Just a few Review shout-outs.
Breyannia: Maybe, if Alvin can buy Hiccup before someone else. But either way he could always come up with a great idea.
Risuchan0223: (I think I spelled that right...) I'm glade you're enjoying the story so far. I had to throw Alvin in here because he's my favorite villain from the tv series. Maybe I can surprise you again in later chapters!
DoomsdayBeamXD: I have to say you are quickly becoming my favorite reviewer. You have so much enthusiasm and energy toward my story and it's inspiring. Thank you so much, and I promise I won't hurt Hiccup too bad ;)
Luna Julien: I'm glade you're enjoying my story so far!
DragonSoul12: Thanks for the encouragement, I'll be trying hard to keep adding twists and turns through out this story.
Jesusfreak: Haha, Thanks for the awesome review and here is the next update for you.
A random surprise: Haha, That's a lot of Fan girls. Alvin better watch his back!
Snowflake: Haha, in a word - or five - yes he is dead.
Dragonlover17: So glade you are enjoying this so much. Here's the next update for you.
Authors note - Just so you all know, tomorrow will probably be the last update until summer break. I'll try my best to update before summer but in case I can't you have a bit of a warning. Please keep up the awesome reviews. You're all so inspiring and positive to this story. Thank's everyone who have been reviewing. Keep it up!
Alvin the Treacherous was losing his patience. Dragons were attacking nonstop on Outcast Island. He needed Stoic's boy now. But how was he going to get him without going to Berk. The idea came from Savage after he had heard of the Runt trade going on a few islands off. About a two-day boat ride. He had his men ready a boat to sail and they headed for Firestone Island.
When he arrived, the trade was just starting. He got to the crowd just in time as the slaves were lining up on the stage. It was when he looked over all of them that one caught his attention right away.
"It can't be..." He said. Hiccup, Stoic's only son stood on the stage, his prosthetic missing. As Alvin looked around, he saw no sign of the Night Fury either. The boy was defenseless and alone. A sinister grin came over his lips just as Hiccup caught sight of him through the crowd. His face visibly paled.
Hiccup couldn't breath for a moment as he saw the menacing eyes of his enemy staring directly at him. "Alvin?" He whispered. Fin glanced at him.
"What?" He whispered. "I know that man. Over there." Hiccup said still looking at Alvin. Fin looked in the direction Hiccup was.
"The one looking at you?" Fin asked.
"Yes. He's been trying to capture me and my best friend. He nearly killed us a few times. If he buys me..." Hiccup couldn't even begin to think of the things Alvin would do to him or make him do. Train dragons, Teach them to train them, attack Berk himself. The thoughts of the most horrid and frightening things came to his head. He looked away from the man.
"Do I hear any bids for these young slaves?" Baltar called to the crowd.
"I have a bid." Came a familiar deep, husky voice. Hiccup's heart stopped. He looked to the crowd and saw Alvin with his hand raised.
"Yes sir. What is your bid and for which slave?" Baltar asked.
"Two sheep for the lad with the missing leg." Alvin grinned evilly.
"Oh, sorry sir, but this one has more skills than the other so I require a higher bid." Baltar said.
"I'll give you three sheep and five chickens for him." Another man called.
"Three sheep and four chickens. Do I hear a higher bid?" Baltar called while pointing to the man who had bid.
"Eight chickens." A woman called.
"Eight. Do I hear higher?" Baltar directed his finger to the woman.
"I'll give you four sheep and a collection of fine crafted swords and axes." Alvin shouted.
"Do I hear something higher than the four sheep and weapons?" Baltar called. No one was saying anything. Hiccup's heart was racing. Alvin was winning. He was gonna buy him. "Going once. Going twice." Baltar counted. Hiccup shut his eyes tight. A large man who looked like he could be from a Nightmare stepped forward.
"Twelve chickens and sheep and a helmet made from the skull of a Nadder. For both boys." He said. Fin gasped.
"Sold!" Baltar shouted to the man. Fin looked horrified.
"No..." He whispered.
"Is that... Maldrigard?" Hiccup asked.
"Yes. We're dead meat, Hiccup." Fin said. The two boys were escorted off the stage. They were brought to the back of the wagon to wait until the end of the trade. Fin was devastated. "This is it. We have no hope left now." Fin said.
"What makes you say that?" Hiccup asked.
"Did you just miss what happened? We were sold to Maldrigard!" He said.
"We can still get out of this." Hiccup said. "How? I told you what he does to his slaves. They never last a week. We're gonna die, Hiccup!" Fin said, tears pricking at his eyes.
"No we won't. I have an idea, Fin." Hiccup said. Suddenly, Hiccup was pulled aside. His shirt was torn from him. Another man came up behind him and pinned Hiccups hands behind his back while curling his other hand around the back of the boys small neck to hold him in place. The man in front of him lifted up a burning metal rod with a symbol on the end was pressed to Hiccup's chest. Hiccup let out a pained scream that was quickly muffled by a dirty, old cloth being shoved over his mouth. The metal was pulled away from him leaving a burned symbol just over his left breast. It was the symbol of a slave. It hurt so bad but Hiccup could do nothing to stop the pain. He was officially branded a slave.
He was given an old run down shirt that was made of the cheapest cloth and was starting to tear in some places. Obviously someone else had used the shirt before him.
"Now get back with the other and keep your mouth shut." The man who branded him snapped. The other man let him go and shoved him in the direction he was to go. Hiccup stayed silent and went back to Fin and sat beside him on the dirt ground. Fin looked at him.
"What happened. I heard you scream." Fin asked.
"They branded me a slave." Hiccup said as tears filled his eyes. "I'm never gonna get home now." He said. Fin looked surprised and slightly hurt.
"But... You said you have a plan." He said.
"I did. But, if I try to leave, if either of us try to leave. Maldrigard might just kill us." Hiccup said.
"Maldrigard won't." Fin said. Hiccup looked at him confused.
"But you said-"
"I said he works them so hard that they die. He never kills them himself." Hiccup thought to a moment.
"Have you heard any rumors or anything about the island he lives on?"
"A few. They say it's abandoned and that only he lives there because he's so merciless. He once lived with a village but they cast him out when he stole the villages children away and made them his slaves. Some where saved but others had died from the work. Another rumor says when he was born, his parents were so appalled by the way he looked that they abandoned him on that island. And that he was raised by the most feared creatures in all the world." Fin said.
"Do you know if there are any dragons on the island?" Fin shook his head.
"There's none. I mean sure they must pass by at some times but I doubt they ever land. Some have said that Maldrigard could kill a dragon just by looking at it. One glance at the beasts and it would drop dead where it stood." He said. Hiccup shrunk back.
"Perfect. So much for that plan." Hiccup said. Fin laughed.
"What were you planning to do? Ride a dragon out of there and back home?" He laughed. "Yeah right. I mean I've heard of the Dragon Conqueror. But you? You're just a runt like the rest of us. Don't do something stupid to get yourself killed, Hiccup." Fin said. Hiccup had to bite his tongue from saying he is the Dragon Conqueror. Fin would never believe him.
Within an hour, the trade was over. Four others came around to the back to wait. There was two boys and two girls. The girls were obviously traded before. Their hands were beat up and scared as if they did a lot of work in the past. They had the most dirty clothes on and were the most silent. The boys were fairly new. They claimed they had seen the slaves working before but was never a slave themselves. Fin was about the same. Hiccup was the most different. He had only heard of slaves. He had never seen one nor been one. And he was terrified. He was sold to the meanest, most merciless slave owner known. Just thinking about that made him wish Alvin had bought him instead.
A man came to the back of the wagon where Hiccup and the others were waiting. "Time to go. You two first." He said looking at Hiccup and Fin. The two stood in silence. The man bent down in front of Hiccup and strapped his prosthetic back on. He then lead them to their new owner.
"Here you are sir. They have been branded slaves already. They are ready for work." The man said.
"Thank you." Maldrigard said in a polite tone. Once the man left, Maldrigard looked down at the two boys with a look in his eyes that even the gods would want to run from. "Let's go you two. There's a lot of work to do on me island." He said. Fin puffed out his chest trying to at least feel strong but Hiccup could see the pain and fear in the boys eyes. The two followed the man. They boarded a small ship that could easily be run by one man. That proved Fin's statement that the man lives alone on an island. Hiccup swallowed hard. The thought of no one around to hear him screaming came to his mind and it made him shiver.
"Excuse me." Came a familiar voice from behind Hiccup. His heart stopped as his stomach seemed to sink low in is gut. He didn't dare turn. He knew who it was. Maldrigard looked to the man.
"What do you want." He growled.
"If I may. I've heard tale that you live alone on an island in the middle of the sea. You are more than welcome to live on our island. You can bring your new slaves with you." The man said.
"Not interested. I live alone and that's how it will stay."
"Ah but you're not alone if you have these two with you. How about I take them off your hands." This time Hiccup turned to him with a small gasp. Alvin was looking up at Maldrigard from the dock. He switched his gaze to Hiccup with a deadly grin.
"How dare you! These are my slaves. I bought them with my own livestock and treasure. Not yours! Now get back away from my ship!" Maldrigard hissed before pushing Hiccup and Fin on deck and pulling up the ramp. The ship took off. Hiccup looked back at Alvin. He looked mad. Really mad. He turned to his men, said something, and they walked off.
Yep, Hiccup really wishes he was bought by Alvin instead. But the fate of Berk would be in danger if he had been. He had to stay strong and find a way to get back home.