Captain Fury: Pirate of Berk

8: Northern Exposure

Northern Exposure

Stoick, Governor of Berk, stiffened in shock as the cold blade dug into the muscle of his chest. The pirate facing him was not what he expected: the stories painted Captain Fury as a fearsome and brutal man, never sparing any ship and plundering and murdering as he went. They never mentioned the man with the fearsome reputation was lithe, lanky and agile, his tousled dark auburn hair and piercing emerald eyes topping functional leather armour and obvious mastery of the sword. His face was obscured by a black scarf, his voice muffled.

"Surrender or die!" the man repeated, the growl lower and filled with hatred. Stoick stared at the crew. General Eretson had been snared by a bola, the Captain was in the hands of what looked like a pair of twins and the rest of the crew were surrounded. The Governor gave a hate-filled glare.

"I will see you hang!" he promised.

"I'll take that as a surrender," Fury announced, his sword still jabbing painfully into the man's flesh. "By the way, I'm thinking of setting up a ticketing system since so many people want to see me hang. Oh, the perils of popularity!"

"Sneer all you want, foul devil!" Stoick snarled. "I am not afraid of you. I will die like a soldier!"

"Obviously, you are free to do what you want," Fury said calmly, "but not today." He paused. "Bucket, Mulch-chain him up-and the fat-head General!"

"Not him again, dude!" came Tuff's voice. "Can't we just leave him on a seastack?"

"Much as I would love to-no!" Fury growled.

"Unhand me, you louts!" Eret's voice floated up. "I will see you hang!" Then he caught sight of Fury and his handsome face twisted into a vicious sneer. "But you...I will see you scream!"

"See? Mister Popular!" Fury quipped as the Governor was wrapped in thick chains. Eret was shoved at his side and the General scowled and shouted obscenities. Stoick rolled his eyes, watching the pirate closely. Fury calmly made sure the crew were secured and then led his first mate into the Captain's cabin. Then they heard the shrieks.

Fury found Lady Astrid in the cabin, cursing and waving a sword in his face. He sighed and disarmed her rapidly, grabbing her wrist. She punched him with the other hand and kicked him hard in the knee. He groaned as she pulled free-to find Fishlegs snaring her in a bear hug. Fury pressed a hand to his jaw and winced.

"Good to see you, milady," he said with a groan, doubled up and rubbing his knee.

"YOU!" she snapped. "Are you deliberately chasing me every time I leave Berk?" She struggled fiercely against Fishlegs's grasp and kicked him hard in the shin. He groaned as well.

"With your gentle demeanour and friendly personality, how could I resist?" Fury retorted and she struggled again.

"Captain Fury, I demand..."

"You are in no position to demand anything!" he told her sharply. "Fish..." He jerked his head and she was carried outside as he checked the strongbox and grabbed the briefcase of all the Governor's papers and intelligence. He lifted the pouches of gold and gave a small grin as he stuffed them into the briefcase. "And maybe this will be enough to keep them happy..." he murmured.

On the deck, the prisoners were grumbling and the crew were getting bored. Fury walked out and frowned. There was something wrong...a yawning silence filled with an increasing sensation of pressure, the slowly rising rush...there was something coming...

He spun as a large black ship appeared from behind a seastack, bearing down on the two ships. "GET EVERYONE BACK ONTO THE SHIP!" he screamed, grabbing Astrid and dragging her across. The rest of the pirates hustled the captive crew over in double quick time as Fury rolled his eyes, dashed back for the briefcase-and the gold-and leapt back over as the crew furled the sails, urgently cutting free as the huge ship smashed into the Governor's ship. There was a splintering crunch as it was smashed like matchwood. Fury bellowed to keep his crew focussed, trying to ignore the brooding presence of the Governor and the glaring face of Eret as they worked furiously to evade the enormous vessel.