Sarah took Cyrus in herarms.
“Thank you,” she said,tears welling in her big, grey eyes, “forcoming back.”
Cyrus held her close.
“You came back first,”he said.
He looked into the distance,over Sarah’s shoulder. His gaze fell upon Rorroh’sremains. This was truly over. They had won.
Through red, bleary eyeshe saw what looked like greenish grey vapors rise from the hole in Rorroh’s skull. The apparition drifted into the air in athin thread of swampy smoke. The face of an impossibly beautiful woman formed withinthe gaseous haze. The angel stared at Cyrus with a look of coy amusement. Then the fog twisted and the vision becamea rotting, haggard demon’s grin. Cyrus blinked and shook his head. The illusionthinned, then vanished into the trees.
Chapter37
THE FINAL ENDING
SLOWLY, cautiously, the villagersbegan to scour the island for any remaining invaders. They found only the dead.The witch’s black birds had devoured the entire blodbad brood, the water klopshad been wiped out by either ally or foe, and Gabriel sensed that all aboardthe head fortress had suffered similar fates.
They searchedthe shores for signs of the enemy fleet. Several foundering attack ships stillburned along the hune’s port side, but the undamaged vessels were nowhere to beseen. Rorroh’s defeated minions had fled back to whatever dismal waters they inhabitedto prey upon the vulnerable that crossed their paths.
The alvesbegan to burn the dead, and dismantle the hune’s fortifications. Then they startedto use the salvaged metal and lumber to help build their new village. The cannonsand weapons were stripped and entombed within a steel armory. The villagers continuedto heal Gabriel’s lands, as the hune set a course for warmer waters. Slowly, Gabriel’schildren began to grow strong.
It wasnever discussed, or even mentioned aloud, but soon Cyrus became the village leader.The alves still harbored their lingering resentments and prejudices, but hesitantlythey began to ask his advice and follow his suggestions. Cyrus took counsel withonly 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, Cyrusand 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 alvelingsborn 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 sometimesseen working a farm or buying seed, but they always kept to themselves and nevertook part in village affairs.
Llysa LongBonesand Mayor Hoblkalf were ostracized by the villagers. This too was never discussed, and Cyrusdid not encourage such behavior, but the alves beganto believe that their tongues were toxic and if indulged, might return their peopleto the dreary decay of their dismal past.
Cyrus’ stepmother left thevillage first, no longer able to suffer the shame and humiliation of her stepson’ssuccess. Hoblkalf soon followed, finding the alves’ prosperity under new leadership unbearable. The two fled to the shores of thehead island, building what shelters they could manage. They lived out their finaldays, bitter and black-hearted, and always avoided each other’s company.
For many years Cyrus, Edward,and Fibian remained best friends, living amongst thevillagers and traveling the seas in peace and prosperity. At times they wouldspot one of Rorroh’s forsaken minions haunting a secludedshoreline. Always the creature would retreat in terror, but the knowledge that otherscould still be suffering under remnants of the Warrior Witch’s cruel empire satlike a bitter pit in Cyrus’ stomach.
It seemed that the remainingvillains weighed most heavily on Fibian’s two hearts, for early one morning he toldCyrus and Edward that he would be leaving their quiet shores. His work amongstthe alvelings was complete. Others needed him now. Itpained Cyrus to see his dear friend go, but he understood. Fibianwas not born to sow and seed. He was a froskman, bredto hunt and kill. As long as evil lurked in the world, he would never be at peace.
Years passed. Bent and intolerantelders died, and their tall, thoughtful heirs took their places. Sarah too grewold, but not Cyrus. Their four beautiful children rose to adulthood, but then they also seemed to age nomore. This troubled Cyrus, but he and Sarah never spoke of such matters.
Cyrus loved and cared forSarah until the day she died. The villagers too deeply mourned her loss. All weptheavily 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, Cyrusknew he could no longer live alongside thealves. They began to see him as something strange, notof their world. Tales of his exploits became legend,and legend became myth. His deeds weretold around campfires to inspire the young. Their devotion grew to worship, and their worship became like sweet, tempting poisonto Cyrus’ soul.
The day finally came forCyrus to leave. He still did not know what Rorroh hadtruly 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? Whatdid his resurrection mean for his children? Was there some deeper, darker priceto 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 goodbyeto his children. Instead he knelt down,touched his head to the earth and thankedGabriel for making his people again whole. He felt a great sense of love and sorrowburst forth from the gentle giant.
Lookafter each other, Cyrussaid.
Cyrus told only one othercreature of his plans to leave, a snow-white spider named Edward. Edward had becomea little slower, and his eyes were a little less bright, but he had also grownmuch wiser. Like the first time Cyrus had told him he was fleeing their islandof Virkelot, all those years before, Edward respondedto 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
