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

Witze looked from one to the other, leaning back when the waitress came by and poured coffee and water for them. He didn’t speak until she’d moved on to the next booth.


“I don’t know much about them, other than they do, in fact, exist. However, Geoffrey Clarke’s mother was a journalist and his father—”


“Clarke said he knew Raleigh was up to something and it had to do with Eldrid and the other two villages nearby. I’m not convinced he was telling us all he knows,” Todd said, then added, “There seems to be a lot of that going around lately. I get the feeling we’re in the middle of something, and we’re the two guys who know the least about it.”


Chapter 23