Twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty.
Hadrian completes his second set of pull-ups, using an old bar he pried from the cell door. He wedged it between two rocks above his head, and began regaining his strength moments after Brandr left his cell. If they plan to escape tonight, Hadrian had to be in his best shape. He ate all the food Brandr left, though his stomach must've shrunk to the size of a walnut, so the result was a cramping feeling.
When guards would walk by, Hadrian would act feeble and huddle himself into a corner to show cowardice. The act seems to be working, but Hadrian doesn't get cocky. He keeps Hiccup's note tucked under a small rock and constantly looks to it for motivation and reason to keep perusing.
Brandr has stopped by more than once to drop off more food and water. During off hours, he managed to sneak Hadrian a steel dagger and a few lockpicks Hadrian doesn't know if he'll manage to swipe a whole bow or crossbow without Dagur noticing, but whatever he can't steal through Brandr, Hadrian will take from a guard.
Hadrian had told him about the special suit Trader Johan gave him, and luckily Brandr said he saw it in the blacksmith's shop. He'll try and retrieve it when the shop is closed. The smell of Hadrian's present tunic is becoming overbearing with all his workouts.
The door at the end of the hallway bang's open and Hadrian drops to the floor and huddles in the corner. The footsteps approach and Hadrian brushes his fingers along the hilt of his dagger. Brandr peeks into the cell and Hadrian stands at attention. Brandr looks around to check for others and leans in. without a word, Hadrian feels the fabric of his light armor suit press to his hands.
"Thank you." He whispers.
"When the guard does his final round around the cells, change and pick the locks." Brandr instructs. Hadrian nods, then watches Brandr's nose wrinkle in disgust. "Phew, you need a bath. Ease up on the workouts."
Hadrian snickers and hides the suit under the rock with Hiccup's note.
"How do you feel?" Brandr asks.
"Better. Pretty sure I can take on the guard snow." Hadrian answers.
"But remember, you're not. This is a stealth mission. We need to make sure no one spots us. Otherwise, they'll warn Dagur, long before we even escape the jail." says Brandr.
"Okay."
"The guard won't have the keys so they'll be hanging by the door." He continues. "Once you're out of the holding facility, come and find me down by the harbor."
Hadrian nods, then asks. "What time is it?"
"Nearly one in the morning."
"I thought you said we'd be leaving tonight." Hadrian says.
"That was before how badly you needed to regain strength." Brandr counters. "At eight, all guards are to report to the arena. That was going to be your new holding place until Hiccup's arrival." Brandr explains.
"Ah. And the perfect spot to hold and ambush for Lightning."
"So remember, eight o'clock is our window. And from what Dagur's said, you'll either end up back on Berk, or at the bottom of the ocean. It's really up to Hiccup."
"Great." Hadrian mumbles. "Got it." Then he watches as Brandr turns and leaves.
Freedom.
It's within his grasp. Hadrian feels nearly giddy as he starts a set of pushups.
Back on the island of Berk, the night was just starting to dominate the island as it casts is dark blanket across the village. A crowd had gathered outside the jail where Alvin is being held until his punishment. The sky was a pink and purple ombre as Hiccup landed Toothless just outside the rim of a crowd shouted and bantering at the jail's front entrance. As Hiccup and Toothless weave through the crowd, Toothless gives a nervous coo.
Hiccup steps through the threshold and into the main jail. Small cells lined up along the walls, leaving a wide open aisle down the center. The bars seem cleaner compared to the ones on Outcasts Island. Torches placed in odds between the cells provide little light. Like walking through patches of bruises.
Hiccup doesn't normally come to the jail. Besides it being that the only other time he was in here was when he was under the control of Alvin's Changewing. The memory itself sends gooseskin along his arms and legs.
The air seems to thicken as Hiccup approaches Alvin's cell. His insides clench and suddenly he doesn't know if he has the stomach to look at him. But why would now be different? Alvin's threatened Hiccups' life and family in the past. He even took him captive, and that's never stopped Hiccup. So why is it now that he's experiencing the trademark symptoms of fear? Dry mouth, difficulty breathing, racing heart, sweaty palms, tightness in the chest, a lump in his throat. Hiccup shakes his head as he approaches.
Alvin sits at the back of the cell, a simple stool in the corner, and a tray of food scrapes. Toothless growls.
"Astrid said you wanted to see me?" Hiccup asks. Alvin only laughs in reply. "What do you want Alvin?!"
Alvin laughs again before he rises to his feet. "I have a proposition for you Hiccup."
"Well this should be good." Hiccup says coldly.
Alvin approaches the front of the cage and Toothless snarls. Hiccup eases him down and motions him to stand back. "It's Dagur. He's a bit of a loose catapult, wouldn't you say?"
"Well that's, one way to put it."
"Well, he forced me off me own island, and I want it back." says Alvin.
"Why? So you can get back to the business of destroying out island?" Hiccup seethes.
"Aw, Hiccup, I was upset." Alvin states.
"For twenty years?"
"Very upset. You know, losing everything tends to take a man see things differently."
"So you're saying you've changed?" Hiccup asks, folding his arms; unconvinced.
"I'm saying, I'm trying to."
Hiccup sneers and turns away; Toothless still growling. He pauses. "Okay. Let's say we accept this proposal. What's in it for Berk?"
"The Berserkers gone, and the Outcasts your allies."
Hiccup looks to Alvin, then into the blank space of the floor. He ponders over the thought only for a cold second before Alvin speaks up. "You could sure use the extra muscles if you wish to rescue Hadrian."
"Never speak of him again!" Hiccup snarls and exits the jail. Outside, the cold air seeps through the fabric of his clothing and he pulls his jacket tight around his shoulders.
He slides his fingers through his hair. He wants to go home. Riding Toothless would seem logical, but Hiccup's so filled with adrenaline that he can't stop himself. He walks faster. And faster and faster, until he's sprinting. The air rushing around his body. Pumping his arms, he runs down the bridge, through the Plaza, until he reaches the Square. He bursts through the door and runs up the steps to Hadrian's room. Hiccup nearly stumbles through the doorway and catches himself on the post of Hadrian's bed. He pulls himself onto the bed and lays on his back, heaving air in and out of his lungs as beads of sweat form on his forehead.
The wafting scent from Hadrian's shirt seems to mix with the sweaty smell Hiccup radiates. It offers little ease for his rapid heart and sweaty forehead. Hiccup does want to rescue Hadrian, soon, and it would seem more men would be a good idea. But Hiccup had the idea of stealth to rescue Hadrian. Nothing would be more satisfying than having Dagur enter the jail and see Hadrian gone. The fit he would put on, like a spoiled child.
Yet either way, Hiccup knows Dagur will be expecting him. And the more his patience it wearied, the shorter Hadrian's life becomes. That's the point.
When it's time for dinner, Hiccup can't help but gaze at his dad. He would meagerly poke at the leg of his chicken and alternate between poking and drinking his water. Toothless lays sprawled across the floor with a finished bowl of fish.
The curiosity keeps gnawing away at Hiccup's insides, reducing his appetite. What happened between them that made him and Alvin such bitter rivals? He never told Hiccup the story, and up until now Hiccup never bothered to ask, or care. But now with Hadrian's life on the line and Alvin now trapped in their dungeon with debatable motives, it feels that if he knew, it would off some form of clarification in this entangled web of chaos.
As his father finishes a mug of milk, he catches Hiccup looking. "Alright. Spit it out son. You've been staring at me all night."
Hiccup looks up and takes a breath. "W-what exactly did Alvin do, to get cast out?"
Stoick's face becomes rigid, and his brow furrows. "I don't want to discuss it." He takes another bite of his leg.
"But where did it all start? I mean -"
Stoick slams his fist on the table, silencing Hiccup and gaining Toothless' attention. "It doesn't matter where it started. Just how it ended." His father's voice is tight.
"Yes but, I just want to know; I, I need to know." Hiccup presses.
"All you need to know, is that Alvin is our enemy!" Stoick barks. He pushes back his chair. "And that will never change."
He then leaves the table and the room.
Toothless coos and nudges Hiccup's elbow. Hiccup doesn't move, simply gazes back down to his plate still filled with food. But he wasn't hungry anymore.
Hiccup spends half the night in the Academy. Folks have been complaining about Lightning's howling and whining. Fishlegs analyzed his behavior saying that it's an anxiety behavior. He constantly circles around in his pen, howling and wining, and even when he' outside in the arena he still scratches at the floor, howls and cries.
Toothless does help to calm him down slightly, but Lightning still looks round the arena, sniffing for Hadrian. The sight nearly cracks Hiccup's heart. He's just as worried about Hadrian as Hiccup is. Rising from his seated position on a stool, Hiccup goes over to Lightning and begins to pat his snout and rub his neck. Lightning calms down slightly, but still groans.
"I know boy. I'm worried too." Hiccup softly says. "But, you should know, this is what he planned. He said he would give anything to ensure your freedom of Dagur."
Lightning moans and sniffs Hiccup's tunic, or Hadrian's tunic. He coos and Hiccup hugs Lightning's snout. He then takes a seat next to Lightning inside the pen. Toothless comes in and snuggles close on the other side of lightning. He nudges at Lightning's wing and coos. Lightning coos in reply and nuzzles Hiccup's cheek.
Put into thought, Hiccup could just use brute force and smash the boats and Dagur into oblivion, but backing a man like Dagur into a corner results in an undesirable outcome; especially when he travels with a hundred ship armada.
The only thing Hiccup can be sure of, if that Dagur isn't going to hurt him. Not yet. Hadrian isn't really what he wants.
"We'll get him back Lightning. I promise." Hiccup whispers.
In the morning, the sun shines against Hiccup's pale face, and his eyes flutter open. He finds himself under the shelter of Lightning's wing, his head flat on the ground, breathing even and long. At least Hiccup accomplished one thing: he stopped Lightning's night disturbances for one night. Toothless sleeps next to him, but his nose twitches and his eyes blink open.
Hiccup slowly eases his way out from under Lightning's wing. Toothless scootches away with ease and follows Hiccup on light feet as they leave the arena. He walks all the way back to the village, down the middle of the Plaza street, heading for home. Some villagers are already exploring the day's products. Hiccup expects to weave through the crowd, dodging elbows and muttering 'excuse me" the way he always does, but there is no need.
Despite the torture of the years that have passed, and with him on the last chapter of puberty, he's become noticeable. The crowd parts for him, and their eyes cling to Hiccup as he passes. Hiccup ruffles his fingers in his hair and flips if back and forth as he walks through the front door.
The house is empty, no doubt Stoick is devising a plan in the Great Hal, but the last thing Hiccup wants to hear is one faulty plan after another. Members of the village anticipating random sequences that Dagur has and Gobber having to remind them that Hadrian is his leverage. Hiccup stands just inside and tilts his head back. The room is empty, and smells of burned wood and stew. The wood floor creaks beneath his feet. He rounds the firepit over to the table where his father seat it poised like a throne, and Hadrian's favorite sword lays spread across the table. Hiccup lifts the sword with both hands and looks into the reflective surface of the blade.
When he looks, he sees the green of his own but closer in, and they slowly become a hard jade with furrowed brows. The urge to cry suddenly tightens Hiccup's throat. Thankfully the door opens and the urge is gone. Hiccup looks and finds Gobber with a gentle smile on his face.
Hiccup sighs. "Meeting too boring for you, Gobber?"
"Just starts with one idea, demolished by another, and ending with a fistfight."
Hiccup tries to smile, but he only brushes his fingers along the blade of the sword.
"You know Hiccup, there's nothing easy about war and battle." Gobber says. "You should've seen Stoick when he first started commanding the Berk fleet. He was like a newborn yak trying to find its feet."
Hiccup sets down the sword and Gobber trifles through the stew opt and pulls out a salmon for Toothless.
Hiccup can't help but snicker. "I find that hard to believe."
"It's true. In fact, there were some people in this town that didn't think he had it in him. Alvin for one. He wouldn't shut up about it." Gobber explains.
Hiccup goes back over to the chair and takes Hadrian's sword, laying it across his lap.
"Hiccup, when it comes to strategies and conflict, not everyone is going to agree with your plans. Sometimes you have to deal with the Alvin's and Snotlout's of the world."
"Sometimes I feel like that's all I do." Hiccup retorts.
"They were best friends you know," Gobber says.
"Who?" Hiccup leans forward in his seat.
"Alvin and Stoick. They were inseparable since birth." Gobber explains.
"So what happened? What changed?" Hiccup asks.
"Everything."
Hiccup was about to ask for details when the front door bursts open and Fishlegs comes stumbling in out of breath; stuttering about something. "Hiccup! Hiccup! Screaming! Coming!"
"Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Take a breath there Fishlegs." Hiccup calms.
Fishlegs breathes. "I was on patrol with Meatlug. The Screaming Death, we saw it! It's eating its way, to Berk."
Without another word, Hiccup rushes out of the house and out to the hill where he can get an entire view of the town Square and ocean. The wind rushes through his hair. "How much time do we have?"
"Not much. It was just off Dragon Island when we saw it." Fishlegs says.
Suddenly Hiccup's name is called again and Stormfly and Astrid come in a hot landing. Stoick and the other members were filing out of the Hall. The gathering catches Stoick's attention.
"What's going on?" he asks Hiccup as he approaches.
"We've got a Screaming Death coming." Hiccup says.
"And, this came for you." Astrid hands Hiccup a scroll. "It's from Dagur."
"And the hits just keep coming." Hiccup says as he unravels the paper.
"Well, what does it say?" Astrid asks.
"We have until tonight to deliver Toothless and Lightning, or Hadrian will . . ." Hiccup chokes and instantly crumples the paper. He throws it with all his might and it lands in the middle of the feeder in the center of the Square.
"It's a trap. You know that." Astrid says.
"I also thought that Hadrian would break himself out by now."
"Hiccup, if we fly anywhere near Outcast Island . . ." Astrid starts.
"Listen, you guys get Snotlout and the twins. Tell them to be ready for the Screaming Death." Hiccup instructs.
"What about Hadrian?" Astrid asks.
"I'll handle that."
Time seems to have slowed down as Hadrian slips into his suit. The fabric feels comforting on his skin. It fits smoothly and he feels like he's becoming one with the shadows. Pulling up his hood, he listens quickly for footsteps, and there's nothing.
He had missed his chance at eight in the morning, but the guards still haven't seem to come for him yet. The fact arouses suspicion, so Hadrian's extra cautious as he picks the lock to his cell door. The door opens on rusty hinges, the screeching making his heart triple in speed for a moment. He braces himself against the stone for a minute before he peeks out through the door. He pulls the cape around his body and slips through the doorway.
As he passes the torches, he whips his cape over the flame, instantly extinguishing them. Soon the entire compound is coated in the blackness of night. Hadrian lifts his hand in front of his face, and can barely see the outline. He has literally become one with the shadows.
Brandr said to meet him by the harbor, so that must mean he's rented a boat. But seeing as how he hasn't been back, Hadrian feels the urge to find him at the arena. Reaching the door, Hadrian finds the keys just as Brandr said. What he forgot to mention was the tens of keys all strapped to the ring. He didn't have time for this. Hadrian kneels down and slides his knife and lockpick into the keyhole. With quick fingers, Hadrian hears the tumbler click.
The door creaks open and Hadrian slips into another stone corridor. Hadrian wasn't sure what he had expected of the compound, but rat running around and the smell of decaying mold was certainly not it. He had at least expected the Berserkers and Outcasts to at least work together to at least clean the place.
He rounds the next corner and nearly runs into a guard, but his toe seems to stick to the ground and jerk back before his mind can react. Hadrian ducks back behind the corner as the guard turns. Hadrian draws his dagger and flattens himself against the wall as the footsteps come closer, his heart pounding in his ears.
As the guard passes by, a serrated dagger awaits him. It slices his throat and splatters blood across the floor. The blood slides off Hadrian's robes like water. Hadrian loots the body to find another dagger with a sword and duel-bladed axe. Tucking them away in his belt of daggers, he continues on.
Hadrian navigates his way up the winding stairs out of the dungeon. He encounters no guards, dead or living. The stairs ended in a cramped room with bare walls and a lone door, the outside of which was normally bolted. He pushes it open. The plush carpet feels wonderful to his feet. Even better was the warm burst of air blowing across his skin. She remembered how warm Stoick usually keeps the house, and how he and Hiccup would stretch out before the large fire roaring in the hearth.
He hurried down a long hall. Over twenty windows stretched along the right. Iron bars crisscrossed across them, but still allowed the chill to drift through the facility. Hadrian reaches the end of the hall and slips through the empty doorway, silent as a ghost. A guard stands to the right of it, and he dies with a dagger in his throat and a hand wrapped around his mouth. As the blood spills across the floor, Hadrian makes certain no more guards are about, then heads on through.
"You! Stop right there!" a voice shouts.
Hadrian turns and finds a guard with his sword drawn. Hadrian instantly crouches down. His shadow cloak swirls about his body, his limbs and head fading away into a shapeless blob of black and gray. Only the serrated dagger shines bright and true in his black hand.
There's a scuffle, coupled with a single pained scream that is cut off halfway through. Several bodies lie in a bloody path that leads to the end of another corner. Another pair of footsteps come rushing down the hall. Hadrian ducks and slips within the dark corner casted long by the window. The guard sees the scene and comes undone.
"By the gods, this can't be happening!" he panics. Hadrian sneaks up and presses the red painted dagger against the man's neck.
"Where are the weapons?" Hadrian asks.
"They're all in the blacksmith's shop." The guard replies, trying his hardest not to sound afraid. His voice came out sounding weak but annoyed. Given the circumstances, Hadrian thought it was acceptable. The dagger shifted against the guard's skin.
"You better hope you're not lying." Hadrian says. "False tongues are often split."
The dagger scrapes against the guard's neck. "I'm not! I swear I'm not!"
The blade leaves his neck, but Hadrian then coils his arm around the guard and grips with full force. He pulls the guard down as he gasps and wheezes for air. His hand claws and slaps at Hadrian's face, but it only makes him grip tighter. When he feels the body slack, Hadrian drops him to the ground, not even being gentle.
Hadrian hurries down the hall, his mind racing. His path led him to the dining hall, which looks naked with the empty chairs, covered tables, and unlit chandeliers. Soon shouts of the guards grow louder.
"Alerted," he whispers "but how?"
Knowing Brandr wouldn't betray him so late, Hadrian assumes these ones were sent to retrieve Hadrian to take him to the arena. He enters the barracks filled with twenty guards, armored in steel and armed with swords. Tabards emblazoned with the Berserker and Outcast sigil covered their tunics.
Hadrian draws his dagger in his right hand, sword in left lunging toward the soldiers. Those in the front battled with Hadrian, but their movements are slow compared to the grace of Hadrian. One would think he would struggle against the guard's heavy armor, but Hadrian's serrated dagger slices through the mail as if it is butter. The metal melted and smoked purple after each cut, helpless before a powerful magic. Stealing those enchanter books from Grandmamma certainly paid off.
Hadrian holds strong, but he was pushing back a river of blades with only a dagger and sword and axe. Five die at his feet, but the rest press forward, shoving aside their dying comrades. As the guards spread out around him, Hadrian flips back and away, his body curling around sword strike as if his bones are water.
Sprinting down the hall and into along corridor, he glances out the rows of windows; his heart shuddering at the sight. Pouring through the front gates of the jail in frightening numbers were various mercenaries wearing the Outcast standard. Guess it's safe to say he's been spotted. Screams chased him down the hall. Escape is all that matters now. The thought of returning to his cold, drafty cell spurs him on. When he reaches a door, he glances behind.
Hadrian's breathing is ragged, frightening gasps. His pulse is a war drum in his ears. With trembling fingers, he grips the sill. With a painful kick, the bars clink and loosen. Pain shoots up Hadrian's leg and he grits his teeth to keep from screaming. The bars shatter and Hadrian tumbles through the broken window and onto the cool ground. He hits the ground with a roll and darts away.
He was no the western side of the complex. The main gates are to the south, but instead of going there, Hadrian pulls north. The stars were fading; hiding behind clouds and in the dim light, Hadrian stumbles as he runs. He has not yet been spotted outside; they probably assume he wouldn't stand a chance against the mercenaries. Hadrian keeps low as he nears the thick fence. Its bars are made of dark iron, their spiked tops over ten feet above the ground. Behind them, skeletal remains of Loki trees with interlocking branches scatter outside.
Instead of climbing the bars, Hadrian shimmies up the wall. It seems there's no way up, but his feet and hands find crevices, and indents in the stone. He makes it seem so easy, as if a pathway is there, waiting hidden just for him. The roof is not perfectly flat, but instead sharply angles, with triangles rising up to make space for windows. While angled, it still is wide and offers plenty of room for a running start. In between the spikes of the gate are thick strips of the dark iron, and it's for them he dives like a swan. With both hands he latches on, and when his body swings downward, he kicks off the bars. Feet in the air, he vaults over the spikes and lands on the smooth stone on the other side.
Keeping the dagger gripped in his hand, Hadrian breaks into a full sprint towards the blacksmith's shop. If he was spotted, and if Brandr somehow got found out, he'll need all the blades he can get.
Back on Berk, Hiccup's heart triples in rhythm as he steps into the Academy. Toothless follows close behind as Hiccup approaches Alvin's hold. Lightning lays in front of the cage, teeth bared in a look of absolute loathing. They had since moved Alvin into the Academy and Lightning is free to roam the village. He spends time mostly around Hiccup's home.
The people of Berk still haven't decided on a plan to rescue Hadrian, and Hiccup is tired of waiting around for them to make a decision. He told Stoick his own plan that he had devised within listening to the villagers suggestions. At first, Stoick refused, but for once, Hiccup argued back, not really giving him much of a choice. Even if Stoick refused, Hiccup would still go; and they both knew this. All Stoick said is that Alvin will pay if any harm is to come to Hiccup.
"So, how'd the town meeting go?" Alvin sarcastically asks. "Sounds like they were just on the verge of a breakthrough."
"Never mind that Alvin." Hiccup waves off. He pulls the lever and the wooden bar rises and the doors open wide. Toothless growls as Alvin steps out.
Alvin blocks out the blinding light with his hand. "Well, this is awkward. Do I stay? Or do I go?"
"Both." Hiccup answers. Alvin gives him a confused look. "You are going to show me a way into Outcast Island. We're going there together, Alvin. We are going to bring Hadrian home."