Pyrite and the strange StealthDragon, whose name was Clawrender, traveled to a giant mountain ridge that was not as far from the palace as Pyrite would have liked it to be. There they found a small cave that led to many tunnels, twisting and branching off into different directions.

Pyrite was confused. Weren't they going to Pyrite’s home? Pyrite said as much to Clawrender, but he said nothing; just continued to steer her through the tunnels.

It was then that Pyrite knew this was a trap.

Stupid! She chastised herself. Trusting a random dragon! What would Mom say? She considered sneaking away, but Clawrender was a StealthDragon. He knew all about sneaking away.

They emerged into a giant cave, almost as big as the mountain, as if someone had hollowed out the inside of it. There were StealthDragons everywhere, flying to and from ledge to ledge. Dark blue tents were set up on walls and in divots. But the real picture was in the middle of the hollow, four giant, spiraling columns that met in the middle and bulged outwards to form a structure similar to a palace. It radiated menace from top to bottom.

“Welcome to the Creed Under the Mountain, biggest assassin organization ever,” Clawrender told Pyrite, now snapping metal chain cufflinks on her arms. He dragged her with him using her chains, which scraped her wrists painfully.

Clawrender shoved Pyrite on the platform, despite her struggles, and through the arched doorway. To the right and left, there were two more arched doorways that led into huge rooms. But where they were headed was straight ahead, where two doors awaited them. The whole place felt like a library to Pyrite—it made you want to be quiet.

So naturally she made the biggest racket possible.

The doors swung open as they approached, probably by invisible guards. Pyrite was ushered into the room, where a StealthDragon sat on a throne. He smiled at her entrance, a smile that made Pyrite shudder.

“Snap her in,” he ordered. Pyrite’s chains were snapped into the floor, forcing her down. The StealthDragon got up and circled Pyrite, seeming to note how strong she was and how far she could run. Finally, he crouched to look into her eyes. He nodded approvingly, but Pyrite ignored him.

“You lied to me,” Pyrite spat at Clawrender, who was sitting quietly in the doorway. The strange dragon snapped his head to look at Pyrite curiously. “You said you would take me home back to my friend.”

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“I never said that,” Clawrender whined just as the StealthDragon said sharply, “Which friend? Who?”

Pyrite stared at him. He was adorned with all sorts of treasure. Earrings twinkled in his ears, gold chains and necklaces were wound on his neck and shoulders. Bracelets, tail rings, nose rings—you name it, he had it. She wrinkled her nose at him, thinking fast. She had to come up with a plan.

Maybe she could pretend that her friend was a dragon! Hmm, Pyrite thought, Which dragon is the most dangerous?

“The…the SpineDragon!” Pyrite blurted, inspiration building in her chest as she said the words, pushing out the other emotions. “The SpineDragon friend that I have at home.”

“That’s not what you—” Clawrender began, but Treasure Snout shushed him with a hard stare. He made a “go on” gesture to Pyrite.

“His name is, uh, Impaler!” she continued. “He’ll be SUPER angry at you. He can, um, track where I am. With magic.”

Treasure Snout lashed his tail uncertainly, wrinkling his snout. So far, it looked like Pyrite’s hasty bluff had worked.

“The SpineDragons are a…warlike tribe,” he said, “but I have an army of StealthDragons at my disposal.”

“He’ll bring all his SpineDragon friends with him!” Pyrite returned fiercely. Treasure Snout gave her a skeptical look. “I can send messages to him, er, with my mind! Yes, telepathic messages! Your StealthDragons will be massacred!” she lied confidently, trying to keep her doubt out of her voice. She hoped her face did not betray her emotions.

“I want proof,” Treasure Snout hissed.

“Fine!” Pyrite snapped, putting on her brave face, but her heart plummeted. “In two days’ time, you will regret keeping me prisoner!”

Treasure Snout sneered. “Put her in a cell,” he ordered. Two StealthDragon soldiers came forward, unsnapping her chains.

They led Pyrite down two staircases, into a dank hallway. Cells were lined up on either side of the corridor. To Pyrite’s surprise, they were all empty. Wouldn’t an assassin’s creed have tons of prisoners?

The guard on Pyrite’s left seemed to sense her confusion. He bared his fangs in a leer.

“As an assassin’s creed, we don’t take prisoners,” he informed her. The other guard nodded. Both were grinning maliciously at the expression on her face. Pyrite felt slightly nauseous. She shuddered slightly. Every skin cell on her body screamed wrong with intensity, but she was determined not to show weakness.

The guards shoved her into a particularly dark cell with one dingy bed and shackles on the wall.

“Good night!” one of them mocked, slamming the cell door and locking it. Both of them stalked away, laughing.

Pyrite laid on the bed and stared glumly at the ceiling. She had two days to prove that there was an army coming to her rescue.

By all the Aetherites, she thought with dread, what am I going to do?