Chapter 154: Skrill Demonstration/ Price Tag Blues

Scraptrap barked, "RELEASE THE SKRILL!" A team of dragon hunters scrambled to carry out his order, one undoing the latch on the door of the cage, two more positioning themselves to grab the chains on the Skrill's collar and keep it under control. Several more guards stood at attention around the cage, wielding dragon root spears just in case. Without warning, the Skrill screamed furiously and burst out of its own cage, charging out into the open before the guards could react. The guards started shouting and trying to flank the Skrill, preparing to stab it back into submission. The Skrill strained against its muzzle, another muffled scream emanating from its mouth as it drew lightning from the thunderstorm passing overhead. The Skrill then turned on the guards and electrocuted them all at once, sending them flying in all directions. Dagur watched the apoplectic dragon appreciatively, squealing, "The Skrill, dragon of my people! So beautiful! So supple! So furious!", as the enraged dragon turned around and confronted a brave- or perhaps foolish guard who'd tried to charge at it and stab it from behind.

The Skrill growled at the guard, and tried to lunge at it. It was barely stopped from biting the guard in half by its chains pulling taught and the muzzle holding its jaws shut. Hissing in frustration, the Skrill whipped the guard with the tip of its tail, causing the guard to grunt in pain as he lost his footing and fell onto his backside, dropping the dragon root spear on the floor. The guard started trying to skitter away from the angry dragon and reach for his spear, only to find himself desperately trying to stop the Skrill from attacking him as it started to pull itself forwards with all its might. Inch by inch, the Skrill started to slowly walk forwards, dragging its open cage behind it as it prepared to electrocute the hapless Grimborn soldier in front of it. Scraptrap cynically observed, "This is the problem with shall we say, experimental systems? Apparently, the rest of the Grimborns aren't quite used to Sharpknife's new injection collars... they must have forgotten to refill the injection apparatuses or swap out what concoction they were using." Intrigued, Dagur asked, "So, what was in those newfangled thingamabobs in that collar?", pointing at the injection collar in the back of the Skrill's neck. Scraptrap informed him, "Extract of Dragon Root- concentrated so that it overwhelms the senses and renders the dragon docile. Honestly, I would have tried out the Deathgripper Venom as soon as possible..." The Skrill electrocuted the guard, causing him to spasm uncontrollably and pass out. It then raised its head and drew more lightning from the thunderstorms passing overhead.

Someone shouted, "DRAGON ROOT?!? DEATHGRIPPER VENOM?!? THE ONLY THING A DRAGON UNDERSTANDS IS A STAFF TO THE SNOUT!" Dagur grumbled, "Ugh, Mildew- I still don't know why I thought it was a good idea to pick that crusty old geezer up from Icestorm Island..." Mildew hobbled past Dagur and shook his staff at the Skrill, shouting, "AND YOU! YOU STOLE HALF THE FLOCK FROM MY FARM THIRTY YEARS AGO! I'VE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THIS!" He advanced towards the Skrill, preparing to bludgeon it with his staff... Dagur shouted, "MILDEW! YOU TOUCH THAT SKRILL WITH YOUR STICK, AND I'LL MAKE YOU EAT IT!" Mildew stammered, "But- but- my sheep- Fungus is the only one I have left-" Dagur snarled, "You have no idea what you're dealing with, do you? Because if you did, you'd be keeping this dragon safely out of the storm-" Scraptrap chimed in, "Good point. Sharpknife! Have your men move the rest of the Skrills into the arena's cages until the storm passes!" Sharpknife the Cunning replied, "Yes sir!", then bolted towards the rest of his crew, barking Scraptrap's orders. As the Grimborns scrambled to start moving the other Skrills out of the storm, Mildew shrank away from Dagur, incredulously asking, "And why is that?" Dagur got right up in Mildew's face, and hissed, "He draws his power from lightning!" He sniffed and added, "... Smelly old man.", his nose wrinkling in disgust as he pulled away from the suddenly terrified Mildew. Trying to act brave, Mildew started to advance towards Dagur, dismissing his claim, "Bah! That's nothing but an old Dragon's Tale!" The Skrill immediately proved him wrong, shocking Mildew and sending him flying. Mildew landed next to his pet sheep, Fungus, who was very astutely working his way through a mouthful of delicious Grimborn grass.

Dagur cackled and wheezed, "Man, I love it when I'm right!" As the dragon hunters finally got the Skrill under control and started herding it back into its cage, Dagur called out, "Yes! Not to worry, baby! When we get you all harnessed up, you'll be free to strike anyone you want!" He smirked to himself, "... or more accurately, anyone I want!", rubbing his hands together in fiendish glee. Scraptrap reminded Dagur, "The Skrills aren't yours yet, Dagur. You still need to pay for them. Once you fulfill your end of the deal, then we'll give you the Skrills." A quiet, almost silent, "Ahem." caught both Dagur's and Scraptrap's attention. One of Dagur's allies, Akande Ongondimu, asked, "And how much would one need to pay for a Skrill?" Dagur glared at Doomfist and his hand started creeping towards one of his hidden daggers. Akande noticed the change in Dagur's expression, and politely deflected, "I'm asking for a friend...", gesturing at the Berserker Chief. Scraptrap calmly produced a scroll from underneath his saddle, and unrolled it, squinting at the parchment. He read, "The market price is 4,800 gold per Skrill." Dagur repeated, "4,800 gold?!? Per Skrill?!? Now wait a minute... I did not agree to-" Olivia Colomar stepped in, remarking, "Now, Dagur, That's not the most expensive dragon! I think that price is actually quite reasonable, especially when you compare it to some other dragons they have here, like... those Deathly Galeslashes over there?" She pointed at a caged flock, which was being transported into the market square my another crew of Grimborn dragon hunters. Scraptrap shrugged and rattled off the price, "Yes, if Dagur had placed an order for a flock of Deathly Galeslashes, he would have had to pay 9,600 gold per dragon-" Dagur asked, "Did you just arbitrarily double the price on me?!?" Sombra clarified, "No, that's for the Galeslashes, not your Skrills!" Dagur remarked, "Whatever. Surely we can reach a more agreeable price- preferably a lower one?" Scraptrap played along, saying, "The local meade hall is right over there. Let's discuss this further over some good food and ale..." As Dagur departed, surrounded by Berserker soldiers and Talon's surviving members, Sharpknife melted out of the scenery and paused next to Scraptrap. He quietly asked, "Remind me why we're dealing with this lunatic?" Scraptrap reminded Sharpknife, "Dagur the Deranged is a lunatic, I will cede that, but he's a wealthy lunatic. And we both know that my current master loves nothing more than a good profit margin. We'll try to convince him to pay the full market price... and maybe work in a few shall we say, bonus purchases? Maybe one of those newfangled subscriptions for your injection collars? Or, given the size of the armada that just sailed in... perhaps we could offer the services of our Shipwrights... for the right price." Scraptrap chuckled to himself as he started strolling towards the great hall to try and convince Dagur that 4,800 gold per Skrill was indeed a reasonable price...

On a windswept ledge high above the group, Hiccup kept his periscope focused on the Skrill, musing out loud, "Yep, there it is. The question is, how to release it and its fellow dragons from their cages and stop Dagur from getting what he wants...?" Inside the tree, Tuffnut agreed, "Yeah..." Wall.e remarked, "... This is not good. If Dagur gets what he wants, and the Grimborns get what they want..." Tuffnut's muffled voice affirmed, "No..." Wall.e, Hiccup, and E.v.e. all agreed, "... Then we are in serious trouble." at the same time. Tuffnut punctuated their agreement, "... With a Capital "T." Or is that a Capital "S?" Wait, would you guys capitalize "Serious?" Or "Trouble?" Both?" Hiccup groaned, "Tuffnut..." Tuffnut replied, "I'll shut up now." Hiccup refocused his periscope on the camp below and remarked, "... Grimborns and Berserker soldiers. Scraptrap, Dagur, and Talon... and the Skrill? ...Oh right, a whole flock of Skrills? This is really not good."