The Sins of Silas by D.M. Cain

Author:D.M. Cain
Format: epub

16

WHAT IF… ?

One lion is worth a million ants. In the shadow crawl countless ants, but when the light breaks through the clouds it shines upon lions.

The Book of Alcherys

Drake had done a fantastic job of gathering as many young members of the Brotherhood of Shadow as he could. The small fort where Silas lived was cramped at the best of times, but with this many people jammed into it, it was positively uncomfortable.

Word had spread that Silas was assembling an elite force—only the best need apply. The best, or those with the intention to be the best. Mostly, those whose interest had been piqued were Vincent’s many offspring who believed they had the skills, or the genes to acquire the skills at least, to man an elite army. Facing off against Avalanche was a downright terrifying prospect for many of them. But there was an element of excitement too. Because if, just if, there was any possibility of bringing down the most dangerous of Alcherys’s forces, it had to be done. The honour and perks were too great not to at least attempt it.

Silas looked over the crowd, shaking hands or hugging his siblings and nodding at those he didn’t know by name. There were plenty of strangers here too, and a few people he’d seen at the barracks or training grounds. He had lots of siblings, and most of them he had little or nothing to do with. His father had never been interested in promoting relationships between his family members. He had never viewed them as a “family” at all. To Vincent, his children were tools to be used when he needed them and shunned when he was focused on something else.

As much as Silas sometimes wished he had his father’s love and attention all the time, he was damned happy not to face the pressure. Fatherly affection was one thing, but Vincent did nothing in half measures. If he chose a child to become his successor—something he had been avoiding for a long time—that poor child would be hounded every minute of every day.

Instead, Silas was part of the great unwanted army of Vincent’s inferior children; left to make their own way in the world with neither guidance nor support from their distant and hostile father. But this suited him just fine. In this situation, it was a bonus because standing before him was a whole host of other people who felt the same.

The tricky part would be choosing who could join their band and who couldn’t. The even trickier part was, who would want to join them on what might well be a suicide mission. He was surprised to feel a trickle of nervous sweat running down his spine.

“Thank you all for joining me,” Silas said to the people assembled before him. “As you know, I have gathered you here to select a group of soldiers who are willing to train day and night to become members of an elite team capable of countering Avalanche.”

There were some whoops of excitement and bravado, as well as a few shared sceptical glances.

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