Clanless (Nameless #2)(40)

“I’d rather go alone,” said Gryphon, stepping away from the rough circle of men.

“We are close to the Gate. You shouldn’t travel alone,” said Sani.

“Listen, boy. You might think I’m weak, but I can handle—”

“We don’t trust you,” Sani blurted. “You might betray us to your clan.”

Gryphon stepped back. “You can’t be serious.”

“We want to trust you.” Sani showed Gryphon his palms in surrender. “You have been honorable so far. But—”

“Fine,” Gryphon snarled. “Follow me if you like.”

Gryphon shouldn’t have been offended. These men lost their homes and were separated from their families. He couldn’t blame them for being uncomfortable with him. If anything, it reminded Gryphon just how alone he really was in the world. No one would ever fully trust a Ram. Certainly not the Allies. He had Joshua, but his conversation with Gabe before they left the Nest had severed even that little thread of peace.

What was he doing with these Raven anyway? Could he risk traveling to the Allies to see Joshua one last time? He wanted to believe the boy would see reason and settle within the protection of a clan, but Gabe had a point. Joshua wouldn’t want to stay with the Allies if he knew Gryphon wasn’t welcome.

Gryphon and Sani picked their way through the forest, weaving between bushes and briars until Gryphon spotted the familiar cluster of granite boulders next to a thick fir tree with low-hanging boughs.

“I’ll only be a moment.”

Gryphon left Sani by the boulders and dropped his pack on the ground before falling to hands and knees and crawling under the heavy boughs. The familiar smell of pine and lemongrass carried with it sweet memories. A miracle had taken place in this shadowed sanctuary. Two miracles, actually. Both at the hands of Zo.

Yes, she’d miraculously healed Joshua from a deadly stab wound, but she’d also healed Gryphon. His wounds were less obvious but equally profound. His whole life, he’d tried to compensate for his father’s failings, but only when he and Zo held each other under this tree did he finally feel centered. She’d made him feel capable. Strong.

These Raven didn’t trust him to take a simple walk through the woods without supervision, but she had trusted him with her and her sister’s lives. Her belief in him had made him invincible.

And then he failed her. His own mess brother ended her precious life.

“She wasn’t pretty in death.”

Did she die beneath the boughs of this tree? Did little Tess see it happen? How much did Zo suffer?

Digging his fingers into the ground, Gryphon pushed his forehead into the loose soil and fought a sob. How could someone hurt her? He should have fought harder. He should have found a way to take her away from this place. Gryphon’s hands and arms shook. He clutched two fistfuls of his hair, his forehead still pressed to the dirt. He couldn’t delay his revenge any longer.

Bursting out from under the tree, he couldn’t catch his breath. Couldn’t get away from the tree fast enough.

“What happened?” Sani asked.

“We need to leave. We can’t rest here tonight.”

Sure-footed Sani stumbled to catch up with Gryphon. “I don’t understand.”

“I know.”

When they reached the Raven warriors, every man stood. “What happened?” one asked.

Gryphon adjusted the straps of his pack and said, “We’re leaving.”

Sani must have given a signal to the men, because they all gathered their meager possessions and, without speech or ceremony, took off into the gathering shadows of night.





Zo blinked, and looked between Boar and Stone. “You can’t be serious.”

Boar shrugged. “It’s a fair trade. I give you three people in exchange for one.” He took out his own knife and spun it on one finger with a practiced hand before catching it.

“Zo is a healer and our guide. She’s too valuable.” Stone crossed his arms.

Zo whipped around and glared at Stone. Was the man seriously negotiating with Boar, as if she were no more than a valuable commodity? Stone above anyone else knew what it meant to belong to another person.

“What you don’t seem to appreciate, Nameless, is that my little band here,” he stretched out his arms toward his men, “can be a nightmare to your people. We will slow you down. Pick off your people one by one. You will never rest without fear, always wondering if we are surrounding you, planning our next attack.

As crazy as Stone was, Zo knew he couldn’t reasonably allow his people to suffer just for one person. Yes, she was a healer, and yes, she was the only person who’d traveled to the Allied Camp, but her life wasn’t valuable enough to sacrifice so many. She balled her fists and closed her eyes, waiting for Stone to agree to Boar’s terms.

“I am willing to trade with you, Boar. I’m willing to give you something valuable to gain back what you’ve stolen from me. But Zo is a big reason we’ve escaped the Gate. I can’t reward her help by trading her to you.”

Boar offered an exaggerated sigh. “I was afraid you’d say that.” He gestured to one of his men who, without hesitation, produced a knife and dragged it across the Nameless woman’s throat.

“No!” Stone yelled. Zo’s knees wobbled beneath her. Stone’s men drew swords. The bleeding woman crumpled to the ground and the entire ring of men seemed to inhale at once. Then everything happened fast. Stone’s hand clamped down on Zo’s arm as he shouted, “Attack!” The Nameless charged the Clanless. Swords clashed. A few of Boar’s large, Kodiak-looking men pulled the other three Nameless hostages away. Stone held firmly to Zo’s arm and dragged her back toward the Nameless camp. At his command, the men who hadn’t fallen to the Clanless covered their retreat. Boar didn’t offer chase.