“Now Heinrekh has met Erin, he longer needs to send through his creatures or mercenaries. There is no point as she is way too powerful. The fight is directly between the two of them, we are merely spectators.”
“Are you saying the Council is no longer needed?”
“No. It has guarded the Gate for millennia. But the role of priestess has altered. She will protect us against Heinrekh. But to do so, she must learn everything she can about her enemy.”
“How do we know she will not join forces with Heinrekh now that she is aware he has her mother?”
“How do we know that anyone of us will not turn traitor?” Birdie responded. She knew that at least one of them present had. “It is called trust. Erin has a pure heart, she will not be led down the path to darkness.” Not whilst she lived.
“She will have all her powers by the end of tomorrow. How soon will she be able to defeat Heinrekh?”
“Erin will go up against Heinrekh when, and only when, we know she is capable of beating him. She might possess the power of Valkarin, but unless she knows how to use the powers she has been given, they are pretty damn useless.”
“So who is instructing the girl?”
“That is the problem, we need to find her a tutor. Currently the only qualified person is Heinrekh himself.”
“Surely you are not suggesting he tutors her?”
“Of course not,” Birdie sighed impatiently. “But she needs someone else and fast if she is to stop Heinrekh.”
Birdie left them to squabble amongst themselves, she really had had her fill of the Council. But with Erin meeting Heinrekh, everything had changed. She needed to embrace her powers as quickly as possible so she could not fall victim to him. Just where the hell did they find a tutor in the arts of blue energy.
Angus was studying plans for the new stable block when a gust of icy air hit him. His head shot up.
“What do you want?” he glowered at Heinrekh.
“I usually get a slightly warmer reception than that,” Heinrekh grunted.
“When you leave my sister alone, you might get it.”
“As I’ve told you before, Sasha is with me of her own free will. Now I have a small errand for you.”
“What might that be?” Angus sighed.
“I understand you and Sasha are attending a dinner at the McLomard house tomorrow. Wilhelm will also be present.” Heinrekh produced a small vial from his cloak. “I want you to pour this liquid into his wine glass, preferably towards the end of the meal.”
“Are you crazy? I’m not about to poison Wilhelm.”
“It is not poison, just a potion that will liven up the end to an evening.” Heinrekh could not contain the mirth in his voice.
“What does it do?”
“It will render Wilhelm the equivalent of blind drunk and he will behave appallingly.”
Angus gave half a smile. “I might actually enjoy giving it to him.” Perhaps coming to Erin’s aid and dispatching one very drunk Viking might alleviate her suspicions of him and put him back in her good books. Anything was worth a shot.
“Was anything discussed at the Council meeting that I should know about?” Heinrekh stared hard at Angus.
It was pointless lying, just in case he had the services of another council member. “Birdie is looking for a tutor for Erin. So far, you are the only qualified candidate.”
Heinrekh laughed unexpectedly. “I can see their dilemma in offering me the position. Sadly though, they will find no other.”
“They will search nonetheless.”
“It is such a waste. Erin will have so much power, yet not the faintest idea of how to use it.”
“She seemed to be doing pretty well by herself last time I saw her in action,” Angus grunted. “You’ll also be pleased to hear she is not taking up her priestess role for a while.”
“That is not altogether surprising. Well, enjoy the dinner tomorrow, I hope it will be very entertaining.”
Heinrekh headed back to Vasmaar, he had his captive to interrogate further. So far all he had managed to establish was that the dark haired man was twenty four years old and called Lars.
The dungeons of his castle were nowhere near as busy as they had been in his father’s day. Unlike their ancestors, they no longer used instruments of torture, that could be done by blue energy alone.
“Are you feeling a little more talkative today, Lars?” he asked as he stood before the cell.
“You will get nothing out of me Heinrekh. I am sworn to secrecy,” the young man replied.
“I usually find that vanishes when a captive can take the pain no more. It is nothing to be ashamed about. Every human has a breaking point.”
Lars remained silent, so Heinrekh touched his chest, burning him with Loxhadrin.
“All I want to know is the location of Valkarin’s tomb.”
“That is something only an elder of the Vokteren would know,” Lars replied. “You took the wrong one as captive.”
“I don’t believe you.” A strand of blue energy wound its way around Lars’ neck. “Strangulation is a particularly unpleasant way to go, so I am told.”
Heinrekh worked on him for a few minutes more. Lars was obviously made of strong stuff, he would have to work harder on him next time.
“You have been trained well, but you will break.”
“You might as well save yourself the effort and vaporise me now.”
“I could, but where would the fun be in that. Besides, I quite like the company.”
“If it is company you’re after, you need to get yourself a woman.”
Heinrekh gave a small sigh. “I already have rather a beautiful one.”
“Then I’m surprised you’re down here. Does she not welcome your attentions?”
“I can see where you’re going with this. You will not goad me into losing my temper. But a good try.”
“I too will have to increase my efforts,” Lars responded.
Heinrekh shook his head and returned to his study. He was doing his best not to think about Erin’s birthday tomorrow, the day she would inherit all her powers. Such a shame she wouldn’t have a clue how to truly use them.
CHAPTER 5
It was bliss, Wilhelm's warm body snuggled up against her, his breath hot on her ear. She turned over to kiss him, a huge tongue licked her face. Erin's eyes flew open.
"Jacques," she squealed at the dog. "That is seriously gross. You truly are a skanky mutt." She was cross that he had woken her from such a lovely dream.
She slipped out of bed and looked in the mirror. Nothing out the ordinary, apart from an extra bit of slobber. Her eyes were still green, not burning red, she wasn't glowing blue, so perhaps turning eighteen wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.
Wearing her ever-faithful bunny slippers, Erin padded down to the kitchen where Birdie and Magnus were waiting for her.
"Happy birthday, Erin," Birdie wrapped her arms around her.
Erin glanced at Magnus. "It's amazing I actually reached eighteen considering I was lumbered with a terrible guardian."
He snorted in response. "I'm thrilled to finally be free of such an irritating brat."
Birdie handed her a coffee. "Will you two ever stop bickering?"
"Probably not," Erin giggled. "Besides, it’s fun winding up his Vikingness." She eyed up the pile of presents on the table. "Can I open them?"
"No, you're supposed to just sit and stare at them,” Magnus grunted.
"You're in a grump today. Did Ingrid finally come to her senses and realise she could do far better?"
Magnus looked at Birdie. "I've completed my assignment, so now there's nothing stopping me strangling her."
"It would such a hassle taking her gifts back. Perhaps you can wait until tomorrow."
Erin sat at the table, shaking and prodding the presents. She had a new tablet, a stunning Patek Philippe watch, but her favourite of all had to be the portrait Birdie had commissioned of her. She was wearing her jodhpurs and white shi
rt, her Talmar sword hanging at her side, with Wilhelm's fur cloak covering her shoulders. She looked just as she did on the day she first rode out with him. "How on earth did you get this painted? You could not have taken a photo in Lokranor for the artist to copy."
"I had my mobile with me so managed to sneak a picture. Now you're eighteen, your portrait needs to hang with your ancestors. And," Birdie grinned, "as of this morning, you are the official owner of the McLomard Estate."
"That is too scary to contemplate," Erin groaned.
Magnus passed her a highly ornate wooden box. She opened it up gingerly as, knowing Magnus, a venomous snake could be inside. Nestled on the plush purple interior was a stunning pewter wrist band, engraved with the McLomard crest. "Magnus, it's beautiful." She flung her arms around him and kissed his cheek. He took it out the box and attached it to her wrist.
"Now you are Viking," he grinned.
She eyed him suspiciously for a moment. "This isn't a goodbye gift, is it?"
"No. You'll have to put up with me a while longer. Birdie has assigned me your protector for another year."
"I knew you couldn't leave me."
He kissed the top of her head affectionately. She was right, he could not desert her when she probably needed him most. Erin might be extremely powerful, but she still required someone to watch her back. Besides, she was virtually a sister to him.
Glancing at the pile of opened presents and cards, Erin realised she had received nothing from her mother, or more correctly step-mother. Did Susannah really hate her that much that she couldn’t even bother to wish her happy birthday? It hurt more than she thought it would.
“What’s wrong?” Birdie picked up on her sudden deflation.
“There is nothing from Susannah,” she could feel the tears starting to swell. Ridiculous really as she was not that fond of her step-mother.
“I’m sure she’s just busy with Veronica’s new twins,” Birdie tried to make excuses for her.
“She raised me for the last ten years. Until a few months ago, I thought she was my natural mother. I didn’t expect a gift, but perhaps a bloody card or text. Nothing. Why does she hate me so much?” Erin could not control the tears that now started to flow.
Birdie hugged her. “Susannah could never compete with Lodraill or you for your father’s love; she was always jealous of that fact. Also, it was a stipulation in your father’s will that she look after you until you reached eighteen, otherwise she got no settlement whatsoever.”
“But still, after all this time, I would have expected something. Even to say I was no longer her concern.”
“Susannah is a first class bitch,” Birdie grunted. “She did not deserve to be married to James, nor should she ever have been given custody of you. You can scream at your father later for that.” She tipped Erin’s face up and looked her right in the eyes. “And not by Baldoren Crystal either, young lady. You can do it the old fashioned way at the Mausoleum.”
Erin let out a sound that was half way between a sniff and a laugh.
"Now go put some clothes on. I'm not sure if Wilhelm will find your current outfit that alluring."
Erin's head snapped up. "Wilhelm's coming?"
"Yes, to the dinner tonight. Didn't anyone tell you?"
"I guess someone forgot,” she glared at Magnus who just grinned irritatingly. “Is he allowed to go through the gateway?”
“Who’s going to stop him?” Magnus snickered. “Besides, I do believe he is working on inter-realm relations. Isn’t that how it’s put!”
Erin poked her tongue out. “Just when I think you’re actually rather nice, you go and ruin it.”
“Magnus is meeting Wilhelm at the gate just after lunch, I thought you could show him around the Estate.” Birdie chuckled as Erin raced off upstairs squealing.
“I think we just made her day,” Magnus stared after her departing figure.
“Yes. Let’s hope he doesn’t want too much from this trip.”
“Perhaps I should chaperone them,” Magnus grunted, back on his big brother routine.
“I think you’d have another encounter with Loxhadrin if you suggested that to Erin,” Birdie laughed.
Erin let out an appreciative sigh as she watched Wilhelm and Magnus ride up the driveway. She had forgotten just how cute Wilhelm was. As long as he refrained from talking too much, they would get along perfectly.
“Hi,” Erin suddenly came over all shy and awkward, as he leapt down from his horse.
Wilhelm gave her a perfect smile and leant in to kiss her cheek. “I am very pleased to see you again.”
One look into those soft brown eyes and she was lost. Actually not so much lost as hot and bothered. Was it Wilhelm or the side effect of gaining all her powers that made her feel like a cat on heat suddenly?
“I’ll take the horses round to the stables,” Magnus announced. “In that time, please try not to vaporise our guest.”
Erin laughed. “I’m promising nothing.” She ushered Wilhelm inside. “Welcome to our home.”
Wilhelm spun around looking at the entrance hall.
“It’s not quite as large as Lokranor Castle,” Erin joked.
“It is beautiful none the less.”
Erin heard the sound of paws approached, Jacques was bounding along, jowls wobbling wonderfully. “Stay,” she shouted at the dog who totally ignored her. He leapt up at one surprised Wilhelm. “Sorry, this slobber mountain is totally untrainable.” She grabbed his collar and pulled him off. “Down,” she hissed at the defiant dog.
“That is a pet?” he asked.
“Yeah. He’s pretty bloody useless as a guard dog,” she glowered at Jacques. “The neighbour’s cat has more backbone.” She led him into the small living room where Birdie was.
“You were right, Birdie. This land is as cold in summer as Lokranor,” Wilhelm sank down on a sofa.
“Today it is actually quite warm. Now, what can we get you to drink?” Birdie thought for a moment. “You are more than welcome to have wine, or alternatively you might like to try Magnus’ favourite drink, Coke.”
“What do you drink usually?” Wilhelm looked at Erin.
“Either Coke, or coffee, which is a hot, strong and quite bitter drink.”
“I’ll stick with whatever Magnus drinks.”
Birdie left them alone for a few minutes.
“How is Lokranor?” Erin asked. If felt so weird having Wilhelm in her home.
“Quiet. I think it is still recovering after your visit.”
“Cheeky. Have you heard anything from Heinrekh?”
“No. We are not sure what he is up to. Even our spies have no idea.”
Dating my next door neighbour, Erin giggled to herself. It seemed the dark lord was clearly occupied on other matters at the moment. And long may it last.
“And are you staying out of trouble?”
“Yes. My father has me training the army hard. It was made quite evident at our last battle that they need to be able to fight even better.”
“I notice you are without your sword.”
“It seemed a little rude turning up at your house fully armed. Besides, I do not think your local people are used to seeing armed riders.”
“You’d be surprised. Anything is possible in Muirhead.”
Birdie reappeared with Magnus and the drinks. Magnus opened a can of Coke and passed it to Wilhelm.
“Magnus,” Birdie scolded him. “It is polite to pour the drink into a glass.”
“Wilhelm is Viking, Birdie. And do you recall what they do to their goblets? I do not think Wilhelm wants to be pulling glass out of his hand for the next week.”
“Perhaps you are right,” Birdie shrugged. She would have to educate Wilhelm quickly on how to drink wine out of lead crystal unless she wanted her supply of glasses to be destroyed.
“Are you going to show Wilhelm around the estate whilst we make preparations for dinner?” Birdie asked.
“Yes. It’s just a question of whether we go by
horse or Landrover.”
“Landrover would save Wilhelm from the midges and mosquitoes,” Birdie smiled.
“I’ve seen Erin in that Landrover,” Magnus snorted. “I would like to return Wilhelm to his father in one piece.”
“There is nothing wrong with my driving,” Erin glowered back. “Landrover it is.”
Realms Gate: A Realm Divided Page 3