Captain Fury: Pirate of Berk

9: The Dark Lord's Armada

Advisory: Violence and implied torture

The Dark Lord's Armada

The crew stared at him in utter shock.

"Surrender? The Night Fury never surrenders!" Fish exclaimed.

"Yeah-death before dishonour!" Tuff shouted.

"The Night Fury won't go down without a fight!" Ruff added.

"She will today," Fury told them sharply. "We fight and we go the same way that other ship went-straight to the bottom of the sea!" They stared at him. "They're not firing now, guys. They want us alive. And that's our chance. We find out exactly what they have...and then we can make a break for it when we know what we are facing."

"What about us?" Astrid asked and the pirate stared at the woman. He sighed.

"If you are our prisoners, they may treat you with respect," he said dubiously, "or they treat you as badly as they treat us. Sorry-I never planned this to happen." There was a vague shrug of his shoulders but it was clear he was worried for his crew. "Mulch, Bucket-get our guests out! If they sink us, they deserve to stand a chance not to drown."

The Governor, the General and the Captain were led onto the deck and immediately began to scoff at the pirate. "Ha! How does it feel to be boarded, cutthroat?" Eret sneered.

"Damn-missed a trick," Fury murmured. "Should've cut your throat-and then I wouldn't have to listen to your whining!"

"Can't see them happy to see you, pirate!" the Governor added. "You attacked one of their ships. I'm sure they'll want to return the favour!" Fury rolled his eyes but turned towards his own men and saw them all grabbing weapons.

"Don't resist!" he shouted as the crew saw grapples fly over and haul the Night Fury towards the largest boat, a monster towering over them and three or four times their length. Then he turned away, putting Arild on the ground and resting an urgent hand on his shoulder. "Hide, buddy," he murmured softly. "I don't know if these people will treat you properly. So hide on the ship. I can do what I have to if I know you're safe..."

"Will you be okay?" the boy asked him worriedly. Fury gently tousled his head.

"Hide," he whispered and the boy ran off, heading down into the hold as the young pirate stood up and stared at the ship they were pulled in. Men in jagged black armour swung across and Fury stared at them impassively, his hand resting lightly on the pommel of his sword. The invaders swiftly surrounded the crew and their unwilling guests until a bulky, cruel-faced man swaggered up in front of Fury.

"Your sword, Captain," the man growled in his exotic accent. Fury unwillingly unstrapped his sword belt and handed it over.

"What do you want?" he asked. "What do you plan for my crew and passengers?"

The man backhanded him hard and he slammed to the deck. He paused only for a breath then rose to his feet agilely, shaking his head slightly.

"That's not an answer," Fury growled. "I demand..."

A second blow felled him brutally and he took a little longer getting to his feet. This time, two men gripped his arms as he clambered up and held him tight.

"You will come with us...all of you..." the man said, his eyes dark with anger and jerked his head. Fury was led across the swiftly lowered gangplank first, with the rest escorted after him. They were taken first into a small, dark hold but immediately after they were safely inside, Fury was dragged to the door.

"You will come to talk to the boss," the guard growled. Fury stared at the others and he took a deep breath.

"For the Gods' sake, keep quiet!" he growled to the watching crew and the passengers. His green eyes sent a mute appeal to Astrid. "I will say that you are from a private vessel I took for hostages-but I will not reveal who you are. That ship tried to mow you down once...and I cannot think who is in charge means you well."