Haven Keep (Book 1) Read Free Page A

a real treasure chest he couldn’t say for sure.  He exchanged excited smiles with his friends.
    “It’s not too far down,” Reece said, “but I still wouldn’t want to fall that far, so don’t let the rope go slack.”
    “I won’t,” Von assured him.  “Plus I have Dell here to help me.  He wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
    “I’m sure,” Reece said and started over the edge.
    Von lowered the rope slowly as Reece repelled down the rock wall.  The bottom was only three or four spans down, but a false step on Reece’s part could be disastrous.  Von adjusted his hands one more time.  Too bad there wasn’t something to tie off to.  Thankfully the floor was rough and gave good traction.
    “You okay down there?” Von called.
    “I’m fine, just keep lowering the rope.  It isn’t much further.”
    Von released more rope, hand over hand, lowering Reece inch by inch.  His muscles tightened with the effort.  He strained against Reece’s weight, heard Dell grunt with resolve.  Sweat began to bead on his forehead.  He hoped this didn’t last much longer.
    “Just a little further,” Reece yelled.  The rope went suddenly limp. “I’m down.”
    Dell and Von rushed to the edge and peered over.
    “Can you open it?” Dell called.
    “I don’t know, give me a minute.”  Von watched Reece scramble toward the wooden box.  “I think the hinges are rusted shut.”
    “Use your knife to pry it open.”  Dell’s excitement was turning to impatience.  A dull snap came from the bottom of the hole.  “What did you do?”
    “Nothing, the lid just broke.  The wood is rotten.”  A few more snaps followed. “It’s crumbling apart.”  Von heard another crack as Reece broke away more wood.
    “What’s inside?”
    “Hang on, I can’t see much yet.”
    “Is it gold? It has to be gold!”  Dell turned to Von.  “Maybe jewels, do you think it is jewels?”
    Von shrugged, not knowing what to think.
    “There is definitely something inside,” Reece called to his friends.  “Hang on.”  He didn’t sound too excited.  “Watch out, I’m going to throw it up to you.”  Reece hefted something heavy out of the chest then launched it with both hands in a reverse toss over his head.  Von and Dell stepped back as the object landed in front of them, clanging loudly on the floor of the cave.
    Dell rushed forward, scooping up his treasure.  He stared at the thing with a confused look. “What is it?”
    “I don’t know, let me take a look.”
    Dell placed the heavy object in Von’s outstretched hand.
    As soon as Von set his hands on the object he knew what it was.  He began to laugh.  “At least we were rich for a few moments,” he chuckled.
    “What do you mean? It’s valuable, isn’t it?”
    “It’s an old rusted forge hammer,” Von explained.  “What’s left of it.  The handle must have rotted away. All that is left is the heavy iron head.”
    Dell’s shoulders sank with disappointment.  He looked dejected.
    “Look out, here comes some more,” called Reece.  Up came another hammer head, then some large tongs that were so rusted Von couldn’t even work them open.  Soon a pile of forge tools sat at Von and Dell’s feet.
    “Demons and devil’s,” Dell swore.  “We found somebody’s Rift cursed tool box.”
    Von couldn’t control his laughter.  “Well, it was fun while it lasted,” he confessed.
    “Yeah, right,” Dell seethed, shaking his head in disgust.
    “Hang on, there’s something else here,” Reece yelled to his friends.
    Dell rolled his eyes.  “What is it, some grandma’s sewing kit?”
    “No, some sort of metal bars.  Four of them.  They’re shiny, no rust at all.”
    Dell rushed back to the edge.  “Throw them up, quick.”
    “No, I don’t want to damage them. Pull me up.”
    Dell was at the rope before Von could turn around.  “Come on, help me get him up here.”
    Von grabbed the rope and they began to pull their friend up.