Realms Gate: A Realm Divided

by Juliet Anderson

  She hit Olav in the chest with a small bolt of Loxhadrin, knocking him to the ground and held her Talmar at his throat. “Luckily for you, I do possess some morals otherwise I would slit your throat. For the record, your son is one of the most honourable men I have met and has chosen to act on the side of right.” She waved her hand and released a burst of blue energy, repelling Olav’s approaching guards. “Consider any ties with my family severed.”

  She threw another burst of energy to remove any guard between her and Athena.

  “Your mother is still part of Lokranor,” Olav spat. “She may not be willing to cut her ties with her home.”

  “I have no memory of my mother. I meant my family in Muirhead.” She leapt up on her horse. “Cause any more trouble for me and I will reduce this backward Realm to dust, leaving the path clear for Heinrekh to become sovereign.”

  As she rode out, she hit several of the castle buildings with Loxhadrin, they burst into flames. Then she felt a pang of remorse. Was this how Heinrekh turned to the dark arts? She could not deny she enjoyed the fight, and she was at her most lethal when angry. But Olav really had pissed her off.

  The Gate was seemingly unguarded when she arrived. Immediately suspicious, she drew her Talmar. From the shadows, Wilhelm and Magnus emerged, holding the guards at sword point.

  “Why the hell aren’t you on the other side?” Erin scowled.

  “We thought you could benefit with a little help,” Magnus responded. “The women have already gone through.”

  Erin zapped both guards with a small burst of Loxhadrin. “Thank you. Now can we go?”

  Magnus jumped up onto his horse, Erin swung Wilhelm up behind her. It was quite a novelty having him sit behind her. Actually she had trouble functioning as his arms wound around her waist. They headed through the Gate. Sasha and Ingrid were waiting on the other side, Sasha chatting away to Tom.

  “Ah, here they are,” she sighed in relief.

  The ride back to Lokranor was swift and trouble free. As they pulled up in front of the stables, Heinrekh appeared. Erin was touched watching him lift Sasha down off the horse and hold her so tight, she thought he might crush her.

  She glanced at Magnus. “Take Ingrid inside and get her settled. All this will be somewhat alien to her. We will stable the horses.” She looked over to Sasha. “You owe me coffee and popcorn tomorrow. Now get going before I decide I actually like the Dark Destroyer.”

  Heinrekh stopped her as she headed into the stable. “Thank you, Erin,” he rested his hand on her arm. “Although this changes nothing, I do owe it to you to be truthful. Wilhelm’s strange behaviour on your birthday was my doing.”

  Erin gave a small smile. “I figured that.”

  “Then why give him such a hard time?”

  “Because I think I wanted an excuse not to let him get close.”

  “After an eternity of not letting anyone close, I do not recommend that course of action.”

  She touched his hand. “You are not as tough as you make out, sorcerer.”

  He laughed. “Until the next time, Erin.”

  She watched him ride away with Sasha. Heinrekh had made a fatal error, he had shown he really did have a heart. A heavy sighed escaped her lips. Now it was just her and Wilhelm alone in the stables. It was not as romantic as it sounded. They needed to untack the three horses, then sort out the mess they were in.

  “Are you okay?” she glanced sideways at him as she lifted Athena’s saddle off.

  “Yes, I am unhurt,” he shrugged.

  “That’s not what I meant. I was asking over your mental state. It is not every day the heir to the throne commits treason and is exiled from his homeland.”

  “I did what I had to do, Erin.” He stared at the stable floor. “And I would do it again.”

  He took the saddle off her and lifted it onto the shelf.

  “I am sorry for how things turned out, it was not how I wanted it to be.”

  “I apologise too. For what my father tried to do.”

  She rested her hand on his chest. “You have nothing to apologise for, Wilhelm. You are not your father.”

  “I do need to apologise for your birthday.”

  Erin gave half a smile. “That was not your fault either. Heinrekh has admitted to having a part in that.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes. Deep down I always knew that.”

  He pulled her to him and kissed her. “I am forgiven?”

  “Yes. Especially as you just committed treason for me.” She took his hand and led him towards the house. “I don’t know about you, but I need a drink.”

  Birdie was fussing over Ingrid upstairs, Magnus already had a drink in his hand. He passed Wilhelm a goblet.

  “How is Ingrid?” Erin asked.

  “Hissing and spitting,” Magnus grunted. “And I thought she was so sweet natured.”

  Wilhelm chuckled. “I could have told you her true nature.”

  “You have asked her to give up her home for you. She is naturally going to be a little edgy. Birdie will settle her,” Erin defended the poor woman.

  “Did I hear my name mentioned?” Birdie appeared at the doorway.

  Erin gave her aunt a hug. “Sorry, for the unexpected house guests.”

  “You are forgetting it is your house now, Erin.” Birdie looked over at Wilhelm. “I understand I have you to thank for securing Sasha’s release. Her mother is a good friend of mine and I have known Sasha since she was a small child.”

  “I apologise for my father’s lack of judgement.”

  “How about we all get some sleep. We will talk more tomorrow when we are rested.” Birdie was always the voice of reason. “You can have the same room as last time, Wilhelm.”

  Erin took Wilhelm up to his room. “Whatever happens, you will always have a home here.”

  He gave a warm grin. “Thank you. But as Birdie said, tomorrow I shall have to start thinking about a new future. Because a prince without a kingdom is pretty redundant.”

  She rested her head against his shoulder. “After we release Lodraill, I think Olav might calm down. He has no other heir, so you will always be next in line.”

  He kissed the top of her head. Erin was being overly optimistic, his father never forgave. The next time he would see Lokranor would be after his father’s passing. And strangely enough it hurt. He had long wanted to travel, but knowing he could not return did not sit well.

  Wilhelm’s first night in exile was not as bad as he imagined it would be. Erin filled his mind, the knowledge that she was in a bed just two doors down from his was such a sweet temptation. But for now, it would have to just stay that way.

  CHAPTER 15

  “You’re looking particularly smug today, Heinrekh,” Lodraill stretched out her slender limbs. “Are you celebrating?”

  “I am, my dear.”

  “Entertainment is certainly lacking in this room, so please give me some amusement.”

  “Your daughter has divided Lokranor.”

  “Divided it?”

  “Yes,” he beamed. “She has a price on her head if she sets foot in Lokranor and Wilhelm has been exiled.”

  Lodraill no longer looked quite so relaxed. “What did she do?”

  “Olav foolishly took Sasha McBride hostage. Erin challenged him, apparently humiliated him in front of his guards, and left with Sasha. And Wilhelm and Magnus.”

  “Why would Olav take Sasha?”

  “Because he wanted to exchange her for you.” He could see the look of confusion on Lodraill’s lovely face. “Sasha is my woman.”

  Lodraill gave half a smile. “I probably would have done exactly the same thing. I am surprised at Olav for acting so badly.”

  “It has cost him dear. Erin’s powers have almost doubled and Lokranor got to see that. The citizens are running scared. There is rumour there may be a rebellion. They want Wilhelm to replace Olav as he has the ear of the Priestess of Lokmuir.”

  “I can understand your delight at Lokranor
being weakened but if Erin is becoming more powerful by the day, then surely you should be afraid?”

  “On the contrary, I have been nothing but honest and up front with her. She will come to me before long.”

  Lodraill snorted loudly in response. Heinrekh by the sounds of it was right and there was very little she could do to help guide her daughter whilst the shield remained in place. But there was one who perhaps could. She would need to draw on every ounce of power she had left to make this work.

  Heinrekh headed back to Muirhead to see Sasha before she left for Edinburgh, it would be a long two weeks before they were together again, so every last minute counted. He also needed to see how Angus was working on his current commission.

  The McLomard household had been turned upside down. Birdie had decided that to fit in, Ingrid and Wilhelm needed twenty-first century clothing and had taken them to Inverness shopping. Wilhelm had already been inside a car, Ingrid was not so keen and took some persuading. With them gone, Magnus and Erin assessed the reality of the situation.

  “Ingrid will adjust quickly,” Magnus stated. “She is used to living under a man’s rule so will welcome the freedom she has here.”

  “But not Wilhelm?”

  “No. He was born to rule and whilst he may be happy to muck in doing some menial tasks, it will not last for long.”

  “Olav will not live forever. Whatever Wilhelm has done, he will inherit the throne on his father’s death. There is no-one who can succeed him legitimately.” Other than Heinrekh, she muttered to herself.

  “And what is he to do to occupy his time here? Remember he has no ID?”

  “ID can be bought,” Erin flapped her hand dismissively. “And with regards to keeping his Highness busy, he can help manage the estate. I’m sure Birdie would appreciate it.”

  Erin looked towards the back door as she heard Jacques’ excited barks. That could only mean Sasha.

  “Will you call this drooling tub of lard off me,” a high pitched voice squealed.

  Erin whistled and Jacques charged through the door before her slightly slobbered-on friend. “I know you were supposed to come to me for coffee, but I seem to recall you had a house full,” Sasha hugged Erin. “Largely my fault as well.”

  “Yeah, we’ll blame you for this entire mess,” Erin joked.

  “How is Ingrid?” Sasha looked at Magnus.

  “She’s gone shopping with Birdie.”

  “That it will be it now, she’ll be hooked permanently on the First Realm.”

  Magnus snorted and grabbed a Coke out the fridge. “I’ll leave you two alone to have your girls’ talk.”

  “You’re more than welcome to stay,” Sasha goaded. “I think we were going to talk about sexual performance, weren’t we Erin?”

  Magnus hissed and disappeared down the corridor.

  “It’s so easy to get rid of men,” Sasha giggled.

  “I know, but it is cruel to tease ones of lesser intelligence. On a more serious note, how are you?”

  “I’m fine,” she flopped down on a bar stool. “The worst bit was those horrible, creepy soldiers that took me. But Wilhelm killed the main one who threatened me.” She looked up with half a smile. “If you ever needed proof that he is honourable to the core, I will provide it.”

  “Putting us before himself was all the proof I needed. I know I should not ask this, but is Heinrekh planning any retaliation?”

  “I don’t think so. He was so relieved to have me back in one piece.” Sasha told Erin about how his fiancée had been killed a long time ago by Lokranor troops.

  “He played one very smart game,” Erin nodded in admiration.

  “How so?”

  “To have invaded Lokranor, all guns blazing so to speak, could have got you killed long before he reached you. He came to the one person who could get right into the castle without anyone raising an eyebrow. And he knew I would not leave without you.”

  “See, he is not as evil as everyone thinks.”

  “I never believed Heinrekh to be truly evil. A lot of what we do is down to our past. Now I understand why he turned to the dark arts, it was for revenge.”

  Sasha grinned. “I accused him once of wearing a mask. I was right. His pain is subsiding and so is his anger.”

  Erin laughed. “Yeah, and I told him I thought I detected a heart. Soon the guy will be wearing a halo.”

  “Ooh, I hope not,” Sasha looked positively horrified. “I like a bad boy.” She glanced around. “Talking of bad boys, where is the fearless Viking?”

  “Getting himself kitted out in Armani, no doubt,” Erin sighed. “Birdie has taken them both shopping.”

  “I always said this house was too big for just the three of you.”

  “Now we are five. Who knows, in a few more weeks we might have some more refugees.”

  Sasha laughed and stood up. “I need to get back. Heinrekh is particularly twitchy at the moment.”

  “When are you headed back to Edinburgh?”

  “This afternoon. A good job really as I shall be well and truly out the battle zone.”

  “When are you due home again?”

  “Probably in a couple of weeks. I need a regular dose of not so dark destroyer to keep me on track.” Sasha looked at her a little curiously. “Did he really come here yesterday?”

  “Yeah, I was on my way out the door to meet you. I nearly peed myself in shock.”

  Sasha rolled her eyes. “It is kind of ironic, to invite your arch enemy into your house.”

  “As I’ve learnt of late, temporary pacts can be made to serve a specific purpose. It does not change one’s point of view.”

  “But yours has, hasn’t it?”

  “Yes, meddling old moo. I am beginning to see a little of the man you do. But trust me, he’ll shatter that image sooner or later. He’s male, he’s bound to screw up.”

  “Too true,” Sasha kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. Maybe by then you’ll have trained that hound not to drool.”

  “I’ll do my best, but Magnus does not follow instruction well.”

  “I heard that,” he grunted reappearing at the kitchen door. “Has the harbinger of destruction left?”

  “Yes. Hopefully now all will be settled for a while.”

  Magnus deposited some post on the table. “This just got delivered.”

  Erin noticed one addressed to herself. It was handwritten in a very elaborate script. Curious, she ripped it open. “I spoke to soon. We will have an extra guest shortly.”

  “Who?”

  “Jasper Voktere.”

  “An actual surviving Voktere?”

  “Yeah. Isafor says Jasper is his nephew. The line is obviously still thriving. He will be here in a couple of days.”

  “If things carry on as they are, you’re going to have to build an extra wing.”

  “Have you found anything interesting yet?” Heinrekh made himself at home in Angus’ study after Sasha had left.

  “Yes, we might have a starting point.” Angus picked up his tablet and passed it to Heinrekh. “I’ve found a reference to Aria’s Bracelet. From the picture, it looks like it could match the drawing in your book. It has the identical design.”

  Heinrekh studied the image. “It could be,” he mused. “They have dated it to the ninth century, but it the real bracelet is much older than that.”

  “We know that, but they wouldn’t. Anything early Viking could be classed as ninth century. And it is not valuable enough to warrant date testing the materials.”

  “Where is it located?”

  “In Iceland, a small mineral museum at the foot of Holmatindur mountain.”

  “Go there and retrieve it,” Heinrekh responded flatly.

  “I can’t just steal an artefact,” Angus sounded horrified.

  “Fine. I will give you an item to exchange it for that is worth far more.”

  “I can find no trace of the other items though.”

  “It does not matter, as long as I h
ave one I can find the others.”

  “How so?”

  “All three are linked to each other, and as I am rather gifted with sorcery, I should have no issues finding the other two items.” Heinrekh stood up. “As always, you will be suitably recompensed for your efforts.”