Advisory: Violence

Escape

Fury was paying a lot less attention to his surroundings as he was hauled back to the cell, his legs completely turned to jelly by the events of the previous hour and head spinning from the effort of not screaming. The guards opened the door and threw him bodily in. He slammed to the floor and curled up, wrapping his arms over his head and trying to get just a few moments to compose himself. They had dragged his tunic over his body and he had hauled his leather armour on but underneath...oh gods, he couldn't even think about what they had done... He curled up tighter, his shoulders tightening and the burning pain nagging. He bit hard against his lip: he couldn't share this. Drago was a monster and Fury realised just how cruel and vicious the man was. He just wished he could have some time to come to terms with what had happened. But then he heard small steps running forward and he frowned as Arild's voice called for him. He groaned as the boy threw himself against the pirate and hugged him. Fury winced as he painfully managed to get to his knees and hug the boy fiercely before staring carefully into the anxious face.

"Why are you here?" he asked sternly. The boy gulped: this was it. He had disappointed Fury.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I-I wanted to help. So-so I sorta stole the key..." Fury stiffened and stared at him.

"What?" he breathed. The boy smiled and pointed to Fishlegs, who was whirling the key around his finger.

"What's the plan, Captain?" the First Mate asked, seeing his friend heave a sigh of relief. Fury lifted his head-then pulled his scarf up, hiding the horrible bruises on his face.

"It's obvious-we return to the ship and make our escape!" Eret said pompously. "Honestly-why are we deferring to his vagabond thief?"

"He's the Captain, his man got the key and he's the only one who's had a chance to check out the layout of the ship!" Stoick pointed out gruffly. He was getting heartily fed up of the pompous General. Even their crew had deferred to Fury's team because they had already plotted a basic escape plan and quartered the cell for every possible advantage: they were clearly a team with experience and determination The pirate glanced up.

"Thanks," he said roughly and tousled Arild's head absently. "There are lots of guards-especially on the stairs to the main deck. They don't hesitate to use force. They travels in fours so will be a handful for a small group. The passages down the ship are less well guarded but there is an anchor chain that passes close to our ship: if we get to the chain it should provide a safer route to the Night Fury." He took a breath and lowered his eyes. "If we want to go, we need to go soon because they are coming back for me."

"So we wait until they take him back to be tortured and then we escape," Eret said as if it was obvious. At that point every head snapped round to glare at him-including his wife. "You may not like my reasoning but if we go before, it is highly likely our escape will be uncovered before we even get off the ship."

"You listen here..." Astrid began, her eyes flashing in rage. She had no idea what Fury had done but he had promised to protect them and so far, he seemed to be delivering.

"No, he's right," Fury said in a low voice. His arms were still wrapped around the boy. "But you won't find your way out without me." He raised his head and his piercing emerald eyes swept over the crew. "Twins-this thing has a double hull, both twice as thick as ours. But I believe the lower hold is packed with explosives...and if we can ignite them, this ship will go to Hel and provide enough of a distraction for us to get away." He swung his head around. "Governor-there are fifteen ships in this Armada. I have seen the orders for them. They plan an attack soon...but I hope our escape may make them pause."

Slowly, he levered himself to his feet. His legs wavered and he grimaced.

"But only if you actually get out of here," Astrid told him, grabbing his arm and pulling it over her shoulder to keep him upright. Arild gave little smile and Fury swatted half-heartedly at the boy.

"Key!" he said sternly and caught the key as Fish tossed it to him. He leaned close to the boy as he slid it into the lock. "Good work, bud," he murmured and turned the key as the boy managed a proud grin.

Despite the pain, he froze, half-crouched, at the door, listening then motioning the crew to emerge. "Governor-a favour? If General Eretson says a word, can I rely on you to punch him out?" he said quietly to his father. Stoick peered at the bowed face, the thoughtful emerald eyes inspecting him. He nodded curtly: he could see Eret was a liability and could get them all killed.

"I'll keep him in line," the Governor growled.

"Fish-can you, Roar and Jorgen take the General, the Governor and the rest of their crew in team two? Twins, Bucket, Mulch, Svens, Bjarne, Halvard-you're with me. Lady Astrid, bud-stick close to me. C'mon-let's move out!" And he pushed away, limping unsteadily. The woman raced forward and helped him along with the boy propping his other leg up unnecessarily. Fury slid to the end of the corridor, then led them down the stairs. Eret was grumbling that they were heading the wrong way and he inclined his head to see the Governor lean towards him and murmur a few choice words.

"Dude-you're serious we can blow this ship up?" Tuff asked him hopefully. Fury grimaced. His wounds were really hurting and he hoped the others wouldn't notice the blood seeping from the worst cuts. He nodded.

"Tuff, I want nothing more than the biggest explosion you and Ruff can manage. Set your mind at rest?"

"Dude-you are awesome! All we have to do now is sort the timer..." Fury opened his mouth to reply when there was a gentle tap on his leg and he stared down into the worried green gaze of the boy. Arild leaned down and pulled his small knife from his boot. He quietly offered it to the pirate.

"In case," he whispered and Fury nodded, his hand gently stroking the boy's hair. Then he turned to the crowd following him.

"Fish-take our guests down those stairs. About ten yards to your right, you'll see a huge chain exiting through a giant porthole. That's the anchor chain that runs literally right alongside our ship. Get down it and get her ready to go-but try not to be seen. We're currently trussed up like a chicken for Snoggletog and can't move so if they decide to rake us with their cannons, we'll be matchwood. Twins-head that way and down another level to the ordnance. Mulch, Bjarne, Sven Two-follow them partway and keep the way clear between us and the anchor chain. Bucket, Sven One, Halvard and I will hold this hallway until we're sure you others are away. Milady Astrid, I would be far happier if you took Arild to the ship for me."

"No chance," she told him sharply. "You can barely walk, Captain Fury. You need me."

"No-you should be with me, wife!" Eret sneered. His face was looking especially unpleasant. "Or did you betray me with this dog when we were kidnapped on our way from the Mainland? Are you refusing me my dues when you are offering them freely to this cutthroat?" She stared at him, her face growing scarlet with rage, her jaw tight and fists clenched. But Fury was quicker, lurching over to the General and cracking his fist straight into the man's jaw, knocking him flat on his back. Fury was breathing heavily.

"Governor, I asked you to punch this honourless dog out if he opened his mouth-but I see I have to do everything around here!" the pirate growled, glaring down at the dazed General. "Your wife has not been touched-except to stop her punching me whenever she sees me. Her honour is as it ever was." And he marched slightly limpingly back towards the shocked woman and the boy, who was looking at him with huge awed eyes. He grabbed the boy's hand. "C'mon, bud. But when the fighting starts, I want you in hiding. Okay?" Arild nodded eagerly and clung to his hand as they sneaked down the wide stair and paused as a pair of guards moved past.

Fury nodded and Fishlegs, Bucket, Halvard and the Governor grabbed them, silencing them and putting them out of action. Fury nodded and motioned Jorgen and Fish to check the way, then waved the captive crew, the Governor and the General down. Stoick was half-dragging the dazed and furious Eret down the steps. Up ahead, the could see the foggy grey light filtering around the enormous chain. Fishlegs pointed and Jorgen paused, then swung up and began to crawl down the chain. The others followed swiftly.

Meanwhile, the twins had just literally found Valhalla. The ordnance bay had enough crates of explosives to blow up half of Berk and all of Dragon Island. Tuff was almost drooling.

"Where are we going to cause our mayhem?" his sister asked with a huge grin. Tuff's sharp eyes scanned the hold. He was crazy, tended to not pay attention and generally goofed around his entire life but he had a inbuilt talent for destruction and he could spot the weakest points in the hold.

"There-there and there!" he indicated. "Help me shift a couple of these crates, Butt-Elf! If we concentrate the explosions there, this ship will crack open like a rotten egg!" She grinned.

"And the fuse?"

"Old school," he said, peering across the rat-infested hold. "Black powder fuse. We leave at the last moment because we need it to work." They played rock-scissor-paper and Tuff won. "And I get to stay behind last!" he grinned.

"No fair!" his twin protested. "You have all the fun!" He punched her lightly on the shoulder.

"Don't worry-you can get killed next time!" he promised her as they began to move the first crate.

Back on the next floor up, Fury was inching along until they found the Armoury. They needed weapons to buy them enough time. The pirate peered round the corner: there were two guards on the door. Silently, he and Sven One sneaked up-and then Fury slapped his hand over the nearest guard's mouth and slammed Arild's little knife into the unprotected neck. His comrade turned-as Sven One leapt for him. The guard was fierce and threw Sven aside-but Bucket stepped forward and punched him. He flew across the corridor and slumped, unconscious.

"Oh dear," Bucket said mildly. "I think I may have hit him too hard!"

"No, you did good," Fury reassured the simple man, doubled up and fighting for his breath. He nodded as Astrid helped him in. The two men in the armoury looked up as Sven leapt on one and Halvard the other, swiftly taking them down. The young pirate walked achingly forward and scanned the crates of weapons: the device on them looked horribly familiar.

"These are from Berk," he realised and then he lifted the top off the nearest one. A whole consignment of good quality swords-the work of his old mentor, Gobber-faced him. He grabbed the nearest and stared at it, weighing the steel in his hand. "What the Hel are they doing here?"

"I-I suppose they can buy from anywhere?" Astrid asked but Fury limped forward and peered at the small table at the side, flipping through receipts and bills of lading. And then he started, reading the origin of the weapons. He breathed hard then stuffed the papers under his leather armour securely. This was what he had been searching for.

"Grab what you need!" he commanded, taking another sword. Astrid lifted a crate lid up and her eyes widened in delight: inside was a fine two-bladed axe, the weapon she had trained with for so many years. The weapon of her ancestors. Her hand tightened around it lovingly.

"Now we'll see who needs protecting," she murmured. Fury caught her expression and nodded.

"Great-a furious woman with an executioner's weapon," he sighed. "I am so doomed." She grinned.

"No-they are!" she smirked. Fury looked round his crew.

"We hold the corridor to the stairs for as long as the twins need," he said. "As soon as they shout, we go. If it gets serious, I want you, Astrid, to take Arild to the ship. No arguing. He can't move as fast and he needs help to get down the chain-and I trust that to you." She looked at him-then nodded. Then he turned to the door and limped out, pausing to give the boy his knife back. "And you-hang onto this, bud...just in case..." he said with a wink.

They hunkered down the corridor for a couple of minutes-but then they heard shouts and immediately, half a dozen men raced down the corridor. "Our secret's out," Astrid said as she tightened her grip on the axe. Fury half-crouched by her, his swords raised and eyes narrowed. He glanced back and saw Arild hide behind one of the struts on the corridor wall.

"I was missing those guys," Fury murmured. "Sure they weren't great conversationalists...and they tended to be handsy...well...actually fisty...well, punchy...but well, they were good company. Well, company. Sorta..." Astrid stared at him. He was rambling, almost as if he was talking to try to distract himself from the fact they were facing some very fierce, very large, very heavily-armed men who had unlimited back-up while they were very limited in number.

"What are you talking about?" she asked him. There was a twinge of familiarity that nagged at her. He sighed.

"My old buddies," he murmured. "The ones I owe for about seventeen punches and nine kicks on the way to talk to the crazed Lord of the North, Drago Bludvist. My diary entry for today is gonna be fun..." There was a pause and Astrid saw him briefly close his eyes, trying to hide the pain and fear his bravado was masking: she was starting to be able to read him, starting to pick up the emotions in his expressive emerald eyes... She blinked. She needed to focus.

And then the guards charged, the escapees lunging to meet them. Astrid screamed and attacked with her axe, Bucket had an axe but tended just to use his fists, apologising to every man he hit. Sven and Halvard fought with swords, wild and enthusiastic. Fury was fighting furiously with two swords, his eye excellent and reflexes uncanny. And though more men ran down the corridor, word didn't seem to have gotten out in earnest yet and their numbers were manageable.

Arild watched Fury fight, his eyes wide with admiration. He really really wanted to be a pirate and fight with a sword like Captain Fury. He wanted to wear leather armour and be tall and quick and never trip over his feet. And he wanted people to respect him and want to be his friend. His small hand tightened around his knife, his green eyes scanning the corridor. And then he saw it-a soldier sneaking up behind Fury, who had half-turned to combat the big man he was fighting off.

Sharp green eyes recognised the gap on the armour and a small fist tightened around the little knife. As the soldier darted forward towards Fury's unprotected back, his axe raised, Arild sprinted forward his hand stabbing the knife deep into the back of the soldier's thigh.

The man bellowed like an enraged yak and turned, his fist slamming round to strike the boy. Arild gave a low groan as he flew sideways, his head and body crashing into the wall with an echoing thud. And then he slid down to lie in a crumpled heap, completely limp...