It was never discussed, or even mentioned aloud, but soon Cyrus became the village leader. The alves still harbored their lingering resentments and prejudices, but hesitantly they began to ask his advice and follow his suggestions. Cyrus took counsel with only those closest to him, and never gave guidance in ignorance or haste. Gradually, the village began to prosper.
Shortly after the Sea Zombie’s death, Cyrus and Sarah were married. Within a year they gave birth to their first child, and in the end, they had three boys and one girl. Like all young alvelings born free on Gabriel’s back, their children grew tall, colorful and bright.
Lars Hoblkalf, the Tiller twins and farmer Landman became cowering recluses. They were sometimes seen working a farm or buying seed, but they always kept to themselves and never took part in village affairs.
Llysa LongBones and Mayor Hoblkalf were ostracized by the villagers. This too was never discussed, and Cyrus did not encourage such behavior, but the alves began to believe that their tongues were toxic and if indulged, might return their people to the dreary decay of their dismal past.
Cyrus’ stepmother left the village first, no longer able to suffer the shame and humiliation of her stepson’s success. Hoblkalf soon followed, finding the alves’ prosperity under new leadership unbearable. The two fled to the shores of the head island, building what shelters they could manage. They lived out their final days, bitter and black-hearted, and always avoided each other’s company.
For many years Cyrus, Edward, and Fibian remained best friends, living amongst the villagers and traveling the seas in peace and prosperity. At times they would spot one of Rorroh’s forsaken minions haunting a secluded shoreline. Always the creature would retreat in terror, but the knowledge that others could still be suffering under remnants of the Warrior Witch’s cruel empire sat like a bitter pit in Cyrus’ stomach.
It seemed that the remaining villains weighed most heavily on Fibian’s two hearts, for early one morning he told Cyrus and Edward that he would be leaving their quiet shores. His work amongst the alvelings was complete. Others needed him now. It pained Cyrus to see his dear friend go, but he understood. Fibian was not born to sow and seed. He was a froskman, bred to hunt and kill. As long as evil lurked in the world, he would never be at peace.
Years passed. Bent and intolerant elders died, and their tall, thoughtful heirs took their places. Sarah too grew old, but not Cyrus. Their four beautiful children rose to adulthood, but then they also seemed to age no more. This troubled Cyrus, but he and Sarah never spoke of such matters.
Cyrus loved and cared for Sarah until the day she died. The villagers too deeply mourned her loss. All wept heavily on her night of passing as her flaming pyre drifted towards the rising moon, and into the Angel King’s awaiting arms.
Once Sarah was gone, and their children had children of their own, Cyrus knew he could no longer live alongside the alves. They began to see him as something strange, not of their world. Tales of his exploits became legend, and legend became myth. His deeds were told around campfires to inspire the young. Their devotion grew to worship, and their worship became like sweet, tempting poison to Cyrus’ soul.
The day finally came for Cyrus to leave. He still did not know what Rorroh had truly done to him, or what limits his immortality might hold. If his heart was stopped, would he go on living, a walking corpse like Rorroh? What did his resurrection mean for his children? Was there some deeper, darker price to pay for eluding death? He had to find the answers. He also harbored hopes of seeing his dear friend Fibian once more.
He did not say goodbye to his village. He did not say goodbye to his children. Instead he knelt down, touched his head to the earth and thanked Gabriel for making his people again whole. He felt a great sense of love and sorrow burst forth from the gentle giant.
Look after each other, Cyrus said.
Cyrus told only one other creature of his plans to leave, a snow-white spider named Edward. Edward had become a little slower, and his eyes were a little less bright, but he had also grown much wiser. Like the first time Cyrus had told him he was fleeing their island of Virkelot, all those years before, Edward responded to his best friend the only way he knew how.
“Well, I’m coming with you.”
*
Greetings, adventure seeker, from the treacherous, frozen north.
It’s your independent, underdog author here, Jeremy Mathiesen, hoping that you’ve enjoyed Cyrus LongBones and the Battle Hune.
Reviews are how I get the word out and keep this old, dusty typewriter tapping. If you could click here and leave just a couple of words, I would be mightily grateful.
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ABOUT THE SO-CALLED AUTHOR
Greetings, adventure seekers, from the treacherous frozen north.
My name is Jeremy Mathiesen, and I’ve wanted to create stories ever since I was a little kid.
I remember being five years old, watching Indiana Jones in the theater, excited and shaking in my seat. As the giant stone rolled towards Indi, I remember realizing that someone, somewhere had created this movie for people like me, and through it, was playing our emotions like a fiddle. It felt like true magic.
I remember, a few years later, seeing The Return of the Jedi with my dad and brother. It seemed like the story I was experiencing reached far beyond what I could see on screen, like the Star Wars universe had a history and depth greater than real life. I knew that one day when I grew up, I wanted to be involved in that kind of creativity.
I was a terrible student. I was held back in elementary school, and suffered from crippling learning disabilities, but always the desire to create stories stuck with me. My teen years were not my favorite. I barely graduated high school, but I was a decent artist. When I was nineteen, I was accepted into animations school. A year later I was hired by Mainframe Entertainment animating cartoons like Reboot and Transformers. It was a lot of fun, but I still wasn’t doing what I felt I was meant to do. At the age of twenty-three, I had the idea for my Cyrus LongBones series. When I turned twenty-eight, with zero writing ability, and dodgy English grades, I decided I was going to write my first book. I joined the West End Writers Group, and the Western Canadian Children’s Writers Group and I started writing every day, and I haven’t stopped since.
If you love adventure like I do, and would like book one in the series FREE, please visit the link below:
http://www.jeremymathiesen.com/free-ebook/
Otherwise, keep your wits about you, and good luck!
Cyrus LongBones Box Set Page 53
