Free The Pogrom of Mages: The Healers of Glastamear: Volume One by Charles Williamson Page B

badly beaten that their faces were swollen, their noses broken, and their eyes black. They looked too dazed to understand what was happening. Whip marks and burns covered their bare chests and backs. The fourth man also had his hands manacled behind his back, but he wore a priest’s robe and showed no signs of torture. Only the priest showed the manna of a fire mage; the other three had no sign of manna, at least they were not brother healers.
    A herald stepped forward, blew his bugle for silence and read from a scroll. “Know all ye present that these four men are guilty of treason against Glastamear. The king has decreed that anyone assisting the conspirators who murdered his dear uncle shall meet the Death of Six Days. So let it be recorded so let it be done.”
    Michael didn’t know what the Death of Six Days meant, but from the gasps of the crowd it was clear that they did. Two men were seated on the top steps of the temple, the high priest of Northport and Lord North himself, the governor of the whole province who reported directly to King Richard.
    Lord North was an elderly man, stooped and white-haired. Two pages assisted him in standing. He spoke with a strong voice projecting authority in spite of his advanced years. “Through the intersession of the Holy Church of Perry Ascendant and at the direct request of the High Priest of Northport, I commute these sentences to a lenient death by the headsman. These men have confessed to assisting in the escape of four of the conspirators who murdered our king by sleeping while on guard. Know ye citizens of Northport that any man who gives the conspirators aid of any kind, be it even a glass of water, will suffer the full penalty directed by his royal highness, King Richard the Twenty-Seventh. May Perry have mercy on their souls.”
    It was only then that Michael realized with horror that three of the men were the guards he had put to sleep with the anesthesia release spell. The priest was probably their supervisor, and Michael wondered if the fire mage book in his pack belonged to this priest. Certainly, losing the ancient manuscript would be a serious matter. He quietly left the square before the executions began. His hands were shaking and his breath was forced.
    Michael entered the warehouse and took Lady Agnes aside to speak with her in private. He explained what had happened in Temple Square.
    “Michael, you didn’t murder these guards; you can’t hold that guilt in your heart. It will destroy you.”
    Lady Agnes continued, “Far older than the religion of Perry is the First Truth of Father God. Father God taught that suicides and murders would never be reincarnated. You did not commit murder when you put the guards to sleep, and you should not lose your soul to suicide. You should never use heart stop if there is any other choice. Only members of the High Council of the guild should know it. There are secrets that we are willing to lose our souls to keep.”
    “Secrets like Perry being pushed in a well rather than ascending?” Michael asked.
    Lady Agnes gasped. “Never ever say anything like that again! How could you know such things? They are never written, only passed on as part of the training for the High Council.”
    “The naiads know the full story better than any human. They taught me some of their songs.”
    “It is not suicide to resist with your weapons, be they sword or magic. To die that way is no suicide. To use heart stop is. That is my final word.”
    Michael changed the subject. “What of my friend Jim? Tell me truly, will he ever heal completely.”
    “He’s in a bad way; worse than I’ve admitted. Before he even reached Northport he was racked. That separated his joints and strained his cartilage to near breaking in many places. That will take months to heal. You probably already know he will have no children, but I can treat him with hormones so his body will appear normal. The burns are healing nicely, but the worst risk is from