Fearless (Nameless #3)(33)
They reached the high bench of the foothills and were met by the small company traveling to the Kodiak Caves consisting of Talon and Raca, as well as Ikatou and two of his Kodiak clansmen.
“Are you ready?” Ikatou asked Zo.
Gryphon’s hand tightened around hers and she nodded. “Lead the way.”
They hiked north until they reached the tall fissure in the canyon wall that marked the slot canyon. On either side of the gap, two columns of Ravens, clad in full warrior garb, waited. Each Raven had black tears painted on his face and a bow in hand. The warriors were all fixed on Raca and Talon, the future leaders of their clan. Brother and sister walked shoulder to shoulder through the tunnel of Raven. Ikatou and his two men followed single file, leaving Laden, Gryphon, Joshua, and Zo.
“I want to hear everything about the Kodiak Cave. I’m so jealous you get to see them,” said Joshua. “Be safe.”
He stepped in and hugged Zo, but she held onto him a moment longer and said, “Please watch out for—”
“Tess,” Joshua finished. “I know. I always do.” His lopsided, freckled smile turned Zo’s heart to mush.
Laden stepped up next to offer her a warm hug. She inhaled his familiar scent. “Thank you for doing this, Zo. Remember, the goal is to get Murtog to join us for the Ostara. You will need to convince him to leave within the next four days to make it back in time.”
Zo nodded.
“And Zo?” Laden cupped her cheek as though she were still a child. “Be safe, and watch that tongue of yours. The Kodiak can be … unpredictable.”
When Laden had stepped away enough for Gryphon to come forward, Gryphon lifted his arms and Zo filled the space before the weight of his embrace folded around her. Zo laid her head on one of his broad shoulders. “I will miss you every moment you’re away.” He whispered so only she could hear, “Remember, you are far more important than Murtog or anyone else. Come back with or without the chief’s agreement.” He took the time to kiss the backs of each hand, where the blood oath scars had formed, then cupped his hand around the back of her neck and pressed his forehead to hers. “If you’re not back in seven days, I’m coming after you.”
“Gryphon!” Zo started, but he gently covered her mouth. “No arguments.”
Tears pricked the corners of her eyes and she quickly batted them away. She pressed up onto her tiptoes to kiss his warm lips.
Laden, standing a few feet away, cleared his throat, and Zo forced her body to step away from Gryphon’s. The final member of their travel party, she walked through the tunnel of Raven to join the others. Row by row, the Raven in the line turned to face her with military exactness. When she reached the slot canyon with the others, the heavily feathered Raven Chief stepped forward and said, “May the winds carry you and bring you safely h … home.” He stumbled over the last word. A lance of pain shot across his face.
Thanks to the Ram, the Raven no longer had a home. They could never go back to their sacred Nest now that the Ram knew its location. Zo’s heart ached for the man. For his whole clan.
The chief cupped his hands around his mouth and released a shrill caw. At the same moment, bow strings stretched back, loaded with the Raven’s most deadly weapon. Arrows flew high in both directions in exquisite unison and landed in almost perfect lines a hundred yards away.
Zo looked back to find Gryphon staring, not at the impressive show of skill from the Raven but directly at her. So handsome and strong. So clearly concerned for her wellbeing.
She lifted a hand and waved, but then had no choice but to follow the line of travelers through the slot canyon, Gryphon disappearing from sight.
Chapter Thirteen
Laden clapped Gryphon on the shoulder. “Time for us to get to work, son. Staring at that rock wall won’t bring her back any sooner.”
Gryphon nodded and walked with Laden back down the foothills toward the camp. The first horn would sound soon, signaling training.
“It’s taken some rearranging, but I finally have your first commission of men.”
“How many?” Gryphon asked.
“Forty. All Wolves.”
Fantastic.
“A few of my lieutenants and I will observe you for the next few days.”
Gryphon scoffed. “If you don’t trust me, why give me a band of men to train? Half of them will assume I started that fire last night.”
“And the other half will think you killed your guard to do it,” Laden conceded. “But you didn’t start that fire, Gryphon. I think we both can agree that someone in this camp wanted it to look like you had.” He walked beside him with fingers linked behind his back. “The Wolves aren’t as ignorant as you might think. I’ve been employing some old Ram training tactics with only the Wolves in the camp.”
“What do you know of Ram training tactics?”
Laden ignored him. “Several of my officers are doing their best to teach proper technique, but no one has any actual fighting experience with this type of warfare.” He paused for a few more steps then said, “To win this war, we have to defeat the Ram phalanx. And the only way to do that … ”
Gryphon stopped walking. They’d reached the upper fields and a row of young maize divided their paths. “You can’t be serious.”