Fearless (Nameless #3)(68)

Zo leaned over to stop his anxious hands. “You’re worried.”

Joshua nodded. “It’s just … I know it was a dream, because Gryph wouldn’t do this without telling me. At least I don’t think he would. But then, when I woke up I somehow knew that he was gone, and everything about the Ram moving south to the Wolves. How did I know that if … ” He shook his head, as if doing so would clear the cobwebs from his thoughts to reveal the truth.

Zo picked up another strip of muslin. “You must have been partly awake when we came in to talk after Commander Laden’s announcement last night.”

Joshua slowly gathered his feet beneath him. Zo had never seen someone’s skin pale before her eyes, but that is exactly what happened. Color leaked from him like blood from a head wound. He stared off into the distance in a state of paralyzed shock. “He wouldn’t. He just wouldn’t. Not without talking to me. Not without saying a proper goodbye. I’ll kill him myself … ”

“Tess! Clear the cot. He needs to lie down,” ordered Zo as she stood next to him to help him keep his balance.

“I will not lie down.” Joshua’s lips pinched tight, his brows knit together.

Zo tried not to panic, but she understood Joshua’s look. It could only mean one thing: Gryphon’s lie. He’d said he couldn’t be trusted. Before she realized it, she was shaking him. “Tell me what you heard. Tell me!”

Joshua’s voice sounded far away. “He’s not coming back, Zo. Something about sacrificing himself for Ajax and the rest of the mess.” He gasped for air and a pathetic sob escaped. “He’s going to let Barnabas execute him.”

“What?” It was a stupid thing to say. As if having Joshua repeat himself would change what she’d heard. Zo grabbed her neck, wishing there was some way to open her throat to allow more air to pass through. “How dare he?” she seethed. “I don’t care if they are his brothers! How could he abandon us?”

But then it hit her. He hadn’t abandoned her at all. He’d lied. Not about loving her, about leaving.

“Where I’m going you can’t follow.” Gryphon had said.

He was protecting her again; just like he had ever since the first moment he’d defied orders when he discovered she was a Wolf back in Ram’s Gate.

Didn’t he realize that their lives were connected now? That by offering up himself, he was also offering up any hope she’d ever had for happiness? Squashing it like a bug on the ground.

“That’s why he was talking to Gabe,” said Joshua. He’d managed to compose himself some, but his nose still ran and his eyes were swollen. “He wanted Gabe to take care of us.”

“And Gabe didn’t think we should know about this?”

Joshua shrugged. “Told Gryph he wouldn’t say anything until … after.”

Zo darted into the tent and yanked open the pack on the floor. She threw a change of clothes and a few shirts into the bag along with her kit.

“What are you doing?” asked Tess. Joshua was on her heels.

“I’m going after them.” Zo tucked her thick wool blanket into a tight roll and fastened it to the pack.

Tess dropped to her bedroll next to her and quickly began tucking and rolling it into a lumpy ball. “No, Tess. Absolutely not!”

Tess moved on to gathering things for her pack, ignoring Zo’s demand.

“It’s too dangerous.” Zo heard an unfamiliar growl in her voice but was too enraged with Gryphon to curb her anger.

“Joshua, get your things. I’ll talk to Millie about rations.”

Tess stomped her foot and propped her fists on her hips. “You promised, Zo. You promised on the graves of our parents that you wouldn’t leave me again. If the redhead gets to go, then I should too. You need me!”

Zo stopped packing and pulled Tess to her chest. “Little lamb,” she whispered into her soft, blond hair. “You are so brave, but this is just too dangerous for you. You are the last healer in camp. They need you to look after people here. Would you really leave them without a healer?”

“Nice try. They’re headed to the Valley of Wolves. You told me yourself that there are more healers there than anywhere else in the region. Besides, they are walking away from the fight. You’re walking right into it.” She crossed her arms. “You need me.” The tremor in her voice and the anguish in her round, glossy eyes said, And I need you.

Zo hesitated. Closed her eyes and sighed.

“We should take the extra bandages.” Then under her breath added, “Gryphon’s going to need some patching up when I’m through with him.”





It took nearly an hour to gather the proper supplies for the journey. Zo, Tess, and Joshua set out over the crest of the hill with their packs secured on their backs and capes billowing in the wind sweeping through the valley. Gryphon would be furious, but Zo didn’t care.

Just as they reached the mouth of the slot canyon, they spotted Raca walking along the western wall headed in their direction. She carried a heavy pack, with her usual bow and quiver fastened to her back.

“Going somewhere?” Zo asked when she joined them inside the slot canyon and out of sight from the valley below.

“My father will kill me, but this is my fight just as much as it is anyone’s. Against a foe like the Ram, one man, or woman, might be the difference between victory and defeat.”