The next few weeks passed in a blur. Hiccup had wanted desperately to send Fishlegs to Berk to ask Gothi about sea snake venom and pregnancy. Astrid had forbidden it; she wasn't ready for anyone on Berk to know (even the silent medicine woman who, Hiccup was sure, wouldn't tell a soul). Though he was scared Astrid would become unwell, Hiccup respected her wishes. Astrid'd had so many violations recently, she needed to know she could rely on Hiccup and the dragon riders. Hiccup had given up trying to make her rest, she seemed to cope much better when in the air on Stormfly. He couldn't blame her, he was well aware of the sky's power to make you forget. Hiccup had been trying to get back into the routine of life on the Edge. It felt odd cleaning out dragon stables like nothing had changed. There was so much to talk about, but every time he tried to broach the subject, Astrid said she wasn't ready to discuss anything. She was clearly struggling, though. The time they spent alone at night was evidence of that.
Hiccup was broken from his thoughts by Fishlegs. "Hiccup! Come quickly!"
Hiccup dropped the broom he was holding and sprinted out of the stables. "Astrid!"
"Relax! Astrid's fine. It's-"
Tuffnut interrupted Fishlegs. "Well, she's not really fine. You know, given the whole Pregnant-With-A-Dragon-Hunter's-Baby situation. And whatever's up with her stomach. And her tear ducts. I mean, who knew Astrid could-"
"Tuff! Not helping!" Hiccup turned to Fishlegs, "What's wrong?"
"Snotlout just got back from scouting Viggo's dock. There are even more ships, the Hunters are clearly planning something big."
"Right. We need to investigate straight away, cut off resources to the shipyard."
Several hours later the riders were flying just South of the harbour. Astrid had insisted on coming, and Hiccup hadn't protested much. After Ryker's attack on his hut, Hiccup secretly felt much happier when Astrid was near him. The Flame Whipper, which Tuffnut had christened 'Sir Steve Dragon Lord Of Awesomeness' had clearly wanted to come too. However, as Steve couldn't fly, he had to stay at the Edge.
There were five islands near the dock according to the chart Fishlegs had drawn up. Each rider would scout one island looking for anyone who might be aiding Viggo, whilst Hiccup observed the port. He wanted to get a closer look at the Hunter activity.
Toothless growled as he crouched next to Hiccup behind a large rock. The docks were below them; and Hiccup could see men loading baskets into the ships' holds. "Fish?" He asked Toothless, who grunted. "Presumably for luring dragons in. But where are they getting the fish? The waters around this island are too rocky to haul in that big of a catch."
The boy and dragon crept closer. There were plenty of boulders to hide behind; but without grass to muffle their footsteps they had to tread carefully. Once they were within earshot, Hiccup stopped to listen to the Dragon Hunters' conversation. "Any idea what Viggo wants to do with these?" Said a large Hunter wearing armour fashioned from brown dragon scales. The thought made Hiccup shudder.
"Why would I know?" The second Hunter threw the basket he was carrying onto the pile, and a salmon fell out. Toothless licked his lips.
"No, Bud."
The scale-clad Hunter spoke again. "Pub later?"
His friend chuckled as they walked away, "Let's see if you can keep up with me."
Hiccup turned to Toothless. "That's strange, there's nothing on this island." Toothless murmured in agreement.
Toothless suddenly stood and stalked around the edge of the dock. Hiccup called after him, but the dragon only looked back and kept going. "You got something, Bud?" Hiccup scrambled after Toothless. Toothless stopped behind a large grey canvas tent and nudged the fabric. Hiccup slipped inside. It was clearly some kind of commanders quarters. There was a small wooden table in the corner covered in parchment. One piece caught Hiccup's eye. It was a shipment plan that detailed a convoy of dragons being taken to the Eastern Trade Circuit in one moon cycle's time. Hiccup had never seen an operation this large. He continued to scan the document and his eyes caught the name of Viggo's accomplice: the People of Hope. The People of Hope were granting the Hunters safe passage, food, water and shelter in exchange for dragons.
Somebody was approaching, their footsteps ringing out against the rock. Hiccup left the tent and made a hasty get away with Toothless. They were more vulnerable on the ground, but Hiccup didn't dare take to the air. He wanted to leave without being noticed, if that were possible.
Ten minutes later Hiccup landed on a sea stack just out of sight of Viggo's shipyard. Astrid and the twins were already there, and reported seeing nothing on their islands.
"You know," Said Tuffnut, "Its a shame Ruff and I didn't find the tribe. We'd have been able to bring them to our side."
Astrid folded her arms. "How, exactly, would you have done that?"
"My dear Astrid," Ruff waved her hand regally, "Converting the views of troublesome people is a Thorston specialty."
"Making people so miserable that they throw themselves off a cliff doesn't count."
"Well, it sort of does." Said Tuff. "It stops them opposing what we want to do, anyway."
Astrid facepalmed and went to look at the manifest with Hiccup. "The People Of Hope? Why have we never heard of them before?"
"I don't know, they're under Viggo's protection I guess?"
"I think I might know." Fishlegs had joined them. "I found their village." He marked a cross in the centre of the island he had scouted. He shuddered. "They keep dragons in cages, it looks like they're used in religious rituals."
Hiccup's stomach twisted at the thought of what those dragons must endure. "The People Of Hope avoid the Archipelago because we'd free their dragons if we knew about them."
Fishlegs recounted the various food and water sources he'd spotted; as well as the locations of the island's defence system. Hiccup was always amazed at Fishlegs' ability to remember the fine details. Once Heather and Snotlout returned, the riders discussed an attack on the People Of Hope.
"-and then the twins will blast their main well." Hiccup finished. Ruffnut and Tuffnut bashed their helmets together.
"I don't know," Heather bit her lip. "We don't know who these people are; or their intentions. I'm not sure it's a good idea to go in dragons blazing."
"We don't have time. If we don't cripple Viggo's supply chain immediately, his fleet will capture thousands of dragons. Then he'll come after ours."
Astrid scratched Stormfly's neck. "Hiccup's right. We might only get one shot at this."
The riders flew below the tree line, each approaching the village from a different direction. Hiccup was nervous: whilst Fishlegs' recon skills were excellent, they didn't have much information to go on. He spotted a charred tree stump in the distance and landed, hoping to avoid the sentries Fishlegs had reported nearby. He waited for Snotlout's signal that the guards of the dragon cages had been knocked out; and his thoughts drifted to Astrid. He really wasn't comfortable with a pregnant woman going in to battle on a dragon. He prayed to Odín that she would be okay. It wasn't just Astrid he was worried about: Hiccup needed to look after her child too. Their child.
At that moment, Hiccup spotted a blast of fire from the other side of the island. It was time. He nudged Toothless forward and, as expected, a flurry of arrows rained down from the trees. Toothless used evasive manoeuvres, then gracefully twisted to return fire. Hiccup spotted the sentries: two women wearing knee-length red capes. Their black hair spilled in curls from their hoods and they held the most ornate black bows Hiccup had ever seen. "Shoot to stun, Bud." The women dropped from the trees. Hiccup caught one woman, and Toothless the other. They lay the sentries on the forest floor and rushed towards the village without looking back.
In the village, all hell was breaking loose. Fishlegs had built a wall of lava around the caged dragons which the People Of Hope were dousing with water. Stormfly soared over the village, her spines poking holes in the wooden houses. Snotlout blasted the food store, and the villagers screamed. They hurled spears at Hookfang, but the Monstrous Nightmare was out of range. "Missed me!" Chanted Snotlout as he turned to destroy their barn.
From the woods, a large group of caped warriors rushed forwards. They aimed their bows and began to shoot. Hiccup fired at them, but somebody threw a bolas that caught Toothless' tail. Rider and dragon plummeted to the ground. Hiccup pulled a knife from his pocket and tried to cut the ropes, which seemed to be coated in some kind of indestructible substance. It was no use. He raised his sword and ignited the blade. Three warriors lunged at him. Hiccup punched hard in the first warrior's chest and he stumbled backwards. Another grabbed Hiccup from behind, and he struggled as somebody ran at him with a mace. Hiccup raised his sword and blocked the blow. It is hard to fight back whilst a violent stranger is trying to drag you to the floor. Suddenly the warrior in front of him fell forwards. Astrid stood there, her foot raised. Hiccup didn't ask where Stormfly was. He kicked out the legs of the warrior behind him, then staggered towards the remaining woman. He didn't want to hurt her, but he wasn't sure he had much choice. The first warrior had regained her footing. She grabbed Astrid and held a sword beneath her chin.
"Stop in the name of Alura." The voice was clear and rang out across the village square. The People Of Hope all lowered their heads. Hiccup dropped his sword. This seemed like some sort of ritual; and it was not within the Hooligan tribe's customs to disturb a religious ceremony.
"Hookfang, fire!"
A warrior pushed Heather to her knees in front of Snotlout, a blade to her throat. Hookfang's flames immediately died down.
Hiccup stepped forward, "Let Heather go. I'm the leader, it's me you want."
A man dressed in loose black clothes with an emerald green cloak and a small silver crown on his head emerged from the shadows. "Heather is no name for Alura. Identify yourselves, O' those who have kept her from us."
Heather struggled against the woman who held her. "Alura?"
"My Goddess, you are safe now." The man bowed low.
Heather looked directly at the man. "I'd feel safer if you could lower the knife." He nodded, and the warrior dropped her blade. Heather stood up. "I have returned to you. The Dragon Riders guided me back."
The man smiled. "That may be so," Hiccup was tugged into the centre of the village and tied up along with Snotlout, Astrid and Fishlegs. The man continued speaking. "But they kept you from us all these years. And, let us not forget, they have attacked the Village of Hope."
"Yes." Said Heather. "As I commanded them to. We must release the dragons. They are no longer safe here."
"What's she doing?" Hissed Snotlout.
"Saving our butts." Fishlegs whispered back.
"Oh man, this is a bad idea." Said Snotlout.
"You got a better one?"
"We.. I...Shut up, Astrid."
Hiccup was watching the People Of Hope. They were untying the shackles around the caged dragon's ankles, which were rubbed raw. One by one, the dragons took to the air.
"My Goddess," Said the man in the emerald cloak, "Who are these strangers you brought to the Isle Of Hope?"
"They are friends to all dragons." Heather's voice was quiet but clear. "They told me you were in danger, so I brought them to help."
"Why did they attack us?"
"You question my divine decree?" Heather fixed him with a piercing gaze.
The man dropped to his knees. "No, Alura, I do not."
Hiccup was just admiring Heather's convincing performance as an unknown, if slightly illogical, deity when there was a loud explosion in the forest. Oh Thor. The twins had just blown up the well. Barf and Belch thundered into the village. "So, what'd we miss?" Said Tuff cheerfully.