Orc Wars 2 : Lazarus

Chapter 40 - Constantine's Orb Trial Part 4

The five looked at each other.

All were dirty and covered in grey granite dust, or at least Valentine hoped it was just plain harmless granite dust. No use thinking about dry bone dust from crushed skeletons or debris from decayed people or something horrible like that. Nope, no cobwebs or little ancient dead insects in the mix either, it was just plain good old ordinary stone dust. Yup, that's it, no need to worry. He nodded to himself convincingly.

Tania and Anya sneezed. Nyx was dusting off her clothes and blinking tears from her eyes.

"Let's go." Lazarus lowered his arm from his face and led the way.

The great doors shut with a boom behind them.

"Great," Valentine muttered.

The chamber was just as well lighted as the passageway which they came from. Flickering torches lined the four walls, showing off its masterpieces. Ancient symbols, pictures and hieroglyphs were crammed onto every wall. Every bit of space was covered.

Nyx gave a silent thank you to Constantine. She did not like being blind in total darkness.

"Umm, is that a good sign?" Valentine asked. "That the walls are covered in writings and stuff."

"At least there are no pictures of warriors. I don't like them." Tania said.

Lazarus looked around. After his surfing blitz and cramming on ancient Egypt, some of the symbols were familiar.

"I'm not sure but I think they are to keep whatever is in here ... in." Lazarus turned 360 degrees slowly to view the whole room. "Even if the evil Priestess escaped her coffin, she would not be able to get out of this room."

The lighted chamber was huge and empty except for a single sarcophagus. It was placed in the middle of the bare room on a raised platform with steps leading up to it. The face of a woman was painted on it.

"The Priestess."

Their footsteps echoed on the stone floor as they made their way to the sarcophagus. They climbed up the steps and examined the painted face. She was beautiful.

"Shall we?" Lazarus asked. "On the count of three."

They each took hold of the top.

"One, two, THREE!"

They heaved together lifting the top half of the stone sarcophagus. It slid off easily and crashed to the ground. Loud echoes bounced off the walls.

"Shhhhh!!!" Nyx jumped in alarm and looked around guiltily.

"It sure slid off easily for a supposedly heavy stone cover," Lazarus said frowning. "I guess Constantine had to make sure a lone Hero could complete the Trial."

He peered into the sarcophagus curiously. There was a polished oblong marble coffin nestled cosily inside.

"Wow."

He placed his hands on the marble slab on top. "Let me try and see if I can lift it alone."

"Okay. Everybody stand back."

Lazarus pushed the slab askew before lifting a corner. His muscles bulged with the effort and he had to use his whole body's strength against the heavy marble, but he managed it.

"Ughhhh!! Argghhh!!"

The smooth solid cover fell inside the sarcophagus between the space of the coffin and its outer painted shell. A weird cloying musty smell wafted up from the mummified body within. The mummy's yellowing wrappings were tattered and almost falling apart showing bits of withered leathery brown skin and grey bone.