Read The Pogrom of Mages: The Healers of Glastamear: Volume One for Free Online

is over. You already have almost everything it will take to end the power of the silly Perry Ascendant religion. Over the next few weeks, we’ll teach you many more water magic spells including quench fire manna . You’ll be able to suppress all fire magic within a thousand paces or so, maybe even farther with your huge manna level. You’ll learn float that will let you walk on water but also even walk on rain or fog. On a rainy or foggy day, you could walk to the highest tower of the Great Mother Temple of Min Hollow. You can already hide your own manna and make yourself invisible. By the time you leave us you’ll be ready to really shake things up.”
    Although Michael was skeptical, it couldn’t hurt to spend a few weeks learning every skill the naiads were willing to teach him, but there was something he hoped to do before beginning his studies.
    “I would be honored to study under the great shaman of the Black Sand Pod, but there is something I must do before I begin. Last night I detected the manna of four fleeing healers. I think they were sailing toward Mitchell Island. This morning I saw a schooner with the manna of six knight protectors who seemed to be in pursuit. I must at least try and save my guild brothers. I must find the fastest possible way to follow.”
    “I can get you there before the knights catch the healers, and I’ll teach you some important spells along the way.”
    Obert led Michael about fifty yards inland from the beach where a metal barge about ten paces by five paces with one end shaped like the prow of a boat. Although it had no mast, tiller, or obvious means of propulsion, there was a chain harness arrangement at the front.”
    “We’ll need some protection from the sun, a barrel of fresh water, and some human food. I’ll ask Arianna to organize that while I teach you the first spell you’ll need, quench fire manna . Once you cast it no fire mage within the sound of your voice will be able to perform fire magic for the next day or two.”
    “I take it you have some manner of propelling this barge fast enough to beat a schooner with her full sails set and a six-hour head start.”
    Obert looked at the heavy ungainly barge and nodded. “We sometime use this to haul stuff, but there are faster and more powerful swimmers in the sea than naiads. We’ll use a pod of narwhales who are good friends to the naiads. They can take turns in pairs pulling her and get us to Mitchell Island, probably even before your guild brothers arrive. You’ll be there tomorrow about noon.”
    Six naiads pulled the loaded barge through the protective reef until the more powerful narwhales took over. The gray-body whales were about twenty feet long with a twisted ivory tusk extending two feet beyond the nose of each of the males. Two of the streamlined creatures swam into the harness and began to tow the barge. Once they reached their cruising speed, the wind blew through the barge faster than a fast horse at full gallop. Obert and Michael sat under the protection of a jury-rigged cabin, while Obert began to teach the spells Michael would need to help his guild brothers.

Chapter 9
     
    As dawn broke purple through the eastern clouds, it cast silver highlights on a calm sea. Squalls were visible ahead, and Michael wondered how the shallow-drafted barge would behave in high seas. Unlike Obert, he could barely swim and had never been at sea; even these gentle waves were making him slightly nauseous.
    When Michael recast the manna detection spell, he realized that they had passed the fire mages during the night and that they were now close to the sloop carrying the healers. He pointed out its single sail on the horizon to Obert who passed the instructions to the narwhales. The barge changed angle and sped up to close the distance, and within an hour, they were approaching the small single-masted craft whose headsail carried her rapidly towards Mitchell Island, now visible as a blue line in the distance just