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IV Hagen drew the cloak tighter around him as he passed through the gates of the Mechanist castle. Looking upwards he saw the winged gargoyles with brilliant red eyes looking down upon him. A servant rushed out to meet him, and took the reins of his horse while Hagen dismounted. After that he led the horse away to a stable round a corner. Hagen glanced towards the door of the foreboding fortress and spotted the Mechanist leader, Karras, and an entourage consisting of wealthy merchants and a few of the highly trained swordsmen who devoted their lives to the religion. Karras wore a green tunic and armour, but Hagen’s eyes were drawn to a golden key hanging at the man’s hip, which stood in stark contrast with the drab coloured tunic the man was wearing. Stepping confidently down the main steps the man hissed a greeting to Hagen. “Welcome friend. Hagen is it?” Hagen felt a chill run down his spine. How did this man know his name? “Yes,” he answered. “Truart has told me of your exploits as an officer at Shoalsgate,” continued the man. “I have found his stories most interesting. Shall we continue?” “Yes,” replied Hagen again. It was all he could say. “Not a man of many words are you? The cold most probably. Come inside and warm up. I wish to show you around; I like my guests to feel at home when they visit.” Hagen took a last look outside as he stepped through the massive doorway. Perhaps this would be the last time he would see it. Then he realised he was playing games with himself. What possible harm could these Mechanists do? He just hoped he could leave soon, and a tour of the castle was not the kind of entertainment he had planned for that evening before market day. The Mechanist castle seemed to grow in splendour and size as Hagen was led along by Karras. Stone statues adorned every corridor, famous artworks decorated every wall and fearsome machinery winked at him from the other side of the factory doors. “If you look now Gentlemen you will see one of our most advanced developments yet!” exclaimed Karras. Following the man’s gaze Hagen spotted the equipment he had come to purchase. A tall, broad robot stood just inside the door of a workshop. An optical sensor shone aqua and red at different intervals, and it’s renaissance styled head moved with a smoothness never before seen in any mechanical advances. Its expansive feet supported the bulk of the body, and attached to one arm was a finely crafted cannon. This was to become the new city guard, and to Hagen it seemed the perfect replacement for a human. “Now gentlemen!” said Karras sternly in an attempt to attract attention. “Those of you who wish to make orders for this marvellous machine, please follow my aide here.” He gestured to a short, thin man in a grey cloak. The rest of the group moved off with the new arrival, and Hagen was left with Karras. He indicated a flight of stairs off the passageway and started towards them. Hagen followed behind as the man explained about their destination. “Hagen. I wish to show you a view I have marvelled at since coming here. I have to show you this so that you can understand why we Mechanists are here!”
The man’s voice rose to a crescendo as he reached the end of his speech. Once again Hagen felt a shiver down his spine. The sooner he could leave the sooner he would be happy he thought…
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