Chapter 45: The Iron Estate
The carriage came to a halt before a set of massive, gear-driven gates that seemed to breathe with the rhythm of the city.
We stepped out into a district where the soot was thinner and the guards wore full suits of pressurized plate armor.
Prime Minister Hardsteel led us through a garden where even the flowers were intricate works of copper and glass.
"Welcome to the Iron Estate," Hardsteel said.
His mechanical voice echoed against the high stone walls.
"Most who enter these halls seek power or gold. You, however, seek sanctuary. I find that much more interesting."
As we walked through the grand foyer, the Prime Minister stopped abruptly before a massive clockwork engine displayed as a centerpiece.
He turned his blue, glowing eye toward Nyssa.
"The engineers at the High Forge claim that mixing pure mana with kinetic steam pressure destabilizes base metals," Hardsteel stated bluntly.
