Captain Fury: Pirate of Berk

28: Contre Coup

Contre Coup

The tendrils of fog swirled coldly around the jagged sea stacks, the soft sounds of the restless waves muffled. A creaking sound slowly loudened and an enormous shape coalesced from the gloom, advancing relentlessly, the armoured flanks of the dreadnought crashing the stone pillars aside as the ship advanced.

A lone ship was quietly floating in the entrance of the harbour of Dragon Island, preparing to sail when the first silhouette emerged from the fog. The watchman cried the warning and the captain screamed for his helm to wrench them sideways, narrowly avoiding being smashed aside like driftwood. The huge ship glided by, the bow wave tumbling the Nightmare like a leaf on a torrent and the crew all breathed a sigh of relief. And slowly realisation broke over all of them: the enormous hostile vessel was sailing with impunity through the protective fogs and the complex seastack maze that wrapped around the pirate port, smashing the sea stacks like paper. And they were hostile.

As they were getting their breath, the muffled thud and crump of cannon fire sounded and every head snapped up. Explosions began in the port. Captain Thuggory stared in shock and horror before clenching his fists. He had heard the rumours, that Fury had warned of an attack by Drago Bludvist which had been roundly dismissed and ridiculed by Master Viggo.

"Who's laughing now?" he murmured as he felt rather than heard the second ship close, the echoing crack and splash of another demolished sea stack heralding a second attacker. "GET US OUT OF HERE!" he bellowed. "Full sail!" His first mate gripped the wheel as the pirates all swarmed up the rigging, desperate to get them away.

"Course, sir?" he shouted. And it hit him: without Dragon Island, where could a pirate look for a safe harbour? He stared at the monster vessels again and suddenly, Thuggory recalled the last conversation he had shared with Fury.

"Set course for Berk!"

oOo

"Oh Gods." Hiccup closed his eyes for a long moment, his ming rerunning the words. "So he isn't here now?" Trembling, Arild gave a little nod, his face anxious.

"He s-said he would dispose if me when he g-got back," he mumbled. The two adults shared a concerned look: Magne had kidnapped the Governor and was planning his coup. They were out of time if they harboured any thoughts of stopping him. Folding his arms, Snotlout stared hard at Hiccup, his keen gaze taking in the slumped shoulders, the bruised pale face, the despondent look in the emerald eyes. Hiccup looked awkward and stiff but his arms were wrapped reassuringly around the boy and he slowly exhaled.

"I won't let that happen, bud," he reassured the lad, feeling the thin body press harder against him for reassurance then stiffening. Listening hard, he tilted his auburn head and his eyes snapped up to warn Snotlout. He tossed the torch and the other man slammed it into a bracket then they all shrank into the shadows, staring at three shadowy shapes approaching. All were moving stealthily until one wrestled open the door to the little store room and leaned in.

"Arild?" a female voice whispered urgently. The boy nuzzled hard against Hiccup's head.

"Wow. I'm really popular," he whispered and the shape in the door moved, lunging forward and arching a weapon round at the concealed watchers with a blood-curdling scream. Reacting on instinct, Hiccup sliced his sword up, blocking an axe with a reverberating clang. He leaned forward, Arild still clutched in his embrace and he attempted a small smile.

"Hello, Astrid," he said smugly. She gaped, lowering her axe and stumbling back in shock.

"Hiccup! What in Thor's name are you doing here?"

"Could ask you the same question," the pirate admitted, resheathing his sword. Shyly lifting his head, Arild managed a grin.

"Hi, Astrid," he said.