Clanless (Nameless #2)(54)

Back toward Ram’s Gate.

“The Nameless were being taken every night. Many people were burned in a fire attack. Boar threatened to hunt us all down, picking us off little by little until we delivered Zo,” said Stone. “I refused him, but after nearly ten men were taken, Zo couldn’t stand it any longer.”

“So you let her go,” said Gryphon.

“Zo is the reason we are all free.” Stone got in Gryphon’s face this time. “I would never trade a human being like livestock. I’ve lived that life, Ram. You, who have kept slaves, have no place to judge me.”

“Stop.” Eva wormed her way in between Stone and Gryphon. “Arguing will not bring her back.”

She was right and Gryphon didn’t want to waste another moment in this camp. “What can you tell me about Boar? How many does he command? What are his possible weaknesses? Strengths?”

Gryphon listened to Stone’s retelling of his encounters with Boar. How he didn’t hesitate to kill the Nameless woman when Stone wouldn’t trade Zo for Ram weapons. His cunning lies. How they were desperate enough in their hunger to eat other people to survive starvation. His strange fascination with Zo.

Gryphon pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing away his fears. What horrors was she facing by the hands of this wild man? “You mentioned Ram weapons. Do you still have some?” asked Gryphon.

Stone nodded and led him to a small cart of tools and weapons that they’d managed to bring from the Gate. Gryphon lifted the familiar weight of a Ram shield and a small surge of hope filled him. He strapped a short sword to his hip and, with reverence, picked up a metal-tipped spear with his throwing hand. Looking down the shaft, he found the oiled wood straight. An accurate tool. Gryphon itched to launch it, to feel the familiar flip of his wrist as he released the perfectly balanced weapon.

“I can spare to send a few men with you,” said Stone.

Gryphon shook his head, still studying the length of the spear. “I only need one.” Then to Eva he said, “Where is Joshua?”

At Gryphon’s request, Talon and Raca agreed to help escort the Nameless refugees to the Allied Camp. But as they prepared to leave, Raca returned without her older brother. “Need any help?” she asked.

“Only a promise that you’ll look after Tess until we return,” Gryphon said as he and Joshua filled their packs with some of Stone’s limited supplies.

“We’re only a day and a half’s journey from the Allies. She’ll be fine. I can’t say the same for you and the boy.”

Joshua didn’t raise his head from his task but scowled just the same. He didn’t like being referred to as a boy, even though he was one.

“You should take me with you.” Raca reached out and touched Gryphon’s sleeve, the gentle contact that, for some reason, made him freeze. He looked up from his pack and met her dark eyes. Eyes very different from Zo’s, but beautiful all the same.

“My bow could save your life.” She swallowed and dropped her gaze.

Gryphon felt Joshua studying them and stepped away from Raca’s touch. “Thank you, but Joshua and I can handle ourselves. We’ll get Zo back.”

Raca nodded. “Be careful.” She walked away without a second glance.

Stone did his best to direct them to the meeting place where he last saw Zo before Boar led her away. It wasn’t hard to find, and once they did, the jumble of tracks made it difficult to distinguish Zo’s footprints from the rest.

Gryphon walked around the perimeter of the tracks, not wanting to disturb any evidence that might help them get Zo back. A smaller set of footprints stood in the midst of what he guessed to be ten men.

Ten men. Zo without protection. They didn’t have much time. But she was alive a day ago, and if what Talon and Raca said about Boar was true, he would keep her alive, so long as he managed his men.

“We have our tracks, Joshua,” said Gryphon.

Joshua nodded. “I’m right behind you.”

They ran until the sun was high above their heads. “Zo always does this!” said Joshua. “She puts herself in danger to protect me.” He mumbled something about her not thinking him capable.

“You’re not much better,” said Gryphon. “At least she didn’t stab herself in the stomach.” Gryphon cringed as the image of Joshua and Zo in the prizefighting ring flooded his memories. The Ram punished Gryphon for his crimes against the clan by putting the two people he cared for most in the ring. Only one was allowed to leave alive.

“That was different!”

“Ha!” Gryphon barked as they secured their packs. Joshua slid his weapons in place and tucked his trusted sling into the leather holster Gryphon made for him when he turned eleven. It secured to his thigh with a leather strap so not to get in the way of other weapons. Gryphon knew for a fact that Joshua carried a pocketful of small rocks wherever he went, even though most boys his age preferred a knife. Not only could the boy knock a squirrel from a tree or stun a rabbit before it found its den, he could actually aim to preserve the meat—a difficult feat for such a small, fast target.

“Being placed in that ring with Zo was a very difficult situation,” said Gryphon, slipping into his mentoring voice. “Did you have any other options beyond killing yourself?” He planted a hand on a partially felled tree trunk and jumped over the log.