hunters and his role in that hierarchy. That type of ambition can often put dark clouds in your mind."
"You really think its your brother?" Heather asked.
"I´m not entirely certain." Viggo admitted. "Look, your brother claims to know these Dragon Riders well, yet they always seem a step ahead of us. I would never suggest turning on ones own family—"
"But if Dagur is standing in the way of your success, that is not to be tolerated." Heather finished.
"I couldn't have said better myself. Nor is it tolerable if this traitor is my own flesh and blood."
He smiled at her and and they continued their walk. "I am so pleased that we are on one line with this, Heather. I see that I can trust you now. Will you see what you can uncover?"
Heather nodded. "Leave it to me, Viggo."
"Excellent. In the meantime, I´d like you to join me in a most delicate retrieval." he said as he stopped. "But you must keep it to ourselves. Have you ever encountered a Flightmare?"
"As a matter of fact, I have." Heather answered, smiling. "And-I can tell you where you can find one."
Viggo just smiled at her.
Meanwhile, at Dragons edge, Snotlout and Tuffnut sat silently in their cave, a noise from outside alerted them. It was Ruffnut, who wanted to enter.
"Huff, Astrid is driving me nuts." she grumbled.
"This is a private club." said Snotlout, leaning against the cave wall, tyring to look smug. "To gain entrance you have to—oh." He stopped when Ruffnut showed him the Dragon Eye. "Hang on a moment."
Snotlout went to Tuffnut and the two pondered about to let the other twin into the "club" or not.
Finally they agreed and a bit later they were playing dragon shadow puppets with the help of the Dragon Eye and Belch´s fire. But it got quickly boring and Tuffnut asked his sister how she get her hands on the Dragon Eye.
"I just told one Mr. Hiccup Haddock that I was taking it. And because he puts his full and unwavering trust in me, he handed it over with pleasure." Ruffnut said. Her brother and Snotlout gave her blank looks, not believing what she had said.
"Okay, fine! I stole it, when he was chasing our Björn Boar out of his hut. Was a funny sight-and I took the chance." Ruffnut grinned.
A loud gasp let them all turn around. Fishlegs stood there in the entrance, not believing what he saw and heard.
"What are you doing with the Dragon Eye?" he asked.
"Hiccup let us borrow it." Snotlout answered.
"But this is not a toy! Its an old unique artifact!"
"That's why it´s fun to steal it." Ruffnut grinned.
"Are you want to join us or not?" Snotlout asked.
"Fine. I guess someone should be here who knows how to use the Dragon Eye correctly." Fishlegs huffed and entered the cave.
In the meantime, Hiccup and Astrid were meating up with Heather on a sea stack. Then they saw her approaching.
"You sure you weren´t followed?" Astrid asked.
"Don't worry. I was careful." said Heather as she dismounted Windshear. The Razorwhip ran up to the other dragons and they began to play with each other.
Heather made her way over to the two riders.
"Viggo suspects Ryker and Dagur, not me. He asked me to go with him to capture the Flightmare. Just me, Windshear and him." she said.
Hiccup blinked. "Why Viggo wants a Flightmare?"
"I don't know. But look: Its only me, Viggo and Windshear. The perfect time for an ambush."
"I agree but how exactly does Viggo think the three of you are going to capture the Flightmare?"
"Yeah, we could baredly keep one at bay and that was with three dragons." said Astrid, remembering the night of Orendels Fire.
"You haven't met Viggo Grimborn. He is a professional dragon hunter." Heather said.
"Right, but you are not going to let him capture it." said Hiccup.
"Of course not. That's when the ambush come in. You guys show up, grab Viggo and we set the Flightmare back on his path."
"Now all we have to do is to find it."
"Last year I spend a lot of time tracking it, pinning down its location every couple of weeks. I know where it should be now and I gave this information to Viggo."
"Which made him trust you even more."
Heather pulled out a map.
"This is the algae trail. Follow it to here." she said pointing on an island on the map. "This is where we will be."
"So will we." said Hiccup.
In the meantime, Viggo had a meeting with Dagur who was feeding Shattermaster with rocks. When the leader of the Hunters approached, the Gronkle began to growl.
"Sssshhh, bud! This is our boss. So be a good Gronkle and eat up." Dagur calmed his dragon and patted him on his back.
"What do you want, Viggo?" Dagur asked and walked up to him.
"Tell me all you know about this Dragon Riders, especially of their leader."
And the Berserker told him about them.
"Their leader is the son of Stoik the vast, chief of Berk. Hiccup Haddock the third. But all call him just Hiccup. But I prefer to call him a runt. And a runt he is. No strong warrior, but with his Nightfury, he rides, they are nearly an invincible team." he told.
"No one is invincible. "Viggo said.
"These two are, I fear. This black pest of a Nightfury hardly leaves the side of this runt. I know Hiccup from childhood on, he was always a weak runt, but since he trained this night fury, I can´t get his hands on him! But Heather once could win the trust of Hiccup and his friends and they showed her how to train dragons. With this knowledge she was able to tame her dragon. And I tried it too-with Shattermaster. But we still are no match to them!" he told frustrated and balled his fists. "But one day, I will crush this little runt and wear the Nightfury skull as a helmet!"
"Well, thank you for your information, Dagur. You and your dragon will stay here till you receive new orders."
"Aye." the Berserker nodded. Viggo turned around and left. When he was out of sight, Dagur sat near Shattermaster and leaned on his broad back.
"I hope I had not told too much. But he must belive, that I and the Riders are still sworn enemies." he whispered to the Gronkle, who first looked at him a bit worried. "Be careful, little brother."
When it began to darken again, Hiccup led the other Riders to the point where Heather had instructed them.
"Why Viggo want´s the Flightmare so badly?" asked Tuffnut.
"Maybe Viggo likes the way the algae stuff makes you glow when you rub it all over yourself." Ruffnut asked making her brother laugh.
"You know what? You may not actually be that far off." said Hiccup. "He maybe want to use its algae or its paralyzing spray for something. I am sure he wanted to use it as a weapon against his enemies or other dragons."
"We could ask him ourselves, if we were waiting for him when he gets there." said Astrid, taking the lead.
When they reached the edge of the cliff they saw the Flightmare drinking from a small river covered in growing algae.
"There he is. Let´s stay together. We need to make sure that Viggo doesn´t get near that dragon." said Hiccup.
Suddenly Toothless growled and Hiccup looked up and spotted a ship heading straight towards the island. He knew instantly that this ship belonged to Viggo.
"Wow, your Nightfury can scent a hunters ship before we even noticed it." said Tuffnut. Hiccup pulled out a bag and tossed it to the twins. "Okay, Ruff, Tuff, make sure you get enough algae-."
"…to lure the Flightmare away." Ruffnut said, catching the bag. "We know."
The twins mounted Barf and Belch and few off.
Meanwhile, in Viggos cabin, Heather was looking out of the small window.
"I can´t see the algae trail, but should getting close." she said.
"Oh we are, my dear. In fact, we are almost there. Exciting, isn´t it?"
Heather just smiled. So far so good.
And on the island, Hiccup and the others were preparing for their ambush. But then Astrid noticed something, she doesn't like.
"Hiccup, look there!" she said and pointed out to the sea. The Hooligan heir looked up and saw four more ships approaching them from the west. More Dragon Hunters.
"And there!" Fishlegs said.
When Hiccup turned he saw three Hunter ships approaching from the east.
"I don't get it! I thought Heather and Viggo were coming alone." Snotlout said.
"Dragondung!" cursed Hiccup, as he saw flaming boulders heading straight towards them. "Everyone, look out!"
They just avoided getting hit, but it was close.
"He tricked us!" Hiccup growled.
Heather made her way onto the deck of the ship she was on and discovered the extra ships on both sides. At this moment she realized, that this whole entire thing was a trap and Viggo knew she was the spy all along.
"You set this up!" she snarled, whirling around.
Viggo just smirked as he held up the Mace and Talons game piece. "He is called the "Impostor". Some call him the "Traitor"." he said. "I thought you should have it. As a parting gift. What a pity. I had hoped you´d be a better adversary. After we got off such a smashing start."
Heather turned, when she heard an explosion from the tallest cliff on the island. With a snarl she drew her twin blade axe and charged at Viggo. However he moved with such speed that he ripped the weapon from her hands and pulled her in a headlock, holding her against his body.
"How did you find out?" she growled as she tried to break free from the hold.
"I knew it from the moment I laid my eyes on you. You are no Dragon Hunter, my dear. – Aw, don't despair. At least your friends will all be dead by the time we arrive."
That single sentence gave Heather the strength she needed. She was able to break free, reclaimed her axe but when she whirled around to face Viggo, he was already gone. Only a slight chuckle was heard in the darkness.
Then she heard the shouting of attacking hunters, who charged at her. She blocked their attacks and let all her rage upon them. Her cover was blown-and now she could make these Hunters at least pay.
Up in the air Hiccup and the other Riders were moving into position to deal with the ambush the Hunters had laid.
"On my command, fire!" Dagur ordered from his ship and thought at the same time:"Please retreat little brother! It would be better for you all." He had left Shattermaster at the base camp, so that the Gronkle would not get hurt in the fight.
Ryker began giving orders to his men. "Keep closing in on them. They´ll lead us right to the Flightmare."
From the air, Hiccup wasn´t liking their odds, there were just too many ships to deal with and there was also the problem with Heather, because they had no idea what became of her.
"I see Dagur down there-but where is Heather? I hope she is okay." Astrid worried.
"I don't see her either." Hiccup murmured.
The twins on the island had no idea whats going on out on the sea as they slowly approached the drinking Flightmare. When they filled the bag, the blue shimmering dragon lifted his tail, slammed it in the river and splashed the two intruders with the glowing water! Now the Twins were covered with the glowing algae-and a very angry Flightmare, who roared at them! The twins run for it and the angered dragon began to follow them.
"Barf! Belch!" Ruffnut yelled. The Zipper used the gas and spark to drive the Flightmare away, but it was just too nimble. The twins hastily mounted their dragon and took off, the shining dragon hard on their tails.
The riders on the other side had problems with the Hunters ships. They was a rain of arrows that it was hard to block them. Hiccup got stuck by two in his armor plates, but Toothless armor was hard enough that the tips bounced off. Then the twins came flying past with the Flightmare following close behind.
"Eeh, not the way I would have done it, but that's one way how it works too." said Hiccup.
The twins were so busy trying to away from the Flightmare, which was creating a ghostly glowing trail behind it, that they were not able to help the other riders. The Ring of the Hunter ships were closing more and more and the rain of arrows and boulders increased.
"Retreat, little one, retreat!" Dagur thought worried, as he watched the fight. "Turn tail, as long as you are able to!"
Heather has just knocked off one more Hunter off board and was now engaging the last of them. When she was done with her last opponent she heard Windshear cry out and whirled araound to find her in a cage and muzzled.
"I´m coming, girl!" she yelled. She made her way to the lower deck over and through the remained hunters and freed Windshear, who helped her against Hunters who are aiming at them.
"Good job! Now let´s go and help the others." Heather said and patted her head.
The hunters tried to stop her, but she got quick out of range. Viggo watched her flew off with a fixed expression, in truth he hadn´t planned for her to escape, but it was a little concern. He knows she would not leave her friends and flee, and this weak point of her would leave to her capture again.
The Riders are now grouped together once more and were still trying to avoid getting hit.
"Hiccup! There´s too many of them!" said Astrid. Just at that moment the twins flew by with the Flightmare still close behind them.
"And the Flightmare really isn´t helping. How could one dragon be so unforgiving when taking a little bit away of his food?" Fishlegs said.
"We´ll be fine as long as we stay away from his mist." the Hooligan heir told him.
"Hiccup, cant you just let it know we are the good guys?"
He looked at the twins and then at the glowing river and an idea popped into his mind.
"Follow me!" Hiccup said. He then led the Riders down towards the Hunters ships and the Flightmare followed suit. Ryker frowned as the Riders head straight towards them.
"Tuff! The bag!" Hiccup shouted and opened his arms. The male twin threw it to the Hooligan heir and he catched it.
When they flew over Ryker and Dagur´s ship Hiccup tossed the bag straight at the Hunters, covering them up with glowing algae. Ryker looked at the glowing water and laughed.
"Oh no! You got us!" he said smugly making the other Hunters laugh.
"We surrender!" Dagur laughed. "Good one Rykie. Bring it on, Hiccup!" Then he looked at the glowing algae. "Hey, this stuff is cool. Shiny."
It took not long till the Flightmare took the bait, entered the ship and starting paralyzing the Hunters.
"Hey! What are you standing around? Get back to work! Shoot someone from the sky!" Dagur yelled.
"They can´t" That's the mist from the Flightmare! It let freeze its victims with fear." Ryker said.
"Not bad, little freckle." Dagur thought.
The Flightmare caused enough trouble on the ships and set the Hunters running.
Heather appeared and did her own damage to the ships with Windshear.
"I´m so sorry, Hiccup. Viggo figured it out." she said as she made her way to the riders.
"We know. He all tricked us." said Hiccup. "Where is Viggo now?"
"Still on that ship, I think. " said Heather and pointed at one of the ships who floated a bit aside the others.
"Oh no! They got him!" Fishlegs suddenly said. They all turned and saw that several Hunters were able to toss nets on the Flightmare.
"Its mouth! Get its mouth!" Dagur ordered. A muzzle was placed on the caught dragon, preventing him from spewing his mist.
"Oh no! I will not let him in the hands of the Hunters!" Heather said with narrowed eyes and before anyone can stop her she flew downwards Dagur´s ship.
"Heather! No!" Hiccup yelled.
But the Riders must watched helplessly as a Hunter fired a net launch, capturing both Heather and Windshear. Hiccup flew down to help, but even with Toothless armor they couldn't get near the ship with all the arrows raining up on them.
"Astrid, keep trying to help Heather." said Hiccup as they retreated. "It´s time Viggo and I were finally meating!"
Astrid and the other riders tried their best, but the fire from the ships was too heavy to get near them. Helplessly she must watch as Heather was taken below the deck.
"Its no use! Retreat!" Astrid ordered.
Meanwhile, Hiccup and Fishlegs had reached Viggo´s ship but when they landed, they found the entire vessel deserted.
"Where is he?" Hiccup asked.
"Looks like he abandoned the ship." Fishlegs said.
Astrid landed on the deck.
"We couldn´t get Heather back. There were too many of them." she said as she dismounted.
"What about the Flightmare?"
"Gone."
"Viggo too. Astrid-this guy isn´t messing around. Our dragons may not be enough-We´re gonna out-think this guy, outsmart him somehow. Or Heather and Windshear have no chance of-"
"Don't say it." said Astrid quickly. "Please don't say it."
"Or maybe Dagur would find a way. It seems his cover isnt´t blown yet."
"One way or the other-this guy is more than any person we faced. Because he is using his brain and not his fists."
Silently they looked out into the darkness.
End of part one
to be continued…