Chapter Thirteen: An escaping dinner and discoveries
Before Hiccup met the cannibals, he thought he was prepared for anything.
He and Toothless had been on the way for three days now and still the Sullen Sea lay under them, her grayish color making it look like rocks.
From time to time there were little islands, not more than big rocks but acceptable for short stays. Like Loki had promised him.
They had caught fish for dinner and found always a nice dry cave where they could stay the night.
So far so good.
No strange things, no attacks, no other inconveniences.
But Hiccup kinda expected something to happen. He knew his luck, it was none-existent.
So he was only half surprised when their camp was stormed by half-naked men with spears, screaming bloody murder and making grunting noises.
At first he didn't understand them but then suddenly it was like someone had switched some connections in his brain and he understood them perfectly.
Which didn't help make the situation any better. He really didn't want to know how they planned to cut his organs out of his body.
On the other hand he was so surprised that he was overwhelmed in seconds and chained at hand and feet.
Toothless went berserk but when one of the men held a knife to Hiccups throat and hissed into his ear: "Tell your beast to shut up or I slit your throat here and then."
Hiccup tried not to swallow and coaxed: "Toothless…stop."
The dragon obeyed and was chained too.
Then they covered Hiccups eyes with a blindfold and shoved him hard and told him to move.
After what felt like ages, the blindfold was taken away and he was chained with the hands to a pole or something like this.
He tried to kick his captors but they just stepped aside, rose their fist threatening and left him there.
Hiccup looked around.
The village (he assumed that was, what it was) consisted of simple tents.
They were put up in a wide circle. In the middle was a giant fireplace. Everything was enlightened and at least fifty men, women and children were running around, barely paying attention to him.
Bodies of animal and what looked suspiciously like a dragon, hung from wooden frames, cattle was guarded by boys his age and women were weaving or shearing sheep.
The all wore leather kilts and strange necklaces that looked like made from bones and scales and things Hiccup didn't want to know what exactly they were.
They talked loud and rude and Hiccup wished he couldn't understand them.
He looked franticly around, hoping to spot Toothless somewhere.
Loud roaring didn't make it that difficult.
Over a dozen of strong looking men were wrestling his dragon-friend to the ground, while he fought like a hurricane.
Hiccup saw reinforcements with spears running towards them and called out: "Toothless, look out!"
Hearing his voice, the dragons head shot up. His eyes found Hiccup and Hiccup saw relieve in them.
"Toothless please calm down, it's not going to help us if you kill one of them!" Hiccup begged and he saw understanding in the Night Fury's eyes.
Begrudgingly Toothless settled down and the men chained him all over together.
A man with strange paintings on chest and forehead stepped close up to Hiccup and showed him his dirty knife.
"I know you understand me. I don't know who but I know you do."
His breath made Hiccup want to throw up. His teeth were black and yellow and his tongue had a green shimmer.
"You will regret coming here. You all think you can have our island. You all think we will give it to you. But this is our home and we won't let you get your dirty hands on them."
Hiccup had no clue what he was talking about.
"We gonna kill you and when we are done, when gonna send your body as a warning to your people. We will never give you them."
"Listen!" Hiccup tried. "I'm sorry okay? I didn't know this island was inhabited. I swear. I'm on my way south! I just wanted to rest here for the night!"
"LAIR!" The man slapped him hard in the face and he tasted blood in his mouth.
"You want our treasure! You planned to attack us with your beast there!" He pointed accusingly at Toothless.
"What are you talking about? What treasure?"
"There! You confessed it! You said treasure!"
Hiccup shook his head. "This is completely ridiculous!"
But the man, Hiccup assumed he was the chief or so, ignored him.
He turned to face the gathered people and shouted: "He confessed! Prepare the fire; bring me my best gutting knife! Tonight we feast on spy and beast!"
"WHAT?" But Hiccups protest went down in the cheering.
"Oh this is bad." He muttered.
.
"A plan, I need a plan. Fast, really fast." Hiccup mumbled franticly and pulled for the thousands time at his chains but it had no use.
Every other Viking would have been able to tore the chains but not Hiccup and his weak arms.
While he tried to come up with an escape plan, the cannibals prepared their feast.
"As an appetizer there would be low-fat sheep in a blood and water dip. For the main course we serve grilled Viking and we finish our meal with diced Night Fury." He whispered grimly and looked around.
Toothless was a pile of misery under the chains and looked with big eyes at Hiccup.
He had to swallow hard. "Don't worry bud. I'll get us out of here. I promise." If I'd know how, he added silently.
He was so deep in thought that he nearly didn't notice the small boy in front of him.
The boy was nearly naked but couldn't be older than five or six. His brown hair was a mess and his skin was covered with small scars. He had big brown eyes and looked at Hiccup in awe.
"Ahm, can I help you?" he asked the boy. The boys eyes went wide and he stretched his hands, which had been behind his back and showed Hiccup a dragon-tooth.
The tooth was as long as Hiccups hand and pretty big. It looked sharp.
"Wow. That's a great tooth you have there." Hiccup said nervously. "Just don't try to stab me with it. It looks pretty sharp."
Hiccup had never been good with little kids. So he'd no clue what to say.
"Will you play with me? Everybody else is too busy they say." The kid asked and made big eyes and looked pleadingly at Hiccup.
"Gee, wonder with what they could possibly be busy with." Hiccup sighed before he smiled sadly at the boy.
"I wished I could but I'm bound with these ropes and can't move much. I'm sorry but…" He was interrupted by the chief who came bellowing over to them.
"Son. Don't talk to the spy! Didn't I tell you to help your mother with the food?"
He grabbed the kid's wrist hard and dragged him away.
Doing so, the kid accidently dropped the tooth while fighting his fathers' hard grip and screaming and crying loudly.
Hiccup sighed. What now?
He looked up to the stares. "Hey Loki. Remember your little promise to help me? Now would be a good time."
The stars stayed silent.
"Well, thanks." Hiccup was really frustrated. Not a week on the road and already to be eaten by cannibals. That had to be a new record. And a personal low.
"And I thought I couldn't sink any deeper."
He watched the reflection of the flames on the white tooth that still lay forgotten on the ground where the kid had dropped it. It had something hypnotizing and mad the tooth gleam wickedly sharp and…wait a second. Sharp?
The idea hit Hiccup like Thor's hammer.
It was a desperate idea and most likely it would go wrong. But desperate times call for desperate measures.
Hiccup took a quick look around. Everyone was busy and exited. No one paid any attention to him. Apparently they had opened the ale.
Where they had that from he didn't know but he didn't complain.
His legs were free. With the prosthetics' he peeled of his boot and socks and with his long nimble toes he fished for the tooth.
It was a bit out of reach but Hiccup stretched as far as he could, ignoring his hurting leg and ignored the splinters that bore into his back.
Sweat covered his forehead and he hand his tong between his teeth.
Just a little bit. Just a little bit.
His toes close around the thin top of the tooth and even though it cut his skin, he was happy. First he had the tooth and second, it was really sharp. Perfect.
He slowly drew his leg back to him until stood on two legs again. He shortly rested, giving his leg a break. Even though the stump had healed, standing on it was painful.
When the pain had ebbed away he grabbed the tooth again and slowly raise his foot towards his right hand that was bounded on the side of the pole.
But his feet were sweaty and cold.
The tooth fell to the ground. Again Hiccup picked it up and more careful he lifted his foot.
He stretched his fingers to grab the tooth but they were numb because his blood didn't circulate so well.
Again it fell. Anger expanded in his chest.
This time for sure!
He grabbed it and his fingers got hold on it. If he would've been able, he would've danced. But he kept his joy low and set to work.
With the sharp side of the tooth he began to cut the ropes that hold him.
It was a hard work. His shoulders and fingers arched soon but he was determined to make it. Especially when he heard someone say that the fire nearly was ready.
Faster and faster he moved the tooth while he made sure no one saw him. But there was nothing to be afraid of.
All of the people were drunk or primed and the other half was making preparations.
He looked at Toothless on the other side of the fire and a thought came up. How would he get to Toothless. And more important, how would he free him?
He cursed that he didn't think about that.
And then he had to get his backpack and weapons.
"They're probably in the chief tent. But what tent is his?" he mumbled while cutting the rope.
It could be any of them.
But then he saw the chieftains' son. He would know. But how ask him?
In that moment he managed to cut the ropes through. Hastily he put on his boot and while he fled into the bushed behind him, he loosened the rope from his left wrist and threw it away while he put the tooth into his pocket.
He decided to walk in a wide circle around the camp and hide in the darkness between two tents. There he waited.
He got more anxious with every passing second.
But then for the first time this night and probably the last time this night, he had luck.
The small boy walked pass him and he whispered: "Hey, little one. Over here."
The boy turned around and saw Hiccup in the shadows. Slowly he got closer.
"Do you still want to play?" Hiccup asked.
The boy nodded and Hiccup showed him his tooth. "How about we play in your tent?"
The boy nodded eagerly. "Which one is yours?" The boy pointed at one not far away.
"Okay, meet you there." The boy nodded and ran for the tent.
Hiccup followed him in the shadows.
By some miracle no one saw him when he slipped unnoticed into the tent.
The boy sat there and watched Hiccup as he closed the tent entrance. He quickly looked around and sighed with relief as he spotted his belongings on a box.
He quickly put bow and quiver on his back, the sword at his belt and the backpack over the bow and drew his dagger. He wanted to go, when something tugged at his sleeve.
It was the boy. He looked up at him with big eyes.
Hiccup kneeled down to him and gave him the tooth back.
"I promise. I come back and play with you. Right now I want you to stay inside. Be safe, okay?"
The boy nodded and Hiccup patted his head. "I promise."
But instead of taking the tooth, the boy closed Hiccups finger around it. "So you remember." He said. Hiccup was surprised for a moment but then he smiled and put the tooth into his back. "I'll carry it with honor."
Then he stood up and peeped through the entrance.
Toothless laid a few feet to his right.
He breathed deep and jumped out of the shadows behind Toothless and pressed into his shadow while e hissed: "It's me Toothless. Don't move. I free you."
He set to cut the straps and chains. He could feel a vibration go through Toothless' body. He was purring.
Unwillingly Hiccup smiled.
When the last rope was cut, he crawled up to Toothless' head and whispered: "We have to be fast." No more explaining was necessary.
In a good timed move both dragon and rider jumped.
Hiccup landed on Toothless' back, clicked in his fake leg and with three beats of Toothless' wing they were in the air above the trees.
And while behind them the cannibals hollowed into the night the tow of them set course for the south again.
In his back Hiccup thought the Tooth weight tons. He hoped he could keep the promise.