Clanless (Nameless #2)(53)

The smell of fire warned that Boar’s camp was nearby. They reached a steep rock wall, and Boar released her hand as he navigated the rock face. When he reached the top shelf, about twenty feet up, he called, “Your turn, my dear,” his smile more menacing than a hundred threats. “That is, unless you’d like one of my men to help you?”

The idea of any of these men touching her propelled her to the wall. She managed the climb without any difficulty and dusted off her hands at the top.

“Such valuable hands,” said Boar. “I hear the man who entices a healer is wealthy for life.” He stared at her hands entranced, then blinked hard and shook his head. “I felt your sister’s touch. Her little hands brought me a great deal of peace. I can’t imagine what a more experienced healer might be able to do.” He licked his chapped lips again and smiled. “Perhaps you’ll show me before I return you to Barnabas.”

The urge to spit in Boar’s face nearly overtook her. Instead, she ignored him and scanned the horizon and the view their raised position offered. She felt his stare. It was a sticky film on her skin, leaving her violated and somehow worthless.

“This way, my dove.” The shelf narrowed as it wrapped around a corner then opened up wide enough to accommodate Boar’s band of Clanless. Cook fires smoldered as clusters of haggard men looked up at Zo. Most of the men were large, carrying the round faces and dark eyes of the Kodiak clan. They wore their long, coarse hair in a mass of disheveled braids down the center of their backs.

Most barely spared a glance for Zo.

Boar led her to a small tent in the far corner of the shelf, and with a flourish, opened the flap for her to enter. “A place to rest while we prepare to leave.”

Zo eyed the dark little space and hugged her arms to her chest. “I’m not going in there.”

Boar’s smile slipped in slow motion. The skin around his neck reddened and a few of the men in the camp climbed to their feet.

A thousand chills ran the length of Zo’s spine as Boar began to shake.

“Please go, miss,” a quiet voice called from somewhere in the camp.

Boar’s head snapped around. “Who said that?” Spittle flew from his mouth.

No one spoke. A few men backed away.

Boar leapt to the Clanless man closest to him and threw his knee into the man’s stomach even though the man hadn’t done a thing to deserve it. As the victim groaned and sunk to his knees, Boar said, “No one talks to her. Am I understood? No one!”

The men in his camp nodded and muttered, “Yes, sir,” then went back to their business, doing their best to pretend Zo wasn’t there.

“Kindly get in the tent, Healer.”

Zo dropped to her knees and crawled into the dark space that reeked of man-sweat and fire. The shelter was only large enough for one. Facing the flap opening, she scooted backward, not daring to take her eyes off the door of the tent until her back met cold mountain rock.

This would be a horrible place to die.





Chapter 21





“What do you mean, she’s not here?” Gryphon crowded Stone, getting right in his face. He knew the Nameless revolutionary was a volatile man, but Gryphon welcomed the challenge as adrenaline coursed throughout his body. She was supposed to be here. He’d staked all of his hopes on it.

Stone crossed his arms. “Back up, Ram, and I’ll tell you.”

“I’ll kill you, Stone.” An open threat that didn’t make any sense, but Gryphon was past logical reasoning. He took a step back and pulled the dagger from his belt the Raven had gifted him. “Talk.”

Suddenly a knife pricked the skin of his back shoulder. “Relax, Gryph. And put your blade away. We are all on the same side now.” Eva walked around Gryphon to stand next to Stone. She spun the knife around her fingers like she used to do during training sessions when they were little. Ever the showoff.

Gryphon sighed and sheathed his knife, embarrassed by his volatile temper. “I’m sorry.”

Eva nodded and sheathed her own blade. She held out her hand to Stone and the large Nameless set a folded piece of paper in it. Eva handed the paper over to Gryphon.

“What is this?” Gryphon asked.

“A letter written by Zo for Commander Laden. It explains everything.” Eva gestured to the paper. “Open it. Read it.”

Gryphon handed the letter back to Eva and frowned. “I don’t know how to read.” Reading was taught in the home, but Gryphon’s mother hadn’t bothered teaching him the skill. She’d always said a man was judged more by his physical ability than his intellect. Looking back, Gryphon wondered if it had been just another way to punish him for looking too much like his father or if it was simply blatant neglect. He couldn’t decide which answer hurt more.

Eva plucked the letter from his hands and opened it. Gryphon craned over her shoulder just to see Zo’s script.

When Eva read, “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,” Gryphon grabbed the letter from her and squinted at the words as if he could somehow make them say something different.

His nostrils flared as he fought to maintain control. “How long ago?”

Stone said, “A day. My scout says they headed north.”