Free Color Mage (Book 1) by Anne Marie Lutz Page A

was approaching port now, steered by Kin in his stained and fishy tunic. Kirian looked straight ahead, to the clutter of houses on the shore that was SeagardVillage, then up and up, to the castle that looked out like a hawk on the promontory. She wondered how the newly-bound Lord Arias was progressing, and remembered Lord Callo’s amber eyes.
    Behind them, the sun sank hotly to the edge of the sea.
    Out on the far horizon, like a pencil line drawn by an artist to delineate the calm sea, lay a mark between sea and sky.
    “Rashiri! What is that?”
    Rashiri stood and craned her neck, then cried out to her husband in the bow. “Kin! Black Tide!”
    The line grew thicker, as if the artist inked it, a black border lying on the surface of the ocean. Kirian stared as the line widened, broad as a brush now, and felt her breath torn away by a freshening wind, or by fear; she could not tell which.
    Then it seemed to rush toward them, speeding towards the craft as Kin and Rashiri raced to push all possible speed from the Homebound .
    “Gods! We’re in its path!” shouted Kin, and the sheet of black drawn over the ocean sped closer.
    Kin shouted orders, and the wind rushed louder. Kirian, trying to stay out of the way, felt the boat surge forward under their expert handling. But the dock was too far away, and there was no way to beat the accelerating darkness. She gazed in paralyzed shock as the whole western sea turned black. A tumble of stunned and helpless fish was washed along in the front of the blackness, those creatures already experiencing the deadening effects of the Black Tide. The Tide was so close she could see its odd matte surface, which did not reflect the rays of the setting sun.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flare of brilliance from the Castle. Someone there, one of the Alkirani mages, was on duty. A wave of energy swept off the shore and onto the sea—glorious reds, blues, greens, and golds. The colors overtook the Homebound and swept her with radiance before meeting the Black Tide in an inaudible crash. A vibrant shield rose into the sky. Through the translucent colors, Kirian saw the Black Tide curling back, retreating against the strength of the defense.
    “Jashan and all the gods,” whispered Kirian.
    The Homebound reached dock. Helping hands grabbed ropes to moor the boat, and hustled all three of them to shore. They left the Homebound bobbing, at the mercy of the stiffening wind, but not even Kin and Rashiri dared to wait outside to put her properly away.
    “Did you see that?” cried Elder Hame, his white hair whipped in the sudden gale. “Did you see that?”
    “Couldn’t help seeing it, old one. We were almost eaten by it!” Kin said. He sat down abruptly on a stool in the house they had been ushered into. He put his head in his hands. Rashiri stood behind him and placed her calloused hands gently on his shoulders.
    “I take it,” Kirian said carefully, “That doesn’t happen, uh, often?”
    Hame laughed. “Never seen it, though they say it happened once ten years ago. What power! My lord mage was brilliant! That’ll teach those Ha’lasi not to sneak up on us that way!”
    “It was too close,” Rashiri said.
    “I need to go back to Ruthan,” Kirian said. “Kin, Rashiri, you get yourselves home and have a warm mug of wine. That’s from your Healer, now!”
    “We have to tend to the Homebound ,” Kin said.
    “Leave her. Someone else will take care of her for you this time. You’ve had a shock, you know.” Two men nodded at her and went out to take care of the Homebound .
    Rashiri nodded, hands still on Kin’s shoulders as he slumped on the stool. “I’ll get us home, Hon Healer,” she said. “We’re fine though. Get to Ruthan, or she’ll be worried about you.”
    Kirian backed away, her eyes still on Kin, torn between her duty to old Ruthan and the possible need for her here. The door opened and there stood Ruthan, bent with age and the struggle against the wind,