Clanless (Nameless #2)(18)

Talon’s expression hardened in the low light of the dying fire. “You do not need to remind us to consider the children of our clan, Wolf.”

Raca reached out and placed a placating hand on Talon’s arm. “She’s only trying to help, Brother.” Raca turned to us. “His wife and two small children are anxiously awaiting his return.”

Zo reeled, her mouth dropping. She wanted to catch up to the Ram forces and hold them off with her bare hands. “What will you do?” She shivered against the cold.

“We will run,” Talon snarled. “All night and all day until we reach our home.”

Talon and Raca secured their packs and Zo embraced each of them, silently muttering a blessing of vitality and courage. She frowned when the familiar tug of energy didn’t come. They would need all the help they could get if they were to reach the Raven stronghold before the Ram.

“Safe travels,” said Zo.

Raca leaned in and pressed her cheek to Zo’s. “May you find your Gryphon,” she whispered.

Zo swayed on her feet. Her head throbbed.

They were gone before Zo had the chance to correct the woman. Even if Gryphon were still alive, he had never been her Gryphon.

That night Zo took the first watch. In spite of her exhaustion, she didn’t think she could sleep. Not after their encounter with Raca and Talon. She sat awake watching the trees while her imagination took hold. Every rustle of leaves was an enemy approaching, every cricket chirp a distant scream. She clutched her knife to her chest and stayed in that position until the first signs of dawn were upon them.

She reached over and shook Eva awake.

The Ram looked confused by the dim light coming from the Eastern sky.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I didn’t wake you for your watch,” said Zo. “I think I’ll try and rest now though, until the sun is up.”

Eva rubbed her eyes and nodded.

Just as Zo curled on the ground next to Tess and Joshua, Eva whispered, “You need to tell Joshua what happened to Gryphon today. He can’t go on thinking that everything is fine. He deserves to know.”

Zo lay still with her back to Eva and her eyes closed. “What if I can’t tell him?”

“Then I will.”





Chapter 8





“Where is my brother?”

The voice carried over the gathering crowd of Raven.

A man wearing several rows of feathers walked forward. The Raven bowed as they stepped out of his path.

The chief knelt next to Craw and reached for his hands, then paused, seeming to think better of it. His expression darkened as he turned away from his brother. “Cover him and prepare him for burial.” The chief’s voice was void of emotion.

As two of the chief’s men stepped in to remove Craw, Gabe leaned over and whispered to Gryphon. “They fear the body. They believe if they outwardly mourn for their dead, the deceased can never be released to join their ancestors in the underworld. The chief loved his brother, but he will not weep for him.”

Everyone turned away from the body as it was taken to be readied for burial. The chief, who Gryphon knew was called Naat’áanii, or Chief Naat, stood and looked out across the cliff toward the mainland. His lips moved as though he was speaking but no words came. When his silent prayer ended, he turned a cold eye on Gryphon and said, “Feed the Ram to the sea. Let the fish and birds eat his rotting carcass. His presence desecrates the land of our ancestors.”

Craw’s men who had escorted Gryphon to the Nest shifted feet. Gabe stepped forward, bending into a bow with arms raised like wings at his sides. “Please, Chief.” Gabe stared at the ground while holding his bow. “I represent Commander Laden and the Allies. I ran with Craw and his men outside Ram’s Gate and was taken prisoner by the Ram. I escaped with Gryphon’s help days ago. We’ve come to deliver a warning.”

Gabe held his awkward position, waiting for the chief to cut him off. When he didn’t, Gabe pressed forward with his plea. “Ram soldiers captured one of your scouts and broke him for information regarding the location of your clan.”

Gryphon squirmed. He and Ajax had been the ones to capture the scout. Gabe had actually told him about the enemy camp where they found the young Raven scout in exchange for Zo’s protection inside Ram’s Gate. The Raven Chief wouldn’t appreciate that little detail.

“Gryphon has forsaken his clan to help us. He initiated a rebellion that allowed hundreds of Nameless slaves to flee Ram’s Gate and now has traveled here with me to warn your people that at least two hundred Ram warriors are marching toward the Nest as we speak. We expect them to arrive in less than two days’ time.”

More and more Raven joined the crowd, creating a half circle around Gryphon and Gabe.

“How do I know that this Ram,” he spat the word, pointing at Gryphon with a furious hand, “isn’t still loyal to his clan? What if he intends to have us evacuate our homeland so that his people might slaughter us in our escape? Or at the very least, pillage our grain stores?”

Gryphon said, “You have my word that—”

The leader leapt at Gryphon, a hatchet somehow materializing in his hand. He held the blade to Gryphon’s throat, breathing hard, prepared to drag it across skin. “Your word means nothing to me, Sheep.”