For a short few moments we all held our breath as we waited. We probably could have forced our way across the narrow bridge and through the gate beyond it, my two giant companions could probably break it from the wall as a whole, but if Leumina were to succeed it would be all for the better. Dodging crossbow bolts on a narrow bridge was not what I wanted to do and remaining unnoticed just a little longer would make everything else a little easier as well. Thus we waited for any kind of signal or signs of a commotion.

The gate obviously wasn't on the same scale as the city gates or even the gates in between districts we had passed so far. It still was massive though. For a moment I was a little worried. That worry quickly turned into relief as I saw it move just a bit, just enough for the small human woman to slip through. It hadn't made even the slightest sound. I looked towards Pirgrimma and her dwarves, raising an eyebrow in the process.

She flashed me a grim smile. “Those gates are pretty well maintained. The hinges are always oiled and there is not the slightest bit of rust or grime.”

One of her guards snorted in amusement. “No one expects the tax collectors. And no one hears them coming either.”

“Yeah, you never know they are there until they start shaking you down.”, a third chimed in, earning a few muted laughs from the rest.

At that point the princess took over again. “Well, that is a bit of exaggeration but its true in general. Tax auditors and their henchmen tend to favor surprise visits.”

I could only shake my head at their sense of humor. Or was it their tax morale? Either way, it seemed strange in my eyes.

I returned my attention at the gate which was still standing slightly ajar. Finally it opened further. My grip on the shaft of my weapon grew tighter for a moment, until I could finally see Leumina slowly push the gate open by herself. That she was able to move a massive gate like that on her own spoke of the quality of the dwarven craftsmanship once again. Still, it took her a moment. I relaxed again as she finally signaled that our path was clear.

I gathered up all the things she had discarded and motioned for the others to follow me. We crossed the bridge in a strained silence. I handed her gear over to my human retainer as I reached her at last. She in return handed the key for the gate back to the dwarven princess before she hurriedly slipped back into her things.

The rest of the strike team, or at least most of the rest, didn't wait for us. The dwarves slipped through first. They probably were at least vaguely familiar with what lay ahead of us after all. Then my giant companions followed. Only the princess and one of her guards stayed at our side.

Finally Leumina was ready to move again with her dagger sheathed once more and an arrow on the string of her bow. We didn't dally any longer. The dwarves led the way and we followed. We could already hear some fighting from up ahead which prompted us to move just a little faster.

The corridors were, thankfully, still wide and high enough for me and the giants. In a way they reminded me a little of what I had seen of royal palace at Bleak Peak. There were reliefs along the walls wherever I looked. Some even spun up the occasional column. They were even painted in the richest colors imaginable. Something wasn't right with them though. It took me a moment to realize what it was. Bits and pieces had been broken out of these depictions of a rich and joyful palace life. Well, it didn't matter now. Maybe I would have a chance to ask about it later.

It didn't take us long to come across the first bodies. None of ours. Thank the maidens for small mercies. The dead wore plate armor that was as elaborate as it was heavy. Apparently even these intricate sets of heavy armor had weak points. It was mostly the joints as far as I could tell although at least one had been stabbed through the visor of their helmet. Good. I knew where to aim.

And of course no armor, no matter how heavy, would protect its wearer from the pure force of a hammer blow from a giantess or head sized boulder launched from the sling of her brother. I tried not to look too closely at the ones who suffered a fate like that.

Judging by the sound of it the resistance had firmed up though as the moment of surprise wore off. Finally we burst out into a truly grand hall. Under other circumstances the architecture alone might have left me speechless. For now though I was too busy jabbing the tip of my weapon through the gap in the armor at the inner thigh of one of the defenders.

Leumina let her arrow fly right away as well. At point blank range and at the right angle her arrows might even penetrate plate. She was aiming for the chain covering the week spots as well though. She wasn't taking any chances.

Princess Pirgrimma and the last of her guards joined the rest of her entourage who locked weapons with some of her father's men. Occasionally Gash'zur would dart forward to bring her hammer down on one opponent or another when they advanced just a little too far. Yath'zur on the other hand was slinging stones at another group of defenders approaching us from our right, keeping them from catching us in a pincer us so far.

That group was by far the most numerous. As far as I could tell they had been prepared to defend the main gate of the king's hall which lay in that direction. They had even prepared some light siege engines there, which now lay smashed into so much kindling and steel scrap, torn apart by Yath'zur's projectiles.

It spoke of their discipline and iron will that they were still advancing on our small group despite the holes which the giant's projectiles tore into their ranks. If they got close enough we we would be in some serious trouble.

I had to act and I had to act fast. I gathered Mana and built the spell matrices to enhance my body, both regarding strength and agility. Then I gathered some more energy and roared a challenge at the approaching dwarves even as I burst forth from our small group to charge straight at them.

That alone was enough to stagger them, even if only for a moment. Another head sized stone slammed into their midst, tearing an arm of the unfortunate dwarf to be in its way. Then I was amidst them and the rest of world stopped mattering for a moment or two.

I jabbed the tip of my glaive through the visor in the helmet of one warrior and smashed my shield into the face of another with enough force to break their spine. A kick gave me some room and I jabbed my glaive into and through the chain links protecting the axle of another, almost tearing his arm off in the process.

Spear tips scraped across the wyvern scales of my own armor. Axes and swords left no more than the most superficial scratches although I could still feel the blows they delivered. I was glad for the padded clothing I wore under the scale mail. I would suffer some bruises but that was still better than having actually broken bones.

I tore through some more chain link protecting a joint on another dwarf. His death screams and those of the others I had hit with my deadly main weapon gave the rest pause. Some backed off a few steps as they could witness firsthand how their comrades died in pain and misery. A few even threw away their weapons and ran. Most still held though.

Another sling projectile smashed into the helmet of one of the dwarves still facing me, turning the head it was supposed to protect into a bloody mess oozing out at the edges.

I decided to make full use of my magically enhanced strength and brought my glaive's blade down upon another. My target was probably as surprised as I was as the blade actually parted the plate of his steal collar, biting deep into his shoulder. Then he screamed. I left my glaive where it was for a moment, drawing one of my knives instead. I jabbed it deep into the neck of another who had not put his armor on properly, foregoing the protection a plate collar would have offered him.

A spray of blood covered me as I pulled it free again. I didn't pause though, jabbing the blade into the back of another dwarve's knee instead. I didn't pull it free this time, leaving it where it was instead as the dwarf writhed on the ground. I pulled my glaive free of the now dead man I had let it stuck in instead. It came free with surprising ease as the flesh around it had already turned black and rotted.

Another shield bash broke another neck. And my glaive took the lives of several more of the king's royal guard. And still they hadn't managed to land a single decisive blow upon me. Just as well. Apparently that was too much for them though, as the last few broke ranks to flee instead of facing me.

I didn't know where those fleeing would go but right now I didn't really care either. If they put down their weapons in the end all would be well. If not, well we would deal with them in time. I turned back to face my companions. Apparently they had been victorious as well. Some of the princess' guard lay dead among the king's men as well but not many.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. Finally I had time to properly take in our surroundings. The king's hall certainly deserved the name. Rows of ornate, giant columns supported the equally intricately decorated arching roof far above us. Big braziers provided some light, as did light shafts that had to reach all the way to the surface. It was a true marvel of architecture.

What really caught my eye though was what covered much of the floor all the way to the throne on its raised dais and beyond. Gold coins. Thousands upon thousands of coins were glinting in the flickering light of the braziers. No, I wasn't quite sure if there was a number big enough to do this mountain of accumulated wealth justice.

It was a sea of gold piled at least several paces high at its center, stretching well beyond my field of vision. And there rising from his throne, clad in gold decorated armor and holding the long chain of big spiked steel ball was the king I had come to face.

He hadn't bothered with a helmet, wearing a crown instead. A crown of a kind I was, by now, all too familiar with. Curiously enough he hadn't been turned into an undead mockery of his former self though. He had been changed in a different way. His beard was a mess, as was his hair and his unsteady gaze spoke of the madness that must have taken root in his mind.

He raised his heavy weapon with surprising ease, whirling it overhead before sending the heavy, spiked steel ball crashing into the sea of gold at his feet. Countless coins were sent flying dozens of paces as it left a deep crater. He laughed like only a madman could before calling out to no one in particular. “Witness my wealth! Witness my might! Witness me and despair!”

“Madness.” The princess' whisper was barely audible. She seemed shaken though and the same was true for her remaining guards.

Then, as if to answer the king's maddened call, the mountain shook. A roar that put every I could have produced to shame rang out, and again the mountain shook.

Heaps of coins obviously did not exactly provide sure footing as the king found out a moment later as the whole giant pile of treasure started moving as the mountain shook again.

I had to brace myself against a nearby wall as well. A wave of heat washed over me. As I looked over my shoulder I could see the tall main gate starting to glow a deep red, brightening little by little with every passing moment. I could only stare in shock.

It was Yath'zur's hand on my shoulder that helped me shake of cold grasps of fear as he shouted in my ear. “Dragon! Its a Maiden's damned dragon! Of course it is! Considering they gathered a mountain of treasure to lure it here!” He pulled me away and finally the others started moving as well. Only the king remained lying where he had falling, all the while laughing like a madman. Even when the grand gate finally gave in he still laughed.

Even more heat washed over me as a creature of terrifying legends sent the remains of the gate flying into the great hall with a slap of its tail. I had seen wyvern. I had even seen one that was a true giant among its kind. They didn't even come close to the terrifying majesty of the creature that now made its way into the hall.

Yath'zur pulled my glaive from my hands and pushed me at his sister. “Run! Run you fools!”

Maybe I should have protested. Maybe I should have stood my ground. Then and there I could barely keep from stumbling and falling as Gash'zur pulled me along, dodging around columns and into a side corridor that lead deeper into the mountain. All I could do was try to keep up, even as the dragon roared once more behind us. Then fire flooded the grand hall and the columns that had stood proud and tall for uncounted generations started to collapse behind us.