Clanless (Nameless #2)(31)
The sound of chopping wood called everyone’s attention. Gryphon peered down at the mainland to find men swinging axes at the bases of the giant redwoods. Each mess crowded around a different tree with shields raised to protect those wielding axes.
“Not the trees,” Chief Naat moaned, clutching his stomach as though he might be sick.
“The redwoods are sacred to them,” whispered Gabe. “They believe the trees are tunnels that allow their dead to travel to the underworld. They also believe all blessings come through the trees, gifts of livelihood sent by their ancestors.”
“Trees?” Gryphon asked, amazed.
Gabe shook his head. “To them the trees are family.”
“Kill them. Stop them!” shouted Chief Naat.
The Ram had plenty of time to link shields and the chopping didn’t cease. The massive trees were tall enough that, if felled properly, they could act as a bridge to the Nest.
Ashen and beaten, Chief Naat turned to Gabe. “I accept your offer, Wolf.” He looked over at Gryphon. “On the condition that this Ram stays behind with a group of my best warriors to hold off his clan and destroy what we can’t carry of our grain stores.”
Gryphon wanted to hit the man. “I need to meet my apprentice at the Allied Camp. He’ll be waiting for me there.”
“Then you can travel with my warriors once you complete this task.”
“I do not belong to your clan, Chief. You have no authority over me.” Gryphon’s hand flexed around a non-existent spear. The longer he went without a weapon the more naked he felt.
“Maybe so, but I will not allow a Ram on my ships. Even if you are a Clanless now.”
Gryphon winced. The word Clanless made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. There wasn’t a lower class of person than someone who wasn’t claimed by something.
Gryphon looked out at his people across the chasm. Not my people anymore. He didn’t know how they planned to take the island, he only knew that they would find a way.
“It’s settled then,” said Gabe as he shook the Raven Chief’s hand. Gabe didn’t really have a choice but to accept the Raven’s terms, but his readiness to do so stung Gryphon.
As Chief Naat and his entourage walked back to the heart of the island, Gabe turned to Gryphon. “I’m sorry, my friend. You can’t expect a man who’s about to lose his home not to hold on to prejudices.”
“I know what it feels like to lose a home, Gabe,” Gryphon snapped. He pressed the heels of his hands into his forehead and sighed. “I will follow whatever Raven survive to the Allied Camp. They know the way.”
Gabe studied the ground, shifting his weight from one foot to the next. “Have you considered what you’ll do after all this is over?”
I’ll hunt and kill Zander and Ajax. “I’ve tried not to think about it.”
“Well, I know you have no interest in joining the Allies, but what about Joshua?”
Gryphon frowned. “What about Joshua?”
“He’s a good kid, Gryph. Don’t you think he deserves a chance with a clan?”
“There is no way I will ever be accepted in the Allied Camp, Wolf, and you know it.”
“But Joshua is young and orphaned. Commander Laden would let him join up. He’d have a home with the Allies. A future.”
“What are you saying?” Gryphon whispered. Gabe was, of course, right. But that meant …
“Joshua will follow you anywhere, Gryphon. If you come back, there will be no leaving him behind.”
“You think I shouldn’t travel to the Allies with the Raven?”
His silence was a way of offering Gryphon another knife.
When Gabe finally spoke, Gryphon wished he hadn’t. “You know him better than anyone. Do what you think is best for the boy.”
Zo blinked away the sunspots in her vision as fire lit up the dark night. A child next to Zo sat up from her blanket and wailed. Zo pulled her and Tess under the wings of her protection. A woman cried out for help a few yards outside the circle, clutching the foot of what must have been her husband as he was being dragged away by two men with long, wild hair and tattered clothing.
Joshua, who’d been lying fast asleep at Zo’s side, sprang to his feet, and with one quick motion launched his spear into one of dark figures. The second man released his hold on the husband and barreled toward Joshua.
“No!” Zo screamed.
Metal from the wild man’s knives flashed in the torchlight as he pounced, but Joshua ducked out of the way and in the same motion turned and thrust his fist into the man’s side.
The dark man released a labored growl and turned back to face Joshua. Only then did Zo consider his immense size, his arms stretched out wide like a massive bear standing on hind legs. His knives were his claws. Joshua, his prey.
The giant’s back was to Zo, and she didn’t waste the opportunity. She leapt from her place on the ground and tackled the man from behind. He fell almost too easily. Joshua and the Nameless husband each jumped onto one of his arms to detain the monster. The man bucked and fought, making it impossible for Zo to keep her seat. More men jumped on him, binding his arms behind his back. The man with the spear in his stomach lay motionless beside them.
Stone’s orders thundered across the clearing, and soon everyone in camp was awake and crowding tighter into the protective circle. Men raised their makeshift spears and the soft sob of children carried on the breeze. Everyone’s attention stayed fixed on the black trees and bushes surrounding the clearing.