After a couple of questions to test him, Will believed his words. This young Kurshanian boy was clever enough to grasp these languages to a certain extent.
'He knows six languages. I also know six, and I studied for years, since childhood'
Will felt a mixture of admiration and envy towards Arsh. But these emotions turned into pity.
'I know something he doesn't know. He is right here and doesn't know what all these symbols mean. There's a whole new world in front of him but he can't see it. If he could in better situations he would be a good researcher even for not the symbols'
Then he opened the notebook in his hands,
"In ancient times these symbols were believed to give people different powers."
He showed one of the symbols in his notebook,
"I am not sure but I guess this one is believed to make people calmer, this one is used to make a person physically stronger, and this one... "
He kept explaining a couple of symbol in his notebbok and Arsh listened to him attentively asking questions. It was his first time hearing about these symbols and belief system.
"For example the legend of the King of Kuşka"
"King Bertham?"
"Yes. Legends say he was able to control desert dust and wind, and he was an extremely powerful man. A couple of years ago his burial chamber was found. We are sure it belongs to him. We guess he had similar symbols. It was something like that"
Will started to speak in old Kurshaniese
"A ruler who commanded the desert itself. When he walks, the sands rise in reverence. His foes are crushed in his grasp, their bodies turned to dust, their souls cast into the desert's eternal sands. The Goddess granted him power and might, and etched upon his flesh in blood, the divine symbol of Her gift."
Will was looking at Arsh as if he expected a reaction from him, but the reaction he expected didn't come.
"It sounds like a normal epic to me"
"No you don't understand… Whatever and he actually wanted that his body cremendated, maybe he didn't want it to be seen by other people, but people didn't listen to him and made a burial chamber for him. Probably some experts researched his body, but of course, I don't know what they found."
"Are you saying they draw this symbols in their body, like a tattoo"
Tattoos are a part of their traditions for both men and women in his society. They do it when they come to the age of 20, getting a tattoo which generally has their family symbol, and it shows that they become an adult. After that they can travel alone, get married and start their own job.
"Hmm, not like a tattoo; they seemed to use sharp objects like small razors, daggers, things like that."
'Symbols which give people powers. I really never heard something like that.'
But he remembered the girl in the tomb. When he thought about it, he realized the delicate lace upon her skin was made of countless tiny symbols. They looked different from each other. He turned his eyes to the sarcophagus that had just been brought down the stairs and a chill ran through him. After listening to Will he asked
"Then what about these symbols"
He showed the circles the pillar on which the young man leaned.
"They are everywhere in this burial chamber even on the lid"
"I am also not sure actually, but if I am guessing right they are mostly related to protection. I saw in books something similar before, but not in real life. I never saw something like that actually, generally tomb rooms don't have this kind of symbols, but only the things related to the life of the person buried inside"
They talked about symbols, Kurshan empire, their traditions for a while others continued working to remove the sarcophagus from the burial chamber.
Arsh climbed out of the pit and looked up at the sky. There was about two hours left until sunrise. No one had slept or rested; they hadn't even had a chance to eat properly.
All that remained was to pull the sarcophagus up. The necessary mechanisms had been prepared, and everyone had taken their positions. His father was explaining the procedure to Professor Millway's men. After a brief discussion, they went toward the well's entrance. When people went to the village after Arsh fell down they already brought a couple more villagers. Now they were trying to lift the sarcophagus to the surface.
Arsh and Will watched the scene from the side. The sarcophagus had been carefully secured; some of the ropes were passed through the scaffold above and would be pulled by the men in the well, while the others would haul it from above. This way, the risk of it falling would be reduced, and it could be lifted upward in a balanced manner.
Soon Arsh's father gave a command and they started pulling. They were shouting in rhythm and stepping back so they wouldn't lose their balance. It was loud, but kind of satisfying to watch the tempo. However, Professor Millway's constant shouting of 'Be careful!' ruined the rhythm.
After ten minutes without any problem, the sarcophagus was on the surface. The men threw themselves to the ground, wearily. The only thing left was to drag the sarcophagus a little further and load it onto the cart. The rest would be easy with the help of the horses.
Arsh looked at the sarcophagus once more. There had been no problem. No one had yet realized he had taken the dagger. Once these people left, he could keep the dagger. Perhaps years later, he could tell his own children a story about this day, just like his grandfather's stories, and show them the dagger.
Soon the sarcophagus had been lifted onto the carriage and was being wrapped for transport. Arsh went down into the well again with his father and a few men to haul up the remaining gear. Ropes, picks and shovels were gathered, torches taken, and everyone climbed back out. Arsh lashed the last of the supplies to his father's pack.
"You go up first, Arsh,"
"No, your load is heavier and I am holding the light. I'll follow right behind you,"
His father pulled himself up, dropped the load from his back, and leaned into the well.
"Come on, Arsh."
"I am coming"
The moment Arsh held the ladder, a voice came up from the outside of the well. An explosive bang left him momentarily stunned. It was the sound of a rifle. When he turned his head upward he saw his father's face contorted in pain and shock.
"Dad… What is…. Dad!"
There was something terribly wrong. His father lost his balance and fell back into the well.
…
Arsh didn't know what to do. He wanted to scream, but no sound came out. His eyes were fixed on his father's bloodied body lying in front of him.
"What's happening? Why is my father like that?"
He sat to the ground and shook his father to make him get up.
"Dad, please… get up. Let me see you. Dad, are you okay?"
He wasn't okay, and he knew it. Yet he kept calling.
From outside the well, the gunfire continued, and Arsh could hear the screams of the other men.
There were very few people who had rifles. However, the guard teams that came with the archaeologists did carry guns and riffles to avoid danger while travelling. Arsh was trying to understand the situation but he couldn't keep thinking properly with his father in front of him, covered in blood.
"So, they were the ones shooting? But why?"
He wasn't sure how many gunshots he heard. Then a silence followed.
"Anyone alive, did you control everyone."
"There is no one alive"
"There is one on the well"
When Arsh heard that, he looked up. The sun about to rise. In the pale light of dawn he saw Professor Millway. Beside him stood a man with a rifle, who was aiming directly at him.
"Young boy — you're the only one left, but I will let you live. I give you my word: if you find what I seek, I will reward you."
After he said that he kept shouting
"Do not kill the boy. Seal the entrance to the pit."
Then the rope ladder fell down right beside Arsh.
…
"Professor... Professor what is happening? Why did you kill these men?"
Will was trembling with fear. He was trembling, because he just became a part of a slaughter. It was his first time seeing dying men. Everything was normal just a second ago.
"You are young, Will. You will understand later, and if necessary you will do the same"
Professor Millway was looking excited. It was obvious the last thing on his mind was the people who had just been shot by his command.
Will saw the men gathering materials and the dead bodies. They loaded them all onto carts. When he found the chance he ran towards the well and looked the person inside. He saw Arsh. For a second they looked each other. Both of them had fear in their eyes. Both of them didn't know what they should do. They couldn't think straight
Will wanted to help him but it was impossible to rescue the boy. He looked around to be sure no one is looking at him at the moment. Without too much thinking he took a notebook and a flask from his inner pocket and threw them into the well together. He didn't have any food or water with him. He didn't have time to bring anything either.
"Will! Come here! Don't pity the child."
When he heard the Professor's voice he trembled all over again and followed him without any question.
Soon he watched them cover the entrance to the well first with wood planks, then with parched soil. Everything else had been gathered and cleaned up. The bloodstains and the previously dug marks in the ground were left for the desert to take care of on its own.
…
The sun, which would soon bring scorching heat, was rising over the cold night, its light illuminating the desolate desert.
Arsh watched them without blinking while they close the well. He didn't make a sound. Deep down, he knew that screaming or struggling would be useless.
But for now, all he could see was the darkness where his eyes were fixed.