It seemed so simple, cross a train yard, hop a train and Todd and Nick would be free, on their way home to Elk's Ridge in Yellowknife. Nothing is ever simple or easy for the Ruger men, however. Captured by Vice-Chancellor Raleigh, Todd is imprisoned, leaving Nick alone and seeking a way to free his mate. Help comes from an unlikely and unexpected ally. Todd's freedom places the Rugers yet again into the Chancellor's debt. He sends them on a fact finding mission to the small village of Eldrid, the same village where Nick was raised a slave.<br><br>There they discover how past events led to their present society, the origins of sentries and slaves and what made some of them so special. They also uncover a conspiracy spear-headed by Vice-Chancellor Raleigh. An attempt at stopping him isn't as successful as they'd hoped when old enemies are confronted. The realities of war, and why some people don't survive, are hard lessons for both Todd and Nick to learn.<br><br>Through firefights, explosions and a vicious attack from a seemingly unbeatable supernatural being, one thing is reinforced over and over-the most important thing each one has is each other. Will they survive or join an ever-growing list of casualties?

Collared Souls

“Good, settled then,” Jimmy said, looking pointedly at each of them. Nick completely understood how Jimmy had become an overseer of the sentries. The man simply took no crap or prisoners. “Two of us go in. The other two create distractions.”


“None of the guards will know me. They’ve seen Larry and…” John waved at Nick. “I’ll go.”


Jimmy nodded. “The guards will be looking for guns, not knives, and certainly not a slave that can throw them as accurately as Nick can. So, Nick will go and back you up.”


“There was a section of breezeway between the barn and cell block next to it that had more windows. They were closer together and didn’t have as much framework as the others,” Nick said quietly.


“We’ll go in there,” John said, refusing to look at Nick. “Any idea which block he’s in?”


“No, at that point it’s going to be a search,” Witze said. “I’m afraid if I try to find out, they’ll just move him. Better they haven’t got a clue we might do something.”


Chapter 12