The Realms Unite (Realms Gate)

by Juliet Anderson

  “And where is that?” Erin was eager to find out.

  “I cannot tell you, child. Just in case someone else is accessing your thoughts.”

  “Understood,” Erin sighed. Even in death Aria did not trust her husband. “Is there anything else which can vanquish him?”

  “Yes. One other. But you will need my book to discover what.” She started to fade.

  Erin knew better than to recall someone via crystal when they were going. It meant she had been on line long enough. She put the crystal back in its box and re-joined the others in the living area.

  “What are you grinning about?” Magnus asked cautiously.

  “I know who the crystal belonged to,” she beamed.

  “And?”

  “And what?”

  “Are you going to tell us or do I need to beat it out of you?” Magnus sighed wearingly.

  “I’d like to see you try,” Erin snorted. “It’s Aria’s crystal.”

  Jasper dropped the mug of coffee he was holding clumsily onto the table. “A..Aria?”

  “Yes, as in Valkarin’s long departed wife.”

  “The crystal actually belonged to her?”

  “Yes. We’ve just had a very enlightened chat.”

  “What did she say?” Magnus sat up eagerly.

  “Not a great deal as I seem to recall she wasn’t that fond of her husband. She was very cryptic, partly because she thought we might have eavesdroppers.”

  “Smart,” Jasper nodded. “If Valkarin is half the sorcerer he is supposed to be, he will be able to track you when your mind travels by crystal.”

  “Did you not think about passing that bit of information on sooner?” Erin grunted. Then felt bad for saying it, she was only too aware that Jasper’s loyalties were divided. He was a Voktere, his family had supported Valkarin for millennia, yet he had grown rather fond of the McLomards as well. “Sorry,” she apologised. “I get crabby when I’m hungry.”

  “You must be permanently half starved then,” Magnus muttered, before ducking out of range.

  “You two are worse than a pair of toddlers,” Birdie glowered. “Did Aria pass on any useful information?”

  “She mentioned something about a book.”

  “I recall hearing rumours that she had book that contained a list of potions, some of which could hurt Valkarin,” Jasper mused. “But no-one has seen in it millennia.”

  “A bit like the Book of Gateways,” Erin said smugly.

  “If you can find it, you are truly gifted,” Jasper conceded.

  “That I am,” Erin grinned.

  Lars was in a black mood, he had been for the last two days, since Sasha spent the night with Heinrekh. He had hoped that their constant arguing was the start of a major crack in the relationship, but she had come back from Vasmaar virtually love struck. He could see it in her eyes. There was a definite sparkle there that had been missing of late. And he hated it. He wanted Sasha to look at him the way she looked at Heinrekh.

  He could not even talk to his father, he was away on some wild goose chase with Erin. He never thought he would see the day his father would volunteer for a mission, but apparently the McLomards had made a convert out of him. Actually he had a feeling it was largely down to his father’s growing relationship with Birdie. He sorted loudly to himself, life was seriously mixed up if his father was getting action and he wasn’t.

  “Do you have any other expression than that dark scowl?” Sasha looked at him down her nose as she walked by.

  “It’s company issue,” he grunted.

  “Well, you bring the mood in the house down. Either smile or you’re on perimeter patrol.”

  “Aren’t we the ray of sunshine today,” he glared back at her.

  “Yes I am. Now I’m going out shopping shortly.”

  “Not without me.”

  “If you’re going to insist on this ridiculous charade, then you can drive. I’ll ride in the back.”

  “Yes, mistress,” he bowed mockingly.

  Sasha flipped him a gesture. “Be ready to leave in five minutes, Voktere. And bring the car around front, the less I have to walk the better.”

  “Perhaps I should have strangled you when I had the chance,” Lars muttered darkly heading to the door. Not only was it torture seeing Sasha going all doe-eyed over Heinrekh, now she was treating him like a servant.

  Lars followed Sasha around the many shops she kept slipping into. He was sure she was deliberately trying to get under his skin.

  “What exactly is my lady looking for?” he snapped after she had been into the twentieth shop and had come out with nothing.

  “Maternity wear of course,” she threw a dismissive look at him.

  “Can you not order this stuff on line?”

  “Perhaps, but I want to actually look at it. If you’re bored, I can always meet you at the car later.”

  “I’m assigned to protect you.”

  “Then stop complaining.”

  The final straw came when she started to look at very high end lingerie. She had in her hand the most exquisite cream silk slip and a lacy black nightie. His body hardened as he thought about her wearing them. The realisation that it would be Heinrekh who peeled them off was like a blow to the gut.

  “We’re leaving,” he barked.

  “We’ll leave when I say so,” Sasha responded coldly, purchasing her goods.

  “I said now,” he growled and grabbed her arm, all but forcing her out the shop.

  Sasha whacked him hard with her handbag. “Get your grubby hands off me, Voktere,” she spat.

  “Fine. Stand here and get your ass shot. I don’t give a shit anymore.” He stalked off to where the car was parked.

  “Wait just a bloody minute. That’s my car and you’ve got the keys.” Sasha headed after him.

  “Then you’d better keep up unless you want to slum in on public transport.”

  The atmosphere could have been cut with a knife on the way home. Sasha was seething and Lars steaming mad.

  When Lars pulled up in front of the house, Sasha leapt out with her bags and stormed off upstairs. Lars flopped down on a chair in the main hall. What was it about Sasha that brought out his temper? He had a job to do, but it was difficult to put aside his personal feelings for her. Perhaps it was better if she did go to Lokranor when Valkarin took the throne. At least then he would be shot of her.

  Life could certainly be cruel. After such a long time he finally found someone who interested him and she was already attached.

  CHAPTER 10

  Standing on the edge of the Falls, Erin felt terrified. Sure, she’d abseiled before, but not down a frozen waterfall face when dressed like the Michelin man. Magnus strapped her into her harness.

  “Very fetching,” he smirked.

  Erin slapped him. “Have you actually done this before?”

  “Yes. I have done some climbing in the Highlands, so this is not completely new to me.”

  “Good. Because you have my life in your hands.

  “You control your descend, remember? I’m just holding you.”

  “What happens if someone comes along?”

  “I drop you like a lead brick and run for hell out of here.”

  She slapped his arm again.

  “We’ll cross that problem if it arises. Birdie and Jasper are on lookout anyway.”

  “And Wilhelm.”

  “I’m right here,” he appeared from the shadows.

  “Fine. Guess I’d better get on my way.”

  Wilhelm stopped her before she could leap off waterfall. “Be careful, Erin.”

  “I will.” She reached up and kissed his cold lips.

  “Now I’m feeling nauseous,” Magnus grunted.

  Erin poked her tongue out and jumped. Abseiling in the darkness was no fun, there was a little light from the moon, but not much. She slowed her descent and watched the bracelet for any clues. Just over half way down the crystal started to glow and a spark shot out.

  “I guess X ma
rks the spot,” Erin murmured as she stared at the scorch mark on the ice in front of her.

  Running her hand over the ice face, she felt a small gap between two folds of frozen water. Was this the entrance? She pulled herself between the two, it was pitch black now. She lit her hand with blue energy and spotted the entrance to a chamber. Using her ice pick, she grabbed hold of the ledge in front and hauled herself onto it.

  You still awake, Magnus?

  Sadly yes.

  I’m in a chamber behind the waterfall. I need to disconnect the line.

  Are you sure that’s wise?

  Yes, the chamber could go on for miles.

  Fine, just keep in touch.

  Why, will you miss me?

  Irritating brat.

  Erin tossed up a small bolt of Loxhadrin and studied the chamber. It was your usual dank cavern, albeit a little icy at this time of year. She prayed it only contained the odd bat and no giant spiders. Carrying on cautiously down a tunnel in the direction the bracelet was indicating, her Talmar was glued to her hand just in case. After what seemed like an eternity, the tunnel opened up into a small vaulted chamber. It contained several Viking artefacts on an altar, at the top of which lay two daggers.

  She studied her surroundings for a moment. She’d seen the Indiana Jones films. Chances were the wrong dagger was booby-trapped. On the plus side, she was wearing Aria’s bracelet so whatever force was protecting the right dagger, it should let her take it. But which one? She studied them in the dim light. Both were identical, except one had a purple crystal on its hilt, the other an emerald. It seemed obvious to Erin, amethyst was Aria’s stone, but then again an emerald studded dagger would go well with her eyes.

  Deciding she’d done enough deliberating, she reached up, grabbed the dagger with the purple crystal and ran for hell out the room just in case a stream of poisoned darts shot out from the walls. Other than just a small tremor, nothing too dreadful happened.

  On my way back.

  There was no response from Magnus.

  Hey, your Vikingness, have you deserted me?

  Still nothing. Now she was worried something had happened to Magnus. She sprinted back to the entrance chamber.

  Where the hell are you? she screeched.

  Don’t shout, I’m here. He snapped. Is something wrong?

  Yeah, I’ve been calling for an age.

  From the same spot?

  No. I was further inside the tunnel.

  Guess its structure was blocking the signal. Were you worried about me?

  Of course not. I was concerned about how the hell I was getting out of here.

  What it is to be loved.

  Erin attached her harness to the guide rope before noticing the small problem in front of her.

  Oh crap.

  Dare I ask what?

  There was a small tremor when I picked up the dagger. It must have caused the folds of frozen ice to shift. My exit is blocked.

  You’ll have to use your Loxhadrin.

  That could be seen from quite a distance. If I do, you’ll have to pull me up bloody quick.

  I’ll get Wilhelm to help. Perhaps it would have been a good idea if you hadn’t eaten beforehand. It certainly would have made my load lighter, tubs.

  Quite sniping.

  Tell me when you’re free of the face. Then Wilhelm and I will pull like crazy. Actually he will, I’ll just pretend.

  Your butt is going to be severely kicked when I get back up there.

  Quit yapping and get zapping.

  Git.

  Erin focused on the problem in front of her. She did not want to destroy the face of the waterfall, it was a major tourist attraction and would highlight that someone had been through it. She just needed to cut a thin slice out of the side of one of the folds for her to squeeze through and free the guide rope as well. It all seemed to be going rather well, her blue energy was cutting a fine line up the ice until she got close to where the guide rope was trapped in the ice sheets. Her hand shook ever so slight, but it was enough for the blue energy to cut right through it.

  Crap again.

  What?

  Do we have any spare rope?

  No. Dare I ask why?

  Just curious.

  She continued cutting her exit panel in the ice, she’d figure out how she was getting out afterwards. Once the section of ice was removed, she glanced up at the end of the rope, it was dangling a few metres above her. Well, about six actually. She had two ice picks and was wearing ice boots that had spikes on the front. She might just make it.

  Do you have any slack you can lower?

  About a metre.

  Good. Do it. Only five metres to scale now.

  She leapt off the chamber floor and drove the ice picks into the ice sheet, breathing a huge sigh of relief when they held. Driving the toe of a boot into the ice, she took a step up. Then the other toe as she slid through the narrow opening and then started to head up the face of the Falls. It was slow work, but she had no safety net; it was dangling just a few metres above her head. Her arms and legs were shaking like crazy from the force she was putting them under. She finally reached the rope but her hands were trembling so much from the strain by then, she was struggling to attach it to her harness. Every muscle in her body was screaming.

  What’s happening, Erin?

  I…I can’t attach the guide rope.

  Sure you can. Just concentrate.

  I can’t. I’m too tired. The cold was starting to affect her ability to think, all she wanted to do was sleep.

  Pull yourself together, Erin McLomard. You’re an adult not a damn child. You attach that rope right now else I’ll drop you.

  Don’t shout.

  Then get those useless hands of yours moving.

  I just want to sleep.

  Attached that bloody rope now or I’ll throw Wilhelm over the waterfall to join you.

  I hate you.

  I don’t care, just clip yourself on.

  Fine. Miserable bastard.

  That’s my girl.

  Erin used her last ounce of energy to tie the rope securely to her harness. I’m on.

  Hold tight.

  Virtually seconds later, she was at the top, Magnus arms around her. “Scare me like that again and I will really drop you. What happened?”

  “I s…sliced through the guide rope and had to c...climb up about five metres to it.” Her body still shook from the exertion and the cold.

  “With just ice picks?”

  She nodded. “And these rather fetching spiked boots.”

  Magnus shook his head. “You are a walking disaster area.”

  “We should go,” Wilhelm touched her shoulder.

  “Sure.” She stumbled as she took a step, her legs had virtually stopped working. Wilhelm grabbed hold of her.

  “Allow me,” he swept her up and carried her back to where Birdie and Jasper were waiting. She liked having Wilhelm take care of it, it made her feel good. And she was so very, very tired.

  Birdie looked fondly at her niece curled up fast asleep against Wilhelm on the sofa. They really did make such a sweet pair. Wilhelm was looking thoroughly happy, it was not often Erin needed him but right now she relied on him to look after her whilst she was so exhausted. There was no mistaking the feelings they shared.

  “Should we wake her?” Jasper murmured to Birdie.

  “No. Let them be. It is important they have this time together. With Valkarin soon to be breathing down our necks, everything could change.”

  Jasper wound his arms around Birdie as he interpreted her words. He would never let anything happen to Erin. Wilhelm was also in a precarious situation, as the heir to Lokranor, Valkarin would make sure he was taken out the equation sooner rather than later. “I still can’t believe she climbed an ice face with just two picks and her boots.”

  “What can I say, she gets her adventurous spirit from her aunt,” Birdie grinned.

  “Hmm. But if we leave the two lovebirds on the sofa, th
is gives me the dilemma of where I sleep.” Jasper’s eyes twinkled mischievously.

  “You can go in with Magnus. Erin finds it disturbing enough that people over the age of forty can still actually have sex.”