The trek back to the beaches was easy enough. With the rider restrained between the two bulkier warriors and the third prepared to fire his weapon, there seemed to be no worries. The group were able to easily navigate their way back through the forest and darkness and made it back quicker than they left. When they emerged, they found most of the leaders waiting for them. Ryker, Heather and the strange red headed man. Upon seeing the approaching scout team return, with their prize in hand, Ryker smiled and spoke to the red headed man.
"Well, guess you don't know the dragon riders as well as you thought. Eh Dagur?"
Farran raised his eyebrow at the name. An odd name. Most certainly one he had never heard anyone else been called. Perhaps that was why he never mentioned it the brief time he had come face to face with him.
"You don't know them at all..." Came the unimpressed voice of the captured rider.
Able to hear the comment, Farran kicked her in the back of the leg causing her to fall to her knees. She would learn that it was unwise to not only disobey his earlier command but to also speak so rudely in the face of one of the mightiest dragon hunters in the archepelico.
"Did you forget already? I said be quiet." He snarled running the tip of his dagger down her arm gently as to not draw blood. Though the urge to plunge it into her would surely grow with every stupid comment she made. While Ryker merely ignored the threat, Heather did seem a little off-guard at Farrans cold words. Then again she had almost always seen his 'warm' side since their first chat. Now that he was face to face with one of his enemies she found herself seeing another side of him. One that she would see more of in the future.
She quickly gained back her composure and shot back at Ryker.
"Hey, at least my brother had a plan to get the dragon eye. It's not his fault they didn't take the bait."
Now it was Farrans turn to be caught off-guard. The madman he now knew as Dagur was Heathers brother? How very odd. He looked between the two unable to find even a mere resemblance between them. Perhaps she meant to refer to him as a brother in arms? It would seem the more likely choice. Not that it should have mattered right now. Perhaps he would ask about it later when they were done.
The group of leader continued to mutter and argue amongst themselves about their next step. It was only when Ryker barked out another order did Farran pay attention.
"Gather the men. We move slowly. Destroy anything in our path until we get the dragon eye."
The leaders, the prisoner and her guards made their way over to the boats and made ready to row back to Rykers flagship, ready to co-ordinate the final parts of this invasion. In one of the boats sat Ryker, the dragon hunters and Farran while the other held Heather, Dagur and another, supposedly one of Dagurs men. Since Farran had been the one able to capture the dragon rider, she was unfortunately his temporary burden, so she rode with him.
For most of the trip back everyone on Rykers boat was silent. None of the hunters so much as said a word while the other boat seemed to be full of conversation, though what they were currently discussing was unclear. For now though, the hunters seemed to be more at ease, comfortable that they were heading back to the safety of the ship while Farran felt the opposite feeling himself more useful on the front lines like the many hunters who had remained on the beach. Still, there was nothing that he could do about it but wait until he could be involved in whatever Rykers next step was.
"So. Were you able to spot the rest of the riders?" Ryker asked out of the blue, catching his hunters off guard.
Seeing that the other two said nothing, Farran spoke up. "We did not. Only their defences."
Ryker grumbled under his breath, annoyed with the answer given to him. "Well, least we still have the element of surprise on our side. For now anyways."
"What should we do about this one?" Farran gestured to the prisoner.
"Keep her. Find out what she knows. If she refuses..." Ryker drew his thumb across his neck. Farran merely nodded in understanding.
The large hunter said no more until he was back on one of the main ships, barking out orders once again, leaving Farran with the duty of watching over his prisoner. While the rider didn't seem to do anything in terms of resisting or even threatening them, she merely hummed and whistled the moment she took her first few steps on board the ship. While slightly irritating, Farran did nothing nor did he say anything, but he did keep his dagger prepared all the same, just in case.
As more time passed, the prisoner began to start talking. While most would ignore whatever senseless blabber would escape her mouth, including her own teammates, Farran was a different case. She was unknowingly playing with fire.
"Hey, can I get some water or something? Kinda getting thirsty here."
Other than hearing a huff of air, no reply was made.
"Uh, helloooo? You can hear me right?"
...
"Ugh, great. Trust me to be stuck with someone so RUDE! Seriously, Snotlout would be more conversational compared to you!"
...
"Hello? Big scary hunter dude? Anybody ho- URK!"
Ruffnut felt a hand grasp the back of her neck. A bit of force from the appendage forced her to the floor and again she felt the cold iron blade on her skin. This time against the front of her neck.
"You would do well to remain silent." Came the rough cold voice of her captor.
"You know I'm a lady right?" A tighter grip was her response.
"You're a dragon rider." Farran snarled. "That's more than enough reason for me to throw you over the edge of this ship and watch you drown."
"Well go ahead, cause I'm not giving up anything to you or your dragon hunting creeps!"
Seconds passed and no reply was given, nor did the grip loosen. In her mind, Ruffnut sighed in relief. She could no longer feel the blade against her. Underneath the bag she smirked, thinking that she had caused the hunter to back down.
"As you wish."
That hope was quickly snuffed out as she felt the hunters hand pull forward, retaining its tight grip. Almost right away she found herself being dragged across the deck. Even with the bag on her head she knew what he was up to.
Farran pulled and dragged the prisoner, easily overcoming her meagre struggles. The task was easier than dragging a dead speed stinger across a small isolated island. And while the hunter felt no joy in what he would do next, neither did he feel remorse. This Viking was a captured dragon rider that would offer no information. In less than half an hour she had already proved to Farran what worth she had.
Ruffnut felt herself lifted from her knees and was shoved forwards. It was only by sheer luck did both her hands grab the barrier of the ship which separated the deck from the ocean. She had saved herself from being thrown overboard for a few seconds more before a swift elbow came down hard on her left arm. Her leg was kicked at the shin too. The pain was enough of a distraction for Farran to lift her halfway over. Her midsection laid on the very top of the barrier. Slowly but surely she was loosing more and more ground.
"HEY! What are you doing?!"
Ruffnut recognised the voice right away, as did Farran. One sighed in relief. The other in irritation.
"Put her down"!
Ruffnut felt nothing. Despite her captor being given an order, her feet had yet to touch the floor. Heathers voice became dangerously low.
"Now."
Again, nothing. The hunter didn't seem intimidated by the threat at all, allowing Ruffnut to assume that this guy was either very brave or just stupid. She then felt the hand move and she braced herself, waiting for the salty taste of seawater. Instead she found herself thrown backwards and fell onto the deck with a hard thump. Despite the pain in both her back and neck, Ruffnut smiled.
"Thanks Heather, guess I owe you one."
Her choice of words seemed to set the hunter off again as she heard footsteps approach.
"Don't you even think about it." Hissed the spys voice. "You and I are going to talk about this. Right. Now."
"You expect me to leave this prisoner unguarded? Surely you jest!"
"She's on a ship with more than a hundred Vikings. Where do you think she's going to go?"
...
"Exactly."
Heathers footsteps started to fade as she walked away. Moments later, so did Farrans. For now, Ruffnut sighed in relief. "That guy sure is crazy..."