Fearless (Nameless #3)(74)

“The men of the Allies have gone from hating your very existence to looking up to you. They are a superstitious lot. I’m told they hold your presence as a sign of victory.”

Gryphon sighed. “No offense, sir. But if praise is your only reason for calling me to your tent, I’d like to be excused. I have no use for flattery. It will not bring my forty comfort tomorrow when I leave them to fight and die without me.”

Commander Laden studied Gryphon for a long moment. The leader’s hand cupped his own chin as he brushed the full beard now growing there. “Don’t give yourself over to Barnabas. Stay and help me. Become a true leader of the Allies. Fight by my side.” It wasn’t a command but an earnest plea.

Gryphon couldn’t seem to hold Laden’s pained gaze. “I will honor the promise I made to my brothers.” He cleared his throat and looked into the depths of Laden’s wounded expression. “Will you honor your word, Commander?” All it would take was one nod from him and a swarm of guards could prevent Gryphon from fulfilling his duty.

Laden looked beyond Gryphon in a distant trance. “Fate is a cruel mistress, son. One day she kisses your cheek and the next she stabs you in the chest.”

“Sir?” Gryphon pressed.

Laden stood and placed a heavy hand on Gryphon’s shoulder. “You and I will leave camp before dawn. I’ll see you to Barnabas myself when we meet on the battlefield in the morning.”

Gryphon exhaled his relief. “Thank you, sir. But that isn’t necessary.”

Laden shook his head. “You’re a good man, son of Troy. A little too good for my blood.” He smiled, but the lines around his eyes didn’t lift. “You make me proud.”

One of Laden’s guards ducked into the tent. “The others have arrived, Commander.”

“Send them in.”

The Raven Chief showed more feathers than skin. The shadows of candlelight exaggerated his crooked nose. He offered Laden a curt bow and stepped aside to make room for Murtog. A short train of lesser lieutenants followed. Gabe and the Wolf Alpha brought up the rear.

The tent flaps closed. As Gryphon scanned the powerful company, he couldn’t help feeling like he didn’t belong.

“I’ve called you all here to discuss tomorrow’s strategy.” Laden clapped Gryphon on the shoulder.

A few men nodded. The rest openly stared between Gryphon and Laden, intrigue scrawled across their faces. Laden launched into a detailed plan of attack that involved meeting the Ram head on in battle.

Gryphon offered his opinion when called upon but otherwise stayed relatively quiet. After a while, his eyes grew heavy and his mind clouded with thoughts of his own mortality. He didn’t even try to mask his disinterest. It wasn’t until the Raven Chief slammed his fist into the arm of his chair that Gryphon bothered to listen.

“I demand to meet Barnabas with you tomorrow. As Chief, it is my right,” he said to Laden.

Gryphon leaned forward. “May I offer my opinion?”

Everyone in the circle seemed surprised by Gryphon’s sudden entry to the conversation.

“I don’t think anyone should go out to meet Barnabas tomorrow. It’s not customary for Ram to treat war with formality. They don’t acknowledge the other clans enough to bother. For them, this is just another raid.”

Suddenly, a Raven warrior burst through the tent. “Chief Naat!” The short man panted to catch his breath. He wore his head shaven on either side of a four-inch mohawk. “Our scouts have Raca! She is injured. The healer is working on her, but suggests you come quickly.” A pause. “The wound. It’s deep.”





Joshua felled a full-grown man with the slash of his short sword before realizing he was, in fact, Raven. The arrow had been a mistake. The shroud of night mingled with the fear of the Ram army so close had made the young warrior skittish with his bow. Help was called and Zo found herself in a makeshift Healer’s Tent with Tess helping Millie grind herbs into a fine powder.

“Too much blood,” said Zo for the tenth time. The human body wasn’t meant to lose so much in such a little amount of time. The arrow sank deep into Raca’s shoulder. The wound would have been manageable were it not for the sprint that followed. Her heart had literally pumped her blood out as she ran and now she lay white and ghostly, without so much as a cot to rest upon.

“I absolutely forbid you to give that girl a blessing, Zo.” Millie used her forearm to wipe at the sweat beaded along her brow. Millie had been working on Raca for the last hour without much success. There was only so much the healing gift could do for a person. “Sometimes the body loses the will to fight.” She nodded toward Raca. “It’s up to her now.”

“But I know I can help her beat this!” said Zo. With her new abilities, she could easily have Raca up and sipping broth by tomorrow.

“I forbid it.” Millie set her jaw, closing discussion on the matter just as Laden stormed into the small tent.

“Zo,” he growled. “Outside. Now.”

Zo swept her hand down Raca’s wounded shoulder and pushed vitality into the girl before standing to join Laden outside the tent. She stood too quickly and faltered just a bit before catching her stride.

Laden surprised her by pulling her into a tight hug the moment she exited the tent. “Dear girl.” He gasped. “What are you doing here? You should be miles away with the other women and children.”