Fire in our veins

Cold negotiations

Eira together with Hiccup got up at dawn. They had to come up with a plan to get their friends and their dragons back. It wasn't easy, though the hunters had the upper hand, and plenty of poison arrows. The arrows proved to be the biggest problem. They had to somehow protect the dragons from them. After several hours of thinking of anything that even remotely resembled a plan, Hiccup came up with an idea. It was surprisingly simple, yet very dangerous and risky. For lack of other ideas, they had to take a chance. They couldn't waste time and put their friends and their dragons in danger.

At the same time, Astrid escorted by one of the hunters returned to the cell where the rest of the riders were being held.

- Astrid, are you okey? - Fishlegs asked worriedly.

- Just tired. They questioned me all night. Wouldn't let me sleep. - She sat down, leaning her back against the bars.

- They?

- Dagur and Heather mostly. That Ryker guy doesn't say much. But he asked me about Eire. - Astrid tried to remember as much of the conversation as possible.

- Why would he ask about Eire?

- I have no idea, he just asked who she was. Heather told him everything. That Eira is Hiccup's sister and a healer, she also mentioned that game you like to play with Hiccup.

- Mace and Talons! Eira is a great player, Hiccup doesn't want to admit it, but he hasn't won against her once. - Fishlegs with his enthusiasm woke up one of the guards.

- I don't know why, but it made Ryker curious - she shuddered when the memory of what the man said came back to her.

- Astrid?

- He said it would make her a better gift for his brother. That such a pretty woman would be 'nice' company for him. - She shuddered once more, this time with disgust. If Ryker touched Eira with even a finger, she would gladly cut off his entire hand.

- Do you think he's really going to, you know. - Fishlegs swallowed his saliva suggestively.

- Anything could be expected from Ryker.

Whispering Deaths Island was fairly easy to locate. The many round holes in the ground were enough of a clue. Snotlout was not happy with the plan. He honestly didn't like anything about the plan. However, he didn't have time to protest once more when Screaming Death flew out from under the ground. They soared through the air, losing the dragon in the clouds. Making sure the tunnels were safe, they began to search for what they had come there for.

With the help of Snotlout, who surprisingly worked incredibly efficiently, stitching the scales together went rather quickly. When the three dragons were secured with the armour that should protect them from arrows, Hiccup, Eira and Snotlout flew to look for the dragon hunters.

When they found them, they found that the shell armor actually worked. The problem turned out to be the seams, which began to fall off after a few hits. It gave them less time than they thought. Eira noticed how Astrid was fighting a few hunters. So she surprised herself with Firewing and, drawing her sword, ran to help her friend. However, Ryker stood in her way.

- You messed with the wrong Vikings, Ryker! - she slashed with her sword, sometimes parrying the blows. Ryker was much stronger than her, but she made up for it with her reflexes and speed.

- Just wait until my little brother takes care of you. We'll see if you're as brave then. - Eira couldn't see Astrid or any of her friends anywhere.

She was surprised, however, to see Dagur standing on one side of the ship. But before she had time to look around again, while avoiding the blows of Ryker's sword, Astrid flew out of the ship on her dragon. Seeing no need to stay on board any longer, Eira summoned her dragon, which first grabbed her by the shoulder before throwing her onto its back. Back in the saddle, she and Firewing set fire to one of the side ships, then flew up to the rest of the riders. Flying off towards Dragon's Edge, Eira breathed a sigh of relief.