Chapter 12
A cloud of fire suddenly came out of the smoke screen. Everybody ducked instinctively, except for Elsa, who intercepted the attack with a wave of ice : they neutralized each other, creating a small fog which disappeared in an instat. She had protected her crew from the fire, but not from the charge that the dragons were preparing under cover of their firebreath ! They flew over the ship in a straight line, the soldiers aiming at the seamen with ther spears, hurting some of them but killing no one. Elsa could count eight dragons, smaller than the one she had fought in Arendelle, but not less terrifying, indeed.
- We must prevent them from damaging the ship ! shouted the captain, rushing among his men to give them a good slap on the back, which was supposed to give them courage. Use the harpoons and make them dive in the abyss !
The dragon squad was about to turn around and charge again. But the warriors were now prepared. Elsa created an ice javelin in her right hand, while Henry was climbing on the mast and Gutjaeger was borrowing one of the bows of Weird Ralph. Ignus was drawing something on a piece of paper, hidden behind a barrel, as he was thinking of a plan of battle. Maria was standing still in the middle of the rushing crew, having a solid grasp on her silver lance. As for Tobert and Zerald, they were nowhere to be seen.
The dragons approached again and tried the same strategy : throwing a breath of fire to cover their charge. Elsa nullified it again with her powers, and immediately threw her javelin, aiming poorly because of her absolute lack of experience the javelin scratched the jaw of a soldier, who suddenly stopped his charge to hunt the queen, willing for vengeance.
- Die, you pig ! he threatened, rushing over Elsa, pointing his spear at her.
The queen opened rounded eyes when se realized what was happening. She tried to step back, but she stumbled and fell on her buttocks. When she thought everything was over, a raging growl suddenly brought her back to reality. Henry had jumped off the mast, holding his sword over his head with both hands, and the soldier had just the time to turn the head before the blade pierced his leather armor and his chest in an unstoppable slash. Henry had killed the man, but not the dragon, who somehow felt the death of his master, and let out a powerful howl. Elsa, who had regained confidence, blasted him with a powerful ice beam. Henry jumped on the desk before having the ice imprisoning him.
- Well, that was good, said Elsa, a bit out of breath. Thank you.
Henry looked at her with his grave eyes, breathing heavily.
- Yeah, he said clumsily.
He then rushed to help his comrades.
This time, the charge had encountered some resistance. Maria had planted her spear right through the head of a dragon, and was now fighting the soldier one-on-one in a splendid duel. Another dragon had been killed by ten of the crew members, armed with harpoons, and Kristoff was fighting its master, even though he obviously had the lower hand in this. The six remaining dragons had decided to change their strategy a little : two of them gained altitude, while the others were encircling the ship and breathing fire at it in four different locations. Elsa could not prevent all of the damage this time...
Gutjaeger and Ralph were shooting arrows at a high pace, and managed to kill one asceding dragon and his master at almost the same time. Elsa could also freeze the dragon aiming for the stern before he could spit his destructing fire, making it dive into the sea in a terrific splash.
- I know how to defeat them easily, suddenly said Ignus, jumping out of his hiding place.
- It's a bit late, groaned Gutjaeger. Now it's just a merciless brawl.
The prince shot another arrow that planted right into the head of Maria's opponent. She seemed frustrated not to have killed the man herself, and looked at Gutjaeger with obvious rebuke.
- I had him, she said.
- Well I had him first, he replied.
The four remaining dragons looked angrier than ever. But they were still floating into the sky, waiting for something. Elsa understood that the soldier with whom Kristoff was fighting was their commander, and that they were waiting for him to give the last orders instead of rushing to help him. Was that discipline or foolishness ? She could not decide, but she knew one thing : this soldier would be better imprisoned than dead.
- Don't kill him ! she shouted, but Kristoff did not hear her.
He was fighting a sword with a broken oar. The soldier really had the upper-hand, but the seamen did not even bother to help the poor Kristoff, even though he was – surprisingly – a far better fighter than any of the crew members. Still, the commander could not be stopped, and Elsa wanted to stop him with her powers, but she could have harmed her friend, so she just prayed for good luck.
As a response to her prayer, while Kristoff was getting thrown on the floor, unable to block the next strike of his opponent, a snowball hit the commander on the temple and made him miss his fatal slash. Everyone turned his head to see Anna charging in a terrifying howl, holding parts of Olaf's body in her hands, ready to throw them at the soldier.
- Wait, I'm not prepared for a second-first flight ! he complained, before his head went splashing onto the ennemy's face.
- Anna, what are you doing ? cried Kristoff, completely dazed.
- Shut up and learn how to win a fight, you looser ! she replied, before jumping on the soldier, who didn't see her coming because of all the snow he had in his eyes, and kicking him and punching him with all the ferocity she could exhibit.
It was over in less than five seconds : the soldier dropped his weapons and gave a few taps on the floor to show that he acknowledged his defeat. Anna sprung out rght into Kristoff's arms.
- Next time, don't hesitate to make me kick their butts, sweetie.
- Anna ! protested Elsa and Kristoff in a same voice.
While they were talking, the four remaining dragons and soldiers saw their chief's defeat and decided to leave without asking further questions. Maria threw her arms into the sky and shouted :
- Victory !
And all the crew joined her in a common howl. It was indeed a clear victory : four men had been injured, but except for the six dragons and five soldiers, nobody had been killed. Elsa looked at Henry, who looked back at her. And they smiled at each other.