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

“Either way, it doesn’t matter. They’re here now. Unless we can question one or two, provided they’d even know, we’re really not going to get those answers. My bet is recorders and pyrahni are connected, possibly working together, and have their own agenda. There’s no rule that says, just because recorders keep the accounts of what sentries do, that they have to be allies, at least not all of them.”


Todd sighed and kneaded his chin, staring thoughtfully at Nick’s journal. He put his hand on it and rubbed the worn leather. His gaze popped up at Nick, and he sucked in a quick, soft gasp. “We follow Eloise’s trail. Track down every name in her diaries and every one of those named in the writings of the people who’d eventually become recorders.”


Chapter 38