[ Matt feels dimly guilty for discouraging Hiccup, even if he hadn't meant to. "Do you have a better idea" is probably unavoidably a gotcha. At the same time, the idea of stealing a whip is an order of magnitude more complex than anything Matt's shellshocked brain has come up with, and he appreciates it on that level. At least it gives him a new avenue to pursue. ]

Maybe one of the ones with the ... [ Matt's hand sweeps in front of his face, a gesture meant to convey the hood-and-mask-thing styling of a few of their captors. The motion passes over a hairline scar on his left cheek, faint with age. ] They might know more, or be like, more in charge?

But it seems like it'd be hard to isolate them. Uhh. Maybe if you faked an illness? Faked a fight? Hit on them?

[ He's just spit-balling here. ]