The High-King (Isolde Saga Book 5)
Page 9
“That’s the Isolde I know!” he exclaimed. “Since when do you believe in fate? The Isolde I remember chose her destiny, she broke the chains of the past and forged something better for herself. You don’t know when you are going to die, Isolde, so don’t plan for it, don’t cut your opportunities down because you think something bad might happen. A year ago you would have plunged head first into the challenge and thought about the consequences later.”
“A lot has happened since then,” she said.
“Yes it has,” he quickly replied. “And because you went through it all, faced it all, and overcame it all, you are now ready for something bigger.”
She couldn’t help but see the sense in what he was saying.
“You don’t know how to be queen now, but in a year’s time, you will be so much better at it. You will have a babe at your breast and a kingdom that thanks you every day for the good you bring them. And as far as being alone, Isolde, you shouldn’t be so foolish. A good queen deserves a good man beside her. A strong man, a loyal one who would put his life on the line to keep her safe. And above all, a man who would love her with every ounce of his being.”
“Hey, there you are…” Isolde and Skaldi looked up and saw Harald cresting the slope and walking to them. “The Jarls are animals,” he joked. “Mead for breakfast…”
He was shaking his head as he came over and Isolde caught a wink from Skaldi as he got up. He gave Isolde a hand to her feet and clapped the pair together so they were side by side as he talked.
“It has been a long journey, my friends.”
Isolde looked deeply into the wells of Skaldi’s eyes and felt tears forming in her own. She snuffed it back quickly and tried to be strong.
“This isn’t goodbye,” Skaldi said to her before looking back at the both of them. “But I am leaving for a while.”
Harald nodded with a smile. “You are always welcome here, Skaldi. Don’t wait too long to come back.”
“I won’t,” he laughed and took them both in with a hug.
Isolde squeezed the old man as tight as she could and she whispered into his ear.
“I love you, Skaldi. Thank you…” and she felt him squeeze her back even tighter.
He didn’t look back as he left them, but kept his head high and disappeared down the slope and into the trees. Harald wiped his eyes and looked at Isolde whose tears were flowing freely. She smiled at him though and he took her in his arms so softly that she felt the worries on her mind drift away. He was warm, he was strong, and she felt safe there.
“Did you make a decision?” he asked into her hair.
She leaned back to see his eyes and saw them glowing as he looked back into hers. As quick as a striking snake, she kissed him on the lips and pulled back again to see him smiling and they both laughed for a moment.
“Will you be a king?” she asked.
The question stunned him for a moment, but she saw the spark in his eye twinkle as a cheeky grin broke on his lips.
“Only if you are my queen.”
And so they returned to Eyndale, hand in hand, a new hope born into their hearts and ready to take on the world.
THANKS FOR READING
Thanks for reading The High-King! The Isolde Saga is a 5-part series of novellas, each around size of this book that tell the story of our heroine Isolde.
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Robert D. Jones
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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ABOUT ROBERT D. JONES
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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...
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THE HIGH-KING: 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: JANUARY 2018
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
THANKS FOR READING
MORE TO READ
ABOUT ROBERT D. JONES