Finding Balance 25
The fire spread quickly. Krogan had taken dry straw and spread a trail as far from a water source as possible. The Hunters would have to buck water from the sea or closest river over a mile away. The city itself was almost two miles from the heart of the fire. Krogan watched from a safe distance as men and women rushed to deal with the flames, dragging buckets or with dragons and horses pulking water carts. He grinned at their efforts but it was no use. He kept a torch close by and simply started another and another until the entire northern part of the first was in flames. No one noticed him. They were all too busy trying to control the fire, but he noted every new face, searching for his prey but the boy was not on the ground, he was in the air with his Nightfury. A frown tugged at Krogan's lips. He knew the boy would rush to help, Johann had said as much, but he had underestimated just how much the boy and his dragon were connected. He had to somehow separate them.
Thankfully, even with the Nightfury hauling large drums of water, the fire was quickly growing out of control and the Hunters were being forced back. Krogan simply had to bide his time and he would have what Johann desired.
. . .
"Ryker!" Hiccup yelled as Toothless flew away from the billowing smoke. The wind had changed directions making it hard to see or breath.
The Hunter was yelling orders to his people as they raced to the nearest water source. At this rate the fire would consume most of the forest before sunset.
"Ryker!" he yelled again.
The man shot him a glare. "Get more water!"
"We need the dragons!" Hiccup urged.
"We need water!" The man snarled angrily.
"The dragons can bring water."
Ryker was having none of it. "They'll bolt the moment they're free."
"No, they won't," Hiccup insisted. "Trust me."
He didn't wait for Ryker's answer. They needed more water either way. Toothless turned to fly back toward the city, aiming toward what Hiccup assumed were the dragon pens instead of the town square.
Ryker watched in surprise for a moment, then annoyance. "You damn well better not..." Anger hit him along with realization. "Fuck!" He left his cousin Lars in charge and ran after after the boy and dragon.
He groaned inwardly as the Nightfury swooped toward the dragon arena where most of the dragons were kept and cared for until auction or used for the fighting pen. There was a large hatchery underneath. If Hiccup found it then they could loose all their dragons. Ryker didn't want to have to kill Hiccup, or throw him in a cell but he would if he had to. Emma might yet get her wish and Hiccup would become a thrall.
Those thoughts were fleeting as he reached the arena. He glanced back towards the forest. The fire was raging out of control and was getting closer and closer as new fires broke out . He stumbled to a stop. At this rate the fires will reach the fields and the hay was cut the ground was dry. It wouldn't take long for spark or small flame to make it to the farms and then the city. He was torn. He should be with his people helping, maybe ordering the creation of a trench or the cutting of trees in hopes of keeping the fire from going further. It was a long shot but he needed to do something, anything to stop it.
He looked back toward the pens. Maybe...just maybe Hiccup could control the dragons and save them all. At this point it was worth a try. He had seen how Hiccup was with dragons. He had heard of Dragon Whisperers before and only ever witness one before Hiccup who had nearly destroyed the Hunter fleet singlehandedly. It gave Ryker a sense of respect for Hiccup and made him regret his actions from the night before all the more. He should not have tried twisted the blame on the boy. If they survived this he would find some way to make it up to him...provided the kid did not free all the dragons and brought back the ones if burrowed. If not...he wasn't quite sure what he would do.
He wasn't surprised when he reached the pens to find Hiccup throwing locks and opening barred doors. But this wasn't like on the ships, simply because the doors were open did not mean they would immediately rush to freedom. Many coward in their pens, too afraid to move even when Hiccup spoke softly in hopes of coaxing them out.
"It's alright...it's alright," Hiccup said soothingly as he entered one cell with his hands risen in a peaceful gesture. "We just need a little help."
"Get out if there, Haddock," Ryker said sternly.
Toothless growled at him and he sneered back. He was not taking attitude from a dragon. Any dragon.
"Ryker, I told you, they can help," Hiccup objected, shooting him a glare.
"Aye, and I told you to get out if that cell."
The boy stepped and glared at him. "I'm trying to help."
Ryker nodded and grabbed a larger lever on the right hand wall. "Stand back." He yanked the lever down hard. There was a cranking sound and something in the distance hit the ground with a thud. Then the ceiling split in two.
Hiccup stepped back in surprise as the ceiling opened up to the arena above and sunlight poured inside as did the smell of smoke.
"I hope you can control them," Ryker told him as the youth mounted his dragon. "If we lose even one Viggo will have our heads."
Hiccup gave a curt nod. "I'll deal with Viggo, you worry about your people."
Ryker hesitated a moment then nodded as well. "Good luck," he whispered as the Nightfury tool flight. A moment later the curious and frightened dragons followed. Something told him he'd be lucky if he saw even one after all this and oddly enough he no longer cared.
. . .
The moment Dagur had noticed the fire he ordered his Berserkers to help battle it. They formed a chain from the river through the forest to Hunters, passing bucket back and forth as fast as they could. The chained positions depending on how the fire moved. It was a long trek from the heart of the fire to the river and men ran back and forth several meters to deliver water to the next man in line. It was tiring work but the fastest way to get water. Unfortunately it was doing little good. New fires would break out making it near impossible to control. At this rate they were going to be boxed in with no way back to the city. Which meant the fire was man made and deliberate. Dagur knew a little about forest fires and they normally didn't jump like this. This was designed to kill, although who and why he could not be certain. It was unlikely the Grimborns would threaten their own people, but they likely had enemies would would.
"Fall back!" he yelled as the flames drew closer. It didn't seem to matter how much water they bucketed, they couldn't get the fire under control.
Savage echoed his command to everyone around, indicating for everyone to head to the river. It was the only safe way around the fire and to the village. If they could soak the fields they may be able to keep the fire from hitting the city.
Dagur waited as men and women ran into the cold water. It wasn't very deep but it would have to do. Just as the last group was about to jump in the sky seemed to open up and it began to pour in the middle of a bright sunny day. Caught off guard, Dagur looked up to see Hiccup and Toothless upended a huge water trough over the flames closest to the firefighters. Dagur never felt such relief at seeing his littler brother. What was more shocking was when dozens up in dozens of seemingly wild dragons did the same. Even more dragons appeared, those that had their wings clipped, storming through the forest and knocking down trees and stomping out low flames as their flying brothern dove toward the river to fill up throughs and douse more flames.
Dagur watched in awe, as did everyone around them. Inspired to help from the air as well, Dagur cautiously moved toward the Triple Strike he had seen at the arena. He kept his hands raised and his voice calm and soothing. This particular dragon didn't have claws like the others and seemed to have difficulty gripping the trough he had been carrying, making it next to impossible for him to do a dive by fill up. It watched Dagur with curiosity, its tail rattling in warning. Dagur kept one hand up as he knocked the trough on its side to fill with water then righted it.
"Hey, big boy," he said gently. "See? Only here to help. Can we be friends? I can fill the trough and you can dump it?"
The dragon studied him for a moment then snatched the trough and flew off. A minute later it was back so Dagur filled the trough again. And again. And again. He helped and dragon that needed to fill a trough and soon the other Berserkers and even Hunters were helping, but the Triple Strike kept returning to Dagur and it gave the young man a thrill to know a dragon coukd trust him so much. It was long before the fire was under control but there was still a considerable amount to battle before it was out. And while that was forefront on Dagur's mind, he found he had also won a small victory for himself when the Triple Strike allowed him to touch it, and then, eventually, mount its back to help find hot spots from the air. It was the great thrill he ever had, flying a dragon of his own for the first time.
. . .
The fire wasn't completely out but it was no longer heading toward the city. Hiccup found a little relief from that but he was also surprised when he didn't see Viggo fighting next to his people to put out the flames. It angered Hiccup knowing Viggo wasn't there. He was a chief. It was his duty to protect his people. Toothless landed next to Ryker, who seemed to have befriended a grey and red Rumblehorn much like Stoick the Vast's.
"Where's Viggo?" he demanded, ready to give his now ex lover a piece of his mind.
Ryker looked away from where the Rumberhorn was ripping up burnt trees. "He probably hasn't come back yet," he said, as if not surprised his brother was missing in action. And then it seemed to hit him and he looked off into the distance. "He took his steed and went for a ride shortly after talking to you. He must still be out there. The fire closed down the main trail."
For one brief moment Hiccup allowed himself to think that maybe the fire was started by Viggo, but that seemed unlikely. He may be mad at Hiccup but he wouldn't risk his own people...would he? It was highly unlikely and Hiccup hated himself the moment he thought it. His own anger at Viggo was clouding his mind.
"What's on the other side of the forest?" he asked instead.
"It goes for miles. There's another village half a day's ride but Viggo wouldn't heading there. I think he just needs to clear his head and think things out," the older man answered. He took a deep breath. "Look, Hiccup. Last night wasn't your fault. We should have known better. I should have known better. We were fools and..."
Hiccup looked away. "I'll take it up with him."
"None of this was your fault. Just because it felt good doesn't mean it was right. I'm sorry."
The youth sighed. It was probably the best apology he was likely to get. At least Ryker fidn't try blaming part of it on him again. He was tired of people passing the blame onto him for their own stupidity and obscene behaviour.
"Thank you," he said, feeling a little better but not quite at the point of forgiving anyone just yet. Ryker's repentance could be due to how close death had come to his people. Who knew how things would be afterwards.
"Sorry for what?" Dagur asked, surprising them both when he arrived on the back of the Triple Strike.
Hiccup's eyes widened at the sight of Dagur riding a dragon. "How..."
Dagur gave him a big grin. "We came to an understanding. Neither of us like wild fires."
A laugh filled Hiccup. He never ever would have expected Dagur to befriend and fly a dragon on his own. He normally didn't have the patience required to tame a dragon. "I can't believe it!"
Dagur shrugged. "I can't let you and Heather have all the fun, now can I?"
"I guess not," the younger man agreed. "Can you guys handle to rest of the fire here? Make sure it won't continue toward the city while I search for Viggo? He's out there somewhere." He gestured toward where the fire was still burning strong.
"As soon as we secure this section we're meet you out there," Ryker told him. "Dagur, keep the dragons dumping water along the boarder and fields. I don't want even one spark escaping. There we'll follow the fire and get the rest out. Viggo's smart enough not to engage the fire on the other side. He'll head to the river to be safe." He gave Hiccup a nod, his directions clear. Follow the river and he'll find Viggo.
. . .
Viggo was enraged. He had only left the castle a few hours ago and some fool had set the forest on fire. Worse, he was trapped on the other side. He had immediately directed his stallion toward the river.
Shadow was a beautiful steed, thick in body and powerful. It had felt like ages since they last rode together. He had hoped to take Hiccup out with him. To show him what riding a horse was like and then make love to him out in the wilderness. He had had high hopes that Ryker had been wrong and Hiccup would have been happy about the night before. He never expected such rage from the boy. All he wanted was to make Hiccup forget about his harem for just one night. He had been a fool to think having Ryker join them would have done the trick. Perhaps someone else, a thrall closer to his friends's builds. But that hadn't been the only issue. Hiccup had been insistent that no one cum inside him and Viggo had failed to inform Ryker of that. But it had felt so good releasing inside the youth. It had been as if he had finally claimed Hiccup as his own, even if he had shared Hiccup just that once. He had allowed his own wants and needs to come before that of Hiccup and may have very well lost him forever.
It was those thoughts that had distracted him from the fire until Shadow reared up and the smell of smoke invaded Viggo's nose. Had he been himself and not fusing over what had happened, he would have noticed the smoke on the breeze much sooner and been able the make it back to the city before it overtook the road. Instead he was forced to go through the dense woods on foot, holding Shadow's reins to keep the horse from dashing off in fright as they headed in the general direction of the river. The ground was dry, twigs brittle and leaves crunching under his boots, primed to go up in flames from the smallest spark.
The fire spread quickly and Viggo had to change direction twice as their path was cut off by new flames. Relief came it the most unusual way.
Water was suddenly dumped over the flames before him from overhead. Not rain but from overturn trough clenched in the claws of an all too familar Nightfury.
"Ah...Toothless, your timing is impeccable," he exclaimed as the dragon landed before him. "I never thought I'd be so happy to see you, my friend."
"Are you alright?" Hiccup asked, slipping off his dragon and hurrying to Viggo. His anger was momentarily forgotten as he looked Viggo over. Then he stared at the horse in surprise, having only seen drawing of them before.
"I'm fine, my dear Hiccup. Although I am generally grateful that you and Toothless came to our rescue," he said, meaning every word. He wad happy Hiccup came for him for many reasons, not just to save his life but also because the boy had not runaway and gone back home.
Hiccup didn't meet his gaze. "Yeah, well I wasn't about to leave you out here and be burned to death."
Very carefully, Viggo took his chin and made him meet his gaze. "Thank you, my sweet." He searched Hiccup's gaze, seeing the hurt and distrust. "I should never have broken your trust in me. I should have been a much better lover and not let jealousy cloud my mind. Can you forgive me? Can we try again?"
Hiccup blinked in surprise. "Viggo, this isn't the time. There's a fire raging all around us. We have the north under control. It won't touch the city but..."
"This is the perfect time," Viggo insisted.
Alright, maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was the do now or die that pushed Viggo to insure Hiccup's forgiveness but he was desperate for it even under the calm persona he portrayed. His heart ached with the need to know he hadn't ruined everything by his foolishness. It was his mistake, his alone to bear the blame, but he needed to know he hadn't lost Hiccup because of it.
"Please, my love. My only intent was to give you the ultimate pleasure. I should have asked your permission rather than let you get drunk. For that I will always be sorry. Tell me what to do to make this better and I will do it," he pleaded. He cupped Hiccup's cheek and drew him close.
Hiccup searched his dark gaze, unsure what to say or how to feel. "Anything?"
"Name it."
"Then free all..." His eyes widened in sudden pain as something stabbed him in the side of his neck. He raised a hand to it but his vision blurred and balance began to give. "drag..." he managed before slumping forward against Viggo.
"What in Helheim..." Viggo began only for Toothless to begin snarling. A moment later the dragon fell as well, numerous darts sticking all over his hide. Viggo pulled the dart from Hiccup's neck but had no chance of defending himself. He found himself stumbling a moment later as he too was hit. He had enough mind to try and protect Hiccup as they fell to the ground.
"Hello, Grimborn," a rich deep voice greeted him as a tall man immerged from the forest. "So nice of you to cushion his fall for me. My client wants him unharmed."
"Krogan..." Viggo breathed, fighting to stay concsious.
The taller man chuckled as he bent to pick Hiccup up. "Not much to look at, but I guess your more interested in other parts of his body. Cute though, in that gangly, pale sort of way."
"Get your hands off him," Viggo growled, fighting a losing battle to get to his hands and knees.
Krogan simply laughed at him. "Shame, could have made a small fortune on the Nightfury, too. I suppose the Dragon Whisperer will have to do. Don't look so alarmed, Grimborn. You could have done the right thing and brought him to Drago yourself. I'll be sure to inform him that the boy is already a trained concubine. May even take a turn with him myself."
"No!" Viggo yelped as he was kicked in the temple. Blackness clouded the edges of his vision but it didn't stop him. He rolled onto his hands and knees, fighting the drug coursing through his body. He reached out for Krogan, desperate to save Hiccup. "No..."
A second blow to the head knocked him unconscious. He slumped on the ground, not far from Toothless, the fire raging ever closer.
Krogan grasped Shadow's reins and threw Hiccup's limp body over the horse. He swung up next, a hand on the boy's back to keep him from sliding off.
"Thanks for the horse, Grimborn," Krogan purred, kicking the horse's ribs to get it moving. "And don't worry, I'll make sure to take good care of your little trull before Drago breaks him."