Abuud: the One-Eyed God (43 page)

He emerged in the burial chamber. He wasn't quite sure why he was moving stealthily, but he walked softly to the sarcophagus. He gazed again at the intricate carving on the lid and then examined how it was fastened to the coffin. He could not find any latches holding the lid in place. Tedi drew his dagger and tried to slide it between the lid and the body of the sarcophagus, but he feared breaking his knife. He sheathed his knife and laid the torch on the floor.

Tedi placed his hands on the lid and began to push. At first the lid refused to budge, and he strained as he exerted more pressure. Finally, the lid moved slightly, and Tedi stood up and let his muscles cease their quivering. He was anxious to see what was inside the coffin, but the rim of the sarcophagus was too wide. The lid had not been moved far enough. Tedi moved to the stairway and stood listening to the faint voices to make sure that Arik and Wylan were not coming.

Tedi returned to the sarcophagus and placed his hands on the lid again. Once again he tried easing the lid a little further, but it would not move. In frustration, Tedi pushed as hard as he could. The lid slid swiftly across the coffin and teetered as it rested on only one rim. His first thought was to find something to prop the lid up in case it wobbled and fell. He turned to search the room and felt an icy tingle run up his spine as the crash reverberated through the room. He whirled to see the lid gone. When the reverberations died, Tedi heard the running footsteps pounding down the stairs. He sighed as he bent down and picked up his torch.

"What happened?" shouted Wylan. "Are you alright?"

"What are you doing, Tedi?" scowled Arik.

"I didn't mean to break it," protested Tedi. "I was looking for something to prop it up when it fell."

"I can almost picture that," frowned Arik, "but why were you opening it? I do not like stealing, even from the dead."

"I have heard stories of kings being buried with jewels and gold," shrugged Tedi. "I figured nobody would ever miss it. I am sorry, but we might as well look now."

Tedi turned and held his torch over the coffin. He gasped as Arik and Wylan came running over.

"It is the breastplate in the vision!" Tedi exclaimed. "Not a carving of it, the real thing."

"What is this vision you keep talking about?" Wylan asked as he gazed down at what had been a skeleton wearing the breastplate. Now the bones had turned to dust.

"The Sword of Heavens shows us visions sometimes," explained Arik. "Normally it is a vision of the gem required by the sword and the creatures who possess it. This time, it was just a vision of this breastplate."

"Then you should take it," declared Wylan. "King Auric does not need it any more. Plus you said that something was guiding you to come here. What if it wanted you to find the breastplate, and the statue of Abuud was just an excuse to get you here?"

"He is right," agreed Tedi. "As much as you do not care for taking things from the dead, you cannot afford to leave this behind. It may be important to the Ancient Prophecy."

"It is not mentioned in the Ancient Prophecy," argued Arik.

"Do you think the Sword of Heavens issues its visions for no reason?" countered Tedi as he reached in and grabbed the breastplate.

"This is way too light to be a breastplate," frowned Tedi as he handed the breastplate to Arik. "It weighs almost nothing at all. It can't be metal. It is more like a decoration worn under your tunic."

"It is very light," nodded Arik. "Seeing as you have already defiled this grave, it makes sense to take it with us. I do wish you would refrain from your old habits though."

"It comes naturally," shrugged Tedi with a grin on his lips. "Perhaps it is a talent the gods have granted me."

"Put it on," urged Wylan. "Let's see what it looks like on a king."

"It just came off a dead body," frowned Arik. "Besides, it looks like a ceremonial breastplate and meant for the king. I am not the king."

"Yet," grinned Wylan. "And the body has been dead so long that you need not fear catching anything from it. Plus what better way to carry something valuable? You could lose your pack and that includes what you put in it. Try it on."

"It looks too big for me," frowned Arik as he stripped off his weapons and his tunic.

Arik eased the breastplate over his head and pulled it down. As soon as he had it on, the red eyes of the serpent-like creature burst into brilliance that bathed the room in a red glow. The glow slowly subsided and the brilliance of the eyes returned to normal. While the breastplate had looked overly large before, it now fit Arik snugly.

"What do you suppose that was?" questioned Tedi. "This is getting really weird."

"It didn't hurt us," remarked Wylan. "I take the glow as a good omen."

"I cannot even feel it," frowned Arik. "I feel like my chest is naked, but I can see the breastplate clearly. I think there is something magical about it."

"You think?" laughed Tedi. "Put your tunic back on and let's get to cutting some wood."

"We don't have the tools to fell trees," stated Wylan. "We will need to search the jungle floor for pieces that we can use."

Arik put his tunic on over the breastplate and picked up his weapons. The three boys returned through the great hall to the small entrance chamber. They extinguished the torches before exiting to the jungle.

"What do we do after we build this sled?" asked Tedi. "It is a long haul back to the boat."

"Very long," frowned Wylan. "Not to mention the cannibals between here and there."

"One of us could go get the boat while the others build the sled," suggested Arik.

"Just one of us on the island trails is dangerous," argued Tedi. "If he met anyone at all, he would die."

"Maybe not," mused Arik. "We did not meet any opposition on the beach. I am willing to bet that the beach below us goes all the way around to the boat. It would probably be a lot faster than through the jungle, too. The trails we took to get here were anything but straight."

"You are right," agreed Tedi enthusiastically. "Most of the time our choice of trails was poor at best. I will go for the boat while you two carpenters build whatever it is you are going to build."

"Alright, fisherboy," laughed Arik. "I was wondering how you were going to get out of the real work."

"It's just another talent the gods gave me," grinned Tedi. "Hurry up and get the building started. I plan to run the whole way, and I don't want any work left over when I return."

"Can he sail the boat alone?" asked Wylan after Tedi had left.

"He can," nodded Arik. "He is a natural at it. Let's get gathering the wood. I will check to the right and you go left."

Arik and Wylan searched and gathered wood until it became too dark to see. They met back outside the Tomb of the King.

"Tedi is not here yet?" frowned Wylan.

"The scow was not that close," replied Arik. "He will sail it here during the night. You will see it in the morning. He will probably drop the anchor offshore and get some sleep."

"Can he find us during the night?" inquired Wylan.

"Not really," frowned Arik. "The best he can do is approximate. Perhaps we should build a fire."

"What about attracting attention?" objected Wylan.

"There is nothing alive in this section of the jungle," answered Arik. "Everything is afraid of the mountain. I think smoke coming from the vicinity of the volcano would not make anyone curious with this mountain about to blow."

"Shouldn't we be afraid, too?" asked Wylan.

"Yes," nodded Arik. "I am afraid, but we must complete this task. The problem will be with the wood needed to build the sled. Most of the wood that we have found is rotten. It will not hold the weight of the statue. We don't have enough good wood to build anything."

"We could look some more in the morning," suggested Wylan.

"We will have to," agreed Arik. "In the meantime, we will burn some of the rotten wood and have something warm to eat. After the meal I will introduce you to our method of practice. We did not bring the wooden practice swords with us, but we can use some branches for staffs."

"You practice with staffs, too?" asked Wylan.

"Yes," nodded Arik. "Also bow, knives, and stars. Alex also taught us many other important skills such as tracking and hiding our tracks. I am afraid that we have not been very good about using those skills on this trip. That will not happen again."

"I would like to meet Alexander Tork," declared Wylan as he helped Arik build a fire. "Do you think we will ever get the chance?"

"Of course," grinned Arik. "We normally travel together, but this trip caused us to become separated. As soon as we deliver the statue we will be heading back to join up with him."

"I look forward to that," grinned Wylan. "I have heard so many stories about him. Many think he is dead."

"They have spent many years searching for the Children of the Prophecy," explained Arik. "They had assumed many names and disguises so those seeking to kill them did not distract them from their task."

"They?" frowned Wylan as he heated some dry meat over the flames of the fire. "There is not more than one Alexander Tork, is there?"

"No," laughed Arik. "I meant he and his wife, Jenneva."

"The famous magician, Jenneva?" Wylan asked excitedly. "That is his wife?"

"Yes," nodded Arik. "I thought everyone knew that."

"Not me," replied Wylan. "I have heard of both of them, but I never knew they were married. I have never heard Jenneva's last name. I didn't know she had one. I cannot believe the friends you travel with. I hope you continue to allow me to travel with you."

"You are welcome to join us," chuckled Arik. "Just be prepared to see things that you will not believe you are seeing."

A tiny figure shot down out of the sky and landed on Arik's knee. Wylan saw it arrive, leaped to his feet, and drew his sword. Arik swiftly raised his hand to halt any rash move that Wylan might make.

"Greetings Bringer," chirped Prince Midge. "I have been looking for you all day. They did not tell me that this was such a large island. I am fortunate that you have a fire going tonight."

"You are a sight to behold," beamed Arik. "Meet my friend, Wylan. Wylan, this is Prince Midge, prince of the fairy people."

"This is the Prince Midge I heard you talking about?" questioned Wylan as he sheathed his sword and sat back down.

"That is me," grinned Prince Midge as he bowed to Wylan. "There is no other Prince Midge.

"I was worried for you," frowned Arik. "We had to leave Cleb before you returned. How did you ever find me here?"

"You can never hide from a fairy," grinned Prince Midge. "Actually, everybody is waiting for you in Barouk. Alexander, Jenneva, Tanya, Niki, and Master Khatama are all there."

"Now that is exciting," smiled Arik. "It still does not explain how you found us. Did Master Khatama tell you?"

"No," answered Prince Midge, "I spied on the Abuud people. They are sending a band of killers here after you. I traveled with Alex to Barouk."

"How much weight can your levitation spell handle?" asked Arik as he thought of an easier way to move the statue.

"I don't know," answered Prince Midge. "I can lift an ogre, but I have not tried anything bigger."

"Come with me, Midge," ordered Arik as he rose. "We shall see how great your powers are."

Wylan, who had been sitting gaping at the diminutive fairy, rose and followed Arik. Arik lit two torches and handed one to Wylan. They proceeded through the Great Hall and the Burial Chamber to the Chamber of the Gods. Arik pointed to the statue of Abuud.

"That is what we need to move," indicated Arik. "Practice on one of the other statues. We cannot afford to lose the one of Abuud."

"As you command, Bringer," shouted Prince Midge as he leaped into the air.

Prince Midge hovered over a statue. The statue rocked a bit on the pedestal, but it eventually rose. Prince Midge moved away from the pedestal and rotated the statue so that the figure was on its back. Then he gently lowered it to the floor.

"It is very heavy," reported Prince Midge. "I can move it, but not for a great distance. How far does it have to go?"

"To Barouk," chuckled Arik as he watched Prince Midge's face. "Fortunately, we have a scow for most of the journey. We just need to get the statue to the scow."

"That is good," laughed Prince Midge. "I cannot set the statue down in water to rest. Where is the scow?"

"Tedi is getting it now," answered Arik. "He should be here by morning. He will anchor close to where we are."

"Then I should start right away," suggested Prince Midge. "I do not know how long it will take to get the statue out of here and onto the scow. I do not want you to be on this island longer than necessary."

"It will be a strain on you, Prince Midge," stated Arik. "Get a good night's sleep first. Why the rush to get us off the island. Do you know anything about it erupting?"

"No," answered Prince Midge. "I do know that a band of Azmet's men are on this island though. I have seen them several times today. They are looking for you and the statue. They spoke as if you had not covered your tracks well."

"That is true," frowned Arik. "I have forgotten many of my lessons on this trip. I will never repeat those mistakes."

"As for resting," grinned Prince Midge, "a fairy is never too tired to perform for the Bringer. You go rest and I will have Abuud outside by morning. I want you and your friend to be well rested in case the Abuud people get here before we leave."

Arik jolted awake as he heard someone approaching. He looked around and saw the statue of Abuud on its back not far from him. Prince Midge was sleeping on top of it. Arik picked up his weapons and tapped Wylan gently with the end of his bow. Wylan opened his eyes, and Arik put his finger to his lips. Wylan nodded and Arik dashed silently to the statue. He crouched behind it and scooped up Prince Midge. The tiny warrior woke up as Wylan crouched next to Arik. Arik place Prince Midge on his shoulder and then eased into the straps of his weapons. He chose the bow as his weapon of choice and fitted an arrow to the string.