Chapter Fourteen – War of The Kraken: Wrath of The Dragons
Part One – Reunion and Revelations
Chief Abram Grimm's ship; morning,
Arianna and Tanya slept in, the following morning. When they did wake up; mere minutes apart, as it happened; it took them a moment to remember where they were. When the memories of the past two days returned to them, Tanya let out a muffled sob, and the two sisters embraced.
It took them a few minutes to regain their composure, and then they made their way up to the main deck.
They spotted their father seconds after they arrived on deck; and it took them about as long, again, to join him where he stood. Everyone was on high- alert, but nothing much happened.
Then, perhaps an hour later, a sound reached their ears; a sound they had no difficulty in placing… The sound of an approaching Night- Fury, reached their ears. All eyes turned north, but the skies in that direction were clear. Then someone happened to look to the south, "There!"
Others turned, as a wordless cry reached their ears; one they immediately recognized. Five minutes later, the Night- Fury landed on the foredeck. There was a blur of motion, and then Sabrina was pulling her daughters into a hug. Abram was at their side an instant later, and a roar of triumph rose from every warrior of the first fully liberated Southern Tribe.
Once she'd regained her composure, Sabrina began to describe her experience on the Kraken Lords' command ship, over the past day and a half.
Part way through her account, she paused. After a moments' hesitation, she turned to her daughters, "When you were on Berk… did Hiccup say anything about his parents?"
Arianna hesitated, "We met his mother, on Berk. She'd gone missing during a dragon- attack, when Hiccup was one… It's a long story, but; up until six months ago, when Hiccup and her crossed paths; they all thought she was dead."
"Six months ago; that would've been around the time Drago–" Abram's eyes widened. "You don't mean…"
Tanya nodded, "It all happened on the same day, actually... Hiccup found his mother that morning, almost twenty years after she'd gone missing; his father died that evening."
"Oh, gods…" Sabrina's eyes widened, and her voice was little more than a whisper.
"Sabrina… What is it?" Abram asked, immediately, turning to her as he spoke.
Sabrina hesitated for a moment, and then turned to their daughters. "Did Hiccup happen to mention… how, his father died?"
Arianna and Tanya exchanged an uncertain look, and then shook their heads in unison. For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Finally, Sabrina sighed and said, "When Malchior asked Hiccup what he wanted, claiming that 'everyone has their price', Hiccup said he wanted justice: for the chieftains that Drago burned alive, the first time he came north; and for his father, who 'died intercepting an attack that was meant for him', when Drago decided that Hiccup was a danger to him. He never said, exactly, what kind of attack it was, but…"
A long silence followed this, as the listeners considered this new revelation. Albert shook his head, "Gods!" Albert turned to Abram, "So he lost his mother as a child; found her, and…"
"Lost his father the same night." Abram Grimm shook his head, "Because of Drago, who was being supported by the Kraken Lords … No wonder he's so… 'Motivated'."
'"Motivated"… Well, that is one way to put it, though there is more to it.' Several people jumped: they'd been so focused on the conversation, they'd forgotten all about the Night- Fury, who'd flown Sabrina to their boat.
"You… you can talk!" Sabrina exclaimed, her eyes widening. "Hiccup said you could, but it seemed… a lot to believe." Her husband put arm around her, reassuringly.
The dragon nodded. 'Yes, we can talk; and we've gotten that reaction a lot, too ... I should be leaving now, though; I'm expected back on Berk.' The dragon smiled. 'You haven't told them about our "guests", from the command- ship.' The Night- Fury turned, raising his wings in preparation to take off.
"Wait, before you go," Arianna called. "Just now, you said there was 'more to it'… Or is it something Hiccup doesn't want anyone else to know about?"
The Night- Fury sighed, and turned back to face them. 'Hiccup was looked down on, for much of his life; for no other reason but that he was a "hiccup". He put those years to use, though, training and honing his mind … After he and Toothless met, and his other abilities came to light, Hiccup began to make a name for himself.' He fell silent for a moment. 'There were enemies, battles, but everything always came- out all right. But, when they confronted Drago…'
"And Hiccup lost his father, but how…" Arianna said. Then her eyes widened, "Hiccup and Astrid got married, a few days before this war started; he introduced us, on Berk!"
The black- dragon inclined his head. 'Hiccup is everything that a good leader should be: patient, intelligent, and an accomplished problem- solver. But even he has a limit to what he can tolerate.' He glanced around at the crowd, then up at the sky. 'And now I really do need to be going.'
"One other thing." Sabrina took a few steps forward, "Thank you, for bringing me back to my family… Tell Hiccup, too."
The Night- Fury gave a silent nod. 'I will... Make sure to tell them about our 'extra- passengers', from the command- ship; I have a feeling the news will be… favourably received. He opened his wings, and shot skywards; moments later, he was a dot in the otherwise empty sky.
The silence that followed lasted for almost a minute. Then Abram frowned, and turned to his wife, "Wait a minute… What's this about 'extra passengers from the command- ship'?"
Sabrina blinked, appearing momentarily confused. Then she smiled, "The Chief of Berk has taken the liberty of seizing 'lord' Bane … and 'lord' Malcolm." She spoke the last three words with a noticeable chill in her voice. "Also: Blackthorn is under surveillance; Hiccup intends to seize him 'after things quiet down', on the front lines."
The Night- Fury was right: the news was very welcome, especially 'on the heels' their learning of Hiccup's intentions to turn over the kraken- lords to the Southern- Tribes.
Part Two – "Look Out Below!"
The previous day, early afternoon,
When Hiccup and Toothless left the Great Hall, they proceeded directly to the village square. The captains of the Berk Guard met them there. They acknowledged each other with nods, and then each of the captains provided a short briefing of their preparations so far.
Hiccup nodded in approval, and started to speak. He began with the three teams that would be involved with the retrieval operations. Unrolling the scroll with the hostage ships' location on it, and gesturing, as he spoke, Hiccup instructed the leaders of the first two teams to secure the island he'd chosen for their rendezvous point – and not to be surprised when they found a family of Typhoomerangs waiting for them, there.
Once he finished, and ensured that everything was clear, the leaders of the first three teams departed: to relay their instructions to their squads, and prepare for final- inspection.
Once they were gone, Hiccup turned to the remaining captains. "When I was talking to Abram Grimm, he informed me that the Kraken Lords always deploy an additional 'rank' of ships; sailing back and forth between their forward lines, and the ships behind that band of ocean." Hiccup nodded to two of the captains, "I want you and your teams to focus on the area between the hostage- ships and the rendezvous point; don't be too direct, or they may start to wonder why we're so interested in that area of ocean … Fly over, high over, their subjugated forces; and directly at the first patrol- team you see. Don't take out the entire patrol, and don't immobilize the boats; I want word to get back to the Kraken Lords: get them good and nervous, keep them guessing as to what we're trying to do. When you finish with a patrol, fly north until you're out of sight. Then turn back south, and look for another patrol. And bring some wild dragons with you, too; they'll enjoy a little target- practice."
Several of the captains chuckled; all inclined their heads in short nods of acknowledgment. Hiccup grinned, "I'll meet you, and your teams, in half an hour, for final- check… No need to delay, right." Another nod from each captain, then they hurried to remount their dragons.
Hiccup and Toothless watched the dragons rise into the air. Then Toothless turned to face Hiccup. 'Your father would be proud of you, Hiccup…' Then the black- dragon growled.
Before Toothless could say 'it', Hiccup interjected, 'It wasn't your fault, bud… Neither of us could have prevented what happened.'
Toothless gave a slight shrug, and spoke so that only Hiccup would hear. 'Be that as it may, Drago could only die once… He deserved worse than he got.'
Hiccup nodded, but said nothing. He was jolted out of his reverie when someone called his name. He blinked, and turned around; Snotlout was coming towards him, scowling.
Before Hiccup could speak, Snotlout said, "What's the big idea? Everyone else is getting their instructions, what about Hookfang and me? You think we're just going to sit this one out? No way: Not. Happening!"
Hiccup rolled his eyes, "Snotlout; you've really got to learn how to listen … I specifically said 'everyone who's fit to fight, and not on patrol, assume you'll be joining the forward lines'." He gestured after the Berk Guard captains, "I gave my instructions to the captains of the Berk Guard, and they're getting the others organized; giving them their instructions now, at the big clearing near the Dragon Academy … That's where the two of you should be."
Snotlout's eyes widened, his mouth forming a silent 'oh'. Then he turned, and ran over to Hookfang. "Come on, Hookfang; we're going to be late!"
Hookfang rolled his eyes at Hiccup and Toothless; then, once Snotlout was in his saddle; rose into the sky.
Shaking his head, Hiccup clambered onto Toothless's back, and the Night- Fury rose into the sky; they had a little over twenty- minutes before they needed to meet up with the members of the Berk Guard.
Both of them found it calming to fly; and, since both were aware of the other through their connection, the feeling was magnified. Even a short flight was restorative, for both of them.
Two hours later, ten miles south of the Shivering Shores and a mile to the east,
The Kraken- Patrol Fleet was sailing east, on yet another circuit along the swath of clear, blue, and empty, ocean. To the north: Nothing near by. To the south: The same.
Then, distant noises reaching his ears, the lookout turned east, the direction in which they were sailing. His eyes bulged: A flock of dragons; two Deadly- Nadders, a Monstrous- Nightmare, and several others he couldn't identify, were attacking another one of their patrols! The man blinked, remembered himself, and shouted, "DRAGONS! DRAGONS, TO THE EAST!"
"Dragons to the east; whoop, whoop!" said a voice to his right.
"Dragons to the west; whoop, whoop!" said a voice to his left. "And…"
The Kraken- lookout started, and looked to his left. He found himself staring at a lanky teenage boy, sitting on one neck on a Hideous Zippleback. The boy was staring at him, expectantly.
The man gulped, and looked to his right. A teenage girl, alike enough to the boy for them to be twins, sat on another Zippleback head. She was looking at him, expectantly.
He sighed, "This is just ****ing perfect." He uttered a wordless shout, and leapt out of the lookout's perch, and into the ocean below.
"Humph," Ruffnut snorted. "No appreciation for the arts!"
"You said it!" Tuffnut said, looking disgusted. "Now, as they aught to say everywhere: Barf, Belch; light-eth them up!"
"Hey: that's my line … sort of!" Snotlout shouted, from somewhere above them. "Look out below!" Ruff, Tuff, and their Zippleback looked up, and then shot sharply to the left, as Hookfang shot past them.
Snotlout chuckled, "You snooze, you lose! Heh-Heh… Hookfang; light them up!"
"Hey; this one was ours!" Tuffnut protested, as Hookfang breathed a torrent of flames across the boat.
The rigging caught fire, and crewmen shouted in alarm; running across the deck and leaping overboard, at the first opportunity. Those that made it bobbed to the surface, a moment later: blinking saltwater out of their eyes, and grumbling amongst themselves.
Snotlout rolled his eyes, "We're here to destroy the patrols, not start a choir! You want to destroy a boat: do it – or we will!" He winked at Ruffnut, "If I promised to let you have the next one, would you–"
A sudden 'thunk' marked the end of Snotlout's sentence, as Hookfang angled to one side; shooting around the mast, just close enough to whack Snotlout's head against it.
"Here's our chance!" Ruffnut called to her brother. "Lets take the shot!" A moment later, a torrent of flame rippled from their Zippleback, enveloping the Kraken- ship.
"Hey, I've just had an idea… Next patrol, lets try to grab a few supply crates, for the Speed- Stingers!" She shrugged, "Maybe we can get them to freeze Snotlout again; I love it when they freeze Snotlout!" – Tuffnut nodded in agreement.
Snotlout shook himself, recovering from his daze. He glared at The Twins, suspiciously, "What are the two of you muttering about?"
Ruffnut and Tuffnut exchanged smirks. Then Ruffnut turned to Snotlout, "We were thinking that maybe, if you brought them some extra food, the Speed- Stingers might not sting you anymore."
Snotlout thought about that for a moment, then shrugged. "Worth a try! Ok… Next patrol we find; we'll make a grab for some crates, you torch the boat!"
One hour later,
Snotlout glared at Ruff and Tuff, through the thin veil of smoke that rose from his singed: eyebrows, shirt, hair, and clothes. "Ok. Let me clarify: On the next boat; Hookfang and I will make a go for some crates. Then, once I get off, you torch it… Clear?"
Ruff and Tuff exchanged sinister grins, then turned to face Snotlout and Hookfang; Snotlout looked irritated, Hookfang looked like he was struggling not to laugh.
"Oh… Is that how you wanted to do it?" Tuffnut asked, his eyes widening.
"Sorry; but you should've said so!" Ruffnut said, "We're just trying to help."
Snotlout huffed, and began applying a salve to his burns; something he seemed to have to do every other day. "I swear Trader Johann's doubled the price of this burn salve," he grumbled, as he worked.
Three miles to the west,
Three miles to the west; Captain Marcus – of the Berk Guard, and his Deadly- Nadder, Skyspike, led their force against their second Kraken- patrol. They took their job especially seriously: They were stationed at the boarder of the 'safe- zone' Hiccup needed, to ensure that the secondary- location for the inbound- hostages would remain 'clean'.
Their group included: six Deadly- Nadders, two of which had riders; five Monstrous- Nightmares, two with riders; and, swimming beneath the waves, five Scauldrons.
They'd attacked each patrol in much the same way, as per their instructions: The Deadly- Nadders moved in first – "Don't appear too anxious to clear them out, or they'll wonder why we're so interested in the area", Hiccup had said. "Target their rigging, but don't immobilize them; allow the ships to leave, when they try… We need the area clear."
The Monstrous- Nightmares boiled into view about five minutes after the Nadders had first engaged the patrol. "When you move in, make noise; set yourselves on fire, make them see you…" Hiccup had told them. "It's your job to destroy the last of their courage, and send them running." – The Monstrous- Nightmares, who'd seemed a little disappointed to be 'late- arrivals' to the fight, seemed pleased to hear that.
They had stuck to the plan, and, even as Captain Marcus was finishing reviewing it, in his mind, he saw movement in the enemy- patrol. He grinned to himself; it had happened the same way, the first time.
Ten ships formed a 'knot'; sterns together, bows facing outwards. Enough men remained on each of those boats to man the weapons, while the rest crowded onto the other twenty boats. The decks of the first ten ships surged to life; catapults were loaded and launched, loaded and launched… The decks of the other ships became almost deathly still, with no more activity than was needed to raise the sails, and get underway.
'That's right', Marcus thought to himself. 'Slip away, quietly, while we focus on the obvious threat… Don't worry; we "won't notice" you.' – He resisted the urge to chuckle, and, not for the first time, he marvelled at how a boy, a young- man, Hiccup's age could've become so adept at strategy.
Four miles further to the west,
"FIRE; GET ME A BUCKET!" two dozen voices shouted at once; about thirty seconds after Fishlegs and his team of Gronkle- riders, and wild- Gronkles, lay siege to their third boat.
"Great shot, Meatlug! The rest of you, too!" Fishlegs chuckled. Turning to the warrior who'd been shouting insults up at them, he called, "Who's 'too slow' now?"
The man glared up at them, and Fishlegs's eyes narrowed. He turned to the other Gronkles, "I think someone has 'a little' too much free- time on his hands; let's give them another round!" On his signal, several of the wild- Gronkles dropped back into firing- range.
Part Three – Desperate Measures
The Kraken Lords' Command Ship; three hours after Hiccup's departure,
The main 'hall' of the Kraken Lords' Command Ship, though packed, was as silent as a tomb. The warriors High- Lord Malchior had sent topside were beginning to trickle back below deck.
Once the last of them had returned, and they'd taken an additional three minutes to consolidate their reports, two of them came forward. It was clear, from their expressions, that the news was not good.
"My lords: We… We… Bas–based on our most up- to- date reports," the man gulped. The man next to him was pale, and appeared unsteady on his feet.
"Is… is it that bad?" Emric was trembling so noticeably, he might've spent half the morning soaking in a tub of ice- water.
The first man nodded, "It is, My Lords; the… the Dragon- Master has bypassed our subjugated- forces, entirely, and launched direct attacks against our middle- guard… Ninety of the two- hundred ships, in our first- wave, have been sunk. Of the ninety- nine that remain, forty are in-need of minor repairs, and twenty are in need of major repairs. Some… Some are lucky to have made it back, at all." He hesitated, then added, "There are also the eleven ships in Lord Blackthorn's command… Lord Bane took ten ships to join him, and returned with only his own. So far as we know, all eleven remain whole and undamaged; though we didn't include them in our tally, as they are not within our reach, at present."
Lord Tristan's eyebrow began to twitch. "So, to summarize: Lords Malik, Malcolm, and Bane have been seized by the Dragon Master. Ninety ships have been sunk, and sixty are in need of repair, to some degree… That leaves fifty ships ready for battle; the same number Lord Bane lead against Berk!" He shook his head, "And that's not counting the loss of our hostages; those we held here, and the hostage- ships, themselves…"
"Has he truly seized them, though?" asked Lord Ralden. "Perhaps he hopes to scare us into leading him to their location, just as he must have used Lord Bane to find us, here?"
A flicker of uncertain optimism flickered, around the room; but it was not to last long.
"We cannot take the risk," Lord Tarbek declared, anxiously. "We must know for certain! If the Dragon Master can bypass our forward lines; launch attacks; and, even possibly, have taken control of our hostage ships… How much longer will we retain control of the tribes we forced into subservience? Even now he could be forging an alliance with The Fallen Chiefs!"
"We cannot stay! We must fall back, to the Iron Islands! There we will be–" A grunt of humourless laughter cut off Lord Darrin's comment.
"If he can convince The Fallen Chiefs to back him, they can legitimize his actions beyond the boarders of the Archipelagos," High- Lord Malchior said, his words slow and ponderous. "No… There is only one way forward: One secret we know the Dragon- Master has not uncovered; that only we know, and that no Kraken Lord would ever reveal."
He turned his eyes onto the two men standing before the High- Table. "How long until the rest of our ships arrive in the Archipelagos?"
The current that moved through the hall was not 'confidence'; it was smallest, smallest flicker of what might, possibly, blossom into hope. Not for conquest, or victory: but for there own survival. After the Dragon Master's visit, survival seemed the greatest treasure in the entire known world.
The man, the only one of the two, who'd yet to speak, said, "They… they should arrive in the morning, the day after tomorrow; if we send for them now."
"Send for them, immediately," High- Lord Malchior confirmed. "And instruct all ships to fall- back to the hostage- ships. We will learn the truth of the Dragon Master's claim, and await the arrival of our full strength."
Once High- Lord Malchior had announced his decision, there was nothing else to be said. Both men bowed; turned, and left: to relay his orders to what remained of their force.
To Be Continued…