“Maybe it’s a warning.” Aphra knelt next to one.

“I think they were Tamburah’s servants who helped hide his treasure.” Shyla pointed to a rusted knife lodged between one of the skeleton’s ribs.

“Speaking of treasure, where is it?” Jayden asked.

Increasing her magic, she scanned the walls. Nothing.

“Don’t tell me someone already took it?” Aphra’s voice held disappointment. She straightened. “Unfortunately, it happens more often than not.”

No. Shyla refused to believe that they’d come all this way to find nothing. She paced around the room, almost tripping over the skeletons’ feet. That gave her an idea. Sweeping the sand away from the center of the floor, Shyla revealed a symbol. This one was a simple swirl.

Shyla set her druk down, crouched and pressed both her palms to the swirl. She pushed with her magic and the ground collapsed underneath her.

With a cry, she tumbled forward. Jayden shouted her name as she fell into a hole that expanded into steps. Rolling down the hard stone staircase, she kept her chin tucked close to her chest so she wouldn’t break her neck. She landed hard, sprawling at the bottom with a thump. Pain radiated up her back and ringed her ribs. Her lungs refused to work.

Jayden rushed down the steps then bent over her. “Are you all right?”

Unable to speak, she nodded. Aphra, Jaft and Vashi soon clustered around her in concern. The added light illuminated the room. Shyla caught a glimmer from the corner of her eye. She sucked in a breath and labored to sit up.

Jayden helped her. “What’s wrong?”

Pointing over his shoulder, she gasped, “Tamburah.”

Everyone spun to look. A life-sized, golden statue of Tamburah sparkled in the druk light. Behind him were shelves filled with treasure.

Whoops of joy echoed in the small room. Finally something that went right! Shyla was abandoned as everyone raced over to inspect the items on the shelves. Even though pain still pulsed, she struggled to her feet and joined the others. Everyone grinned and hugged as they celebrated. While thrilled they’d solved one of their biggest problems, there was a part of Shyla that longed to share the good news with Rendor.

Aphra donned a crown of gold, platinum, and silver all twisted together with emeralds decorating it. It was one of many crowns and scepters. Chalices, bowls, jewelry, hairpins, an army of smaller Tamburah statues—Shyla added narcissistic to his long list of faults—all sparkled in the yellow druk light. The collection filled five deep shelves. Too many items to count, but that didn’t stop Jaft from trying.

Jayden shook his head in amazement. “I’d no idea this was here.”