Blood of the Earth Read Online Free PDF

result of his father’s stern leadership. Alexander knew all too well that his father expected much of those around him and even more of himself.
    The sergeant brought them to an inner area of command tents surrounded by a perimeter fence guarded by a force of Rangers. They pulled the fence aside when they saw Alexander approach and put it back in place the moment his party had entered.
    Duncan came out of the command tent to greet his son. “I hear you had some trouble,” he said, gesturing to the bandage around Alexander’s left arm.
    “Seems Phane’s been building a small army of very dangerous assassins,” Alexander said. “We killed two and captured one.” Alexander pointed at the wraithkin mounted on a horse and shackled to the saddle.
    “Has he said anything interesting?” Duncan asked.
    “He was reluctant at first, until Isabel persuaded him.” Alexander smiled at his wife as she dismounted, handing her reins to a nearby Ranger.
    “Apparently, he came to Ruatha with eight others,” Isabel said. “Hopefully, the other six drowned during the naval battle off the coast of Southport, but we probably shouldn’t count on it.”
    Duncan smiled over at Alexander. “You did well with this one, Son. I’ve always said, hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”
    “The perimeter guard said you had news,” Alexander said as he pulled his father into a hug.
    “I do,” Duncan said. “The army is coming together. Most of the command structure of the individual legions has been reorganized into a single unified command. It’s taken some doing but we should be ready to move within a few weeks.”
    Alexander nodded, listening to his father as they walked toward the command tent. He knew Duncan was putting on a show of a report without getting to the important news, but he didn’t know why. His father was a cautious and deliberate man by nature, but he didn’t spook easily.
    Alexander started to worry. He’d noticed the additional security around the command tents but didn’t think much of it, until now.
    The oversized tent enclosed a stone slab with a magic circle inlaid in silver and gold reaching nearly to the sides of the stone square. Within the circle was a large table surrounded by a number of general officers, including Kern and Markos, and a few wizards, Sark and Jahoda among them.
    All stood when they saw Alexander enter. He looked to his father for an explanation.
    Duncan frowned and shrugged. “Recent events have made an abundance of caution prudent.” He motioned to the chair at the head of the table.
    Alexander took his seat with Isabel at his left and Duncan at his right. Jack and Kelvin took empty seats at the table, while Boaberous took a position near the door and stood watch. Before Alexander could ask his question, Chloe appeared in a ball of light and floated gently down onto the table in front of him. Several of the men at the table sat up a bit straighter when she appeared.
    “All right, why the extreme measures?” Alexander asked.
    Duncan nodded gravely. “For the past three nights, there’ve been murders within the camp: two men the first night, five the next, and three last night. Last night we got some measure of confirmation about the threat. A squad of Buckwold infantry were sitting around a cook fire when one of their own stood up abruptly, drew his sword and killed his two closest friends in cold blood. The rest of his squad was stunned by the sudden turn of events and sat speechless, staring at their fellow soldier. All six men independently gave the same account of what followed.” Duncan paused and shook his head.
    “Apparently, the soldier said, ‘I am Shivini and my master, Prince Phane, has promised me the souls of any who do not bow before him.’ Then he cut his own throat and fell into the fire.”
    Alexander took Isabel’s hand and shared a look of stricken horror with her. He knew what she was thinking: together, they had loosed the shades on the