Thanks to everyone who has reviewed or read! Your support keeps me writing. This chapter will be unedited for awhile because my beta is busy, but it will be edited sooner or later.
The island that they circled was not what Hiccup had expected. It wasn't abandoned like it should have been. He could see the flickering of lights in the towering sea fort, grey smoke rising from multiple chimneys. The sea fort that covered the peak was only half finished. Six some shipping boats were on the docks, masts left up. In the black of the night Hiccup couldn't make out too much detail.
He ushered Toothless to land on the opposite shore of the fort.
"Just wait here for me okay," he whisepered when they finally landed, "if something happens then go get the kids and take them home, okay?"
The dragon huffed angrily.
"No you can't come with me. It's to cramped for a dragon and you're not made for ground stealth."
A proud snort.
"You are very good at silent flying yes. If something happens to me use that skill and go back home to tell the clansmen."
A resigned ruff.
"Thank you." Hiccup took a few steps away then turned back to the waiting dragon. He wrapped his arms around the smooth black scales of Toothless's neck. "Be safe bud."
Toothless rolled his eyes and churr'd, 'I should be saying that to you.'
Without a second look Hiccup set off up the hill and towards the fortress.
It was smaller then he expected, the outside gate was guarded by a single thug type man. Hiccup didn't bother with him, instead he worked his way along the edge of the wall, using the brush as cover. Soon he found what he wanted. The unfinished section of the wall. They had foolishly left it unguarded.
It wasn't hard to sneak around, the rubble and building materials that were strew around the ground provided good enough hiding places. Hiccup just need to find out where the prisoners were and it seemed he was favored by the gods that night.
He managed to duck behind a half built house when a man in crumpled tan pants and a set of thick chainmail tottered past. Hiccup held his breath, leaning back on his hands too help stay hidden. The man walked halfway across the yard to a complete stone building and greeted the tall man who stood by it.
"Got the bread for the prisoners?" The guard asked the approaching man.
"Yee. Ya know 'hhis is a honhest to goth wasth. I don' see wha h'Eret and Drhago are doin' with people, h'Eret only sells the drhagons."
"Gosh Holthar you need to get a handle on that lisp I can't understand a thing you just said!"
Holthar glared at the offender and then pushed past him and into the prison. Hiccup's mind tried to make sense of what he had just heard. He swore that it sounded like Drago was one of the men kidnapping the dragons.
Not something someone who was fighting for their support should be doing. Drago was the king who oversaw the Unkonst soldiers. Hiccup was glad that he had come by himself. He would need to find more proof on the subject.
When the heavy wooden door clanged shut behind the man Hiccup started to move. He rolled his feet, placing his heel down first, lightly, then slowly shifting his weight, moving slowly on the rocky ground. He used the technique until he had gotten to the side of the stone building. It was small and resembled an entrance to an underground area. Hiccup looped around the back of the building and back to the other side. From his new position he could see the guard clearly, he was turned away from him.
He took a moment to assess his target, then he started towards the man. He stopped when he was almost touching the man's back. Only his training kept him from shaking with nerves. When he was so close to the man he could hear his uneven breathing he attacked, kicking the man hard in the back of the knee, forcing him to fall back. The attack was sudden and as the guard went to yell Hiccups arm had already tightened around the man's throat, lulling him into a forceful sleep.
As soon as the man went limp Hiccup lowered him to the ground. He dragged the heavy body back behind the building as quietly as he could. As he started towards the prison a thought crossed his mind. He went back to the body and patted him down finding what he wanted in seconds, a shining set of keys. Then he entered the prison.
He was right about it being an entrance to something underground, the stone room had only one chair and in the middle was a set of stairs going downwards. Hiccup made his way down quietly. The halls were lit sporadically with a few almost burnt out torches. The molted silhouette of the man who had food for the prisoners could be seen near the end of the hall.
Lining the hall was cage after cage. The prisoner was much larger then he had first thought and from the small amount of given light he could see that one side was filled with the missing soldiers and the other side was filled with dragons.
The dragons were all muzzled, he could hear their soft snores. On the other side the soldiers were eating the bread that they had just been given, none the wiser to Hiccup. Holthar continued down the long row. Hiccup made his way to the first cage.
A few soldiers recognized him instantaneously and the ones who did not had no trouble recognizing the excitement plastered over the others faces. Hiccup smiled and gave a slight wave, one of the soldiers who recognized him crawled over to the bars. Before talking he glanced down the hall to Holthar who was nearing the end of the cages.
"You should take care of him first. He has keys for our cells."
"I've got keys. Get yourselves out while I take care of him." Hiccup handed the keys into the man who nodded his thanks. Hiccup wasted no more time. He started down the hall, stealth slowly fading away as he rose from a crouch. He fingers played with the hilt of his sword, Inferno, as he pulled her out. His next step echoed as he finally shed the last of his silence. The dampness of the underground cell chilled him.
Holthar turned, seeing Hiccup and dropping the plate to the ground with a clatter, pulling out his own sword. He was about to shout when Hiccup lashed out. Metal clashed against metal, behind him Hiccup heard the scrap of the rusted cage door opening. He returned his focus to the fight.
"Who da helth isth you?" Hiccup lunged again and Holthar yanked his sword back to block. Inferno's tip bounded back after hitting the flat of Holthars sword. Holthar swung and Hiccup pulled to block. The large man was not an experienced sword fighter and the swing was to heavy and to large for the confined space. Hiccup, though, was a very good sword fighter.
As soon as the man swung, Hiccup stepped forward. The intimacy negated the swing, and Hiccup merely reached up with a trained speed and precision to stop the mans arm. His own sword came forward to press the skin of the mans throat.
Holthar, in a blind fear and fury, yanked back his arm and sword. Hiccup let the man's momentum pull him away to. But only just enough so that he could twirl his sword in his hand, so the blade faced himself, and have enough room to lash out, whipping Holthar on the temple with the hilt and rendering him unconscious.
"Good job Major Haddock!" A cheerful voice called out.
"First Lieutenant Orri!" He exclaimed wrapping her into a hug. The other soldiers had all been freed and one stooped down and took the keys from the fallen enemies belt. "It's great to see you again! Are you well?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine just a little tired. I honestly just want to get home."
"Ha yeah I get that, Let's just unlock the dragons and get out of here."
"The dragons," Another soldier questioned, "there are boats in the harbour we can take. Some of theses dragons are feral and ours had their restraints cut off."
"We can just let them out then." Hiccup mused, "keep them from our enemies."
"So just let them go and ruin the stealth of our escape then. I say we kill them."
Hiccup could feel the blood rising to his cheeks, his eyes narrowed. Orri put a hand on his arm and spoke quietly to him and the group. "Let's just leave them, it'll be hard to sneak them out Hiccup, Frinni has a point."
"I'm not leaving them here."
"I guess the rumors are true then, Major." Frinni hissed.
Hiccup tensed, "I don't know what you mean."
"Of course you don't but I've heard about you and your love for dragons. You are insane! I'm sure everyone here would love to know that-"
"Love of Thor." A gruff voice said, the head of every Vitikean soldier snapped towards the stairs. They were staring down a stunned looking thug, holding a sabre in his hand. He took a hesitant step back then stuttered out his cry of alarm. "P-Prisoner escape!"
"We need to get out now." Another soldier piped in before charging the young thug. Other soldiers followed him to help. A few looked at the Major then turned and started to run out, the young man had already been subdued by the other soldiers and his weapon taken.
"Come on Hiccup let's go."
"Orri I- I can't leave them." She gave him a solemn look and sighed.
"I'll see you after this then. Make sure you visit us, we've missed you baby sitting." Then she let go of his arm and followed the soldiers escaping. Soon outside cries of battle could be heard. Hiccup got to work quickly cutting into the locks, the keys had been taken by the soldier he had first given them too.
Each time he swung a door open a dragon would charge past, stop only long enough for him to take off the muzzle then, scramble up the stairs and lunge out to freedom. They knew if they stayed they would be returned to their rider. When the last dragon was released Hiccup started up the stairs himself. Only a huge mass cut him off from escape.
The guard was decked out in full armor. He seemed slightly startled at the sudden appearance of Hiccup. But he wasn't rattled for long. A huge sword swung towards him without hesitation. Hiccup jumped back to avoid it and tumbled down the stairs. The armored man walked slowly towards him, his shoulders almost stretching the width of the hall. There was no way Hiccup could get past him.
Hastily he got his sword in front of him, scrambling to his feet. He could feel blood in his mouth. He had bit his tongue when he fell, his hands were too scratched and bloodied from catching himself. The man smiled menacingly, eyes hidden behind the shiny helmet.
Why the hell is this guy so well armored, Hiccup thought as he started backwards. The man swung his heavy sword and Hiccup threw his up in defense. The sound of metal on metal rang through the now empty prison. Hiccup was pushed back by the force. He had to take a few steps back to get his balance suddenly he was falling back again. He had tripped on the unconscious Holthar. The armored man smirked and raised his sword above his head. Hiccup didn't have enough time to defend himself.
"Hiccup!" Screeee! Bang!
Hiccup looked up stunned as the man feel to the ground, a circle burn mark marred his back and the smell of burning flesh was putrid. Hiccup covered his nose with sleeve and looked towards the voice. Astrid stood at the top of the stairs framed by the coming dawn light that was flooding the island. Toothless stood proudly on the steps, looking at Hiccup with some concern.
"Why are you here?" Hiccup snapped. Astrid rolled her eyes and brushed past Toothless to go to him.
"You're welcome." She reached him and helped him to his feet. He had to spit the blood from his mouth before he could speak again.
"How did you get here?"
"We all saw you were gone so we saddled up. Fishlegs thought he knew where you might've gone but then Toothless arrivied. We thought you had sent him."
"No, I most certainly did not." Hiccup muttered glaring at his dragon. Toothless made a chirping noise. "The others are here too then?"
"Yeah there helping fight outside."
"We should go help then."
Astrid nodded and they both left the prison. Above ground was much worse then Hiccup had thought it would be. Most of the Vitikean soldiers had managed to get their hands on weapons, but they were slightly out numbered. He could see his students doted throughout the battlefield. He scanned each one to make sure none needed help, Astrid had run off to fight as well. Their dragons were perched up on the walls, out of the way of the battle. Toothless went up to join them.
As Hiccup looked over his students something about a certain fighter caught his eye. She was fighting near Fishlegs but there was something else, she was wearing an Unkonst set of armor. It was proof! He rushed over, swerving his way through the fighting.
The woman might have been wearing soldier armor but she was hardly well trained. In only two moves Hiccup had disabled the her, and a third decisive one had the woman on the ground. Hiccup knelt to cut the emblem from the outfit when a yelp caught his attention.
It was Fishlegs, the man he had been fighting had over powered him. His sword was buried into the boys chest.
Hiccup saw red.
In second he had covered the distance between them. It didn't even take him three moves, only one.
Inferno jabbed forward burying itself into the man's throat. He let out a gurgling scream, Hiccup released the gas in the blade and with a single spark the man was on fire. Hiccup yanked Inferno back. The thug stumbled back clawing at his throat in a desperate attempt to stop the blood, the horrid gurgled screams subsiding further as each second passed.
Hiccup didn't have time to mourn his own lack of mercy. He swung back to Fishlegs wrenching the sword from the blonde's chest. He pressed his hands to the wound. "Your fine, your fine, I've got you. Don't leave me."
Astrid appeared behind him.
"Get a dragon fast!" He barked at her and she ran off. Around him the battle became a claustrophobic cage, the painful memories of war being dredged up with each clash and scream. He could here the cry of 'get to the boats' passing through the ranks.
A screech told him of the arrival of Astrid and Stormfly. She helped him get Fishlegs on to the dragon. The injured boys brow was covered in sweat and blood had soaked through most of his shirt.
"Take him to the island, patch him up, go straight back to Berk. Do not wait for us, understand?"
"But Hiccup, I can…"
"This is war Astrid! Listen to me, I am your commanding officer, that there is your dying friend so just do what I tell you for once."
The girl went quiet. She straightened and clucked to her dragon, "Yes, Major Haddock." They took off.
Toothless was beside Hiccup in a flash. He mounted his dragon and took to the air. Below he could see that most of the soldier had made it to the boat and the others were still fighting there way through on the docks.
Soon the rest of the cadets had taken to their dragons and joined him.
"Let's burn the other boats then shall we?" They nodded and got to work. Soon the entire dock was on fire, sailors diving off boats and into the waters stained by sunrise and fire. When they had finished Hiccup and Toothless destroyed the dock that connected the ship of allies and the dock. The ship set sail filled with the soldier he had barely rescued.
The cadets headed towards the island but Hiccup stayed with the ship for awhile to make sure it continued on safely. When the sun finally pulled up over the horizon completely Hiccup left the ship in open waters to find his way to Berk. The fact that the proof had been left behind weighed heavy on his mind, but the blood on his hands drove him home.