Clanless (Nameless #2)(49)
“I’m going to speak with Stone,” said Zo. When she closed her eyes all she could see was the charred, melted skin of the innocent. People—children—paying the price for her freedom. What had happened last night would never happen again.
“No.” Stone folded his arms over his muscled chest.
“But you lost another five men last night. And the injured … ” Zo worked to control a tremor in her voice. “Do you not hear the cries of the Nameless? One person is not worth the lives of so many.” Zo sighed. “Your only choice is to give me over to Boar. I can defend myself against him.”
Stone barked a “Ha!” and resumed his pacing. “You’re just a girl. Practically a child.”
“Commander Laden entrusted me with the task of spying inside Ram’s Gate,” said Zo. “I’ll handle Boar.” Somehow. The Clanless leader had proven himself to be much more clever than they’d originally thought.
Zo cleared her throat to purge another tremor of fear from her voice. “And besides, you don’t need me anymore. You know how to get to the Allies without me.”
Stone grumbled and paced some more while Eva studied Zo, her ever-present daggers in hand. She tilted her head to the side and said, “I think Zo is right. If she is willing to go, it isn’t cruel to let her.” She walked over to Zo and offered a military nod. “Let her take the honorable path.”
Zo didn’t know whether or not to be grateful to Eva.
Stone growled and continued making tracks in the dirt.
“This is your only option, Stone. Stop pretending like it isn’t. These people you’re leading aren’t fighters. They’re farmers. If you don’t give in to Boar, you won’t have anyone left to save.”
Before the Nameless set out for another day of hiking, Stone called a meeting with his little army of men, leaving Zo and Tess to organize their packs and bedrolls. Zo did her best not to stare at her little sister. She wanted to memorize every angle of her face, every shade of blond in her hair. When they finished, Tess asked if she could play with some of the children in the camp until it was time to leave.
“Stick to the center of the circle,” said Zo.
“I will. I will.” Tess shot away like a stone from Joshua’s sling.
Zo dipped her hand into a familiar pocket of her medical satchel and found a short piece of graphite and paper. The same paper and graphite she’d used to write messages to the Allies while serving as a spy inside Ram’s Gate.
If she was going to give herself over to Boar and his band of Clanless, she needed to make certain Tess and Joshua would be cared for. She had a feeling Boar would come soon to see if Stone had changed his mind about making the trade and wanted to be ready. Her cold hand shook as she wrote.
Commander Laden,
I write to you not as your spy, but as your adopted ward and friend. I have been ransomed to the Clanless leader, Boar, in exchange for the lives of many Nameless. I chose to do this against Stone’s will. Please accept these people—these freemen who once bore the title “Nameless.” They have risked everything to join you and have more reason to fight for our cause than most, though they lack the skill. Feed them. Clothe them. But most of all, respect them.
I’ve told Tess and our good friend, Joshua, that I’ve gone ahead without them. They will be very upset to know that I’ve lied to them when they arrive at the Allied Camp and discover I’m not there. They are my family. If I don’t find a way to return to the Allies, I need you to look after them for me. They have no one else.
For the cause of freedom,
Zo
Zo dropped the piece of graphite and massaged her hands into her face. How could she do this to them? How could she leave? Zo folded the letter and tucked it into a hidden pocket of her shirt.
“What is that?” Joshua said, startling her.
“A letter for the Commander Laden of the Allies,” said Zo. “Stone’s asked that I go ahead with a few of the men to ask for help against the Clanless.”
“Why you?” Joshua scrunched his freckled nose.
“I’m the only one Laden will listen to, and I know where I’m going.”
Joshua folded his arms. “I’m going with you.”
Zo knew he wouldn’t accept her lie without a fight. “Who will look after Tess if you come with me?”
“She can come too.”
Zo whispered. “People are dying, Joshua. I am planning to run the entire way. Tess will slow me down. She can’t come.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“I won’t be alone, Ginger.” She sighed. “Who knows? I might be safer away from this camp than in it.”
Joshua seemed to consider that. “I don’t like it. We shouldn’t split up.”
“We don’t have a choice.” Zo understood how he felt. When you’ve gone through something as traumatic as escaping the Gate, you tend to hold tighter to the people you care about in life.
“When will you go?” asked Joshua, his head sunk low.
Zo surprised him by pulling him into a tight embrace. He was just barely taller than her, making it easy to rest her head upon his shoulder. She tried to infuse love, strength, and peace into the touch but knew that nothing extended from her beyond the surface.
She couldn’t even give that final gift to Joshua.