Free Chosen (The Chosen Few Trilogy #1) by David Leadbeater Page B

needs mean we have to focus on Gorgoroth and worry about the Hierarchy later.”
    A lull followed . If only someone had continued that line of conversation.
    Tristran coughed. “It seems that we Ubers are taking on the role of protectors and seekers of knowledge,” he said, his voice wet. “What will be the role of Aegis, I wonder?”
    Giles stood immediately. “To find the Eight,” he said . “To unite them on the training ground. To overlook all aspects of every operation. In short, we will police this whole undertaking.”
    I saw Felicia shift uncomfortably. Ceriden sniffed. I could tell Giles’ words didn’t sit well with them. As I thought, diplomacy wasn’t his strongest suit.
    Myleene sensed the sudden tension. “”We all have a part to play,” she said . “And we have to rely on each other. If we lose this one we don’t just lose the trophy and come back to try again next year. We lose our world. “
    “Learn what you can from the text,” she inclined her head at Cheyne’s monitor. “Tap all your resources for information on Gorgoroth . Someone out there knows something. They have to.”
    “And use an y means,” Tristran added .
    “Yes,” Giles made a fist around his tie. “We’re already playing towards the endgame here and we know nothing. ”
    Belinda rose to her feet. “There are no trophies,” she said. “No rewards. We fight for the right to exist, and for the good and the innocent out there who make the fight worthwhile. ”
    My mouth was dry. I squeezed Lucy’s hand in reassurance, as much for me as her.
    We’d been shown the full weight of the task being laid upon us. I prayed I had the strength to bear my part of it.
     

 
    1 6
     
    MIAMI, U.S.A.
     
    Marian Cleaver climbed the f light of stairs that led to his door, then stood and leaned his head against the cool glass. Taking on Mena Gain es had challenged everything he stood for.
    You have been found wanting.
    But she was a snake, at best. A lying, conniving piece of evil that slithered and crawled its way along whatever filthy gutter her master commanded.
    Aegis was sending help now. Was that a good thing? Miami was the staging area for an end of the worl d event. But the kids were safe; he’d saved the day. And yet judging by the type of questions fired at him earlier by the goddamn feds you wouldn’t fucking think it.
    He entered the house, lost the duster, and cracked open the fridge. A single lonely slice of congealed pizza stared back at him.
    Mmmm…tempting.
    He threw his weapons on the kitchen table and checked the cattle prod. The sound of his cell phone ringing shattered the predawn quiet. Cleaver closed his eyes and wished for a moment’s peace.
    “Cleaver here.”
    “Clancy. Where are you now?”
    “At home, Hector. I told you I was going home, so where else would I be?”
    “Well, Sir Cleaver, I’m sorry to have to do this to you,” Clanger didn’t sound sorry at all. “But you’re needed downtown. Now.”
    As he listened to his boss speak Cleaver heard distant sirens. Lots of them.
    He bit his lip. “What’s happened?”
    Clanger was silent for a moment, then launched into nervous mode, his words falling faster than water in a rainstorm. “Don’t know with any certainty , but a large group of people have attacked the Coconut Grove shopping mall . You know, the open air one? A p art of it is on fire. And people…people have been seen leaping into the flames. And your Gaines woman is involved in this one too.”
    Cleaver breathed out slowly. Mena Gaines’ words resounded in his head: Miami is the New Babylon and soon it will start to explode with rage and passion and death!
    “I’m on my way, Hector,” Cleaver said very slowly. “I’m on my way.”
     

 
    CHAPTER 1 7
     
    YORK, ENGLAND
     
    By the time I’d returned to the kitchen it had occurred to me that the world hadn’t exactly stopped turning. I had a business to run, bills to pay, and a daughter to care for. How the hell was I