The Chamber of Magdul

Chapter 1

Hand over that box Doctor Aedan Mc Cleod! I am not joking I will use this weapon so make a sensible choice and we can all leave here happy, you with your life and me with my box!

Dr Mc Cleod whipped around startled and saw a strange man in front of him; he could just make out in the light of the torches that he was a big guy, with short red hair and a gold tooth glimmering when the light caught it and he pointing a gun straight at his Aedan’s head.

Who are you? Aedan cried whilst looking nervously around the chamber for more assailants and mostly for something he could use as a shield or weapon, but he could only see cobwebs and dusty old furniture and the high seat with the bones of the long dead king

The voice rang again and his eyes fell back on the barrel of the gun pointed at his head:

There is no one and nothing in here that is going to help you out, we are in the middle of the Outer Hebrides miles away from the nearest form of civilization! So do us all a favour and hand over the box! Or do you propose these old bones will suddenly come alive and protect the young and dashing Dr Mc Cleod?

The laughing echoed in the tomb chamber as the assailant smiled victoriously, worsened by the clear belief that he had a witty mind. Aedan gripping the box under his left arm tighter started to feel the anger boil up inside him and he replied in a threatening tone at the man he could only describe as a brute.

It took me years to locate the tomb of King Leod! Do you really think I am merely going to give you anything I found? Especially this box that may lead me to the key that can tell me about the legends of the Picts! I think not!

Aedan could see the smile disappearing from the brute’s face, a kind of pleasure came over him but more so a feeling of dread, the brute looked dangerous, and he did not know the fate of his excavation team on the outside. Hopefully nothing fatal. They had been digging at what looks like a plain old mound of soil for months. How did anyone know that they actually discovered something worthy? The brute started turning red in the face and Aedan decided it may be better to move as fast as he could out of the way of the gun’s barrel. He dived, aiming for the King’s seat but with that he heard a gunshot go off and felt a pain shooting through his right shoulder, he landed with the box still firmly gripped under his left arm with a crash behind the king´s seat. Aedan felt the warm blood running down his arm but focussed his attention on any sound or hint as to what the brute was doing or where he might be, but it was all silent. Suddenly he felt something grab his collar and pull him out from behind the chair. With a hard thud he landed on the ground, the brute now looming over him.

Who the hell are you and what do you want with the box?  Aedan shouted but the brute just grunted and kicked him in the ribs. He could see another kick coming and retaliated by kicked out as hard as he could and hit the brute on the shin. The brute staggered backwards cursing. Before Aedan could get back on his feet he felt the brute pick him up and slam him hard on the floor. Aedan gasped for breath as felt the box slipped out from under his arm and rolled into the darkness; he panicked but his whole body was aching, before he could try and grab the box he saw the brute drawing closer. Fearing he lost the box to this oaf, who was going to take it and disappear. He tried getting back up but his body was not cooperating. His mind raced but to his relief the assailant didn’t seem to realise the box was lying only about 2 paces from where he Aedan was hidden in the shadows. With renewed optimism and his last effort he grabbed a piece of rubble and threw it at the enemy´s face hitting him on the left cheek. Using the distraction to jump up and punch the brute hard in the throat. The brute started making a choking, gagging sound. He went for the Bute’s gun but the brute saw him coming and pushed his large shoulder heavily into him. The gun went flying through the air and landed on the stone steps leading from the door up to the king’s seat. The big guy still half choking started going for the gun as Aedan instinctively started running after the weapon as well, they reached the gun simultaneously and a struggle ensued, the brute having the better physical strength but he, Aedan, had a smaller build,  being more agile he wormed himself out of the brute´s grip. Finally he felt the cold hard metal of the gun in his hand. He gripped as tight as he could and with a thrust pulled himself away from his attacker, pointing the gun at him.

For the last time!  Who are you and why do you want the box? Aedan cried, still breathing heavily.

His attacker lay still on the ground, also out of breath, the glint in his eyes fading as if he had lost all hope.

The so intelligent Doctor Aedan Mc Cleod. Who didn’t even notice that we have been following you and your progress for the past year. You were so enthralled in your research that we could just sit back and wait for you to bring us right to the treasure. The Brute mocked

He could feel his wounded arm starting to throb, and his body aching but ignoring it, he kept the gun pointed at the brute.

That is not what I asked! And who is this we? Aedan started to feel worried, only more and more questions popping into his mind. 

Wouldn’t you love to know, but unfortunately for you I am not going to divulge any information to you, so you might as well shoot me now, if you have the guts, do you even know how that thing works or must I give you a quick tutorial.

The brute had a taunting ring in his voice, which made him want to pull the trigger, but he wanted answers. Suddenly an echo of footsteps came rushing to the door, closer and closer. He kept the gun on the brute but started to fear it may be one of the brute’s colleagues coming in aid. The brute also looked a bit confused but didn’t take his eyes of Aedan, for a moment they were suspended in time like two statues waiting for the footsteps to reveal its owner.

With a screeching halt the footsteps ended at the open door of the tomb chamber, and in charged a tall slender man in about his fifty’s with a dark beard and a dark brown jacket. He had a flashlight in one hand and a revolver in the other.  He wore black plaid pants, brown leather shoes and a white button shirt. The assailant turned his head to look at the man and for a moment he seemed pleased, but the newcomer pointed his revolver at the brute. At this moment it almost seemed the brute shrunk in size seemingly he had just made a dreadful realization.

Aedan recognized the man, his uncle Morgan Mc Cleod, He felt relieved but slightly suspicious, as it looked like the brute recognised his uncle.  Morgan kept the gun pointed at the downed man, who seemed somehow defeated.

Aedan, my dear boy, are you all right? His uncle cried now, slowly walking towards him, analyzing the situation.

Yes, uncle. What are you doing here? And where is the rest of the excavation crew? He replied wearily, keeping his eye on the brute.

What... what happened here? his uncle asked, ignoring Aedan’s questions and giving the brute a cold hard look.

I was ambushed in the chamber, but I can’t get any information out of the oaf! he said, still pointing at the brute.

For the last time, who are you and who are you working for! Aedan tried again. He felt calm now as he waited for a reply, feeling more in charge of the situation.

Aedan, did you find the box? Where is the box? Morgan cried out, clearly worried.

Aedan was suddenly startled by his uncle’s questions; he glanced quickly at his uncle standing almost beside him now, still pointing his revolver at the now passive intruder.

The box?  Was all Aedan could get out. He had totally forgotten about the box in the scuffle, but now remembered where he had lost it.

Yes, yes the box, the whole reason we went through this excavation... where is it? Morgan’s voice now sounded menacing. Aedan grew a bit more suspicious of his uncle.

The atmosphere in the chamber grew tense.

I did find the box but I lost it in the darkness over there somewhere in the scuffle He pointed with his free hand towards the opposite side of the chamber to where he actually lost the box. Aedan suddenly became very conscious of the fact that his arm was hurting and started to feel a bit dizzy now. But he fought the feeling knowing he had to keep his wits about him. Morgan glanced optimistically towards where Aedan pointed and he seemed to return to normal, mentally marking the spot.

Good, good. Don’t worry, we will get it later. You are bleeding. Sit down. I will take over until the authorities arrive Morgan seemingly satisfied, started looking intently at the assailant pointing the revolver at him as if mentally trying to drive information out of the poor brute.

Aedan couldn’t help but take his uncle’s advice, as he felt dizzy and a bit nauseous. His arm was throbbing, not to mention the rest of his body. He went and sat down close to where the box was, trying to think how he could get it out without anybody noticing, especially his uncle. He had just sat down when they heard another lot of footsteps echoing in the passageway. This time it sounded like more than one person. Suddenly the brute jumped up in one swift action turned to head for the door but suddenly stopped and turned to Aedan, shouting...

"You are a fool, boy, trusting everybody you come across. This is not the last trouble you’ll get, I promise,’’ and pulled out a small handgun hidden inside his jacket’s inner hidden pocket, but before he could do anything a loud bang filled the hall! The footsteps stopped for a moment but then accelerated.

Aedan couldn’t believe his eyes. The brute lay dead on the cold hard floor. His uncle still stood there with the gun pointed at the brute.

Uncle! he shouted helplessly.  Again all he could get out, he wanted to jump up but he was too weak by now.

I had to... he was going to kill you.  I had to shoot him... Morgan repeated shocked and started mumbling something under his breath.

The footsteps finally reached the door, in bumbled a group of people who all stopped when they saw the scene of the large dead body and Aedan’s uncle. One person broke out of the group and headed straight toward him. Aedan recognised him immediately. It was Grit McHandie, Aedan’s excavation leader. Short with a friendly face, he was also in his mid fifty’s and had  dark windblown hair, a short beard and brown eyes, a real tough guy or so he came across. 

Aedan lad are ye alright? Grit gasped out of breath as he hurried closer.

Yes I think so he tried to get up again but struggled a bit and decided to sit back down.

I am glad to see you,oi. Aedan was really glad to see him too, a friendly face he could trust.

Aye we’ve been drugged outside seems someone wanted us all to be knocked out cold but when we came to the police was already here Grit explained in his real thick accent.

Blanket, get me a blanket Grit suddenly shouted but Aedan started feeling really dizzy, spots beginning to dance in front of him, still he was determined to sneak the box out of there. He heard a shuffle around him and felt the blanket being thrown over him.

Can ye stand, would you be able to walk Grit asked as he grabbed Aedan’s good arm and offered support.

Yes I suppose so Aedan started getting up but staggered making sure he went down on top of the box grabbing it and shoving it under the blanket

Whoa laddy Grit warned, grabbing him again and pulling him up.

I’m fine, really let’s go Aedan quickly proclaimed, he got the box so now he could try and regain some of his dignity as they headed towards the door. He could see the other people in the crowd was indeed several policemen now standing over the body and some around his uncle which looked like he was in a very serious and intricate explanation with one policemen and another officer taking notes

They’ll get to ya soon enough Grit huffed next to Aedan, statements urgh he didn’t have the energy for that now he thought. As they entered the hallway leading to the chamber they passed more policemen coming in, reaching the outside door the sunlight hit his face making him squint, the chamber was so dark inside that he had forgotten that it was still daylight outside. Grit took him all the way to the ambulance. He was still clutching the box under the blanket starting to think how he can smuggle the box out without anybody noticing it.

Laddy I’ll take the box for ya, don’t worry I’ll keep it safe and hidden Grit said with a knowing wink in his eye. Before Aedan could ask how he knew Grit put his hand on the box under the blanket and said.

I saw you pick it up and hide it, good attempt but ya didn’t fool me, you can’t take it to the hospital, unwanted eyes might see it Aedan gave up the box to Grit, he was not sure he could trust him totally but he had no other choice, he released the box to Grit whom quickly shoved the box into his knapsack before anyone could see. Aedan felt it going black as he lost consciousness.

Chapter 2

Aedan woke up dreamily; he could feel a slight stabbing in his shoulder as if someone was pricking him with a needle. Suddenly all the memories started to come back to him. He opened his eyes slowly as it took him a couple of seconds to focus.

Aah you’re awake. Ya almost had me worried but seems you’re going to be just fine A voice came booming next to him, a very familiar voice, Aedan looked to his left and there sat Grit, with a very delightful look on his face.

The doctor said it was just a flesh wound but ya lost a lot of blood, laddy, fortunately you are young and fit so you’ll bounce back with no problems, Grit explained with a big smile.

Where’s the b... Aedan suddenly remembered the box but before he could finish his sentence Grit cut him off.

Hush, lad. Don’t worry about that, we’ll talk about it later when it’s safe. Ya might as well know ya uncle has been hanging around here waiting for you to wake up, and the police too. Grit looked more serious now, glancing sideways at the door.

The doctor entered the room, did a couple of checks and made a few notes. Then looking up, smiled at Aedan. He explained that the police were waiting for Aedan to wake up, so if Aedan was ready he would tell them that they could see him now. Aedan gave a nod. It was no use postponing the inevitable.  A couple of minutes later a man walked in introducing himself as detective Morrison. Aedan shifted his body into a sitting position. After a couple of considerate questions on Aedan’s wellbeing, he flipped open his little notebook, clearly getting ready to find the answers he came for. Right at that point Morgan also entered the room. Everybody stopped and looked