Guardian of Thieves

And so it came to pass that Autolycus found himself amid the pyramids of Egypt. The King of Thieves had heard of a ruby larger than even a giant's fist that was hidden in the tomb of a priest of Osiris, and who could possibly expect any king to be without such a magnificent gem? Yes, Autolycus decided, it was only fitting that such a stone should be in his possession.

Patiently, he waited for the moon to reach its zenith. As he watched the night desert, the sand sparkling like so many tiny gems, his guide slipped beside him. "Soon, Autolycus," he said. "Soon." Autolycus nodded briefly, cautious of making any movement. He wasn't expecting to have anyone watching him, but in dealing with priests and magic, it was certainly better to be cautious than dead. At last, the man tugged on Autolycus' sleeve and whispered, "It's time."

Silently, the men crossed the sand to the nearest pyramid. "I can only get you inside," the guide said to Autolycus as they approached the structure. "Once you pass through the entrance, obtaining the ruby is up to you."

Autolycus nodded as he removed a small pouch from his belt. Grinning, he watched the guide carefully open the door to the tomb. Once the entry was cleared, Autolycus stepped into the passage. He turned to the guide, handed the man the pouch and said, "Fifty gold pieces, as promised. Go and get drunk, my friend." With eyes sparkling like the sand, he turned and carefully made his way down into the tomb.

Autolycus soon found himself inside a small chamber. He gazed around the empty room, peering in the dim light for an exit. Seeing none obvious, he walked the perimeter of the room, looking for the tell-tale signs of a hidden door--a crack, an irregularity in the wall, anything. All he found was the tunnel he'd just come through. "Blasted gossip," he muttered. "Especially when it's not true." As he was about to make his way back to the desert, he heard a slight hissing.

Autolycus cautiously turned toward the sound. Seeing nothing, he made ready again to leave the tomb. Once more the hissing started, and as Autolycus turned toward it, he saw a cobra making its way toward him, followed by more, and more, and more. Soon, the floor of the chamber was covered with the snakes as they made their way toward him, and still others were coming--from where, Autolycus couldn't see. As he turned to run down the passage, he found a wall, completely sealing the room.

Things did not look good for the King of Thieves. There was nowhere in the room for him to hide, no way for him to escape. It looked as though he would have to actually fight. Wincing, he removed his sword from the sheath and began to swing at the cobras. The sword moved right through them as though they weren't there! Autolycus blinked at the sword in disbelief. As he was about to take another swing at the cobras, the largest one sprang at him, wrapping its tail around his waist. Autolycus grabbed for the snake in an attempt to free himself, but his hands moved completely through it, just as his sword had.

"What the...!" he exclaimed. It was as if the snakes weren't really there...except for the painful fact that the one was squeezing him very hard, causing him to gasp for breath, as the others bit his feet and legs. Autolycus struggled to get free, but how do you unwrap something from around yourself if you can't even grab hold of it? As the cobra squeezed him tighter and the poison from the bites began to take effect, Autolycus slumped to the floor, cursing his fate to die so pathetically.

As the world started to go black, he saw the shimmering image of a woman. He could just barely hear her chanting something in a language he didn't recognize. The cobra around his waist squeezed him harder, and it seemed as if the snake itself were now fighting something. Autolycus struggled to remain conscious, one last hope flickering that this woman could be his salvation.

As she was. The woman continued chanting softly, and the cobras that had gathered around Autolycus' body began to slither away, their heads low as if in pain. At last, even the largest and strongest of them released his hold on Autolycus and disappeared, hissing in defeat.

The woman kneeled beside Autolycus and placed her hands over his weakened body. "Now to remove the poison," she murmured in softly accented Greek. She began chanting again, still in the unfamiliar language. Autolycus watched, wide-eyed, as the vapors of the poison seemed to rise from his body to her hands, like steam.

When the woman's chanting stopped, Autolycus felt better and stronger than he had when he'd entered the tomb. He jumped to his feet, took the woman's hand, and kissed it softly, his eyes sparkling. "Many thanks, beautiful stranger," he said. The woman nodded, slowly rising to her feet. Autolycus watched her as she moved toward the passage leading outside...the passage which was now open.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, blinking in surprise. "That passage was blocked! How did you get in here?"

The woman glanced over at her shoulder at the King of Thieves. "Even thieves have guardians," she replied softly before disappearing down the dark tunnel.

Autolycus stared dumbly after her for a moment. Then, seeing a glint of light in the far corner of the room, he went to examine the source. There, tucked between the two walls, was a ruby bigger even than his own hands, sparkling brightly in the torchlight.


Guardian of Thieves

	The following story was written for a story contest judged by the King of Thieves, Autolycus, and the great goddess Athena. I'm very happy to say that it won first place. ~Anika
	And so it came to pass that Autolycus found himself amid the pyramids of Egypt. The King of Thieves had heard of a ruby larger than even a giant's fist that was hidden in the tomb of a priest of Osiris, and who could possibly expect any king to be without such a magnificent gem? Yes, Autolycus decided, it was only fitting that such a stone should be in his possession. Patiently, he waited for the moon to reach its zenith. As he watched the night desert, the sand sparkling like so many tiny gems, his guide slipped beside him. "Soon, Autolycus," he said. "Soon." Autolycus nodded briefly, cautious of making any movement. He wasn't expecting to have anyone watching him, but in dealing with priests and magic, it was certainly better to be cautious than dead. At last, the man tugged on Autolycus' sleeve and whispered, "It's time." Silently, the men crossed the sand to the nearest pyramid. "I can only get you inside," the guide said to Autolycus as they approached the structure. "Once you pass through the entrance, obtaining the ruby is up to you." Autolycus nodded as he removed a small pouch from his belt. Grinning, he watched the guide carefully open the door to the tomb. Once the entry was cleared, Autolycus stepped into the passage. He turned to the guide, handed the man the pouch and said, "Fifty gold pieces, as promised. Go and get drunk, my friend." With eyes sparkling like the sand, he turned and carefully made his way down into the tomb. Autolycus soon found himself inside a small chamber. He gazed around the empty room, peering in the dim light for an exit. Seeing none obvious, he walked the perimeter of the room, looking for the tell-tale signs of a hidden door--a crack, an irregularity in the wall, anything. All he found was the tunnel he'd just come through. "Blasted gossip," he muttered. "Especially when it's not true." As he was about to make his way back to the desert, he heard a slight hissing. Autolycus cautiously turned toward the sound. Seeing nothing, he made ready again to leave the tomb. Once more the hissing started, and as Autolycus turned toward it, he saw a cobra making its way toward him, followed by more, and more, and more. Soon, the floor of the chamber was covered with the snakes as they made their way toward him, and still others were coming--from where, Autolycus couldn't see. As he turned to run down the passage, he found a wall, completely sealing the room. Things did not look good for the King of Thieves. There was nowhere in the room for him to hide, no way for him to escape. It looked as though he would have to actually fight. Wincing, he removed his sword from the sheath and began to swing at the cobras. The sword moved right through them as though they weren't there! Autolycus blinked at the sword in disbelief. As he was about to take another swing at the cobras, the largest one sprang at him, wrapping its tail around his waist. Autolycus grabbed for the snake in an attempt to free himself, but his hands moved completely through it, just as his sword had. "What the...!" he exclaimed. It was as if the snakes weren't really there...except for the painful fact that the one was squeezing him very hard, causing him to gasp for breath, as the others bit his feet and legs. Autolycus struggled to get free, but how do you unwrap something from around yourself if you can't even grab hold of it? As the cobra squeezed him tighter and the poison from the bites began to take effect, Autolycus slumped to the floor, cursing his fate to die so pathetically. As the world started to go black, he saw the shimmering image of a woman. He could just barely hear her chanting something in a language he didn't recognize. The cobra around his waist squeezed him harder, and it seemed as if the snake itself were now fighting something. Autolycus struggled to remain conscious, one last hope flickering that this woman could be his salvation. As she was. The woman continued chanting softly, and the cobras that had gathered around Autolycus' body began to slither away, their heads low as if in pain. At last, even the largest and strongest of them released his hold on Autolycus and disappeared, hissing in defeat. The woman kneeled beside Autolycus and placed her hands over his weakened body. "Now to remove the poison," she murmured in softly accented Greek. She began chanting again, still in the unfamiliar language. Autolycus watched, wide-eyed, as the vapors of the poison seemed to rise from his body to her hands, like steam. When the woman's chanting stopped, Autolycus felt better and stronger than he had when he'd entered the tomb. He jumped to his feet, took the woman's hand, and kissed it softly, his eyes sparkling. "Many thanks, beautiful stranger," he said. The woman nodded, slowly rising to her feet. Autolycus watched her as she moved toward the passage leading outside...the passage which was now open. "Hey!" he exclaimed, blinking in surprise. "That passage was blocked! How did you get in here?" The woman glanced over at her shoulder at the King of Thieves. "Even thieves have guardians," she replied softly before disappearing down the dark tunnel. Autolycus stared dumbly after her for a moment. Then, seeing a glint of light in the far corner of the room, he went to examine the source. There, tucked between the two walls, was a ruby bigger even than his own hands, sparkling brightly in the torchlight.

Anika's Storybook