“Holy Perry, you entered the temple, found a basement dungeon, and managed to get four people out! You truly have the power of an elf.”
“How did you and your group escape from Briarton, Master Bradley?”
“The six healers with me are my apprentices from the hospital. I’d heard there was a case of gray bear fever in the nearby village of Sheep Fields. I wanted to show the apprentices that difficult cure. We were about a thousand paces from Briarton when we noticed smoke from a huge fire. As we headed back to town it was obvious that the hospital that was burning. A local resident coming from town warned us of the danger; the knight protectors and king’s soldiers were killing every healer. We fled. I knew that cave from hunting in the area and thought we’d be safe from detection deep underground. We hoped to sneak out for food since we carried only our lunches.”
Michael explained, “The knight protectors have a powerful detect manna spell. If four or more cast it in unison, they can find us within two to four thousand paces. Those rings I gave everyone will prevent that now. With those and the transparency rings, I hope you can avoid both the church and the king’s soldiers.”
“But from your account, only a hand full of us still live.” Tears were in Bradley’s eyes.
“We managed to save all the healers of Snowport, more than forty. High Priest Carson allowed time for all of the local healers to escape although he paid for that kindness by being exiled to the small temple in Swamp Ford. The Snowport healers should be at the safe haven with Guild Master Hampton by now. Still it is less than sixty in total, less than one in fifteen of the guild. I haven’t given up on finding others. I’ll continue searching farther south until I can find no more. We have a refuge where we can slowly rebuild, but I pity the citizens of Glastamear if they have an epidemic this winter. Thousands will die without our aid.”
“Michael I must be too old for this. I have spent my life in study and in healing others; I have no clue as to why King Richard would condemn us all. He must know healers didn’t kill the old King Justin. Even if he is convinced that King Justin’s personal healer was involved, he can’t believe every healer knew of the poisoning. ”
“I can only speculate. I think the new king is a puppet of the church, and the Church of Perry Ascendant wants to control all magic in order to consolidate its power. I think they’ll begin to take all youngsters with healing manna into the church. They will control a new order of healing priests with no healers’ guild to question their actions. Perry’s descendants will control all human magic, and by controlling all healers, they also control who lives and who dies in future epidemics.”
Master Bradley paused and seemed to have a difficult time reaching a decision before saying, “Michael, the guild leaders know more of Perry’s story than just what the church tells us.”
Michael smiled. “The Naiads know the true history; they never lie and live extraordinarily long lives. I have heard their songs. Do you and the other masters know of the red dragon’s curse and of Perry and the village well?”
“Yes, the masters’ circle has always known. That may be another reason the church wants us dead. Learning the true story is a major part of every master’s initiation ritual. It’s such dangerous knowledge that we never mention it outside the initiation. The knight protectors have always killed anyone who mentioned that sacrilege.”
Chapter 27
The final night before Master Bradley and his apprentices were to depart for Black Sand Beach, the whole group gathered around the fire to sing the old songs and tell the old tales. Master Bradley was elderly and his voice was not melodious for singing, but he held everyone spellbound and he recited from memory the oldest epic of all, The Journey of the Elves.
In booming tones, Master Bradley explained that the elves were a restless people. They lived almost forever so that many of them chose to make the millennium long journey between the starts to settle on new planets around different stars. Because the elves alone in this section of the great star cloud had complete knowledge of the book that makes life possible, they could rewrite that book, using their elf-blood as a starting point, to produce life that was exactly suitable for each planet or even each environment on each planet.
The other healers joined the song at the chorus expressing the joy of the elves’ children who had spread among the stars.
After long eons, almost all the stars visible in the night sky were homes for the restless elves or for their children who were exactly suitable to that specific world. The whole star cloud burst with life and the joy of intelligence and creativity.
Master Bradley continued with the creation of life on the planet Home under the star Blue Haven.
When the elves reached Home, they made all the intelligent creatures except for dragons who already called this fertile planet Home. If the indigenous dragons had asked them to move on, they would have traveled to another world because to the elves the first intelligent creature on every world has primacy. So it is today; dragons have primacy to this world, but tolerate the elves and their children because they also grow restless in their incomprehensibly long lives and want to see some change and excitement. So far as any man knows, not a single dragon or elf has died in the twenty-eight century history of elves on Home. But, clearly the introduction of humans has produced change and excitement as humans fought their wars and suffered the fate of brief lives.
The elves have had great joy in all their children on Home. Someday they may move on to another world because their great ship, Little Brother Moon, could travel on forever and take them to new places to see new things and create new children. Through some wonderful form of magic, all the elves in the great star cloud can talk to one another even though the distances are beyond comprehension. They will always know where to go next when the time to depart comes.
On some distant day, they may leave all their children of Home and continue their Great Journey to bring life and the joy the job of intelligence to even more stars.
The final refrain was sung with sadness, and the group grew quiet.
The following morning, Master Bradley and his six apprentices departed for Black Sand Beach, and Michael rode on toward Briarton. He hoped to find a few more healers before going to Hearthshire Town. He would need a stronger disguise before attempting to enter that town where he had studied with William and could be easily recognized. He had never been to Briarton, and Michael Son-of-William, a well-known pearl merchant would work well enough.
Briarton was a large walled city, the second city in population behind the capital Min Hollow. It was prosperous and a major center of agriculture and manufacture. Soldiers searched Michael and his horses as he entered through the Great Northern Gate, but they seemed to be only going through the motions. The local stone most used for construction was a buff limestone, and in Briarton the roofs were commonly covered with an orange slate from the nearby ocher hills. The city seemed to glow with an orange sunset tint.
Michael could detect scores of manna signs from the area of the Great Temple of Perry Ascendant, but they were all from fire mages. The Temple had the second tallest tower in Glastamear, a source of much pride among the locals. Since the temple had been built on the highest hill in town, the Perry Ascendant Tower was visible from almost anywhere in the city. Most people believed it was held up my magic, but Michael had read an old kingdom book that explained that the tower was older than the church of Perry Ascendant and built originally as a monument to Father God by the ancients. They had used iron beams on the interior; it was merely clad in limestone.
As he made his way past the ruins of the greatest hospital in Glastamear, he saw a hundred workmen hauling away the limestone blocks that had formed the outer walls of the once massive building. Either the church or crown had already confiscated the location and was trying to profit from the demolition.
He entered the merchant quarter and found the palatial estate of the local agent of his banker Arthur of Northport; it was easily the largest build
ing in the merchant section of the city. The huge house was four times the size of Arthur’s house in Northport, and Michael had to wonder at the conspicuous show of wealth. Such display was not normally the merchants’ way in Glastamear. Any merchant showing off such wealth might become the target of local clergy or aristocrats.
As he approached the ornately carved wooden main gate of the property, he discovered a queue of about thirty people waiting in the entrance courtyard. He handed his letter of introduction from Arthur of Northport to the hall porter and took a seat in crowded waiting area of the courtyard.
Half an hour later, the majordomo, in a fantastically ornate uniform that must have had enough gold braid to sink a small boat, approached, bowed, and said, “Sir Gregory is sorry to have kept you waiting with the riffraff. He has already received a copy of your letter of credit from Arthur and welcomes you to Briarton. Please come with me.”
The “sir” was the explanation of why the house was so ornate. It indicated that Gregory had strong connections with the crown and would not be easily intimidated by local clergy or aristocrats. He was probably the King’s Agent for the Briarton province, second only to the governor in temporal power. Michael had used the dwarfish spells to make a bag of gold coins to add to his letter of credit. The bag was heavy where if attached to his belt; he would be glad to be rid of it. Ever since he learned to make the coins, money had little interest to him. Like most healers it had never been one of his major motivations.
Sir Gregory was a tall rail-thin man with long jet-black hair and piercing brown eyes. He greeted Michael with a false good humor that almost made Michael cringe. Michael was not certain he wanted to deal with this merchant, but his adopted persona would need to.
After some meaningless pleasantries, Sir Gregory asked what he could do to help.
“I am a pearl and jewelry merchant among other interests, and I don’t like to carry too much coin. My travels have been successful, and I’d like to add this gold to my letter of credit. Also, if you could point out some reputable jewelers, I have excellent pearls for sale.”
Sir Gregory spilled out the coins and counted them. He then amended the letter of credit with a smile. “Thank you Michael, with this deposit, you have one of the largest letters of credit we have outstanding. Perhaps there is something of a long-term investment that I could assist you with. There is some property that has recently become available in the best location in town.”
Michael guessed at which property he meant, but asked, “What do you have in mind. It is certainly a lot more money than I need for my travels and for buying and selling pearls, perhaps buying some of this excellent farm land.”
“I don’t think the time is right for farmland, if we lose a lot of peasants this winter, it will get much cheaper. After the next big epidemic it will be a great buy. No, I’m thinking of a prime eight thousand-square-paces property right in the heart of town near the Great North Gate. It will be perfect for building a neighborhood of manor houses for local aristocrats. Their numbers are expanding, and there’s no room in their current quarter. This property is right next to the gentries’ current neighborhood.”
Michael was skeptical. “I walked by the hospital site as I entered town. Would you act as the agent for the seller or for me?”
“In this case I have been asked to sell the land by the crown, but of course, I’ll look after your interests as if they were my own.”
Michael smiled at the silly lie, but he did consider that it might be worth owning the property in case there was ever an opportunity to rebuild the hospital.
“Sir Gregory, is there a question about a clear title to this land?”
Gregory frowned. “If necessary, I can get a proclamation signed by the King attesting to the transfer of ownership. I thinks the property would sell for about three thousand crowns, you have plenty for a fifty percent down payment already.”
“I think a ruin like that is more likely to sell for fifteen hundred crowns or less, but I will need to investigate things before I commit to a sale. I am interested.”
Sir Gregory provided the names of several jewelers he could recommend and the name of the best quality inn in the merchant quarter. The first jeweler Michael visited was interested in four perfect pearls for the new staff of the High Priest of Briarton. Michael bargained hard and insisted that he need to check with other jewelers before giving up that much of his finest quality merchandise. After half an hour, they settled on a price. Michael also sold pearls to the two other jewelers that Gregory recommended.
Briarton was a wealthy city with a substantial local aristocracy who liked ornamentation. Michael’s whole pearl inventory was gone before he went to the merchant’s quarter’s finest inn, The Unicorn Steed. He chose a suite of rooms with a private bath, private dining room, a sitting room, and a bedroom. It was the most lavish accommodations he had ever seen in an inn, but he wanted to keep up the appearance of the son of a wealthy merchant who might buy expensive land on speculation.
He went down to the common room to mingle with other merchants. He never asked a direct question, but before returning to his rooms, he knew the fate of most of the healers of Briarton and the complication that might make the purchase of the hospital site difficult.
One of the local merchants explained, “The knight protectors in Briarton attacked without warning, and in that first attack they set the interior of Great Hospital on fire. Most people think the fire was an accident. However, the knight protectors and several hundred soldiers killed everyone who exited the burning building, healers and patients alike. The fire burned for two days; when it was finally out, Sir Gregory took charge of the site and began selling the limestone building blocks in the name of the King. That same day, the High Priest of Briarton said publicly that the church needed that location for future growth; it was to be the site of a school for priests who were also trained healers.”
“So clear title would be difficult?” Michael asked.
Another merchant added, “Whoever buys that land will have either the church or the crown as an enemy. I wouldn’t pay a hundred coppers for it with that risk involved.”
A third merchant overheard the conversation and said, “If it sells, it will be to some fool from out of town who does know which way to face when he mounts a horse or pleasures a woman.”
Michael commented, “That hospital was the largest in Glastamear, surely some of the healers must have gotten out.”
The three merchants at his table exchanged glances. There was a long pause until one spoke. “The workmen removing the stones found many fewer bodies than expected. They also found an ancient passageway that seems to lead under the wall, but the fire collapsed the passage and they haven’t bothered to clear it yet.”
The three men smiled; it was obvious to Michael that they wanted the story of healers escaping to be true.
“Even if a few escaped, where would they go? I’ve been to Northport and Snowport recently, and they are certainly not safe for healers.” Michael didn’t really expect an answer, but he got one.
“The Fay Woods are only a three days journey northeast from here. If I were a healer, I’d head there. The Fairy Folk would never let any member of the Church of Perry Ascendant into their territory. They are sometimes nice to common folk, but they hate knight protectors and most priests. They might turn any priest into a frog or worse.”
After three hours in the common room, Michael had a sumptuous meal in the private dinning room of his suite. He spent the next two hours making gold dust appear from the nearby soil and forming it into coins. He had decided to see Sir Gregory in the morning with an offer on the hospital property.
Chapter 28
At his meeting with Sir Gregory the following morning Michael said, “I will buy the hospital property for 1,500 crowns strictly on speculation if three conditions are met.”
Sir Gregory tried to hide his grin with his hand, but he was too slow. Michael was sure the offer was more than he expected to get
.
“Your offer seems rather low. What are your conditions Michael?”
“I will only buy the property at this exorbitant price if the sale is attested to by both the King and the High Priest of Briarton. In addition, I want the removal and sale of limestone blocks to stop immediately. I will post guards to make sure whatever valuable remains of the hospital will stay on the site. I may need all that hospital stone for future building. The talk among local merchants is that no one but some out-of-town fool who doesn’t know which end of a horse to face would be interested in that location.”
Michael continued, “I realize that getting the endorsement of the High Priest is difficult.” Michael placed a bag with two hundred gold crowns on the table. “This cash might encourage the High Priest to show reason. Any money you don’t need for him is yours to keep. This offer is on the table today only. If we don’t do this deal, I will be moving on to Hearthshire Province tomorrow.”
Sir Gregory eyed the bag of coins unable to conceal his greed. He was certainly trying to figure out how he could part with a few as possible to the High Priest. Of course, he would also receive a commission as the King’s agent in the sale.
Michael wanted to stop the stone removal because he didn’t want the tunnel leading beneath the city wall cleared. A cleared tunnel might make it obvious that many healers had the opportunity to escape as the hospital burned, thereby causing a renewed search. If the escaped healers were hiding in the Fay Woods, he wanted the best chance possible for getting them to Black Sand Beach and then moving them on to the Village of Rock Point. Since he could make gold coins whenever he needed them, the chance of improving the escape odds seemed well worth the bribe plus the purchase price.
The Pogrom of Mages: The Healers of Glastamear: Volume One Page 12
