Fearless (Nameless #3)(70)
“Talk to each other!” Gryphon growled. “Your families depend upon you staying in formation!”
By afternoon, Gryphon grew so frustrated that he propped his spear up on his shoulder and drew his sword. All four lines of the phalanx halted to watch Gryphon launch the spear over fifty yards until it sank deep into the trunk of an Elm tree. “Any Ram you encounter will see even the narrowest gap and make you bleed for it.” Gryphon motioned for one of the younger boys in the company to retrieve the spear. The boy took off like a frightened rabbit. “Next time … ” Gryphon scanned the faces of every man of his forty. “Next time you are my target.”
The men whispered to each other, pointing at the spear with pale faces, some shaking their heads in worry. Many had never faced a single Ram, let alone an army of professional phalanx warriors. They were afraid. Gryphon could taste it. Fear was healthy. To be afraid, an entirely different beast. The difference subtle, yet distinct.
“Link!” Gryphon yelled.
The boy came running back with the spear, panting from his sprint. “You’re not really going to attack us as we travel, are you, sir?”
Gryphon accepted the spear. He balanced the heavy shaft in his hand. Gryphon knew he had the attention of every man in his company. “If this phalanx can’t defend itself against one Ram, how will it survive twenty?”
“But what if you hit one of us? What if someone is killed?” The boy had nerve to question his word. Inside the Gate he would have been whipped for such a cowardly remark.
“Defend your man and that won’t happen.” Gryphon walked away, letting his words sink in.
Gryphon threw his spear eight times that day. Eight times his phalanx blocked the attack. The men watched him wherever he went, walking in such tight formation that Gryphon scarcely saw their faces as they moved. Every other company of forty marched past; eyeing Gryphon with contempt as his own forty inched along. His men arrived at camp hours after everyone else. When Gryphon gave orders for them to disband, they practically collapsed from fatigue.
As they moved around the camp, Gryphon noted that most of the lines still walked together out of habit. They took meals in line, and even slept near the men whom they defended with their shields.
Pleased, Gryphon left them to seek out Commander Laden.
“We’re traveling too slowly,” said Joshua, casting a pointed glance in Tess’s direction. Raca nodded her agreement.
As determined as Tess had been to keep pace, Zo couldn’t deny that they were losing ground little by little every day.
They’d left the slot canyon and traveled the hilly terrain east until connecting with a main road. Mountains climbed on either side, making the pass the only way to easily travel southward through this section of the region. The Iiná River ran south along the side of the road, providing travelers plenty of fresh water and even some fish, especially during spawning season.
Zo kicked a rock and sent it splashing into the drink. If Gryphon really cared about her more than his pride, he would never have left.
She kicked another rock.
“We should run and take turns carrying Tess,” said Zo, interrupting a long stretch of silence. “The Ram army will travel this road to get to the Valley of Wolves. They are marching somewhere behind us. And if we want to reach Gryphon before … ” Zo hitched up her pack and looked away, unable to finish the morbid thought.
Joshua nodded. “What do you say, Tess? Should we assume the usual position?” The freckles on his face blended together as he scrunched up his nose in a forced attempt at humor.
Tess practically threw her pack at Zo before jumping up to sit on Joshua’s shoulders.
They started at a slow jog and worked into a moderate run, just enough to stretch Zo’s legs without overexerting. She guessed they had at least two days of travel before the Allies intercepted the Ram where the two rivers diverged. Two days of knowing the Ram marched at their backs.
That night the four huddled together for warmth on a shelf they’d found while exploring the steep cliffs off to the side of the road. Raca had insisted she couldn’t sleep unless they were elevated, and the ledge offered a decent view of the road. She and Joshua had carefully covered their tracks while Zo helped Tess up the mountain. Without a fire, the threat of humans was minimal, but it left nothing to scare away other predators.
“Why did you let us come?” Joshua whispered into the night. It was Zo’s watch, but he’d been restless for the better part of an hour before sitting up and leaning back against his palms. Tess had fallen asleep on his leg, pinning him in place. Raca curled up beside her.
Joshua stared up at the night sky. “You could have slipped away without us. Just like Gryphon.”
Zo had certainly thought about doing that very thing. “Several reasons.”
Yes, she’d promised Tess not to leave her again, but the whole truth ran deeper than an underground spring. Ice cold and completely filtered of all of her good intentions, the truth was she needed Joshua to help convince Gryphon to abandon his plan. Gryphon cared for Joshua more than anyone else in the whole world. Gryphon would do anything for the kid.
Joshua was quiet for a while. “He loves you.” The words hung on the stale breeze like a bubble of promise that might pop at any moment.
He left me. Zo mentally corrected.