Nameless (Nameless #1)(41)
Zo looked away, hurriedly wiping the tears from her face. She knew Gryphon had had no choice but to kill Gabe, but it didn’t make looking at him any easier. To her he would always be the man who killed her childhood friend.
The soldier stepped closer and lifted Joshua’s arm from her waist. “Do we need to replace the bandages?”
Zo sniffled and nodded, gesturing for her kit.
Gryphon washed his hands in a basin of water in the corner of the room then sat on the edge of the bed. He lifted the hem of her shirt to expose her stomach. His movements were gentle. Fluid. The caked blood tugged at Zo skin as he slowly pulled the bandages away.
“We need to flush out the wound.” Zo gestured to a tall bottle of alcohol and a tiny brush. “You might need to scrub, soldier.”
Gryphon frowned. “Won’t that be painful?”
Zo laughed. The tone of her voice scared her—it was the sound of a woman who’d lost her mind. Why did he care if it was painful? In his eyes she was no better than a goat in a pen.
The soldier lowered himself to his knees and set his shoulders. He uncorked the lid and poured the clear liquid into each hole, looking up at her for guidance between each pour. Zo wanted to cry out, but gritted her teeth and focused on breathing through the explosions of pain.
“Are you all right? Should I give you a minute before … ” He gestured toward the brush.
“Just do it.” She waited for him to start before dabbing at the tears forming around her eyes. In truth, she couldn’t have imagined a better hand. He seemed to read the wound, and by touch, determine the perfect amount of pressure and strokes to remove the dried blood and dirt.
When he finished, Zo sighed with relief and looked him in the eyes. She couldn’t bring herself to compliment his work. This was Gabe’s killer.
With most of the macabre debris cleaned away the wound looked much less dire. She winced as she tried to sit up to get a better view of it. He took her by the shoulders and lifted her into place. Her body felt cold where his hands had been.
“Looks good. We just need to close the wound.”
“You don’t mean stitching, do you?” Gryphon’s brow furrowed.
“You don’t have to, soldier.” If Tess were here, she could do it, though her stitches weren’t always straight.
“Call me Gryphon.” He looked through Zo’s kit and found a fishbone needle and thread. He placed one hand on her stomach while the other held the needle ready. “Tell me what to do.”
Zo couldn’t decipher his motives for helping her—for being so kind.
Gryphon worked quietly. His fingers moved with stealth and precision. When he tied the final knot, Zo couldn’t help staring. “You’ve never done that before?”
“I’m no healer.”
There it was. The pride of the Ram jumping up to greet her. Of course he hadn’t healed a person before. It wasn’t considered a proud profession. Certainly needed, but not desired above bashing in heads on raids.
“I need to find you a better place to lie down. If my mother wakes up to find you asleep with Joshua in my bed she’ll ask more questions than I want to answer.”
Zo nodded in agreement. The last thing she wanted was to be questioned by the Ram woman again.
Gryphon helped Zo stand and kept hold of her arm as they walked outside to the servant quarters. The small building had a chicken coop connected to the back and an oak front door that sat crooked on its hinges. As they entered, four men jumped out of bed and stood at attention.
“This girl will take Nan’s old bed. She’s been wounded and needs rest. Tend to her and your business today.”
Gryphon looked back at her with a hint of a smile. “I’ll check back in a few hours.” He closed the door behind him.
Zo stared at the door wondering why, with all of his injuries, he hadn’t asked to be healed.
Back in his room, Gryphon’s head sank into his pillow as he labored to steady his nerves. Just as he closed his eyes to rest, three solid knocks sounded at the front door. The tease of sleep made it painful to pull himself away from the bed. Joshua stirred but didn’t wake from his new spot on the floor.
Gryphon leaned heavily with one hand on the doorframe as he pulled the door open. He jumped to attention when he discovered Zander on his porch standing with hands clasped behind his back. “Injuries?”
Gryphon cleared the frog from his throat. “Deep gash on right thigh. Shoulder healing well from the arrow I took on our last mission. A few deep bruises. Nothing major.”
Zander nodded. “The chief received an anonymous tip that we have spies waiting down river. Scouts returned last night to confirm the location. A group of Wolf, Kodiak, and Raven no more than five miles away.”
Gryphon inwardly sighed relief. At least the Wolf hadn’t lied back in the cave.
Zander continued, “We head out in three days, following the engagement festivities. You are excused from training until then. I expect you to be rested and ready.”
“Yes, sir.”
Zander turned to leave, but paused. “Gryphon?”
“Yes, sir?”
“I’ve been thinking about yesterday.” He unconsciously massaged his biceps. “There are only two reasons I can imagine you choosing to fight that Wolf. Either you saw it as a chance to perform for the clan or you really wanted to let the Wolf die with dignity.” He dropped his hands to his sides and looked Gryphon in the eye. “Truth is, I don’t really care what your motives were. It was foolish to put yourself at risk when so many people are counting on you.”