The family huddled together in the darkness in a rare form of intimacy. Querida wished that they had come together under less horrifying circumstances, but after the ordeals they had been through in Quartz's prisons, Querida felt closer to her parents than ever before. After all, they only had each other.
Soon the guards would be making their rounds again, choosing dragons for today's training session. Those who did well were rewarded with food and increased comfort. Those who did not went to bed hungry. Thankfully, due to the skills Pyrite had taught her, Querida tended to do well, but she was too tired to train today.
Suddenly, there was a clang as the barred door to the communal cell opened.
"Well, well, well!" A ragged voice cackled. It was one of their usual guards. "Isn't it your lucky day? You've all been asked to be inspected by our boss! Up! Up! Up! Don't keep me waiting!"
Querida felt a chill run through her as Plagueheart helped her to her feet. She really did not want to run face to face with Quartz again. She was done with him. She felt numb as she stumbled through the corridors, joining the huddled masses of prisoners from her sector. As she shambled, she thought of her daughter, Rubywing. She had to be strong for her. She could not let Quartz continue to beat her down. She was better than this.
The prisoners were filed into a large chamber and asked to line up against the wall, heads high in military position. On the opposite end of the windowless stone room, another barred door opened and in strode a large female guardian. No one followed. Quartz was nowhere to be seen.
"Listen up soldiers! You think you have been serving Quartz all this time, but this prison has not been under his rule for a long time. Quartz is an evil dragon who strives only for his own gain, caring nothing for those who deign to serve him. Too long his existence has plagued Sornieth. In an attempt to overthrow him I have overtaken this prison and turned it into an army against Sornieth greatest enemy." The guardian announced, strutting along the length of the chamber.
She made a point of checking out every prisoner, eyeing them for posture and strength. Once she had reached the end she turned to face the masses again.
"My name is Daisy Mae, and you serve me now."
And now the real threat is revealed, our own Daisy Mae! She is more than the dragon that gave Thorburn Quartz's book, so much more...
