Captain Fury: Pirate of Berk

29: Execution Day

Execution Day

Captain Thuggory had had worse days, but not many. Observing the destruction of Dragon Island had subdued his crew and they had just dodged two more of the huge ships as they had sped away from the barrage that had pounded the village and the moored pirate vessels. They had barely cleared the seastack maze-now seriously the worse for wear after Drago's huge dreadnoughts had ploughed through it- when the storm had hit, rending the rust red sails that gave the three-masted Nightmare her infamous ferocious look. The dispirited crew had been forced to fight and scramble as the vessel was tossed and battered by the huge waves. They lost half a mast, one cannon and one of the horns from the dragon's head prow.

And now they were in the mouth of Berkisport harbour, limping and desperate. Thuggory knew this was not the safest place since Berk possessed the largest navy in the Archipelago but it seemed the only option. In his calculations, the pirate knew that this was where Fury had been captured after the man had been attacking Berk consistently over the last nine months. But there was another, crazier rumour: that the man had escaped from his sentence to the fury of the Berserker Governor. If that was true...and it would be amazing since no one had ever escaped from Berserker galleys...then Thuggory knew that Fury would return to wreak his vengeance on the island. The disturbing fact that the Night Fury was moored suggested that plan hadn't been entirely successful...but Berk was the only place with a fierce enough navy to deter Drago and that made the risks worth it to Thuggory.

So as they furled the remnants of their sails, Thuggory's eyes widened in shock and dismay: there were three Outcast vessels in the harbour, including one bearing the flag of Alvin the Treacherous. Pirates and Outcasts generally didn't get along-Thuggory himself had a handful of tricky run-ins with them-and the Captain glanced at his crew and suddenly wondered if he had made a horrible mistake.

And then the Berk Naval vessel approached...

oOo

Hiccup face-palmed at the news and turned back to the two older men staring at him. "The Nightmare? What would Thuggory be doing here?" he muttered.

"Damned pirate! Isn't having one here enough?" Stock growled, earning himself a glare from everyone else.

"Thuggory isn't a fool," Hiccup growled at him, his tone exasperated. "But your idiot Navy will try to sink him-when I need every ship out there to oppose Drago's armada! Especially someone like Captain Thuggory, who's a daring tactician and fearless opponent!" Turning to the door, he shook his head and strode away, then paused as he heard silence behind him. "All of you-if we don't stop this, we can kiss Berk goodbye!" he snapped and vanished out. Gobber clouted his friend across the shoulder as he limped after the lean pirate.

"Yer agreed a truce, Stoick!" he reminded the Governor. "Now time ter prove yer a man of yer word!" Stoick scowled and stomped after him as they headed rapidly down the hill towards the harbour. Hiccup was pacing fast, his gait still stiff and Stoick had to accelerate to keep up until the young pirate suddenly stopped at the crest of a rise, his eyes sweeping over the harbour. Not paying close enough attention, the rest of the group crashed into him and he ended up on his face. There was a sudden silence as he achingly pushed himself to his hands and knees.

"What the Hel is wrong with you?" he growled, his voice rough with the pain from his jarred wounds. His fists clenched and he slowly got to his feet before turning to his father. "Stoick- I need you to get one of those Navy ships to intercept the Nightmare before some idiot attacks Thuggory!" Green eyes stared up challengingly at the huge shape of the Governor and Stoick glared back, then gave a curt nod, turning and striding down the hill, calling Gobber. Snotlout grabbed Hiccup's arm as the pirate almost shook with anger.