Mikka of Cimmera V

Drayton and Mikka braved the darkness, yet... fearful. Still, they remained grim as they put one leather booted foot in front of the other, the lure of riches too strong to resist. At every score or so of steps Drayton marked with walls with a glowing green dye, Mikka knew when playing the grave robber's game a man as this was without value.1

Cautious tunnels merged with cautious passages that merged with more. Flickering light lit obscene images carved on the lambent walls, their shadows dancing in long forgotten rites. Beasts scholars thought extinct rampaged lands now vanished. Sages and wizards ramrodded rows and rows of men dragging monolithic blocks - perhaps the luckless slaves that built this place? Cobwebbed and spider filled holes gaped their curses, but remained silent, too ancient to speak.2

There was only blackness and gold ahead, there was only blackness and failure behind.3

At last, deep within the sepulchre's maw, their torches failed to light the ceiling or the walls. They had entered a mighty chamber.4

"This is it," he said, looking up and around but seeing only darkness. "The sacrificial chamber, right where the map said it would be."5

Mikka waved her torch, lofty but still lineaments with sparkling eyes answered each swing. "Diamonds," she whispered, knowing the high-grade reflection.6

"Statues with diamond eyes guarding-" he started.7

"Altars of gold and platinum," she finished.8

"Aye." He looked for something on the ground, he found it: A culvert filled with oil that snaked the chamber and lined the far-off walls. It was thick and black and still ripe after all the aeons. Into it he tossed his torch...9

Flames slowly spread as the chamber awoke. The freezing sight of the entrance paled before this: Statues, scores and scores plus, twice any man's height with stone spears at their sides circled, in perfect formation, several aureate altars, a dozen steps high each. And, tipping each altar, platinum blocks abutting a gaping pit... The statue's eyes tinkled with perfectly cut diamonds, each well-nigh the size of a man's fist, but a few score worth a kingdom in of themselves. More: Precious stones glistened everywhere. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, agate, more... They scattered the walls and the floor, they adorned the hilts and the belts of the statues. The chamber tinkled in an awesome sight of red and blue and yellow in a way no man had seen in aeons.10

Perhaps ever. For in this chamber a haul no king or emperor could match in a hundred reigns.11

"Crom," whispered Mikka, nearly dropping her torch. "A haul I have never dreamt... Yet so obvious, so close to the mainland..."12

"The mainland," answered Drayton, "is remote and populated by wild men with no interest in jewels. The whole of The Misty Coast, the chanties croon, is as mystery addled as it be haunted." He looked around, pleased with himself. "Still, Kinatar knows how many treasures lay hidden in plain sight, forever unseen under blind men's noses."13

They drew their swords then made their way amongst the statues, each half expecting one to come to life... 14

Not a one moved.15

Atop an altar Mikka noted the platinum sacrifice blocks, the blood-channels draining into a fathom wide pit still smooth today. Channels, she knew, to guide the blood of the beheaded, given to whatever gods ruled. She looked into the pit then threw her torch down, watching it disappear into flickering blackness, below...16

On the altar next Drayton ran a hand over a block. "By the winds of Kinatar, where in the hell did they find all this? It will take a score of men with a score of levers and block-and-tackle to haul but one of these out."17

"Aye," she said, sheathing. She clapped her hands to mark her growing greed. "To the devil with the blocks, my interest lies with the jewels around, a haul of all hauls! Gold. Emerald. Platinum. Diamond. I care not for it all spends the same! Where do we begin-?"18

"Have a care girl," he hissed, sheathing. "Heed your own words you spoke but a few sand-glasses ago: The ancients never give up their treasures without a fight. I have been in a chamber with riches such as this, a score years hence. One of us stepped wrong, the walls came down around our ears." He studied the blocks, then the walls, then the ceiling.19

Mikka, heeding his words well, stood still and watched. She had never been surrounded by such wealth. What she could buy with spoils she didn't know and she didn't care: For the whole of her life she had nothing, she owned nothing, she desired... Nothing. She swallowed, hating her greed of moments ago. What could she possibly do with all this? It would take a hundred lifetimes to spend even in the most extravagant of ways. Luxury and the caresses of pretty young boys? Fine in dabs, a reward for hard earned work, but a lifetime so? To what end? She hated the soft beds, he always slept better on the dirt with her sword in her hand and jumping at the shadows. Still, a loot-sack full of diamonds could ease her travels... She looked to the well-nigh thrice aged Drayton. Aged, weary and tired of the nooses and knives to his back, his choices were far clearer. And for it she could not blame him.20

For the first time in her life she felt humbled. She was not the master here, but the inexperienced whelp. She now knew why when he dared called her girl, her blood never rose for it.21

"What bothers you?" she finally asked.22

"Ahh," he whispered, pointing up. "I knew it." She looked up, seeing what she didn't even think to look for: "See those blocks, the ones without jewels and each the size of a small galleon? Look to the edges; they're set to come down. Worse, from the pattern I can see they'll bring the entire ceiling down with them. Such a trap would require a heavy trigger..." He tapped a platinum block. "And I'd wager your share and mine it would be these."23

"Crom and Mitra," she intoned. "Why go to the effort of hauling a score or more of a king's ransom just to bury it under a mountain?"24

"Huh." He spat down the pit. "To whomever built this place this glittering lot was worthless, for gold and sapphires cannot be eaten. It was never about riches but paying vast homages to what gods they held. And they were willing to protect their offering at all cost."25

"Bah," she snorted, descending the steps. "And god demanding so much backbreaking toil isn't a god but a despotic, worthless parasite. All a Cimmerian ever asks of Crom is a strong sword-arm and the will to use it. He grants it lest we earn it, nothing more. And this is how it should be."26

"Of that," he said, descending, "you'll get nary an argument from a man who worships no real gods at all. It matters not: Precious gems are the lighter fare anyways. I think a full loot-sack would sate the greed of any man, none more so than mine!"27

"Aye," she nodded in in wide-eyed agreement.28

Mikka wandered amongst the statues, of cracked and aged stone, tall and proud as they guarded their secrets. Their eyes glittered, watching the shadows beyond... Then, she noticed many were missing their eyes, there were many empty holes where a ruby once sat. She frowned then laughed, encouraged: They weren't the first tomb robbers to find this place.29

"Crom," she whispered, "I should've known that map didn't ink itself!"30

Still, plenty of loot abound, if not on the statues then on the walls. There may be a woman within her yet, she was drawn to the eerie sparkle of the greatest gem of all: The diamond. So then, she rubbed her hands, smiling, which statue will she climb first? 31

Two rows down, something moved without a sound.32

In less than a heartbeat she had unsheathed her sword. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. The flickering flames danced rainbow shadows in every direction, the statues themselves seemed to waver back and forth...33

She crouched then crept, as swift and as silent as the panthress she was, focusing on the area she thought she may of seen... Nothing. She stood, sheathing and cursing her connate Cimmerian's fear of the arcane. She readied her loot-sack, ready for the plunder.34

A sharp blow on the back of her head preluded a heavy darkness...