“I am the legitimate ruler now,” he shouted, jumping to his feet. “Being of noble blood, I challenged the king and won.”
“Unfortunately for you, Olav had already name Prince Wilhelm his successor, so you are not yet legitimate.” She glanced at the wristband he was wearing, clever Gudrun. “And no amount of Royal jewellery and emblems is going to change that fact.”
Valkarin’s hand started to spark, but it was like trying to light damp match. Erin could see the confusion in his face as to why the Loxhadrin was not flowing.
“Oh dear,” Erin said sweetly. “Losing one’s ability to perform does happen in one’s old age. We have medicine in the First Realm that can pep a man up, should you need it.”
“I am not losing my powers,” he thundered.
“If you want to do this the old fashioned way,” Erin taunted. “I am more than happy to entertain the crowd with a wee sword fight. That is if you’re up to the challenge.”
“Enough,” he roared, circling her.
“Erin,” Sasha’s voice echoed across the Hall. She raced over, ignoring Valkarin and flung her arms around her friend. “I have missed you. Seeing you in person, that is.”
“Likewise.”
“I can‘t believe you’re going to get me out of this god forsaken castle again.”
“This time it’s a bit more tricky,” Erin whispered to her. “I’m well and truly disturbing the hornet in his nest.”
Sasha’s gentle laugher echoed around the Hall. “You really can get under that man’s skin.”
“Talking about getting under people’s skin, what have you done with Lars?”
“I’m here,” he stepped out from the shadows. “She’s in one of her moods today so I’m keeping a low profile.”
“I am not in a mood,” she snapped. “Honestly, out of all the Vokteren guards, I have to be saddled with him.”
“It’s called karma.”
“Have you quite finished having your little chat?” Valkarin hissed. “If you’d like to stop for a nice cup of tea, I’m sure I could oblige.”
“I take mine with milk and two sugars thanks.” Erin retorted cheekily. “And if you need a nap before tackling me, you only have to ask.”
Valkarin’s face was emotionless as he let out a snarl and came at her with his sword. Erin’s Talmar materialised in her hand immediately. As the two swords met, sparks started to fly, as hers was heavily charged with Droxhardin.
It was then Valkarin noticed her wristband, Erin knew he recognised it as his pupils dilated in anger.
“Pretty, don’t you think,” Erin taunted. “She gave me lots of beautiful jewellery.”
His eyes suddenly went to the wristband he was wearing, he knew instantly he’d been duped. It hurt him more than he would have imagined that Gudrun had deceived him. He ripped his band off in disgust.
“Only the rightful king can wear that band. Your wife saw to that.”
Sadly, the power of the band did not last once it was removed and Erin could feel Valkarin regaining his powers at an alarming rate. She still had the vial left, but for Valkarin to believe it did in fact contain a super potion, she’d have to pick the right moment.
Back to full strength, Valkarin put his sword aside and channelled Loxhadrin through him. Erin did the same till they were both glowing blue. She hoped Aria’s medallion would offer her some protection as Valkarin was clearly much stronger.
It was like a light show when they let the blue energy loose, but Erin could feel her strength draining fast. Valkarin knew it too and send a burst of energy her way, throwing her back several feet.
“Not so cocky now, are we child,” he sneered.
Sasha broke from Heinrekh and rushed to Erin’s crumpled body. “Jesus, are you alright?”
“Yeah, and the name’s Erin,” she retorted.
“Step aside, Sasha,” Valkarin barked. “I want to squash this termite.”
“No,” she glowered at him rising to her feet. “If you want to kill my best friend, you’ll have to take me out too.”
“It seems I am surrounded by treachery,” Valkarin growled. “I have no true need for an heir, I can produce my own now I am regenerated. So perhaps you are dispensable too.”
He advanced on them, his sword once more in his hand. Erin watched in horror, unable to move, as he swung at Sasha. But it was Heinrekh who fell. At last moment, he moved to protect the one he loved.
Sasha let out a harrowing scream as she knelt back down beside Heinrekh. She tried to stem the blood, but it was useless.
“You cannot die on me,” she kissed his cold face, trying to stop the tears that were falling thick and fast. “You’re going to be a father.”
“I’m sorry, I could not let anything happen to you,” his voice was scarcely above a whisper.
“I love you, I’m not going to lose you,” she hugged him tight. “A sorcerer like you must be able to heal yourself.”
“If only, my love.” He touched her abdomen. “Raise him well.”
“No,” she cried. “I’m not letting you go. We were supposed to getting married.”
“Something I would have cherished.” He gave a painful gasp. “You brought love and light back into my life, Sasha.”
“No, Heinrekh,” Sasha’s voice was wavering. “Don’t you dare leave me. Don’t you bloody dare.”
“Such tender words,” he gave the ghost of a smile. “Love our son for both of us.”
The howl Sasha gave was enough for Erin to regain the use of her limbs. Magnus and Wilhelm were helping her up.
“Well, this is very touching,” Valkarin yawned. “But I’m not one for sentimentality.”
Lars stepped forward to protect Sasha.
“Stay where you are, Lars,” Isafor ordered.
Lars turned to face his Great Uncle. “Like my father, I’m proud to stand with the McLomards.” He threw a punch that knocked Isafor out cold. There was an audible gasp from the Vokteren present.
Valkarin advanced on Erin. “You will die the most painful of deaths, child.” He clocked who was standing next to her. “After I have dispatched the last heir and your lover. Then not even you can dispute my rights to rule.”
Erin knew it was time to prove she was Aria’s descendant; to do so, she had to put her trust in a woman who had died two millennia ago. Holding her palms up to the sky, she muttered the enchantments she has read in her book. Instead of channelling blue energy, she virtually glowed purple. She had Aria’s spirt in her now.
Valkarin’s eyes nearly popped out his head as he realised who was in front of him, inhabiting Erin’s body.
“Did you miss me, my love,” Aria’s voice rang out.
“I killed you once, I can do it again,” Valkarin spat.
“The same can be said of you, my sweet,” her silken words dripped with the venom she felt towards this man. “But whilst you have been slumbering like a dead slug, I have not. My spirit has been free to learn and grow.”
A burst of purple energy hit Valkarin hard in the chest and it was his turn to sail through the air and land in an ungainly heap.
“Did that tingle?” Aria teased. “I have plenty more.”
“Enough you wizen old sow,” he thundered, and once again the light show continued.
Erin found it totally bizarre having someone else control her body. Her hands really were not her own. Every now and then her brain would fight to push Aria to one side when she thought the woman was making the wrong move. It did give her time to survey what was happening around her. Gudrun was beside Wilhelm, Magnus watching her intently and Lars was covering Sasha who refused to leave Heinrekh’s dead body.
Suddenly she felt herself flying through the air again. It was her own fault for not paying attention to what Aria was doing. Time to regain total control of her body. Sorry, Aria, you had your moment, she thought, ridding herself of the woman’s spirit. Time to do this the teenage way.
“You possess some skill, I’ll grant you that,” Valkarin look
ed rather smug. “But not even that dead hag can touch me.”
“She did a pretty good job for someone who’s still dead,” Erin scowled, clambering to her feet. Perhaps it was the right moment to reach for the vial.
“Now it’s time to bring this entertaining spectacle to a close.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Erin grinned maliciously, tugging the leather thong from around her neck.
Valkarin moved swiftly and his hand closed around her neck as he snatched the vial from her. “I think not.” He removed the stopper and raised it to his lips, downing the potion in one. “It has rather a pleasant taste, a bit sweet for my liking.”
Erin’s heart was beating like crazy, watching him for some reaction. Sadly nothing happened.
“I fear you have been misled by my dear ex-wife,” Valkarin gave her a triumphant look. “Your potion does not appear to do……”
“To do what?” Erin asked.
Valkarin let out a guttural howl as his whole body was wracked with pain. Fire burned through his veins.
“It seems to be working alright,” Erin smiled coolly at him.
Valkarin was on his knees, apparently in terrible agony. He tried to raise a hand but could not, such was the pain.
“You have your wife’s life force in you, destroying you from the inside.”
“You…will…pay for t…this,” he croaked. “Vokteren.”
“Magnus, Wilhelm,” Erin shouted.
They joined her side as a wave of black came at them. Erin waved her hand and a burst of energy knocked the Vokteren back. There was a lot of noise coming from the entrance to the Great Hall. It seemed Jasper, Birdie and her mother were unable to follow instructions well. And they had amassed the remains of the Lokranor soldiers that had gone into hiding.
“It appears you have some soldiers to lead, Prince Wilhelm,” she gave him a beautiful smile. “Go command your men.”
“My place is by your side, Erin.” Those soft brown eyes made her forget for a moment she was in a fight to the death with an evil sorcerer.
“Your place is leading your men, you are their legitimate ruler. Magnus has the enviable task of watching my rear.”
Erin’s attention went back to Valkarin who was attempting to get to his feet. If he fought off what was inside him, Erin stood no chance of defeating him. He needed another poison in his system to keep him down. He was too weak to defend himself properly and Erin managed to slice him nicely across the stomach with her Talmar, the effects of which were toxic to him as well.
Another painful howl echoed through the Hall.
The weaker Valkarin got, the scarier he was becoming. His skin had turned a waxy colour, he was dripping in sweat and his eyes had turned completely black. He started to chant something under his breath as he tried to stand.
Oh shit, Erin thought, he’s going for the dark arts. She had nothing that would counteract that, he was meddling in seriously bad stuff. Something black and smoky shot from his hand and wrapped itself around her neck, choking her. It was reminiscent of the first time Heinrekh had tried to kill her.
“You were a worthy opponent, I’ll give you that. No-one has ever hurt me like that, but I do not forgive easily.” His voice was raspy.
The pain around her neck got worse. Nothing she tried could shift whatever was around there, not Loxhadrin, not her Asgardian shield.
“I am going to enjoy bringing you to the edge of death and back several times. The pain you feel will give me great satisfaction before I finally squeeze the last breath out of you.”
Erin saw Magnus make a move, she knew Valkarin would kill him without batting an eyelid. She did the only thing she could to save his life, she hit him with a bolt of Loxhadrin.
Valkarin looked at her curiously.
“I want to kill you myself,” she squeaked.
He gave a cold laugh. “You do have a sense of humour. And pray tell how you were going to manage that?”
The medallion, Erin thought. She reached inside her top and pulled it out, it absorbed the black energy. She dropped to her knees, gasping for breath.
Valkarin let out a frustrated howl and staggered towards her. Grabbing her by the neck he lifted her off the ground. “Perhaps I will do this the old fashioned way,” he hissed and started to squeeze.
Erin had her one chance. She grabbed the dagger that was in the back of her waistband and plunged it right into his heart. The expression on his face she would never forget. It was one of disbelief and horror. Disbelief that one so young and inexperienced could vanquish him, and horror as he recognised the dagger.
He dropped her and staggered back, trying to remove the dagger but it burnt him every time he touched it. It was cursed by Aria. Black blood poured from his heart as he fell to the floor.
“This time, you’re going to stay dead,” Erin said coldly. “Your remains will be cremated and your ashes scattered. If anyone can bring you back after that, then they are true miracle workers.”
Someone was calling her name, it was Jasper. Her heart leapt as he fired his crossbow at her. For a split second she thought him a traitor, until the arrow found its true target. Isafor was right behind her, his sword in his hand. She watched him gasp and fall back, he was dead before he hit the ground. However, she’d taken her eyes off Valkarin; with his last breath he’d summoned one more burst of Loxhadrin. The Asgardian shield appeared in her hand just as the burst hit her, sending her sailing through the air and into the wall.
Wilhelm was torn. His soldiers expected him to lead them, but he wanted to be by Erin’s side.
“You have a duty to Lokranor,” Lodraill sensed his dilemma. “Lead your men, they need it. There is nothing you can do for Erin, this is solely between her and Valkarin.”
Blanking her from his mind, Wilhelm and his soldiers decimated the Vokteren numbers. Those that weren’t trapped in the Great Hall turned and fled, the rest were quite frankly outclassed and outnumbered eventually.
Looking around, he tried to take stock of where everyone was. Sasha was still huddled over Heinrekh, Valkarin lay dead, Magnus was lying motionless on the ground and Erin, he searched for her. His heart stopped as he saw her inert body on the ground, his mother bending over her.
He ran to her, and turned her over. She was barely breathing.
“She hit the wall very hard,” Gudrun stroked his cheek. “It is good to see you again.”
He kissed his mother’s hand. “Likewise.”
Lodraill and Birdie appeared next to them. “Take her to the Royal Quarters, we will treat her there,” Lodraill instructed.
“And Magnus?”
“We’ll bring him around.”
Wilhelm scooped Erin up and carried her through the corridors he knew so well, his mother by his side.
He entered his old room and laid her down on his bed, she looked so white and fragile. It was hard to believe a short while earlier she was battling the most evilest of men.
“You need to head back downstairs,” Gudrun touched his arm. “The men and citizens need to see you. You are after all King now.”
“I cannot leave Erin.”
“I will care for her, and so will Lodraill. The kingdom needs you now more than ever.”
Wilhelm let out a snort, his mother was right but it didn’t make him feel any better. He wanted to stay by Erin’s side, be the one she saw first when she opened her eyes.
The Great Hall was still in chaos when he strode back in. Lodraill had brought Magnus around who was hissing like an angry snake.
“I can’t believe she hit me again with Loxhadrin,” he grumbled.
“She saved your life by doing that and well you know it,” Birdie responded, soothing his battered ego.
“I’ll still rip a strip off her for that,” he moaned. “Where is the brat?”
“We took her to the Royal Quarters, she was knocked unconscious.”
Magnus leapt to his feet. “Is it serious?”
“She did take a very hard hit,” Birdie
confessed.
“Lodraill, mother has requested you go tend to Erin. Magnus, I need you to help clear the Hall of the debris.” Wilhelm suddenly became the voice of authority. “First and foremost, we need to burn Valkarin’s remains.”
“Yes, my King,” Magnus nodded.
Wilhelm gave half a smile. “If you say those words again, Selvig, I’ll be adding you to the pile of dead bodies. I will always be just Wilhelm to you. Besides, I will not take my place until my father has had his proper funeral.”
The Realms Unite (Realms Gate) Page 22