“How come I never saw you after dad died? If I was a regular visitor here, I’m surprised my mother didn’t palm me off during the summer holidays?”
She felt Birdie tense a little as she answered. “Your mother was never keen on your Scottish roots. I think she wanted you to have as little contact with your father’s family as possible.”
“But that’s ridiculous. Especially as she wanted as little contact as possible with me.” Erin was starting to notice a strange pattern of behaviour concerning both halves of her family. Why would her mother not want her coming up here until now? And if Birdie had been that close to her niece, could she not have visited Surrey once in a while? It all seemed rather bizarre to Erin. But then what family was normal?
Birdie looked up at the portrait of James and scowled. “I know you may not have planned it, but you really did leave quite a mess for me to sort out.”
She often talked to his portrait, it was the next best thing to having him in person. On the very rare occasion, she could almost feel his presence, as though he was still watching over the house.
There was no denying she adored her niece and was thrilled she was back where she belonged finally but it was the task ahead which did not fill her with joy. Poor Erin had no idea what was about to land in her lap and there was no real way of preparing her. Erin was already pretty efficient with a sword, but would need to be brilliant. That was about the only area where Birdie could help her.
Birdie rested her head against the mantelpiece. “I don’t have your strength, James. How do I even start to tell her about your legacy? She will think I’m nothing more than a batty maiden aunt.” She wasn’t even sure what the legacy truly involved. So much was riding on the unsuspecting child’s shoulders, that there was every chance Erin could run as fast as she could in the opposite direction. Birdie just hoped Erin’s McLomard blood would push her to do the right thing. But she wasn’t sure she wanted Erin to do the right thing. She’d already lost her brother, she didn’t want to lose her niece as well.
The vibrating in her pocket broke her train of thought. She glanced at the text which had just come across on the phone. Her presence was required at the Realms’ Gate later that night. Her spirits sunk even deeper. She hated dealing with those outdated fools.
CHAPTER 8
Erin was curled up on her bed in her favourite pyjamas skyping Amanda and Jess in Venice.
“I hope you guys are not having too good a time without me,” Erin moaned.
“We’re doing our best, but Italian boys are just so adorable,” Amanda grinned. “Especially ones that buy you drinks.”
“Any cuties in the highlands?” Jess asked.
“Actually the local scenery is not too bad.”
“How’s the batty spinster of an aunt?”
“She’s really cool. Mad as a box of frogs though. Have you been serenaded by gondola yet?”
“Yes, it was amazing,” Amanda giggled
“This is really quite freaky. Amanda and I are dressed to go out clubbing and you’re in your PJs,” Jess laughed.
“Hey, the night life here is just hopping. I was relaxing before hitting the next rave.” Erin pulled a face.
“Well, if you were with us, we’d have to leave you at the hotel. Clubs are strictly eighteen and you’re still only a pup!”
“When you’re old and wrinkly, I’ll appreciate this baby face.” Erin heard a sound coming from downstairs. Birdie must be home. “Have fun and call me when you get to Rome. I want a full update.”
Erin disconnected feeling a little disheartened. She really would have loved to have gone to Italy with her friends, they were such good fun. But Scotland was not as bad as she thought it would be.
She slipped on her fluffy bunny slippers, padded out her room and downstairs. She needed to catch up with Birdie. She glanced around for the ever-present Jacques, unusually he was nowhere in sight. Standing in the stone entrance hall was a man she had never seen before. And he was dressed kind of weird too. In fact he looked like he had stepped out a Viking movie, all except for the helmet. But this was Muirhead, and weird was the new normal.
It was too late to turn back, she continued down the stairs, bunny slippers and all. “Hi.” Erin crossed the hall. “You must be a friend of Birdie’s?”
The man turned and Erin stopped in her tracks. He wasn’t weird, he was decidedly scary. His face was scarred, his long black hair unwashed and unbrushed, his teeth would give a dentist heart failure.
He moved quickly and his large hand was around her throat before she had a chance to move. “Are you the priestess’s child?” he hissed.
Erin’s small hands tried to dislodge his but the more she struggled, the tighter he squeezed around her throat. The guy was seriously deranged, and had one hell of a bizarre accent. And halitosis.
He pulled her closer so she could look into those vile, cold eyes. “I’ll ask just once more. Are you the child?”
Over his shoulder Erin could see two very strange creatures. One looked like it was a serpent, the other thing resembled a dragon. Both had a bluish glow to them, almost as if they had been eradiated.
The man’s grip on her throat was so tight she couldn’t have answered even if she had wanted to. Fear was quickly replaced by anger. You’re a McLomard, she told herself, you don’t put up with shit like this. A split second later her knee met his groin with a fearsome force. Caught by surprise, he released his hold and dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. She broke his nose with the palm of her hand.
Erin reacted with lightning speed and crossed to the fireplace, removing one of the swords decorating the wall above it. It was a hell of a lot heavier than her epée, she needed both hands to swing it. In one rather frantic move, she’d beheaded the serpent-like thing that came at her hissing. It turned to a pile of ash. The dragon was a trickier to deal with, but at least this one didn’t breathe fire. I really must be tripping, she thought as lunged and riposted several times before plunging the sword right though the dragon’s heart. It too disintegrated into a cloud of dust.
The man had long disappeared out the front door. Birdie and Magnus burst into the hall from the back of the house, just as she sank to the floor.
Magnus was beside her in a split second. “Hell, Erin, are you alright?” He looked white as a sheet.
“Fine. I just killed a snake and a dragon,” she whispered. She glanced at Jacques who flopped down next to her. “A great guard dog you make.”
He whimpered in response.
Magnus took the sword from her before scooping her up and taking her to the living room. “She’s in shock, Birdie.” He laid her down on the sofa, whilst Birdie poured her a large brandy.
Erin took the drink gratefully, she was starting to feel very shaky. The strong liquid burnt the back of her throat, but it did calm her down. She was aware of Birdie and Magnus both watching her, waiting for a reaction.
“Would either of you like to tell me what just happened in the hall?” Her voice was very faint.
“She should know the truth, Birdie,” Magnus said flatly.
Birdie took a deep sigh, this was the moment she’d been dreading. “I really don’t know where to begin, Erin. There is so much to tell you.” She glanced over at Magnus. “Perhaps you could make us some coffee? I think this could be a long night.”
Birdie came and sat next to Erin. “I need to start with a brief history lesson. Millennia ago, our northern Scottish coastline was joined to Norway by a land mass, which was part of a kingdom known as Lokranor. A sorcerer of tremendous power called Valkarin terrorised these lands to the north. It was rumoured that the only person who could match Valkarin’s power was the High Priestess of Lokranor. Determined to vanquish the Priestess and take over the lands for himself, legend says Valkarin cast a spell so powerful that not even he could control it. This spell caused our lands to divide, almost split in two. As a result, Lokranor and its territories vanished to an alternate dimension.” Birdie paused for a momen
t before continuing.
“Lokranor and Muirhead are still connected by a gateway, known as the Realms’ Gate. An ancient society watches over the Gate to protect it and the citizens on both sides. They are known as the Circle of Lokmuir.”
Magnus reappeared with the coffee. Erin had a feeling she was going to need more than coffee to get through this. Weird folktales aside, she knew something was coming her way.
“Your father, Erin, he was Head Priest of the Circle of Lokmuir. Unfortunately the position is hereditary, so as the last surviving McLomard, when you turn eighteen, you will become the next High Priestess for the Circle.”
“And what does that entail exactly?” Erin quizzed. Wearing funny robes, taking part in weird ceremonies?
“From time to time creatures and mercenaries from Lokranor make it back here. It is the duty of the Circle to vanquish such creatures.”
“Those creatures being that dragon and serpent thing?”
“Yes. That was a Holskund and Skodrin you took down. Pretty impressive with no training.”
“And wearing bunny slippers,” Magnus grinned.
Erin slapped the back of his head. She loved her bunny slippers. “And that creepy-assed man?”
“A Vasmaarian. He is a mercenary for Heinrekh.”
“Who’s Heinrekh?”
“He’s descended from Valkarin, and he’s pretty good with the dark arts himself. Alongside his mercenaries, he uses enchanted creatures. As High Priestess, you will also possess the powers to take on Heinrekh.”
“And I’m supposed to hang around here for the rest of my life vanquishing weird serpents and dragons? What about my future? I’m due to go to University in September.”
“Ideally a person would be trained for many years before they took over the position of High Priestess, but sadly James was not able to do that. I understand your reluctance to take on the role at such a young age and no-one will force you to.” Birdie set her mind at rest.
Erin noticed Magnus shot Birdie a strange look. It appeared he wasn’t in total agreement with her last statement.
Erin was lost in thought whilst she sipped her coffee. Actually she was just lost. “Let me see if I have this right. There is a gateway around here which will take me to a Viking world?”
“Something like that, yes,” Magnus responded.
“Have either of you been through this gateway?”
“Only a member of the Circle is allowed through. Your father was a regular visitor.” Birdie responded.
Erin looked at Magnus. “What about you?”
A hint of a smile crossed his lips. “Lokranor is my home.”
“You’re from the other side?” Erin was shocked.
“Yes. It is my job to protect you from the creatures and Vasmaarians that make it through the Gate.”
“But why are they after me?”
“Heinrekh is worried of the power that you might possess,”
“Why does Heinrekh concern himself with me when I’m on this side to the Gate?” Something wasn’t adding up for Erin.
“Because you can cross over to Lokranor. He will want you to fight with him to defeat Lokranor.”
Erin took her coffee and headed off to the morning room to think things through. She was having trouble believing there was an alternate dimension out there. A true Viking world. But why would Birdie lie to her?
There was a lot in her life to support this bizarre story. How many fathers teach their daughters to sword fight from such an early age? She now understood why her mother would not let Veronica stay in this house, hardly surprising with random creatures attacking. And also perhaps she could now understand why Birdie did not contact her all these years. She was safe down in leafy Surrey.
But why had her father told her nothing about this? About his legacy? About Lokranor? He had obviously not expected to die so young. She returned to Birdie and Magnus who were waiting anxiously.
“This is a lot to take in, to try and comprehend.” Erin flopped back down on the sofa. “How come this lost Realm is not public knowledge?”
“It is a part of history that needs to stay hidden,” Birdie responded. “Our two Realms are very different. We live in an advanced, technological society. Lokranor is still very Norse and has sorcery at its heart. Imagine what would happen if you brought the two together?”
“Good point. So who knows about it?”
“In this Realm, just members of the Circle.”
“And who are they?”
“Descendants from the inhabitants of Muirhead at the time the rift happened.”
“Are you a Circle member?” Erin looked at Birdie.
“Just an honorary one until you take up your father’s place.”
Erin stared at Magnus for a long time. Could he really be a Viking? “Tell me about Lokranor? Is it like we portray in our Viking movies?”
Magnus smiled. “A little. We are decidedly more advanced but still hunt and fight. Imagine the Scandinavian countries about one hundred years ago.”
“But you have managed to fit seamlessly into our Realm?”
“I’m naturally gifted,” he chuckled.
“Do you still workshop the Gods?”
“As in Odin? Yes.”
“Weren’t they supposed to have been decimated at the battle of…” Erin wracked her brains to think of her Norse mythology.
“The battle of Ragnarok. Yes, if you were based in this Realm, not in ours though.”
Erin gave her head a shake, her mind felt like it was about to short out. Little bits of information were firing around her brain at the speed of light. Something Birdie had said earlier was still rattling around.
“You said the High Priestess of the Circle could keep Heinrekh in his place. How, if he is a sorcerer?”
“You will inherit certain powers,” Birdie responded. “And before you ask, there is no broom stick flying. You will however be able to control base elements.”
Erin nodded. Sadly she wouldn’t be joining the wizarding world. She just had to fight one.
“One of Heinrekh’s creatures killed Dad, didn’t they?”
Birdie looked so sad for a moment. “Yes, they did. He gave his life protecting you.”
“That’s why Heinrekh is scared, he knows I will come for him to avenge Dad.” She stood up and headed towards the door. “I think I might sleep on this.” She hesitated for a moment. “Will you take me to the Realms’ Gate tomorrow?”
“I can take you to the Gate, but for obvious reasons I cannot let you go through,” Birdie responded. “Not until you reach eighteen.”
“Why? Will I burst into flames suddenly?”
“No, you will turn into a sugar-coated teen dressed head to foot in pink,” Magnus beamed.
Erin threw a cushion at him.
“It is for your own safety. Why would I risk putting you within Heinrekh’s reach?”
“That’ll do for now, I guess.” Erin glanced at Jacques who was on her heels. “Are you going to stick around this time if any trouble shows up?”
Jacques shook his huge jowls and let loose a spray of slobber. “Gross,” Erin sighed. “Can’t we get cats instead?”
CHAPTER 9
Wilhelm listened with interest to the reports that his guards had brought back regarding creature sightings in unusual areas.
“The most recent was yesterday,” Badren announced. “A farmer spotted a Holskund, Skodrin and Vasmaarian disappear into a dark recess in the mountain face. A while later just the Vasmaarian returned, albeit someone bloody.”
“And this was in the Skarsgaard region?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Wilhelm considered the information for a moment. “It seems we have found one of Heinrekh’s entrances to the other side. Badren, I need you to take a small group of men, disguise yourselves as farmers, and keep watch. Nothing is to pass through this gate, we need to offer the child what protection we can.”
He looked at his other guards. “Anything else?”
&nb
sp; “No, Sir, it all seems quiet” Dragost spoke.
“The attacks on the child will become more frequent as she nears eighteen, so I want to be informed as soon as any creature is spotted on our lands.”
Wilhelm owed Ajax a huge debt of gratitude. He had been right about Heinrekh’s secret gates. He had found one, but knew there must be many others. He would find them, he had to if he wanted to be reinstated to his former position.
He rode back to Lokranor deep in thought. He had often regarded it at odd that only gates to the First Realm were talked about. Lokranor had originally been joined to two Realms, so what of this Third Realm. How come there were no gateways to it? Or more likely, where the gateways blocked for some reason? It was definitely strange as the Third Realm was supposedly where their far-reaching ancestors were from before the rift.
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