The Sins of Silas

THE SINS OF SILAS THE LIGHT AND SHADOW CHRONICLES BOOK THREE D.M. CAIN CONTENTS Acknowledgments Author’s Note World Map Map of Meraxor The Wilder Family Tree 1. Champion of the Slums 2. The Job Office 3. One Bite 4. Thrones of the Wilders 5. Face of Evil 6. Bolt Bug 7. Use the Future 8. Crae Gala 9. Prophecy and History 10. The Lightning Army 11. Carnage and Chaos 12. A Worrying Message 13. The Sins of Moza 14. Our Role Is Not to Question Why 15. Cast Lightning Elite 16. What if… ? 17. Valhalla Elite 18. The Mechanism Behind the Clock Face 19. In the Bowl 20. Shrouded in Fire, with Metal They Sing 21. Tick, Tock 22. Turez, Master of Iron 23. The Balance Will Shift… and it Will Taste Sweet 24. Error of Judgement 25. The Eisenistic Arts 26. The Moonlit Canopy 27. Tattoos 28. He Was the Forest 29. Intruders 30. Chaos 31. Lightning Above 32. The Disgraced and Unwanted Son of a Cruel Monarch About the Author Copyright (C) 2023 D.M. Cain Layout design and Copyright (C) 2023 by Next Chapter Published 2023 by Next Chapter Edited by Pam Elise Harris editing, Graham (Fading Street Services) proofreading Cover art by Lordan June Pinote This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author’s permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thank you to Alex Tipler for being my rock throughout everything. Beta reads by James Lane, David Tipton, and Karen Yates Edited by Pam Elise Harris https://kitchensinkedits.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPamEliseHarris/ Map and family tree design by Irina French www.irinafrench.com www.facebook.com/irinafrenchdigitalart AUTHOR’S NOTE The Light and Shadow Chronicles span thousands of years, and each book tells the story of one character in the tale. The books can be read in any order and characters dip in and out of each novel. One book may tell the story of a man in his adulthood. The next may be set after that character’s death or before his birth. Putting the story together is up to you—the order of events is not important. But each and every story leads the different strands of the legend to the same conclusion… The final battle… World Map Map of Meraxor The Wilder Family Tree 1 CHAMPION OF THE SLUMS For a thousand years, they have been locked in battle, and a thousand more await. The Book of Alcherys “You are not weak! And you are not disposable!” Silas drank in the people’s attention as he delivered his speech. “It doesn’t matter what the Ever-Youngs tell you. No, we will not live forever. We will grow old and die. BUT, without aging, without death, there would be no thrill to life! “They think we are inferior, that we deserve less in our short lives. But as Agers, we get all the ADRENALINE-FUELLED—” A cheer from the crowd. “NERVE-SHREDDING—” Another cheer. “FATALISTIC MAJESTY of the end!” The room erupted into roars. Silas continued, “They don’t understand. The Ever-Youngs in the Children of Light,” he spat on the floor, “feel none of the pleasure of knowing your time in this world is finite!” Silas held his arms out wide as he addressed the crowd, all eyes upon him. “Your time may end tomorrow on the battlefield or in fifty years warm in your bed. If you really let yourselves go, it could end tonight—there’s quite a range of intoxicants after all.” A wave of raucous laughter spread across the room. Silas made a conscious effort to slow down his speech, all too aware that when he got overexcited his words became a garbled mess. “Whatever the case, embrace life and laugh in the face of death every time you escape it. We don’t get many wins in the Brotherhood of Shadow. We must recognise our blessings when we can. And our chief blessing is access to the widest range of food, drink and pleasures known to mankind, right here in the slums. Thank the Bavelize for that! “So, tonight, you should partake of any and all delicacies—and don’t forget the workers at the Orchid Lounge are here to fill in for your other needs.” He waved over to the back of the hall where silk drapes separated the room into private sections. There was snickering and nods of appreciation. “Some of you have asked why I organised this event tonight. It’s simple. There’s not enough happiness in the Brotherhood. And there’s certainly not enough appreciation for the REAL people of Meraxor. Those in the diamond tiers get enough spent on them, the ‘privileged prats’.” Another roar of appreciation and laughter as Silas raised his thumb and little finger in the Meraxan symbol of disrespect. “But YOU are the underappreciated and unrecognised. YOU make the city of Belkeep tick. YOU harvest our food, stitch our clothes, oil our machines, and guard our borders. All of this,” he held his arms out wide, a huge grin on his face, “is for you! It’s your reward. Enjoy it. Just leave some for me.” He flashed the crowds a lopsided grin as the music kicked back in again. A quick trot down from the stage, and Silas was back to walking the room, shaking hands, sharing kisses, and slapping old friends on the back. He had never felt so popular. Life wasn’t so bad. At least, it wasn’t so bad at this moment. Life in the Brotherhood of Shadow never stretched as far as “good”. An eternal war, against an unbeatable enemy, and Silas Wilder found himself on the side of the damned Brotherhood of Shadow. If this state of stagnant, simmering hatred could be considered a war at all. Fighting