Selene

Chapter Forty-Four

"I don't believe it," I said for lack of better words. "I just... don't... how??"

Due to incredible amounts of rain there was nothing we could do in the training domes, so the Romans kept us locked up in the barracks the entire day. Usually I'd go stir crazy but for once they had done us a favor.

"Huh?" Ruff said, impressed herself. "Huhh? I told you I could pull it off."

She stood before me in my coat, my shirt, my bracers, my skirt and my boots, her usually unkept stringy hair done up in a single French braid and slouching body posture replaced by confidence... or dare I say swagger.

I on the other hand was dressed very plainly with whatever spare clothes we'd found lying around.

"She looks just like you, Lass!" Gobber gaped.

"Yeah... but... not exactly. We still have totally different facial structures" I retorted, finding the comment disturbing.

"What, you think I don't know how to work a little makeup?" She shot back, trying to mimic my voice. "I can put a show on when I want to, Astrid."

"Which is never." Tuff said. He was wearing her clothes and I felt strangely relieved that it was harder to tell he wasn't her than it was that she wasn't me. "Here." He dumped his own clothes at my feet and turned to Ruff. I hesitated to touch them even with a stick. "I feel even uglier than I do as myself sis. Ow! I mean, Chief."

"Don't you forget it." She pointed. "I intend to abuse my powers as chieftain to the fullest."

"You're not acting as Chief." I raised my hands hopelessly. "You're just looking like me for a day."

"It comes with perks."

Hopeless.

"Forget it. Glad the disguises work; because now instead of looking for me the soldiers will be looking for Tuff. You all remember the plan?"

"We start the day normally," Fishlegs began. "Let the soldiers begin to lead us out to the training domes, Ruff playing the part of Astrid and Tuff playing the part of Ruff."

"Then we," Spitelout gestured himself and Snotlout, standing with arms crossed and wearing the same devious smiles. "Pick a fight of our choosing amongst us hooligans. I'm lookin at you, Gothi."

Gothi scribbled back trash talk that drew a few gasps.

"While the soldiers are distracted trying to break it up, I'll slip out of the Barracks and make my way to Epp." I nodded. "And I'll have Tuff's clothes. About the time they figure out 'Tuff' is missing Epp will be in his clothes to take his place and no one will be the wiser... provided you three can keep up your disguises that long."

"Dare you mock the charlatan deep within my soul??" Tuff waved a fist dramatically.

"Your role is easy." Ruff crossed her arms and shifted her weight with scowl. "I'm the one that really has to sell it to that dope Caliban."

Wow. Do I really look that moody when irritated?

"Ruff your acting is incredible." Fishlegs said with awe. "You even sound like her a little."

Apparently.

"Thanks, I'm trying for a scholarship to Carnegie."

"ANYWAY, with everyone accounted for that leaves me free to sneak into headquarters and steal Hotshot back. Like some of you suggested; I could in theory try to connect to Hotshot myself but I don't think I will. It's such a small window of opportunity and I don't feel good about trusting our survival to my dragon bonding skills." I admitted. "So I'll take him straight to Epp. Once Epp bonds with them the battle is won, we'll free ourselves and the dragons, take out Alvin, and escape the Garrison."