The Pogrom of Mages: The Healers of Glastamear: Volume One by Charles Williamson Read Free Book Online Page A

lined the harbor. A large market building stood next to the largest pier.
    The three streets behind the commercial area grew up the side of the hill. They were lined with one or two story houses. The houses were all made with the same gray-black basalt as the towers at the harbor entrances, and most looked like they had been in place since time began. Moss grew on the slate roofs and carefully tended gardens with mature pecan, almond, plum, apple, or pear trees grew in small vegetable plots in front of each home. Flower boxes were at almost every home’s windows filled with pansies and other cold weather flowers.
    Unlike every other town in Glastamear, there were no walls. There was no way to attack Rock Point from land, and since a chain could be drawn across the harbor entrance, there was almost no way to attack by sea. Michael thought it was the most charming and safest looking town he’d ever seen.
    “What are those walls above town?” Michael pointed up the side of Great White.
    “They’re more terraces for growing grapes, oats, and other crops. The mountainside is too steep to hold soil without those walls. We grow everything we need. We trade for metal items, ceramics, and luxuries, but we have sheep and goats and everything else we need for food and clothes.”
    Someone ashore spotted Diana and started to yell hello. Little boys went running all over town to pass the word, and soon a crowd that seemed to be every person who lived in Rock Point was gathered on shore waving excitedly. Standing in front was a portly man who was dressed in a fine white fur robe with the gold chain of a mayor around his neck; next to him was a beautiful middle-aged woman who could only be Diana’s mother. They waved and shouted.
    “You father’s the mayor?”
    “Really he’s a fisherman, but when they found I had some manna and was going to learn to be a healer, the town selected him as mayor. He’s a dear sweet man who everyone loves, and I’m glad he doesn’t have to go to sea anymore.”
    The welcome was warm. Everyone seemed glad to shelter the guild master and other healers, but the real star of the evening was Obert. The naiads were greatly loved and respected by fishermen all over Glastamear, and every man wanted to touch Obert for good fortune.
    Even though the captain was anxious to sail with the evening tide, the mayor persuaded him to wait until morning so that he could join everyone in a feast of thanksgiving for Diana’s return. The celebration was also a welcome to the guild master and other healers. The captain and crew joined in the street festival. Every home moved its dining table to the street in front of their houses and filled it with food and drink. The whole town wandered the streets sampling each home’s fare. Michael had never tasted better lobster or crab, and he decided that the town’s food was astonishingly good. There was an occasional mutton stew, but everything else was from the local harvest or from the sea. There was no wine, but fine ale and hard apple cider were plentiful.
    It was near midnight when Michael reluctantly said goodbye to Diana, promising to return to Rock Point as soon as possible. He was too bashful to try a kiss, but Diana made sure he didn’t depart without exchanging their first kiss. Again they both felt the closeness they had when holding hands on the ship. It was important to both of them.
    He was sad to leave as he walked back to the sloop with Obert, but there were things that only he could do. He must save every healer he could.

Chapter 11
     
    Michael didn’t sleep well. He had delightful dreams of Diana and nightmares of fire shooting knight protectors. He knew what he must do, but it would be so much easier to stay in Rock Point with his sweet Diana.
    Before dawn he dressed warmly and walked along the path to the closer of the two towers that guarded the harbor entrance. It was a freezing walk along the top of the natural seawall because a stiff wind blew