Realms Gate: A Realm Divided

by Juliet Anderson

  Heinrekh laughed. “You, my dear, possess nothing bad in your entire being.”

  “Now you make me sound saintly. And that certainly doesn’t sit well with me. Not with the thoughts that are currently on my mind.” She stared up into those wonderful icy eyes. “Can’t you make this horse go any faster?”

  Angus was pleased to see Erin and Magnus weren’t on the same flight as he was, he might have had difficulty explaining what he was up to. He knew they were headed over to Rekjavik, Birdie had said as much.

  He jumped into his hired jeep and drove out to Gullfoss, the Golden Falls. It was a beautiful two-tiered waterfall, which was quite frozen over in winter. When he was there he would put on the bracelet and hopefully it would show him the exact location.

  The drive was trouble free and he reached his location in no time. A good job really as he wanted to be well clear of the site just in case Erin appeared. He parked up and slipped the bracelet on. Nothing. Perhaps he wasn’t close enough to the artefact in question. He walked around for a while, but still nothing. Was he doing it right? Was there anything he needed to switch on? He fiddled with the bracelet, pushed the crystal, tried to turn it. All that happened was the crystal fell off.

  Oh crap, he thought. He must have broken it. He bent down and picked up the purple crystal, and as he looked at the base if it, it struck him as a little strange. Did they really have glue millennia ago? Then it hit him. Of course this bracelet didn’t work, it was a fake. And he would bet a decent payment from Heinrekh that Erin had switched it with the original. It was just like a sneaky McLomard to do that.

  He thought about his options for a moment. He could head back home and admit to Heinrekh that he had lost the bracelet to Erin, or he could stay and follow her when she showed up with the original. That was the best course of action he decided.

  CHAPTER 29

  “Erin,” Lodraill breathed, holding up hand up to the shield. “James said you were coming today. But how?”

  Once again her mother looked so beautifully turned out that Erin felt positively scruffy. “We snuck in through Skallengaard.”

  “From the Third Realm? Surely that is a Vokteren strong hold.”

  “Yes. But my tutor is a Voktere so they let us pass.”

  “The Vokteren are evil, Erin. You must know that.”

  Erin stiffened, not appreciating the mini lecture from her mother. “Our ethos differs. But as there are very few people on this planet that know about blue energy, we came to an agreement.”

  “They cannot be trusted.”

  “Agreed. However as I’m also rescuing Jasper Voktere’s son, we’ve had to make a temporary alliance.” Erin studied the shield in detail. “Does this go all the way around the tower?”

  “Just the front.”

  “I’ve got a few options.” Erin pulled out her sword. “Droxhardin,” she murmured, watching the sword virtually turn blue before plunging it into the middle of the shield. The kick back from the shield almost knocked her off her feet, but she stayed strong, gripping the sword tightly with both hands. But the shield showed no signs of dropping.

  “Bugger. As I feared, it’s Plan B,” she hissed.

  “Which is?” Lodraill asked.

  “Smash and grab.” Erin removed the depth counter from her backpack. “I’m going to abseil down from the window above and blow a hole in the side of the tower. Make sure you’re standing close to the shield.”

  “Without wanting to state the obvious, would that not alert Heinrekh to your presence?”

  “Teenagers like to live dangerously,” Erin grinned and disappeared out the door. The depth finder was activated so she knew exactly how far she had to come back down. Nothing would be more embarrassing than overshooting her target.

  She was lucky, there was a small window opening on the side of the tower she needed. At least she wouldn’t be climbing down in full view of the guards in the courtyard. Attaching the rope to a metal ring sunk deep into the stonework, she slipped on her harness and clipped it onto the rope. Her mother’s harness was slung over her shoulder so they could make their escape quickly.

  You still awake, Magnus?

  What took you so long?

  I stopped for a Starbucks.

  Are we on for dungeon patrol?

  Yeah. And remember, Lars isn’t too keen on Lokranor, so just be careful.

  You want me to use the chloroform?

  Only if absolutely necessary. If you put him to sleep, you’re the one carrying his sorry butt out of here.

  Good point.

  I’ll see you just by the exit from the dungeons.

  Is this going to be a stealthy exit?

  Nah, we’re going to be making our presence well and truly known.

  I love making a statement.

  With your dress sense, you do regularly.

  Brat.

  Toad. See you in a few. Erin disconnected.

  One very deep breath later, she leapt out the window and lowered herself down the outside of the tower, watching the depth calculator to make sure she was in the right spot. With her feet resting against the stonework, she pulled off her soft gloves. She hit the wall with two balls of Loxhadrin, before swinging out the way of the falling masonry. She swung back and grinned at her mother through the hole. “Put this on, then we can the hell out of here.”

  Lodraill clipped the harness over her shoulders and let Erin attached her to her own.

  “It’s going to be a quick descent as I can’t control our combined weight well.”

  Erin did her best to slow the fall, but it was still fast and they hit the pitched roof below hard. She rapidly unhooked them and they crossed along the central ridge.

  “Why aren’t the guards using their crossbows?” Lodraill asked.

  “Did I forget to mention that we’re cloaked? That’s why I’m still holding on to you. They have no idea where we actually are.”

  Erin figured the best way out was to slide down the tiles to the edge of the roof. It was only one storey and an easy jump to make to the courtyard below. The guards had headed around the other side of the building, believing that was where they would be escaping to.

  “Are you ok to jump?”

  “I’m not that old and decrepit yet, child,” Lodraill glanced at her daughter.

  Holding hands still, they leapt to the ground below. Tiptoeing past the few stray guards that were racing to the outside of the building, Erin and Lodraill headed towards the dungeons.

  You nearly at the steps?

  Yeah. We’ve picked up an extra passenger too.

  It was supposed to be just Lars.

  Sorry, but I had to make a snap decision.

  Who is it?

  You’ll see soon enough.

  CHAPTER 30

  “Will you quit fidgeting,” Magnus grunted at Wilhelm as they lay in wait for their instructions from Erin.

  “I hate sitting around doing nothing,” Wilhelm grumbled.

  “You’ll get plenty of action soon. We need to co-ordinate our timings.”

  “And I’m not too happy about releasing a member of the Vokteren.”

  “That was the price of Erin’s tutor.”

  “I can’t believe I volunteered to come to Heinrekh’s castle. I must have been insane.”

  “Something tells me you’ll go wherever Erin does. Besides, freeing Lodraill will most likely get your exile overturned by your father. And by all accounts he needs you back.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He has virtually no control over the army anymore and there is civil unrest. He is coming to terms with the fact that the people’s faith is no longer with him but his irritating, rash son.”

  Wilhelm let out a soft chuckle. “Lodraill should be able to smooth things over.”

  “Maybe. But I think the people would like to see a union between you and Erin.”

  “Don’t go down that route, Selvig,” Wilhelm grunted. “You’re starting to sound like my mother.”

&nbs
p; “I didn’t mean marriage, but perhaps a bond. Hell, Erin would hit me with Loxhadrin if I suggested that to her.”

  “Is marriage so repugnant to her?”

  “No, but she is just eighteen years old. She won’t plan to settle down for many years yet.”

  “How about you? Does my cousin not warrant a wedding band?”

  “Yes, but I was waiting to see what happens with Lokranor. She would much rather a Viking wedding than an English one.”

  “I think you mean your purse would prefer it,” Wilhelm grinned. His cousin had taken a great liking to the ladies fashions in the First Realm and had already looked at several magazines full of designer wedding dresses. In fact he could not see Ingrid wanting to return permanently to Lokranor, not after her eyes had been opened to what life was like for woman in the First Realm.

  Magnus tuned in to Erin. It was time to go. He pulled out the two canisters. “If Lars gets troublesome, we put him to sleep. But as Erin said, if we do that, we have to carry him.”

  “He’ll walk out then, maybe with a few bruises,” Wilhelm responded. He only agreed to help Lars escape, there was no mention of not adding a few parting shots on the way.

  The route was as Erin had described and clear. They entered the vaulted dungeons, and as suspected, there was just the one incumbent.

  “You must be Lars,” Magnus spoke to the occupant of the cell and sprayed the lock with the metal eroder.

  “Yes. And you?”

  “We promised your father to get you out of here.”

  “You’re from Lokranor. I recognise the Prince.”

  “We’re based in the First Realm now.”

  “Do you take me for a fool? I’m not leaving with Lokranor troops.”

  “We’re headed out through Skallengaard, you idiot,” Magnus snapped, kicking the cell door so it sprung open. “Your father tutors the Priestess of Lokmuir who is Heinrekh’s arch enemy. When he found out you were still alive through Sasha, he asked that Erin rescue you as well when she came for her mother.”

  “Sasha is only masquerading as Heinrekh’s girlfriend to spy on him?”

  “No. She really is dating him. She just so happens to be Erin’s closest friend. It was your rings that made the connection for her.”

  Lars looked completely blank for a moment.

  “Yeah, it’s very complicated. But right now we have half the Vasmaarian guard to worry about, so are you coming or are we going to have to drag your butt upstairs. I personally would leave you but Erin did make a promise to your father and she’ll hurt me bad if I don’t keep it.”

  “Fine. Do I get a sword?”

  “We’re not that stupid,” Wilhelm replied scathingly.

  Heading up the stairs towards the entrance, they heard footsteps. Magnus pulled out the chloroform canister as the figure bounded around the corner.

  “Bloody hell, Sasha?”

  “Magnus, what are you doing here?” Then she caught sight of Lars and Wilhelm. “Oh…”

  “Sorry, I have no choice,” Magnus apologised and sprayed the chloroform. He caught her before she hurt herself and swung her over his shoulder. “At least she’s light.”

  “Should we not leave her?” Wilhelm queried.

  “No. The chloroform won’t last for long. It’s Erin’s choice as to whether we take her or leave her.”

  They met Erin at the top of the stairs.

  “What the hell have you done to Sasha?” she squealed.

  “We ran into her on the way out,” Magnus answered.

  “Guess she’ll have to come with us.” She looked at the tall dark man behind him. “You must be Lars. You are just as Jasper described you.”

  All three men were staring at her, then she realised it was her mother they were looking at. “Does anyone remember my mother?”

  Lodraill smiled. “I remember the Prince, although he was not quite as grown as he is today.” Her gaze hardened as she focussed on Lars. “He is Vokteren. We should kill him now.”

  “On the contrary, we have an allegiance with the Vokteren, and I am rather fond of his father. So no,” Erin replied with authority. “Now if everyone is ready, we’ll make a mad dash for the stables. There are too many of us for me to cloak, but I can clear the way.” Erin heard a loud roar from within the castle. “Crap, I think our host has just realised he has company.”

  She ran out the archway. “Severig,” she hollered waving her hands with such force, the guards were scattered completely. “If you know how to run, I suggest you do it now,” she shouted. Erin continued to clear the way ahead of them, then raised a shield up behind them. With the shield raised, she did not risk using any more blue energy.

  “Now’s your time for a fight, boys,” she flung them a wild look before running ahead with her Talmar drawn. Wilhelm followed close behind.

  Magnus glanced at Lars. “I’m certainly not arming you, so you can carry Sasha. And before you get any ideas about taking her hostage, Erin severely damaged the last person to do that.”

  “Who was that?” Lars looked interested.

  “King Olav. Which is Wilhelm and I are not going near Lokranor. We’re exiled.” Magnus also gave Lodraill a stern look. “You two will play nice or you’ll see how pissed a teen with blue energy can get.” He drew his sword and helped Erin and Wilhelm dispatch any guards foolish enough to stand in their way.

  “I am completely lost,” Lars sighed.

  “You and me both,” Lodraill smiled watching her daughter in action. “She even fights like her father,” she sighed.

  “How long has Heinrekh had you in the tower?”

  “Fourteen years.”

  “Then your daughter must have very limited memory of you?”

  “Almost none. Up till a few months ago, she did not even know I was her mother.”

  Lars gave a hard snarl. “Then Erin and I share one experience. I too grew up without a mother.”

  “Are you two going to shoot the breeze all day, or is there any chance we can get our asses out of here? The big bad ogre is on his way,” Erin hollered at Lars and Lodraill. The sound of thunder was approaching and Erin had a feeling it was nothing to do with the atmosphere.

  Luckily there were some horses already tacked up from the soldiers. “Lars, sorry if this sounds insulting, but can you ride?”

  “Yes,” he grunted.

  Erin pulled the cloaks off three dead soldiers and passed them to Lars, Lodraill and Magnus. “Magnus, will you take Sasha?”

  “Why me?”

  “Because you’re the one who drugged her, so you can be the one she’s pissed at when she wakes up.” She looked at Wilhelm who appeared far happier. “You’re back to doing what you do best.”

  “I forgot what it was to be Viking for a while,” he pulled her to him and kissed her.

  “You’ll be a dead Viking, if you’re not careful. Now help me up.” She could not contain the smile on her face. That was what had been missing from Wilhelm. His true sense of purpose, and now he had it back, he was beaming.

  Her mother was giving her a suspicious look.

  “Don’t even go there, mum,” Erin laughed and kicked her horse into canter. They needed to put as much distance between them and the castle as they could.

  Heinrekh was meeting with two of his generals to discuss Lokranor’s troops encroaching over the border.

  “We should respond immediately,” General Dexter boomed.

  “They are trying to get a reaction out of us. I have played this game many times with Prince Wilhelm,” Heinrekh flapped his hand dismissively.

  “But we do not want them to think we are weak by not responding.”

  “Olav’s army is in disarray without Wilhelm to lead them. If our troops want to risk getting themselves killed in a mere skirmish, then let them. But they are not to cross into Vasmaar. Olav is to be seen as the aggressor.”

  “So we have your permission to defend our lands?”

  “Yes. Do as you see fit, but the border is not to be b
reached.”

  He dismissed his generals. It must be Sasha’s influence turning him soft, but he had no interest for war. His appetite these days was purely for Sasha, and although he’s just been with her, he was hungry for her again. He blamed her absence for his longing, he hated the long weeks apart. He wanted to wake up next to her every morning, not just stolen weekends here and there.