Free Ancient Evil (The First Genocide Book 1) by Brent J. Griffiths

his
senses and felt the powerful beat of Caleb’s heart, and his own heart slowed to
synchronize with it. The cadence of his breath coming in and out of his lungs
matched that of Caleb.
    Hael could feel the bond form, he was ready
    He focused and jerked his body to the
right. Caleb stumbled to the right as the sympathetic bond Hael had created
pulled him to the side. Caleb was overbalanced and tried to use his forward
momentum to keep going. Hael reached out and put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder
and vaulted over him, pushing him face first into the cobbles.
    Hael looked over his shoulder and saw the
large boy on his knees, his face a mask of blood. Caleb grimly climbed to his
feet and resumed running.
    Hael made it into the Ten.
    He also lost a friend and probably made a
mortal enemy.
    There is always a price.
     
     
    Two figures stood at the top of the
ziggurat. They were shielded from view. Only one of the powerfully adept,
possibly one of the Emperor’s inner circle, his One Hundred Companions, would
have been able to detect them through the shielding ward. Or one of the Feral;
one never knew with the Feral.
    One of the figures was Guest, and the many
decorations on his uniform indicated that he had risen very high in the
military. The other was Host, shorter and more powerfully built. His uniform
was no less decorated; however, the decorations were richer, more ornate.
    The one who was Guest spoke. “It looks like
he has arrived. I expected him to rank higher than Ten.”
    The one who was Host looked at him and
spoke directly into his mind.
    Zabab –> Donta: Why must you speak
aloud, Donta? How did you rise so high with such terrible manners?
    “I rose through my prowess on the field and
my ability to slay the Feral, as you well know. We may be observed. Your kind
can more easily pluck thoughts out of the ether than our words out of the air.”
Donta smiled. “And I know how it annoys you, my dear Zabab.”
    Zabab –> Donta: Fine, verbalize like
an animal if you wish. You really think he is the one we have been waiting for?
    “I do, his pedigree, his strength and his
character are exactly what we have been waiting for.”
    Zabab –> Donta: You are sure it is
him, not one of his brothers?
    “Pah. The older one is too cruel and the
younger too meek.”
    Zabab –> Donta: I think this one is
not cruel enough. Will he be able to do what needs doing?
    “My dear, Zabab, that is what we are here
for, to mold the minds of the young. We will make him strong, cunning, quick
and, yes, cruel as well. If we can’t we will break his mind and reassemble it
however we please. We are his teachers for Ancestors’ sake. You saw what he did
down there. I have been monitoring him; that other boy was like a brother to
him. If something stands in his way, he will sweep it away, just as he did to
his childhood friend.”
    Zabab –> Donta: I suppose he did show
some mettle. There is much at stake.
    “Unlike you, I needed to be bold to reach
my position; I was not born to it. We need boldness now if we are to prevail.
When the time comes for us to rebuild from the ashes, I will take your council,
but for now you must take mine so we can burn it down.”
    Zabab –> Donta: Agreed.
    For now , Zabab thought to himself.
     
     

Chapter 3
Edinburgh, Scotland, 2015
     
    A
female voice with a slight Welsh accent woke him. “Call coming in from Lindsay
MacDonald,” the voice said.
    He sat up. He should take the call; Lindsay
was his executive assistant.
    “Answer,” he said, then after a slight
pause, “Morning, Lindsay.”
    “Good morning, Mr. Alexander. I thought I
would call, as I did not see you online. Is everything OK?” She sounded
concerned.
    “Yes, Lindsay, just a bit of a rough night.”
    “Rough? Are you sure you’re OK? Should I
send someone round?” Like all competent executive assistants, she was very
protective of her employer.
    “No, no, I am fine. Really.”
    “Well, if you say so,” she said, but he
could