Magnus grinned. “She’ll be so pissed at you for that.”
“I don’t care. She’ll at least be alive.”
Magnus threw her over his shoulder and headed back to the safety of camp. Wilhelm stayed to put an end to Heinrekh’s troops who were not smart enough to retreat.
His father was pleased. “You did a fine job leading the army,” Olav nodded at his son.
“I’m glad I can do something right.” A soldier passed him his horse and he mounted up. “Have I permission to return to the camp? I need to see how Erin is doing.”
Olav tilted his head a little as he looked at his son. “You care for this Priestess, don’t you?”
Wilhelm looked down at his saddle. “Yes, father. She might be from the First Realm but she is as brave as any Viking.”
“Very well. Go to her.”
Wilhelm rode off at speed. He was pleased to have made it through the day in one piece. Troops were returning to the camp in dribs and drabs, the wounded being attended to by physicians. He burst into Erin’s tent, she was unconscious again.
“This is becoming a habit, Magnus,” he commented. “You sitting beside Erin’s lifeless body.”
“I still plan on strangling her,” Magnus pulled a face. “I just need to get her back to health first.”
“How is her leg?”
“The physician has stemmed the bleeding. But it is her ankle which worries me more.”
“It is broken?”
“No. She injured it a few months ago. Strangely that was when I first become known to her. But it has never really healed. I think it will always be her Achilles heel.”
Wilhelm was confused. “How can an ankle be a heel?”
Magnus laughed. “I have been in Muirhead too long. It is an English expression. An Achilles heel is the term they give for someone’s true weakness. Her ankle will always be her weak spot.”
Wilhelm poured two goblets of wine and passed one to Magnus, before sitting down on the other side of Erin. “I thought we’d lost her today.”
“You and me both, but she has some resilience.”
“She is becoming truly powerful though. Where did she learn to do half of what she did on the battlefield?”
“Sadly not from me. I think it’s largely research and instinct. But perhaps it is time to assign her a proper tutor, not just a guardian.”
“I am not sure there is anyone in Lokranor skilled enough to act as her tutor who may not corrupt her. You’re going to be stuck with Erin for a while.”
“How I love dealing with hormonal teenagers,” Magnus sighed dramatically.
Wilhelm pushed a blond curl off her face. “She said something very strange to me earlier when we were in the woods on the Vasmaar border. I reminded her Heinrekh had killed both her parents and she distinctly said that he was only indirectly responsible for the death of her father.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning my mother, Lodraill, is still very much alive.”
Both Wilhelm and Magnus jumped. They thought she would be out of it for a while. Erin’s eyelids fluttered for a moment before opening. Wilhelm felt a warm buzz wash over him as he met those green eyes. “Lodraill lives?” he queried.
“Yes. That is generally the definition of alive.” She’d not lost her way with words. “Heinrekh has held her captive the last fourteen years.” Erin’s gaze moved to Magnus. “You’re lucky I’m a little incapacitated right now otherwise I would call both you and Birdie out for the string of lies you’ve been feeding me.”
“Hey, I’m just a guardian. I don’t family matters.” Magnus held up his hands in defeat.
“But you still lied to me. I’ve had to live the last ten years with Susannah, that‘s enough to make even the most sweet natured person entirely pissed off. And I’m a hormonal teen, remember?” Despite her fragile state, Erin’s temper was starting to bubble.
Magnus glanced quickly at Wilhelm before reaching for a vial by the bed. “The physician left this for you. It will help heal your wounds.”
“Don’t even think about trying to change the subject, Selvig,” she glared taking a sip of the liquid that was offered. “You are in so much sh.…”
Wilhelm watched with amusement as Erin fell deeply back to sleep. “Did you just drug her?”
“Yes,” Magnus looked a little sheepish. “She was getting cross and she still has full use of her hands.”
“I can’t believe you drugged her.” Wilhelm was genuinely shocked.
“Hey, you knocked her unconscious.”
“That was for her own good. We needed to get her medical help.”
“And this was for my own good. I’ve been on the receiving end of Loxhadrin and trust me, it’s not something I want to experience again.”
Wilhelm downed his wine. “If Lodraill is still alive, this changes everything. Erin cannot become High Priestess of Lokranor, she will just be of Muirhead.”
“I guess so,” Magnus mulled it over. “But it does not explain why she has her powers, especially with Lodraill still alive.”
Wilhelm stood up. “I need to speak with my father. He has to be made aware of this right away.” He leant forward and kissed Erin’s forehead. “Always much safer when she’s asleep.”
Olav was quite perplexed when Wilhelm told him. “We must return to Lokranor right away and consult with Ajax. How can the child have so much power when one parent still lives? It is a question he will need to find an answer to.”
“I bet Heinrekh knows, which is why he is so keen to get hold of her.”
Olav let out a rare chuckle. “Erin did tell me I was not her sovereign when she rode onto the battlefield. I missed her meaning. Her words ring very true now.”
“I would like to stay with Magnus and escort Erin back when she awakes. She needs even more protection now.”
“Fine. I will take half the troops with me. The rest can follow with you, perhaps tomorrow.”
Wilhelm returned to Erin’s tent. “I don’t think she should be left on her own. Heinrekh managed to contact her at the castle. I think he might try again tonight, to coerce her into going back to Vasmaar for her mother’s sake.”
“True. We actually need to get her back to Muirhead. She will make a good recovery there and should be well and truly out of Heinrekh’s reach.”
“I have to see to the troops. I will come back later to relieve you.”
CHAPTER 27
Erin had one hell of a headache. She could remember being on the battlefield, but everything became a blur after Heinrekh left. She reached up and touched the back of her head. There was a nice egg there. Her eyes opened slowly, and she found her heart skipped a beat. Several in fact. Lying next to her, with those delicious brown eyes watching her intently was Wilhelm.
“I don’t recall inviting you to share my bed,” Erin glowered, trying to ignore the colour that was flooding into her cheeks.
Wilhelm feigned an indignant look. “You have no memory of the wonderful night that we spent together?”
Erin gave a short laugh. “You’re not that cute, Wilhelm.”
The look he gave her made her glad she was lying down. “I remember the battle but not how I got here.” She touched the back of her head again. “Did I hit my head?”
“Yes. Regrettably on the hilt of my sword.”
“You knocked me out?”
“Purely for your own benefit. You would have bled to death arguing with Magnus.”
“Talking of Magnus, where is the toad?”
“Hiding from you, I suspect,” Wilhelm laughed.
So much for Viking fearlessness. As she lay against the soft furs, a hundred and one different thoughts flooded into her bruised head.
“Sasha,” Erin cried out. She had not thought about her friend since the woods in Vasmaar. “Where is she?”
“Magnus had a soldier escort her back to Lokranor, then on to Muirhead. I am sure she is out of harm’s way.”
Erin tossed the furs back and slid out of b
ed. “I need to get back to Lokranor myself.” As she stood up, not only did the whole world start to spin, but her ankle objected vociferously.
Wilhelm leapt off the bed and scooped her up before she fell. “You’re not going anywhere until at least tomorrow morning. Your leg needs time to heal and your ankle is still bad. And not forgetting the fact you’re half naked.” To highlight his point, Wilhelm’s hand that was behind her legs gently stroked the soft skin.
Erin squealed. She was only wearing a rather un-fetching pair of black shorts and a camisole. Not the kind of drab outfit you wanted to be seen in, especially not by such a gorgeous man.
Wilhelm plonked her back on the bed. “I hope you appreciate the restraint I’m showing right now.” He pulled the covers over her. “I’m in the bedroom of a half-naked, beautiful woman and although my thoughts aren’t the slightest bit pure, I will behave like a perfect gentleman.”
Drat, she was half-hoping he was going to act like a true Viking. But perhaps she had had enough excitement for one day.
“Please don’t feel you have to stay if you have things to do.” Erin tried to recover her composure.
“Magnus and I do not plan to leave you alone. We think Heinrekh might try to contact you again tonight as you are much weakened.”
“I will have to face him again one day soon.”
“But not until you are much stronger and capable of defeating him.”
“Well, if I’m going to be stuck with my own guard dog, you can at least make yourself useful and get me something to eat. I’m bloody starving.”
Wilhelm shook his head and headed out the tent. Only Erin could get away with bossing around the Prince of Lokranor. “Selvig,” he called out. “I’ve changed my mind, she’s all yours.”
Birdie had spent another day in the Archives with Ajax. She was stunned to hear the news that Lodraill was still alive. But it raised even more questions as to why Erin was becoming so powerful.
“You were right, Birdie.” Ajax tossed aside a large tome. “The prophecy does not relate to Erin.”
“She obviously has all this power for a reason. I am more than a little concerned what her destiny is.”
“We have numerous possible predictions,” Ajax sighed in despair. “But no hard evidence.”
“I guess we need to keep looking.” Birdie pulled out another tome. She needed to keep herself occupied. She was not looking forward to her conversation with Erin. Telling a child she had been lied to most of her life was never going to be easy, but it was not a lie she had started. She was just carrying out her late brother’s wishes.
Something caught her eye in the volume she was flicking through. She was not completely fluent in ancient Norse, but a few words sprung out at her. “Ajax, have a look at this.”
He glanced at the book she pushed towards him, then took it from her, seemingly hooked.
“It is anything?” Birdie asked after a while.
“I think we could be on to something,” Ajax pawed over the pages. “It talks about a descendant of Valkarin who possesses his bloodline twice over. The child will inherit their abilities before the age of majority and basically be as powerful as the dark one himself.”
“Erin is not descended from Valkarin.”
“How can you be sure? He was, after all, born over a millennia ago. The chance of his blood line crossing with the McLomards is possible.”
“But what does it mean twice over?”
“Both parents, I guess. Lodraill is from the Second Realm so it is very possible she possesses Valkarin blood. Perhaps before the Realms split, Valkarin left his bloodline on your side as well.” Ajax gave a mischievous grin. “Us Vikings are well known for putting it about and all it takes is one brief act.”
Birdie laughed. “I guess looking that far back in time, it is possible. But can she really be related to Valkarin? If so, it would mean she possesses the power of dark magic.”
“She first used Loxhadrin when she was angry, so it is highly likely she has the ability for sorcery. It’s making sure she doesn’t cross that line.”
Birdie shivered. The thought that Erin could possess Valkarin blood frightened her. It was bad blood. Black blood. And from her brief conversation with King Olav, it seemed Erin’s powers had grown quite considerably.
The town started to get very noisy, a clear indication to Birdie that the remainder of the troops had returned. She really wasn’t looking forward to having this conversation with Erin about her family line but she had to, for all their sakes. Erin would need guidance more than ever to keep her well away from the dark forces that ran in her blood. She headed over to Erin’s quarters and waited.
A while later Magnus carried Erin into the room and deposited her on the sofa. “Erin,” Birdie rushed over to her. “I had no idea you were injured. Olav said nothing.”
“It’s nothing really.” Erin scowled. “Just a small cut.”
Magnus snorted and made a hasty retreat.
“And your ankle?”
“A minor sprain. I take it you heard the good news.”
“Yes, my dear.” Birdie sat down next to her. “I guess now would be a good time to explain what really happened.”
“Lodraill has already told me about how she met and married dad, and how she saw him for the very last time.”
“Those were such tragic times,” Birdie hated dredging up the past. She still missed her brother as though his passing were only yesterday. “Believing that his beloved wife was dead, James never set foot in Lokranor again. His sole purpose was to make sure you lived. Lodraill had given her life to protect you. It was on holiday in France that he met Susannah. He would be the first to openly admit that they did not love each other, it was purely a marriage of convenience. Susannah was a widow and wanted a replacement husband of suitable standing. James needed a wife to care for his daughter. That was why Susannah rarely came to Muirhead, it was Lodraill’s home. You were only four at the time, so there was every chance you would look on Susannah as your natural mother.” Birdie glanced over at Erin, who remained impassive. “And before you say it, yes he could have done a hell of a lot better than Susannah.”
The corners of Erin’s mouth twitched ever so slightly. She was right though, James was an incredibly handsome man, he could have had his pick of women. But perhaps she could understand him selecting a woman he could not love; he was still in love with his first wife.
“The arrangement seemed to work quite well for a few years. Then Heinrekh attacked one night when you were staying in Muirhead. He was desperate to get hold of you and sent a legion of mercenaries. I managed to get you away, but your father was killed holding them off.” Birdie wiped a tear from her eye at the memory of that saddest of nights.
“We arranged some hypnotherapy so your memory of Muirhead would be buried until you returned. And for the next ten years, you’ve stayed safe and well down in Surrey. The plan was for you to return just before your eighteenth birthday so you could begin to understand the legacy your father had left you.”
Erin finally looked at Birdie, the tears were streaming down her face. “All those years Dad mourned for Lodraill, yet she was still alive. If only he had known, things could have turned out very different.”
“We cannot change the past, but we can affect the future. I wasn’t comfortable giving Susannah full custody of you as it was plain to see she never cared for you. But to have brought you back here would have been to put you in grave danger.” Birdie stood up and wandered over to the window, trying to keep her emotions in check. “I never agreed with James’ decision not to tell you about Lodraill, I could not see the harm in knowing your natural mother had died and Susannah was your step mother. It would certainly have made your life easier after his death.”
“Well, when I get back to Muirhead, I plan to have several more rants at Dad in the mausoleum. Actually no, face to face via Baldoren crystal. He’s not going to get any peace for a while.”
“I can tell you one thing that m
ight put a smile back on your face.” Birdie tried to lighten the mood.
“What’s that?” Erin sniffed.
“If Lodraill is still alive, then Susannah was never legally married to your father.”
Erin couldn’t help but grin. “You’re right. She’s spent all those years shacked up with a man who was not her husband. The shame of it!”
Birdie sat back down. “We also have a lot to discuss when we get back to Muirhead.”
“Like my change in role? I can’t be High Priestess of Lokranor whilst the current occupant still lives.”
Realms Gate Page 22
