Empire at war (A Httyd Fanfiction)

Chapter 21: Flee

(Normal pov— Denmark)

Mongrel warriors were dragging a battered and beaten Gobber the Belch to a cell within the dungeons, accompanying these warriors was Vitani's brother— Kovu, another one of Nikora and Eir's lieutenant's within the Mongrel Tribe.

Kovu is a tall man with a muscular build, he is a silent and dangerous man who rarely speaks. Vitani's brother is a brutal, hardened warrior, preferring to use two daggers to slice and gut his opponents to pieces as they are swifter weapons. He, like his sister and fellow Egyptian brethren also wield a khopesh. Kovu stands as one of the Mongrel's deadliest fighters and his muscular body is covered in scars from shoulder to shoulder, one for each life he has taken who stands as a worthy opponent, then carved into his flesh. Like his sister, Kovu's hair is done in dreads, yet his hair is shorter than his sisters. A cheetah fur cloak drapes around his broad shoulders, as well as cheetah fur lace boots to add another layer of warmth.

Once reaching the nearest cell, the Mongrels tossed the old blacksmith inside, they lock the cell and made sure to strip him of any hidden he yet carries. They had moved Grump to the warlords' new alpha to enslave the Hotburple along with countless other dragons who were not fortunate enough to flee the cruelty of the Mongrels and their allies.

Gobber, who managed to kill several Mongrels received a gut wound. It's not fatal, or at least he doesn't think so. He had won the fight against countless Mongrels who pressed him but not before a Carthaginian Mongrel drove a sword into his side. It cut through his tan tunic and bear fur cloak, leaving behind a nasty wound and a considerable loss of blood. But the Mongrels cauterized the wound to preserve Gobber's life for the time being, because he possessed information they needed to find Hiccup and his family.

As seconds turn into minutes, and minutes turn into hours, Gobber beings to doze off, that is until loud footsteps filled his ears.

"Gobber."

He opens his eyes and lays eyes on two people who all but delivered Denmark into Nikora and Eir's hands— Gudmundr and Revna. Despite the gut wound, Gobber stands— too quick, he gets dizzy— and steps towards the cell doors.

"Traitors," he says in greeting, "come to gloat, eh?"

"No, merely to give you an opportunity to join us, alongside Nikora and Eir Stormheart," Gudmundr said, "Haddock shamed, disgraced, and humiliated the likes of me, Revna, and those who chose to break free from Haddock's shackles! We would give you the same chance; to set yourself free from the yoke Haddock has placed around your neck—"

Gobber spits in Gudmundr's face and snarls out. "Never," he glances between the two traitors and continues, "you have betrayed not only your fellow Scandinavians, your king, and queen but the gods themselves by conspiring with these foreigners! And when you die, you will not see Valhalla, instead, you will suffer in the fires of Helheim— a fate most deserved."

"When they torture the information out of you, it is you who will die," Revna said, "those among us who faithfully serve our new masters will be rewarded."

Scoffing Gobber settles himself back on the floor of his cell and shakes his head. "You're both fools," he then adds, "as are those who stand with your new masters," turning back to the two traitors, Gobber cocks his head in curiosity and inquires, "what did they promise you in exchange for betraying Hiccup? Hmm?"

"They promised us to begin a new age for our people—"

Barking out a laugh, Gobber then groaned in pain as he clutched his side and cursed under his breath. Shaking off the pain, the blacksmith turned to the two traitors and shook their heads at them. "They're using you," chuckling bitterly, he continued, "feeding you lies to make you serve them with blind loyalty, and when you have served your purpose, their Shadows will place gilded swords in your back."