There was a gasp, and the clatter of metal on stone as she dropped another guard. The palace halls were lightly defended, with most of the forces out on the city walls preparing for the attack. That suited her fine. Tempest kicked her foot to the side in disgust as the guard’s tongue lolled out on her boot, before she hoisted him up and pulled him out of sight. That was the third she had run into tonight, and she didn’t expect many more.

The Storm King was a practical man, all things considered. He knew what he wanted, and knew how to get it. He was also a firm believer in cutting the head off the snake, and as it so happened, those all came together perfectly. His Majesty never chose his targets at random, after all, and this particular kingdom had a truly marvelous prize inside – a prize that was making it so very challenging to simply bombard the city and take it the old fashioned way. Cheaters.

But, there’s a solution to every problem, and that solution was Tempest.

Satisfied the guard was out of sight, she slunk down the grand stone staircase to her target, her padded boots and careful footsteps making her as silent as a shadow. She stepped off the last stair before slinking into the corner, peering around down the arched stone doorway. From beyond it came the glow of many torches, but there was a strange glint to them. As Tempest steeled herself and peered around the door, she saw why.

Gold. Absolute mountains of it.

Piles of coins, jewels, chests, and all manner of treasures lay in the next room, scattered haphazardly against the walls. When news of the approaching invasion reached her, the Queen had clearly taken it upon herself to make sure the kingdom’s most valuable assets were well protected in the heart of her palace, with her people throwing themselves upon the enemy to guard it. After all, they can always make more peasants, right?

But riches and oppressive regimes weren’t what Tempest had come for – at least not yet. In the middle of the hoard, on a gleaming brass altar, sat the crystal. It was a large stone, larger than her fist, though it hardly looked as powerful as the Storm King had claimed. Whatever, she had what she came for, and grabbed it, before leaping back and yelping in shock. The stone was burning hot and had singed her hand though the glove, though she had little time to reflect on the pain as the altar began to shake. The crystal glowed, and the torches along the wall flared wildy, filling the room with a hellish light. From below the heap of coins something moved, creaking violently with a deafening squeal of metal on metal, crushing a few unlucky coins between its plates. A booming, brassy voice thundered through the chamber.

“THIEF. THIEF. YOUR BONES WILL BE AS MOTES OF DUST. YOUR BLOOD WILL BOIL INTO STEAM. YOUR DEATH HAS COME.”

The coins fell away, scattering on chamber floor in a glistening fiery rain. In the center of the room stood a mechanical brass titan. The altar had become its head, the crystal a burning red eye, trained squarely on Tempest. In its massive brute fists was a sword, a slab of gleaming steel as large as its wielding. It lifted the blade to the vaulted ceiling, before swinging it down to the floor, sending brick and coin flying into the air as it cut into the ground as Tempest rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the swing.

This was going to complicate things.

—-

It’s about time I made Tempest look badass. Sunset, sweetie, you’re adorable and all, but Tempest has work to do. You can help her count the loot afterwards.