Free Mage Hunter Omnibus (Complete 5 Book Series) by Ty Johnston

love for the church. It was generally believed there were not many magic users within the lands of Ursia, but it was also not unheard of for some minor mage to be hidden away somewhere, much like Tack’s former master. Also, foreign wizards and witches sometimes snooped their way into Ursia for one reason or other, their fate sealed if discovered. The church’s influence spread far, thousands of miles in all directions, and it was not unheard of for those using magic to be pulled from beyond the borders to suffer at the hands of Ursians. This, Guthrie realized, was one of the chief complaints of the Dartague. For decades the Ashalic church had been reaching into Dartague, seeking converts and finding some few, and every now and then taking away one of the skalds or weird women. The fate of such captured individuals was certain. If not actually captured by members of the Order of the Gauntlet themselves, the users of magic would be slain or be turned over directly to the Order. Some few mages received life imprisonment, these usually only students such as poor Tack, but most faced death.
    “I sense not Dartague involvement here,” Guthrie finally said. “It just doesn’t feel like something in which they would be involved.”
    “ I agree,” Werner said. “Dartague would ride up in a large group. Only if they couldn’t batter their way in would they turn to magic.”
    “ But where has this wizard gone?” Guthrie asked.
    “ Good question.” Werner turned to face one of his men still on horseback. “Towlin, I want you and Hammer riding at a mile perimeter around us. Any sign of anything , you get back here on the double. Understand?”
    “ Yes, sir!” The man called Towlin slapped another fellow on the shoulder and soon they were galloping off from their comrades and the church’s remains.
    They did not go far.
    “Captain!” Towlin shouted out less than fifty yards away.
    Every head turned toward the shouting rider and his companion.
    “What is it, Towlin?” Werner hollered out.
    The rider pointed, as did Hammer at his side.
    The captain’s gaze followed the fingers, as did the eyes of the sergeant and the rest of the men.
    Far away on the horizon there was movement beneath the shadows of the mountains. It must have been at least a mile away, perhaps a little further.
    “Anyone make it out?” Werner called.
    There were several shakes of the head, then Towlin piped up. “I think it’s a solitary person, captain. Can’t tell if they’re on horseback or not.”
    “Think it’s our wizard?” Guthrie asked at the captain’s side. The sergeant could tell little with the distance, but for a moment he thought he had seen a sheen of light about the distant figure. If so, did that mean the person ahead was a user of magic?
    “ Only one way to find out.” Werner pulled himself back in his saddle. Guthrie did the same on his own steed.
    “ Perhaps you should remain here,” Guthrie suggested to the captain.
    Werner glared at the man.
    The sergeant lifted a hand as if to ward off any hard feelings. “Near as I can tell, you’re the only leader these men really have. I wouldn’t want to think of what happens to the militia here if something should happen to you.”
    Werner’s stern gaze softened and he glanced to the ground in shame at his attitude of a moment earlier. “I suppose you are right.”
    “I’ll ride out with Towlin and Hammer, if it pleases you,” Guthrie said.
    “ Aye, very well.” Werner slapped the sergeant on the back. “You return, though. I’ll need you in the coming days.”
    Guthrie nodded, then spurred his horse forward. The animal carried him ahead of the main pack to where Towlin and Hammer stood in their stirrups trying to get a better view along the horizon.
    “Can you tell anything yet?” the sergeant asked as he rode up.
    “ Not yet,” Towlin said, easing back down in his saddle.
    Guthrie gestured toward their distant target. “I’ll ride point. You two flank me,