They passed the bodies of Lord Geop and Lord Kueryn on the way to the now opened sigil inscribed wall. Haran didn’t even cast a glance toward their bodies as he walked by.
Beyond the wall, there was a short passage leading away. One of Haran’s men held a torch and something at the other end of the passage was reflecting its light. Haran paused before stepping upon the first step leading to the dais. Turning to Bart, he asked, “Is it safe?”
“Allow me to lead the way, my lord,” Bart replied. “There is a way through that I’m certain is safe.”
Haran nodded for him to proceed.
Taking the lead as he often does, Bart led them up the steps and across the dais. As they entered the passage they began making out details of the room at the other end. Situated in the center was a thin, five foot iron stand. Atop the stand was the source of what had been reflecting the torch’s light. It was a massive diamond, easily the size of a man’s fist.
As they came to the edge of the room, they paused in awe. The room was octagonal in shape with four of the sides being walls, another three were openings to alcoves and the last opened onto the passage in which they stood. The four walls of the room were constructed of black marble and each bore one of the four coats of arms inlaid with silver.
The floor of the room was of black marble as well. A circular band of darker black formed a circle with a ten foot diameter around the iron stand. Within the band were more arcane symbols inlaid in silver. The ceiling was domed and constructed of unadorned black marble.
“Look!” Chad said as he pointed to one of the alcoves. Within sat a single chest. The other two alcoves also bore but a single chest.
“Is that it?” asked Chyfe. “I would have thought there would be more to it than this.”
Riyan turned to Bart. “Do you think it’s safe to enter?” he asked.
“Probably,” he replied. “After having to use the key to gain access, I doubt if there would be any traps here. So far the places that we’ve come across that were hidden in a similar manner didn’t have any traps.”
“Good enough for me,” Riyan said. Stepping into the room, he walked toward the large diamond in the center of the room. “This must be worth a fortune!”
“It’s the largest diamond I have ever seen,” commented Bart coming up behind him. He reached out to take it then paused before his hand touched it.
“What?” asked Riyan.
Bart shook his head. “Nothing,” he said then reached out and grabbed hold of the diamond. Lifting it off the iron stand, he brought it close and examined its facets. “This is incredible.” Glancing to Riyan, he grinned and then put it in his belt pouch for safe keeping.
“Bart,” Chad hollered from where he stood within one of the alcoves, “this chest is locked.”
Taking out his picks, he headed to the chest and quickly had it opened. Within, were a dozen large gems.
“What?” asked Chad. “That’s it?”
“There could be more in the other chests,” suggested Riyan.
“There was more than this in Algoth!” he exclaimed. “Where are the piles of gold and silver?”
“Algoth?” asked Haran.
As Bart went to the next alcove to open that chest, Riyan replied, “It was one of the places where we found a part of the key.”
“Ah,” Haran said.
Chad busied himself in gathering the gems at the bottom of the chest. Despite his misgivings at there being so few, he had to admit that each were incredibly valuable. Perhaps on their own worth more than a pile of gold and silver. They also had the added benefit of being easier to transport.
“More gems,” Bart hollered from the next alcove.
The others hurried over and found there to be the exact same number as was in the first one. This time, Chyfe and Riyan gathered them while Bart went to the third and final chest.
Riyan emerged from the alcove and saw Haran watching him. Reaching into his pack, he offered him two of the gems. “We each get a share,” he replied.
But to his astonishment, Haran declined the offer. “Thank you, but no,” Haran said. “Taking from the dead is not our way.”
“Ha!” Chyfe said as he came to stand with Riyan. “We’ve seen how you treat the dead.”
When Haran looked confused, Riyan explained about what they had seen near the Wrath of Hennon.
Anger suffused Haran. “I had not heard about that!” he exclaimed. Turning to Lord Hurrin, he asked, “Did you know of this?”
Lord Hurrin hung his head and failed to meet Haran’s eyes, which was all the answer needed.
“How could you have allowed such an abomination?” he demanded.
Turning pained eyes to Haran, Lord Hurrin replied, “I did speak out against it but your uncle wouldn’t listen.”
“It will take much to set this right,” Haran said. “And you shall be the one to do it!”
“Yes my lord,” he said.
Haran glared at the lord for a few more moments then returned his gaze to Riyan and Chyfe. “Such is not our way, truly,” he said. “We will set to right as best we can what travesties my uncle has wrought.”
“I hope so,” Chyfe said.
Just then, Chad emerged from the third alcove. “More gems,” he told them as he held up his pack. “With these we’ll not have to worry about coins for the rest of our lives.” Crossing the room to his friend, he added, “Still, not what one would call a Horde.”
“True,” Riyan agreed.
Chad came to Bart and asked, “You don’t suppose there could be a secret entrance to the ‘real’ horde do you?”
“Maybe,” he replied. Glancing around at the way the room was laid out, he said, “I’ll take a look around.”
“While you do that,” Riyan told him, “I’ll go see how Kevik and Seth are doing.” Then with that, he turned and headed for the short passage leading from the room. Haran and his men went with him as did Chyfe.
“I never properly thanked you for saving me that day at Marl Crest,” Haran said.
“We were glad to do it,” he replied. “After all, if it hadn’t been for us, you never would have been captured in the first place.” He glanced to the new Warlord of the Orack Tribe. “Anyway, I think we’re even now.”
Haran laughed. “So it would seem.”
They found Seth revived though physically weak. Soth saw them coming first and said to Haran, “Your potion saved his life.”
“I’m glad,” Haran responded.
“How is Kevik?” asked Chyfe.
“I checked on him a few minutes ago,” explained Soth. “He was alive and some of the burned areas had shown signs of healing.”
“I’m going to take a look,” Riyan announced. Moving out, he left the twins as he and the others walked down toward where the gem’s glow bathed Kevik in a soft light.
“So,” Haran said as he came to look upon Kevik. “This is the one who bested Geffen.” He glanced to Riyan and added, “Geffen was one of the most powerful and skilled magic users I have ever encountered.”
Riyan only nodded.
Kevik still looked bad. His face was splotchy with patches of burned skin, the front part of his scalp was bereft of hair leaving only a small, singed patch in the back.
“Kevik?” asked Riyan. When the magic user failed to respond, Riyan turned back toward Haran. “You wouldn’t have another healing potion would you?”
“Yes I do,” he replied. Reaching into his cloak, he pulled forth another vial similar to the one he had given Soth. “Here,” he said as he handed it to Riyan. “It’s the last.”
“Thank you.” Taking the vial, Riyan pulled the stopper and let a few drops drip onto Kevik’s lips. “Come on Kevik,” he said as he allowed several more drops to fall.
Drop by drop, he administered the potion to Kevik. Once the last had passed his lips, Riyan sat back and
