"Bjornar? Are you sure it's him?" asked Astrid, to which Hiccup gave an immediate nod. He had reason to believe that the commander of Lakestead was behind what they found, thus
"There's no doubt that it's him, Astrid. There's already been several red flags, and those chaos crystals were one of them… but I fear the worst is ahead of us."
His eyes fell on the hole that they laid near them, which was previously filled with chaos crystals. Hiccup, Astrid, and Fishlegs had taken the opportunity to destroy them with the use of their fire magic, not taking the risk of touching them, and though it took them a few attempts, the crystals were eventually reduced to dust.
Yet Hiccup believed there were still more scattered around the fields, buried beneath the dirt.
"You also have to consider how the orcs could have just... brought them here," commented Fishlegs. "Because it wouldn't be easy for them to sneak by a village guarded by half-giants, especially since these fields are so close to it."
"The only explanation we have is that someone on the inside betrayed the Dragonskarn, and snuck the crystals in."
Hiccup gave a nod in agreement. "And I believe there's only one way we can set this right. We must confront Bjornar, and overthrow him."
Snotlout crossed his arms. "I'm not saying it's a bad plan, but I have just one question. How on Midgard are we supposed to get into his tower without getting stopped by guards; if they end up catching us?"
"The same way we got into Lakestead," spoke up Arn, to which Snotlout rolled his eyes. "We came here by Ragnar's request. He wants us to help his people, and if any of the guards here try to get in our way, we'll make sure to remind them who's protecting us."
"...It could work," commented Astrid. "But Hiccup has the final say in what we do... Hiccup?"
"Hmm..."
The young chief remained a bit uncertain. All the while Hiccup thought about this, he turned to Toothless who sat nearby talking with the other dragons in conversation and sharing with one another their thoughts... Perhaps they had the answer he needed.
"Toothless? What are your thoughts?" asked Hiccup.
"Well… the other dragons and I talked about it," began Toothless, speaking in Dragonese. "And we believe that we should split up and enter the tower from both the bottom and the top. Because the roof of the tower is flat, I have reason to believe that there is an entrance leading inside, so we'll be able to cut off Bjornar's escape if he tries to run."
"Now that I think about it," added Arn, as he too understood Dragonese. "That's actually a better idea."
"Uhh… what is?" asked Tuffnut. "Are you like- talking to the air now or something?"
The blonde viking shook his head. "No, Toothless was just giving his idea on how we can get into Bjornar's tower, and I think it's a better idea."
"Pfft, since when did you speak Dragonese?" laughed Ruffnut.
"Umm, he taught me. Did you really forget already?" asked Hiccup with a sigh.
"Wait- he did?" asked Tuffnut.
Hiccup facepalmed himself, followed by another sigh. "Listen, point being is that Toothless gave his idea, all right? And I say we go with it… We're going to enter the tower from two sides, from above and below. Ruff, Tuff, and Snotlout, you three will enter from the roof. Astrid, Fishlegs, Arn, you three will follow me through the front door."
"Sounds like a plan," nodded Astrid. "Though we'd better keep close to each other. Something tells me this isn't going to end well."
"Not unless we're quick enough to deal with him," replied Hiccup before turning to face Toothless, proceeding to walk over towards him. "Mount up, vikings. It's about time we owe the commander a visit…"
…
Hiccup's eyes gazed at the tower before him. To his luck, but also to his concern, there were no guards outside the entrance leading inside, but at the same time - Snotlout and the Twins with the aid of the fog managed to get to the top of the tower without being noticed.
Now it was time for him and the others with him to make their move.
Astrid, who had her hood over her head, rose a brow in question. "That's weird... why are there no guards protecting the entrance?
"I don't know, but it's probably for the better," quickly replied Hiccup. "The plan is simple. We'll quietly make our way up the tower and see what Bjornar is up to once we've found him, but do NOT engage. We have to do this without being spotted."
"Let's hurry. Someone could show up at any moment and see what we're up to," said Fishlegs.
"Agreed," added Arn. "Lead the way."
Hiccup gave a nod as he motioned with his hand for them to follow. The four vikings then swiftly made their way up the path with their dragons behind them, heading towards the doors of the wooden tower, to which Hiccup surprisingly found slightly opened.
As he went ahead of the group and pushed them more open, he made way for everyone else to go in first.
"Everybody, get in," he responded in a low voice.
Astrid, Fishlegs, and Arn were the first to run inside, with the dragons immediately following, and as soon as everyone was in, Hiccup took a final glance back at the distant townsfolk of whom were hard at work, making sure that they were not being watched, and upon making his way in, he gave the large doors a heavy push and shut them closed behind them.
They were in the clear to proceed.
Before them was a flight of stairs that led upwards before becoming a spiral staircase that had to have been at least three dozen steps or more. However, since they were votun-sized stairs, they had to watch their footing to make sure they would not trip.
"Watch your steps when going up, and try not to make a sound," he reminded them, to which they nodded.
Again, the young vikings went first whilst Toothless and the other dragons stayed back to guard their rear and keep out of sight, and as the silent ascendance up the stairs continued, Hiccup began to notice strange things.
The torches that were lighting the way upwards began to change from an orange fiery color into an emerald green that almost reminded him of the orcs's magic, and yet since when did he ever see votun use green-lit torches? In fact, since when did he ever see anyone else use them? Questions were beginning to flood him as they neared their way to the top, and as they got closer, Hiccup swore he could hear talking, and even then he saw a green light emanating down near the end of the staircase.
Whatever it was that was going through him, he knew something was not right, and the eerie atmosphere added on to his suspense...
Finally, the group managed to get to their way to the last four steps at the top of the staircase, and before they could enter the room at the top, Hiccup immediately held his arm out and stopped them.
"Wait," he said as he kept his head down.
Above their heads was an opening leading into Bjornar's chambers, the room where Hiccup could hear the votun talking loudly to someone… to a voice that sounded familiar.
All he had to do now was merely take another step once more, and poke his head up to see what was going on, and as he made his way up one more step, he slowly raised his head to look into the room…
...And that's when he saw it.
In the center of the room was a font of chaos energy, and in the pool stood a conjured image of Drago Bludvist, summoned up by chaos magic.
Now Bjornar had shown his true colors. His betrayal became clear.
"You have done well so far, Bjornar," chuckled Drago. "Not only did you confirm to me that Hiccup Haddock and his Wings of Midgard are in Votunheim, but now, we will be able to set in motion the next step of our plan."
"But will they not try to stand against us?" asked Bjornar impatiently. "They could call on the aid of Ragnar and the Dragonskarn to the defense, and if they figure out how to unleash their powers against us, they might be able to-"
Drago held his hand up, interrupting him. "Patience, Bjornar," he replied. "As I said, the Wings of Midgard do not have what it takes to unleash a fury. The Dark Master assures us that they are but insubordinates; nothing but weaklings…"
"To me they are as pathetic as these townsfolk that I have to overlook, warlord. They aren't even aware of what I have done to their farms all those years ago when the Dark Master began whispering to me. The process was slow… but now it is finally working, and I have been patient. When will I receive my reward?"
"You will soon enough," Drago nodded. "You have but now to prove to me your full loyalty, and then I will give you powers strong enough to break even the dragons themselves. You will become my new lieutenant."
Bjornar gave a nod, taking a step closer to the small pool. "Very well. When shall we get started, then?"
"Never."
Hiccup's voice immediately spoke up as made himself known to the two wicked figures conversing with one another. As he stepped into the large room with his blade drawn as well as with Toothless now at his side, the other vikings along with their dragons followed him in and kept themselves prepared if Bjornar dared make a move.
The young vikings unsheathed their weapons threateningly, but the commander merely chuckled.
"Come to play hero now, eh?" said Bjornar as his voice deepened. "I knew sooner or later that old man Torstein would sell me out to outsiders, though I'm surprised it took you hardly half a day to find out what I really did to that pig's farms."
"You left us with too many red flags, Bjornar," replied Hiccup with his brows now lowered. "But what I have to ask is, why? After all that your chieftain has done for you, even after giving you a position of power, you would turn your back on him?"
"Ragnar has done nothing for me!" the warrior spat. "He was never able to stop the orcs from continuously coming into our valley, but after all that the Dark Master told me, my eyes opened to the truth. The Dark Legions are meant to win, and with me at Drago Bludvist's side, nothing can stop us!"
"You're insane," spoke Astrid.
Drago gave a laugh. "You are too late, Wings of Midgard. Even now the next stage of my plan will soon spring into action! Thousands of orcs will march on the pass and into Votunheim, with my new lieutenant as their leader! And no matter what you do, you cannot stop it."
"Not while we still stand," replied Hiccup, but Drago simply shunned it off as he held his hand out and proceeded to conjure up chaos magic, and though the warlord was not in the room physically, he still managed to summon up a portal for Bjornar to go through.
The former commander looked back at Hiccup and the rest of the group, grinning wickedly. "Enjoy your day while you still can, Hiccup Haddock. It will be your last…"
The young chieftain was tempted to chase after the traitor, but as the portal quickly shut in on itself, something happened that none of them saw coming.
Chaos fire bursted outwards from the closing of the portal, setting the walls around Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, and Arn aflame, and like a carrion it quickly began to spread. It became obvious that if they did not get out of there, then eventually the whole building would come down on them, but unfortunately the flames were enough to even set the stairs behind them on fire.
Drago gave a wicked laugh in response to the unfolding chaos, before proceeding to snap his fingers and dissipating, leaving the young vikings and their dragons alone in the burning room.
Fishlegs looked around, breathing intensely. He was in a panic. "Oh Thor what do we do!? What do we do-!?" he said repeatedly. After all, it seemed as if there was no way out for them...
But when the ceiling above them was blasted open with dragon fire, the Ingerman came back to his senses as he and the rest of the group spotted Snotlout and the Twins flying atop their dragons.
"Oh," he said, now in a more calm tone. "I uh… nearly forgot about them."
"Come on, what are you waiting for!?" called out Snotlout. "This whole place is about to collapse! Get out of there!"
With a sigh of relief, Hiccup swiftly mounted himself atop Toothless, hastily attaching onto both paddles and unflapping the dragon's tail fin, and with a strong flap of his wings, the Night Fury soared up out of the burning tower with Astrid and Fishlegs behind him on their dragons - and of course with Arn seated behind Hiccup.
The riders all looked down at the tower as they continued flying their dragons up, high enough to where they had a better look at the situation, and from what they saw, they could see crowds of townsfolk and guards rally around the burning structure as they attempted to put it out with buckets of water, but it was no use.
Hiccup knew that chaos fire did not get put out so easily, and soon enough, the tower crumbled and collapsed in on itself.
He sighed with a grunt, landing a fist on his saddle in frustration. "He got away…"
"What? Who got away!?" asked Snotlout with confusion. "Can somebody please tell me what in Odin's name happened in there?"
"Who do you think got away, Snotlout?" asked Fishlegs. "Bjornar for Thor's same!"
"It was as we predicted," Astrid began. "Bjornar admitted to us that he was the traitor. He was responsible for poisoning the crop fields, and even threw his lot in with the Dark Legions years ago when Drago's master began whispering to him."
"And that's exactly why he prevented anyone from buying any form of grain or seeds," Arn added on. "His plan from the start was to slowly starve out the entire Dragonskarn Tribe, starting with their farms and with Lakestead. The chaos crystals he buried were meant to only affect grown crops, whilst the expired seeds remained unaffected."
"Uh-huh, and what about the new ones we got?" asked Ruffnut. "Won't they just die as well if they grow cuz- well… the chaos crystals?"
Fishlegs shook his head. "Torstein said he'd get to work with his farmers on digging up the rest of them. Either way, at least we now know what in the name of Midgard is going on with Bjornar."
"As well as what Drago is up to," Hiccup added on as he sighed. "If what he said was true, a legion of orcs are preparing to march on Votunheim, with Bjornar leading it."
"We can't let that happen. If those orcs make it into Votunheim, then we'll be in big trouble. Ragnar must be warned," said Astrid, to which Hiccup nodded in agreement.
"Let's get out of here then," replied the young chieftain. "We have no time to waste. A battle is coming, and we have to be ready for it…"