Fearless (Nameless #3)(59)
Chapter Twenty
Gryphon never once took his eyes off Zo when they returned to the Healer’s Tent as she administered fifty-seven stitches, four blessings, multiple ointments, and one fitted eye patch to the men injured in the attack. Zo leaned against the leg of a wooden worktable as she melted to the floor. Resting her chin on her knees, she stared out at the sleeping forms of the men—boys, really—whom she, Millie, and Tess had attended.
At some point, the sun had reached its highest place in the sky and fallen into the western horizon, casting warm light through the tent flaps and turning the fabric honey amber.
Tess gathered the remaining soiled bedclothes and took them out for cleaning. “You did well, kid,” Zo said to Tess.
And the little girl had. Gryphon doubted she’d ever seen anything so gruesome as the men she helped Zo work on today. But with the coming battle, this was only the beginning.
Zo let her head fall back and her eyes close.
Gryphon couldn’t stand watching her sleep in such discomfort and didn’t want to think about the price she’d likely pay for healing those men. When they first entered the tent, he’d refused her help. He still shuddered over the memory of her striking blue eyes darting up to meet his in cold defiance. Her mouth had set into a firm line before she’d turned away without another word.
It had been Millie who sewed Gryphon back together. The older woman’s healing strength was nothing compared to Zo’s, but at least he wasn’t heaping more pain upon Zo.
Taking his time to swing his feet out of the narrow bed, Gryphon stood and walked over to Zo’s side. His stitches tugged as he bent to lift her from the ground, but he ignored the pain.
She turned her face to nuzzle into him. For a few moments, he savored the feel of cradling her in his arms before her eyes flew open. “Your stitches,” she said, her voice a low whisper.
“I’m fine,” he promised, walking her over to the bed next to his and lowering her down. “After all you’ve done today, I think you deserve a proper bed.”
She barely seemed to register the light brush of his lips on hers and the woolen blankets being tucked around her. Stars, she was beautiful. Gryphon watched the steady rise and fall of Zo’s chest, the soft planes of her face, the fluttering eyelashes that kissed her tanned cheeks.
He was a man completely and utterly smitten.
“I’m worried about Joshua,” she said, eyes still forced closed by exhaustion. Was she paying for the healing already?
“This isn’t the first battle scene the boy has witnessed. Probably not the last either.”
“But he’s never seen his best friend … ” Zo’s eyes fluttered open. She sat up on the bed, placing a hand on her cheek. “Oh, Gryphon. You don’t know!”
She slid her feet from the cot, and took his hand in hers. “Sani followed you. They say he saved your life.”
Gryphon didn’t remember standing. “What?”
“Laden told me Sani was the one to raise the alarm, but when told to stay back, he followed anyway. Sani climbed the rock wall of the slot canyon and made his way over to where you were fighting. The men said that when they found you, there was a Ram lying next to you with an arrow through his heart.”
Gryphon couldn’t swallow. Couldn’t breathe.
“Is … is he all right?”
Tears filled Zo’s eyes. She shook her head. “He didn’t make it, Gryphon. I … I’m sorry.”
Gryphon stood, numb and broken, and left the tent. Joshua. He said the boy’s name over and over in his mind. He needed to find the kid. But when he reached their tent it was empty. He hurried over to the Raven sector, knowing his presence wouldn’t be welcome but not caring enough to stop walking.
What had Sani been thinking? Gryphon shook his head, and a surprised sob escaped him. He fought back his emotions, knowing the Raven didn’t welcome any form of outward mourning. They believed that if the people wept over their dead, the spirits of their loved ones would linger instead of entering into the afterlife. There would be no funeral for Sani. No words spoken over his grave. No tears shed. The thought made Gryphon want to punch someone.
Gryphon came to Chief Naat’s tent. Two Raven guards stood still as statues at the door, confirming the chief was inside.
“May I speak with him?” Gryphon cleared the emotion from his voice. “Will he see me?”
The two guards exchanged an uncertain look. One ducked inside the tent and was out in only a few moments. “The chief is grieving. He will see no one.”
“Where are Raca and Talon?” Gryphon asked. He had to speak to someone. He had to apologize. To kneel at their feet with shame for letting this happen to their beloved little brother.
“Raca has taken the trail south out of the valley. She threatened a quick death to anyone who followed her.”
“And Talon?”
“With his wife and children.”
Gryphon swore under his breath. “Please tell the chief … ” He stopped, unsure how to find the words to make something this horrible right. Untying the string of Sani’s beads around his wrist, Gryphon held them out to the guard. “Please give these to the chief. Tell him I’m sorry. Tell him I didn’t know Sani followed me. Tell him I wish it was me.”