Fearless (Nameless #3)(11)
Besides that, Gryphon had been different ever since that night. She’d hoped it was only the looming thought of entering the Allied Camp that had kept him quiet. Even now, when she smiled at him across the table, he seemed to hold something back. Did he regret his hasty offer?
Laden set down his fork and wiped his mouth on a napkin. “I suppose all that remains to be discussed is the future. I assume you know I can’t let you leave.”
Gryphon didn’t seem at all surprised by this news.
“You admit you are loyal to your clan, so you can’t fight for the Allies.” It wasn’t a question. Laden knew better than to assume Gryphon would willingly raise his sword against his brothers. “And you cannot leave, or else we run the risk of you revealing the location of our camp.” He idly stroked the shadow of a beard at his jaw line. “What am I to do with you?”
“If I swore an oath not to reveal your location?”
“Not good enough,” said Laden. He thought for a minute then softly tapped the table. “And since we don’t keep prisoners, I see only two options: either remain here and earn your keep by training my men, or we kill you.”
Zo choked on a half-swallowed bite of potato as the men at the table all murmured disgruntled opinions.
When Zo found her voice, she rasped, “You can’t do that!”
“You would trust me to train your men?” Gryphon raised a brow.
“Should I?” Commander Laden countered. Several men around the table fidgeted in their chairs.
“I’m a Ram. I doubt they would accept me.”
“You are Ram and know the strengths and weaknesses of your clan. Who better to train them for combat against the Ram?”
Zo wanted to reach out to Gryphon. To urge him not to commit to anything on her account. He’d sacrificed enough for her. She’d help him leave the Allies if that’s what he really wanted. No more favors.
“And Joshua?” Gryphon asked. “What will become of him?”
Laden didn’t hesitate. “As payment for your service to Zo and Tess, the boy will always have a home and place with the Allies, so long as he keeps our laws.” Laden leaned forward. “But you haven’t answered my question, lad. Can I trust you?”
“This is madness,” the wiry Raven muttered into his mug before taking a long drink. “He’ll sabotage the camp. Kill us in our beds.”
Gryphon turned toward Zo, uncertainty etched across his face. Did he hope to find the answer to the Commander’s question written in her eyes? Laden might not be asking him to fight against his people, but training others to fight the Ram wasn’t really all that different. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but not this. Not from Laden.
“Don’t do this for me,” she blurted. “You’ve done so much … I can’t bear the thought of you sacrificing more.”
He smiled at that, as though something she said was amusing or perhaps ironic. He drew a deep breath and then said, “You have no chance of victory against my people, Laden. But I will train your men so long as it earns Joshua a permanent place among the Allies.”
Laden stuck out a hand and Gryphon accepted it in a firm shake. Then Laden addressed the council. “The Ram and his apprentice are under my protection. If any man harms them while they are my guests I will drag them to the top of that mountain,” he pointed northeast, in the direction of the giant mountain range dividing them from the Ram, “and tie them to a tree to await their death.” Laden met eyes with the two Kodiak at the table. “Do we see each other?” he asked.
They both nodded and in mismatched harmony replied, “We see you.”
To the two Ravens seated at the table, he kissed the tips of his fingers and touched his forehead. They did the same and said, “By the spirit of our ancestors, we will support you.” And lastly, to the five Wolves, he stood and shook hands with each. Everyone in turn rumbled the same, “A promise,” before taking his seat. Three different cultures, three different vows that, when boiled down, all meant the same thing: Gryphon and Joshua were safe.
The tension in Zo’s body unwound.
When Laden reached the head of the table again, he dismissed the company with a charge to pass along his orders to their men. Laden’s system of governing worked so that the information would be spread throughout the ranks of his loyal men within the hour.
Zo took Gryphon’s hand and led him to the far corner of the tent, away from the exit and the ears of the leaving men. “Are you sure about this?” she exclaimed, before he had a chance to say anything. “I can talk to Laden. I can convince him to change his mind.”
Gryphon shook his head. His wrist brushed her cheek as he ran his fingers down the length of one of her many braids. “So beautiful.” Bending down, he placed a chaste kiss upon her forehead. “Until seeing you tonight, I had thought your disguise inside Ram’s Gate almost laughable. It was so obvious how attractive you were.” He smiled and kissed her check. “Now I can see it was actually a valiant effort.”
Zo hadn’t expected this reaction from him. It took her a moment to remember why she’d pulled him aside. Her hand went to her flaming cheek and she whispered, “Please don’t do this for Laden on my account.”
Gryphon straightened. “Laden’s terms were reasonable. I never expected protection and shelter from the Allies without a price attached. Besides, it gives Joshua a chance at a decent future. At least until Laden decides to go to war against my cl—” His voice cut out and he closed his eyes. “I mean, the Ram.”