Clanless (Nameless #2)(13)

“Fair enough,” said Eva.

Zo cleared her throat and pulled out her one unimpressive dagger. She wasn’t used to spilling her strengths and weaknesses, preferring instead to keep her talents hidden and her weaknesses buried. But for Joshua and Tess’s sakes … “I’m a trained spy and healer, and the only one here who knows how to get to the Allies.”

“Liabilities?” Eva raised a brow.

Joshua nodded encouragingly.

Zo sighed. “I’m sick. There’s something wrong with my head when I stand up too fast. I have frequent dizzy spells where my head pounds. Sometimes it’s bad enough to make me nauseous. I’m not great in combat. In fact,” she swallowed, “I don’t think I could kill a person even to save my own life. I don’t do well with that sort of thing.” No need to tell them about her struggle with healing. She was sure whatever was affecting her would pass with time.

Eva and Joshua shared a look.

“My turn?” asked Tess. She looked around and snatched up a rock sitting close to the ground. “I have this. I could probably throw it at someone.” She twisted up her lips in deep thought. “I’m also good at hiding.”

Zo put up a hand. “Great job, Tess. You don’t need to go on.”

Tess’ liabilities were glaringly obvious. She was slow and weak, without any real ability to defend herself.

Eva and Joshua took turns using the strengths and weaknesses they had all shared and devised a plan. Eva unstrapped the knife around her calf and fastened the small sheath to Tess’s belt. “When I was your age, I already had three years of training with weighted weapons. Your lessons will begin tomorrow.”

Zo thought to protest, but given the circumstances, it made sense to teach Tess everything possible to defend herself if she got in a bind. And who better to learn from than a Ram who was bred to kill from the time she could walk?

They ate their meal and doused the fire. Even though the blaze would have helped them stay warm and keep animals at bay, it wasn’t worth the risk of exposing their location to Clanless and, more likely, Ram scouts. Just as the last wisps of smoke carried on the night breeze and the coals of the fire turned to a weak, flicking glow, a bird called not far away.

Eva sat up then Joshua followed her lead, like deer lifting their heads to listen for a predator. Zo clutched her knife to her chest. She knew that call. Commander Laden taught it to her as part of her training. She let out a small “caw” sound, mimicking the call.

Both Eva and Joshua whipped around and stared at Zo. She could imagine their questions. They weren’t used to working with other clans. Where there is hate there is also fear.

Out of the darkness, two figures stepped from the trees into their camp.





Chapter 6





Two days traveling the Raven rope bridges was enough to make Gryphon miss even Zander’s company.

“I think I’d like to reconsider your offer to turn back,” Gryphon said to the Raven leader. Gryphon had learned the multi-feathered leader was called Craw. He also had learned Craw was oddly friendly when he wasn’t ordering his men to take part in the merriment of Gryphon’s death.

“You’ve come far enough now that I’d have to kill you if you tried to leave. You’ve seen too much.”

“Please do.” Gryphon groaned. His hands were filled with splintered wood and rubbed raw from sliding along the spun ropes. He’d traded the comfort of his hands for peace of mind. But now, even the muscles in his shoulders and neck ached from constantly tensing them.

It was no wonder his clan hadn’t discovered the location of the Raven until now. Ram mess units had likely run right under these bridges without ever realizing they existed high above the forest floor. The bridges were obviously well maintained. The railings surrounding each platform were carved with symbols Gryphon had never seen before, as well as images of birdmen and women in various settings—planting grain, talking to trees, bending in prayer.

Gryphon made the mistake of looking down again. He cursed under his breath as the ground swayed, then jumped up to meet him. “What will you do after all this?” Gryphon said to Gabe. He tried to keep his attention trained on the back of Gabe’s head instead of the distant ground.

Gabe shrugged. “I’ll return to the Allies, make sure Tess is cared for, and fight your bloody clan until I either get a spear through my heart or die an old man. Whichever comes first.”

Gryphon nodded even though Gabe couldn’t see him. Wolves and Raven and even the brutish Kodiak could work together and live in relative peace, but never the Ram. The thought made Gryphon slow his wobbly pace. Was this entire journey pointless? Even if they did evacuate the Raven in time, weren’t they just putting off the inevitable? The Ram would eventually wipe out all the clans in the region. Even the Allies and the valley-dwelling Wolves. Was there really a point in resisting them?

Zo’s death, above all else, proved there wasn’t.

“You’ve been quiet, Gabe,” said Gryphon. He assumed it was because of Zo. As painful as it was to talk about her, Gryphon longed to hear someone else say her name. To make her real, if only in memory.

“You miss her,” said Gryphon. “I’ll listen.”

But Gabe kept walking, not bothering to so much as shrug a shoulder. It was as if they were strangers again and Zo—their common ground—had never existed.