Nameless (Nameless #1)(31)

Commander Laden hadn’t exaggerated. There was no escape from this place. Not even a dangerous “back-up plan” in case the Seer discovered her involvement or Gryphon decided to turn her in.

From now on, she’d have to be sparing with the bottles stolen from the Medica supply room. Only the most vital information could be floated downriver. If Tess hadn’t followed her into the Gate, she wouldn’t have bothered being so cautious. But as it was …

Zo dragged her feet as she hiked back down to the Nameless’ barracks. She slowed her steps the closer she got to town. Once the dangerous road came into view, she took a moment to listen for patrolling guards.

A barn owl hooted in the distance. The wind rolled lightly through the trees, but no guards. She had just taken a step outside of the forest when a man dropped down from a tree above her head. Zo’s scream was caught by a rough hand clamped over her mouth.

A large man with a long scar across his face looked in both directions on the road. He held a black executioner’s hood in his hand. “If you value your life, you will not make a sound.”

The hand covering her mouth fell away as the black hood came down over her head, blocking the light of the stars and moon.





If only Gryphon knew how to write! An anonymous letter was the safest way to give his superiors information about the enemies camped downstream. The old Historian had said he was a fool not to bother with reading and writing. She’d been right about that, at least.

“What’s bothering you?” said Joshua. “Something bad happened. Tell me.”

“It’s nothing, kid. Fix your stance. A little girl could knock you over when you rest on your heels like that.” Joshua had been begging Gryphon to help him with his hand-to-hand techniques. The training session had barely begun and already the kid sensed Gryphon’s unease.

Joshua stood up and abandoned his stance. “Something’s definitely wrong. I can tell by your eyebrows. Whenever you’re worried a crease forms between them.”

“Stance, Joshua! Or we’re done for the day.”

Joshua obediently bent his knees and rolled onto the balls of his feet, his hands out, his back curved. “Fine. Don’t tell me. We can just lie to each other and pretend that everything is fine.”

“Thank you.” Gryphon suppressed a smile. “Now advance.”

They grappled until Joshua complained his back ached from being thrown to the ground too many times. He dusted himself off and received a friendly slap on the shoulder.

“You’re getting better,” said Gryphon.

“It’s about Zo, isn’t it?”

Gryphon rolled his eyes and gathered his pack. The kid could be a pesky fly when he wanted to.

“Tell me.”

Gryphon sighed. He leaned against a tree and crossed his arms. “It actually has nothing to do with Zo.”

Joshua lifted his freckled brow.

“I’ve obtained some information regarding an enemy camp.”

Joshua’s mouth fell open. “No way.”

Gryphon raised his hands. “I’m not sure if my intelligence is accurate. I want to write it down and stay anonymous.”

“Why? Where’d you get it from?”

Gryphon looked away. “I can’t say.”

Joshua shrugged. “I could write it for you.”

Gryphon snapped to attention. “Where did you learn?”

“My friend, Lance, has been teaching me. His mother’s a scribe for the Seer. It’s not that hard—”

“No one can know about this.”

Joshua smiled. “Whatever you say, only, can we do it at your mom’s house? I’m starving.”





Gryphon stared at Joshua’s scribbling in awe. He squinted, as if by doing so he might divine the meaning of the text. “You included everything?”

Joshua jammed another piece of buttered bread into his mouth, leaving little room to speak around it. “Yep.”

“You’re absolutely certain they will not know this is from me?” Gryphon inwardly growled at his own inability. He scanned the page again, following each line with intense focus.

“I’m sure.” Joshua swallowed hard and packed more bread in his mouth. “I can teach you to read, if you want.”

“Really?” The thought made Gryphon surprisingly hopeful.

“Sure.” He plucked the page from Gryphon’s hand and flipped it around. “Lesson number one: don’t read it upside-down.”

Gryphon ruffled Joshua’s red hair. “You’re lucky I like you.” He left the boy to his food and walked out of his family home. With Joshua’s words clamped in his fist, Gryphon set off to plant his information and relieve some of the guilt of his betrayal.





Chapter 17





Zo struggled to breathe through the thick hood covering her face. Her bound wrists burned. Blood rushed to her head as men took turns carrying her over their shoulders. It was a bumpy ride that made her want to be sick inside the hood.

There was no point in risking her captors’ anger by voicing the questions rolling around inside her head. Why would a Ram do this? She was their property! Where were they taking her? She could only hope they didn’t connect her with Tess. Had Gryphon already broken his promise to keep her identity a secret?