The horns were really echoing around the precipitous canyons in the mountainous route between the Outcast Castle and the border with Berk and Hiccup glanced over his shoulder, not seeing pursuit yet but hearing the approaching thunder of hooves. Under him, Stormfly was going flat out, her muscles moving smoothly as her bluish gold mane whisked in the wind. She was fast but he wasn't sure of her staying power and she wasn't a horse he had ever ridden before-he really wanted to get back on Fury as soon as possible...but he had sent Astrid on his own beast, trusting his stallion to protect the Princess and get her safely away.

Hiccup had ridden horses since he could walk, being schooled by his father not just in riding but in all aspects of equine care. That was how he had ended up apprenticed to Gobber in what little spare time he had-because Stoick had been keen his son could do anything to maintain he readiness of his horse and his weapons-from treating minor wounds to shoeing the beast. And the additional benefit of the training had been his ability to maintain and service weapons. But at this moment in time, as the drizzle started to fall and the light dimmed, he would have given almost anything for a quiet evening in the forge, listening to another of Gobber's rambling and improbable tales.

The clatter behind him was getting no closer but he could hear echoes up ahead, the rumble of another party approaching and he wondered who was coming...but whoever it was would mean disaster for him, whether Alvin, Eret or the King. So he zipped round the corner-and saw it: a steep track that zig-zagged up the almost vertical side of the valley. Wheeling around, he expertly drove the mare up the steep scree'd path but Stormfly was agile, light-footed and responsive and they scrambled up the first very steep portion. And as Stormfly clambered up, he saw something that gave him a boost of hope: there were fresh hoof prints in the soft mud at the side of the track that he recognised from his work in the stables. He had shod Fury the last time himself and there was an unusual double-nail attachment at the apex of the shoe that he had created. Somehow, Astrid-or maybe Fury-had the same thought as he had.

"Come on, girl," he murmured to the sweating horse, patting her neck encouragingly. "We'll get you back with your mistress soon enough..."

His head snapped round as shouts sounded down below and an arrow whiffled past his ear. He ducked and kicked Stormfly to duck behind a rocky outcrop as he saw a large party of armed riders down below-and his heart sank because he recognised the devices on their tabards: the Royal Nadder Cavalry. And at the front were the King's Knights, led by the familiar burly shape in the crown-topped helm. It was King Harild Hofferson-and he knew that if they caught him on Astrid's personal charger, he would be executed on the spot. Another arrow zipped past him and he ducked, then urged the mare away.

"UP THERE!" came the shout and he groaned as he saw the leading four knights-Magnus, Stig, Jorn and Rolf, all men respected by his father-rapidly head up the path on his tail. But from his vantage point, he could see the Outcast party galloping towards the King's rescue mission. Without hesitating, he drew the bow from the Princess's saddle, nocked an arrow and fired, the missile landed a yard in front of the King's war charger. There were shouts of fury at the attack, but Hiccup ducked up and gestured urgently in the direction of the approaching danger. The knights were muttering but Harild raised a hand, his head swinging round in the direction of the approaching riders.

"Sire- a blatant attack!" Hoark shouted in fury but the King drew his sword.

"Yes-but not by the fugitive," he growled. "He's trying to warn us. Battle formation! Nadders-to me!" Hiccup saw the knights turn back and the Nadders form up around the King as he clouted the visor down and leaned forward in his stirrups. The four knights raced down to form around their king. From his vantage point, Hiccup nocked another arrow, checked the wind, aimed and fired, the arrow burying in the neck of the first outcast. He carefully took aim again and found the gap in the next outcast's leather armour. They were almost upon the King when his final shot buried straight in the throat of the man next to Earl de Traitre, the corpse falling and being trampled under the hooves as the attackers met the King's party. King Harild just had time to register that the fugitive ex-squire could have killed the King any time with his remarkable marksmanship-but he had chosen to warn his King and thin the ranks of the attackers before all his concentration was consumed by battle.

'King 'Arild, this is an unexpected pleasure!" Alvin leered as his heavy broadsword slammed into Harild's.

"Believe me, Alvin, this is no pleasure," the king growled, parrying and slamming a heavy blow at the Earl's neck. "Where is my daughter?"

"Yer wound me, 'Arild," Alvin sneered, wheeling his heavy grey charger around and continuing to slam blows at the King. "I would never dream of kidnapping yer little girl..."

"Lies!" Harild roared, his blade tagging Alvin's shoulder. "We found an Outcast helmet and weapons where she was taken."

"Renegades!" Avin lied easily. "Me men ain't the best, if yer know what I mean..."

"Alvin, your men would not stage an attack on the Heir to Berk without your express orders," Harild shouted, ducking a blow to his head and slicing deep into Alvin's thigh. "And frankly, they don't have the brains to come up with the plan on their own!"

"I should be insulted," Alvin wheezed, backing away from the raging King. His Cavalry were carving through his Outcasts very handily and the knights were making short work of his best hunters. "I would never..."

"Do you recall the meaning of the word 'treacherous'?" Ack growled. Harild slapped Alvin's sword aside and dug the point in his chest.

"Surrender, de Traitre, or I decide I will just annexe Outcast lands anyway," he growled.

"This is a blatant attack on me sovereign lands, yer Majesty!" Alvin protested as the last few men-including Savage-surrendered. "I didn't realise yer would be so unhappy about me little prank..."

"Alvin, you knew precisely what you were doing," the King said. "So answer me unless you want your life to be short and crowded with very unpleasant and painful happenings." There was a silence filled only with the stamp of hooves and the zing of sword being drawn.

"I 'ad 'er," Alvin admitted urgently, eyeing the circling Nadder Cavalry. "But she escaped! I swear on me mother's grave!"

Knight Jorn snorted. "Your mother is eighty-three years old and lives in a small village near Thor's Leap!" he scoffed. The big Outcast leader gave a chagrinned shrug.

"Yer know about that?" he asked wryly. "A man's gotta try..." Harild lifted his head. "But she did escape. Bitch! She's in the mountains, I guess!" The King glared up and then looked around his men and their prisoners.

"Ack, Stig, Jorn, Eirik-follow that path and find my daughter!" he commanded. "The rest of you-get these prisoners back to Berk Castle." He stared up into the mountains. "ASTRID! ASTRID!"

Alvin chuckled. "Now that's just pathetic," he scorned the King before the hilt of a sword slammed into his temple and he slumped in the saddle. The prisoners were rounded up as the King wheeled his war charger around.

"Take them back to Berk," he commanded and then stared at the four assigned men. "I entrust the safety of my daughter to your care," he said. "Bring her home safe, my friends, and whatever you ask for-within reason-will be yours!" The knights bowed their heads, then headed off up the slope as the King headed back to Berk with his prisoners. He cast one last look at the mountain, dark against the dimming light.

"Be safe, my daughter," he murmured.

oOo

As soon as battle was joined and he had done all he could, Hiccup wheeled away and headed out along the narrow, stony track where he was sure that Fury had headed. The afternoon was grey and cool but Stormfly was untiring as she cantered sure-footedly along, though Hiccup was ridiculously tense, his heart hammering in his chest at the sight of the knights riding to intercept him. And even though they had turned back for the battle, he guessed they would follow him once they had defeated Alvin. He needed to get a long way away before they resumed their pursuit.

But Fury was long gone and well out of sight. Hiccup knew his horse was swift and tireless so he knew he should speed up...but he also knew that he had trained Fury well and no matter that the beast had been given to Snotlout, he was still bonded to the auburn-haired young man. So trotting along, Hiccup put two fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill and very piercing whistle that he repeated three times. Then he paused and stood in the stirrups-and repeated the whistles. Then he sat down and cantered along the trail, hoping Fury had heard.

oOo

Astrid felt the stallion pause and saw his ears twitch urgently. Hiccup's (probably stolen) horse, Fury was a fine beast-strong, fast, spirited and brave. She had been shocked at how fast he could gallop and had held on for grim death as they had raced through the canyons-but the jet horse had heard something and veered right, racing up a path that Astrid had barely noticed and clopping away, breathing hard once they had reached the top. And from her vantage point, she could see the shape of Hiccup, riding the bluish shape of Stormfly-with an Outcast hunting party scarcely a twist in the road behind. Pulling Fury round, they had headed deeper into the mountains along the stony and uneven path.

But Fury had stopped and wheeled round, refusing to obey Astrid any more and has turned around, trotting happily down the path until the shape of Stormfly finally came into the view with the tall, battered imposter sitting expertly in the saddle. But no matter how exhausted he looked, his handsome face warmed with a brilliant but lopsided grin as he saw the stallion and his emerald eyes sparkled. Astrid stiffened, feeling warmth in her chest and wishing for one moment that someone was that happy to see her. As a Princess, she was admired, respected and pampered. She never wanted for food or warmth or clothes-bit the price was duty, reserve and a formal relationship with her only surviving relative, the King. No one ever looked so happy to see her.

"BUD!" Hiccup exclaimed and slowed the mare down, leaning sideways and finding the stallion's jet mane, tousling it affectionately. "Good to see you! Have you been looking after the Princess?"

Astrid cleared her throat, her face betraying her annoyance. She had never been second to a mere horse before! Blushing, the young squire, dipped his head in apology.

"Sorry, Highness-but he really is my only friend here," he admitted. "Are you safe and unharmed?" She nodded curtly.

"Give me my horse back, boy!" she snapped, still annoyed at being ignored. "Then take us back to the main path!" Hiccup threw his leg over the saddle and slid to the ground, patting the mare absently in thanks, before offering the Princess his hand chivalrously to help her down. She dismounted expertly, ignoring his hand and giving him a sharp look, then brushing past him to make a fuss of her horse. "Thank the Gods you're unharmed, girl," she added, turning her back on the young man. Deflated, Hiccup walked slowly to embrace Fury, resting his forehead against the horse's.

"Yeah, I know," he sighed. "But at least we're out of the Outcast Castle..." Astrid mounted up swiftly.

"Get us back to the path!" she insisted but he looked up and shook his head.

"I'm not sure the Outcasts aren't following, Princess," he sighed. "There seems little point in escaping and then riding straight back into their clutches." She glared down at us.

"Which one of us is the Princess?" she snapped and his emerald eyes flicked up, his disappointment at her coldness showing in his instinctive sarcasm.

"Is that a trick question?"

She glared. "Mind your mouth, drudge!" she snapped. "You're still facing death for impersonating a squire and it's only my word that could save your life."

There was a definite look of betrayal in his eyes now as he bowed his head. "Yes, Highness," he mumbled despondently, swinging his leg over the saddle and sitting on the black stallion. "I am at your disposal." Astrid flicked her braid over her shoulder and stared at him.

"Lead me back to the road!" she ordered and Hiccup nodded, his shoulders slumping. He had endured a lot to get her safely out of the Outcasts but she was still treating him like he was worthless. And she didn't have to worry that she would be arrested and executed if she ran into the King's Knights...but he had been given an order by the Heir to Berk and it was his duty to obey. Patting Fury's neck, they turned and began to trot down the little track, the Princess following-but he knew that he couldn't take her all the way back to the castle. He had heard the shouts of 'traitor' and knew that just riding in would result in his swift death: somehow, he had to find a way to allow them to take the trials, regain his honour and restore the Haddock family name.

No job is too small nor task too difficult.

"Thanks, Dad," he mumbled ironically. "Except this task is completely impossible. If even the Princess just wants to kick my ass for rescuing her, then I'm done. I'll never be allowed to take the tests because I'll be executed even if Thug does sponsor me. And whoever won the skirmish will send someone up here-because I shot at the Outcasts as well."

"Any time today, boy!" Astrid called. "Are we heading the right way?"

"Define right way!" he replied sarcastically without thinking. "If by right you mean the way which will get me killed quickest, then yeah..." Her hands tightened on the reins as Stormfly accelerated forwards, hearing his words and stiffening with annoyance.

"The right way is the way that I deem correct," she snapped. "I am the Princess." His head snapped round and he looked at her, sighing at her obstinate expression. Astrid was very beautiful, with her golden hair, sparkling azure eyes and cheeks flushed with the effort of riding-but she had a temper and a real overconfidence in her abilities. And she was treating him like nobody.

Which he was. Dishonoured and discharged from the squires, he really was no one. But he had rescued her when no one else was around-that had to count for something?

"Of course," he said dryly. "Your extensive experience in tracking, travelling through hostile terrain and being pursued makes you the ideal person to make that decision, Highness."

"Mind your mouth, drudge or I'll..." she began but he stopped and turned to face her.

"Or what?" he asked softly. "You'll have me whipped? Executed? Well, I hate to inform you, Princess, but I'm probably under sentence of execution on sight anyway. So whatever you say or don't say, they'll kill me. Probably before you can even open your mouth." She glared at him.

"How dare you?" she snapped. "You may speak to the other menials like that but I am the Heir to Berk!"

"Could you say that a bit louder? I think there may be a few hostiles who didn't get it the first time, your Highness," he shot back, the sarcasm oozing from his words. She glared at him.

"You're really..." she began but he lifted a hand and swung his head to look around the track. "Is that them?" she asked eagerly but he froze.

"Riders, Highness," he said quietly. "I have no idea who they look to. I would advise caution until you are sure." She glared-but nodded, seeing he was already riding off the track and down a stony crack between two large rocks that concealed their tracks. Then Hiccup rested a hand on Fury's neck and the Princess glanced over her shoulder as four riders closed, then slowed at the fork in the path.

"Any sign?"

"They headed this way: two sets of tracks, riding fast," a second voice reported. Hiccup recognised them and he knew that Astrid was about to speak up but then she froze.

"So you know our orders? She is to be taken to the Count when we find her-and then report she was taken before we could get to her. He will marry her that day and then her throne will be his." The first voice was confident and harsh, a voice that Hiccup knew well from his childhood and training, for the owner-Ack-was one of Stoick's most trusted allies and seconds within the Knight Corps.

Astrid's head snapped round to Hiccup, who had gone white, his emerald eyes dark in his shocked face. He was breathing hard, his knuckles white around the reins.

"And the boy? His Majesty insisted he was brought back alive so he could speak with him?" a new voice asked. There was a pause.

"I think we all know the answer to that," Knight Ack announced brutally. "He is to be hunted down and slain. We can't have some worthless drudge ruining the Count's plans. Berk needs a strong King, not a weak woman who imagines she can be a man just because she has had a few weapons lessons!"

Hiccup grabbed for Stormfly's bridle before Astrid could storm out and yell at the treacherous men, shaking his head and pressing a finger to his lips warningly. There was the thud of hooves as the men headed away, following their very plain trail.

"It won't take them long before they realise we have turned back, Highness," Hiccup said in a low voice. "So we either chance the track and run into them-or we carry on along this way and see where it takes us. And frankly, I vote for the second one, because meeting those knights will get me killed." She nodded, chewing her lip thoughtfully.

"And me 'married' to Count Drago," she said tonelessly. Her eyes flicked up to meet his for a moment and he understood her concerns. There were two ways a noblewoman could be married: by consent with a formal wedding or...her virtue could be taken and she would then be declared wed since the union had already occurred. It was an old law that was still in force and Hiccup guessed the only way Astrid could be married to the Dark Count. And the fear in her eyes spoke volumes to the would-be knight

"Milady Astrid, I swear on my soul that I will not let that happen," he said intensely. She gave a small, mirthless laugh.

"If they take you, drudge, they'll kill you out of hand and I will end up in Dragon Bay," she reminded him. He nodded and then paused.

"Then we have to stop you being the Princess," he murmured. "And take you home by a roundabout route..." She saw his brow wrinkle as he considered-and then he smiled. "Highness-how do you fancy becoming a knight?"

oOo

Spitelout and the squires had enough warning to hunker down as the King's party crossed the ford back from Outcast lands, their prisoners in tow. Spitelout's eyes widened as he saw the huge shape of Earl Alvin roped tightly and his senior officers all trudging on foot behind the King and his senior knights, the Royal Nadder cavalry surrounding their leader in tight formation.

"Unbelievable," Spitelout groaned. "They've caught Alvin-and all his most trusted men."

"Like that's a thing," Snotlout grumbled. "Trusted and Outcasts don't go together!"

"Actually, not all Outcasts are untrustworthy," Fishlegs piped up. "Men can be Outcast for many reasons, most of which are nothing to do with issues of trust..."

"Shut up, Fishface," Snotlout snapped, sulkily.

"Be quiet! Both of you!" Spitelout growled. "So the King now knows for sure that Alvin kidnapped Princess Astrid." And he looked more closely as the train rode past. "But they don't have the Princess-or the boy." His cold blue eyes focussed on the party as they rode past. "There is only one other way away from Outcast, because there are impassable ravines behind the castle and to the south of the road. As soon as the party is gone, we'll head across the ford and into the mountains after them."

"Are you kidding, Dad?" Snotlout protested. "That's really hostile territory! There's the Hunter Clan, Bogs, Berserkers and even the Dark Count..."

"And the Princess, out there with just a discharged squire as her protection..." Spitelout growled. "Look, you mutton-headed fool. If we don't come back with her, we are ALL finished as squires and knights. So quit your whining and get ready to mount up. We go into the mountains-and we don't come out until we have them both."

"But we have to bring Hiccup back alive," Snotlout complained. "He'll drop us in it and we'll all face the block." But Thuggory walked forward, a cruel expression on his handsome face.

"Hiccup will come back alive," he promised, 'But when I've finished with him, he'll never speak again."