Chapter 43
It was no surprise that the area around Drago's home was abandoned. Not when the man had a permanent look in his eyes that said he wanted to tear your throat out – whether you be human or dragon. I probably didn't even have to wait for night to sneak in.
From the outside, Drago's home hadn't looked like it was carved by experts, and the inside wasn't much better. The main foyer was a big, hollow space with Drago's belongings scattered about. It was like he'd grown bored after building the outside, and just let the inside develop as it would. Or maybe he'd known that few would ever look inside the doors. At the end of the day, if I needed one word to describe it, I guess it would be practical. Everything in here looked like it had some kind of use; Drago hadn't wasted time displaying things whose sole purpose would have been to be pretty.
I slunk inside. The lantern-lit room provided many shadows to hide in, and little to hide behind. The scent-trails of rodents darted across the stone floor, but I smelt little food so I doubt they stayed long. From beneath the square tiles came the aroma of earth, slopping up the sides of the walls until it stuck. Three doors branched from this main room. Behind one of them, I could hear Drago talking to someone.
Just the sound of that monster's voice made my skin crawl. I could almost feel him breathing down my neck. But enough was enough. In those days since I had learned Drago had raised the tyrant, I had been restless. It took me a while to figure out why, but I understood now. I was tired of fumbling around in the dark. Lurking around the settlement and eavesdropping was getting me nowhere, and too much time had passed. I would find out what he was up to, and if things worked out, it would be today.
The first room I checked was a storage room. Lots of things in there – alcohol, armour . . . Maybe I'd come back later, but right now, it would take too much time to investigate each object separately. I shied away from the center room where Drago was, and approached the one on the right.
Bedroom? This looked promising.
Drago's stench filled the air around me, not letting me forget for a second where I was. His bed, topped with a polar bear pelt, looked too small for his massive frame. Indeed, his discarded dragon-skin cloak fell over the side and touched the floor. It was dark in here, like a muggy cave. Fitting.
I didn't waste time with his clothes, or the knick-knacks sitting upon the table in the corner, or the curved knife by his pillow, but went right for the chest at the foot of his bed. I mean if something important was here, it would have to be in there, right? Thankfully, the decorative lock on it seemed to be for show. Even if it hadn't been, the wood around it seemed rotten enough that . . . well, maybe not me, but Dad or even Astrid would have been able to rip it open. What I found inside was a bit of gold; not much. I don't think he needed much. There was also some letters that had nothing to do with Berk, a couple of journals which suspiciously resembled the one we had picked out of the witch's house, and . . . oh. This was different.
I extended a claw, and poked the small box. It appeared to be made of some kind of black stone. Fancy-looking runes had been etched over its surface; they seemed to gleam if you looked at it just right. I couldn't smell what was inside. But that didn't matter. My attention had been caught.
I worked my claw into the groove between the two halves, and carefully pried it open. A splotch of brown caught my eye. It appeared that inside this stone container, was another stone. Perhaps there would be another stone inside that . . .
The air thrummed. It felt like something wet and cold was slithering across my back. This wasn't a stone. This wasn't natural. I tried to smell it, but it was like inhaling a mouthful of static. I didn't want to get too close, but something inside me seemed drawn to it. I could almost feel myself being pulled forward.
I was snapped out of my daze by the sound of a door opening. I spun around, following the sounds of those footsteps as they left the center room and came . . . towards the bedroom (of course). I lunged for the top of the chest, letting the strange stone box close by itself as I closed the chest as quickly and quietly as I could. Just as the door began to open, I bolted under the overhanging cloack on Drago's bed.
He didn't spare a glance. Nor had he appeared to have heard anything; maybe he simply assumed that no one would dare venture in here. From my hidey-hole, I watched as he opened the chest, and took out the exact same box I had just been examining.
In a split second, I made my decision. As the door began to close behind him, I rushed out through the crack.
Drago returned to that center room, and I shadowed him. I didn't enter, but before the door shut, I saw enough: this appeared to be some sort of study. Maps and diagrams littered the wall, and the Barbaric Archipelago had been at the very center. Lines and words had been scribbled all over the familiar map, and a big X marked the island of Berk. In the middle of the room there was a large, pine table and standing there (didn't see any chairs) was Ragnok, the man who I had grown to loathe the way you hated a particularly dumb or annoying animal. I pressed my ear against the door, and listened.
"Is this it?" I heard Drago put the black box on the table, and snapped it open.
"Yes, yes! That would certainly do. Err, why do you have that anyways?"
"Painkiller," Drago grunted. "She cast a spell on my arm to dull the pain. Sometimes, it wasn't enough."
"Why would your arm . . .?"
Metal scraped against the wooden tabletop.
". . . oh. Right."
Drago spoke again. "We give this to Hiccup, what happens?"
"Well, this rune is meant to feed spells, so it would normally make the spell on him stronger . . . of course, I don't think it could change his body into more of a dragon. He's quite dragon already. If I'm correct – uh, I might not be. Don't be mad if I'm not – it won't do anything to him, just build up a lot of pressure. Enough pressure and . . . well . . . he might explode."
" . . . Meaning?"
"In a magical way, of course! And possibly physically. I won't know without testing it out, but it'll probably kill him either way, and then we would be short one magically transformed Viking, and I don't think you'd like that –"
"Get to the point. If he 'explodes', then what?"
"It would be the same as an exploding waterskin. All the magic would fly everywhere and everything nearby would get . . . wet."
A tense pause. The table creaked as someone leaned on it.
"These people who get 'wet'," Drago said, "would they turn into dragons?"
". . . I think so. I can't be certain without an experiment –"
"And you'll get one," Drago hissed. "I'm sure Berk will be happy to have their heir returned, no questions asked."
I could barely think. The ground flew under my paws as I ran. I hadn't stayed for the full conversation, but I had heard enough. I knew what they were planning. I was the bait. A trap. They were going to use me to destroy Berk, and with the tyrant on his side . . . they'd all be Drago's slaves. I had to go. This wasn't about me, or Drago, or even the dozens of dragons under his rule. This was about saving Berk. Maybe the entire Archipelago. Even the thought of Toothless didn't make me freeze as it usually did. I couldn't leave him, but I couldn't wait for this to happen either. I couldn't . . .
"Toothless? Toothless!" I roared. The nearby dragons jumped.
He didn't come out. I was on the cusp of being angry with him. I took a deep breath . . . there he was. He flinched as I flamed the spot next to him, letting that frustrating, overgrown lizard know that I had found him. As usual, he inched away, ready to flee and begin another round of this unnecessary game.
"Toothless, that's enough!" I barked.
He continued to back away, staring at the ground. It was almost like his guilty face.
"I mean it, bud. We're getting out of here, now. Toothless . . ." Just as his wings began to open, I slammed my paws down, and snarled. STAY!
He blinked. He crouched low, making high-pitched chittering noises I couldn't understand. I squawked, and curled my wings inward the same way Cloudjumper did when he saw me. Follow me.
I went straight for shore. Toothless didn't want to follow, but I snarled at him a couple of times and he listened. Until we got to the docks. It was like he'd run into an invisible fence; he hovered in midair, whining, ears flat against his skull.
"Toothless, come on!"
He whined long and deep, casting frightened glances at the water – of course. It'd been silly of me to forget that –
Right there in the air, Toothless seemed to curl into a little ball. I didn't need to look for the confirmation, but I did anyways. Dread trickled down my throat as I turned and saw the tyrant discarding a coat of starry seawater.
What are you doing? he growled.
My wings wanted to flare, making them stiff and hard to fly with. So I landed, and I growled back. Toothless's heat pressed against my back; his chin nearly flattened me against the ground. He whimpered, trying and failing to keep eye contact with the tyrant. The whimpers were frantic, pleading.
It hit me.
You've been talking to him. What have you been saying to him? I snarled.
The tyrant looked down at me, emotionless. I let him know the limits of my patience.
I looked up at Toothless, who was trying to nudge me away from the water. Everything fell into place. This was why he was avoiding me! It wasn't about the tailfin, it was the stupid tyrant meddling in our business!
I will ask once more, Hiccup. What are you doing?
The air crackled. The last time I had seen the tyrant was days ago when he fled while my back was turned. Between then and now, he seemed to have grown even larger. Hateful eyes kept me in place, and the tips of his tusks gleamed like knives in the moonlight.
I planted my paws. We're leaving.
The tyrant took a big, affronted breath. You will not.
Yes, we will! Do you even know what Drago is planning?
I told him. I told him everything I knew. The tyrant listened, the faintest glint of surprise in his eyes. I don't think he knew about the extent of Drago's evil, either.
Finally, the water churned as he appeared to settle back on his haunches. There will be more like you?
Yes.
I realized too late that the tyrant hadn't asked that out of shock or even benign confusion. He sounded interested. Like he was actually looking forward to this.
"I don't believe this," I whispered aloud. You're okay with this. You're just going to let it happen.
The tyrant tilted his chin skyward, lost in thought. Will they all be children? That would be . . . frustrating.
That's it? That's all you have to say? Don't you understand what this means! You're kidnapping these people; you're going to enslave them and –
It is only right, the tyrant said. It must happen, one way or another.
You –
Isn't that what you wanted? The tyrant shook himself like a giant dog; his shoulders popped and creaked. For dragons and Vikings to become one people? Then it shall be. And it is only proper that they are led by the strongest.
Toothless growled nervously, unable to hear our conversation, but able to tell by my body language that it wasn't good.
I have seen your Chief in your memories, the tyrant said. He is nothing compared to me. There are no Vikings like me! Even you – you who are alpha by blood – you refuse to claim your birthright. Then that makes me the true alpha. It is my right to rule!
Do you think any of us would follow you over our Chief? I hissed.
They will have no choice! The tyrant lurched forward, coming close enough to land that Toothless leapt back. I didn't. I couldn't. This had to end today, and the only reason I was wasting time talking to the tyrant was that he had Toothless in his grasp. They cannot resist the true alpha. They will bow before me. They will obey me. If they do not . . . I will break them.
Because you've done such a good job with me.
I realized a moment afterwards what I had said. That meant I had approximately half a second to panic before the tyrant digested my words.
A hurricane of ice engulfed the beach. Somewhere behind me, Toothless shrieked. I couldn't see him; I couldn't see anything but white. I wrenched my eyes shut as icy crystals poked at my pupils. Water crashed, but I couldn't hear where the tyrant was because wind was howling in my ears –
The whole world shook. My chest was tight and coiled, like my organs were huddling together for warmth. I tried to take deep breaths, but the ice hurt and was cold and pricky as it went down my throat.
And he was there. Front paws on the sand, back half in the water. Monstrous. He blocked out the moon so that my eyes were left seeing without colours. In the corner of my vision, I saw Toothless mindlessly watching; his pupils were drawn to slits.
You dare? he asked.
For the first time, I was too scared to talk back.
You DENY ME? he roared. His rage crashed down on me like a physical thing; suffocating and heavy. I have been patient. I have been kind. And you deny me?
I couldn't move. My legs shook. I could . . . I could feel his will. I could feel it trickling down my bones and wrapping around my limbs. He was trying to control me. He was really trying to control me. He was right above me. One slash of his paws, one swipe of his tusks, even if he tripped . . . I would be dead. He was so, so much bigger than I had thought.
If you will not see sense, I will make you, the tyrant said. I am alpha. I am power. This island is ruled by me, and none will touch my crown until I am dead! I am the true alpha!
I had no idea if it was desperation, or pure fear that drove my next words. Then why are you taking orders from a human?
The tyrant drew back. He seemed to shrink in size. What are you saying?
I'm talking about Drago! Just like that, the pressure of his rage abated. As it did, my chest loosened. I've seen how you act around him.
The tyrant didn't respond. If anything, the mere mention of his master seemed to unnerve him.
All you do is follow his orders! You don't think for yourself, you just follow him blindly. You don't argue, you don't refuse . . . you just do it.
. . . Enough. It was so quiet, I wasn't sure I had heard it.
Don't you get it? Do you think a 'true' alpha would let a human push him around like that?
I -!
SHUT UP!
Silence. The tyrant stared at me, eyes wide with shock. At that moment, he seemed to be no bigger than Cloudjumper.
You've never had power, I said. It's always been him. You've always been his mindless servant. You wouldn't have any of this if he didn't let you.
Silence.
I bared my teeth. No. I won't be. Why should I? There's no reason for me to listen to you.
I am alpha -
You're not alpha, Drago is!
I sensed it a split second before it happened. The tyrant's claws impaled the spot I had been, burying themselves so deep they hit rock.
I SAID SILENCE!
He roared, and the world screamed with him. He stomped, and the beach's entire layer of sand seemed to fly upward. I could barely breathe. It was like being buried alive. The tyrant's paws hammered the ground, each one shaking the distant buildings and dangerously rocking the boats in the harbour.
I couldn't see it, but I could sense his paw coming down upon me.
Someone slammed into my side. We tumbled through the dust cloud in a ball of teeth and claws. There was no time to think, no time to act. I hissed and snarled, ready to fight, and Toothless pinned me with his wings and held me against the ground. There was only us lost in the storm, hiding and praying furiously that the tyrant wouldn't find us . . .
But he was no longer interested. He howled at the moon like an angry wolf, and then turned those blazing eyes on the wobbling ships. He screamed at them, and then sprung, claws extended like some grotesque cat. In one punch, he ripped through a ship's hull, and the ship shrieked in death before he tore it to pieces.
I am alpha. I AM ALPHA!
It was terrifying. Toothless and I huddled together in the dark as the tyrant picked ships up like toys and tossed them about. They dashed to pieces against the rocks – he threw one so far inland it rolled up against a guard tower – and then the tyrant set upon their bodies, snarling, clawing, biting. Chunks of wood fell from his jaws like saliva. One half of a ship stuck so far on his tusk that he seemed unable to get it off.
It wasn't just him screaming. Lanterns had been lit all over the settlement, and now Drago's men were rushing towards the rampaging dragon. The tyrant took one look at them, and bellowed. His icy breath swept over the sand once more. Toothless pulled me in close, trying to shield me. The ice gathered, frosted over what was already there until a crude wall had been constructed between the tyrant and most of the men. But that hadn't been his intention. I heard the tyrant huff in annoyance, and then his tusk pierced through the ice. It creaked ominously, with spider-webs of cracks forming along its surface, until it gave way to the tyrant's will and a chunk balanced precariously on his tusks. The tyrant stared at a cluster of Drago's men.
He tossed the chunk right at them.
There was shouting everywhere. Rocks whizzed through the air. The tyrant ignored them all and blasted his assailants. His tail lashed out at any who came too close, even decapitating a guard tower that the men had been trying to set up a catapult on. His tail slammed back down, and he went with the momentum, rearing on his hind legs and bellowing –
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?"
The bellow stopped abruptly. The tyrant quickly looked sideways, his expression like that of a boy caught holding the broken pieces of his father's favourite weapon. Standing in the mouth of the settlement was the one and only Drago Bludvist. He glared at the tyrant, teeth clenched in a disturbing mockery of an animal's snarl.
"Well?"
The tyrant lowered himself to all fours, giving Drago a hard look. For a second there, I thought . . . I thought he might actually growl at Drago.
"You idiot!" Drago screeched, almost as loud as the tyrant had been. "We were going to leave tomorrow! Thanks to you, it will take weeks to repair that fleet."
The tyrant mumbled something. It was almost like an apology.
"You useless animal!" Drago howled. "Why can't you do anything right? Haven't you learned anything?"
Eyes fixed not quite on Drago's face, but a spot nearby, the tyrant slumped backwards toward the water. His paws dragged through the sand.
"Well?" Drago said. "What's your excuse this time?"
The tyrant stopped moving and bowed his head. He whined deep and long in his throat. Sorry.
"Pathetic." He spat out the world. "And supposed to be the king of dragons . . . You! Give me that!"
Drago ripped a sword out of someone's hand. He gripped his bullhook in his other hand as he advanced on the tyrant. It looked like the tyrant would back away, but Drago hooked his bullhook on the tyrant's tusk, and that seemed to hold him in place.
"Maybe this will teach you something!" Drago shouted.
The blade flashed. He brought it down.
The tyrant yelped. I couldn't see exactly what was happening, but I smelt the blood moments later. The tyrant pulled his left leg close, whimpering, and made to scramble back towards the sea. But then Drago's bullhook found its way into his other leg and once again, it seemed to anchor him to the spot.
"Did you think it was funny? Did you? Or were you just stupid enough to think you could get away with it?" Each sentence was punctuated with a swing. "Maybe we should see how bold you are without a tail!"
The tyrant suddenly keened in pain. This was wrong. This was all wrong! I didn't like him, but that didn't mean I was okay with this! It shouldn't be happening. He was a Bewillderbeast, and Drago was just . . . just a man.
Toothless grabbed my tail, and began pulling me inland away from the scene and crowds. I went with him . . . and then I heard the tyrant cry out.
Drago stepped backward, into a beam of moonlight. The sword's blade was dark.
I couldn't.
Toothless shrieked as I bolted out from his cover. I darted between feet, too small, too fast, too invisible to be stopped. Drago raised the sword high, and he seemed to tower over the Bewilderbeast, who had flattened himself against the ground in submission. The massive dragon screwed his eyes shut, and waited.
"ARGH!"
Even Drago's blood tasted inhuman.
I expected it, so I was ready for the sick, painful jolt as Drago ripped me off his shoulder and slammed me against the ground. It was just sand, but I landed with a wet thud. Drago's thick hand clasped over his wound. Dark red blood oozed through his fingers. Everyone, not just Drago's men, but even the tyrant, Toothless and Drago himself seemed to be struck dumb. All you could hear was Drago's heavy pants as he struggled to grip what had just happened.
The wait was agonizing. Slowly, Drago pried his hand off his shoulder, and raised it in front of his face. He spread his fingers, staring in disbelief at the strings of blood between them.
He turned. "You."
This was bad.
"Grab it! Why are you standing there? Grab it!"
Very bad.
A wall of people ran towards me. I knew it was hopeless, but the sheer mass of them made me growl and spread my wings anyway. I could have bit, I could have flamed, but there was no point. At least this way, if I didn't deliberately aggravate them, maybe they would be a little gentle. And I guess they kind of were. I mean they didn't kick me or anything, but one of them did throw himself on me, and he was heavy.
I could hear Toothless screeching. He'd get himself killed.
Stop him! I rolled as much as I could, and looked at the tyrant. Stop him! Please, get Toothless out of here.
The screech died suddenly. I strained to look in Toothless's direction, looking back just in time to see the tyrant close his eyes again.
"Bring me a rope!" Drago said. "I want it muzzled!"
Someone listened and rough twine dug into my snout as they wound it tight. I couldn't open it anymore, but I could still pull back my lips and growl. That seemed to only enrage Drago, and he advanced with murder in his eyes.
We held each other's gaze.
His face twisted, and he brought his bullhook up –
The tyrant barked.
Drago stopped. The harsh lines of rage on his face warped to those of confusion. He looked over his shoulder at his stiff legged, shuddering dragon, who nonetheless, was looking straight back at him.
And Drago lowered his arm.
"Cage it," he spat. "I don't want to see it free ever again."
Review Response:
Snowflake: No, I did not kill Toothless. At least not yet XD
Jazz: Yes, I am very busy with school, but it'll be winter break soon. If this story isn't done by then, it'll be done by the end of that for sure.
Well the tyrant is still pretty much a child in mind. :)
Wherever he found it in canon. I've been told that the canon back story of Drago and his Bewilderbeast is that he raised it from a hatchling.