Read Online House of the Wolf (Book Three of the Phoenix Legacy) by M.K. Wren - Free Book Online

Erica automatically noted postures, gestures, voice levels; the aura of urgency was all-pervading, but it didn’t surprise her. Predis Ussher was a master at mass manipulation. He engendered and sustained that urgency and used it to negate doubt.
    “What about the Council meeting, Ben? Was anything said about yesterday’s convenient power failure?”
    He laughed caustically. “Of course not, and I kept my mouth shut through the whole damn meeting. You’d have been proud of me.”
    “Didn’t anyone mention the newscast? Predis may have cut Fina off, but not the outside chapters.”
    “The rumors are floating around, but no one on the Council was going to put it up to him, and like I said, I was a good boy and didn’t say a word. Not even when he announced a change in the timetable for the offensive.”
    Erica looked up at him. “What kind of change?”
    “What do you think? He’s moving it up. This isn’t for general publication yet. He says it’s tentative.”
    “That means he wants to make the announcement himself at the next rally.”
    “Probably. That’s scheduled for tomorrow. Anyway, that should take everybody’s mind off the fact that the SSB finally admitted Andreas
did
escape.”
    “Predis is adept at creating diversions. Did the newscast mention the names of Andreas’s rescuers?”
    Ben’s frown at that was one of mild puzzlement.
    “Yes, as a matter of fact, and we didn’t have a chance to add anything to that script; Woolf was sitting right on top of the whole broadcast.”
    “As long as they mentioned ‘Major Ransom.’ What’s the new date for the offensive?”
    “Concord Day: 14 Octov.”
    She felt the chill of pallor in her cheeks, and knew she wasn’t successful at keeping her dismay hidden.
    “Ben, that’s only a little more than a month.”
    He nodded bleakly. “Thirty-seven days.”

3.
    Predis Ussher carefully separated two loops of the gold braid crisscrossing the front of his blue uniform; he didn’t shift his gaze from the mirror when the door chime rang.
    “John, that must be Jan Barret. Unlock the doorscreens for him.”
    John M’Kim raised an eyebrow, then went to the door. “I have work to do, Predis. I’ll be on my way.”
    “Very well. As for the uniforms, I’m pleased. Rather impressive, don’t you think, Rob?”
    Hendrick was examining the other uniforms on the rack in the center of the office. He looked across at Ussher.
    “Quite impressive, Predis. Hello, Jan.”
    M’Kim spared Barret a distracted nod in passing. “Excuse me, Commander, I must get back to my office.”
    Ussher was facing the mirror again, studying his reflection critically. “Lock the doorscreens, Jan.”
    Barret complied, his gaze shifting from Hendrick to Ussher to the clothes rack.
    “What’s all this, Predis?”
    “Our uniforms. What every properly attired member of the Phoenix will be wearing during and after the offensive.” He pivoted toward Barret. “Rob, show Jan his uniform.”
    Hendrick shuffled through the uniforms, then pulled one out and hung it at the front of the rack. Barret eyed it dubiously, noting that it was less ornate than Ussher’s; there wasn’t as much gold braid.
    “Where did you get these?”
    Ussher walked over to the rack, a private smile of satsifaction hovering around his lips.
    “John M’Kim procured them, of course, from a number of sources. The insignia and that sort of thing is applied here in Fina.”
    “Who’s going to be wearing these things?”
    “Everyone, Jan. These are samples of the various styles.” He pulled out another uniform, devoid of braid. “This is for the rank-and-file members, for instance. Of course, our double idents won’t be sporting these for a while.”
    “Holy God, Predis, we’ve never needed uniforms, not even in FO.”
    Hendrick’s chin came up pugnaciously. “Listen, Barret, it’s not up to you—”
    “Calm down, Rob,” Ussher said sharply, then favored Barret with a sympathetic smile. “Jan is a