Clanless (Nameless #2)(52)
Gryphon reached the crest of a hill and, not three hundred yards away, saw the Nameless caravan trekking through the sparse, blackened forest. “Praise heaven.” Finally, he’d see Zo and mark the task of emotionally bringing her back from the dead complete. He took off at a full sprint, leaving Raca and Talon to trail behind.
“Zo! Joshua!” He shouted with all the breath he could spare. “Tess!”
People from the Nameless caravan stopped and turned back. When they saw him closing the distance, some cowered while others ran around in a panic. Gryphon couldn’t blame them. He likely appeared as wild as any Clanless they’d encountered on their journey south. A motley line of men formed a barrier between Gryphon and the rest of the people. They linked rudimentary shields and held Ram spears in their hands. All aimed at his chest.
Gryphon stopped twenty yards away with hands raised to show he held no weapon. He gaped at the men before him—former slaves of his people—poorly mimicking Ram formation. Talon and Raca appeared beside him, breathing hard.
Before anyone had the chance to exchange words, a redheaded boy burst through the line of men, knocking one Nameless to the ground as he sprinted for Gryphon. “I knew you were alive! I told her you were! I knew it!”
Another, higher-pitched shout sounded from behind the line of men and then Tess appeared on hands and knees, crawling between the legs of bewildered men who only now seemed to recognize Gryphon.
Tess scrambled to her feet and ran toward him just as Joshua tackled Gryphon to the ground. The boy wept openly, unable to wipe his tears fast enough. “Gabe told Zo they killed you. She hasn’t been herself. Everything is going to be all right now.”
Tess jumped and squealed as she landed on the pile of Ram. Gryphon wrapped her into a big hug then held her at arm’s length to get a better look at the enormous smile that seemed to reach every corner of her tiny face. Her striking eyes, so characteristic of a Wolf, shone through the dirt on her cheeks. Eyes like her sister’s, but with just a bit more green. “You precious girl.” He kissed her forehead and pulled her in for another hug. “I’m so relieved you’re safe.”
Tess put her hands on his cheeks and whispered a little blessing. Feelings of peace and tranquility emanated from her small hands.
“You’re improving, little one.” Gryphon tapped her on the nose and the spell was broken.
“I’ve needed to,” said Tess. She cupped her hand to Gryphon’s ear. “Zo’s not well. She’s losing her gift, but she doesn’t want anyone else to know. Not even me.”
Zo was a remarkable healer. The idea of her losing her gift seemed about as likely as the sun setting tonight and not rising tomorrow. Healing was a part of her.
“Where is she, bug?” Gryphon scanned the crowd of Nameless that had gathered. It was strange that Zo hadn’t come out to meet him like Joshua and Tess. Did she regret kissing him? Did he complicate things with Gabe so much that she wished he’d never returned? The thought didn’t feel true, but then neither did the idea of Zo caring for him to the degree he cared for her.
Stone stood at the front of the group of Nameless refugees with Eva at his side. The grim look on the crazy leader’s face made the bottom of Gryphon’s stomach drop out. He climbed to his feet with Tess and Joshua still firmly planted at his sides, and together they walked to meet Stone.
“Gryphon,” said Stone, his tone matching his name. “We need to talk.”
Boar’s hand was a dead fish, cold and moist. He led Zo through the woods with the small contingent of men surrounding them. A handful of larger men with shaved heads and full beards clustered at the rear of the pack. They constantly glanced over their shoulders to see if they were being followed.
“No one will come for me. You can tell your men to relax.”
Boar smiled. “I should go back and kill every one of them if they don’t make an attempt to get you back.” He shook his head. “You are a valuable asset, my dear. A young Wolf healer is a fine prize. But a young Wolf healer hunted by the most powerful man in the region is a prize even greater than all the gems in the Kodiak Caves. The Nameless are fools for letting you go.”
“How do you know about Barnabas?” asked Zo, stunned.
“I helped get the information out of one of his scouts a few days ago.”
Was that why they hadn’t seen any other scouts? Had Boar’s band of Clanless killed them?
“So you’re taking me back to Ram’s Gate?” She kept her face forward, unwilling to so much as look at the man who still insisted on holding her hand. “What do you hope to gain from Barnabas?” asked Zo.
The Gate! She couldn’t go back to that place. She couldn’t!
Boar licked his chapped and peeling lips. “My citizenship.”
“And your men?” Zo looked around at the concave faces of the Clanless.
“Theirs too,” grunted Boar, but something about his tone was off. Did the others not hear the lie or were they blinded by the hope of belonging to the most powerful clan in the region? Barnabas would never accept anyone other than a Ram into his clan unless they offered themselves up as Nameless. Several of the men encircling them looked like they might pass for Ram, but the giants in the back of the group were decidedly Kodiak in origin. They’d be killed the moment they passed through the gate.