“My mother lurched from one disaster to another so why should her daughters be any different. We’re harbingers for trouble.”
“And you tell me this now?” he gave half a smile.
“If you want to act all manly and protective, you can keep your eyes out for something edible. We might have been raised partially in a Viking realm but when it comes to foraging for food, we usually open a packet.”
Ulrik laughed despite his worry. “I shall do my best. Although as I do not have my crossbow on me, shooting something might be a tad difficult.”
“In that case you point out the possible food source and I shall kill it and roast it all in one go.”
“A perfect team,” he smiled.
Kat felt her stomach do a little dance. Yes, they were good together. Luckily Arianna was with them as her mind was wandering too far in a certain direction.
“What do you mean, they’ve disappeared?” Lief hissed at Erland.
“Exactly that. They were here, now they’ve gone.”
“They were locked in the basement. You had made sure Katya could not use her powers.”
“I made sure she couldn’t use her powers to break out the dungeon.”
“So how did they get out?”
“Beats me,” Erland shrugged.
“They must have gone through here?”
“Indeed they did.”
“So why did you not stop them?” Lief snapped angrily.
“I saw no reason to detain them as it seems a descendent of Vasmaar will soon rule Lokranor after all.”
“I want my son to rule Lokranor.”
“I don’t care what you want, Lief. As long as a descendant of Valkarin rules Lokranor, I have no reason to support your cause.”
“You idiot. There is no guarantee that Arianna will accept the suit of Valkarin’s heir, she is at liberty to choose her own husband, who in turn will reign Lokranor. That will be my son.”
“When I agreed to help you, Lief, there was no mention of your son taking the throne of Lokranor. It was purely to help him be named heir for Mallenvaar.”
“Events changed, especially as Ulrik has assured his place as heir of Mallenvaar. Now there is a much greater prize in store.”
“That is not my concern.”
“I have paid you for your services and I expect you to do as ordered.”
“I do not follow orders from the likes of you,” Erland glared at him.
“You do not want me for an enemy, Erland,” Lief steamed.
“You cannot threaten me,” Erland snorted. “You are forgetting I have sorcery so run along now before I decide to have a quiet word with your brother. I’m sure he’ll be interested to know what you’ve been up to recently.”
Lief headed to the door and turned. “You picked the wrong man to cross. You might want to watch your back in future.”
Ulrik was pushing the girls harder so they could reach Arranfest Falls before dusk. The bad weather was not helping them either. They were exhausted, hungry and cold. He stopped suddenly, indicating for Arianna and Kat to do the same.
“What is it?” Kat whispered.
“There are two snow hares up ahead,” his voice was barely audible. “Are you able to hit them with a bolt of fire?”
“Barbecued rabbit coming up,” Kat retorted, calling the fire to her hand. She prayed her aim wasn’t going to let her down.
“At least we got one,” Ulrik smiled as he picked up the singed carcass. “We can cook this when we get to the Falls.”
“Why not now?” Arianna grumbled. “I’m bloody starving.”
“It will be dark soon and I would rather be at the shelter of the Falls than out in the open at the mercy of wolves and whoever knows what.”
“We have a hot dinner to look forward to,” Kat grinned, snapping a few twigs off a nearby tree. “Rabbit skewers.”
Ulrik was relieved when the Falls finally came into view as the light was fading fast.
“Impressive,” Kat gazed up at the flow of frozen water.
“Where’s our shelter?” Arianna asked wearily.
“There’s an overhang around the left hand side.”
Ulrik noticed Kat was staring at the frozen sheet of water strangely. “Something bothers you?”
“Have you ever check to see if there is a cavern behind the flow?”
“What makes you think there is?”
“Many waterfalls have some kind of cave behind them. If this does have one, it might be warmer than sitting under an overhang. And safer too.”
He glanced at the frozen panes, there was no access to behind the flow. “Nothing,” he sighed.
Kat shook her head. “Mum always taught me never to believe what I see right away.” She ran her hands down the left hand side of the fall. “See, optical illusion.”
Ulrik gaped. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t. But the angle of the fall dictates that if there was an entrance, it would be on this side.” She glanced over at her sister. “Come on your ladyship, we might actually be able to get warm inside here.”
“Unless we have a hibernating bear.”
“Then we’ll have a nice bearskin throw to wear.”
Mercifully, due to the frozen water, the cave was dry and animal free. Ulrik headed back out to gather up some wood and moss to start the fire. A short while later they were a little less chilled. Once Ulrik had skinned the rabbit with the knife he had in his boot and removed as much meat as he could from the carcass, Kat started to cook it over the fire. The smell of cooking meat was driving her mad with hunger.
“I always thought you were as crap as me out in the wilderness,” Arianna threw her sister an impressed look.
“I was. I only ever made one camping trip with the Brownies. I preferred a soft bed and food out the fridge. Besides, I could never skin an animal, so without Ulrik we would have gone hungry.”
Ulrik grinned. “Yes, Viking women you are not.”
“So what’s the plan?” Arianna yawned.
“We rest the night here and make an early start for Arranfest. It shouldn’t take us much more than a couple of hours.”
A few minutes later Arianna was fast asleep. Ulrik took the opportunity to pull Kat close. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she snuggled in to him. “Apart from having killer breath, no doubt.”
“Now you mention it,” he chuckled.
“Yours isn’t that sweet either,” Kat retorted. “Now shut up and let me sleep. Us soft First Realmers are not used to traipsing around frozen wastelands on virtually no food.”
“Please feel free to use me as a mattress or blanket.”
“I intend to Viking,” she sighed.
Kat awoke with a start, Ulrik’s hand was over her mouth.
“Don’t make a sound,” he murmured. “We have company outside.”
He moved on to Arianna and woke her whilst Kat got her bearings. The voices outside were quite audible.
“They cannot be too far from here.”
“Sadly the snowstorm has removed any footprints.”
“Do you think they have reached Arranfest?”
“Unlikely, they are on foot, unarmed and without provisions.”
“What is the plan?”
“We wait here.”
“What makes you so sure they will come this way?”
“Because we have searched the area surrounding Ardenborg. This is the only other direction they could possibly have travelled in.”
Ulrik ushered Kat and Arianna deeper into the cave so they couldn’t be heard. “Sound like Oskar and his companion are setting up camp outside.”
“We’re trapped then,” Kat sighed.
Arianna looked behind Kat into the darkness. “Perhaps the cave might lead somewhere.”
“It’s possible,” Ulrik shrugged. “I guess we’ve got nothing to lose by looking.”
“Other than getting horribly lost,” Kat added.
“Not if we mark the walls
so we know we’re not going around in circles.” Arianna was suddenly feeling positive about this. She felt around in the darkness for a stone to use. It was all hard rock but eventually her efforts paid off and her hand closed around a smooth stone. As she picked it up, she felt a rush of ice run through her. The stone had obviously sat on the floor far too long. “Marker pen to hand, so let’s go.”
“She must be feeling better,” Kat took hold of Ulrik’s hand. “She’s back to her usual bossy self.”
“Quit whining and give us some light,” Arianna chuckled.
Kat produced a small orange orb in her hand. The cave led to a tunnel which had torches lining the wall.
“Okay,” Ulrik took one down and lit it from Kat’s hand. “Something tells me this might lead somewhere.”
“Wherever that is, this tunnel has not been used for a very long time.” Arianna pushed aside several cobwebs.
Kat gripped Ulrik’s hand tighter, all hunger and tiredness completely forgotten. They were headed somewhere that no-one had been for centuries. “Where do you think this will come out? Near Arranfest? Or does this go to some strange temple.”
Ulrik looked at the torches lining the walls. “My guess would be to a temple. The entrance was hidden by the waterfall which means the access was only known by a chosen few. And all temples and places of secret worship have at least one escape route.”
“Cool,” Arianna surged on ahead of them. “Perhaps we might even find a hoard of treasure.”
Eventually the tunnel opened up into a large cavern that had a big round table in the middle.
Arianna blew off some of the centuries of dust. “Please don’t tell me we’ve found the Round Table.”
“Too old,” Kat studied the engravings. “This is probably millennia old.” She glanced over at Ulrik. “Any ideas?”
“Perhaps,” he seemed deep in thought. “I remember reading something in the Archives about a secret trade route between Mallenvaar and Vasmaar, where captives would be bought and sold, along with other illegal or dangerous artefacts.”
“You think this could be the place where they met?”
“Possibly.” He ran his hand over the table. “I have seen the markings on this side of the table before. They are the coat of arms of some of the noble families in Mallenvaar.”
Arianna looked at the other side of the table. “We would need Damon to identify these. I know very little about Vasmaar. Except this one.” She touched the bear. “This is the Vasmaarian crest.”
“If this was a trade route between the two territories, then that should mean this tunnel opposite runs to Vasmaar.” Kat tried not to sound too optimistic.
“In theory yes. But the entrance could have been blocked.”
“I guess there’s no time like the present to explore,” Arianna headed to the tunnel.
“Wait,” Ulrik called after her.
“Why?” Arianna stopped in her tracks.
“We might have something to drink,” Ulrik grinned picking up a centuries old flacon of wine. Pulling the stopper out he sniffed the contents. “On the other hand perhaps not.”
“Trust a Viking to think about drinking at a time like this,” Arianna hissed.
“I’ve been cooped up with you two for almost two days, I think I deserve a drink,” he retorted.
Kat rose on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “You can have all the drink you want if we make it to Vasmaar.”
Grabbing the torch, Ulrik took the lead down the tunnel. In the distance, they could see a faint light. Gradually it turned brighter. A short while later they emerged from the rock face into another snowy landscape.
Ulrik span around trying to get his bearings. “I do not recognise this landscape at all. Ladies?”
“It’s Vasmaar,” Arianna sighed wearily.
“Whereabouts?” Kat asked quickly.
“I think Damon’s hunting lodge is close by.”
Ulrik let Arianna lead the way. Before too long, Arianna let out an excited squeal. “Civilisation. At least a warm shelter with food and something to drink.”
Ulrik surveyed the small lodge. “He does not have a stable?”
“No. But there should be a servant living there. They can get to Vasmaar Castle and get some horses for us.”
Arianna banged on the door a couple of times before entering. She was far too cold and hungry to wait for it to be answered. A rather startled servant appeared.
“Sorry to intrude,” she smiled. “I am Arianna of Lokranor. My companions and I have been stranded in the wilderness for two days. We require food, a warm fire and someone to get to Vasmaar Castle to acquire horses for us.”
The servant bowed. “Please make yourself at home, my lady. I will get the fire going for you, but I’m afraid I have limited food.”
Arianna waved her hand dismissively. “We have not eaten for two days so anything you can find would be appreciated.” She glanced over at Ulrik. “Prince Ulrik would welcome wine too if you have that.”
The servant nodded and scuttled off, before coming back with a pile of wood. “Leave the fire to us,” Arianna ordered. Right about now, food was top of her list. Besides, Kat could get the fire going far quicker than the servant.
They didn’t have long to wait before wine and some bread and cheese was provided. Never had such simple food tasted quite so delicious.
“If you don’t require anything else, my lady. I’ll head over to Vasmaar Castle and advise Damon you are here and require horses.”
“Thank you,” Arianna nodded.
With the lodge to themselves, Arianna stretched out on one of the sofas and burrowed deep down into the furs. “Soft and warm,” she sighed. “Absolute bliss.”
“You know something that will really piss Damon off,” Kat beamed.
“What?” Arianna yawned.
“We found the missing gateway.”
“Holy crap,” Arianna sat back up. “So we did.” In their desperation to reach safety, she had completely overlooked that fact.
“I can’t believe that after millennia, our realms are joined once more,” Ulrik could not contain his grin.
“I guess that blows your theory about me finding the moon stone out the water,” Arianna sank back down onto the pile of furs.
“Not necessarily. We’ve not yet accessed the Fifth Realm. Bassengaard is still out there somewhere.”
“Kat has a point,” Ulrik agreed. “Although I would have thought the gateway for Bassengaard would be in my Realm somewhere.”
“Perhaps. But it could be anywhere.”
A soft snore indicated that Arianna had already fallen asleep. Ulrik picked Kat up from her spot in front of the raging fire and deposited her on the other sofa. “You need to sleep too.”
“What about you?”
“I’m in a strange realm, sleep can come later.”
“You do not trust Damon?”
“I do not know this realm. It would not be prudent to let my guard down just yet. Besides, you are forgetting that we have an open gateway. There is the remotest possibility that Oskar could have followed us.”
She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I would have been quite lost without you. Thank you for looking after Arianna and me.”
“I wish I could have taken better care of you both,” he kissed her back.
Ulrik held on to Kat until she had fallen asleep. It was strange but he knew he would protect her with his life if he had too. And not just because of her parents. There was something about her that was definitely worth dying for.
Watching the two sisters asleep, he started to relax and poured himself another goblet of wine. He certainly needed it. Having got the proof that he needed that Lief and Oskar were traitors, he wondered how to deal with them. If he went straight to his father, Lief would say that he was trying to ensure his own succession to the throne, that it was all lies. It would be different if he could track down Erland, but he got the feeling that Lief might already have done away the sorcerer. L
ief was the type of person who did not leave any lose ends lying around. No, he would just have to miss out a few salient details when reporting back to his father and watch Lief and Oskar squirm. From then on he would make sure they were watched constantly.
The Fourth Realm (Realms Gate) Page 22