1
I do not own the story of How to train your dragons or any of the original characters. Any names matching public or historical figures are strictly coincidental. The story is rated M because of language and adult situations. Anyone below the age of 17 should probably not read this story.
Chapter 7 A long week
This chapter focuses on the reprisal raid on Outcast Island. Alvin, the leader of the Outcast hated Berk and all those in it. Most of all he hated anyone whose name was Haddock.
Outcast Island
Alvin the Bloodlust sat on his throne in front of his senior commanders in the Great House in the village called Freemen. He was tired and worried. He had expected a raid from the Hooligans a month ago and still nothing.
Seemingly to the world outside of Outcast Island the raid on Berk had been a failure. The outside world was wrong. Alvin's goals had been simple; a) land undetected on the island of Berk, b) grab as many females as possible, and c) search for Harold the Bold and Stoic the Vast Haddock and kill them both along with any other of the council as could be found.
The Outcasts had arrived pre-dawn without detection although the warriors and shieldmaidens had regrouped far quicker than he had anticipated. As expected, Harold the Bold had led the first counter-attack and had been immediately cut down by archers carefully selected by Alvin to assassinate the old Chief.
They had not been able to kill the Chief's son Stoic, but later in the raid, Fightlout Jorgenson had been surrounded by five of his warriors and hacked to pieces before they were driven back by warriors led by Duter Torverson.
Then a group of his men had managed to capture a group of women but instead of taking them back to the boats as he had ordered them, the stupid thugs decided to take them into one of the homes and gang rape them.
2
Finally, in the middle of the night, Alvin had been forced by his count of casualties and an attack on his boats which were now on fire, to sound a call for retreat. Stoic the Vast kept right on their heels hacking down as many as they could. The orderly retreat turned into a rout.
He, himself had barely escaped with his life and he knew he had left some of his people alive as the remnants of his fleet limped home. Once they landed a headcount was called and the extent of the casualties far exceeded what he had anticipated.
But that was then and this is now. He had to regroup and prepare for the raid that was coming as well as send out a raid against England or Scotland to obtain women and food. The problem was, he only had 672 warriors and sailors left and some thirty of those were still recovering from wounds.
He had 22 ships left in a serviceable condition. He sent two longboats and forty men on the raids. They would be gone at least a month if they came back at all. So that left him 18 serviceable boats and 632 warriors to man the boats and defend the island.
Alvin the Treacherous banged his mead mug and brought his commanders to his attention, "I have made a decision. Tomorrow we will send out two boats to raid England for food and slaves. They will strike fast and get out quick. Any full on contact with an enemy is forbidden. They will need a week to get there and a week back so I will give them two weeks to patrol and to obtain slaves and food. NOTHING ELSE".
We can't eat silver and we can't screw gold. Unlike other times, if you come across any English prisoners, free them and bring them with you. If they refuse, then kill them. I choose Kjell and Johar to captain the longboats with Johar in overall command, " said Alvin.
Zeth Segmain stood, " What about the rest of the fleet my chief?" he asked.
Alvin thought for a moment and asked, "Zeth, what is the minimum crew our longboats will need to sail and stay out for an extended period of time?"
3
"My chief, if properly provisioned a minimal crew ten would be enough with eight men for the oars rowing in shifts of four and with a captain and a cook," said Zeth.
Alvin thought for another few moments then said, We will deploy eight longboats to patrol in every quadrant. One boat five miles out, the other two during the first watch. The second watch will patrol three miles out with the other two miles out. The ships will sail in a continuous circle around our island. The third watch will patrol the same as the first.
If something is sighted, the farthest boat will investigate and the following boat will take up the first position. If nothing is sighted the boats will return to original courses and positions. If an enemy is sighted, the leading boat will signal the second and that boat will return with full speed, every man at the sweeps. The first boat will also withdraw at first speed.
The second watch vessels will use both horns and lanterns for the signal. None of our boats are to engage the enemy. Is that understood?"
Zeth nodded.
"Our boats in reserve will also be manned with minimal crews and supplies. Should the enemy fleet be sighted, our fleet will escape to the north. Three of the boats under repair will be used to block the entrance to slavers cove. The remaining vessel will be brought and sunk midway in knifes channel. Is that understood Zeth" Alvin asked?
"Yes my Chief," said Zeth. "Good. Pick your captains, make up a deployment plan and orders then return to me for final approval."
"Very good sir" Zeth replied and as he turned,
Alvin gave him one more order, "Zeth do not lead the patrols yourself, I will need you here."
"Aye sir," Zeth replied disappointedly then turned and started gathering his captains.
4
Next, Alvin called his generals, Attila Daggerfist, Bort Zepryson, Deniel Staghorn and finally Hilarious Stoneson to attention, "Atilla what are your thoughts on the land defense?" asked Alvin.
"My Chief, with the forces you require for the ships there will be just under five hundred men left. Oddar the slavemaster requires thirty men to maintain control over our slave population which is four hundred with about three-quarters of those being women and children.
We have five watchtowers manned at all times and that requires seventy-five men. The Citadel takes a minimum of Ninety men to man the walls and the catapults. Fortress Loki requires a minimum of twenty-four men.
That leaves around two hundred fifty warriors to patrol and defend an island that is forty square miles in diameter, and that's without a reserve my chief," answered. It works out to six men per square mile."
Alvin rubbed his chin and thought. "Deniel, how much provisions do you have on Fortress Loki?" asked the Chief.
"My Chief,''answered Deniel, "My fortress can hold out at least a week and perhaps three days more on short rations, and a few days more if we abandon the catapults."
Alvin raised his head quickly," no one will abandon their posts on the Needle or Harold's mount, NO ONE! Those positions guard the roads leading to town, to the fields, to our herds, and to the Citadel. I don't see that young braggart Stoic able to raise more than two hundred men and even if he could persuade the Meatheads to give aid no more than three hundred warriors with at most thirty ships."
At this point Bort spoke up, "Chief I think you are underestimating the support Berk can obtain from the other islands. If the Bog Burglars and the Mongrels, both long-time allies of Berk, decide to send even a token force, he could be facing upwards of seven hundred warriors and sixty ships."
"What do you suggest General Bort?" asked Alvin.
5
"If it were my decision, sir, I would make temporary camps along the northern and southern roads at Odin's Beard. I would reinforce each watchtower with five additional warriors. That would leave two hundred warriors which would be placed at the two temporary camps as mobile reinforcements for the Needle and Fortress Loki," stated Bort.
" General Stoneson do you also have suggestions?" Alvin asked.
General Stoneson answered, Yes I do my Chief. I would only leave three men at the watchtower located on Thor's Eyes. It has always been a question as to its value in a real pitched battle. I suggest leaving the three as lookouts and burning the tower as a warning torch if the enemy is sighted enforce."
"Thank you, my friends, I will just add this, we will gather our foodstuffs from the storehouse and gather them in the Citadel. We will have as many of our livestock gathered up to the slopes of Odin's Beard. We will devise a signal to be seen and heard from the Citadel so that if the day goes bad for us, our surviving warriors to gather inside its walls. We can hold out in the Citadel for months if we have to and I don't think an attacking force will want to hang around that long to punish a bunch of criminals especially if we give them a good enough bloody nose.
Before I forget, I want three groups of four men each patrolling the roads all day and all night for the foreseen future. "Oddar!" Alvin yelled.
Oddar stood and said, "Yes my Chief?"
"Oddar I want half of your slaves planting sharpened stakes along the roads and on Blood Beach and the other half harvesting as much s can be right now and moving all foodstuffs and cattle to the Citadel. The only exception is the bed slaves. Tonight you will send me two and not older than fifteen understood?"
"Yes, my Chief answered Oddar". "You are all dismissed. Make sure you give me progress reports starting in the morning." "Yes, my Chief they all answered, then they left.
6
He walked back to his hut andHe looked over at a young girl no more than fourteen washing dishes in his kitchen, "Girl,''he shouted.
Trembling the young slave girl came before the chief curtsied and with a lowered head said, What is your pleasure my chief?"
"Pull off your skirt and underclothes and get on the edge of the table," said Alvin. Without a word and with tears flowing down her cheeks she complied. When the other two girls showed up he forced one to get on her hands and knees and the other to kiss the sobbing girl whose legs he held up while pumping his member into her frail too young body. When he was satiated with the young girl on the table he smacked her on the bare rear and told her to go to the bedroom. The one that he had forced to kiss his first victim while he was ravaging her, he now forced the girl to give him pleasure orally until he was ready for the girl on her knees who he took from behind.
This went on all night. While he was raping one he had the other kiss and fondle the one being raped then he would have the other girl do the same. Alvin ravaged them over and over until the mid watch. The girls dazed and sobbing began to put their clothes back on but Alvin stopped them and laughing ordered them to walk to the village nude and bleeding back to the slave quarters. For this and many other acts, Alvin earned the name Alvin the Treacherous.
Alvin woke up before dawn. Alvin knew Stoic was coming, he knew he was light on troops at the moment but with that he thought he could deal with anything the Hairy Hooligans and the Meatheads could dish out.
He first visited Blood Beach where twenty or so thralls were sharpening long stakes and planting them at angles. He had named them "Hels Teeth". While the sharpened stakes themselves could not stop an attack, they would slow the attacking warriors and then the catapults from Fortress Loki would rain down death in the shape of huge stones.
His warriors from North Camp would charge in to flank and destroy the survivors. With the three longboats sunk at the mouth of Slavers Cove, Stoic would be forced to attack with smaller skiffs. The beach was covered by catapults of Fortress Loki and the docks were covered by catapults on the lower slope on the Needle.
7
The warriors at South Camp would protect the village and the fields. His only reserve was Oddars twenty-five thrall overseers. No matter, his patrols would give a warning and in three days all of the defenses would be prepared. He was waiting until all the other defenses were in place before blocking the cove entrance.
Once that was accomplished no longship could get in or out and Alvin wanted to keep his options open.What Alvin didn't know was that the sand in his hourglass was nearly gone.
