The Pogrom of Mages: The Healers of Glastamear: Volume One by Charles Williamson Page B
Authors: Charles Williamson
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Michael visited the first of the jewel dealers that the innkeeper had mentioned, Arthur of Stone Lane. Arthur was both a jewel merchant and part of the largest banking syndicate in Glastamear, a useful man to know. Michael immediately liked the merchant’s warm and welcoming personality.
“My father explained that you had the finest reputation in Northport for honest dealing. I’ve come here after a trading trip to Black Sand Beach where I bartered with Obert the naiad’s chief shaman.” Michael withdrew one of the perfect pearls he had selected from the great chest.
The merchant looked at it through his glass and made somewhat disparaging sounds. “It seems not quite true round,” he said.
Michael smiled. “We both know it perfect and I have others. If we’re to do business, give me your best offer now. I plan to also see Roderick, and Homer and get their offers also.” Michael opened the pouch, which contained the other pearls and gave Arthur a quick glance. “There will be more business for the best bidder.”
Arthur replied, “I will give you four gold and three silver. If you get a better offer, I’ll be surprised, but come back and I can probably beat it.”
“So clearly four and three is not your best offer.”
Arthur at first looked annoyed, but then he smiled and said, “Ok maybe I could pay four and ten, but that’s only because of a chance for more business, and because I was once a young merchant who traveled Glastamear as you do. You know the value of your merchandise, and I respect that.”
By the end of the day Michael had sold twelve of his pearls and had a purse heavy with gold and silver. That afternoon, he went back to Arthur of Stone Lane and asked him to be his banker. He deposited fifty gold coins for a letter of credit that would be honored at any major town in Glastamear. Michael had never owned more than a single gold coin at a time, and he was worried about carrying so much that he might attract a whole band of thieves.
It was late afternoon when he went to Temple Square. Tears flowed as he saw the flaying rack, crusted with blood, and the metal post where his guild mates were burned. Four sets of manacles were welded to the top of the eight-foot iron pole so that four healers could be killed at once.
A passing carter saw his tears and walked over to him. “I pray to Perry that there’s no epidemic this winter. No one is left to help us. Did you know one of them?”
Michael couldn’t speak; he nodded yes.
“Sorry mate. There were some good people killed here, four and eighty burned I heard. I only saw one. I couldn’t stomach coming again. By the end, the square was empty except for priests. Not a soul in Northport wanted to see it again.”
Michael sat on a bench in the empty square and watched the movement of the manna of the fire mages inside the temple. After half an hour, he knew how to get to the lower levels and where the guards with manna were stationed. He had a plan, but it wasn’t foolproof because he couldn’t silence the sound of his breathing or movement. He thought it would be enough. He could get in using transparency . He also knew the spell to open any lock. The difficult part would be getting four people out alive.
Chapter 13
Michael bought some things to use that night in his risky attempt to free the four healers trapped below the temple. Northport had been a major center of training for healers and contained the second largest healer-operated hospitals in Glastamear yet he could detect only four healers in a city that would have once held at least four score and twelve.
He shopped in the local market and bought a canvas knapsack and a rope ladder. He purchased a fine but gaudy knife such as a wealthy merchant might carry; and at another stand be bought four simple but serviceable knives of excellent steel for the healers he hoped to free. He also purchased enough bread, vegetables, apples, almond cakes, and salted fish for three days for
“My father explained that you had the finest reputation in Northport for honest dealing. I’ve come here after a trading trip to Black Sand Beach where I bartered with Obert the naiad’s chief shaman.” Michael withdrew one of the perfect pearls he had selected from the great chest.
The merchant looked at it through his glass and made somewhat disparaging sounds. “It seems not quite true round,” he said.
Michael smiled. “We both know it perfect and I have others. If we’re to do business, give me your best offer now. I plan to also see Roderick, and Homer and get their offers also.” Michael opened the pouch, which contained the other pearls and gave Arthur a quick glance. “There will be more business for the best bidder.”
Arthur replied, “I will give you four gold and three silver. If you get a better offer, I’ll be surprised, but come back and I can probably beat it.”
“So clearly four and three is not your best offer.”
Arthur at first looked annoyed, but then he smiled and said, “Ok maybe I could pay four and ten, but that’s only because of a chance for more business, and because I was once a young merchant who traveled Glastamear as you do. You know the value of your merchandise, and I respect that.”
By the end of the day Michael had sold twelve of his pearls and had a purse heavy with gold and silver. That afternoon, he went back to Arthur of Stone Lane and asked him to be his banker. He deposited fifty gold coins for a letter of credit that would be honored at any major town in Glastamear. Michael had never owned more than a single gold coin at a time, and he was worried about carrying so much that he might attract a whole band of thieves.
It was late afternoon when he went to Temple Square. Tears flowed as he saw the flaying rack, crusted with blood, and the metal post where his guild mates were burned. Four sets of manacles were welded to the top of the eight-foot iron pole so that four healers could be killed at once.
A passing carter saw his tears and walked over to him. “I pray to Perry that there’s no epidemic this winter. No one is left to help us. Did you know one of them?”
Michael couldn’t speak; he nodded yes.
“Sorry mate. There were some good people killed here, four and eighty burned I heard. I only saw one. I couldn’t stomach coming again. By the end, the square was empty except for priests. Not a soul in Northport wanted to see it again.”
Michael sat on a bench in the empty square and watched the movement of the manna of the fire mages inside the temple. After half an hour, he knew how to get to the lower levels and where the guards with manna were stationed. He had a plan, but it wasn’t foolproof because he couldn’t silence the sound of his breathing or movement. He thought it would be enough. He could get in using transparency . He also knew the spell to open any lock. The difficult part would be getting four people out alive.
Chapter 13
Michael bought some things to use that night in his risky attempt to free the four healers trapped below the temple. Northport had been a major center of training for healers and contained the second largest healer-operated hospitals in Glastamear yet he could detect only four healers in a city that would have once held at least four score and twelve.
He shopped in the local market and bought a canvas knapsack and a rope ladder. He purchased a fine but gaudy knife such as a wealthy merchant might carry; and at another stand be bought four simple but serviceable knives of excellent steel for the healers he hoped to free. He also purchased enough bread, vegetables, apples, almond cakes, and salted fish for three days for
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