Heart of a Berserker: Hope (School of Dragons)

Chapter 27

"Don't want to let you down
But I am hell bound
Though this is all for you
Don't want to hide the truth

No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come" 

- "Demons" by Imagine Dragons

Chapter 27

Viggo

Viggo watched Brennda fly off to the volcano. For a second he wondered if he should follow, but Sanna's growl alerted him to the presence of two pirates charging at him. He made quick work of them and then gazed back at the mountain. He could see Brennda approach Harald and Skulder. He really did not want to go back there, but he did not trust those three to not mess something up.

He looked around to make sure there were no more pirates and then mounted his Skrill. Was this what it meant to be on the good side? It was highly... inconvenient, to say the least. But as he neared the volcano, he was glad he had come. Brennda and Harald were wrestling on the ground... and when Harald pushed her off him, she slid all the way off the ledge into the volcano.

From experience he knew it was likely she had not fallen close enough to the lava, but still he rushed forward. Sanna refused to fly beyond the ledge (not that he blamed her), so he hopped off and ran to where Harald was already peering down in horror.

"What did you do?!" Skulder cried. He took a step towards them, clearly enraged.

"It was an accident," Viggo said. "Stand down." From the time he spent with the archaeologist, he did not think he would attack Harald, but he did not want him to get in the way. Thankfully, he grew silent and did not move any closer.

"I can fix this," Harald said, failing to hide the panic in his voice. His breathing hitched, and his eyes grew wide in terror.

Viggo  grabbed his shoulder and forced him to look at him. "Harald, breathe." He feared what would happen if his friend let his anxiety take over now. Thankfully, Harald remembered what to do, and soon his breathing was slow and deep. "She needs you."

Harald nodded. "Yes. Thank you." Calm returned to his face, and Viggo let him go.

Satisfied his friend would be fine, Viggo crept close enough to the ledge so he could look down at Brennda. She was unconscious but otherwise appeared fine. Thankfully, the place she had fallen was surrounded by a rock wall, blocking much of the heat from the lava. Bolt swooped down and tried to reach her, but the rock wall was too high and the space too small for him to fit. The Skrill let out a frustrated cry.

"I have an idea," Harald said, turning to Viggo. Confidence and determination overtook his face. "Will you help me?"

"Tell me what you need," Viggo said.

Harald looked from Sanna, who stood far away from the ledge, to Bolt, who circled Brennda overheard. "Bolt, I need you to help me save her!"

At the sound of his name, Bolt landed in front of Harald. He growled lowly and gave him a suspicious look.

"I am sorry, my friend. I did not mean to let her fall, but you can help me make it right." Harald lifted his hand, and Bolt allowed him to place it on his muzzle. He smiled slightly before mounting the dragon. Then he looked at Viggo. "Get on behind me."

"What are you going to do?" Skulder cried.

"No time to explain."

Viggo climbed onto Bolt behind his friend. Harald instructed the dragon to fly back to the rock wall that surrounded Brennda. Then he carefully turned so he was sitting on one side of him. Before Viggo knew what he was doing, Harald had jumped down to land beside Brennda. Within seconds, he realized his plan. But there was one flaw...