The enforcers spent the rest of the day searching for more dragonets.

They didn't find any. At least, nobody that was at Witching Hour.

By the time the sun was touching the horison, only two other dragonets have joined us, Dustbunny and Spike.

"Get out," the enforcer holding our chains said, and we all filed out. I decided that I wouldn't be an easy prisoner, and that our captors need a bit of tormenting.

So when it was my turn to be shackled, I lifted my claw to scratch my ear, and when the enforcer reached for the next one I suddenly decided that I was lady-like enough to hide a cough behind my talon.

My plan didn't continue any further than that, as the enforcer just gave a low growl, grabbed my leg and forcing it into the mettal band.

"Hey, knucklehead, " I tapped him on the skull, and he nearly bit my claw off, before quickly walking away muttering curses. "Well that wasn't very nice!" I screamed after him.

The other dragonets looked at me like they may be questioning my sanity. I just smiled.

"Just remember," I whispered, and they leaned in to listen. "Keep your heads down and mouths shut. Escape first chance you get."

They nodded, and I allowed myself a thin sliver of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, we might just make it out of here alive...

**********

Up.

When we finally reached the palace at round about midnight, that's where my eyes took me.

Up past the gates, past the statues, past the windows and the topmost towers, and yet I still couldn't see even one of the moons.

"You know where to take them." 

I finally looked down, just in time to feel our chains being pulled and regain our footing, before marching the gates.

I was far beyond tired at this point, the dancing from the club, the adrenaline from the fight and the exhaustion from the flight has left my wings drooping.

"You should consider yourselves lucky," the guard said, and I could just make out his features in the weak fire light. "You at least get a couple of hours worth of sleep. The magots that came before you didn't have that privilege."

He gave a soft laugh, the sound akin to a rattlesnake ready to strike.

Before I could come up with a worthy responce, a small dragonet came running towards us, and stopped in front of our warden.

"Myotes, sir!" he said, and I recognised him as Burru, another Scorpion that had been taken in the last few days.

I was surprised by how easily he took up the part of soldier, keeping his wings at the perfect angle and his face expressionless.

Oh Burru, what have they done to you? I thought, remembering when he was roaming the dirty streets, scavenging for food and doing tricks to earn some fair coin.

"What is it, magot?" Myotes asked, a growl evident in his voice. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Yes sir," Burru bowed his head, hiding a winch of pain from his object of focus.

I tried to contain my relief, especially since Burru had obviously tried to keep his face neutral, but the hope I had let myself feel as we left the Scorpion Den, just became a little bit stronger.

"But sir, General Marage wants to see you."

At this bit of news, Myotes snapped his attention back to Burru, and gave a quiet hum of pleasure.

"Probably to congratulate me on bringing the new recruits safely back," he said, but I couldn't help feel that the General won't be calling him for kind words.

Before I could continue musing over what General Marage may say, a "very well, you take care of them then," snapped her out of her daze.

Myotes threw our chains as well as the keys at Burru, who fumbled to catch them, before dropping them anyway.

As Myotes sauntered off, Burru turned to us.

"Diamondback?" He asked, seeing me for the first time. "How did they manage to catch you?"Hm, once again, my reputation precedes me, I thought with a bit of dry humor, though it was true. In all my six years, I've never been caught, and nobody ever expected that to change.

"What can I say," I said, lifting and dropping my shoulders. "It was bound to happen at some point."

Burru looked like he wanted to laugh, but instead froze, his eyes darting around in terror.

"Listen," he said, his voice lower than a whisper. "I'll give you a piece of advice I had to learn the hard way."

I noticed Foxtail and the other two dragonets leaning in too, though Burru's eyes were solely focused on me.

"Don't say anything," he said, glancing around again. "Whatever they say, whatever they do, dont make a sound or it will only get worse."

I nodded, the horror in his eyes plain for anyone to see. I was about to say something else, when one of the guards called over to us.

"Hey, no chit chatting! Get back to your assigned room!"

Burru quickly jumped back into the soldier persona he had arrived in, and I was left slightly disappointed. 

"Come on," he said, pretending to give a small tug on our chains. We followed.

He led us about halfway around the castle, before stopping at a series of stone buildings, all in neat rows, all the same. 

Burru continued to lead us into the nearest one. There was only one door, and it opened into a large, spacious area.

I can't imagine what this must be used for, I thought, but as I caught glimpses of what looked like blood on the floor, my thoughts quickly rearranged themselves. 

We walked up the stairs at the side of the room, into a hallway with more than a dozen doors.

"You'll be staying here for the rest of your training," Burru said, unlocking one of the doors, and gesturing for us to enter. As we passed him, he took off our chains.

"See you tomorrow," he looked down, and then he was gone.

Well, at least now I know what to expect, were my last rational thoughts as I sank down onto one of the rough blankets thrown on the ground.

Oh how wrong I was.