Chapter 80

Aurelia, Nian, and Zinjo waited until nightfall to make their move on the Clockwork Guild. The Mechanical guards patrolled with perfect vigilance. Aurelia could infiltrate the guild herself, but they had no idea what waited for them behind the iron doors. Nian appeared to be wrestling with a thought. His hand steadily tapped the hilt of his sword.

"Something on your mind Lord Nian?" Aurelia prepared to make the change.

"I thought to myself, if these people are using the souls of magical creatures to power the gems, we may encounter them in the guild as well." Lord Nian gestured to the guild, "Are we going to stand here all night, or are we going to fulfill your promise to Sojobo?"

The princess closed her eyes and imagined herself in the change room where the lion suit and the Anzu suit waited for her. She chose the Anzu suit and felt the familiar stretch of the leather, and a slight pinch in her back reminded her she had wings as the Anzu.

Zinjo's attractive Lion form held her close, "Be careful. We are so close to achieving our goals. I can't wait to settle down and enjoy my life with you."

Aurelia opened the Parasol and drew the Lion's Fang in a single motion, "We were born for this, Zinjo. We can't fail." Aurelia took to the air and streaked to the guild. She dove down with the Lion's Fang raised.

The whir and clicks saw the mechanical heads turn their attention skyward. The eerie stare of their empty jewel eyes unsettled Aurelia a little. They both raised their explosive launchers and prepared to fire. Aurelia folded her wings closer to her back to gain more speed.

The steel creations aimed and sent a three-shot barrage at Aurelia. They had more speed than Auerlia anticipated. Being hit by one wouldn't kill her, but the fall to the ground might. She kept her eyes on Zinjo and Nian, who now rushed across the dirt street to engage the enemy.

When faced with an attack on two fronts, the automatons grew indecisive. The pair of metal warriors took a full three seconds before one concentrated on Zinjo and Nian while the other attempted to bring Aurelia down. She twisted and turned through the air as she dodged the colorful explosives.

She hovered in front of the heavy doors to the guild and waited. Another barrage of explosives hurtled toward Aurelia with all the speed of a meteor. She narrowly dodged the deadly spheres, and they crashed into the door.

The explosion knocked the door off its hinges. The Aurelia dove and took advantage of the confusion. The Lion's Fang whistled through the air and beheaded the metal servant. It clanged against the ground. Aurelia ripped the jewel from the machine's chest.

Zinjo and Nian held the jewel from the second aloft, "Isn't it nice when they leave the door unlocked," Nian kept his blade ready as he entered the building.

Aurelia took a moment to change her form into the lioness and then entered with Zinjo.

***

Aurelia pictured a group of greasy tinkerers surrounded by piles of gears and cogs when she entered the guild. She did not expect to find soft carpet or beautifully carved chairs with dragons on them. They entered a room and found schematics for making the servants. In the next room, unfinished automatons were held in place by clamps.

"Where do they make the gems?" Nian whispered as they came to a room with a massive blackboard. The strange writing eluded Aurelia and Zinjo.

"I have a feeling what's on this is important," Zinjo stared at the indecipherable script, "Hmmm, What do you think its purpose is?"

"I think this might be a magical equation," Nian moved closer to the blackboard, "I have no idea what it does." He saw a rag on a ledge and proceeded to erase the whole thing. "Whoops," He said.

Zinjo chuckled, "Should we destroy the schematics as well?" he peered out into the hall, "The coast is clear."

"Have we given thought to how we are going to destroy the guild?" Aurelia hissed as they moved to the next room. Inside were boxes and boxes of explosives. "Never mind, we have the means right here."

"On any other day, I might agree with you, princess, but I do not wish to harm innocent people. I don't know much about explosives, but this looks like a big bang," Nian said.

"We don't need to use a big bang," Zinjo smirked, "We need the threat of a big bang."

"Do any of us know how to do that?" Aurelia asked.

Nian stepped forward, "I learned little in the military. I should be able to rig something up."

***

Thankfully the explosives room contained a wheeled cart. Nian tied wicks together to form one long fuse. "It is a bit inelegant, but it'll have to do."

"As long as it gets the job done," Aurelia commented. "She motioned for her male companions to follow her. "Where is everyone in the guild?"

"Perhaps they got wind our attack and left," Zinjo offered.

"Why would they do that?" Nian asked, "If I had tireless metal warriors at my disposal, I'd stay put and take my chances." He wheeled the cart down the hall. He winced as the wheel squeaks.

"Let's hope no one hears that thing," Aurelia held her sword up.

Zinjo put up his hand and pointed to a door, "There are people inside."

Aurelia's ears perked up and listened. She could hear at least four distinct voices. "I wonder how valuable these men are?"

"If they have the ear of the emperor, I'd say they are worth their weight in gold," Zinjo said as he tore the door off the hinges. Three men in ridiculous hats and robes shrieked at the sight of the Lion couple and Nian.

"I wouldn't move if I were you. Lord Nian has a cartful of surprises to share."

A crazed expression appeared on Nian's face. "Where are the mystic creatures. We know that's how you make the gems."

A bald man with a single braid of hair fell to his knees, "Please, we are but humble tinkerers. We build the machines. We had no idea how they powered the gem."

"Who are they?" Zinjo raised a pair of tinkers off the ground with both hands.

"The Huli Jing," One of the tinkerers blubbered.

"Why would the fox spirits take to machines? Aren't they nature spirits?" Nian demanded.

"One of them said something about a destroyed village..."

While Zinjo and Nian interrogated their prisoners, Aurelia sniffed the air. Two of their captives were human, but the other two smelled like wet fur and incense. She sent the humans from the room. "Boys meet the Huli Jing"