Meical didn’t leave until the next morning. He spent the night with me, and we talked all night. Even my Mother didn’t have the heart to stop us. And I noticed Father listening several times.
“You realize, don’t you” Meical said to me as we sat staring out the back flap at the dawn, “the gift you have given me?”
Seeing my blank look, he continued, “I suppose you don’t. You have learned much about us, but not this.”
“Among the Elves, learning is important, very important. But most of us have to do our learning second hand, from afar. You, and your family, have given me the gift of bringing me into your home, into your family. So now I know things about Dwarves that I could not have learned from others. I don’t just know about you, I know you.”
I knew I couldn’t understand, not really understand, what he meant, but--
“Perhaps it is something like what Seamus did for me, all unknowing," I said. "But don’t worry, you have given to me as well. Think of the stories I will be able to tell my children of their 'uncle', the Elf.”
“As well as their uncle the Horseman,” he said.
“… and their 'uncle' the Fisherboy…”
“Someday I would like to meet Seamus,” he said.
“I would like that,” I said.
“I have to go now.”
“I know. Goodbye. I will write to you. Send your address to the fortress postmaster for me.”
“That will be good. My learning can continue.”
“…and our friendship,” I said.
I could see by his face that was hard for him to hear. Elves do not easily discuss such things. “And our friendship,” he repeated.
I had lost so many friends now, some to great distances. But we were about to get a new home.
—
Island People
Island People is a young adult fantasy book centring on a young prince. The book starts with his kidnapping and follows his adventures as he not only escapes from his kidnapper but gains critical allies and friends.
The entire book is scheduled on Substack, and there are several sequels. This is a book I wrote years ago, so it is in a bit of a rough form. Critiques and comments are more than welcome, they are requested.
Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!
Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.
If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!
If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.
Von also writes as ‘Arthur Yeomans’. Under that name he writes children’s, YA, and adult fiction from a Christian perspective. His books are published by Wise Path Books and include the children’s/YA books:
The Bobtails meet the Preacher’s Kid
and
As well as GK Chesterton’s wonderful book, “What’s Wrong with the World”, for which ‘Arthur’ wrote most of the annotations.
Arthur also has a substack, and a website. On the substack you can listen to some of his published books. Free.
Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Other Stories
Island People’s is not my only story on Substack. I have two light dystopias, or cultural sci-fi, or one of them is military sci-fi with aliens… Science Fiction can be difficult to categorise :)
Contract Marriage Intro
And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Article 17: Intro
She was pretty, popular, snobby, and a planetary governor’s daughter. He was the son of shopkeepers, a social misfit, and a decorated hero. She thought she was there to dance. He had other ideas.
And a fantasy-esque series of morality tales:
