CHAPTER 19
In all her years of study, Tengan had never read anything that indicated it was possible to mourn something that never was. Yet, here she was, weeks later, struggling to find the strength to rise from her bed. Dagur's note lay clutched in her hands, the edges hopelessly crumbled from the constant contact.
Though her grief shadowed the corners of her mind, she was still wise enough to know she did not mourn just the fallen man, although his loss had added another blow to the group's morale. She knew her sorrow came from knowledge of the life the Dragon Hunters had stolen from her; and felt it all the more strongly in her understanding. Stripped of her work, thrown into a war where more people and dragons fell with each defeat or mistake they made, and the weight of the future on the shoulders of eight young adults made mundane tasks difficult. Anything other than caring for Rumble or flying missions to protect others from the same fate felt... unnecessary. Out of sheer force of will she maintained daily journal entries, although they were short and sloppy.
Even with the consistent pull of her bed, sleep was difficult to come by. On the occasions she managed to drift off, her dreams taunted her. Images of herself and Dagur in the far off future holding a small infant, of sharing the contents of her journals with a large room filled with young, happy faces, or, worst of all, the one where she was a child again, learning her letters from her parents. Those moments of peace always shattered as dawn broke, plunging her into the aching existence of an island at war.
Heather seemed to be the one who understood the most. The day after they returned to the Edge she had pulled the girl aside and shared her short note as well as the conversation the two had shared on the grassy hills. She held Heather as the poor girl sobbed freely and read the note Dagur left his sister when offered the chance. An unspoken bond, born from the wreckage of loss, seemed to tie them, one that only strengthened as the pair labored day and night to construct a new hut for Heather in the following days.
Lately, Tengan had made a point to bring Heather food on the days she found the strength to prepare more than cold bread and dried meat. In return, Heather often dragged her to the hot springs hidden up in the mountains after a long patrol. Through their sparse conversations, Tengan was pleased to find out that on the days the world seemed too much to bear, the other girl had found additional solace in Fishles' company. It brought her a small amount of joy to know that there could still be love left in the world for these battered Riders.
It had been easier for all of them to pretend their wounds were not so raw when Gobber landed on their shores a couple weeks back. He claimed he had been sent to help them rebuild the armory, but Tengan and Hiccup had deduced one evening that Stoick had probably sent him to help them feel normal again for a while. And it did. Having an "adult" around to take some of the responsibilities off their shoulders felt wonderfully freeing. In that time the twins had started auditioning new boars for the pit and Snotlout had reignited his campaign to prove why he should be the unchallenged leader of the Riders. For a time, everything felt almost normal.
It was not meant to last. Hiccup had gambled against Viggo again, and lost. The Riders, plus Gobber, had tried to take down a dragon auction ring Dagur had mentioned in his note to Heather, using all of Berk's gold as collateral. The plan was to disguise Snotlout as an eccentric buyer, seeing how none of the Hunters had ever seen him up close. Of course, it all fell through and left them with only one rescued Hotburble, who Gobber affectionately named Grump, and an empty chest.
All of this fell over the group like a dark cloud when Gobber eventually had to head back to Berk bearing the news of the lost treasure. The dire mood threatened to drown the Riders at the slightest provocation. While they continued to fight, and fight bitterly, each victory was hard won and often hollow. Without gold, Berk would be hard pressed to survive past the winter. Johann had graciously taken a larger expanse of items in trade, but he could only do so much without endangering his ability to feed himself. The mental stress and nonstop fighting led to more mistakes. More mistakes led to frequent injuries. Tengan had to fly to the farthest reaches of the archipelago on several occasions to rebuild and maintain her medicine stores. Even with her efforts, often they had flown into battle with half healed injuries and returned home with new ones.
Even the recent discovery of their newest allies, Queen Mala and her Defenders of the Wing, was bittersweet. Unsurprisingly in hindsight, Viggo had orchestrated the entire meeting. The clashing ideals of the Riders and the Defenders had almost led the teens to face execution for their supposed "mistreatment" of their dragons. Not to mention the Hunters taking advantage of the conflict to steal the Eruptodon, leaving the island to sink as lava rose to consume it. The race to recover the missing dragon and fortify the town had been terrifying. Tengan and Rumble had remained behind with Heather and the twins while the others left in pursuit. The small group had exhausted every last store of their energy digging trenches and falling logs, all while casting nervous glances at the sky. They wouldn't know until hours later that Viggo had taken the titan wing dragon to the Edge, planning on having it eat away at the crust to expose the dormant lava beneath. They had been shockingly close to succeeding.
Although their island had been saved, their base had been ransacked once again. While the Hunters had not had enough time to toss their huts, they had spread more than enough misery with their attack. A couple more Night Terrors, in a valiant attempt to defend their home, had been mortally wounded. They passed into the void early the next morning, despite Tengan's best efforts to sustain them. In the days that followed, no matter how hard she scrubbed, the dark red stain in the center of her hut remained.
Tengan choked back a sob at the memory as she curled tighter into herself, shielding Dagur's note with her body. She remained that way for some time, frozen in her grief, until she felt the fur draped over her slowly slide off her body. Opening her eyes, she tried to smile at Rumble, who gazed at her sadly, his teeth clamped around her blanket. "Is it time to join the others?" She asked in a cracked voice. When he let out a low keen, she forced herself into a sitting position, and drew the Skrill's great head into her lap. "I'll be alright boy. Don't worry about me. Let's make sure everyone has a great day today. It's not often we're invited to a festival hosted by the Defenders."
The flight to Caldera Cay seemed to lighten the hearts of the Riders with every mile that slipped past them. By the time their dragons touched down on the sandy shores before Queen Mala, all except Snotlout, who sat nervously chewing on his fingernails, were smiling.
Tengan adjusted Rumble's saddle and withdrew an empty scroll while she half listened to the distant sounds of a cheering crowd and the murmurs of Hiccup and Mala's conversation nearby.
"You're telling me a hooded stranger risked his life to save you?" Hiccup asked pensively as he scratched under Toothless' chin.
"If it weren't for him, we may not have made it back to tell you this story." Mala responded lightly.
"And you've bought weapons from this island before?" Hiccup pressed, his body tense.
"Yes. For many years." Mala nodded somberly. "It will be difficult to establish new trade relationships with the other ports."
Heather cast a concerned glance at Tengan before approaching the two. "This doesn't make any sense. We've been there loads of times, it never used to be like that. That island has always been peaceful."
Hiccup nodded as if deciding something. "Heather, as much as I would hate to miss this festival, we should go check it out. See if something is going on."
Tengan glanced between the scroll in her hand and her dark-haired friend before speaking up. "I'd like to come too, if that's alright."
All of the riders froze in their tracks and turned to stare, some open-mouthed at their friend. Hiccup, recovering the fastest, spoke for the group. "Tengan, are you sure? You've never missed a chance to document a new, rarely-seen-by-outsiders event. This has 'you' written all over it."
Tengan's grip tightened on the scroll as her gaze fell to the sand beneath her boots. "I just don't want to be around a lot of people today." She bit her tongue, hoping the others would not press her to elaborate.
Mala nodded, her eyes gentle. "You all have seen tremendous trials and hardships lately. I understand the simplest things can be difficult in times like this."
Astrid stepped forward and laid a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I can take notes for you. They won't be as good as Fishlegs' but they'll do." She chuckled gently at her own joke.
Tengan smiled as a rush of gratitude flowed through her. "Thanks Astrid." She pressed the empty scroll and charcoal pencil into her hands. "I owe you one."
"Don't worry about it." Astrid smiled back as she turned to Mala, pencil poised above the empty paper. "So, what is this festival all about anyway?"
Mala straightened and clasped her hand together, a warm smile on her lips. "We call it, The Trials. Three tests that are used to determine our next king. I'm surprised Snotlout didn't fill you all in. I detailed everything in his invitation."
"Wait a minute." Tuffnut gasped, a devious smirk on his face. "Are you telling me that we get to watch Snotlout perform impossible and horrifically dangerous tasks in a futile effort to become king? Oh someone pinch me! I am definitely dreaming."
"How lucky are we!?" Ruffnut cheered as she violently pinched her brother's side.
Snotlout simply paled and mumbled an unintelligible excuse as he slid from Hookfang's saddle.
Hiccup shook his head, a deep sigh escaping him. "Mala would you please excuse us for a minute?" When the queen made her leave, he turned and held a hand up to stop Snotlout from interrupting. "I don't even want to know how this happened. Here's the plan. The three of us are going to check on the Northern Markets. The rest of you are staying here to help Astrid make sure Snotlout doesn't get himself killed. Everyone got it?"
After the riders murmured their agreement Tengan, Hiccup, and Heather took off and banked sharply North, climbing to stay close to cloud cover. Thankfully, the trading post was only an hour's flight north of Caldera Cay and the three touched down in a sheltered patch of forest before the Sun had climbed to its apex. They quickly changed into the spare Hunter's gear they had lifted from a ship on one of their successful missions. It had only taken a few days to modify and dye the outfits black. They still resembled the rough garb of their enemies but were different enough to not be mistaken for one of Viggo's men if approached by a potential ally.
"I can never get all of my hair under this thing without braiding it first." Tengan grumbled as she attempted to force her crazy curls flat. After the hood popped off her scalp the third time she groaned in frustration.
"I think I know a way to help." Hiccup bit back a laugh as he spoke. "Promise you won't get mad though?" Without waiting for her response, he gave Toothless the "smile" hand signal before pointing to Tengan.
"Why would I be mad at- TOOTHLESS NO! THAT IS SO GROSS!" She struggled in vain as the Nightfury drew his tongue across her scalp several times, pasting her hair flat with his sticky saliva. After several licks she managed to free herself and quickly yanked the hood up over her sopping wet hair. "Oh, shut up you two." She added with a small chuckle as Heather and Hiccup doubled over with laughter.
Heather eventually forced herself to straighten up. "Hey, at least no one will recognize us now. Let's get going."
The trio began their walk towards the market, stopping as their dragons made to follow. "No guys, you have to stay here," Hiccup urged. "Three hooded strangers is one thing. Three hooded strangers with a Skrill, a Razorwhip, and a Nightfury is not too stealthy."
Tengan felt only a little guilty at the kicked puppy expressions the dragons wore as they slunk back into the shelter of the forest. "He twists my heart every time he pulls that face. It's the reason I had Fishlegs help me find that stone slab for him to have a comfortable bed in my hut. Nearly broke three toes putting it in."
Heather nodded, sniggering as Tengan brushed a stray strand of Night Fury saliva off her cheek. "Windshear does the same thing. Why do you think my bed is in the center of the room now? When it was just us, she used to curl around me at night. Guess she'll never break the habit now."
"Guys can we focus on the task at hand?" Hiccup scolded mildly and without any real effort. It was nice to hear the two talking so freely again when most days had lapsed into morose silence on the Edge. His expression darkened as they strode into the crowded alleyways of stalls and merchants. "Keep on guard. There are a lot of Hunters here. Whoever that hooded figure was had it right: this isn't a safe place to be in anymore."
The trio paused halfway down one of the aisles to allow Hiccup to study the make of the arrows out front. Immediately, a mountain of a Hunter thundered over and yanked the shaft from his hands. "These weapons are spoken for." The statement hung threateningly in the air.
Heather grabbed Hiccup and Tengan's shoulders, spinning them around as she called out. "Let's go. Clearly none of these are for sale." She dropped her voice as they continued walking. "Keep your guard up. Two men are following us. Wait until we can get to the cover of that boulder then-"
The rest of her plan was lost as a plasma blast knocked the two pursuers off their feet and shattered a nearby crate of one handed swords. Chaos erupted as traders and Vikings alike scrambled for cover. Hiccup whipped around to the source of the blast and subtly gestured for the dragons to continue to lay low. The slight rustle of the leaves and a flash of silver scales told them they had obeyed the request for now. "We need to get out of here before someone sees our dragons."
"And before any more of those men come after us. Let's go!" Tengan hissed as two more men began to close in. Taking her friend's hands, she charged through the crowd as several more blasts of fire and lighting emerged from the bushes. Diving into the brush, she let go of them and doubled over to catch her breath. "Are you both ok?" She wheezed, glancing up at them.
Heather, although her breathing was just as ragged, stood stock still, staring down a nearby cliffside at a sheltered dock where a cluster of Dragon Hunters were laughing, clearly having been too far from the market to have heard the commotion.
"Heather? What's wrong?" Hiccup pressed lightly as he noticed her unnatural stare.
Heather shook her head as if to clear it. "It's nothing. I just-"
The trio snapped their attention to the dock as a familiar, booming laugh carried up to them. One of the men threw back the hood of his worn traveling cloak to reveal a head of messy, fiery hair. Still laughing, he shoved one of the other Hunters into the water, coaxing a chorus of cackles from the other men.
"N-No." Hiccup stammered. "That, That's impossible! We all saw…"
Tengan leaned forward slightly and rubbed her eyes, sure they had been playing tricks on her. When the laughing man was still there, she shook her head in disbelief. "Is that-?"
Heather's eyes narrowed as her fists clenched dangerously tight. "That's Dagur. And, from the looks of it, he's working with the Hunters again." A low hiss, not unlike the Riders had often heard from Windshear, escaped her lips. "I should have trusted my instincts. Dagur will always be a dirty, underhanded, untrustworthy, lying-"
Tengan took a step back towards her friends, keeping her eyes glued on the man she thought dead only this morning. "No. That can't be it. You didn't see him with Shattermaster that last evening, Heather. He'd never go back willingly."
Heather rounded on Tengan, her posture similar to a wounded dragon cornered by wild boars. "I know why you WANT to believe he's changed. But you can't deny what we're seeing!"
Hiccup stood between the two women. "Dagur risked his life to save all of ours. Why would he do that? Just to go back to the Dragon Hunters? No, it doesn't make sense. We'll get to the bottom of this. We'll get Dagur alone and figure out what he's doing here."
Tengan followed her friends back to the market, her mind racing as her eyes rapidly shifted between the faces streaming past. 'If he was alive all this time, why didn't he come back? Did Shattermaster survive as well? How did he convince the Hunters to let him live?' Her thoughts spun rapidly in her mind, threatening a spell of lightheadedness as the trio slunk into the shadows in a neglected tunnel of an old watch tower.
"Did either of you see any sign of him?" Hiccup asked quietly, glancing over his shoulder to ensure they were still alone.
"No." Heather spat. "You should have let me take care of him when I had the chance."
Tengan opened her mouth to report and stopped as a familiar pleased growl echoed from the opposite end of the tunnel. Her eyes widened as Rumble, flanked by equally proud Toothless and Windshear, emerged from the brush and deposited a struggling Dagur at their feet.
"Good timing." Hiccup praised the Skrill. "We've got it from here guys."
Heather shouldered past her friends and clamped down on her brother's shoulders, shaking him violently. "Out with it! What are you doing here? Why didn't you come back to the Edge?"
Tengan approached quickly and stared wide-eyed, waiting for a response. She spared a quick glance at his clothes. They were dirtier and more ragged than she had ever seen them.
Dagur, eyes as wide as dragon eggs, flinched away from Heather's assault and screeched with all his might into the tunnel. "HELP! ROBBERY!"
Tengan slammed down to her knees and quickly covered Dagur's mouth with one of her hands, cutting his cries off. "Shh! Dagur it's us! Calm down!" Her eyes furrowed with concern as he continued to struggle. "We're not going to hurt you! Please!" She slowly withdrew her hand as Heather backed away.
"Is he serious?" The dark-haired Viking sneered as she gestured towards her brother, who still sat sprawled out in the dirt. "ARE YOU SERIOUS?" She advanced on him again, her arm raised to strike.
Hiccup caught her by the elbow. "Maybe he really doesn't know who he is. He could have gotten hit on the head when he-"
Heather shrugged Hiccup off. "You can't be buying this! It's just a lame trick. Isn't it, brother?" The last word all but dripped with venom.
Tengan turned her attention back to the cowering man on the ground next to her. "Dagur, please listen to us."
He flinched away from her hands, his body trembling. "Please don't hurt me! Please! I have nothing! ANYONE! HELP!" He cupped his hands to his mouth and projected his pleas behind the Riders.
"Dragon Riders!" The lead brute of a small force of Hunters, no doubt drawn in by Dagur's cries, grinned as they bore down on the small group. "Grab them! And the dragons! They're all worth a small fortune! Especially that Night Fury."
Tengan rose to her feet and spun on her heel, drawing her sword in the process. Her free hand flung outward to shield the cowering Berserker behind her. "Try it and see what you lose in the process."
Hiccup groaned as he turned to face the Hunters. "You guys really want to do this? Now? Fine." He took a single step to the side. "Toothless? Plasma Blast if you please."
The girls quickly sidestepped as the Night Fury's blast shot past them and toppled over the advancing men. Tengan crinkled her nose as the telltale smell of singed hair and burned flesh met her nose. They would live, but those burns would leave horrid scars.
The guards at the rear of the group shoved past their fallen comrades to test their luck against Windshear and Rumble. The sound of rasping steel and furious growls echoed endlessly along the curved walls of the tunnel. Within seconds the men had all been downed; grisly cuts to their legs and arms dotted every one of them.
Tengan glanced around the tunnel and surrounding woods as she wiped off the blood smears from Rumble's face and chin. Among the bleeding and burned, one person was unaccounted for. "Did either of you see him slip past you?" She asked hopefully.
"No." Hiccup sighed as he dragged one of the Hunters further into the shadows, hiding him from direct view of the market. "We'll have to regroup and keep looking later. It's not safe to stay here right now."
Heather growled and stomped past the two, pausing only to give Windshear a rough, but appreciative, pat on her bloodied snout. "Then let's get going."
The trio slipped between the cover of the bushes along the edges of the market for the remainder of the day, often lying low to avoid being seen by hustling groups of Hunters. Apparently, word travels fast when three rare dragons maim a group of warriors. It was only when the Sun had slipped below the horizon did Heather acquiesce to her friends' pleas and they moved their vigil further away to the remote dock they had seen Dagur at earlier.
"Heather." Hiccup whispered gently. "We've been here for a while. If we don't see him soon, we really should-"
"Look!" Heather hissed, pointing down at the dock. "That's him! And he's all alone."
Tengan leaned forward as far as she could without breaking cover, her eyes narrowed in focus. A flash of red caught her eye as the fading light caught a patch of bright hair. "Ok, that definitely is him. Now, I think we should plan how to approach this time."
"She's already gone." Hiccup mumbled as he watched Heather tear down the cliffside with Windshear flying closely overhead. "Tengan, we need to stop her before she does something crazy." His head whipped upwards as three ships turned the corner from the far side of the island and began approaching. "And fast!"
"Way ahead of you." She sighed as she swung into Rumble's saddle. Urging the Skrill into the air, she crouched low in the saddle as they glided down to the shoreline. Already, Heather and Windshear had taken several shots at Dagur, who was scampering for cover behind every empty crate or piece of driftwood he could find. "Heather, stop! You're going to expose us all!" She cried out, knowing her plea would most likely fall on deaf ears.
"We have to end this. Now!" Hiccup called out, frantically glancing between Heather and the approaching ships. "We can't let those ships see us!"
Thinking quickly, Tengan gave Hiccup a stern glance. "Follow me and close your eyes on my signal. I have an idea, but you'll need to be ready to get out of here." Without waiting for a response, she urged Rumble into a steep dive. "Alright boy, on my mark… NOW!" She tapped her heels into his side twice and briefly shut her eyes as Rumble released a quick burst of lightning, the bright light stunning the two Berserkers and the Razorwhip momentarily.
Unfortunately, the display worked a little too well. Several deep cries and cheers, accompanied by the quiet hiss of arrows being loosed, carried up to the Riders as the ships redoubled their efforts to reach the dock.
Taking advantage of the momentary confusion, Tengan had Rumble swoop low over the dock and fasten one of his claws over Dagur's right shoulder before taking off over the open ocean. "I'm sorry Heather but we need to take this elsewhere! We're too exposed here!" She felt herself jolted as Dagur's struggles threw Rumble off balance. "Easy boy, we just need to get him a little ways offshore."
"Tengan! What are you doing!" Heather roared in frustration as she mounted her dragon and followed, her progress impeded as Windshear frantically dove and twisted to avoid a volley of arrows.
Hiccup shouted over the men roaring and jeering below them. "Heather calm down! She's right. We'll get back to the Edge and question him then."
Dagur, still struggling in Rumble's grip, roared up to the riders as the trading island and Hunter ships began to shrink behind them. "You have to put me down!" He cried desperately. "Take me back to the island! Hiccup! Heather! Tengan!"
The trio exchanged surprised stares, momentarily speechless, before Heather guided Windshear to fly just below Rumble's talons. "I thought you didn't know us!" She glared up at the dangling viking. "Weird that you're getting your memory back now!"
Dagur continued to thrash in the Skrill's grip. "I never lost my memory!" He panted in between struggles. "I had to disguise my identity! It would all be ruined otherwise!"
"What are you talking about?" Hiccup guided Toothless under the Skrill's unoccupied side, giving Rumble enough room to correct his direction every time Dagur's struggles threw him off balance. "What would be ruined?"
Dagur sighed and let his body finally go limp. "I am working for the Dragon Hunters. But only because they have Shattermaster!"
Tengan gasped and twisted in the saddle, trying desperately to catch a glimpse of the viking below her. "Where?"
Dagur craned his neck as far back as he could, his eyes wide and fearful in the dim moonlight. "There's a large shipment of Gronkles heading to port. I was just trying to save my dragon!" His voice cracked as he continued. "But now it's too late. I'll never see Shattermaster again!"
Tengan's heart dropped as he spoke. Her nails dug into the soft leather of her well-worn saddle as pained thoughts of losing Rumble to the Hunters flashed in her mind. Glancing around, she spotted a cluster of sea stacks not too far from their location. One looked large enough to support the three dragons Waving towards the other two to follow, she urged Rumble towards the landing pad. Once Dagur was safely deposited on one side she landed and slipped out of the saddle. Two soft thuds off to her left indicated Heather and Hiccup had done the same.
Heather shifted her feet uncomfortably, her arms drawn in around her. Her expression seemed to be stuck halfway between furious and guilty. She opened her mouth several times as if to speak before settling on staring angrily at the rock beneath her feet.
Tengan, after several failed pleading glances towards her dark-haired friend, slowly approached the deflated Berserker. "Dagur, I'm so sorry. We didn't know."
Dagur kept his back to her as he stared off towards the distant trader post. "What's done is done, I wouldn't have trusted me either." His voice was raised enough to be heard across the stack. After a moment, he turned to face the group, his face set. "Ok, so let's talk about how you three are going to make this up to me."
That seemed to help Heather find her voice again. "Make this up to YOU? Are you serious?" She lunged forward and would have landed what was shaping up to be a marvelous right hook, when Hiccup yanked her backwards.
"Woah, woah!" He soothed as he wrestled Heather several steps backwards. "Dagur, we will be happy to help you find your dragon. Aren't we Heather?" He tentatively loosened his grip.
"Sure." Heather shrugged; her eyes still narrowed. "AFTER I get some answers!"
Dagur smiled softly and approached his sister with calm, even steps. "My dear sister, I promise I will reveal everything later. Shattermaster must take precedence in these dark times."
Tengan exchanged an expression of mild shock with Heather as Dagur and Hiccup immediately began strategizing. "You doing ok?" She whispered gently, nudging the girl's shoulder with her own.
"Yes." Heather snapped back before sighing. "No. I don't know." She turned away from the boys, her posture rigid.
Tengan gave her a moment before speaking again. "I thought I was dreaming when we saw him down by the docks. He's been in my dreams a lot lately."
"That's disgusting, Tengan." Heather said without any real malice as she glanced sideways at her friend, a small upturn of her lips barely present.
Tengan shot back a tiny smile. "Not like that you perverted Rider. I've been seeing a lot of people, moments, and opportunities I've lost. Almost every night. This ongoing war with Viggo has taken so much from all of us." She paused for a moment. "A lot of the people I see are never going to be anywhere but in my dreams. It is rare that someone we think we've lost comes back to us." She squeezed her friend's shoulder and turned away to give her privacy. "So. What have you two come up with?" She asked the boys.
Hiccup strode over to Toothless and quickly clambered into the saddle. "There are a lot of Viggo's ships out there. We're going to split up, do a quick fly over recon, and meet on the cliffs overlooking the docks." Without waiting for a confirmation, he took to the air.
Tengan glanced between Heather's uncertain glare towards her brother and Dagur's hopeful glances at Windshear. Firmly, she placed her hand on Dagur's shoulder and cast him a gentle smile. "You'll be with me and Rumble. He's the best at maintaining speed with more than one rider." She glanced quickly over at Heather and gave the tiniest fraction of a nod.
Heather mouthed a quick 'thank you' before climbing onto Windshear and taking off, angling away from where she had last seen Hiccup and Toothless.
Tengan turned back to Dagur, frowning. "You're pushing her too hard, too fast." She chastised gently before swinging up into the saddle and extending her arm down. "She thought you were dead this morning. We all did."
Dagur took the offered limb and quickly swung himself into Rumble's saddle. Looping one of his arms around Tengan's waist, he swallowed hard as he felt her hips shift back towards his. "I thought she'd be more excited to see me to be honest." His voice was soft, almost downtrodden.
Tengan urged Rumble into the air and took a moment to silently circle the sea stack before slowly heading back towards the island. "When you disappeared, she was devastated. Cried for days and had a hard time eating. We shared the notes you left us. She keeps hers under her pillow and reads it at least once a day." She sighed deeply, shaking her head. "She was just starting to come to terms with losing you when we found you. And then she learns that after all those promises you left her in that note, you decided not to come back for her."
His grip tightened. "Only because I need to make sure Shattermaster is out of harm's way!" He pleaded desperately into the night.
She wriggled uncomfortably. "That's a little too tight." She let one hand slip down over his as she readjusted his grip on her waist, grateful the darkness hid the blood rising to her cheeks.
His breath hitched as he felt her move against him and quickly slackened. "Sorry, sorry! Forget my own strength at times!"
She let out a breathy chuckle. "It's alright, no harm done." Another drawn out moment where the only sound was the steady beat of Rumble's wings. "She really is happy to see you Dagur. Just give her time and space. Like we talked about." The silence hung between them for several moments before Tengan let out a short, amused huff. "You really are a changed viking."
"That's what I've been telling everyone." Dagur agreed with a heavy sigh.
"Of course, I'm sorry, that's not what I meant." Tengan apologized quickly. "It's just… this is the first time you've ever ridden Rumble, the dragon you've spent years trying to recapture. And all you can talk about is Heather and Shattermaster. You're a good man, Dagur." She hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and plowing on before her brain could convince her otherwise. "She isn't the only one who missed you. I've thought a lot about our last conversation and your note. Once we get your dragon back I…. I'd like to try to continue where we left things off. If you're still interested." Her voice dropped to almost a whisper as they flew over the first line of ships. "For now, eyes sharp. We have to save that Gronkle of yours."
Dagur blinked in surprise before silently giving her side a small squeeze and turning his attention to the ships below, eyes darting to catch a glimpse of his partner's emerald scales. He began to fidget more and more as each ship they passed over seemed to only be carrying weapons. All the above deck cages sat empty, and the containment nets sat coiled neatly on the decks. By the time he and Tengan landed next to Heather and Hiccup, he was almost shaking with anxiety. "Well? Did you guys find anything?"
Hiccup shook his head. "No. All of the ships we flew over were just carrying new weapons. Heather?"
Heather produced a large, shiny Gronkle Iron mace from a weapons loop on Windshear's saddle. "Same here."
Dagur's brow furrowed as his breathing became a bit shallow. "So where are the Gronkles?" His grip on Tengan's waist began to tighten again.
Hiccup wore a grim yet determined expression. "I may have an idea. Follow me." He urged Toothless into the air without another word.
Tengan, after readjusting her passengers' grip again, coaxed Rumble into formation behind Windshear. "What's on your mind, Hiccup?"
"Those weapons were all brand new." Hiccup called out to the others. "I think Viggo traded the Gronkles to the iron masons for them."
"But why?" Dagur chimed in. "Not that Gronkles aren't the coolest, most awesome dragons ever…"
Heather whipped her head around to look at her brother, her eyes focusing as if this were the first time she had ever really studied him. "Never thought I'd live to see the day Dagur sounded exactly like Fishlegs." She murmured, just loud enough for Tengan to hear.
"Dagur!" Hiccup called out, cutting off the sermon. "What would a bunch of masons want with Gronkles?"
Tengan gasped, catching on to HIccup's meaning as she felt Dagur stiffen behind her and gently pound on his head with his free fist.
Heather smiled at the display, her eyes softening. "Comeon, brother." She encouraged. "You got this." She coaxed Windshear to fly a little closer to Rumble as she spoke.
"Iron!" Dagur gasped in realization. "They're melting it! If we find the masons, we'll find Shattermaster!"
"Bingo." Hiccup smiled. "And their last ship was seen heading east. If we follow it we should be able to find their main foundry. Let's get moving riders!" He crouched lower in the saddle, urging Toothless to pick up speed.
"Now is the time to hold on tight!" Tengan warned Dagur as Rumble, feeding off the energy of his companions, surged forward. She smiled to herself as Dagur, in an attempt to avoid the buffeting wind, pressed himself tightly against her back, his face buried in her hair. It took only a couple hours to locate the ship and silently trail it back to a small island dotted with high cliff walls.
The group landed and dismounted quietly before carefully creeping up the edge of the cliff. They peered down at the operations, eyes darkening at the sickening sight. Lines of beaten down Gronkles, all weighed down by numerous chains, were being led off the ship and into a few large holding cages. Most, if not all, bore layers of scars and some had a few fresh cuts on their sides and necks.
"Shattermaster!" Dagur whispered excitedly, bouncing on the balls of his feet. His eyes never left the small green dragon as he spoke. "There he is!"
"Are you sure?" Heather asked firmly as she placed a hand on her brother's shoulder.
"Of course I am!" Dagur continued to bounce, his grin unrestrained. "A man knows his dragon, am I right brother?" He glanced towards Hiccup.
"I have to agree." Hiccup smiled and nodded towards the Berserker, his right hand lightly rubbing the ridges on Toothless' head.
Dagur approached the edge of the cliff, his hands clenched tightly into fists. "I almost feel bad for those hunters." He sneered. "They have no idea what's coming. What do you guys say we show them what four angry Dragon Riders can do?"
Tengan took a step towards Dagur, her arm outstretched to grab his shoulder. "Woah, slow down there. We have to-"
"Hold on, Shattermaster!" Dagur cried out into the darkness as he sprinted down the steep hillside. "Daddy's coming for you!"
Hiccup sighed as the three swung back into their saddles. "So, should we rescue him or-?"
Heather urged Windshear forward, her mouth set in a small, grim line. "I am going to kill him." She failed to hide the amusement in her tone.
Tengan glanced rapidly around their small formation as the three dragons glided down towards the camp, their progress slowed each time they had to avoid a cluster of boulders or trees. They maintained the unspoken decision to stay close to the ground on the off chance they'd still be able to maintain some element of surprise.
"Stand back!" Dagur hollered as he snatched up a pair of discarded weapons and bore down on the camp. "I only want my dragon and I'll leave in peace!" He grinned as a small group of Hunters clambered to their feet and started towards him.
Tengan's eyes snapped forward as Dagur's enthusiastic cries reached the riders. "Of course he's already cornered." She mumbled to Rumble as they winged closer to their impulsive ally. "Rumble, if you please?" She tapped her heels into his side twice, grinning as the Skrill downed all of the Hunters with a single, well aimed bolt. "That's my boy!" She cheered, reaching down to scratch under his neck. Seconds after, she urged him higher into the air as the whoosh of arrow fire filled their ears. "Someone cover him!" She shouted as Rumble executed a tight backwards loop.
"I'll draw their fire!" Heather shouted as she sped past the other dragons and parried an arrow with the head of her axe.
"Be careful!" Hiccup warned. "We'll cover you from above!" Thinking quickly, he directed Toothless to blast the loose dirt under the feet of several Hunters on a steep hill. He cheered as the blast sent several men tumbling down into their waiting comrades below.
Tengan grinned, her heart racing as she watched Dagur dispatch several men as he fought his way towards Shattermaster. "I have to give it to him, he is a talented warrior." She whispered to her dragon. Her eyes widened as she noticed a Hunter sprinting up behind the Berserker, totally unnoticed. She began urging Rumble into a dive but was forced to retreat as several arrows volleyed towards them. "Heather!" She cried out, gesturing to the advancing enemy with her sword.
"On it!" She replied, urging Windshear into a steep dive. With a smirk and a sickening thud, she had the Razorwhip land painfully on top of the advancing viking, flattening him against the earth.
"Hey sis!" Dagur cried out as he turned and saw the unconscious viking beneath Windshear's bulk. "So, how much trouble am I in?" He grinned playfully, one hand finding the back of his neck.
Tengan sighed with relief and turned Rumble to deal with the last of the archers. Within minutes of facing Rumble's lightning blasts, the Hunters had either dropped their weapons and fled, or laid unconscious at the edge of their camp. Satisfied there would be no retaliation, she rejoined the group in time to see a large flock of recently freed Gronkles flying in giddy circles around a laughing Heather and Dagur. The latter sat proudly atop his wriggling, excited dragon, a huge grin stretched across his face. She exchanged a warm, knowing smile with Hiccup before taking up guard at the back of the herd, guiding the Gronkles towards a far off set of sheltered sea stacks. She circled above the stack twice, making sure all of the Gronkles had landed safely before touching down near the other riders.
"Alright Hiccup." Dagur began from his perch atop Shattermaster, his hands up in surrender. "Before you start yelling-"
"I'm not going to yell." Hiccup smiled warmly at the Berserker, his eyes gentle.
"Wait, you're not?" Dagur deflated, appearing mildly disappointed. "I had this great speech planned and everything."
Heather chuckled, shaking her head. "You were just trying to save your dragon." She slid from the saddle to hug Windshear's neck.
"We all would have done the same." Hiccup added, leaning down to rub behind Toothless' ears.
"We all have done the same!" Tengan added with a large smile, slipping out of her saddle to scratch under Rumble's chin as he hummed in appreciation. She giggled as he bumped against her chest. "Many times in some cases."
Heather's gaze drifted towards the Sun as it began to break over the horizon. The smile slipped from her face. "Uh, guys?" She said quietly, pointing off the eastern side of the stack. Off in the distance, several large Hunter's ships were slowly making their way towards them.
"The rest of Viggo's fleet." Hiccup gasped. "Ok, we need to move, now! We'll never be able to keep these Gronkles in formation and get them to safety if they spot us." He began to glance around quickly, taking a mental headcount of their current charges.
Dagur slipped from Shattermaster's back, his face set. "They won't spot you. They'll be too busy chasing me."
Tengan's face fell as she glanced between the Berserker and the approaching ships. "No! That's insane. You just got Shattermaster back. It's too dangerous. Between the four of us, we-"
"You know that won't work." He cut across her, his expression stern.
Heather approached her brother, her brow furrowed. "Dagur no! Tengan's right. I...I can't-"
Dagur's gaze softened as he took one of Heather's hands into his. "I promise I will return to you, sister. To reveal everything, and to answer all your questions." He shifted his hold, gripping her left forearm in his hand while thumping his right fist over his heart. "This handshake seals the Berserker's promise. A promise that cannot now or ever be broken."
Tengan shook her head once more, a tightness threatening to overtake her chest. "No! Let me lead them away. Rumble and I will be fine. You just got back…" Her plea hung in the air.
Dagur slowly released Heather's arm and approached Tengan, a small, understanding smile on his face. "I need you to help protect Heather when I can't." His voice was soft and even as he repeated the handshake with her, amused at how his hand nearly encompassed her entire forearm. "Besides, we have unfinished business. I told you I would earn that next one. And I will."
Tengan's breath hitched as she stared into his face, amazed at just how much she enjoyed the way the rising Sun's light lit up his hair. After a moment she squeezed his forearm in return and nodded. "Don't take as long this time." She teased lightly as he pulled away.
With a small glance back at the other riders, Dagur scrambled back onto Shattermaster and took off, making a beeline towards the advancing ships, before heading off towards the open ocean and away from the others.
Tengan watched the retreating Gronkle for several seconds before approaching Heather and laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He'll be back. He promised." She wasn't entirely sure if she was comforting herself or Heather more.
Hiccup approached the two, glancing curiously at Tengan before settling his attention on Heather. "That Berserker wrist thing is serious business." He added comfortingly.
Heather watched her brother retreat until his dragon was no larger than a speck on the horizon. "I know." She finally sighed before climbing back into the saddle, a small smile on her face. "Let's get going. It'll take a while to get these Gronkles over to Dark Deep and I'm curious to see if the others managed to keep Snotlout alive."
Tengan chuckled before stifling a yawn. "Me too. I hope he's mostly in one piece. I'm way too tired to play nursemaid at the moment." She climbed into the saddle and rubbed her eyes. "It never fails. Every time we have to deal with Dagur it always turns into an all nighter."