The Realms Unite (Realms Gate)

by Juliet Anderson

  “Not really what I would call close,” Wilhelm grunted, “but by horse we should not take long to reach the waterfall.”

  “We can’t ride,” Erin responded. “We need to be cloaked.”

  “Then it’s a long walk.”

  “When are you planning on going?” Birdie looked none too happy.

  “I guess there’s no point in delaying. Tomorrow sounds good.”

  “Tomorrow? Aren’t you rushing this?”

  “No. The longer we leave it, the more chance there is Valkarin might find her before we do.”

  “Unlikely,” Jasper spoke up. “We’ve tried to find her for millennia.”

  “Valkarin hasn’t been awake for millennia. Besides, we’re only sneaking in to pick up one of her bones. We’re not actually planning on engaging anyone in a fight.”

  “I still don’t like it,” Birdie grumbled.

  “You’re going to like the full scale assault on Valkarin even less when that happens.”

  “True. But as I keep reminding you, you’re my last surviving family member and I want to keep it that way.”

  “Will it be the three of us again?” Magnus asked.

  “Yeah, we didn’t do a bad job last time, did we?”

  “Other than wake an evil that has been sleeping for two millennia, no,” Magnus retorted.

  “That was actually Sasha, not us.”

  “Dare I ask when we will be going up against Valkarin?” Lodraill spoke up.

  “I don’t want to delay too long as he has Sasha.”

  “He will not harm her, she carries his heir,” Jasper voiced his opinion.

  “You would hope not, but Sasha is irritable and short-tempered at the moment, she might push him too far.”

  “Then let us hope Lars will keep her safe.”

  Erin knew he’d try, because he had a major crush on Sasha. “If we are successful in finding Aria’s tomb, then I just need to set up a few things with Heinrekh and we’ll be ready to go.”

  “Heinrekh?” Lodraill sounded horrified.

  “Yes, mum. He wants to put Valkarin back in his tomb as well. Once that’s done, we’ll revert to the ways of old. But I need him to set in play a couple of traps for Valkarin.”

  “Why him of all people?” she hissed.

  “Because he is the only one in the Second Realm I half ass trust and can get hold of remotely.” Erin stood up and stretched. “I’m off to bed, I’ll see you two boys in the morning.”

  “You are not joining me in the South Tower?” Wilhelm murmured, sounding quite hurt, as he caught up with her in the hall.

  “I need to be in my room tonight.” She squeezed his hand.

  “Then I guess I will see you early tomorrow.”

  “Hey Viking,” she called after him. “I never said I wanted to alone.”

  Wilhelm was beside her again in seconds. “You want me in your bed?”

  “That is the general idea, yes. Although please be prepared to hide in the bathroom should mum or Birdie want a chat.”

  “What about Magnus?”

  “He does not need to see me to talk.”

  Something large and hairy came between them. “Not tonight, Jacques,” Erin smiled at the St Bernard. “I can’t have you trying to psych out Wilhelm.”

  “You put me ahead of the dog? I am honoured indeed.”

  “We get enough disturbances, the dog I can do without.”

  Wilhelm wrapped his arm around her waist as they headed up to her room. “Are you sure Valkarin will be unaware of our presence?”

  “I think we’re far enough away from Lokranor to be safe. In fact I imagine his attention will be focussed on some hissing, spitting redhead. But we did warn him not to try and abduct her. That’s what happens when you don’t listen to the wisdom of a woman.”

  CHAPTER 22

  Erin had used the Baldoren crystal to project herself into Vasmaar Castle, it was good to give Heinrekh the fright of his life for a change.

  “Sasha is right, you have a pretty good body,” Erin was slouched on his bed as he came out the bathroom, thankfully with a towel wrapped around his lower half. “For an old man, that is.”

  “Is there something you wanted, other than to admire my physique?” Heinrekh fixed her with an icy stare.

  “I need to meet you at gateway from my Estate to Vasmaar.”

  “I will be there within the hour,” he responded.

  Heinrekh was already waiting for Erin when she crossed over. It was far enough from Lokranor to evade Valkarin’s eye.

  “I am surprised you have mastered travelling by Baldoren crystal. It can take years to learn how to do it successfully,” Heinrekh gave credit where it was due.

  “I did hit the odd tree,” Erin smiled.

  “Did you come through this gateway to use it?”

  “No,” Erin frowned. “I used it from Muirhead.”

  Heinrekh looked at her in awe. “You travelled inter-realm as well?”

  “Yeah. Is that not done?”

  “I’ve never met anyone who can, other than Valkarin.”

  “Have you seen Sasha since she was taken to Lokranor?”

  “No. Much as I want to, I think it better to let her cool before I go. Lars can bear the brunt of her anger for now.”

  “Chicken,” Erin grunted, but she could not blame him. Pregnancy hormones and a redhead were not a good mix.

  “I presume you called me here for a reason, other than to have a polite discussion?”

  “Yes. We are close to having all the weapons necessary to bring down Valkarin.” She handed over a small box to him. “I need you to pass this to Gudrun. It has been made to look like a royal wristband but it will drain Valkarin of his powers when he tries to use them. Gudrun needs to convince Valkarin that it belonged to Olav, that it is only ever worn by the King of Lokranor. She needs to try and persuade him against wearing it so he won’t be suspicious.”

  “Gudrun is a women, she can do cunning very well I’m sure,” Heinrekh grunted.

  “When you visit Sasha, I want you to sow the seed in Valkarin’s mind that I have found an elixir that will give me almost superpowers. A gift perhaps from his ex-wife.”

  “Have you?”

  “No, of course not,” she laughed. “But when we next meet, it might encourage him to drink the vial I have on me.”

  “Which will do what?”

  “Give him more than a nasty case of wind, I hope,” Erin grinned.

  “When are you planning to strike?” he tried not to sound too eager.

  “Two days’ time. So you might want to visit Lokranor today or tomorrow.”

  “Is there anything else you need me to do?”

  “Just keep Sasha safe. When Valkarin and I meet, it won’t be civilised.”

  “I will be there to take him down too, you won’t have to do it alone.”

  “Thank you,” she touched his arm. “With any luck you’ll have Sasha back with you soon. Then we can return to antagonising each other as before.”

  He laughed. “I look forward to that day.”

  Erin watched him leave feeling a little more hopeful that she had been in a while. With Heinrekh on her side, she stood a much better chance of taking down Valkarin. She just hoped her faith in him was not misguided.

  “Where have you been so early this morning?” Lodraill questioned Erin as walked into the kitchen for breakfast.

  “I needed to make a quick visit to Vasmaar.”

  Magnus sprayed his coffee across the table. “You went to Vasmaar without me?”

  “I wasn’t really in Vasmaar, just where it joins Lokranor by our gateway. I had to meet with Heinrekh.”

  “You know what, I quit,” Magnus threw his hands in the air. “What is the point in being a guardian when I never bloody know where my charge has disappeared to?”

  “Heinrekh poses no threat at the moment, we are both fighting for a common cause.”

  “And what about the guys who tried to take you out yesterday?”<
br />
  “They’re ash.”

  “But there must be more. They keep popping up like daisies.”

  “Yesterday was a diversionary tactic, I’m sure of it.”

  “Are we still on for crashing through Mallin forest?” Wilhelm appeared looking gorgeous as ever.

  Erin’s mind wandered to the previous night, it had been rather good. “Yup. I just need to don my armour and ply myself with coffee, then I’ll be fit to take on the wolves.”

  Birdie drove them to the gateway at Tobin Hall. The archway was hidden by ivy, which Erin parted as they slipped though. Wearing their white fur capes, Erin made sure they were invisible as the trio started the long walk through the forest and out to Lokborin Lake. She squeezed Wilhelm’s hand, realising this must be quite painful for him. The last time he had been in Lokranor his father was alive and he was next in line to the throne. How everything had changed in such a short space of time.

  “Are you alright?” she asked softly.

  He nodded in response.

  The air was particularly cold and the day overcast, before them lay a vast expanse of white nothing. Oh for a snowmobile right about now, Erin thought. Her mind drifted to Sasha; had she driven Valkarin to the brink of madness yet? She hoped so. He really should have learnt the dangers of abducting a woman.

  “How do you know where the entrance to the tomb will be?” Magnus asked.

  “I’m hoping the McLomard dragon will take me to it.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t bring Aria’s crystal.”

  “Too dangerous. There’s a chance Valkarin might be able to sense it.”

  “True. But what makes you think the medallion will be of any benefit?”

  “Aria told to me to always wear it. And being the obedient soul I am, I didn’t leave home without it.”

  “I guess there’s a first time for everything,” Magnus grunted.

  After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the frozen falls. They examined the front of the falls for an entrance, but came up blank.

  “Come on, Aria,” Erin murmured. “Show me the entrance.” It was so faint, she almost missed it. A small section of the face of the waterfall seemed to distort for a couple of seconds. She headed straight to it. The entrance was concealed by just a projection. Once inside the vast cavern, Magnus turned on the torch he was carrying.

  “No Loxhadrin, Valkarin can trace it,” he reminded Erin.

  A small set of stairs led underground to a sealed door. Aria had failed to mention this.

  “Use the dragon,” Magnus suggested.

  Erin waved her medallion at the door, sadly nothing happened. They felt around for a lever or some kind of opening mechanism, but still nothing.

  “We’ve not come this far to be defeated, “Erin snapped. “Perhaps I should just use my powers to open it.”

  “And let Valkarin know we’re here? You’re not ready to engage him in open combat yet,” Magnus retorted harshly. “Now stop with the tantrum and think.”

  “Tobin Lomard visited here often, didn’t he?” Wilhelm spoke up.

  “Yes, I imagine he did as he put her here.”

  “He did not have powers.”

  “Meaning?”

  “He did not need blue energy to open the door.”

  “So how did he?” Erin sighed in exasperation.

  “What do you have that he would have had?” Wilhelm helped guide her.

  “The dragon is what we both share.”

  “Then examine it for further secrets.”

  Erin flipped the medallion around in her hands. “There’s no secret code on it other than our family motto. Love and fidelity forever.”

  “What is that in Norse?”

  “Kjaerlighet og troskap til evig tid.”

  All three jumped back as a loud snap echoed in the cavern and the door in front of them swung open. Erin’s heart was well and truly in her mouth as she stepped forward to Aria’s tomb. Was Tobin the last person to set foot in here? She steadied herself for a moment as a wave of dizziness passed over her when she touched the tomb.

  “I need you guys to slide the lid back, so I can remove one of her bones.”

  “This feels kind of creepy, opening up a tomb,” Magnus shivered.

  “Is my big, brave Viking scared?” Erin shook her head.

  “No. I just don’t like two millennia old corpses.”

  Magnus and Wilhelm pushed the heavy marble lid to one side. “Is that far enough?” Magnus grunted.

  “Yeah.” Erin stared at Aria’s remains. Even in skeletal form she exuded elegance. Her hands were cross over her chest, her dress had virtually turned to dust. She looked so peaceful. Erin had a good idea which bone she would take, her ring finger. Well it would have been had she been born in modern times.

  “Rest in peace,” Erin murmured.

  I will thanks to you, a soft voice said inside her head.

  “Right, time to go before her ex detects our presence.” She slid the slender bone into a protective case then into her pocket. After leaving the chamber, she murmured her family motto again and the room sealed shut. She prayed she would get the opportunity to return to lay Aria by Tobin’s side in the churchyard in Muirhead.

  Magnus stopped her from leaving the outer cavern. “Remember what happened last time.”

  “I’ll cloak myself and go look,” she responded. A minute later she was back. “All clear.”

  The trio headed back in the direction of Mallin Forest.

  “I don’t know about you, but I think that was almost too easy,” Erin whispered.

  “I agree,” Wilhelm grunted. “We should be vigilant in the forest.”

  And they were right to be, not far from the gateway was a troupe of Vokteren.

  “You will not see the child, she is cloaked. But the footprints of her and her companions will be visible. Judging from these markings, her cloak drags on the ground,” one guard was speaking.

  Erin immediately lifted up her cloak in response.

  “What do you want to do?” Wilhelm murmured in her ear.

  “If we move, they may well see our footprints. Time for a little diversion.” Erin aimed her hand towards the trees in the far distance and gentle shook the trees. It was enough to have half the guard running towards them. Then she whisked up a small snow storm.

  Whilst their attention was diverted, they scouted around the guard but were not able to get to the gateway.

  “We need to hide somewhere until they have moved on.”

  “I know just the place,” Erin responded.

  She’d once done a favour for a small fatherless boy who lived very close by. Fingers crossed he was in.

  Knocking softly on the door, she was relieved when Erik opened it. “Step aside, Erik. It is Erin. Do you remember me?” She kept herself cloaked. He nodded and threw the door wide open.

  She uncloaked as soon as they were inside.

  “Thank you, Erik.” She touched his shoulder. “We need somewhere to rest for a bit until the nasty Vokteren guard go past. Do you mind if we stay here?”

  “No,” he beamed.

  Erik’s mother rushed forward. “I prayed to Odin that you and the Prince were still alive,” she took hold of Erin’s hands. “Are you here to defeat Valkarin?”

  “Soon, but alas not today.”

  “Have you been seen?”

  “No. But the Vokteren guard suspect we are here.”

  “My humble home is yours, so please make yourself comfortable.”

  “Much as we would like to, we must remain out of sight.” Erin bent down to talk to Erik. “Would you do me a huge service and remove our footprints that we must have left coming here?”

  He nodded and shot out the house.

  “How has it been since Valkarin invaded?” Wilhelm asked Erik’s mother.

  “Tough, she responded. “We are all struggling to survive under Valkarin’s tyranny.”

  “I am sorry I was not here to fight for your freedom.”

&n
bsp; “I’m glad you weren’t , my lord, otherwise we would have lost you too.”