Magic Man

The towering man Cyrus had knocked unconscious went by Jarl. He spoke with a distinctive accent, entirely different from Miranda, the woman who oversaw the rear of the caravan.

Jarl was a hired guard hailing from a chain of islands thousands of miles away, where the plains gave way to a vast expanse of ocean. The concept of that much water was entirely foreign to Cyrus, as no one he had ever met had mentioned such a place.

Jarl's skin was as black as night, a stark contrast to Cyrus's golden-brown complexion. Though Cyrus was darker than many from his village, Jarl's appearance was unlike anything he had ever encountered.

The man stood twice as tall as Cyrus, and his arms were thicker than Cyrus's legs. However, it was Jarl's radiant smile that captivated everyone's attention. When he grinned, his size seemed to fade into the background as onlookers couldn't help but share his contagious happiness.

The initial tension between them eased when Jarl awoke from his brief unconsciousness. Rubbing his jaw and beaming his infectious smile, he shook Cyrus's hand, signaling the beginning of an unexpected friendship.

Miranda, on the other hand, proved more challenging. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with pale skin and black hair, she looked like something out of a dream but remained aloof when it came to speaking with anyone in the caravan.

It wasn't just Cyrus, although he seemed to be the only one that hadn't given up trying to have a discussion with her.

When he was in her presence, he would politely try and start a conversation, he would say something like, "Greetings Miss, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to accompany your caravan." To which she would simply ignore him and walk away.

He even used his Foresight to try different approaches, he tried being humble, being direct; he even tried being mean when he once looked at her and said she smelled worse than the horses. He always got the same silence.

Jarl told him that this is simply the way she is. He and Jarl continuously walked around the back third of the caravan, Mirandas section.

"She does not speak with 'the help.' Supposedly, she was royalty in a faraway place but here she is simply the woman in charge of the rear of the caravan. I don't know if she wished for this or not, but that is the way it is."

Cyrus smiled, "I will get her to speak to me, I would bet on it."

Jarl laughed at the little man in the wolf pelt, "You think that you have some sort of magic that gives you power over women? I have seen much magic; you are not a magic man. Although, you did best me, so you can not be underestimated. Still, what are your terms for this wager?"

Cyrus considered for a moment, "Give me one month to be invited into Mirandas tent. When I win, you must help me find the Sauran village so that I can save my people."

Jarl's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of the Sauran, "You wish an audience with the lizards that walk like men. This is a strong wish for one so small. And when you lose the wager, what will Jarl get?"

Cyrus stopped walking and turned to Jarl, "What is it that your people find valuable? Is there a particular stone that would remind you of home and be of value?"

Jarl closed his eyes as if fading into memory as he spoke, "There is a green stone that shines like the waters of my island, it is known as emerald and we consider it a very rare and valuable stone."

Cyrus mentally called upon Queen, "Do you know of this emerald that Jarl speaks of my queen?"

Queen responds, "Greetings user Cyrus, Yes, would you like for me to give you a lesson over the emerald gemstone?"

Cyrus had spoken out loud to Queen so often that he had a physical problem speaking to her only using his mind, "Yes, please do." He managed to not say anything vocally, but he did find himself shaking his head to the affirmative as he thought it.

Jarl was confused as to what was going on, he could see Cyrus concentrating as he stared off into space. Then Cyrus kind of tilted his head as if he were listening to something.

Jarl began to ask him what was wrong but as soon as the thought crossed his mind Cyrus held up a finger as if to ask him to wait just a moment.

An image of the green stone and its crystalline structure came flooding into Cyrus's mind.

Visions of minerals and elements, Queen even instructed him in the basics of gem stone cutting and polishing. He didn't understand it all, but he caught enough to do what he needed.

Cyrus opened his eyes and bent down to pick up the nearest rock. Jarl looked on in curiosity over the strange little man. He took the rock in both his hands and covered them so nothing could be seen.

He activated his Minor Creation ability and could feel the sand sifting on his palm, the nanoparticles shifting to form the material that he had inside his mind. The process did not take him as long as he thought it would.

When he opened his hands Jarls eyes were huge and his jaw dropped open.

"You are a magic man!" He exclaimed as he picked the perfectly cut large emerald stone out of Cyrus's hand. "This would make me a very rich man on my island."

Cyrus continued to leave his hand open until Jarl realized that he had not won the bet yet and, with a sigh, placed the stone back in its owners hand. Then he met Cyrus's gaze and said, "We have a bet magic man."

"One more thing Jarl," Cyrus said before they started walking again, "I have something that I need your help with."

"Considering that, according to my old boss, you are now my new boss, I will do as you ask." Jarl said with a large shrug.

Cyrus looked up at the big man, a smile slowly spread across his face, "I need you to teach me how to fight."

Jarl stood up as straight as he could and looked down at his small friend and rubbed his still aching jaw, "You do not know how to fight?"

Cyrus continued smiling at the big man and even let out a slight giggle as he shook his head to the negative.

Jarl slowly nodded his head in agreement, "You have a very nice smile magic man. For now, you have a very nice smile."