Qibli was flying in the early morning breeze. He had spent the rest of the day before going over the plan for Thorn's assassination. Vulture also gave Qibli a list of names of the dragons of the Talons of Power that are in Thorn's Stronghold as spies. With some of their defining features and jobs:

Komodo- he has an eye patch over his left eye and works as a guard.

Lizard- she has a black spot over her eye. Works as a gardener.

Chinchilla- she has a metal tooth. Works as a guard.

Aloe- she has a nose ring. Works in the kitchen.

Gobi- he has very pale scales at the bottom of his legs. Works as a gardener.

Kangaroo- she has hints of orange on her snout. Works in the kitchen.

Hyena- he has a crooked back leg. Works as a cleaner.

Dingo- he always wears a bandanna over his head. Works as a guard.

Vulture had said that Dingo was weak and had a soft spot for one of the guards, "He might defect," Vulture had said.

Qibli recited them repeatedly in his head for a while, until they were burned into his mind. Then Qibli went over the plan he and his grandfather had made up.

"Ok, we need to make it look like someone else did it," Vulture said, "does she have any meetings?"

Qibli had tried to recall what her schedule was today as he knew her schedule for the whole month.

"Well first she has a meeting with a Seawing, then some Sandwings, and finally a Mudwing, then they break for lunch," Qibli said.

"Wait, did you say Mudwing?" Vulture asked. "That's perfect, we can blame it on them! Plus my guards will be on duty."

Qibli had then shown Vulture all the entrances and exits that only he knew about on a mockup map of the stronghold.

"Well, the best way to get in and out is through here," Qibli had said. Pointing to a tunnel straight from the courtyard to the throne room. "But," he added, "it'll be pretty open, any dragon walking by would see. It's still the quickest way though."

Vulture had started pacing trying to think. He was rubbing his cloak when his face lit up.

"That's it!" he yelled, "Why didn't I think of this before?"

"What?" Qibli questioned.

"You're an animus!" Vulture replied.

"Yeah, we established that," Qibli said. He turned away from his grandfather but Vulture grabbed him by his shoulder and turned him around.

"What I mean is that you could just enchant something to make you invisible so you could easily sneak by."

Qibli had recalled how Turtle had made a stick doing the same to him, to sneak and watch Darkstalker.

"That could work," Qibli had declared, surprised at his grandfather. So Qibli spent part of that night working on a spell and perfecting it on a cloak. He had finally settled on a spell that would make anyone who was wearing it invisible who said a special word, 'assassination.' He also was able to make it shrink with the word, 'complete,' and grow with 'hide.' When Qibli had woken up this morning his grandfather was gone, he asked around and found out that Vulture had gone ahead of Qibli. Vulture had left a note for Qibli to go to the kitchens and tell everyone who saw him to provide an alibi, which he tucked in a pouch he took. He had gotten tattoos that morning but in a place not that visible. Qibli had then grabbed a camel and ate some before flying off. Qibli spent the whole time thinking about the plan which he and his grandfather would go over again when he got there.

Soon he saw the towering stronghold. There was still a little time until noon.

So time for some Sandwings. Qibli thought.

He landed in front of the palace, where some guards were standing.

"Qibli!" one yelled, "You probably don't know me but I know you. I'm Horus. I've seen you around."

"Oh well hi," Qibli replied, trying to sound as normal as possible.

The other Sandwing looked directly at Qibli, and Qibli noticed a bandanna over his head.

Dingo.

Dingo looked like he wanted Qibli to say something.

Wait!

The Sandwing wanted Qibli to say the secret code. Qibli tried to remember what it was. After a quick second Qibli had it.

"So," Qibli said, "Did you know that the vulture flies at midnight?" He put emphasis on 'vulture flies at midnight.' Dingo looked satisfied.

"Yeah, I heard they don't like thorns," he replied.

Horus looked at Dingo, "Since when were you an animal expert Din?"

Horus put his wing over Dingo's shoulder and hugged him. He touched his snout to the others.

Dingo's eyes looked sad.

He doesn't like lying to Horus, like I don't like lying to Moon.

Qibli stood there awkwardly until the two finally looked up.

"Oh!" Dingo said looking at Qibli, "Uh, go in."

Qibli walked past the two dragons who went back to gazing into each other's eyes again.

Qibli saw a couple more dragons who asked him where he was going and he just replied, 'kitchens.' He soon found his way to the kitchens, he opened the door and there was Vulture.