The palace shook.
Dust poured from the ceiling.
Then came a sound like a thousand iron teeth grinding together.
The floor split open.
Something enormous climbed out.
It was a man.
Or had once been one.
Bronze plates covered its body.
Pistons hammered beneath its chest.
Its eyes burned with blue fire, and a great brass gear turned slowly behind its skull.
The clockwork golem raised one iron fist.
The dragon stared at it.
The golem stared back.
The golem punched the dragon.
The impact sounded like a cannon firing inside a cathedral.
The dragon flew backward through three pillars.
The dragon rose from the rubble.
Its brass helmet was bent.
Its pride was considerably more damaged.
It spread its wings.
Fire filled its throat.
“Everyone down!”
The dragon breathed.
Flame swept across the hall.
The golem did not move.
Its chest opened.
Inside was a spinning furnace.
The fire struck it.
The machine glowed red.
Then the golem laughed.
It was not a pleasant sound.
It seized the dragon by the throat.
The dragon clawed at its arms.
The golem lifted it from the floor.
The entire palace groaned.
Somewhere, a gear the size of a carriage began turning.
The palace shook.
The floor exploded.
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