Nameless (Nameless #1)(18)

Brutus glared at him before ducking his head. “No, sir.”

Gryphon released him and addressed the now silent group of men. “Let’s pick up the pace.”

They ran through midday and into the afternoon without seeing a footprint. Gryphon pushed on, determined not to fail Zander and his brothers in the mess.

It was Ajax who finally had the nerve to say what the rest were likely thinking. “The sun’s sinking, Gryph. We need to head back.”

He was right, of course, but it didn’t make the decision to quit searching any easier. Gryphon nodded. “Back to the rally point.”

As they followed the slope downhill, a short burst of light caught Gryphon’s eye. He blinked, searching for a source of water in the gully below, but then saw a hint of movement in the thick foliage.

Gryphon barely spoke above a whisper. “Movement below. Southwest patch of bushes.”

To the group’s credit, they marched on like nothing had happened until they were within twenty yards of the bushes.

Another beam of light blinded Gryphon. He heard the quick thump of a bow just before an arrow entered his shoulder.

“Link!” Gryphon ordered. They tightened into a perfect ball of shields just as another secession of arrows pelted against them.

“I count five archers!” said Ajax.

“Six,” groaned Gryphon, gesturing to the foreign arrow in his shoulder.

Ajax barely spared Gryphon a glance as he leaned over and ripped it out.

“Ahhhhh!” Gryphon growled. His vision swirled as he tried to clear his head through the pain.

“They’re running!” one of the men called.

“Not again!” Gryphon pushed through the phalanx of shields and took off at a dead sprint, leaving his brothers behind.

The enemy ran deep into a shallow ravine as Gryphon charged after, running along a narrow ridge ten feet above them.

Shouts from his brothers who couldn’t match Gryphon’s pace sounded from behind. Going off alone, without the protection of the mess, went against Ram training, but he refused to lose this man. This Wolf.

With every jarring footfall, Gryphon thought of the shield hanging above his family hearth. The shield that kept him from becoming what his father never had. He pushed himself harder. The distance between he and the Wolf narrowed, but so did the small ridge above the gorge. He’d have to jump.

The Wolf bringing up the rear of the group slid to a halt. He turned to face Gryphon, drawing a sword from his back sheath. Gryphon almost stumbled in shock as the fool charged. Gryphon leapt off the ledge. Ram and Wolf collided in the air, but Gryphon’s momentum carried them swiftly to the ground. The hilt of the Wolf’s sword slammed across his face. The Wolf’s free hand reached for a dagger, but Gryphon grabbed his wrist to stop him.

The Wolf was strong, and judging by his surprised expression, he hadn’t expected Gryphon to match him. Gryphon blocked another hit to the face, grateful he was too close to get the long end of the Wolf’s sword. With both hands occupied, Gryphon arched his head back and butted the Wolf in the face. Blood poured from the enemy’s nose, but his hand moved even closer to the dagger.

Ajax pulled Gryphon off to let the rest of the mess take over.

It took four of them to get the deadly sword from the Wolf’s hands. They bound his arms behind his back and tied a rope around his neck.

“What were you thinking?” Ajax’s dark complexion matched his mood. He made a tourniquet and wrapped it around Gryphon’s shoulder.

“I got him, didn’t I?”

Ajax fought a smile as he cinched the dressing with more force than necessary. “Yes, you did.”

Gryphon kept his eye trained on the prisoner as he took the length of rope. The pain from his shoulder streaked through his whole body, pulsing and terrible, but he didn’t show his enemy weakness.

Blood dripped from the Wolf’s nose onto his lips and chin. He didn’t seem to be any older than Gryphon. One eye was swollen shut. A deep gash ran from cheek to chin. He stood tall, looking Gryphon directly in the eyes.

Gryphon couldn’t help but be impressed.

It was a shame the Wolf had to die.





Chapter 10





Zo carried a stack of Medica records through the torch-lit square, eyeing the raised fighting platform with contempt as she passed. She’d never been out at night before, and as ashamed as she was to admit it, the flickering lights and shadow-cast faces caused fear to weave throughout her body. She missed the colorful painted lanterns and rich laughter that had dominated the nights of her childhood with the Wolves. Here the air carried a hard, cold energy that made her want to turn back and wait out the nightmare until morning.

She tugged on the heavy wooden door of the Building of Records and slipped inside. A shadowed figure cornered Zo the moment she entered. He smelled like bad cheese, the kind with too much curd and too many days left to age.

“State your purpose here, Nameless.” Of all the men inside the Gate she’d hoped to repel with the mud, the Gate Master topped the list. The trouble was he never looked at her face.

“I have records from the Medica.”

The Gate Master eyed the papers with disgust. “The Seer and her mindless records,” he mumbled.

Zo waited for him to move but he simply stared at her. “The more I see you, the more I know you’re not a Kodiak.” He lifted up her chin to examine her face. “Those blue eyes and full lips. There’s Wolf in your blood. I swear there is.”