I Own Nothing

All Rights Reserved

Warning: while I would never include anything worthy of an 'M' rating in this story, out of the all the chapters this is the one with the strongest sexual content.

Chapter 28

Mice in an Adder's Burrow

Consternation reigned supreme on Berk.

The Dragon Riders had returned home much later than they had told Stoick they would, which in itself was grounds for uneasiness. The news they brought only turned the uneasiness to complete and absolute worry. Not only did they report in full what they had seen about the gigantic iron ship Drago had built, but they also made it known that Hiccup and Toothless had been chased by another dragon rider and, despite the best efforts of the Riders they had no idea where they could have gone or if they were even still alive. Fishlegs had been with Hiccup during the chase but had gotten knocked into the sea and had lost track of them.

Berk had some news for them as well. Marva had gone missing the night before. There were so many boats around that it was difficult to work out if any were missing, but it was assumed she had taken one. Gort was naturally very worried, but most of the others were more concerned about Hiccup's absence.

Most of the Riders set out again later that same day. Bertha refused to let Camicazi go and it was the same with Mrs. Larson and Gustav, despite his very loud protests. While they were gone the Chiefs and the most trusted Vikings discussed what to do. There was still some time, they thought and hoped. Maybe Hiccup had gotten lost. He had been flying at night, it was possible. Maybe he had been chased and gotten away, but was forced to take a longer route back. Maybe he had some secret plan going on. Stoick pointed out that while in the cells on Berserk Hiccup had kept his plans to himself until the last minute. Maybe he had returned to the Sanctuary and had neglected to tell the others.

Admittedly, most of these 'maybes' were the result of Stoick trying to find some way to avoid the most likely possibility: that Hiccup had been captured by Drago and was possibly dead. While he knew Hiccup had been in danger before, probably more times than Hiccup would ever tell him, it did not make him feel any better to know his son was Odin knows where and beyond his help.

The plans they had made less than two days before were virtually thrown out the window when Fishlegs described the iron ship. All three Chiefs flat out refused to risk their fleets against that monster. Instead of taking the offensive, they would defend. It seemed obvious what would happen next: Drago would come for them. He would know by now of what was transpiring on Berk, so he would most likely sail there and launch an attack with the Outcasts and Berserkers and any other allies he might have. Orders were at once given to improve the island defenses and a watch was set. And in this the Chiefs found some hope. Drago's ship may have been formidable at sea but it would be entirely useless once a beach assault started, and that was what they expected and hoped for. Once a beach assault began success would come down to the skills of the warriors involved, and the three Chiefs had complete confidence in the ability of their warriors.

"Let them come!" Bertha boomed, loud enough for anyone standing outside the Mead Hall to hear. "Drago's got a nice big ship, but on land at worst we'll be fighting on equal terms! Without a real army that ship is nothing but a hunk of metal!"

"Not to mention we have some dragons," Gort added, "That will help immensely."

And that was another source of comfort. Hiccup had always assured them that Drago had very few dragons. In fact, as far as they could tell, he only had that Razorwhip. On top of that, Stoick revealed something Hiccup had told him the night before. The Dragons at the Sanctuary were expecting Hiccup to come to fetch them, but if he did not arrive by the afternoon of the appointed day, they were to take off and link up with Berk as soon as possible. So hopefully by tomorrow night there would be a huge flock of dragons on Berk, which would add considerably to its defense.

For the Dragon Riders, no matter what consolation they could find or what hope they could come up with, the fact still remained their friends were missing. And when the Riders reassembled before the Chiefs that night after hours of searching, they were still missing. So was Marva.

"We found a boat," Ruffnut announced, for once a bit somber. "The side bore the Owl Gut brand." As a measure against theft, it was customary for the Owl Guts to brand their tribe's seal onto their boats for identification. "Some bags of food and a canteen were in it. Nothing else."

"Were there any signs of a struggle?" Gort asked anxiously. Ruffnut shook her head. "Where is the boat now?"

"We towed it back to Berk. It's tied up right now."

"Ruff, where did you find it?" Stoick asked.

"A few leagues north of here,"

"Do we know which direction she was going?"

They all guessed she was heading to Berserk to join with Drago, but nobody wanted to say that with Gort present. He stood up shakily, thanked them, and excused himself, saying he wanted to inspect the boat in person.

"And 'Iccup?" Gobber asked as Gort left. The Rider all shook their heads.

It was hard to believe that the previous night there was a party going on there. Now everybody was anxious for any news or any hint that things were going to be all right. The Riders took their very late dinner at Astrid's house.

"I heard Mildew going around earlier," Snotlout remarked, "shouting stuff about how Hiccup was a traitor and that he always knew he was no good, and if we had listened to him we'd never have gotten into this mess."

"What did you do about it?" Fishlegs asked.

"Told him to shut up or I'd unleash the Twins on him." he looked around to see if his joke produced any smiles. It did, but only for a second.

"So he's been captured," Camicazi said at last, "how do we rescue him?"

"The Chief won't let us go out there now," Fishlegs said miserably, "he told me and Astrid when we got back 'none of you lot are to leave this island now until the other dragons show up.'"

"So we wait until they do and then leave at once," Astrid said grimly, "it's just possible Hiccup will escape on his own, but if not, we'll find him,"

"I'll bet he's in that monster of a boat," Snotlout said.

"And how do we break him out of there?"

"Can you be certain he's in there? If we broke into that thing and it turned out he wasn't there—"

"I say we go now!" Tuffnut suddenly shouted impatiently,

"Didn't you hear me?" Fishlegs asked hoarsely, "the Chief doesn't want us going anywhere!"

"And what's Stoick gonna do to stop us?" Snotlout demanded, "I agree with Tuff. The results are what matter here and he'd forgive us if we brought Hiccup back!"

Astrid shook her head numbly. "If we leave now we leave Berk without dragons to defend it. We don't know what Drago might pull while we're gone. No, we wait until those other dragons show up. It'll only be a day at most. Hiccup can take care of himself that long." She prayed desperately that he could as she picked at her dinner.

"And meantime we're just going to sit here until that Drago What's-His-Fist and Deranged Boy and Elvin come to us?" Ruffnut exclaimed.

"Yep," Cami said glumly,

"That is totally un-cool."

"Go tell the Chief that," Fishlegs said bitterly.

Astrid suddenly slammed her fist into the table. "So, how do we get Hiccup out of that ship?"

"You certain he's in there?" Cami asked,

"No, but where else could they put him? In the cells on Berserk? He's already escaped from those once; they wouldn't be stupid enough to risk a second escape. Fish, do you think Changewing acid could eat through the hull of that vessel and make a hole large enough for a person to squeeze through?"

"Maybe…given a little time. I'd say it's worth a try,"

"All right, then here's what we do. As soon as the dragons get here we take some Changewings and then find that ship. The Changewings spit a hole through the side, we slip in, make the first person we come across take us to Hiccup and Toothless, and then once they're freed we find a way to destroy the ship. And if we can't destroy it we might at least cripple it and give Drago a good scare. And maybe Hiccup and Toothless are already doing that and they'll be turning up in the morning,"

"I hope so," Fishlegs said quietly. Everyone nodded.

Eventually Astrid went to her room. She had suddenly had enough of planning and battle talk for one day. Instead she slumped onto the bed and stared at the wall without actually looking at it.

"Please, Odin, look after Hiccup and Toothless tonight," She prayed, "Please, Odin, look after all of us. We're going to need all the help we can get." Although it was only Hiccup and Toothless who were absent, she felt like a tower that had lost its foundations.

Neither Astrid nor Stoick, each one pacing anxiously around their rooms and trying futilely to calm down, got any sleep that night.

Hiccup groaned. His head felt like an anvil had been dropped on it. The room seemed to be spinning. He tried to stand up but his sense of balance was so horrible he toppled over instantly. It was then that he realized his prosthetic was missing.

"That explains that," he mumbled, "Now where am I?" The room now came into focus. It was not a room, it was a cell. A rather large cell with walls of hard black iron and a door of hard iron bars.

"Must be the lounge on that black ship of Drago's," Hiccup said, "any Yaknog while we're at it?" He turned his head and saw a skeleton sitting in one corner. "Oh, hello there. What are you in for? That's real rough, mate. There I go, talking to dead people. I should go into business as a soothsayer. My father will be so proud of me." He was aware that he was talking but was not really aware that of what he was actually saying. It was like his mouth had a mind of its own. "Let's see, I was just flying through the air with Toothless and I—TOOTHLESS!" he leapt to his feet and fell over again. He crawled over to the door. "HEY! WHERE'S MY DRAGON? WHERE'S MY DRAGON? SO HELP ME IF YOU'VE HARMED ONE SCALE I'LL BURN YOUR FACE OFF AND MAKE YOU EAT IT!"

At that moment Dagur poked his head around the corner. "Why hello there, Hiccup! My little brother, come to join his family again! Oh happy days! Welcome on board the Czernobog!"

"WHERE'S TOOTHLESS?"

"Oh dear me. I am so exceedingly sorry to bring you such bad news, little Brother, but your toothy friend Toothless, we had to…"

Hiccup swallowed. "Yes?"

"We killed him! HAHA! Tore him to pieces! Drank his blood at dinner! Made spears from his bones and guts! HAHA!" He started singing "Toothless is dead, dead, dead! Toothless cannot save you! Toothless cannot save you—wait, why are you laughing? You're not supposed to be laughing! You're supposed to be crying like a little baby because your dragon is dead!"

"Oh really? If Toothless is dead, show me his body!" Hiccup laughed, "No Dagur, if Toothless was dead you'd have put his corpse in here with me so I'd know beyond any doubt he was gone forever!"

"Oh very clever little Brother! But he soon will be! Yes oh yes, soon you will all be that way! And I will plant spoons upon your graves and dance on them!" He threw his arms up in the air and began dancing—sort of. "Yes, I'll dance on them! Want to join me?"

"Sure!"

"A-haha, nice try, little Brother! I know your tricks! Besides, you can't dance with only one foot!"

"Bet I can!"

"Bet you can't!"

"Bet I can!"

"Bet you ca—ant!"

"How much?"

Dagur was about to answer but he caught himself. "Oh, nice try, you sly little pest! I know what you're doing! You're trying to trick me into letting you out! Then you'll find the armory where all your stuff is and you'll escape, just like last time—WHEN YOU DESTROYED MY ARMADA!"

"Oh yeah…sorry about that." Hiccup said nonchalantly.

"Not yet you're not, but you soon will be! But we're going to have some fun first!" he held up a whip and grinned. "Your back wasn't scarred enough last time."

"Now Dagur, I'm sure we can cut a deal…we're both reasonable men, after all. How much are they paying you here?"

"What's it to you?"

"Well if it's money you're after, I'll double it. I've got piles of gold at home."

"Do you?" Dagur was interested in spite of himself.

"Lots of gold and jewels Dagur. I've got more money than any ten Vikings put together. And I can offer you something else: your freedom. Think about it, Dagur, why should a man like you be Drago's pawn? You must know that once he's gotten all he wants from you he'll kill you. What could you possibly hope to gain from this alliance?"

"Maybe I'll kill him first!"

"Aren't you tired of all this double crossing and secrecy and espionage? I know I am. Don't you want to just live peacefully somewhere with no obsessive madmen or gambling with your own life day and night, never knowing for certain who's going to stab you the second your back is turned?"

"Well, when you put it that way—a little place by the sea, the right girl, maybe a few kids to look after me in my old age, a dog or two, it does sound nice. You know, I had a dog named Garmr when I was a kid," he started sniffing, "most vicious and faithful beast a man could ever ask for,"

"I'm sorry to hear that. How did he die?"

"He drowned trying to kill a Monkfish!" Dagur suddenly started bawling. "My bestest friend gone because of some stupid legless sea-lizard! Oh Hiccup, do you know what that does to a boy? And I didn't want Monkfish that night either! I wanted cod!" He flung himself against the door of the cell weeping like a child. Hiccup awkwardly stuck his arm between the bars and patted him on the head.

"There, there, Dagur, it's going to be all right,"

"I know but first I lose my mom and my sister and then Garmr—it was just me and my dad, all alone in the dark, cruel world!

"Sister?" Hiccup repeated. "You don't have a sister!"

"Oh yes I did."

"'Did'?"

"Yeah," Just as suddenly as they had started the sobs stopped. "Mom had some relatives on some distant island, and she thought it would be good for her and Heather to go for a visit—and probably to get Heather away from me. Mom thought I was a bad influence on her."

"I can't imagine why,"

"I know, I mean—so what if I beheaded her doll a few times and sacrificed it to the Gods over a fire—anyhow, they sailed off and we never saw them again."

"Shipwrecked?"

"Most likely," Dagur sniffed. "I was only six at the time."

"No wonder I don't remember her."

"Yeah, I don't think you two ever met."

"A real shame," Hiccup lowered his voice, "Dagur, it's been really nice talking to you, but you know we can't have more conversations like this if Drago kills both of us—which he will as soon as he's gotten what he wants,"

"Not if I get what I want and kill him first," Dagur replied. The old demonic glint was back in his eyes.

"And what do you want?" Hiccup asked, "Perhaps I can get it for you—and unlike Drago I won't kill you later on,"

"Well—"

At that moment a heavily scarred and one eyed Viking came over and told Dagur that Drago wanted to see him.

"But I was about to have some fun with my brother!" Dagur pouted.

"Sorry Sir, but orders are orders."

"Yes they are! And I'm ordering you to watch my brother until I get back. We don't want him getting away this time, now do we?"

"Oh Odin forbid I escape again," Hiccup replied. Inside he was raging. If he had just been allowed another minute he might have convinced Dagur. Now Dagur would go back to Drago and his influence. He had no doubt now that the Gods hated him.

Dagur left chuckling and the guard turned to stare at Hiccup. "Well, I see you guys have upped your security. Nice to know you learn from your mistakes. I don't suppose you'll accept bribes?"

The guard laughed, a truly ugly sound, and spat in Hiccup's face.

"Yeah, I didn't think so."

Dagur stormed onto the deck. "All right, what's going on here? I was trying to spend some quality time with my family!"

Alvin chuckled, but Drago kept his attention on what was in front of him. It was a caged Toothless being loaded onto another ship. Dagur grinned at the sight.

"Ok, I'll admit, this is worth the time. He doesn't look so tough now, does he?"

"Not wid 'is mouth tied up!" cackled Alvin. "So 'ow soon can we git goin'?"

"Once the dragon's loaded," Drago replied coldly. He really did not want Dagur or Alvin around, but it was better to have them where he could keep an eye on them. That was the main reason he had summoned Dagur: he did not want him where the Dragon King could pull a trick on him. "Put your backs into it, you useless worms!"

"But this'll take another hour at least!" Dagur pouted. "I wanna get going now!"

'Oh you'll be going to that Valhalla place soon enough,' Drago thought, 'And I'll be a lot happier for it!'

"Say, Drago, where'd ya get that cage anyway? Ah've never seen sich metal as that before!"

"Oh, I know people who specialize in caging dragons," Drago replied smugly. "The metal is completely dragon proof." He had wanted to build the entire Czernobog of that metal, but those people had refused, declaring there was not enough metal for such a ship. Still, a giant ship made of iron was a reasonable second choice.

Inside the cage Toothless was doing everything he could to prove that statement wrong. Even though his mouth was bound, he was thrashing about like a crocodile and scrapping his claws on anything they could reach. It was all for nothing. The greenish bars on his cage would not budge nor did they show any sign of wear or tear.

Suddenly Toothless stopped and his eyes narrowed. He had spotted two people approaching Drago, and he knew both of them instantly. The first was Adoncia, that beautiful Spanish woman who had caught him and his rider the night before, and the other one was none other than Marva the Larva.

'So she's betrayed us,' the Night Fury thought darkly, 'can't say I'm really surprised." He looked around again, hoping against hope his human would suddenly appear, with his flaming sword out as he ran to cut the ropes that were hoisting the cage into the air. Then his rider would jump onto him, they'd blast a few foes, blow up the ship, and fly off triumphantly. Nothing.

'Hiccup where are you?' Toothless refused to believe Hiccup was dead. If he was they'd be showing his body to him. Of course, he could all too well imagine what they might be doing to a living Hiccup and that made him even more ferocious in his attempts to get out.

"And who is this?" Drago demanded.

"Found her in a boat, just like Dogsbreath," Adoncia said, "I swear, Drago, I am really getting tired of going back and forth transporting people, my poor Razorwhip is getting—"

Marva cut in and bowed low. "Drago Bludvist, this is a great honor! I have been waiting a long time to meet you! If you allow it you will find me your most obedient and trustworthy servant!"

"Oh really?" Drago was uncertain if he should take her seriously.

"Let me prove it, Master of Dragons!"

"She said her father is the Chief of the Owl Gut tribe, and she knows a lot of the plans your enemies are making," Adoncia told them.

"Does she now?"

"Ah don't believe it!" Alvin growled. "She's a spy sent by Stoick's lil' runt, I wager!"

"Nonsense!" Dagur said. He threw his arm around Marva's shoulders as though they were the best of friends. "I've known Marva for years, Drago! She's been an admirer of your handiwork for a long time!"

"Yes I have, and I don't like dragons and I like that stupid fishbone Hiccup even less!" Marva added loudly. "His ideas for training dragons are weak and dumb! You know what happened? I tried to train a Screaming Death as you would have, Sir, and the stupid dragon got angry, and then Hiccup got angry, blamed me for everything, and tried to kill me! Wouldn't even let me fly a dragon anymore! And while I don't much care about that last part, it did mess up my plans because I was going to bring my dragon to you!"

"And why are you so determined to join us?" Drago asked,

"To join you, sir! It's obvious you're going to win! You've got the right way of dealing with dragons, those filthy lizards, and you've clearly got the superior army, so why shouldn't I side with the side that's going to win?"

"Good points." Drago said with a cold smile, "I think we should hear what she has to say. She could prove useful to us."

"I'll be more than useful if you only give me the chance!" At that moment Marva spotted Toothless and sneered at the sight. "Just look at him. Where's his stupid kind master now? But Great Drago, are you not going to beat him into servitude?"

"What good would a weak and flightless Night Fury be to me?" Drago spat, "once it serves its purpose here it'll be disposed of,"

"And what x-actly is its purpose anyway?" Alvin demanded.

"You'll see," Drago smirked as they made their way to his cabin, the one place on the entire ship that had comfortable furnishings. "You may accompany it, if you'd like,"

"Only if 'e's goin' ta Berk. If not, Ah am stayin' 'ere."

"Suit yourself," Drago turned to Adoncia, "are you prepared for your next task?"

"To go running off again and do this and that for your big plans because I'm the only one with a dragon?" She yawned, "I go around to Norbert and Magodon, catch a Night Fury and his handsome rider by sheer luck, then you send me off to try and pick off anyone coming to rescue him and I pick up this girl instead, and now you want me to leave again! Sorry Drago, but I'm a bit tired of running around because you say so!"

Drago grabbed her by the throat. "I have not waited all these years for you to be tired! You and that dragon of yours will go when and where I tell you, or I throw your bones into the ocean and let this new girl replace you! Got that?"

"Sí," She whispered. His grip on her neck prevented her from speaking any louder.

"Such authority and power" Marva whispered in awe. "I am so glad I'm here!"

Drago was focusing on Adoncia. "Good. But you won't be leaving for nearly an hour now, so go take a nap, if you're tired." He paused, "Or…the Dragon King is down in the cells,"

"Oh he is, is he?" Adoncia said with a sly smile.

Hiccup was lying on the floor, examining from a distance the door to his cell. The guard guessed he was working on an escape plan, but he could hardly make Hiccup stop thinking except by knocking him out, which was against orders. Footsteps were heard and the guard's pulse began to pick up when he saw the lovely Spanish woman approaching him, carrying an axe and twirling it around casually.

"Why don't you take a break for a while?" She said, her voice almost dripping with honey and suggestiveness.

"Drago said—I mean—I would be happy to do as you wish, madam, but my—"

"Excellent, then let me in and then go away."

"But Drago—"

"Said somebody must always be watching the prisoner at all times—and I will be watching him very closely." She put her hand delicately on the guards shoulder, "surely you could do this for me, Mi Amor?"

The guard unlocked the door and let Adoncia in, then locked it again and left.

"All too easy," she whispered, "men are so easy to manipulate—except you, Mi Amor," she turned to Hiccup, who had been doing his utmost to ignore her. "No matter what I've done, you keep on resisting me,"

"You tortured me." Hiccup shuddered.

"Those were some fun times, weren't they?" Adoncia replied, as if they were reflecting on their life together, "I had a lot of fun, but this is even better. If it's any consolation, it's only by complete accident you were captured. I was returning to the ship and I spotted you flying the other direction, so I went after you. I guess something about you draws me to you," she swung her axe around again. This time Hiccup got a good look at it and his stomach tightened.

"I recognize that axe. It belongs to Norbert the Nutjob!"

She ran a finger along the axe's edge. "Sí. He would use it to make decisions. When Drago sent me to him to see if he'd join us, he made the wrong decision. And his last one."

"And the rest of the Hysterical Tribe?"

"They had more sense in them. But let's not talk about them, Mi Amor," she put the axe down and came closer to him. "How's my sweet Pepito?"

"Grimm is doing just fine, no thanks to you."

"Such hostility!" Adoncia laughed, "I like that in a man. It's boring when they're weak and submissive."

Hiccup rolled onto his side so he could look her in the face. "Adoncia, why are you doing this?"

"Why not?" She laughed, "Perhaps I enjoy seeing you squirm. Perhaps I want to see how long you'll go before you can resist me no longer." She slowly pulled off her leather flight suit. Underneath was a skimpy and plain brown shirt.

"I suppose you performed a similar show for Dogsbreath?"

She snorted, "Now he was no challenge. It was like offering vegetables to a rabbit. If I hadn't wanted information from him I wouldn't have bothered." She lay down on the floor next to Hiccup, in such close proximity he could feel her breath when she exhaled.

"Adoncia, has it ever occurred to you I don't want to do this?"

"All men do," she purred, and she began pulling off her shirt.

"Taking your clothes off isn't going to persuade me, you know" Hiccup forced himself to look at the ceiling. He felt her hands grasp his own shirt. "Nor will taking off mine!" he added quickly as he rolled away.

"Mi Amor, I'd almost say by now you didn't like women—"

"And who would I have to thank for that, I wonder?"

"—except I know you've got feelings for a certain Hofferson—whom I intend to try my new axe on!"

Hiccup sat up and seized Adoncia by the throat, "if you lay a finger on her, I will dedicate my life to hunting you down and murdering you!" he shouted. She responded by coming forward and kissing him on the lips. They rolled around on the floor, her kissing him harder while he tried to push her away from him.

She pulled away to catch her breath. "I'm enjoying this, Mi Amor!" she laughed.

"Why? Why do you enjoy flaunting your body like this?" he shouted,

Adoncia's smile vanished. "I'm what men want, boy. Everywhere I go, it's a woman's body that matters most to men. So I give them what they want and use it to control them. And who has resisted me? Even you—you could have torn me to pieces a moment ago if you had chosen to, I imagine, yet you won't even give me a black eye—you don't dare hurt a woman, now do you, Mi Amor? It's too dishonorable for a man like you, isn't it?"

"I think that giant axe you've got trumps fists and black eyes,"

She had maneuvered herself so that he was in a corner, and ran a finger down his cheek, "quite right," she whispered, "But imagine this, Hiccup. I was declared a disgrace and a sin before I was even born. From the moment I first breathed the filthy air in a stable because my mother could find nowhere else to stay because she was not married, I was been condemned by every 'decent' person I ever met. I think you know something of this yourself. You were not strong—yet for a while you ruled over dragons. I was deserted before I had done anything and was left to fend for myself. Even my own father only showed interest in me once he realized my beauty could add to his fortune—a fortune I saw absolutely nothing of when he died; when your dragon tore him to pieces!"

She pinned him against the wall and learned in so she was speaking right into his ear. "The world is full of hypocrites, Mi Amor: I was proclaimed a sin when I was a child, and yet once I grew up, no man but you ever resisted once I had them in my sights—and I imagine I could have won even you over given time." She smiled, "I daresay I could have slept with the Pope himself if I had been given the opportunity,"

Hiccup suddenly slipped from her grasp, but his missing leg gave him no balance and he fell onto the floor again. She was on top of him in an instant, her long black hair getting into his face as her expression hardened. "It's a cruel world, Mi Amor, and I have to survive with what weapons I have—so why should I not enjoy making fools suffer because they can't control their lust for my flesh? Why should I not enjoy making you suffer because you can? I've had enough waiting—" she flung her arms around him and began to kiss him on the lips fiercely despite his protests. They rolled around on the floor, him trying to throw her off, and her trying in between kisses to pull his clothes off.

Drago appeared at the door. "That's enough, Adoncia. It's time for you to go."

"Oh come on, we were just getting started!" she shouted in annoyance.

"I don't care. You have to leave now."

"Just another half hour,"

"NOW Adoncia!"

She groaned and started putting her clothes back on. "Fine, I'll get going—but I'll be back soon, Mi Amor!" She blew a kiss to Hiccup as she left, muttering curses. Drago pulled the cell door shut and locked the two of them in.

"You know, I never thought the day would come when I'd be glad to see you, Drago, but that day has come!" Hiccup groaned as he gasped for breath, trying to hide how intimidated and nervous he was feeling right now. "Of all the women in all the world I could have met, why did I have to cross paths with a present day Messalina?"

"I like seeing you uncomfortable," Drago sneered, "I'd have let her go on with it, but time is of the essence right now,"

"So, the Czernobog, huh? Isn't that the Slavic Black God? I'd have named it Leviathan myself, but Black God is fitting enough! You must be very proud of yourself, building this thing—using my own design! I'm a bit surprised you've managed to build it without my knowing it. Let me guess: I focused on watching you so much I didn't notice other things going on?"

Drago looked smug. "Exactly. I ordered this ship built seven years ago. To keep it a secret I've stayed as far away from the construction sites as possible. And I know people who are better at keeping secrets than you could ever hope to be."

"Very clever,"

"I love the irony of it," Drago smiled, if you could call such an ugly mouth movement a smile, "the Dragon King's own weapons used against him."

"Yes, well, you of all people would know how that feels.

Drago's expression hardened. "Yes I do. Ever since Fort Flay you've been wrecking everything I've built!"

"Now that's funny, Drago, because I never been to Fort Flay."

"Spare me the bluff."

"I'm not bluffing."

"And you expect me to believe that there was another person riding a dragon and going around saving the dragons I caught? Don't insult my intelligence, boy."

"Well, was I riding a Night Fury at Fort Flay? Explain that, if you can."

"Simple. As you know, years ago I put a spear into the dragon you were riding. Obviously it died of its wounds and you had to find a replacement. You've got plenty enough."

Hiccup was intrigued but disguised the fact by saying as annoyingly as he could "Ok, you're right, you're right, I'm through with the lies, so you've got me, haha, figured out my big secret, drag me up on deck and I'll confess it to the world—"

Drago hit him in the head. "SHUT UP!"

Hiccup dropped the banter. "So what now, Drago? Why am I still alive?"

"You are still alive, because you are going to watch everything you stood for fall apart. And I need you alive in case Adoncia fails to do her part."

Hiccup shook his head. "That's really a clichéd thing to do, Drago. I might upset your plans again."

"Oh don't worry. Until we reach Berk, I'll be staying here to keep an eye on you. And when I leave to join in the attack that'll destroy Berk, your old betrothal has volunteered to watch you. Even if you try to escape, you won't get far without your other leg—the one with the picklock in it, yes I know about that now."

"My old betrothal—oh, she's here, is she? Can't say I'm really surprised."

"She's promising to be a most faithful helper."

Hiccup snorted, "What would you know anything about being faithful? You're dragons abandoned you the moment I gave them the chance."

"If those fools of soldiers had forced them into servitude properly, they would never have run." Drago retorted.

Hiccup shook his head. "Or maybe they just had no sense of loyalty to you, have you ever thought of that?"

"Loyalty…do you think soldiers fight out of 'loyalty'? They fight because they are made to do it or else they'll die. Do you think people work and slave for the master because they feel loyal to him? They do it because they are made to fear the consequences of not doing it. Fear is what gets things moving, boy, not loyalty. Would your own people have united behind you if they did not fear my attacking them? It's the same with dragons. It's the same with all of nature."

"Drago, there is still time to abandon this now."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you? Abandon everything just when I'm on the brink of success?"

"Success against what? A few islands? How is that taking over the world? You've seen part of the world; you know it's too big to conquer, even if you had 200 ships like this and every dragon in existence under your control!"

"Then I'll conquer what I can. I'll have my revenge if nothing else. And soon I will have every dragon in existence under my control."

"Revenge. You've seen my father; he's spent over 20 years trying to get revenge on dragons, and look where that's gotten him!"

"Your father is a weak fool. Strong in body, perhaps, but his mind and will are weak. That's why he hasn't gotten his revenge yet and why he never will."

"Like you're doing any better?"

Drago kicked him in the chest. "Those fools I've been forced to ally myself with have been failing me at every turn! If my plans had been followed by men with sense and strength, I never would have been driven from my home. Do you know what that's like, boy? To be driven from the place you were born in, the place you fought to defend, the place you've tried to make something out of?"

"I believe I do. But does that justify this?"

Drago snorted. "Justice is made by the man in charge, and that man is me. When I have complete control and don't need those fools for allies, I shall see to it that my justice is carried out fully."

"I thought as much. Death for anyone who's crossed you and for anyone you deem weak?"

"Exactly,"

"The Romans tried that against the Christians, you know, and Vikings have been trying it against dragons for centuries. It hasn't worked."

"Obviously both lacked the will to finish the job. But I have the willpower."

"I think you'd proclaim yourself to be a god if you could get away with it. Well, word of advice: you better be certain that your chosen strong ones have strong stomachs."

Drago was confused. "'Strong stomachs'?"

"Of course. If you're killing all the weak ones, that's going to be a lot of corpses. The stench of rotting flesh is going to be horrific."

Drago burst into a laugh. "Wrong again, boy! Once the weeding begins, my dragon army is going to grow fat—and so will my soldiers!"

Hiccup suddenly looked sick. "Are you saying—?"

"How else do you think I fed my dragons back before you stole them? Casualties, weaklings, those without any hope of recovery—it was very economical. Even my soldiers, if you can call those sniveling cowards who deserted me soldiers, were given a share if rations were slack."

"And did you actually tell them what they were eating?"

"Only those who prepared it—and they were warned they'd be in the next meal if they said anything about it. But nobody minded. They were grateful that I was being humane to them! I saw to it my poor soldiers and dragons were well fed—you'd be amazed at what people will eat if they're hungry and don't know what they're actually eating! And my new army of dragons will feast upon the corpses of your friends in Berk before the week is over! Adoncia's Razorwhip already has. You remember your old friend Dogsbreath? You're sharing a cell with him!" He laughed and pointed to the skeleton in the corner.

Author's note:

A little trivia: Hiccup suggests the ship be named Leviathan. That was in fact the ship's original name. I changed it to Czernobog to reflect Drago's Slavic heritage. Czernobog is a figure in Slavic mythology whose name means 'Black God.'

Also, Adoncia gets compared with Messalina. Messalina was the third wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius. According to some historians, and I have no way of telling if this is actually true or not, she was notorious for her adulteries and once competed with a prostitute to see who could wear out the most men in a single night. She was also said to have huge influence on her husband and to cross her meant death. She was later executed herself for allegedly plotting with her then lover to overthrow Claudius. Again, I don't know how much of this is true and how much was created by her enemies.

There are now only five more chapters to go, and I'm just as impatient to get them posted as anybody, so the next update will be November 7th.