“What if Ingrid does not want to give up her band?”
“Promise to buy her diamonds instead. There is not a female on this planet who would not sell their soul for diamonds!”
Jasper went for a walk to clear his head and calm his nerves. If Odin was truly smiling, he would have Lars back with him in the next few days. Although he was not a field operative, he would have relished the chance to go through the gateway to Vasmaar. He wanted to be the one to rescue his son. But he was no warrior, and would only hamper the mission.
He was also sad that his time at McLomard House was drawing to a close. Erin’s words when he arrived were very true, it was a madhouse. But he had grown quite accustomed to it and welcomed the noise, the buzz from such a strange assortment of people. He would miss it, above all he would miss Birdie. After his wife left, he had not bothered with relationships, he did not want to go through that pain again. However, Birdie’s life too has suffered because of the secrets she held, pretty much as his had. They shared a common bond. And this elegant, petit woman had quite captured his soul.
Yet they were divided by their families; once this current truce came to an end, they would be sitting on opposite sides of the battle field again. He sighed wearily and pulled out his phone.
“Jasper,” Isafor answered almost immediately. “I was beginning to think the McLomards had done away with you.”
“No, we’ve just been busy.”
“Anything to update?”
“Yes, we’ll be headed to Skallengaard on Friday. Can you let them know?”
“Of course. How is Erin’s training going?”
“Very well. I have never seen one with such a command of energy as she has.” For some reason, Jasper hesitated in telling his Isafor about Erin’s use of sorcery symbols. All of a sudden he was doubting his uncle’s allegiance. Then again he had every right to be jumpy, his son’s life hung in the balance. “They also have some very interesting books here regarding past allegiances with the Voktere family.”
“I look forward to hearing all about it when you return. You must be eager to retreat back behind your desk?”
“Strangely enough, I’m getting used to field work. I’m liking the uncertainty of it.”
Jasper walked some more. He even had got used to the mountainous countryside, the sheer beauty of the place. Would any of Erin’s house guests actually ever want to leave? He recalled the book Erin had given him with a wry smile. He was just like Drago Voktere, falling for a McLomard. Was history repeating itself yet again?
CHAPTER 26
Birdie was looking forward to the Council meeting for once. She did not want to know who the traitor was, but was more than happy to pass on the deception.
“What was so urgent you wanted to convene, Birdie?” Aidan asked.
“I needed to let everyone know that Erin will be leaving us for some weeks. She has decided to explore the source of several myths and legends concerning the Viking heritage which she thinks could benefit our cause in the long run.”
“Such as?” Aidan probed.
“There are artefacts out there rumoured to be able to weaken sorcerers such as Valkarin. If we can get to them, then it will be much simpler to defeat Heinrekh.”
“And you think the child has a shot at finding them?”
“With her extraordinary powers, yes.”
“Where is she heading?” Stewart enquired.
“Iceland is her first stop. Then I believe she is on to the Faroe Islands and Denmark.”
“All steeped with Viking history.”
“Yes. She did also mention stopping via Greenland, although I can’t think why.”
“When is she leaving?” Angus piped up.
“I think she and Magnus are heading out this weekend.”
“She is not going alone?”
“No. She is only eighteen, so needs her guardian with her.”
“If she requires any reference material to help her, just let me know. We have plenty relating to the Viking heritage at home,” Angus offered.
“I’ll be sure to pass that message on,” Birdie smiled warmly. That was the decoy planted, she hoped Erin knew what she was doing.
“If you hadn’t destroyed my bike, we could have snuck up a lot closer to the house,” Magnus grumbled.
“Stop moaning,” Erin retorted. They had left the Landrover parked out of sight at the entrance to the McBride estate and had walked down the considerable driveway. Finally the house came into view. “Time to cloak ourselves.” Erin held out her hand. “Marjorin.” Magnus took her hand and they were both invisible.
Sneaking up to the house was easy. Luckily the front door was not locked, so they slipped in unnoticed. She knew where Angus’ study was.
The curtains were drawn so she flipped the light on. “Birdie said she’d text me the minute the meeting finished, so we have until then to search for the bracelet. Also, the plans Angus was looking at, I need copied.”
The plans were eventually tracked down in a pile relating to the estate. Erin took a few copies on her phone. The hunt for the bracelet was a lot harder. They couldn’t find any trace of it.
“He must have a safe,” Magnus groaned.
“And we don’t have the combination. But I can get it.” Just then her phone beeped. “Damn the meeting’s finished already.”
“Time to go,” Magnus ordered.
“Or perhaps not. I can drop a hint in Angus’ head that he needs to put the bracelet on the desk, then go make a cup of tea. Whilst he does, we do the swap.”
“That’s too risky.”
“Perhaps, but it is a risk I’m willing to take. We can’t let Heinrekh get hold of these artefacts.”
Magnus let out a loud hiss of frustration. “Fine, we wait.”
He wasn’t just acting out the goodness of his heart, he loathed McBride, so taking the original artefact off him was going to be a pleasure. It was a pity he would not get to see McBride try and explain the loss to Heinrekh.
A short while later they heard the front door open. Erin and Magnus stood in the far corner of the study cloaked. Erin was dropping hints into Angus’ brain. It was so freaky when he came into the study, he looked directly at them. But obviously did not see them. He went to a picture mounted on the wall and lifted it off. Behind it was a safe. Angus opened it and removed a small box.
“Time for tea,” Erin started to drop another message into his head.
He paused a moment then put the box on the desk and headed off in the direction of the kitchen.
Magnus opened the box and replaced the original with their version before they slipped noiselessly out the study.
As they got to the front door, they noticed it had been bolted. Erin indicated the living room door. At the far end of that was a set of French doors leading out onto the terrace. These only had a small lock which could be opened silently. Once through, the door was shut. No-one would remember whether they locked these or not.
The walk back to the Landrover was just a long and Magnus did not relent on his moaning.
“I don’t know what you’ve got to complain about, after we’ve rescued mum, we’ve got ourselves a new quest.”
“I’m not traipsing across frozen wastelands to find weird and wonderful artefacts,” he grunted. “If I wanted to do that, I would have stayed in Lokranor.”
“Where’s your Viking spirit?”
“I’m a twenty-first century male now, and we only do comfort.”
“Wuss. If you’re my guardian, you have to follow where I go.”
“That could be embarrassing, especially if you wanted to get up close and personal with Wilhelm,” he teased.
She swatted him. “You know what I meant.”
Birdie was grinning from ear to ear when they got home. “Successful mission?”
“Very. All required information retrieved. And I know exactly where to hide it.” The concealed chamber in the South Tower. It seemed the logical place to hide items of great significance
.
Erin was looking through the volumes hidden in the passage way behind the concealed chamber. At first she could not understand why the books were here, then it slowly dawned on her that the contents of each was quite sensitive. She pulled out the one on blood ties, it would be a good bedtime read.
It proved to be quite compelling as it listed all the links, treaties and illicit liaisons of the leading Muirhead families. The most mind-boggling was the entries concerning the McBrides. They definitely had plenty of skeletons in their closet.
They were believed to be supporters of Valkarin and over the years had been accused of various crimes against Muirhead and Lokranor. However, they were never found guilty of any wrong doing. But mud sticks. She already knew that Angus was guilty of treachery, but like his ancestors, she could not actually prove anything. Saying she’d read his mind would not hold much water. At least now she had a fair idea why he was betraying Muirhead, it was in his genes.
The second to last entry about the McBrides was the most interesting one; it related to an incident about two hundred years previously. Borodin, a predecessor of Heinrekh’s, had an affair with Ellen, the wife of Stewart McBride, and got her with child. McBride, who was unable to father any children, accepted this boy as his own. However, Ellen, who had continued her affair with Borodin, one morning decided to up sticks and leave Stewart. Stewart was happy to be rid of his unfaithful wife, but would not let her take the baby. A bitter argument ensued, which resulted in Ellen’s death at the hands of her husband. Borodin already had a wife and child so was not altogether upset at Ellen’s demise. The child went to rule as a McBride, completely oblivious to the black blood in his veins, but remained a secret supporter to Valkarin.
Erin smiled to herself, it seemed Sasha had blacker blood than she did. Thank God she didn’t have the abilities too. Maybe that was why Sasha was so drawn to Heinrekh, it was genetics not chemistry.
She dropped the book on her night stand. Her mind was now racing about the upcoming mission. She was not worried for herself, but she did have concerns over Wilhelm and Magnus. She would be separated from them when they went for Lars, she could not ensure their safety. A frustrated sigh echoed around her large room; she was an eighteen year old girl, she should be out clubbing, travelling around the world even, generally enjoying her young life. Instead she was about to battle a sorcerer in an ancient Viking Realm; a slight detour from the life she thought she would lead. Maybe she could ask her mother to wake Dad again so she could shout at him for leaving her with this legacy. And if no dad was available, her mother would have to bear the brunt of her annoyance. That should be a good introduction for Lodraill to parenthood.
CHAPTER 27
Sasha was feeling restless, but she couldn’t pin down the reason behind it. Her course work was on schedule, she had a good social life and everything was fine. Yet something felt wrong. Perhaps she was missing Heinrekh? She had delayed her return to Muirhead so she could guarantee Angus would be away; that meant she could spend most of her time in Vasmaar. Was Heinrekh torturing her for making him wait?
She phoned the one person who would straighten her out. “Hey, how are you settling down to living in sin with the Viking prince?”
“Ha, bloody, ha,” Erin retorted. “The South Tower is for his use only. When I do decide to live with a guy, I’ll not have so many houseguests.”
“Has he made a dishonest woman of you yet?”
“No. I’m not a shameless hussy like you.”
Sasha laughed. “I was half expecting a call asking if you could claim sanctuary at McBrides.”
“After what I’ve been reading, I’m surprised the house didn’t burst into flames when I was there. The McLomards are apparently like the anti-Christ to the McBrides.”
“And where did you learn that ridiculous piece of information?”
“From a book surprisingly enough.”
“Does it have pictures?”
“Yes. And big speech bubbles, the works,” Erin smiled. “Most people have the odd skeleton in their closet, but you guys have an entire graveyard.”
“Ooh, delicious. I love notoriety. So come on, what have we done to be put on the naughty list?”
“Infidelity, illegitimate children and murder to start with.”
“Let me guess, my true father is a rich Arab Sheikh?”
“I hate to disillusion you, but no. We are going back a couple of centuries.” Erin told her the story of Stewart and Ellen McBride.
“So it was fate that I would fall hopelessly for a descendant of Valkarin,” Sasha sighed dreamily. “How romantic.”
“More like faulty genes,” Erin grunted. “I’m sure with the right medication we can cure you.”
“Listen, you moody mare, I’m coming back to Muirhead tomorrow, are you around?”
“Not on Friday. I’m headed into Inverness. Stuff with lawyers to sort out.”
“Are you in trouble already? You haven’t vaporised anyone?”
“No to both questions. There is some estate stuff I need to sort out with Birdie. When one is a responsible land owner, one has to do these things.”
“And I’m sure when you are responsible, you will,” Sasha giggled.
“I don’t know why I bother talking to you,” Erin groaned.
“Because I’m adorable and everyone loves me?”
“Or maybe it feels like I’m doing penance for all my former misdeeds. I’m here on Sunday if that helps.”
“Sunday would be good, I can stop in on my way back to Edinburgh.”
“That’s if the dark one lets you go.”
“Strangely enough, your words do ring true. Each time I see him, he is more adamant I should stay permanently in Vasmaar. The longer we are apart, the more worried he is I will find another man.”
“All men need constant attention,” Erin laughed, “be they dark lord or mortal. Although dumping a sorcerer could be severely dangerous for one’s health.”
“Hell, I hadn’t thought about that. Not that I’m planning on ending the relationship, far from it. But if that time did ever come, I’d probably have to move very far away.”
“Well, if I come across a book entitled The hazards of dating an evil sorcerer I’ll buy it for you.
“Ah, you’re so sweet.”
“I do my best. Now I really should go, Magnus is waving his sword at me.”
“Now there’s an offer a girl cannot refuse,” Sasha laughed. “A Viking with a big sword.”
“Smutty moo,” Erin giggled and hung up.
Sasha was pleased she’d phoned Erin. Her mood has improved dramatically. Perhaps it was because both their lives were kind of surreal at times that they could see the funny side in what they did.
Erin couldn’t sleep the day before they were going to Skallengaard, there was too much in her head. She tossed and turned for a while in bed before her mind settled on something to do. There was every chance that tomorrow could be her last, and she needed to say a few possible farewells. Using the passage that connected her bedroom to the concealed chamber, she retrieved the Baldoren crystal.
“Erin,” her father appeared in her head.
“Dad, I’ll make it quick. I need you to pass a message to mum. God willing, I should have her free by tomorrow night.”
“It is a dangerous mission you undertake. Are you prepared?”
“As well as I can be.”
“Why not wait?”
“There is more than mum at stake here.”
“You know I cannot protect you from here?”
“Yes. And if I fail, I’ll be chewing your ear off for the next century or two.”
He laughed, that wonderful deep sound echoing in her head. “Take care, and watch your back.”
“Always.”
She let go the crystal and stepped back. Hopefully her mother would be ready for her. In less than twenty-four hours, she could be sitting next to the mother she always dreamt of but never remembered.
A thought pop
ped into her head as she wandered back to her bed. Sorry to disturb your nocturnal activities, but have you taken your Dramamine?
Of course. I wouldn’t consider going in that infernal contraption again without it.
Such a brave Viking.
Irritating brat. How are you doing?
Restless, anxious and scared.
Realms Gate: A Realm Divided Page 19