Part 7: Treasure

"Your idea was good, Darion," said Morningstar after we had turned the sarcophagus lid halfway around. "You just got in a bit of a hurry to try it." "Indeed," I said, feeling foolish. I looked into the sarcophagus; lying atop the mummified remains inside I saw a sword, held in both bony hands with the point toward the corpse's feet. The golden blade was untarnished; the huge ruby set into the cross-guard shone in the torchlight. I didn't reach for it, though I found myself sorely tempted. "Barthal," I said, "tell me, is it safe to reach within?" The Halfling climbed up onto the edge of the platform and leaned over the sarcophagus, peering around within. "I don't see a trap," he remarked after careful study. "Do you think the dead one, there, will rise up if you touch his sword?" "He might," answered Apoqulis, "but I doubt it. The skeletons were likely the only guardians in this tomb." All eyes seemed to be on me. Reluctantly I reached within, grasping the sword by the blade with my mailed glove so as to avoid touching the corpse. The long-dead chieftain didn't want to part with his weapon, but after a bit of twisting I worked it loose. Shaking bits of desiccated flesh from the hilt, I grasped the weapon properly and held it aloft. It felt good in my hand… I wondered what magic it might contain? Barthal's voice shook me out of my contemplation. "Look here!" he said, and I looked down. He had opened a secret panel in the platform… and as I looked on, gold and silver coins began to spill out. Barthal cried out gleefully, "Jackpot!"