The Realms Unite (Realms Gate)

by Juliet Anderson

  “Raise your goblets for King Wilhelm and his future Queen,” Magnus’ voice echoed across the hall.

  Erin was pleased to see Ingrid and her family sitting with Magnus at the head of the table. Birdie and Lodraill had Jasper safely between the two of them. Sasha had decided not to attend, she had no great love for Lokranor so Lars had stayed with her in rooms.

  She recognised one small figure as she walked towards the top table. Breaking with tradition, she stopped and rested her hand on Erik’s shoulder.

  “It is good to see you again,” she smiled down at the young boy.

  “It was very kind of King Wilhelm to invite us,” Erik’s mother beamed.

  “You risked your lives to help us in Mallin woods,” Wilhelm responded.

  “Anyone would have done the same.”

  “Sadly not. There are many would prefer to line their own pockets rather than protect the Kingdom as I have recently found out.”

  Erin leant in to Wilhelm. “Perhaps you could look at rehousing them and providing a future for a brave young Viking?”

  “Come see me tomorrow in the Great Hall and we will talk about your future,” Wilhelm looked at Erik’s mother.

  Wilhelm propelled towards the head table. “You, my dear, have the compassion needed to make a great Queen.”

  “Just not yet,” Erin pulled a face.

  “Does marriage terrify you that much?”

  “Yeah, kind of. It signifies that I have to be responsible.”

  Wilhelm laughed. “I had a similar view last year when mother was nagging me to settle down and take a wife.”

  “So what changed?”

  “I fell in love.”

  The look in his eyes told Erin everything she would ever need to know.

  CHAPTER 27

  Magnus accompanied Sasha, Lars and Erin as they rode to Vasmaar the following morning. It was not deemed appropriate for Wilhelm to attend considering the long war that had raged between Lokranor and Heinrekh.

  “There is one thing you simply must let me do when we lay Heinrekh in his tomb,” Erin asked.

  “I’m almost going to regret asking what?” Sasha gave her friend a dark look.

  “I want to put his bloody blackbird in with him. Either that or have it barbecued for dinner.”

  Sasha laughed, her voice echoing across the plain. It had been a while since she smiled, but Erin always could make her see the lighter side of life. “Yes, I’m not particularly fond of that creature.”

  “Damn thing was his eyes in the sky, always popping up an inopportune moments or following me.”

  “You can deal with the bird.”

  “How long do you plan to stay here?”

  “A few days. I need to return to Muirhead soon, I still have my antenatal appointments.”

  “What about Angus?” Erin risked broaching the subject.

  “Ah, yes, my traitorous brother. Obviously I cannot continue living under the same roof as him, just the thought that he would sell out to Valkarin makes that impossible. I will look for a house nearby.”

  “I was contemplating having Tobin Hall rebuilt. It has special significance to you as that was where Damon McBride used to meet Isobel McLomard. You can stay with us in the meantime. The South Tower has suddenly become vacant.”

  “I’d like that. But I will help with the build costs for Tobin Hall.”

  Erin flapped her hand. “Then in a hundred years the McBrides and McLomards would be feuding again over who owed the property.”

  “You’re probably right. We Scots do love a good feud. But didn’t you say Isobel is buried there?”

  “It’s just her tomb. With your permission, I’ll arrange for her to be interred in your family mausoleum next to Damon.”

  “I’ve no problem with that.”

  “I also need to move Aria to join Tobin in our vault at Muirhead church.”

  “I thought it was full, which is why Birdie designed the new Mausoleum for your father on the estate.”

  “When I said join Tobin, I meant it. And her name inscribed in the marble too.”

  The sight of Vasmaar castle put a smile of Erin’s face.

  “What are you grinning about?” Sasha raised an eyebrow.

  “Just memories of the last time I was here. Did Heinrekh ever fix his tower?”

  “Yes,” Sasha giggled. “He didn’t want to look up at it each day and see the hole. It was like pouring salt on his wound.”

  “I will miss him,” Erin mused.

  “Me more than you,” Sasha sighed heavily.

  The ceremony was very simple, with Heinrekh’s body being placed into an ornate marble tomb. Sasha took a lot of persuading before she would let the lid be sealed into place. Erin shooed Lars and Magnus outside, letting Sasha say her final farewell.

  She appeared a few minutes later, her face streaked with tears. “You know what I really object to? Brigid gets to spend time with him now, his former fiancée.” She twisted the ring around her finger. “Crazy isn’t it, I’m jealous of a woman that has been dead for years.”

  “You’ll join him eventually, don’t forget that. And if you keep whining, it could be sooner rather than later.”

  “Oh what it is to have friends like you,” Sasha grunted.

  “I’m a great friend. Especially as I’ve just thought of a wonderful way to get payback on Angus.”

  “Enlighten me, friend.”

  “I’m not beyond doing a little mind persuasion, dropping thoughts into someone’s head until they act on them.”

  “Go on?” Sasha was intrigued where Erin was going with this.

  “I could always get him to turn up butt naked at the next village fair? Or perhaps try and get cuddly with Mrs McDougall.”

  Sasha tried to muffle her giggles. “Poor Mrs McDougall, I couldn’t do that do her. I do rather like the idea of a quick streak through the village, that would give them something to talk about. And also explain why I’m not living under the same roof as Angus.” Sasha linked her arm through Erin’s. “You really do have quite a wicked side.”

  “Hey, when your blood is as mixed up as mine, what do you expect?”

  “Come on, mongrel girl, let’s head home.”

  “I’m almost at a loss of what to do, Birdie,” Erin flopped down on a sofa in their living room. “Magnus is back in Lokranor permanently, there are no more battles to fight, I feel quite redundant.”

  “You have your studies, young lady. Not to mention you still hold the enviable title of Priestess of Lokmuir.”

  “Oh yippee, keeping a bunch of moaning elders in line. I can’t wait.”

  “But you will finish your studies.”

  “Is there any point?” she grumbled.

  “Yes. One day, you will be living in a Viking realm. The more you know about its history the better. Jasper will teach you along with symbology.”

  “Why keep up with that?”

  “Because Valkarin was not the only evil. Others might rise and you need to be prepared to respond as and when called upon.”

  “At least the worst evil is out the way.”

  Birdie looked a little uncomfortable. “There is something I do need to tell you. Valkarin’s ashes were stolen before they could be disposed of.”

  Erin rolled her eyes. Aria did say that evil never stays dead for long. “Surely he can’t be resurrected from ash? It would have to take the most incredibly powerful sorcerer to do that.”

  “I don’t image he can, but we have to safeguard against any possibility.”

  “I guess I should mention that Sasha is coming to live with us whilst I have Tobin Hall rebuilt.”

  “You’re doing what?” Birdie was stunned.

  “I’m having it rebuilt,” Erin repeated. “It holds a very special place in my heart. I said Sasha could live there with the baby when it is finished. I’ve also arranged for Isobel McLomard’s portrait to be professional restored so we can hang her in the gallery.”

  “Well, as you’re project ma
naging the rebuild you should add estate management to your list of duties. If you want to spend estate money, you need to have some knowledge of how much we have.”

  “You do estate management, Birdie. I can’t take that from you.”

  “You need to learn about it as I won’t always be here. Besides, you will have to look after the estate whilst I’m on honeymoon.”

  Erin stared at her aunt in awe. “You and Jasper?”

  “Yes, Erin,” Birdie gave an enigmatic smile. “We’re getting married.”

  Erin threw her arms around her aunt. “I am so happy for you both. When?”

  “In a month, when everything has settled. We thought we’d hold it in the church in Muirhead.”

  “Two weddings to look forward to,” Erin beamed. “One Viking, one Scottish.”

  Birdie looked at her with one eyebrow raised. “I take it you’re talking about Magnus and Ingrid?”

  “Yes,” Erin laughed. “Wilhelm and I are going to see how our inter-realm relationship works out.”

  “Perhaps it is a bit too soon to ask for peace in all the Realms just yet.”

  EPILOGUE

  Sasha’s heart was pounding as Erin pulled up in the coastal town of Mandal.

  “Are you sure about this, Sasha, you’re looking very pale?” Erin’s voice was full of concern.

  “Yes. I have to do this otherwise I will always be wondering what if.” She gave a sad smile.

  She had not seen Lars since the day he stormed out on her five months ago. They had had the mother of all arguments. It was her fault, she had been so grief-stricken over losing Heinrekh that she had treated him dreadfully. He had been nothing but kind and caring, and she had flung it back in his face. She wanted someone else to hurt as much as she did.

  Foolishly she thought he would cool off and return, but as the days stretched into weeks, then months, she knew she’d lost him. She was now mourning two men she loved. It had taken her a long time to realise it, but somewhere over the course of their turbulent relationship, she had come to feel a great deal for him. He had always been there when Heinrekh had not, had stood by her knowing she was in love with another man.

  Erin got out the car and stretched her legs, tossing her the car keys. “Lars’ house is about a couple of miles out of town. You can‘t miss it. It’s huge and overlooking the sea.” She opened the rear door and unclipped Damon from his car seat. “I meanwhile will take care of this gorgeous young man.”

  Sasha gave her son a kiss on the forehead. “Mind that you do. And no swearing. I want him brought up a gentleman.”

  “He’s also half Viking,” Erin grinned. “So part of him will have to behave atrociously. And that is the bit that Auntie Erin is going to teach him.” She bounced the bright eyed baby on her hip.

  Sasha smoothed his soft downy blond hair. He looked so like his father, she caught her breath every time she looked at him. “I’ll see you in a while.”

  Her whole body was trembling as she drove out of town, but she had to know if Lars still felt anything for her. For all she knew, he might be living with someone, although information from Jasper was that he was still single. The house came into view, it towered over the cliff top. Taking a deep breath, she turned off the road and up to the house. It took a minute or two before she summoned up the courage to get out the car and walk to the front door. She didn’t need to ring the bell, he already had the door open. His sleek dark looks made her stomach turn over several times.

  “Are you lost?” he said coldly.

  Sasha felt a small stab in her chest, he wasn’t going to make this easy for her. “No, I wanted to talk to you,” she responded softly, walking past him and into his house.

  The living room was beautiful, full of rich fabrics and elegant furniture, very much to her taste.

  “Well,” he said abruptly. “Say what you have to then leave.”

  She winced at his words. “I wanted to apologise for my dreadful behaviour back in Muirhead. I was so full of grief I barely realised what I was saying to you.”

  “So that makes it acceptable to treat me like dirt?”

  “Not at all, but I was hurting so badly, I lashed out at the person closest to me.”

  He turned to face the window and stared out at the sea. “So that is why you are here, to try and clear your conscience?”

  “No. I came to ask your forgiveness,” she clasped her hands together, her nerves increasing by the second.

  “Why do you need it?” he grunted.

  Sasha took another deep breath. If she wanted any chance of breaking Lars’ icy exterior, she would need to bare her soul. “It took me a while to realise it, but over the course of our time together, somewhere along the way, I…I…,” she stumbled over the words. It would have helped if he had turned to look at her, addressing his back was so hard.

  “You what?”

  “I…I fell in love with you.” She was his whole body tense, but he still wouldn’t turn around.

  “Really? And it took you five months to come to that realisation?”

  “No. But I was close to my due date and couldn’t travel. I did try to call but you did not answer. Then Damon was born and the last few months have been spent making sure he is fit and healthy.”

  “That is the name of your child, Damon?”

  “Yes. It seemed apt as he was the one who linked the descendants of Vasmaar with the houses of McBride and McLomard by blood.”

  “How touching. And now I see the reason for your visit. You are tired of life as a single mother and wish to find a father for your bastard child. And who better than the sap who cared for you all those months of your confinement.” He voice was so full of hatred, it cut her deep.

  “I love my newly acquired life, and have no wish to find a father for Damon. We should be settled in Tobin Hall shortly when the first part of it is habitable. I came here to ask if you would forgive me, to see if there was a chance that we could start again.” Her hands were clenched so tight as she waited for his answer.

  He finally turned to face her, his expression quite emotionless. “I went through hell in those months I had to protect you. I loved you yet had to stand on the side lines whilst you spent nights in bed with my sworn enemy. You would torture me with sexy lingerie that I would never get to remove, would treat me with tenderness to draw me closer then slam the door in my face once Heinrekh called. I had hoped after he died you would turn to me, but instead you treated me despicably.” He headed towards the living room door. “Anything I felt for you died a long time ago. To me you are nothing but a shallow self-centred creature and I am glad you are out of my life.”

  “I am truly sorry I caused you so much pain, it was not deliberately done,” Sasha could feel her eyes welling up but she would not cry in front of him, she still had some pride left. She made her way to the front door. “I hope you will find happiness one day,” she murmured before moving quickly out to the car.

  Her hands were shaking badly as she tried to put the key in the ignition, the only thing on her mind was getting clear of his house. The tears were already rolling down her face as she joined the main road. Up ahead she spotted a layby overlooking the sea and pulled over. Resting her head on the steering wheel, she sobbed her heart out. It was like losing Heinrekh all over again, but Lars detested her. She would never go near another man, she could not bear to go through this loss a third time.

  She barely noticed her driver’s door opening until strong hands pulled her out. She continued crying on his shoulder until his shirt was soaking wet.

  “I’m so sorry, Sasha,” he kissed her forehead. “Can you ever forgive me for what I said back there?”

  “What are you doing here?” she sniffed, not daring to look up at his face. She did not want to see the hatred there.

  “My pride made me say what I did. You hurt me and I wanted you to feel some of the pain I had gone through.” His voice was coarse as he stroked her hair. “But that was so very callous of me considering you have o
nly just got over Heinrekh’s passing.”

  “I forgive you,” she murmured getting a grip on her battered emotions. “Now I must get going, Erin and Damon are waiting for me in Mandal.”

  Instead of letting her going, Lars pulled her closer. “I don’t think you’re quite understanding me, Sasha. I still love you. I don’t think I could ever not. I left because I could no longer bear to be around you and not have my feelings reciprocated.” Pressed against him Sasha could feel his heart beating almost as fast as hers. “I thought once Heinrekh was out the picture you would turn your affection to me. When that didn’t happen, I lost my head.”