Nameless (Nameless #1)(34)

Eva was Sara’s eighteen-year-old sister. Sara had been conspiring to match her and Gryphon ever since she learned the marrying age had lowered from thirty to twenty-two.

Gryphon hardly knew the girl, and so wasn’t too disappointed. “Who made the claim?” he asked.

“Taurus.” Sara sighed. “Eva says she’s happy, but … ”

“You can tell she isn’t.”

“Yes.”

Gryphon sighed. He rested his hand on Sara’s stomach and felt the baby move. “Why would she accept the claim if she doesn’t care for him?”

Sara’s brow wrinkled. “I’m not sure. It doesn’t seem like her.”

Gryphon’s hand was still on Sara’s ripe belly when he saw his friend coming around the bend in the road.

“Get away from my wife!” Ajax barked.

Gryphon grinned up at him, his hand unmoving. “I think I might steal her from you.”

“Like hell.” Ajax grabbed Gryphon’s hand and threw it back at him. He turned and helped Sara to her feet. “I was worried when you didn’t come.”

Sara kissed the tip of his nose, effectively turning the overgrown bear into mush. “You worry too much.”

Gryphon suddenly felt out of place. “Take care of yourself, Sara. And remember, I’m eligible in two more years if you decide to trade this oaf in.”

Ajax kicked him away but lines of amusement wrinkled around his eyes. “Get out of here, you good-for-nothing vulture.”

“Say hi to Joshua.” Sara called over Ajax’s shoulder as Gryphon walked away.





Chapter 18





On the day of Gabe’s execution, Tess huddled under Zo’s arm as they walked with heads bowed low. Once the lane opened up into the main part of town, Zo instructed Tess to stand with the other Nameless children from their barracks. “I don’t want to remind anyone that you and I are sisters,” she explained.

Tess looked like she might cry. “I don’t want to watch.” Her lip jutted out. “What if I know him? What if they do something awful to him?”

Zo touched her cheek. “When you get in the crowd, be sure to stand in the back behind someone tall. No one will make you watch.” Zo hoped she was right. The Ram wanted the Nameless to witness these things. They wanted them to remember what came from defying their rule.

A heavy crowd of Nameless surrounded them when they reached the town square. Zo squeezed Tess’ hands and parted ways from her. She allowed herself to be carried to the opposite side of the square until the current of bodies settled into stationary restlessness.

Guards cleared a walkway for five men and one woman with hands bound behind their backs. They each had collars around their necks where thick rope connected them. Gabe walked at the back of the line with his head low. His skin was transparent, his eyes hollow sockets.

Where was the pride he used to carry? Where was the confidence in his step? He was a mere ghost of the man she once knew. Dead already. What have they done to him?

From the corner of her eye, Zo noticed a tall soldier cutting through the crowd in her direction. She tugged on her headscarf and slowly dropped into a crouch to get some fresh dirt for her face. A heavy set of boots stopped in front of her.

“Are you the Nameless healer?” the man asked.

Zo thought about lying but didn’t dare. She slowly rose to her feet while keeping her eyes trained on the ground. “Yes, sir.”

He took her arm without saying a word and dragged her toward the platform. “Wait.” Zo did her best not to struggle, but the closer they got to the center of the crowd the more she believed she was joining Gabe. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

The guard yanked her forward.

“I haven’t done anything wrong!”

Heads turned in her direction, but Zo didn’t care. Tess was here. Tess would see them kill her. She would have to watch her die, like Zo had had to watch their parents.

The guard knocked people out of the way as he worked to get Zo to the corner of the platform. Gabe’s head rose at the commotion. Life entered his eyes. Zo could see him mouthing the word “No” over and over again. The corded muscles in his arms jumped as he pulled against his ropes.

The guard brought Zo to the platform stairs, and to Zo’s relief, walked right past. She could feel Gabe’s bright blue eyes staring at her as she walked by him. She might have been able to touch her childhood friend if she tried. She reached the center where a group of padded chairs were sectioned off.

“Is this the girl you wanted, sir?” The soldier shoved Zo forward, stopping directly in front of the Gate Master.

He excused the soldier with the flick of his hand without taking his gaze off Zo. “Sit with me.” He gestured to a cushion beside his chair.

Zo eyed the seat with contempt but thought of Tess and sunk to her knees in submission.

“Your service in the Medica is insufficient.” He cupped her cheek in his rough hands. “You will move from the Nameless’ barracks to live in my household.”

Before entering the Gate, Zo knew this day would come. No matter how much dirt and grime she smeared onto her face, a guard would eventually want her. The idea had been less terrifying before she met the Gate Master.

The low rumble of the Ram horn made even the most important people seated with the Gate Master break conversation and rise to their feet. The crowd parted for the chief and his entourage of guards and advisors. Zo kept her head down as they passed. The Gate Master pulled away her headscarf. Her dark hair tumbled down her back. Clean and kept in an unhelpful sort of way.