The Origin Of Gallahon

Gallahon had done as the elderly man said. He sat in front of the man, Indian style. Eight empty cups lay in between them. The man had pulled out two cards.

“You see in my hands two cards. One is a light card that symbolizes life. And the other is a death card. I would imagine you know what happens when you pick this….” Once again, Gallahon looked at the corpses of the bodies that failed the man’s test. “…You die and I get to decide how you die.” Gallahon’s friends stood in awe. All except Anubis who just stood there, leaning against the stone wall with his arms crossed. The game had begun once the elderly man placed both cards in two of the eight cups. The man had quick hands, switching the cups left to right and right to left.

“Two cards, eight cups. The game begins.” Gallahon had to think, and think hard. Gallahon had picked the cup on the far right. Empty. He puts the empty cup back in place. Gallahon had picked up the second to the left. It was empty too. He puts it back. The old man smiled. But then, Gallahon had an idea. He checked the middle. Empty. The cup third to the left he checked. Empty. Gallahon had placed two hands on the far left and second to right. They both were empty.

Two cups remained for him to check. Gallahon grinned as if he knew where the light card was. But, Gallahon had switch the eight cups. “Hmm. You wish to enhance your memory?” The old coot asked. He pulled out two more cups and switched the cups with the two new cups. Now Gallahon had ten cups to choose from. Sweat was dripping off of Gallahon’s face as if he was trying not to pick the wrong cup. In a wild move, he picked the third left, but it was empty.

Gallahon grinned. The key was to get the old man confused so he didn’t know where he put the death card.

“I know where the light card is.” Gallahon said with a smile.

“Then choose.”

“I’ll tell you what old man. You choose for me. If you pick the right one….” Gallahon looked at his friends and looks back at the old man. “…Than we will leave the temple.” The others were shocked to hear Gallahon say that after they’ve made the effort going through the temple. Anubis grinned as if he knew what Gallahon was doing. The old man smiled.

“Very well. I’ll pick for you.” Now Gallahon was testing the old man. The ten cups were switched up, even the old man didn’t know which the right one was. The man picked the middle one. Empty. The old man went for the second to his left. His hand hovered over the cup as if he was about to make a mistake. He changed his mind and placed his hand on the one next to it, the far left. He picked it up, and it was the death card. The old man was shocked. Gallahon picked the cup on the opposite side and found the light card.

“No! You tricked me!” Since the old man picked the death card, he had to die. He was melted by salt acid. He screamed as his skin slowly melted off his bones. He died a slow and painful death. Anubis was impressed with Gallahon, tricking the old man in taking the death card. So were his friends. They all ran up to him.

“That was impressive Gallahon.” complemented Trenton. “How did you trick him like that?” Gallahon didn’t answer right away. He thought back to his teachings.

Gallahon and his Spartan teacher sat across from each other on the floor. Three empty cups lay in between them.

“Okay Gallahon.” the Spartan said. “This training exercise will test both your sight and memory.” The Spartan pulled out a marble from his pocket and placed the marble in one of the three cups. He then flipped the cups upside down and switch them.

“Where is the marble?” Gallahon picked the middle cup and found the marble. “Very good.” The Spartan took the marble from Gallahon’s hand and placed two more cups on the floor. Now there were five cups and one marble. The Spartan switched the cups again. As the Spartan was done switching, Gallahon picked the second to his left. Nothing. The Spartan revealed the marble was in the middle. “It’s all about keeping your eye on your target.” The Spartan told to Gallahon.

“It was just something I was taught.” Gallahon told to Trenton. They were just moments away from King Scythe’s tomb. They had got past the Sphinx and they’ve survived all seven deadly challenges in the temple. Anubis had scouted on ahead and led them out of the chambers. Gallahon and his party exited out of the temple. The light from the sun, beaming down on their cheeks.

“The light from Ra shines brightly upon you four.” Anubis told them. He was referring to the sun god of Egypt, Ra. They could see the pyramid where the tomb was kept.

“We’re not much further now. You will soon be reunited with your friend.” Anubis had lead them inside of the pyramid. They had made it safely inside. Gallahon could sense that he will be reunited with Tikal very shortly…. that is if she yet lives. They may have got inside the pyramid, but getting to the tomb itself will be a challenge. The pyramid was like a labyrinth inside. But Gallahon did not care. He pressed on.

“Not so fast.” Anubis had put he’s hand on Gallahon’s shoulder. “I will lead you through this labyrinth.” Anubis had scouted on ahead and the other’s followed.

“I don’t trust him.” Aquanna whispered to Gallahon.

“We have no choice Aquanna. He is our best chance of finding the tomb.” It was getting dark as they walked deeper in the labyrinth. Torches ran alongside the walls. Anubis took some torches and passed one down to each of Gallahon’s friends. After hours of going through the labyrinth, Anubis stopped and pointed.

“There. Beyond this hallway is the tomb you seek. You may find your friend still breathing.” Gallahon and his friends pressed on, through the hallway and into the tomb. The room was filled with torches so it lit the entire room.

“I have a bad feeling.” Nina said. Just after she said that, a row of rusty metal bars close together came down from behind them, shutting them in the room. Anubis chuckled.

“You traitor!” Gallahon called Anubis. Anubis replied.

“I agreed to lead you to the tomb of King Scythe. But you didn’t say which one. The King Scythe you’re seeking is King Scythe the second. When King Scythe the first ruled, the people loved him. He was kind. But he still ruled with an iron fist. His son however, became greedy when he was announced to take his father’s place as pharaoh. Around his 18th birthday, he became impatient waiting for his father to die so he could finally be named pharaoh. So he murdered his own father is secrecy. And so, King Scythe the II was announced the youngest pharaoh to rule Egypt. If you’re seeking his tomb, it’s beyond this one. But I highly doubt that you all will make it out. This tomb will also be yours.”

“You will pay for your trickery Anubis.” Gallahon told him. Anubis had said nothing. He turned and Gallahon could do nothing but watch Anubis walk into the hallway and vanish into the dark. Trenton pounded the wall with his fist in anger.

“I knew we shouldn’t have trusted him! Just goes to show you can’t trust a god of death. We should’ve left Egypt when we had the chance.”

“No.” Gallahon said. “Tikal needed our help and we can’t just walk away.”

“But Gallahon,” Aquanna continued. “We don’t know if she’s even…” she paused. Gallahon looked over to her.

“If she’s even alive?” Gallahon finished her sentence. Gallahon sighed. “You’re probably right. Even if we get out of here, it would be too late. But I’m still not giving up. Her people need our help too.”

“First thing we’ve got to do is find a way out of here.” said Nina.

“But there’s no way out. Anubis had blocked our only exit.” pointed out Trenton. Just after Trenton had finished his sentence, a rumbling occurred beneath their feet, followed by a loud roar. They knew they were not alone in the room. Gallahon and his party turned to face what seemed like a monster they’ve never seen before. A buffed man with scorpion pinchers for hands and a scorpion’s body with a fairly large stinger at the tip of its tail.

“By the gods. What the Hell is this thing?” Gallahon questioned himself. The monster lunged its massive stinger at them, but they all avoided the stinger. Gallahon pulled out his sword and rushed towards the beast. The beast swung its muscular arm and bashed Gallahon into the wall. Gallahon was not out of the fight yet. Trenton jumped on its back and rammed his swords in its back. The beast grabbed him with its claw and threw him off. Trenton than had an idea.

“Gallahon! See if you can’t get it to sting itself in the back!”

“Oh yeah, I think it’s stupid enough to hurt itself.” augured Gallahon. Gallahon rushed towards the monster. The beast swung its massive arm, but Gallahon ducked, not making the same mistake twice. Gallahon hacked one of its legs with his sword. But its skin was tough so it barely felt it. Nina rushed towards the beast. The beast bashed Nina with its claw, knocking her to the wall where the coffin was.

Gallahon rushed to see if Nina was okay. The beast followed Gallahon. Aquanna tugged at its tail but the beast easily knocked Aquanna with its tail.

“Gallahon, watch out!” As the beast swung its arm, Gallahon saw it at the corner of his eye and rolled away from it with Nina. The beast’s arm had shattered the coffin and the skeleton of King Scythe the first fell to the floor. Trenton rushed in with his swords. He got under the beast’s belly. As Trenton ran under its belly, he ran his swords alongside the beast’s belly. Once again, its skin was tough so it barely felt it.

Gallahon ran towards the rusty metal bars. The beast followed. As the beast lunged its claw, Gallahon avoided and its claw busted through the rusty metal bars. Gallahon and his party could leave the tomb, but they had to kill the beast first. Aquanna jumped up and grabbed its tail. This time, she got a tighter grip on it. As Gallahon jumped on its back, he jammed his sword in its back. This time, the beast felt the pain.

As Gallahon jumped off, Aquanna let go of its tail and kicked the tail as she was falling. The stinger plunged deep in its back and came out the front. Blood splattered all over the wall. The beast fell to the floor and died. Gallahon pulled his sword out of the dead monsters back. Gallahon and his party ran out of the room and into the dark hallway. They’ve exit the hallway and into a grand gallery.

“Okay.” Gallahon paused. “I do not remember going through this room.”

“Maybe Anubis took us along a different path.” Aquanna said. It was their first time being in the grand gallery. The columns were plated with gold. Piles of gold and solid gold statues were everywhere.

“He must’ve been a powerful pharaoh.” Trenton complemented as he and the others were in awe.

“Can’t we just take a little…?” Trenton asked.

“No.” Gallahon had spoken. They’ve exited the grand gallery, through a narrow passage which was a straight shot out of the pyramid. When they exited the pyramid, the sun was setting into dusk. They could feel the cool breeze of the night wind rushing past their face. It felt good.

“Where’s King Scythe the seconds tomb?” asked Nina. Gallahon spoke up.

“Anubis said it was beyond this one.”

“But which direction?” Trenton spotted a building with his elf eyes. For elves can see further than humans.

“There, to the West.” Gallahon looked. He saw the building and knew that’s where they needed to go.

“Come on.” Gallahon lead the pack. They walked for what seemed to them like hours. At least the sand beneath their feet was cool. Hoping that the building was the tomb that they seek. All that Gallahon could think about was Tikal, hoping that she’s still alive.