The Berkians and Berserker had been flying for some time. There was an odd silence because everyone was either in deep thought or unsure what to say. Despite feeling furious at Hiccup for insisting that they do that idiotic plan of his, Dagur was just as joyful that he had captured Ryker. Being the first to speak-and surprising no one-was Tuffnut. "So, I guess Hiccup's plan wasn't a total fail. I mean, it came close. Like really close. As in-" "We get it, Tuff." the heir interrupted, slightly annoyed. The Berserker chief kept his gaze forward, "You're right on both accounts, Tuff." Hiccup bit his lip, "Uh, well we can bring Ryker back to Berk and interrogate him." For the first time in a little while, Dagur looked at Hiccup. His expression was disbelieving and irritated, "He's coming back with me." The Berkians eyed each other, worriedly, "Mind if I ask why?" Hiccup inquired.
Dagur scoffed, "I don't mind, but I am shocked that you have to ask. Call it karma." A frown went over Hiccup's face, "Revenge isn't the way to handle this." His friend rolled his eyes, "I'm not getting lectured over this, Brother. You can ask him some things, sure, but in the end, Rykie's coming with me." For the remainder of the trip, Hiccup sought to find the right words to change Dagur's mind and none entered came to him. The vikings landed in the Berserker stables and dismounted. The chief yanked Ryker off Strykie's saddle and choked him to unconsciousness. A sick grin was on the Berserker's face and his friends watched in mild horror. As Dagur eyed their looks, he noticed that he was not wringing the hunter's neck and instead was holding air. He grimaced, grabbed Ryker actually this time, and accomplished the deed. Bluebolt flew over to them, nuzzling his head against Shattermaster. "I'm going to get a healer for him, pal." Dagur told the Skrill.
After a short time, the chief returned with another viking. The newcomer carried a large bag with her. She bent down to the Gronckle and began a few procedures. Dagur was tapping his foot as he watched, anxiously, "How is he? Is it a fatal injury?" he asked, panic rising in his chest. The healer smiled, comfortingly, "It's not fatal. He'll be fine." The chief let out a sigh of relief. "But," The other viking prefaced, making the Berserker's muscles tense. "He can't fly for too long anymore." Dagur looked at Shattermaster, sadly, and got down on his knees to pet him, "I'm sorry, boy. Looks like we'll have to tell you and Bolty stories about our kills." He rose from the ground and shook hands with the healer, "Thanks, Freya." She returned to her stations and Dagur watched as Ryker, gradually, stirred awake, "I'll relocate our pal here, first." Dagur walked towards the hunter and took hold of the chains, dragging him to the prison. The riders followed him, keeping in time with his hasty pace.
The Berserker chief's jaw locked as he walked toward the jail. A new sense of trepidation filled him and he tightened his grip on the chains. With each step his leg throbbed, seemingly to only remind him of the last time he was in an actual prison. His breathing and heartbeat became faster as he tried to continue on. Another yard closer and he felt like he was sinking into the ground with every stride he took. An unsettling chuckle came from his right and he glanced in that direction, seeing Alvin smirking at him. Learning from past mistakes, Dagur peeked at the other vikings and saw that they were not looking at the Outcast. "Another figment." he noticed, annoyed. "Oh, don't want to pay me attention, Dagur?" Alvin asked, in a mocking tone, "Ya'll have to, when you're in the jail. As far as you know, my cell's right at the entrance." The chief glared, but did not lock eyes with the older viking.
"You're just trying to offend me now. I get the feeling that you don't want to see me again." Alvin stroked his dirty beard, thoughtfully, "If I were ya, I'd be more worried about what someone like me might tell the others. Heck, even lies could ruin your reputation!" he laughed, heartily, and sucked his teeth, "They'd never respect you again, after I'm through." Dagur's pace slowed, significantly, however, he still kept walking. "Fake Al has a point." he realized, eyes widening, "The real one could tell them what happened, lie about what didn't, or just make up random stuff." Hardly noticeably, the Berserker shook his head, "No, they'd believe me over Alvin, anytime. Still...being in a dark, dank jail for the fourth time in a span of a few months sounds awful."
Dagur fought hard to supress a grunt of frustration."What's wrong with me?" he wondered, "Just go in there and throw him in a cell. If I'm going to repay Ryker for what he's done, I need to be able to go into the prison." His eyes brightened, "Plus, it'll be great to see Alvin behind bars. Maybe that's what I need. The certainty that he's trapped and helpless. At the complete mercy of any and every arbitrary thing I might decide to do. Hopefully, then all those nightmares will go away. They'll have to. After all, I'll see that he's not a threat to me or anyone else. Yep, I'm going to enjoy this trip. I doubt that visiting hours have been utilized, anyway." Redundantly, the viking kept telling himself that he would take pleasure in the upcoming task, though his mind was a difficult one to settle. "I guess, I don't have to see the Outcast this time. Might just toss Rykes into the first cell we find and leave. Being ignored is another irritating thing about being imprisoned." he, futilely, tried to reason.
After what felt like an eternity, Dagur and the Berkians reached the door. Too brisk for anyone to notice his ashen face or for his doubts to take hold, Dagur barged in the prison. A guard approached him, "Aye, Chief." she saluted. The leader shifted, slightly, on his feet and forced a smile, "Mind giving me the key for this cell." He pointed to one, closest to the door. The other Berserker raised a brow, "No disrepect, Sir, but wouldn't it be better for such a viking to be put farther in the jail? Just to prepare for the worst, should he ever escape, it would be a lot harder to get past everyone." Dagur hated how the viking had a good point. Commonly, he would have arranged a new cell that was planted in the center of the prison, tucked under rocks and near magma; however, he really wanted to not have to go any deeper into the stockade than he needed. Regardless, paranoia overpowered his personal preferences and he acquiesced.
Ryker was being brought to a cell, deep within the prison walls. The farther they went, the darker it got and Dagur's eyes readjusted to what used to be their usual lighting. Listening, he heard the riders bump into each other a bit. "Stay close." he told. They complied and went in single file behind him-all except for the twins who kept falling over each other. While that was not out of the ordinary, Dagur knew that the prison had plenty of lethal objects that could maim you, on a fortunate day, should you find yourself on one. "Hey, twins how about you two stand guard at the entrance. Wouldn't want some hunter to sneak in and try to free Ryker." he suggested. Their faces could have lit up the hallways, "Why didn't we think of that?" Ruff pondered, aloud. "Poor friends, we shall ensure the security of this forsaken building." Tuff told, dramatically. They ran off, still bumping into one another, though not onto anything deadly.
The vikings went deeper into the dungeon and Dagur saw the form of a large prisoner. Taking a deep breath, he continued forward and opened a door. A hard shove sent Ryker into the cell and he slammed into the wall. "Finally came to visit me, huh?" a raspy voice asked, "Thought ya'd forgotten about little o' me." Dagur glanced in Alvin's direction. The man looked no different from the last time he had seen him and that was infuriating. "Why doesn't he look beaten and worn?" the Berserker wondered, feeling increasingly more angry with each moment. Rising from the ground, Alvin looked at the group and his eyes traced over Dagur's body. "Ya seem worse off than how I left ya. Of course, I never got to finish." he told, a creepy grin forming. The chief's hands balled into fists, but he did not lash out. Sanity was the preferred mental state for the Berkians to associate with him and what he wanted to do would not have fit along those lines.
Acting as though the Outcast were not there, the riders began their interrogations of Ryker. "Where is Viggo?" Hiccup asked. The hunter turned his head away from them, defiantly. The Berserker was about to dig a knife through his back when Alvin scoffed, "Dagur, who was more fun being around, me or them?" Dagur bit his lip and stayed silent. "I'm sure that it was me." Alvin figured, "After all, I didn't give ya that scar. Musta hurt, the way it was done. Nope, I'm a good prison keeper. Didn't do anything like that. Instead, all I wanted was-" "Shut up!" the Berserker bellowed, his hand back on a blade and ready to end Alvin. The older viking feigned shock, "What? You don't want me to tell them about-" Reaching through the bars, Dagur grabbed Alvin by the neck and pierced his flesh with the knife, "Times have changed, Al. I'm in charge, now." he snarled. A wonderful sensation went through the chief as he felt Alvin's life draining from him. "Dagur?" Hiccup called, hesitantly.
The concern in his friend's voice made Dagur stop choking the Outcast to death, "What?" The Berkian eyed the two vikings, "Would you mind waiting with the twins, until we get everything figured out down here? It's just that it could go faster without anybody getting choked." he told, trying to make it sound better. Dagur glanced at him and the others, dejectedly, "I guess." He wished to stay, though could not promise withstanding from inflicting pain onto one or both of the inmates. It was a highlight of the trip to do so and just asking questions seemed soft to him. Unhappily, the Berserker exited the prison and met up with the Thorstons. "The jail is secure, Dagur." Tuff informed him, standing at attention. The chief had almost forgotten what he had told them, nevertheless quickly recalled, "Good work, you two." Ruff nudged her brother's arm with a scroll and a gesture towards the Berserker.
Tuffnut caught her drift and brought out a scroll of his own, "Hey, mind if we ask some questions?" Dagur shrugged, "You can, but I can't promise answering them all." Undeterred, the siblings began, "If we were to run in a circle, would you find that strange?" Tuff inquired. The chief smirked, "Honestly, no." Speedily, the Berkian jotted down what he had said as Ruff asked the next one. "Now, if Hiccup or one of the other riders did that, would you find it strange?" Dagur thought for a moment, "I'd have to know the context. Snotlout's always running in circles, but that's because of his dragon." Ruff wrote down his statements, adding an occassional "yes" or "very good". While the initial inquirements were entertaining, as they continued, Dagur grew irate and found each new random question more foolish.
Tuffnut held up the scroll, "What color would you consider this?" The older viking threw his hands in the air, "What does that have to do with anything? Now to mention it, what dies any of this have to do with anything? What's this all about?" He crossed his arms over his chest, frowning. The twins looked at each other, suspiciously, "Oh nothing big. Just want to stay updated on your opinions, ol' friend." Tuff stated. A lack of believing could not have described Dagur's expression as he eyed the two. Thinking hard, his gaze saddened, although it returned to an even one, shortly. "Well, I'm going to go do some rounds throughout the island, while the rest are down there." he said, starting to walk away. Again, they printed what he said, only annoying him further. Dagur looked at various vikings and could see the reserve in their eyes. He pushed it out of his mind and thought of his friends talking to Ryker and Alvin. Being there had seemed terrible, but only guessing what was transpiring was far worse.
In the dungeon, the riders were trying, in futility, to get information out of Ryker. "You know that we're going to be a lot nicer than Dagur is. Just tell us what we want to know and he might go easier on you." Hiccup reasoned. The hunter glared at him, "I won't talk about my hunters, but maybe I could tell you what you want to know." A devilish smile was on his face. The riders peeked at each other, curiously, "What are you talking about?" Fishlegs asked, "We want to know about the hunters." Ryker shook his head, "Mildly, however ya really want to know about what happened to your friend during those three years." Eyes widening, they looked at one another again. "Come on." Ryker goaded, "You know, he'll never tell ya. The only way you're finding out is by asking Alvin and me." Fishlegs was unsure, "What good would it do to have them tell us that? They'll probably just lie, anyway and if Dagur won't tell us, it's because he doesn't want us to know."
Snotlout shoved Fishlegs, "Don't play by the book so much. I'm always up for a good story." The Ingerman frowned, "This isn't some folklore tale, Snotlout. This is our friend." Hiccup walked over to the two and put a hand on Fishlegs's shoulder, "Which is why I think we should try to find out what happened. We can take it all with a grain of barley." He turned to the hunter, "What went on during that time." Ryker leaned against a wall, "We kept him in a cell worse than this one. The weapons were stored underneath it, so they poked through the flooring." Already, the riders were cringing at the recount. "It was darker too. There weren't even the slightest traces of light throughout the entire prison." He grinned, sinisterly, "Didn't get any food or water until he was about to starve to death. I'm sure it would have helped him heal a lot better from my daily visits." Hiccup was practically afraid to ask further detail, "'Daily visits'?" Ryker nodded chuckling, "Every day, I'd go in his cell and put our weapons to some good use. Always nice to stay sharp."
"You don't seem the merciful type. Why did you want to keep him alive?" Hiccup inquired. That caused Ryker to scowl, "I didn't want him alive. You can thank my brother for that. He made sure that I never killed him-just made him wish that I had." His eyes twinkled, "It was funny because he'd never try to cry out in pain, but sometimes it just had to be let out." Ryker laughed and the Berkian heir set his jaw, trying not to become enraged, "Why is he hallucinating?" The hunter shrugged, "No clue." he lied, perfectly, "He seemed off from the start." Having been fearful of receiving that response, Hiccup changed the subject, "Why did your brother want him alive? Was it to get information out of him?" Ryker shook his head, "Nothing of the sort. He wants him broken." "Yeah, yeah," Alvin began, interrupting further questioning, "Ryker's done his fair share of things, but don't you want to know what happened before Dagur even got in the Grimborns' clutches?" Seeing their intrigued faces, Alvin smirked and commenced the tale.
When Dagur had finished his rounds, he returned to the Berkian twins and saw that the others were approaching too. His pulse sped up and he went over to them. "H-how'd it go?" he asked, awkwardly. The riders looked sad and horrified, so he received his answer. The chief tried to avoid what he knew they had heard, "I figured he wouldn't give much away about his brother. They're not as close as they want others to think, but he knows he's in for it either way, so there's no incentive to help." The first viking to find their words was Snotlout, "Alvin said some pretty creepy stuff about your time on his ship." Dagur's expression maintained its calmness, "Alvin says creepy stuff and lies all the time. What's new? Besides, why were you talking about me? We're supposed to be trying to stop the hunters." The Jorgenson was unsatisfied, "Sure, he lies a lot, but was he this time?" Dagur looked at him, exasperately, "Why wouldn't he be? Don't believe a word out of his mouth." Snotlout breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good because it'd be weird imagining you in that story of his."
Keeping a red tint off his cheeks, Dagur frowned at the Berkians, "Again, why were you talking about me?" Hiccup folded his arms over the front of him, "Because we knew that you'd never tell us." "Why should I? It's nothing worth mentioning. I was there, I came back here, now they're here. Boom. I've told you." he replied, smugly. "We can help you, Dagur." Fishlegs said, "You just have to let us." A strong sense of irriation, bordering on anger, entered Dagur, "I'm good, but thanks for the offer." he answered, bitterly. The cold tone made Fishlegs shrink, slightly, and the Berserker sighed, "If you want to help, let's find that auction of theirs. It would cripple Viggo and he's probably feeling different anyway because his last plan failed and Rykie's here." Resigning, Hiccup bobbed his head, "We'll try to question some hunters about that."
As the riders prepared to return to Berk, Hiccup went over to Dagur-who was sharpening one of his knives, "Hey, in regards to Ryker and Alvin...um, what are you planning on doing?" The chief kept tending to the blade, "Use this on them. Some other weapons too." he divulged. Hiccup looked disappointed, "You're really going to torture them?" Dagur glanced up from the knife, "Of course. What else would I be doing?" A frown blanketed his friend's face, "Showing them another way of life? One of peace." The chief scoffed and the heir continued, "Then, you'll be just as bad as they are." Anger flashed in the Berserker's eyes, "I'd never do what they did." Hiccup was unrelenting, "But, you're trying to. They tortured you, but you can't do the same to them." Hearing Hiccup say that, made Dagur turn red from fury and mortification, "They're my prisoners, mine, and I'll do with them what I darn well please!"
Hearing the confrontation, Astrid went over to the two and stood near Hiccup. Dagur, momentarily, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he had finished completing a mental chant, he reopened his eyes and smiled, "Let's not end this on such a sour note. Have a safe trip, Brother." he told. "Thanks." Hiccup replied, hesitantly. He and Astrid began to move towards their dragons and mounted the saddles. "We'll send word if we find out about the auctions." Hiccup promised. "As will I." the Berserker told. The vikings flew off towards Berk and Dagur went back to preparing his weapon. "Keep your mind on your business, Hiccup, not mine." Dagur thought, sharpening, furiously, "Ooh, Rykie and Al are going to have some fun today."