Peter Mercier and the Hunters of Artemis

Chapter 10

The ship rocked against the waves as thunder boomed outside, but no rain was heard below deck as Amber and Peter laid across from one another in the storage compartment, barrels and other containers neatly stacked in the corner.

A dying lantern lit the otherwise dark, damp space. The captain could be heard loudly bickering with the chief above deck, arguing loudly about whose fault the current situation was. Peter's name had come up more than once in the two's squabble, to his dismay. "Will they ever stop?" Amber sighed, laying on her fur coat.

"I don't know." Peter's head ached, using a thin crate as a makeshift pillow. He had stretched himself out onto the wood, which was worn and uncomfortable. "I think they'll have to sleep eventually, right?" he reasoned.

"I guess it depends on how mad they are," she grumbled, fiddling with her hair. "So much for acting like a team."

"As long as they're not bottling it up for later and not hurting each other," Peter offered. "At least it gives us entertainment?"

"I don't need entertainment, I need sleep," Amber frowned, rubbing her temples. "Go out there and tell them to shut it."

"So much for being optimistic," Peter chuckled. "I'll see what the fuss is about. Want the lantern out?"

"Leave it lit, please," she replied quickly. "Thanks."

The stairs creaked under his weight as he ascended, with no trapdoor at the top to block the cold breeze from seeping slowly down into the hull. The two loudmouths were at the rudder a few in front of him, the sail loudly fluttering in the wind behind as sprinkles of rain finally started to fall. "None of this would've happened if you'd let us fight," Eret insisted, his arms crossed and his back to Hiccup, hopelessly trying to find a gap in the clouds above them. "We could've taken those guards, you hear me?"

"Even if we got past Romulus, they'd lock us out and we'd be their first targets once we retreated," Hiccup retorted, trying to keep the rudder steady as large waves brushed against the side of the boat. "These guys don't mess around, Eret. And it doesn't matter now, so stop talking about it."

"Shouldn't one of you be watching where we're going?" Peter asked. They turned around, seemingly surprised to see him. "Shouldn't you be getting some rest?" the captain furrowed his brow.

"It's a bit loud," Peter deadpanned, raising an eyebrow. "Between you two yelling and the sea trying to eat us we haven't been able to sleep."

Hiccup sighed, answering the boy's question. "We can't see anything, it's too dark and the waves keep dousing the lanterns at the bow," he said. Eret chuckled. "You're welcome to go up there and stare into the abyss if you want," he turned back around. "Don't fall asleep on deck though, you might roll right off."

"And surely that wouldn't be a great return investment for you in the long run," Peter joked. "Why can't we prop the rudder?"

"The prop is broken, we'd need a replacement," the chief explained. Peter scoffed. "You, of all people, haven't fixed it?" he asked.

"Do you have anything to fix it with?" Hiccup asked, a spark in his eye and the hint of a smile on his face. Peter nodded, turning around with a smirk. "And I thought I searched the ship badly," he remarked to himself, descending the stairs to the hull. "Hopefully there's a spare," he called back, loud enough for the two on deck to hear. "If not, I'll make it work."

Amber was still awake, smiling as he came down. "Did it work?" she asked. "Will they stop arguing?"

"For the moment," Peter trailed off in thought, swiftly grabbing his wooden pillow and leaving once more. "We'll see how it goes. Try to sleep in the meantime."