"It's not worth it," he said, "this will not fix the past."
She screamed and slapped the flat of the blade across Erik's cheek, and he went crashing down to the floor.
"Please," Erik begged from the ground, "forgive me."
She brought the flat of the blade down again, and caught him between the shoulder blades. Erik whimpered, and Skaldi took Isolde away from him as she burst into tears.
"How'd you get out that cage, boy?" Wulfric growled.
"E-E-Elda..." he said, "but I can help. I want to help."
"You've done enough," Harald said and gave the boy a kick in the ribs.
Erik coughed and sputtered, and reached his hand out for mercy once again.
"A boat," he choked out through wheezing breaths, "I have a boat for you."
"Where?" Wulfric demanded.
He pointed to the sewerage grill as the voices of guards came calling down the stairway outside.
"Go!" Skaldi cried, and Wulfric hurled himself through the space.
Harald followed him down into the dark, but Isolde paused for a moment. She looked down at Erik, with tears rolling down her bruised cheeks and bloodstained lips.
"You don't know what you've done," she said through vicious lips.
"Go," Skaldi said again, and he pushed her down to the grill.
She slipped into the tight space and lost her footing. The black ooze made the smooth stone slick, and she slid into the darkness below. She crashed down to the hard floor, and Skaldi came tumbling after her. She could hear the yelling of guards above, and a single scream from Erik. "Run!"
Wulfric and Harald led to the second tunnel, and down they went. Isolde nearly lost her footing on the open rock stairs at the end, but Harald caught her. He pulled her back to the cliff wall before she could plummet into the black waters of the Thurso. She could see the small white boat, bobbing in the waters below.
High above her, torches were being lit around the walls and across the great stone bridges. The flames danced on the dark waters below them, and they jumped into the boat.
"How are we going to deal with this second gate?" Wulfric asked as he pushed them out into the waters.
"Guide us straight at it," Skaldi said, "and leave the rest to me."
CHAPTER XIII
The river's current took the boat and ripped them onward toward the second iron gate. Isolde watched it coming at them, its dark skeletal frame bejewelled with swinging chains. It's going to crush us! Closer and closer it came, and she felt her heart hammering in her chest.
Skaldi cried out behind her with a voice that boomed in an undulating tongue, "putredo ferrum, transeamus ad libertatem!"
He raised his hands together, high above his head, and ripped them apart. The iron gate before them sheared through the centre and curled back on itself. The guards on the walls beside them cried out, and the war horns boomed into the night air. Flaming arrows arched through the dark sky like shooting stars, before hissing into the waters by the boat. Isolde shrieked and cowered under the gunwales as she heard the dull thud of arrows finding their mark. She saw twisted black iron pass before them and felt the air change as they left the city.
The arrows ceased as the river pulled the boat further and further away, but Isolde could hear the wailing cry of horns for hours. The boat drifted in the silence of the night, and in the calm, Isolde began to cry.
Skaldi sat down next to her in the stern, and put his hand on her shoulder as Harald and Wulfric took rest leaning against the bow.
"What has happened?" she sobbed.
Skaldi sighed and took her in his arms.
"I do not know to what end Orlog is working," he said, "but she has entered you through the dark ritual which Hrothgar... consummated."
"He forced himself on me," she whimpered.
"I know," he said holding her tighter. "You bear his child, Isolde. I can feel it in you."
"Why?" she asked.
"I have been blind to it, this whole time," he said. "She needs a mortal form to walk this plane, and Hrothgar needs an heir to take his throne. They must have come to a dark pact..."
Wulfric cleared his throat and said, "so war is upon us?"
"It is," Skaldi said, "the entire north is mobilised. This land will burn."
"We fought greenskins on Jotunn," Harald said as he suddenly realised the link to what was being said.
Skaldi nodded, "it will get worse. Did Narbeth find you?"
"The elves!" Harald said, "yes, and one named Amroth helped us."
"We sent him to Eyndale, to give news to Jarl Sigurd," Wulfric said.
Skaldi shook his head, "it won't be enough."
Isolde wiped the tears from her eyes, "I saw thousands streaming into the city. What can we do?"
"We must follow the clues your mother left us," Skaldi said, "we must get to Heroth Nuir, the priests there might give us answers."
"Skaldi," Harald said, "how did they capture you? Narbeth told us that you sent him word for us to not come to Ravenscar."
"Well," Skaldi mumbled, "I was stopped at the Whitewash crossing by Valarth."
Isolde squirmed at the name.
"He was the one who gave me this," she said and pulled down her silk top to show them the runes.
Skaldi frowned at the sight. "He is a dark and powerful soul. One of the fallen children, a dark elf of ancient origin. I thought at the time it wiser not to openly challenge him. He took me to Ravenscar's dungeons no doubt under the orders of Hrothgar and the Black Witch."
"He put a crystal into my wound," Isolde said, "it was a ruby."
Skaldi grimaced. "That ruby is the heart of Orlog. From it, she will grow and swell within you until you birth her to the world."
Isolde clutched at her throbbing shoulder.
"Can we fix it?" she asked, "can we get her out?"
"Not us," he replied, "but I will take you to a... friend. She is on the way, more or less."
Tears formed in her eyes and she whispered, "I wish I had never trusted Erik."
"Harald," Skaldi said as he rubbed Isolde's shoulder, "tell her what you saw through the eye."
"I saw him, Isolde," Harald said, "I saw him for what he really is, not what he showed us. Erik was hurt, I could see it... he was ashamed and scared. I know he made the choice to betray us all, but I don't know if that's what he really wanted."
"I hate him," she said.
"I know you do," he replied, "trust me, I hate him too. But, I think there is more to him than we know."
"Do you know what he led me to?" she hissed, "I want to slit his throat."
"It would do you no good," Skaldi said.
She went silent then and the boat streamed down with the current. The sun rose behind them and the first rays of the new moon cycle streamed down, and Isolde saw Wulfric's downcast eyes.
"Wulfric," she said, "I am sorry that I didn't listen. I am sorry that I ran, and that I left you and Harald behind."
He looked up at her with a frown and heavy eyes.
"It is okay, Little Bird," he said, "as long as you can forgive me, when I do the same."
"You're leaving us?" she asked startled.
"For a while," he said, "I have to rally the free cities before it is too late. We need to stop Hrothgar before he consumes us all."
"But I killed him, I stabbed Hrothgar right through the eye," she said.
Skaldi shook his head, "it was not a mortal blow, Isolde. I saw him before we fled the tower."
"But Wulfric," she pleaded, "we need you... I need you."
"I am sorry," he said and she thought she could see a tear sparkle at the corner of his eye in the new sun.
"We will meet you at the crossroads south of Harkham," Skaldi said, "we will be there on the death of the moon after next."
"The heart of winter?" Wulfric asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The darkest night of the year," Skaldi replied.
"That's not much time," Wulfric replied.
"It will have to b
e," Skaldi said with wide eyes, "we don't have much time."
THANKS FOR READING
Thanks for reading Ravenscar! The Isolde Saga is a 5-part series of novellas, each around size of this book that tell the story of our heroine Isolde.
If you liked this book of the series, please let the world know by leaving a quick review on Amazon. As an Indie author, my career is in the hands of you, the reader, letting others know about my work.
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Thanks for your help,
Robert D. Jones
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES
The Blind Seer: Isolde Saga Book Three
Isolde is lost in a whirlwind of chaos that is centered on her.
Questions & answers... what is the price for truth?
When she escaped from Ravenscar, Isolde thought the worst was behind her. Orlog was silenced and the High-King had been put down. But not all is at it seems, and old enemies don't die without a fight.
Without Orlog haunting her dreams, all has become silent, but it might be the calm before the storm. Her path now leads her to Heroth Nuir, the sacred temple to death, but the Silent Hills lay in the way, and in their misty veil lay the restless dead.
Can Isolde find her way through, and who is the necromancer that is raising the dead?
FIND THE BLIND SEER HERE
"Isolde's story becomes deeper and more intriguing Robert is becoming more and more a part of his characters and it shows, they have depth. The saga has depth and no longer feels 'rushed' i have enjoyed the last two books but this one has.... more. Really looking forward to the next installment. Highly recommend the read it's well worth it."
- Sue McMiles (Amazon Reviewer)
"The Blind Seer was a very well written book three in the Isolde Saga. Contains an excellent storyline and well developed characters. The book was very enjoyable, but too short."
- J. Philips (Amazon Reviewer)
"I've just finished this delightful book after reading the two previous stories. Mr Jones has done his homework in plots, characters and story line..enjoyed this book from start to finish, and recommend you do so also!"
- Maurice J. (Amazon Reviewer)
MORE TO READ
ISOLDE SAGA
Book One: The Black Witch
Book Two: Ravenscar
Book Three: The Blind Seer
Book Four: Land of the Gods
Book Five: The High-King
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CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE BOOK, MAPS & EXTRAS!
ABOUT ROBERT D. JONES
Hello, hello, hello!
My name is Robert D. Jones and I write epic fantasy books because I love them! It doesn't take people long to discover that I am really a huge geek at heart and I am not ashamed of it. I love speculative fiction, fantasy, sci-fi... whatever it is, I just have a tendency to eat it up. I think it all started when I read The Hobbit all those years ago...
Fling me an email and say hi, or, jump on my website or facebook and strike up a conversation with me, I would love to meet you!
All the best,
Robert D. Jones
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Ravenscar: Isolde Saga Copyright © 2017 by Robert David Jones.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
For information contact; www.robertjonesauthor.com
Book and Cover design by R. D. Jones
First Edition: June 2017
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Table of Contents
PRELUDE
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
THANKS FOR READING
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES
MORE TO READ
ABOUT ROBERT D. JONES
Ravenscar Page 7
