Both ofthem remained still, their bodies dangling against the mouthed open torso ofthe automaton.Isaac studied the runes on its stonework exterior as his breathcaught in his chest.Eventually, after what seemed an hour, Zaria pulledherself back up the shoulder, taking a slight peek.A moment later, shemotioned him to do the same.
“We’reclear.She didn’t see us.”
Isaacstruggled back up, pushing his boot against the wrenched open ribs across thegolem’s side.His arms were aching from the constant strain of holding himselfaloft.When he looked, Soren was marching across the courtyard, supervising thesurgeon as he applied salves to the worst of the burned.A pirate called toher, and she kneeled at his side, listening close.
“Okay,”Isaac said.“Fuck.”
“I toldya so,” Zaria said.
“Yes,yes, you did.Gods above.She’s horrifying.”
“Thatshe are.”Zaria watched the pirates begin to drag the dead humans away, leavinglong red trails in the knuckled pavement.“How the fuck’d she even get downhere, anyway?She buried the only entrance.”
Isaacwas about to respond when movement caught his eye.
A shortdistance away, the fire on the pyramid of skulls was beginning to lose vigor,the flames finding no purchase in the lifeless bone, though it was burninghotly enough to illuminate the city beyond.Using this light, Isaac glimpsedfigures on the other side of the palace.The most prominent were another pairof golems, their bodies twice as tall as the courtyard wall, their gun-barrelfaces maintaining an eternal vigil over the city beyond.
Beneaththe golems, a black army marched deeper into the necropolis.
Thralls.
Therewere dozens.All of them wore black robes.There were so many bodies, moving atsuch a distance, marching in such a swift, flowingchaos, that the darkness appeared to fester like a thousand maggots birthingfrom a corpse, the veil of shadows broken only by the glowing sigils carved oneach of their heads.
In themiddle, one person stood supreme.Their hood was shadowed.Their body wasformless beneath the billow of their robes.There was no brand of magic upontheir head, and no one among them who could resisttheir command.For a moment, all Isaac could see of the puppeteer sorcerer wasa pair of glowing eyes, gazing in the direction of the palace.
Amoment later, the sorcerer was gone, fleeing deeper into the city.Isaac felt achill crawl up his spine, deeper than he expected.
“Isaac?”
Heblinked, coming out of himself.“What, yes?Sorry?”
“Isaid,” Zaria said, “how in the flying cock did my captain get down here?”
Hecleared his throat, spying on the pirates once more.“Well, if I had to guess,she likely dug through the rubble above to make sure you were dead.When shedidn’t find your body, she ventured through the open door to the catacombs.Thenecromancer could not resist her because we’d already destroyed most of herbones.And now she’s here.”He paused.“And it’s a problem.”
“It’s abig fuckin’ problem, Isaac.”
“Well,I’m sorry for heroically destroying my enemies.I’ll try not to do it again.”
“Getyour rest!”Soren yelled, strutting her feet over rivers of blood.Her voicecarried over the courtyard with practiced ease.“Get your grog!Tomorrow, wehunt a traitor!I promise half the treasure to whoever brings her alive!”
Theautomaton shook beneath them.It was a tremor in the earth, feeling immediatelyfamiliar.As Isaac gripped himself to the golem’sshoulder, feeling the ancient machine swaying upon its perch, he saw bouldersof dirt breaking off from the walls of the body cavity, all of which were bigenough to smash through several houses.Destruction rumbled through the city.
Moretremors bled below their feet.There was a rhythm being established.Soon, theeffect was like listening to a massive, beating heart.For a moment, it felt asif the colossus was returning back to life.
Zaria’sears flattened.“You feel that?”
“Yes,”Isaac said, wearily.“That’s a sandwyrm.”Another tremor came, rumbling throughhis body.“It likely heard those explosions from miles away.”
Isaaccould picture the sight rather well.The creature would be circling below thechest of the colossus, a massive limbless dragon bristling with teeth andscales, tearing its way through an underground passage.Without a doubt, itknew there were people above it.It could sense the tiniest vibration throughmiles of sand.The only question was whether it felt territorial.
Therumbling began to quicken.
Isaacsighed.
“She’sgone mad.”Zaria gripped the ablative edge of the golem’s shoulder, nearlywrenching off the ancient stone plate.“Just throwin’away lives in pursuit of vengeance.Thought she was decent before.Now, I’m notso sure.”
“Well,”Isaac said, “you did kill ten of her crew, and then blow up a ship.”
