He gave me a curious look as he helped Flint up to his feet. Flint's arm came around my shoulders, but I could tell he was trying to not put too much of his weight on me.
"Stop being a fool and put your weight on me! I'm strong!"
His face was whitish and I knew he was in pain, but he smiled anyway, "Yes there's no doubting that. You're strong in more ways than one."
He settled more of his weight on me and together we started out across the floor towards the golden pillars that Iya and Heinrich were already disappearing through.
"What are you planning?" He whispered when we had gained a little distance on our guards.
"Just trust me."
He chuckled "How the tables have turned."
He groaned as we started up the stairs and he had to lift his leg up. I cringed with every step that he took. Was it always like this that you felt the pain of the one you loved?
We made our way through the row of golden columns to the large cavern beyond. The artfully crafted treasures of centuries were piled high throughout the room. Gems of unimaginable proportions and quality were everywhere, but it was the gold that caught and shown in the crystal refracted light that took the breath away. It was everywhere.
"Your ancestors managed to pile a few things away over the years it would seem." Flint muttered sardonically.
"This place wasn't always so littered with stuff. It was created by one of the first Candace's as a sort of haven away from the public's eye. Much later when the empire was starting to fade, most of the treasures you see were brought here for safe keeping."
"A very interesting tale detective Taranto, but as amazing as this treasure room is, where is the rest of the treasure?" Heinrich asked.
I stopped our progress through the room. "What?" I asked dumbly.
I looked around me, was the man blind or just insane? There was an incalculable treasure of antiquity to be found all around him and he was asking for more.
"I must applaud your acting skills, but while this treasure is indeed marvelous it cannot be the sum and total of the treasure rumored about over the years. Where is the gold, or should I better put it, where's the unrefined raw gold? That is what I'm most interested in."
This man wasn't going to take no for an answer even if it was the truth. I glanced around again and in the process caught a glimpse of Flint's watch. I had just over eight minutes. An idea crystallized in my brain spurred on by the little man's greediness.