Realms Gate: A Realm Divided

by Juliet Anderson

  A noise in the hallway alerted him to Jasper’s arrival. His nephew looked pained.

  “This is a great opportunity, Jasper. You will be doing the Vokteren a great service,” Isafor tried to appease him.

  “I prefer to do research rather than field work,” Jasper grunted.

  “I’m not asking you to go running about the Scottish Highlands killing everyone in sight. You are just advising and instructing a young woman.”

  “I have no experience in dealing with teenagers.”

  “Lars was a teenager once. He is not much older than Erin. And you cannot say he was of a different temperament, he was born a fighter.”

  Jasper gave a sad smile. His son was a brilliant swordsman, but a lot of good that did him when up against blue energy. If by any chance Lars was still alive, and any fellow Vokteren, he could ask Erin to free them. In exchange for his instructing her.

  “I will do what I can. But Erin is headstrong, she will only take on board what she wants to.”

  “Then make sure you give her exactly what she wants. If she succeeds in freeing her mother, we are left with a very weakened Heinrekh.” Isafor stood up. “Now you should get on your way. The ferry from Bergen leaves shortly.”

  “If I must,” Jasper sighed.

  “Remember, you carry the hope of a brighter future for the Vokteren with you. Do our family name proud.”

  Jasper grunted and headed out to the waiting car. He really was not looking forwards to this trip.

  Heinrekh was in his vault again, continuing his search for Valkarin’s tomb. It was obviously not in Frejboren and now he doubted Grunfeld either. The Vokteren must have found another gateway to Vasmaar. But he could not find reference to any other gateways.

  He stood in the middle of the underground vault, his books lining the walls. Patience was not his strong point, he needed to find alternate gates quickly. Clearing his mind was difficult. Sasha was taking top spot. He would see her this weekend, his need was great for the red-headed vixen. When he finally managed to focus, he called for all books about gateways. Several flew off the shelves. He needed to narrow the search. Looking at the references to gateways, one caught his attention. It said ‘Book of Gateways’.

  He retrieved the volume and flicked through it. There was a distinct reference to a volume entitled The Book of Gateways. Sadly it was not in his possession. Perhaps the Vokteren had it? If he could track down this book, he would have access to every single gateway. He left the vault and headed to the courtyard and down to the dungeon. A little Vokteren interrogation was needed.

  Lars was sitting comfortably in his cell behind the steel bars.

  “I hope my staff are looking after you?” Heinrekh gave a sly smile.

  “I’ve had better accommodation,” he shrugged.

  “Tell me what you know about the Book of Gateways.”

  “I imagine it is as the title suggests.”

  “Have you seen it?”

  “I’m more one for action than reading.”

  “Have you heard of it?”

  “Of course. But it is a work of fiction. No-one has ever located it.”

  “Maybe because they do not know how to look for it.” Heinrekh paced up and down. There was a good chance he could find it with sorcery. “What other gateways do the Vokteren use other than Grunfeld and Frejboren?”

  “I am only aware of those two.”

  “I sense you are lying,” Heinrekh choked him again with blue energy. “What others are there?”

  “I am but a foot soldier. Only the higher ranks would know that.”

  Heinrekh released him with a snort. “I recognise a Voktere when I see one, there is a great similarity between you all. And a Voktere would know everything.”

  “I am a distant relative. Not important enough to warrant knowing that kind of information.” Lars rubbed his sore neck.

  “Then perhaps I should dispense with you and capture a Voktere who actually knows something.”

  “Perhaps you should.”

  Heinrekh gave a wry smile. “Only a high ranking Voktere would greet death so willing, my young friend. Your incarceration will continue until you give me what I want. And you will, despite your best efforts to resist.”

  He headed back upstairs. At least he had a better knowledge of who his guest actually was. A member of the ancient family itself. He was quite honoured to have one under his roof. And even a young Voktere would know limitless amounts. The boy was strong and would be difficult to crack under torture. His best bet was to interrogate him by stealth. Lars would not expect it and would, most likely, let something valuable slip.

  CHAPTER 18

  “How could you have never been in this part of the house?” Wilhelm sounded astounded.

  “I don’t know,” Erin shrugged. “I guess because we don’t use it, the need never arose.”

  “Weren’t you curious?”

  “Not really. The South Tower never had much in it to draw me.” They wandered along the corridor. “See, all empty. Virtually.” The rooms were perfectly maintained, the residue furniture covered with dust sheets, it just seemed silly to heat them when they weren’t going to be used. A thought did cross Erin’s mind. “I know you’re used to having your own private quarters. If you would like to move into this part of the house, I have no problem with that. It might make you feel more settled, having your own complete space.”

  “Thank you. I shall give it some thought.” They climbed up the winding tower steps. Half way up was another sitting room, then at the top was a bedroom, almost a replica of Erin’s in size and shape.

  “I like this room a lot,” his eyes twinkled mischievously as he backed her up against the ancient stone wall.

  “And why is that?” Erin asked, her voice just a little higher pitched than usual.

  “It has a bed in it and there is no slobbering dog to stop me from doing what I want to,” he murmured, kissing her enticingly.

  Erin’s pulse was racing again, with Wilhelm dressed in tight black jeans and a soft black top, he looked virtually irresistible. She could feel her resolve weakening by the second, if she did not stop this, she wouldn’t be able to.

  “We need to head back downstairs,” she eventually found some willpower.

  “Are you sure?” he breathed in her ear.

  “Yes,” she said firmly.

  Wilhelm released her begrudgingly and they started the descent to the ground floor. He pointed to a small doorway half way down on the inner side of the staircase. “Where does that go?”

  “Probably just a cupboard,” Erin shrugged, reaching for the cast iron handle. The door was locked.

  “Cupboards are not usually locked,” Wilhelm stated.

  She used her blue energy to open it, she was well practiced at doing that. A narrow, rickety staircase was the other side.

  There was no light, so Erin used a ball of Loxhadrin to see where they were going. At the bottom, she spotted a torch on the wall and zapped it into life. Through another locked door was a small stone chamber. Apart from a fire place and a chair, there was nothing else seemingly in the room.

  “How curious,” she spun around. “Why would this room be locked up tight if nothing is in here?”

  “My thoughts exactly.” Wilhelm ran his hands over the stonework. “Perhaps there is a concealed passage somewhere.”

  “I suspect something is concealed, but not a passageway. Look at how the chair is positioned, it is next to the fire, as if the occupant will be spending time seated for a while and needs either light or warmth. “

  “Whatever it is must be in here.”

  “Look for any marks on the stonework, perhaps even the McLomard crest.”

  A few minutes later, Wilhelm had found something. “It’s a crest, but not yours.”

  Erin ran her hand over the small engraving. She could best describe it as a thistle with a V on top. “I don’t recognise it either. It can’t be Valkarin’s, he has a wolf.”

  “Could your
family have changed its crest over the years?”

  “Maybe. I will have to research it.” She pressed against the crest and a small section of the stonework popped open. Reaching inside, she pulled out something wrapped in a thick silken cloth.

  “What is it?” Wilhelm asked excitedly.

  “A book.” Erin unwrapped the package.

  “A book?” he sounded completely unimpressed.

  Erin gave a slightly crazed giggle and sank to the floor before her legs gave way. Wilhelm took it from her and dropped down beside her. They were both laughing.

  “The Book of Gateways is supposed to be a myth. Ajax found mention of it in several ancient tomes, but no-one has ever found it.”

  “I guess because it has been hidden for centuries.” She looked at the dust on the floor of the chamber. “No-one has been in here for a very long time.”

  They both sat there stunned for a while, not quite sure what to do with it. Yes, they needed to examine it, but people would kill to get their hands on this book. There was a reason why it was buried deep in a chamber in a deserted tower.

  “If we don’t return to the main house soon, the others will come looking.” Erin stood up. She took the book off Wilhelm and put it back in its hiding place. “We need much better light to examine it. We will use the excuse of getting this tower and up ready for you to bring some firewood down here. When we can be assured of some time undisturbed, we will come back.”

  “You’re right. I suggest we tell no-one of this find for now.”

  Erin nodded in agreement. They left the small room, Erin using her energy to lock the doors behind them. They were just in time. Magnus appeared as they reached the bottom of the staircase.

  “There you are,” he exclaimed. “Your new tutor is here.”

  Birdie was holding court with Ingrid in the living room. It amused Erin how attached Birdie had become of Ingrid in the short time she had been here. She so obviously welcomed having another woman in the house, as opposed to a hormonal teen.

  As she entered, the man rose. It was not Isafor but another of his family, the resemblance was clear. He was just over six foot, with short dark hair, and was probably about the same age as Birdie. His eyes were a light blue.

  “Erin, this is Jasper Voktere,” Birdie introduced him.

  “Welcome,” Erin smiled and held out her hand.

  Jasper hesitated for a moment before taking it. “Sorry, I saw a demonstration of what those were capable of in Frejboren.”

  “It is good of you to help tutor me. I take it Isafor explained what I need.”

  “Yes, and so has your aunt. Although I do not possess blue energy, I am particularly well read on it and should be able to help you develop your skills further.” He looked up as Magnus and Wilhelm came in.

  “This is Magnus, my guardian, and Wilhelm,” Erin introduced them.

  “I remember seeing Magnus at Voktere Castle.”

  It was suddenly becoming quite crowded in the living room and Erin needed to talk openly with Jasper. Birdie picked up on that fact quickly.

  “Erin, why don’t you take Jasper into the study? You two have many things to discuss.”

  Erin felt much more comfortable in the small confines of the study, with Jasper now seated opposite her next to the fire.

  “I imagine this must be all rather strange for you. Tutoring the enemy, so to speak.”

  Jasper smiled. “As Isafor pointed out rather strongly to me, we do not have a particular fight with you. Or your mother at the moment. Our main enemy is Heinrekh, and as he is yours also, it does make sense to combine forces for now.”

  “Have you lived all your life in Norway?”

  “No. I have travelled. Mainly to former Viking territories to expand my knowledge.”

  Erin tucked her feet underneath her in the chair, a clear sign she was at ease. “I’m sure I’m not supposed to ask, but can you tell me about the Vokteren? I don’t need to know your circle’s secrets, just the history of the group.”

  “I have no problem giving you a potted history lesson. Isafor Voktere, the founder, not my uncle, was Valkarin’s leading general. Before Valkarin died, he entrusted him with some of his secrets and made him swear an oath that he would obey him, even in death. In return his family would be rewarded with wealth and status for as long as the line continued.

  “Many of Valkarin’s supporters were left in the Third Realm when the rift happened, so it seemed natural for Isafor to return there to build his legion of protectors for Valkarin’s tomb. Our main purpose is to guard it until Valkarin’s heir appears.”

  “Isn’t Heinrekh a descendant of Valkarin?”

  “Yes, but he is not his heir.”

  “Oh God, I have Valkarin blood, twice over.” She shivered at the thought.

  “When I said heir, I meant it in the truest sense. The heir will be male.”

  “Phew, you had me worried for a moment.” Erin gave a huge sigh of relief. “So what is supposed to happen when the heir turns up?”

  “He will awaken Valkarin. And together they will rule again as father and son.”

  “I take it Heinrekh seeks the tomb for his own gains?”

  “Yes. He is trying to absorb the great one’s power. Which is why we are keen to either eliminate him or weaken his powers.”

  “So did Valkarin keep to his word? Has your family prospered over the millennia?”

  “None of us have starved.”

  “Your family has done very well keeping its lineage going for so long. Are there many of you left?”

  “Sadly our numbers have dwindled of late. Heinrekh’s doing I am afraid. There remains just Isafor, myself, and God willing, Lars.”

  “Who is Lars?”

  “My son.” Jasper stared into the flames in the fireplace. “He was taken captive by Heinrekh a few months back.”

  Erin felt his pain. “Then the sooner we strike, the better chance we have of finding your son in one piece.”

  “I agree. Heinrekh has spies everywhere, so I cannot stay too long. Once he knows we have joined forces, he will strike with everything he has.”

  She noticed his signet ring when it caught the light from the fire. It looked similar to the crest she had seen on the book, except this one had an upside down V. “Your ring, it is most unusual.”

  He held his hand up so she could see it. “The Voktere family crest. A thistle engraved with a V.”

  Of course, you idiot, she snapped to herself. She was seeing the inverted image. But now she was even more curious. Why would the Voktere crest be engraved on a chamber in the McLomard ancestral home?

  “You are wondering why a Scottish thistle is part of our crest?” he interpreted her silence almost correctly.

  “Yes. It is most curious.”

  “Isafor Voktere fell in love with a young woman from this area. As a gesture of his love, on their marriage, he had the crest redesigned to include her heritage. Hence the thistle.”

  That explained the crest, but not what is was doing in her house. “Have our families ever been linked?”

  “Not that I am aware of. But this is not the first time you have seen this crest, is it?”

  “No. I have seen it in this house. But I cannot say any more on that subject.”

  He smiled knowingly. “I shall try and see if I can dig up any links between the Voktere and the McLomards. In the meantime, however, I need to know what you can do with your energy.”

  Erin went through the list of her energy calling commands, cloaking, the use of the Baldoren crystal and other things she could do.

  “You are quite advanced for one so young. But I guess with what runs in your blood that is to be expected.”

  “I really need to understand how I can break Heinrekh’s energy.”

  “Heinrekh uses sorcery as well, which is why he is difficult to defeat. Embracing your power fully is hard to master, and quite dangerous. It can tip you over to the other side.”

  “Understood. But hopefully I
have enough here for me to come back to.” She glanced at the door as she heard activity outside.

  “Your household is pretty busy.”

  “Yeah. We inherited two extra house guests recently.” She opened the door to see Magnus helping a badly limping Wilhelm into the hall. “What the hell happened?”

  “He came off the bike,” Magnus muttered.

  “You took him out on the motorcycle. You idiot,” she snapped. “He only learnt the basics yesterday.”