A/N: Sorry for the disappearance. School is back and taking more time than ever. However I have no intention of dropping this fic and for those still wondering, yes I am still taking in OCs, PM me and I'll send the form.
"You were right, your father has no intention of bargaining for your safety," Alex told him through the iron gate. Two days since they started talking, Aron discovered that talking to the red haired slave was the best way to judge the passing of time. Not that he was just contemplating the darkness anymore but... time flew when you were doing something so ridiculously... what did his nieces called it? Oh right, cray cray.
"Told you, he fully believes I can get out of this mess," Aron sighed as he checked his latest meal. Thankfully Alex had succeeded on bringing those extra fishes like she requested. While she had no idea about his dagger, which even now he used to chop the raw food. Though as the red eyes on the other side of the bar could attest, not for himself. Aron no longer sat on the distant side, instead, now he was centimeters away from the triple stryke, the bars barely keeping him from petting the powerful and surprisingly playful beast.
"Can you? I mean, having them not growl at me is one thing but training one to ride it..." Alex asked, a hint of worry in her voice. When he had first made the offer, she hadn't argued, slave life was bad enough that any crazy options seemed like a better option. Alas it wasn't just her, Hati had proven even more capable than he originally believed.
"That's the thing, usually a dog or falcon take at least a few days to fully understand a single command but Hati..." Despite Alex being unable to see what was happening, Aron made a signal with his right hand. The triple stryke collapsed to the ground, playing dead. He snapped his fingers and tossed a trout's head. The braided tail was still chained, but Hati managed to roll up and claim the flying meal with his massive jaws.
"It's like I just remind him of it, either he's really smart or..." Aron tilted his head in light amusement before the idea hit him. Hati wasn't really learning new commands or tricks, on the contrary he responded to all basic commands immediately and after a bit of thinking, Aron realized similar commands were used to direct him to do things that no dog or falcon could.
"Or his previous rider knew quite a lot about the training methods applied by Sea Reapers, which only makes me even more curious to know more about his rider," Aron finished, while a nice percentage of the Sea Reapers raised hunting dogs and a few farmers and huntsmen kept a falcon or two, only the Sea Reapers, Outlanders and very few members of the Triquetra knew the commands. However, only two families in Blitz actually taught and kept record of all commands and training styles used by the common populace. Aron had studied them with his mother when he was young, now, both he and the dragon recalled them. Like sailing, you never forgot how to do it once you learned.
"I can tell you he or she is likely sleeping with the fishes," Alex replied with a chuckle of dark humor. Aron couldn't help but share the sentiment, after all, if not for his or her demise, he'd never be lucky enough to get such progress. Heck he had half expected to spend a few months trying not to die in the arena but this...
"Well by the end of the week I should have taught him a few new commands to help us escape, then it's just a matter of getting to the arena with him, Beowulf won't believe it when I fly out of there," Aron smiled at the thought. Beowulf might be doing what was best for his tribe, but Aron was doing what was best for his health. He was never the vindictive type but a few days in a cell made him consider offering Beowulf a deal, just to rub the fact he couldn't keep a single teenager in a cell. The idea made him chuckle. Alex didn't question it, the silence was drawing on.
"Us?" Alex asked simply. Aron couldn't see her expression but he felt a tone of uncertainty in her voice. Did she doubt him or did she doubt their chances? Either way Aron made another hand sign, Hati sat on his haunches and was rewarded with another piece of the trout. While the dragon feasted, Aron replied with confidence he rarely used when speaking.
"You're the one who had the idea and is risking punishment, if things go wrong Hati and I will just be put back in our cells but you... Just be near the cliffs when the fight begins, not sure how long it will take but be there with the saddle, I tried petting him through the bars yesterday, it's like a shark's skin but worse. We'll need the protection if we indeed to ride him for more than a few minutes," Aron tested his right hand, while the armored glove would conceal the raw skin and he did what he could to wash it with drinking water, it still stung when he focused on it.
"I feel like we're forgetting something..." Alex pointed out, alas, Aron dismissed it as nothing other than some natural worry. He tried a new command, one of the new ones he had been teaching Hati. The dragon's tails struggled to split for naught, in the end, the dragon just left one of his three stingers through the bars. Too dark to make out which one so Aron shook his head and sent the last piece of the trout amidst Hati's voracious jaws. The dragon hadn't eaten a proper meal since capture and was only liking Aron more for it.
"Do your part, I'll do mine," Aron said with a small chuckle. The image of Beowulf's face when they shot into the skies. Unlike the Sea Reapers, the Three would try saving Juniper. Aron would be eager to join them in the assault. That only left one question for the future, alas he shook his head. He'd cross that bridge when he reached it. Alex gasped as she realized what they were forgetting, alas the sound of the guards coming caught their attention.
"I have to go, be careful," Alex whispered before running away, Aron sighed and shook his head. Hati tilted his massive head, looking at him curiously. This time, the jingle of keys were closer. It took the time of his gate being opened and him falling on his back for Aron to realize that it wasn't Hati's, but his own gate that was open.
"Ready for another show?" It was Wulf and his partners, alas now the woman looked at Aron with a cruel smirk. To Aron's surprise, the other man carried his harpoon and short sword. Hati growled at them, trying to spread his tails. Wulf shot him a quizzical glance before beckoning for Aron to stand.
"The Sea Reapers have abandoned you to your fate, round one begins," The woman was almost laughing as Wulf shut the gate and led Aron from his cell and Hati. Aron shook his head as he was taken through the tunnels, this time into the brighter one. To the gate for the Slaughterhouse arena. Only this time, he wasn't going to spectate...
Far from the Slaughterhouse, a small ship settled on the far edge of the Bearhide's harbor. On it, a small group of teenagers wearing heavy cloaks inspected their surroundings as they awaited for the Harbor Master's arrival and inspection.
"Well that was a fun trip," Kelda broke the ice as she polished her atgeir. The weapon had a few new blood stains from their time at sea. The others looked uncertain, Erron was discussing with Stellian in low voices, the subject seemed to leave the larger female uneasy while Erron seemed more excited than worried. The others were glad to see Loki's Pride was mostly emptied out.
"Why aren't we getting a look around yet? Surely Aron isn't being kept at the harbor," Sweyn questioned, his bow was still stringed from the recent battle and his quiver was nearly empty. Out of the Suicide Crew, only he had never sailed before out into strange waters. Gleb shot him a curious look before shaking his head, despite his own wishes, his combat scythe had it's decorative gems removed and hidden inside a safe lock in the Drowning Boar. It was too risky having a Bearhide recognizing them.
"If you want the ship... Appropriated by the Bearhides, than go on, we need to check by the Harbor Master and pay the docking fee, can't get much attention by making a scene, so, what's the plan anyways?" Gleb explained to Sweyn before directing his questioning for Erron with a hint of a nearly unnoticed edge. Erron had already adjusted his goggles again, the obsidian glass lenses concealing his eyes. Stellian shot him a final angry look before inspecting her long dagger, the strange metal glittering in the sunlight. Erron adjusted his cloak and shrugged.
"None of us knows much about Bearhide Village, however we do know they keep slaves, so there should be a prison somewhere right? That or we break into Beowulf's house and hope he's being polite. We saw Fjord's Scythe sailing past us yesterday so at this point their chief knows Skarf has no intention of saving Aron," Erron recalled their failure in the previous day. In order to avoid one of Blitz's fastest ships and maintain course they had to take the long way. The way where a very angry pod of MudRakers lurked. How they escaped was a mystery even for them.
Soon a man with burnt skin and a scraggly beard that spoke much of his long days watching over ships approached with a light frown as he inspected the Drowning Boar. At this point Gleb took over, telling the Harbor Master their cover story and negotiating a fee slightly lower than the original price.
"Alright, now we can go," Gleb told Sweyn as he jumped off the ship and onto the harbor. The group took a few moments to adjust to firm solid land. Two days and a half on a constantly swaying vessel tended to take away one's sense of balance. In the end, Gleb stayed to keep an eye on the ship. While it didn't seem like a lot of looting occurred in Grisly Island, leaving a ship unguarded was a test of luck Loki would love to mess with. The others got to work, sporting their cowls to shadow their faces, spread out. Erron and Ham headed for the massive building in the center of the town. Oddly enough, it was big enough to cover a fifth of the village's full size. A crowd was forming at the entrances. On their way, they saw some quiet houses and even a few Bearhides carrying goods.
"Not that bad really, it even looks a little like Sea Reaper Village," Ham pointed out as they made their way through. At that hour of the day, most Bearhides were at home or working. A few kids ran past Erron laughing, playing some kind of game. The albino almost smiled, recalling his own childhood playing tag with the others back in Outlander Village. Alas, they soon reached the massive building. Oddly enough, the entrance was free. Erron and Ham were carried into the crowd. At the end, they couldn't help but gasp. A massive arena, larger than the Eye of Odin and easily big enough to form a small district within. On that day, only a weapon's rack decorated one of the entrances.
"Beowulf," Ham whispered glaring at the oposite side of the arena. Even from the distance, Erron made out the fiery red beard and weaponized prosthetic. But that wasn't all.
"Figures Skarf would send Arn, he really has left no room for negotiation," Erron made out the scarred visage of Arn the Unmoved. In his youth, Arn was notorious for his stubborn and pigheaded behavior. Skarf wasn't just making sure Beowulf was getting the message, he was intentionally, although indirectly angering the Bearhide chieftain. There was also a girl whom Erron couldn't make out sitting with Beowulf.
"Where's Aron though? An event like this... Man does that guy take insults heavily," Even Ham managed to realize what was about to happen quickly enough. The chattering crowds were soon silenced by a horn. A small scraggly man with a surprisingly strong voice and a strange conical device took their attention.
"Welcome for the first match of the day! For the visitors, welcome to the greatest arena in the archipelago, Thor's Pleasure! Today we have some quite exotic fighters to bet on!" The man called as two gates opened, one beneath Beowulf's position and another to the west.
"On the North Gate, we have one of the most talented fighters of his generation, he didn't go through training but he has already bathed in the blood dragons! The heir of the Sea Reapers, Aron Skarfsson!" A hint of irony from the announcer was followed by the boos and jeers from the crowd. They paid for a bloodbath, Skarf was a notorious fighter. Almost a legend in some islands, but Aron? He was good, but he didn't even have a title yet!
"On the West Gate, explorers bought this bad boy a few weeks ago and have been prepping him up for a match ever since! Only the bravest Hairy Hooligans dare to face the trademark of the Stoker Class, Bearhides and guests! I give you..." The announcer continued. A dreadful roar made the crowd cheer even as Aron stepped back. Unlike Ham or Erron, the heir of the Sea Reapers already saw the creature waiting to be freed.
"Give a fiery welcome to Muspellheim's finest! The Monstrous Nightmare Surt!" The announcer's call was followed by cheers as the fiery beast emerged into the arena with a vicious roar. The dragon was the size of a grapple grounder. With two forearms serving as wings. To Erron's disgust, the beast's wings had been torn. Even as the monstrous nightmare tried to fly, it's tattered wings proved unable to lift its massive size. Even so, it looked more than ready to tear Aron apart. Ham looked ready to jump in, but Erron put a hand on his friend's shoulder. If they tried anything the Bearhides would know that there were Sea Reapers who desired to save Aron. They couldn't take the risk. Aron was on his own...
A/N: Not sure why, maybe the evil overlord within me but decided to end this chapter here. As I said before school is a bigger time consumer than before so my writing was severely slowed down. That aside I have no intention of giving up the story. Now, some of you might be surprised or even confused as to why Hati is being so friendly. I left a few hints this chapter and on previous ones, not all directed at the Triple Stryke. So while I will only reveal the reasoning several arcs from now, I will leave you guys to guess in comments. Don't forget, reviews and helpful criticism is usually what makes me write more, every encouragement or tip is another push to keep me going. See you guys next chapter!