Twenty Five: A Simple Trade

It always looked so simple when Hiccup did it. Fishlegs rolled his eyes in exasperation as his latest attempt to pick the lock of his cell ended in failure. The problem was that he wasn't terrible dexterous, for all his amazing dragon knowledge and sensitivity. Hiccup had tried to teach them, of course, because somehow, they always seemed to be getting captured by some bad guy or other and they all, without hesitation, locked them up in cells or cages with locks that Hiccup considered pretty basic. Of course, in addition to all his other talents-well, he was smart, handsome, sassy, generous, kind, forgiving and a great leader-Hiccup was also a blacksmith and mechanic and he had invented some locks and mechanisms that were far more complex. Fishlegs blinked. He had retroengineered a DragonEye, for Thor's sake! While he, Fishlegs, couldn't even get his chubby fingers to pick a simple lock!

He sat back and rolled the little lock pick that Hiccup had made him between his fingers. In had become a joke that when anyone referenced his weight, he protested he was husky. But he wasn't. He was fat, chubby, chunky, overfed, a proper Hooligan...call it what you would. He wasn't a fishbone, wasn't a lithe lean shape like his friends Astrid and Ruffnut and Tuffnut and, of course, Hiccup. Of course, Fishlegs had been as much a runt as Hiccup had when he was much younger but he had grown up (and out) at a much younger age and when the others had really set about bullying Hiccup, Fishlegs had joined in, for fear they would see through him and start on him instead.

But Hiccup had forgiven him, for he had apologised again-this time when Hiccup was very much awake, his emerald gaze thoughtful and understanding as the husky Rider had stumbled and dithered over the long overdue apology. And he had patted Fishlegs sympathetically on his shoulder and reminded him that he was only alive because Fishlegs had saved him. If any other Rider had been sent for 'bruise fruit', he would be dead. Only Fishlegs with his amazing botanical language could have recognised the plant from the fragmented remains of the wrecked bushes, realised that they were the Sentinels' Fruit from Vanaheim and made the long and dangerous journey on his own to get them just in time. That had more than made up for anything he had done in the past.

"And besides-who else would I have to geek out with about any new dragons?" Hiccup had asked him with a small smile.

That just said everything about his friend, deflecting apologies with a reminder of their friendship, their shared love of dragons and absolving his friend of any guilt. Smiling slightly, Fishlegs rolled his shoulders, still feeling the slight pull of his tattoo. They all had one, the symbol of the hunters surrounded by a circle with a single diagonal line through, showing they were no more. It was the exact size and placement of Hiccup's brand so they all had an identical mark-and only careful inspection could show that Hiccup's was a disguised brand, rather than a virgin tattoo.

"Hey-how's it going, Fishface?" Snotlout's arrogant voice floated from further down the line. Rolling his blue-green eyes, Fishlegs sighed.

"Slowly," he admitted.

"Hah! What's taking you so long?" the other rider asked him unsympathetically. A surge of irritation rose in Fishlegs's chest. He was sure that Astrid and the twins would have picked the lock and be long gone. But of course, he had to be stuck with Snotlout!

"Well-how are you doing then?" he asked irritably.

"I'm doing great!" Snotlout lied.

"Really? So why aren't you out then?" Fishlegs asked.

"Shut up, Fishface! Picking locks is Hiccup's job. He just makes it look easy!"

"Of course-because he knows how to make a lock so he understands the underlying mechanisms and workings..." Fishlegs replied.

"Whatever," Snotlout called back. "Face it-we're the worst two people who could be locked up without the others. I bet one of them would be out by now..."

"All of them would," Fishlegs said and then he paused. "I wonder what's happened to Heather?"

There was a long silence.

"We heard her scream," Snotlout said in a very sober voice. "I mean, Heather's tough. And Windshear was trying to tear her way through the bars to get to her. And the other dragons as well..." There was a pause and Fishlegs knew that the other Rider was casting a look at his own dragon, a look comprising love and pride and trust...the same look they all gave their dragons.

"She'll be okay," Fishlegs said, more to convince himself than because he believed it. "She's tough and smart. She'll say what they want to hear, not what they need to know." Snotlout sighed.

"Okay-let's be honest. We're not going to get out of here, are we?"

"No," Fishlegs said. "We're stuck..."

"Until Hiccup comes...and then Johann will kill him..." Snotlout groaned. There was a pause and then a familiar roar echoed through the caves. Both riders stiffened, recognising the roar and feeling their hearts sink at their utter uselessness and helplessness in the drama to come. Snotlout rubbed his nose as he craned to look towards the door, where the guards were already moving towards the main entrance to the base. "Toothless!" he said despondently. "He's here!"

oOo

"JOHANN! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE!" Hiccup's voice echoed across the restless seas that splashed against the main dock. He was carefully far enough back that the catapults and net launchers couldn't reach Toothless-or Barf'n'Belch behind him. "COME OUT!"

"Oh, that's really going to make me reconsider the error of my ways," Johann shouted snidely, appearing in the mouth of the main entrance to the cave. "I don't think so!" Hanging in the air on Toothless, the great wings flapping rhythmically, Hiccup had to force himself not to react. The man looked the same-but the voice was anything but the servile, unthreatening man he was used to. Mentally, he slapped himself. It was easy to underestimate Johann because he had known the Trader his entire life as an unthreatening presence. But he was anything but, a malignant force that had permeated the Archipelago and played her inhabitants for fools.

"I want my friends back!" Hiccup called, his voice hard. He was feeling tired from the flight, still recuperating even after all this time from the Wine of Hela. It was frustrating and worrying in equal measures, for he feared that perhaps he would never regain his stamina. Would he always remain weak and lacking in endurance, a disgrace to his heritage and barely capable of leading his Tribe? Johann laughing scornfully didn't help his wavering confidence.

"And I want the DragonEye!" Johann shouted back. "Perhaps we should organise a trade..."

"Johann-you know I can't give you my DragonEye," Hiccup replied. "I can't hand you and your Hunter pals the means of capturing and destroying so many dragons!"

"Not that I consider Hunters anything more than a tool to be used and discarded at will," Johann called scornfully, "I feel you fail to understand the nature of negotiation, Master Hiccup." The tone of the last two words was extremely sarcastic.

"Negotiation: a discussion aimed at reaching an agreement," Tuff recited automatically.

"You see-we all know what the word means," Hiccup added. "But the problem is that negotiation requires some level of trust that the other party will deliver. And you, Johann...well, I think we all know how far we can trust you..."

"Master Hiccup, you wound me!" Johann shouted, his tone disappointed. "I am sure we are both men of our word..."

"That makes one of us," Hiccup retorted. "Johann, you've lied to us basically for over twenty years. You've manipulated us. I know you have covertly helped Dagur and Viggo against us. Why should I believe you?"

"Because you will never see your friends alive again if you don't do what you're told, boy!" the former Trader roared. "I will willingly kill them and pitch them, piece by piece, into the sea unless you do exactly what I say!"

"Uh-huh," Hiccup replanted flatly, seeing Johann's eyes widen. "First up, I need proof they are alive in the first place. I don't trust you not to have already killed them." Johann half-turned his head and gestured brusquely. A guard walked forward, holding a drooping shape with her hands tied behind her back. Hiccup bit his lip at the sight of Heather, battered and beaten, a deep cut marring her left cheek with blood smeared all over her face. Her left thigh was crudely bandaged with a large bloodstain on the grubby material and she looked tired and defeated.

"Is this good enough?" Johann sneered as Hiccup felt himself stiffen. Beneath him, Toothless was tense and the Rider could guess his dragon was furious at seeing his friend hurt.

"HEATHER!" Hiccup yelled as the bleary green eyes flicked up. She shook her head.

"Go," she mouthed as Hiccup tensed with fury.

"Johann...what have you done?" he growled. The former Trader gave a cruel chuckle.

"Made a point," he sneered. "This is serious, boy, and you and your naive friends seem to be playing this like a childish game. Alvin, Dagur, Viggo and Ryker all treated you like children and no one ever seemed to harm you...but a real enemy would have slain you the moment he got his hands on you. And it was only when Krogan joined the game that they all started to behave like adults!"

"Johann, no one doubted that this is serious," Hiccup replied, inspecting Heather carefully. "Now give my friends back!"

"Or WHAT?" Johann snapped. "We're safe in this base, most of your friends are my prisoners and I have their dragons as well. So I think you will come in and hand over the DragonEye and your lenses or you lose them all..."

"Not gonna happen," Hiccup told him flatly. "Been there, done that. And I'm not so stupid that I make the same mistake twice." Johann gave a sarcastic chuckle.

"Finally, you show a little common sense...sadly, too late," he commented.

"Heather needs medical help," Hiccup called. "Let me tender her aid and we can arrange to talk on a more neutral venue. Because I am not coming into your base, Johann. No matter what." Johann walked over to Heather and grabbed her shoulder, dragging her to the edge of the ledge and then looked up.

"Then help her to your heart's content!" Johann snarled and shoved her. Eyes wide, Hiccup stared in horror as she plunged over the drop towards the rocks below...

oOo

The little cavern dock was almost deserted and Johann's ship was abandoned as the Nadder and her rider broke the surface of the water. Checking no one was around, Stormfly leapt onto the rocky shore and shook herself, almost dislodging Astrid-but the girl gave a small smile. She had grown used to Stormfly's mannerisms and had been expecting the shake.

"Keep it quiet, girl," she murmured, leaping from Stormfly's back. She scanned the dock, looking for any guards but the place was deserted. Checking she had her axe and knives ready, she carefully edged to the rough stone corridor that sloped steeply upwards and she was ready to step forward-but the Nadder hissed. Freezing instantly, Astrid looked up and saw the booby trap, the deadfall that would kill her. Inching back and sideways, she craned her neck to peer up and traced the rope to the tripwire. Carefully, she got the dragon to light up her flames and melt the hook around the rope, ruining the trap. Then she walked forward, every sense on edge.

It was plain that the guards had trusted to their trap to prevent any intruders but Astrid was highly experienced and ruthless when it came to infiltrating Hunter Bases and markets. Stormfly hung back, protecting her Rider's back as Astrid soundlessly sneaked up the steep passage until she reached the main area, ducking behind an empty dragon-proof cage and then pausing, her throat working. It wasn't empty, merely containing the decapitated head of a Nadder and the feet, which she had learned were prized for their supposed medicinal properties by some Tribes to the south. Gritting her teeth, she swung her head round and heard two guards slowly walk past, not paying attention to the young woman hiding in the shadows.

"Hey! When are we being fed?" A familiar voice echoed through the corridor and she felt her spirits rise. Snotlout, at least, was alive. The guards rolled their eyes and shared a glance.

"Gods, I'll be glad when we can kill that one," the nearer one grumbled as Astrid grasped her axe. The other sighed.

"Master Johann was very clear: we keep them alive until the boy comes into the Base-and then we kill them in front of him. And as he lowers his guard, Johann will bury his knife in his heart!"

"But for now?"

"Now, let him wail. Honestly, it's like a big baby..."

Astrid rolled her eyes and grabbed a knife, then inched round. As the guards turned, she threw the knife hard, burying deep in the closer man's throat while her axe swung round and beheaded the other man. Flailing and scrabbling at the knife in his throat, the first man scrambled backwards, blood flowing from the terrible wound until the axe chopped down again, ending him. Swiftly, she dragged the bodies behind the wretched cage of remains and used a handful of straw to mop up the blood before she cast a handful of sand to disguise any smears. And then, keys latched to her belt, she crept forward.

"It's your fault," Snotlout complained. "You must have scared them off. I haven't eaten for hours and I may pass out from hunger if the carries on..."

"That would be a relief...but I'm not that lucky," Fishlegs muttered audibly.

"What?"

"That would be unlucky," Fishlegs repeated, a little louder. "Are you okay, Meatlug? Is that mean Snotlout not reassuring you like you need?"

"Me reassure her? That dragon has almost gassed me to death!" Snotlout protested.

"Again, a shame she didn't succeed," Fishlegs muttered.

"Pssst!"

The husky rider looked up to see Astrid standing by the cage, a finger pressed to her lips. Eyes wide in shock, Fishlegs covered his mouth to stop himself from squealing.

"Astrid!" he mumbled through his hand. She nodded, swiftly unlocking the cage. Gratefully, he walked out. "Thanks..." She handed him the keys.

"Free the dragons," she said. "I'll go and check on Snotlout..." He nodded as she sidled along the line and rapped her knuckles on the bars. He looked up and he yelped.

"Astrid!" he hissed. "Where have you been? We've been looking everywhere! Thank Thor! I mean, no one knew where you were and for you to arrive just when you need us...I mean, what more sign is there that you were meant for me...?" She crouched down and set to picking the lock, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"The only reason why I am here, Snot, is because Hiccup found me," she told him bluntly. "I mean, have you forgotten I'm Betrothed to Hiccup?"

"But you gave him your necklace thingy back..." he protested.

"And he gave it back to me when he found me," she told him flatly. "He is the only man on Midgard who could have found me and definitely the only one who could persuade me to return to Berk. Because I love him and even though I don't deserve him, he needs me." The lock rattled.

"That lock is unpickable..." Snotlout told her as she stood up and clicked the lock, opening it. He huffed. "I must have softened it up for you." Then the Monstrous Nightmare nudged past Astrid, gifting her a friendly lick before nudging his Rider affectionately. Unashamedly, Snotlout embraced his dragon. "And where have you been, stupid dragon?" he asked in a relieved voice. Hookfang huffed happily as Astrid cast around.

"Where's Heather?" she asked, seeing Windshear look distressed. Automatically, she walked over and calmed the worried Razorwhip.

"She was taken away hours ago," Fishlegs revealed in a nervous voice. "Johann has her..." Taking a slow breath and pressing her lips together, Astrid nodded.

"I need to get you out of here," she said. "Hiccup is here-and I guess Heather will be used as proof you aren't all dead. Though Johann is planning that as soon as Hiccup comes here to negotiate. So you all have to be safe." She beckoned them. "Come with me..."

But they had only reached the top of the passage to the dock when there was a crash and a squawk, with Stormfly scuttling up, her wing held tenderly away from her side. Eyes wide, Astrid ran to her side and saw a nasty sprain. Glancing down the passage, she saw a cloud of dust rolling after the Nadder and realised the booby trap had given way after all.

"We're trapped," Fishlegs said, so anxious he was almost eating his fingers.

"And that crash will bring the guards," Snotlout added, casting around for a weapon and managing to grab a sword from Hookfang's pack. Astrid swung her axe round.

"Time for plan B," she said, readying for battle...

oOo

Time stood still for a fraction of a second before Hiccup leaned forward as Toothless accelerated as fast as he could, wings pumping to throw the Night Fury and his Rider in a hopeless, reckless and insane dive down towards the rocks to try to grasp the falling Heather. The whine of Night Fury wings slicing the air sounded and Hiccup felt the blast of air as he angled himself, willing his grip to be as strong as it could be. Heather was kicking, a scream bursting from her throat as she dropped to her doom.

The rocks were only feet away when Hiccup wrapped his arm around her and hauled her into his body as Toothless rolled, ready to bottom out the roll and shoot up-but Hiccup suddenly realised that Johann had seen him perform acrobatics too many times and he would know what he would do.

"Toothless-DOWN!" he shouted, leaning forward and pulling Heather against his body. "Take a breath!" And then he sucked a huge lungful of air as they barrel rolled and slammed into the freezing water, sculling through the icy saline and away. Overhead, nets and razor chains soared through the space where Toothless would have been had they done the expected. Then he saw a flash of brilliance as the twins rewarded the treachery with particularly large explosion of Zippleback gas as Toothless undulated away. Heather was shivering with pain and shock and Hiccup tapped the Night Fury's head, requesting the sky once more.

They broke the surface beyond catapult range and Hiccup coughed, taking a gasping breath. He could feel Heather coughing against him and he checked she was okay, looking into her battered face.

"Are you okay?" he asked and then sighed. "Sorry. This was my fault."

"No...mine," she admitted, closing her eyes and resting against him. "I didn't tell him anything, Hiccup. But I allowed Snotlout to talk me into pretending we didn't know about his treachery. Big mistake." Lifting his head, the young Viking glared at the former Trader.

"Thanks for the dip, Johann!" he shouted back. "At least we all know where we stand! And I know exactly how far I can trust you."

"But you also know how far I will go, Hiccup," Johann called coldly. "I have your two friends and three dragons. Who do you want me to have a talk to next? Your cousin? The fat boy? Or maybe I shall start processing one of the dragons..." Heather stiffened against him and he felt his heart shudder at the implication. Toothless was almost vibrating with fury.

"You hurt them and you will never get the DragonEye," Hiccup shouted. He fished out the DragonEye and held it up. "On my word, Toothless will blast it to shards-and no one but me knows how to build one. And then you will NEVER find the King of Dragons. And I will never let you live." There was a moment as the Trader heard the steel in the young Viking's voice and he blinked-before the now-familiar sneer covered his face.

"Then we need a negotiation," he said calmly.

"On the top of the plateau above the Base," Hiccup yelled. "You bring my friends and I bring the DragonEye. Any funny business and you'll never get your hands on it. If I don't see my friends..."

"They will be there," Johann promised, backing away. "One hour."

Hanging in the air for a long moment as Johann vanished amid the shadows, Hiccup turned to the twins.

"Back to Loki's Finger," he shouted and the they both gave a thumb's up and wheeled away, with Toothless accelerating after them. The Night Fury shot past the Zippleback and closed on the large single sea stack that they had reconnoitred before finalising the plan, with Toothless landing and Hiccup carefully climbing off the dragon to tenderly lower Heather to the grass, cutting her bonds before he did. He fumbled in his saddle bags for the first aid kit as she rubbed her raw wrists.

"I'll be fine," she sighed. "We-we need to get in and save Windshear..." Hiccup smiled.

"I already have Astrid on the case," he reassured her as her eyes snapped open.

"You found her?" she asked urgently. He nodded.

"She's okay," he revealed as she sighed.

"I really wanted to see her," she sighed. "I mean, she's my best friend and I know what she's feeling. I feel so bad that she couldn't talk to me...but I know what is driving her. It's the same that drove me when I lost my parents to Dagur's men..." Hiccup sighed.

"Where are you wounded?" he asked as she winced. He looked at the crude bandage and grimaced: he didn't think she would lose the leg but it would certainly slow her down for a long time.

"My leg's the worst," she admitted. "I think I need Gothi to look at it..."

"Funny you should mention that," the auburn-haired Viking smirked as the sounds of dragon roars closed. The A-team circled the sea stack and then landed around the Heir. Gothi immediately clambered off her Gronckle and knelt by Heather, her eyes sympathetic and medicine satchel at her side. Stiffly, Hiccup rose and looked at the newcomers.

"No ships of any sort around here or within five miles," Gustav reported. "Clear in all directions."

"So what's the plan, boyo?" Spitelout asked, leaning forward in the saddle of his Deadly Nadder, Spikes. Hiccup sighed.

"Astrid has gone to release the others and as soon as they are clear, we wipe out the base," Hiccup said. "But we offer Johann the chance to surrender and face his fate."

"Bad idea, boyo," Spitelout told him bluntly. "He'll play the bumbling Trader and no one will believe you. Everyone will think you are mad and demand his release. The only safe option is..." He moved his finger decisively across his throat in a slitting motion.

"I agree," Heather groaned. "He's the most dangerous enemy you have every faced. He won't hesitate to kill you, Hiccup. To kill us all. And he will never stop. You can't give him any chance to escape..." Hiccup nodded.

"I know," he sighed. "And I think in the heat of battle, I could. But in a negotiation?"

"Don't take your eye off him for a second," Heather advised him. "He wants you to die-by any means..."

"You know, Astrid said the same," he murmured. "You can ask her yourself..." The sounds of approaching wings closed-but it was a Triple Stryke, not a Deadly Nadder. Dagur leapt from Sleuther before he had even landed and ran to Heather's side, his face stricken.

"Sister," he gasped. Her eyes widened and her face moved into a weary smile, grasping his hand. Her grip tightened as Gothi gently dabbed the ugly knife wound with a poultice.

"Brother," she sighed. "Glad you came..." The Berserker Chief looked over at the aged healer, his eyes worried.

"Will she live?" he asked urgently and Gothi looked up...then gave a small smile and a nod before turning back to dressing the wound on her leg. "Thank you, brother. I knew I could rely on you." Hiccup walked to crouch by Dagur.

"Right back at you, brother," he said genuinely. "I'm glad you got Sharpshot's message..." Dagur smiled...and then the smile fell from his face.

"We have a problem," he said softly. "The passage from the cave dock into the main base was blocked when I checked. They're trapped."