Captain Fury: Pirate of Berk

38: Unauthorised Borrowing

Unauthorised borrowing

"We'll give them a fair trial in the morning-followed by a fair execution!" The guard's words rolled round the Meathead market and the three suspects all stiffened. Hiccup stared at the lead guard in shock and horror, forest green eyes flicking across the armed guards ranged around him and forced himself to remain still. Astrid-who was unarmed-and Arild were behind him and vulnerable.

"Please-let them go," he said urgently. "Astrid has never been to Meathead before and Arild is just a seven year old child! They are innocent!"

"The boy was with you when you helped sink the ships!" the guard accused mercilessly. "He is an accomplice!"

"He's a small boy!" Hiccup pleaded, moving forward a step and feeling a sword dig into his chest. "Please...I was innocent too when you accused and imprisoned me. Of course I escaped! But I will come back without resistance if you let the woman and the boy go!"

"Dad-no!"

"Hiccup!"

"I can't reverse my decision..."

"Please-let them go!"

"You had a blonde accomplice two years ago..." the burly lead guard condemned him brutally. "If not her...then who?" Forest green eyes flicked up, hatred and despair warring...and he caught two shapes at the edge of his vision. One was the stocky jet-haired shape of his cousin and the other...beautiful, sassy and very blonde...Cami. The other woman. She shook her head, the light edging a knife she held...inches from Snotlout's side. He gave her a look of unutterable hatred...and then he sighed.

"She died," he said wearily. "I was too late to get my revenge..."

"And I don't believe you, convict!" the guard growled, nodding and watching his men lunge forward, grabbing Hiccup and then Astrid. Knowing fighting would risk them, Hiccup still struggled-until the hilt of a sword creased his skull and he sagged. Astrid fought more fiercely, screaming and cursing...but with the same success as her boyfriend. Undeterred, Arild ducked and almost made a break for it...but the lead guard grabbed the skinny shape and hold him tight, writhing and kicking. "Take them all to the cells..." he repeated.

Watching them hauled away, Snotlout went taut with rage, his hand moving and wrenching the knife from Cami's hand, snapping her wrist back and spinning her round, his own knife biting hard into her throat. She gasped in shock at his realisation of her threat...and his swift and deadly response. Unbidden, she felt her pulse race.

"They wanted you, didn't they?" he hissed.

"Wouldn't have got them free," she gulped, trying to break free but finding herself expertly restrained. "Dammit, Snot-you don't need to hold me so tight!" She paused and then purred. "Unless you're planning on a little fun, love...in which case, there's an inn that way!" He snorted and lowered his knife just slightly.

"You give yourself up," Snotlout said grimly, "and confess your culpability! Then they should let my cousin go..."

"And then what? He still escaped a prison gang-and they will condemn him for his escape, no matter that he was innocent!"

"And Astrid? She's done nothing...except look like you..."

"Pah!" Cami spat. "I looked like her to him. Why shouldn't it come back to bite him on the ass?"

"And the boy?" Snotlout's tone was sad now and she felt her heart soften a little.

"He's probably innocent," she conceded. Snotlout released her.

"Go," he said coldly. "Run. But don't bother to return to the ship. Once I reach there, you will no longer be welcome. They're all there because of you."