Page 26 of Valentine's Day Treasure

“I need it right now,” she said and pulled away from him. When she came back out she was smiling. “There’s water and towels and everything. I love it.”

He held out his hand to her, and when she took it, they went to the front door. Graeme opened it with a touch but only stuck his head in. The one room was covered with dust and obviously had not been entered since the last time he and Heather had been inside. He pulled the door closed and they went around to the back. Once there, Heather pulled away and went straight to the hidden cellar doors. She knelt and touched the ground and the doors appeared. Graeme gave a low whistle of appreciation, then moved in close to grab the door pulls. He heaved both doors open, then stepped in and down and picked up a lantern from the steps. He lit the wick with his fingers, then he reached back for Heather’s hand, and they descended together. Almost immediately, Graeme felt a strange suspicion, although he could not say why.

Be on yer guard,he told Heather inruhi.Someone’s been here.

Her temperature flared high, and stayed high, and she squeezed his hand. He squeezed back and they continued down the steps, fully alert and ready for anything. When they were almost to the treasure room, the steps opened up into a brick-lined room that had never been there before.

Ach,he said.This is new.

He held the lantern high. In the middle of the room was a massive, locked, wooden treasure chest, with metal bars on the sides meant to be dragon holds for transport. Sitting on top of the chest was a much smaller chest, one the size of a breadbox.

In step with his mate, still holding her hand, Graeme circled the square, stone room and found no strange scents, no traps or calling cards, only an exit at the back that led to more steps. He knew what he would find inside the chest, because this had happened before. What he didn’t know was who had packed Rhen’s gold for him.

Whoever it was has come and gone,he told his mate.And left no wee tricks for us, only a chest full of gold to be moved.

She shook her head and looked at him, her expression distressed.This room wasn’t here before.

Aye, and won’t be again. Once we take this gold, the room will disappear.

How do you know?

Because I’ve seen it—not here, but at a nearby site, centuries ago. The gold was packed by an unkent guest, then placed in a room that did not exist before or after.

Unkent—unknown?

Aye.

Like a leprechaun or something?

Graeme looked around the room. Afoxenmore likely.

A foxen!?

Aye.

I thought they worked for Khain.

Aye, but sometimes they work for Rhen. They are the onlyshiftenwho can choose either. Besidesdragen, foxenare the best choice to guard Rhen’s gold because natural laws govern all, including the hiding of things, andfoxenstudy those laws and are good with them.

How does Rhen know they won’t steal her gold?

Afoxenwho has learned to work for Rhen has their own gold and no want to steal the gold of others.

Heather fell silent. Graeme led her back around so they stood facing the front of the chest, suspecting what the smaller chest was, and wondering if Heather did. He turned to look at her, and as he did, she pulled her hand from his, gasped, and pointed at the small chest.

“The gift from my dream!” she blurted out. Her voice did not echo, but seemed to be sucked up by the brick all around them.

“Aye,” Graeme said proudly. He took her hand again, leading her toward the exit at the back of the room, switching back toruhi, saying,We’ll check on the rest of the gold, before we take possession of this.

14—Everlasting Flame

Heather let herself be led away, still looking back at the two chests. Graeme pulled her through the doorway, and they went down more stairs, all the way to the bottom, into the treasure cave. Heather was silent as Graeme inspected the piles and stacks of gold and other precious metals and gems. Rhen’s gold had not all been packaged—some stayed behind, and the rooms were full of more treasure. Some was Graeme’s, some belonged to others, and all seemed in order.

Back up the steps they went, until they were again standing in front of the chest.

“Go on, then, open it,” Graeme said, releasing Heather’s hand.

She approached the large chest, then reached her hand out to touch the metal lock of the small chest on top. It clicked open as soon as she touched it. Heather made a noise of disbelief, and then she lifted the lid of the chest, revealing a leather bag atop a closed compartment. Graeme recognized the bag at once, and knew what was in it. He felt a strange mixture of anticipation and apprehension as Heather opened the bag and pulled out a golden, filigreed diadem Graeme knew well—when his mother had been alive, she’d worn it several times in her human form, mostly in rituals. In the very center of it was a burning flame smaller than a dime—an everlasting flame.

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