Arianna was curled up in a tight ball under the thin blanket fast asleep. She looked so angelic. Damon risked brushing a stray golden curl from her face; he was shocked to find she was freezing cold. Hardly surprising as it was winter. Feeling a pang of guilt, he scooped her up and carried her upstairs to one of the spare bedrooms. The last thing he wanted was for her to freeze to death. It felt good to have his arms around her without fear of dismemberment. Reluctantly, he laid her down and pulled the covers over her. Feeling brave, he sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her porcelain skin. Her eyelids opened slowly, those brown eyes holding his captive for a few seconds, before she gave a sleepy smile and fell back asleep.
He took hold of her hand and kissed it; he felt her pain. He too had spent a lot of his teenage years permanently angry. But his anger was down to the lack of a father. As wonderful as Lars had been as a stepfather, he had so wanted to know his real father. Erin had given him that opportunity and since that day, he had never looked back. He knew his mother blamed herself for Heinrekh’s death, but as his father explained, he gave his life willing so Sasha and child could live. And now with the Baldoren crystal at his disposal, he could talk to his father, albeit not for too long.
Arianna needed to decide the route she was going to take; she could not stay pissed at her parents forever for making her their heir. His hand ran through her soft golden waves; his mind was suddenly filled with all the erotic things he wanted to do with her. Over the last few years she had morphed from awkward teenager to stunning woman and had she not been Wilhelm’s daughter, he would have made sure she was in his bed regularly. He decided it was time to leave her be otherwise the Viking in him might take over. Bending down, he dropped a light kiss on her cold lips. If he tried to do that whilst she was awake, she would certainly have castrated him.
CHAPTER 5
Kat found Jasper in the library where she hoped he would be. She had a burning question for him. “Jasper, I need to test your detailed knowledge of history.”
“You’re asking about history?” Jasper smiled. “I am intrigued.”
“What do you know of Mallenvaar?”
“Mallenvaar?”
“Yes. It was our neighbour here before the rift.”
Jasper looked at her strangely for a few moments. “How do you know about Mallenvaar?”
“I heard mention of it,” she responded evasively. “Have you met anyone from there before?”
“No. It disappeared at the time of the rift. There were no gateways to it. Why do you ask?”
“Idle curiosity,” she shrugged. “What information is there on it?”
“Not much. It was similar to Lokranor but smaller and not as powerful, which is why Valkarin wanted Lokranor not Mallenvaar.”
“And what of Bassengaard?”
“Very similar to Mallenvaar. Again, we think they were trapped in a different dimension altogether.”
“Cool,” Kat smiled, heading back out the library.
Birdie appeared a few minutes later.
“You’re looking concerned, Jasper. I recognise that frown line.”
“Yes, Katya.”
“What about my great-niece?”
“She was asking about something she couldn’t possibly have any knowledge of?”
“Go on, you have my full attention.” Birdie was intrigued.
“She was talking about Mallenvaar and Bassengaard?”
“Which are?”
“Kingdoms before the rift that no longer exist.”
“Perhaps she read about them in a book?”
“Unlikely, the names only appear on the very oldest of charts, ones which she would not have access to.”
“Children can surprise us with their knowledge from time to time. What is so shocking about her interest?”
“I heard rumour from Lokranor that Damon is investigating the possibility of other Realms. It was always believed that Mallenvaar and Bassengaard were trapped in a different dimension to our Realms, but I’m starting to think Katya’s interest might be first hand.”
“Meaning?”
“Hers was more than idle curiosity. I think she might have found the missing gateway.”
“It is highly unlikely. All gateways are in that special volume.”
“All known gateways. Nothing to Mallenvaar and Bassengaard is marked.”
“Which means most likely that there are none.” Birdie ran her hand through his hair. “You read too much into the words of children. I bet you Katya’s mind is already focussed on another issue already.”
“You’re probably right,” Jasper sighed.
“How about we go visit the grandchildren this afternoon. You can expand your knowledge of how to deal with teenagers.”
“You’re forgetting I brought one up single-handedly,” he kissed her cheek fondly.
“That was a boy. Girls are far more hormonal.”
“I bow to your better judgement,” he admitted defeat. “Let’s go see Morganna and Anders.”
Kat was delighted to see Birdie and Jasper drive off, it meant she could bring Ulrik back to the house without getting an interrogation, not that they ever really interfered in what she did. Riding over to Falsteg ruins she hoped he would be there again. Her pulse skittered about as he emerged through the gateway; he looked magnificent on his black horse, an impressive sword hanging by his side.
“You weren’t armed previously, were you?” she stared at his sword.
“No. But as you are about to show me around a strange land, I thought it prudent to be armed.”
“It matters not to me,” she shrugged. “May I see it?”
He drew his sword and passed it to her. Kat studied the marks and decorations on the hilt. She knew it was no historian’s sword, her father carried one like this. “That is the sword of a nobleman.”
“Can a nobleman not be a historian too?” he countered.
“Perhaps,” she eyed him suspiciously. She had the distinct feeling he was not telling her all about his background, then again she was concealing some details too. “Come, let’s ride.” She cantered out the woods with Ulrik behind.
They stopped at the top of the hill to survey the countryside below.
“All this belongs to my family.” She waved her hand to outline the rough borders of the estate.
“You have two houses on your estate?”
“Yes. A long story. That is our ancestral residence over there, and nestled in the woods is another house my mother had rebuilt. The ruler of Vasmaar was raised there.”
“Which must make you a noble as well.”
Kat felt some colour seep into her cheeks. “I am but then you already knew that.”
They rode back down the hill and around the loch. “What is that building?” Ulrik asked.
“The family mausoleum.” It was strange to think Lodraill would be interred there next to her grandfather but her parents would be buried in Lokranor.
They carried on to the stables, left their horses with a groom and headed around to the house.
“This is home,” Kat smiled as she led Ulrik into the hallway.
The display of swords and weapons on the walls caught his eye. “You have Viking artefacts?”
“A few. We are an old family.”
The portrait of her mother held him captive for the longest time. “That must be a relative, you have the same eyes.”
“My mother,” Kat admitted.
“She is Viking?”
“No, she was born here in the First Realm.”
“Yet she carries a Talmar?”
“Yes she does.”
“Only those with unique power can wield such a sword.”
“Mum is kind of gifted.”
“Do you have a portrait of your father?”
“Not here. His picture hangs in our home in Lokranor.”
Some excited woofs heralded the arrival of Balthazar who made a beeline for Ulrik. “Should I be worried?” he asked nervously.
“N
o. He will just drool over you. If he didn’t like you, he would have taken you down already.” Kat ushered him into the living room to escape the dog. “Did you want some wine?” She felt she should offer him something to drink but most of what they had would be completely alien to him. Wine was the only thing she could think of. And they had a decent supply of pewter goblets; Birdie was never keen on letting her father near her best crystal.
Ulrik shook his head. “I am fine, thank you. But I would like to continue the tour of your home.”
Kat propelled him towards the library. “This room you will like.”
Ulrik’s face lit up; this was his kind of library. “Have you read many of these?”
“Sadly not many. My great-uncle is the keen historian in the family.”
“You don’t appear to have many charts?”
“They are located in a special chamber, to which I’m afraid I don’t have access.”
“I imagine you have many special volumes in there as well?”
“I guess.”
Ulrik stared at her for a few moments. “You appear uneasy?”
“I’m not often in these rooms. I have my own quarters upstairs.”
“Then let us go there if you are more comfortable.”
Balthazar stalked them as they headed up to first floor. Kat showed Ulrik into her living room. “This is for my own use.”
“This is more you, I think,” he smiled at the eclectic mix of photos and posters on the wall. “Are these your sisters?” he pointed to one photo.
“Yeah. We don’t always get along to well.”
“I would have loved to have had a sibling.” He ran his hand over the picture.
Kat spotted her iPad on the fireplace mantel and took a sneaky shot of Ulrik when he was studying her family photos. He looked so damn cute in full Viking dress, his sword at his side. She wondered for a moment how good he was with it. She wasn’t bad. Perhaps they could cross swords on another day.
“Your sisters do not live with you here?”
“Arianna spends most her time in Lokranor now and my twin sisters are away at the moment. “
“So it is just you here. All alone,” he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Not all alone. I have my great-aunt and uncle. And of course Balthazar.”
“Your ever faithful guard dog,” he chuckled.
“Do you live with your parents?” She turned the questioning back to him.
“My father.” He gave a sad smile. “My mother died a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Kat touched his arm. The sound of tyres of outside told her Birdie was back. “Crap,” she muttered glancing out the window.
“Is something amiss?” Those lovely brown eyes rested on her.
“My great-aunt and uncle are back. Unless you want to be interrogated to within an inch of your life, I need to get you out of here without being seen.”
“They will not be pleased that you are alone with a man?”
“Something like that,” Kat grunted. She took his hand and moved him down the hallway. Peering over the banister, all looked clear in the main entrance. They scurried down the stairs and made it to the front door unseen.
As instructed, the horses were still tacked up so they made their getaway quickly.
“You have a beautiful home,” Ulrik glanced over at her.
“Thank you. It is a pity that it’s not really a home anymore. It is rare that we are all there at the same time.”
“Would you like to see Mallenvaar?”
“You want me to cross into your Realm?” Kat felt slightly unsure. It really was straying into the unknown even though she trusted Ulrik.
“Yes. It’s kind of difficult to see it without crossing over. I thought you went through gateways regularly.”
“Ones that I know. But what the hell. I’d love to.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Sadly I cannot tomorrow.” She had arranged to meet up with a school friend in Inverness. “The day after is good.”
“Until then, Katya of Muirhead.”
Kat watched him ride through the gateway and vanish. She was more than a little intrigued by him; his manners were impeccable and he showed a keen interest in the Realm, but not from a military point of view. His curiosity was genuine. More to the point, she was highly attracted to him. There was no arrogance, despite him being of noble birth, and he treated her as a lady. Throw in his good looks and she was lost. The next two days would certainly drag until she got to see him again.
Birdie intercepted her in the main hall before she could slip up to her room. “Who was that you were with earlier?”
“Oh, just a friend,” Kat responded evasively.
“I didn’t recognise him. Has he been here before?”
“No. He was just passing through and stopped in to see me.”
“On horseback?”
“Yeah, he likes to ride. Is that a crime?” she retorted.
Birdie took a few steps back. “There’s no need to go on the defensive. You’ve been holed up by yourself for quite a while, I am pleased you’re starting to socialise again.”
“It’s kind of difficult to have a social life when your family is as messed up as ours,” Kat moaned.
“I might be old but I do understand what it is like having to keep your two worlds apart. I had it thrust upon me and so did your mother. You at least have grown up with it. And whilst it is not easy, you do not have a bad life.”
“Yeah, I know, there are homeless starving people out there who would love to have just a fraction of what I do. But the one thing they might have which I don’t is a loving family.”
“Katya,” Birdie snapped. “How could you say such a thing?”
“Easy. I’m a second child. Arianna has mum and dad’s full attention. When they do remember they have other children, it’s usually to bail the twins out of whatever mess they’ve got themselves in to. If I left home today, it would probably take them a good few months to realise I’ve gone.”
“Enough, young lady,” Birdie barked. “I will not have you talk about your parents like that. They have always loved you, in fact I shouldn’t say it, but your father favours you the most. It is only in this last year that they have lost their way a little, what with Arianna due to take her place in Lokranor.”
“As I said, it’s all about Arianna. At least I can escape back to school at the end of the summer. And I think this time I will board fully and not come back at the weekends. What’s the point, the house will be empty any way.” Kat stomped up the stairs to her rooms.
She felt bad for growling at Birdie; her great-aunt was the one constant in her life. Both her and Jasper were always there, always ready to listen and help. Pulling her jacket off, she tossed it angrily to the floor. As she did a spark shot from her hand. It made Kat jump, more so as she had to step on the small flame that flickered on her carpet. How the hell did that happen? What had caused the spark? She examined her jacket, there was nothing obvious, it wasn’t synthetic so that ruled out static. She wrung her hands together anxiously, she was definitely losing the plot. Didn’t people set fire to things as a cry for attention?
The tingling was the first thing she noticed. Glancing down at her hands, she almost screamed. Sitting in the palm of her hands was an orange ball of fire. Her first reaction was to drop it, when it wouldn’t fall she shook her hands wildly; several flames shot to the floor singeing the carpet. Sense finally caught up with her and she charged into her bathroom and thrust her hands under a running cold tap. Oddly enough they didn’t steam, the flames just vanished. Kat was almost too afraid to look at the damage to her palms. But there was none. No blistering, no damage to the skin. Nothing. Was she having major hallucinations? The scorch marks on her living room floor would say not. Embarrassed she moved a few things around to hide them. The last thing she needed was Birdie thinking she was trying to set fire to the house.
Arianna woke feeling toasty warm. She yawned and stretched out in th
e large bed. It took a few minutes to dawn on her that she wasn’t in her bed. Sitting up she tried to get her bearings. A faint smile crossed her face; Damon might be a complete bastard but by moving her, he’d shown that he wasn’t as hard as he portrayed.
The Fourth Realm (Realms Gate) Page 5