Fearless (Nameless #3)(67)
The tail of the caravan was comprised of mainly Kodiak and Stone’s Freeman. While Gryphon, the Wolves, and the Raven marched directly toward the Valley of Wolves, following the river south once they exited the suffocating canyon, the rest would set up camp in some abandoned caves northeast of the place where the rivers intersected. Once the Ram army reached the rivers, the plan was to flank them from the rear, freeing the Nameless as well as any women and children who sought refuge from the battle.
The whole plan hinged upon the Ram army traveling faster than the Nameless and women and children of their clan. Laden suspected that the Ram would anticipate a fight and would not want their families caught in the attack.
Entering the slot canyon, Gryphon cringed as he approached the narrow gap where he’d blocked the Ram mess’s escape. The place of Sani’s death. Gryphon shrugged off his pack and held his round shield off to the side as he inched sideways between the two walls of rock. He swallowed the bile of guilt and wiped at the sweat of his brow as he reached the other side.
Shouldering his pack, he turned to continue out of the canyon only to find someone blocking the way.
“May I walk with you?” Chief Naat gestured that Gryphon should lead.
Gryphon hesitated a moment before taking to the trail again, the old chief only steps behind him. From the first moment Gryphon had stepped foot on the Nest, Chief Naat had hated him. And now, after Sani, Gryphon couldn’t blame him. He half wondered if the old man would put an arrow through his back, walking behind him as he was.
“My son died an honorable death. He does not require your guilt or your shame.”
The sweat on Gryphon’s brow returned. He climbed over a waist-high boulder blocking the trail and thought to offer the old man help, but immediately buried the thought as Chief Naat nimbly scaled the rock on his own.
“Sani carried the spirit of my grandfather. Wise beyond his years. He understood that this mortal life was only the beginning … a period of probation.” A pause. “I don’t think he ever felt content in this world. His spirit belongs with our ancestors. He is home. My heart is heavy with loss, but I rejoice in knowing he lived an honest life.”
Gryphon nodded and cleared the tension from his throat. “He was a mighty man trapped in a young body. I … I’m sorry.”
A hand clamped Gryphon’s shoulder, causing him to freeze in place. “No, Ram. I am the one who should apologize.” He scrunched his wrinkled brown forehead and regarded him with eyes filled with wisdom and years. “I see you clearly now.” Another long pause. He reached out and pushed his withered fist into the skin over Gryphon’s heart. “Your heart is good.” Slowly lowering his hand, he bowed his head to Gryphon. “When this battle is over, know that you will always have a place with the Raven.” He pulled Sani’s beads from a pocket in his sleeve and placed them reverently in Gryphon’s hand.
“Wear them in battle so that my son’s spirit can still fight to keep you safe.”
Zo watched as the last of the men disappeared into the slot canyon, and for the third time since Joshua awoke repeated, “Yes, it was definitely alcohol poisoning.”
Joshua kneaded his fingers into his scalp. “How could I have been poisoned? I wasn’t the only one who drank from the vat.”
“Yes, but you were the only one who drank a whole pitcher.”
The embarrassment on his face matched the brightness of his hair. “I’ve made a mess of everything. I should be with Gryphon. He needs me.”
Zo fought back a smile. The last thing Gryphon needed was Joshua at his heels, getting in harm’s way. “He’ll be fine, Ginger.” She rolled the muslin bandages in tight cylinders as she spoke. Three more and then she’d have to find another task to keep her mind occupied. How would she survive not knowing if Gryphon was alive and well, or if he …
She cut the thread of that thought and tucked the roll of muslin tighter. He’d only been gone an hour and she was already crazy with irrational stress.
She hadn’t confided in him about the Seer’s message. Laden had said he’d put his leaders on alert, but the Seer wasn’t the Allies’ greatest threat … it was the massive army marching toward the Valley of Wolves.
“I’m worried about him, Zo.” Joshua must have read her mind. “I had the strangest dream last night.”
Zo was only halfway listening. Tess had coughed into her hand then gone back to touching the medical dressing. “Tess, you may as well throw that away. You know better.”
Tess at least had the decency to look embarrassed.
Joshua walked over to the smoldering morning fire to dispose of the dressing for Tess. “Do you want to hear it?”
“Hear what?” Zo asked, counting the rolls of bandages in her mind.
“My dream.”
More about Gryphon. She couldn’t escape the thought of him for even a minute. “Tell me.” She set down her work to give Joshua her undivided attention.
“I was resting on the cot. You, Gryphon, and Gabe were talking about Gryph leaving with the troops to intercept the Ram. Then it was just Gryphon and Gabe. The Wolf was mad about something. He wanted Gryph to tell you the truth. Something about meeting Barnabas. I don’t really remember it all.”
Joshua folded his fingers into his palms.