Nameless (Nameless #1)(70)

Time slowed. Gryphon could see the slight bulge in his leader’s arm, how his hand braced the girl’s shoulder for leverage.

Under his cloak, Gryphon inched the knife out of the sheath at his side.

There would be no turning back after this.

The dagger whipped through the air and sank to the hilt in the Gate Master’s arm, only inches from Tess’ head. The Gate Master released the girl and dropped to his knees before wrenching the dagger out of his arm. “You missed,” he said, breathing hard through the pain.

“I never miss,” said Gryphon. He dropped his sword and shield on the ground and charged the Gate Master, throwing him into the wall behind them. Gryphon punched him in the nose and felt a satisfying crunch beneath his fist. He struck him again and again, every hit stronger than the next. He would make the Gate Master pay for every time he’d beaten Zo. For the fear in Tess’ innocent face.

“Not as fun when someone hits back, is it!” Gryphon roared like a feral animal and delivered another blow to the man’s head. The Gate Master’s body slumped. But Gryphon wasn’t through with him yet. He grabbed him by the shirt and threw him across the room. The women screamed.

Gabe put a hand on Gryphon’s shoulder. “Enough.”

Gryphon’s chest heaved for want of breath. The Gate Master didn’t move. Gabe went to check his pulse and Tess ran for Gryphon. He pulled her into his arms, concealing her under a portion of his cloak.

“He’s dead. Let’s get out of here,” said the Wolf as he climbed out the window.

Gryphon handed Tess to Gabe then joined them behind the house. They ran most of the way to Gryphon’s home. The Wolf carried Tess on his back.

The sky was gray in anticipation of dawn. The men slowed to a brisk walk. Tess climbed down to carry herself. She had tears in her eyes. “I thought you were a ghost when you came into the house,” she explained to Gabe. “I watched you die on the platform!”

She turned to Gryphon. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Gabe spared him from answering. “Gryphon was trying to protect you, bug.”

“Well, that doesn’t make any sense.” She clung to Gabe’s side. “Please don’t die again.”

Gabe laughed. “I’ll do my best.”

She looked over to Gryphon and frowned. “I don’t want you to die either.”

A knot locked up Gryphon’s throat. He nodded and looked forward to watch the wooded trail leading to his family home. He’d just killed a high-ranking Ram officer. When the Seer discovered Tess and Zo missing, she would immediately suspect him. It would not take much to get the Nameless women in the Gate Master’s home to talk.

They had maybe another hour before the next shift change at the Gate. It would be their only chance to get out alive. “You grab Zo. I’ll gather my packs.”

“Your packs?” Gabe’s brow rose.

“Just go! Meet me out front in five minutes. We need to get Joshua before sunup.”

Gryphon bounded into the house. “Mother!” he called, as he ran around his room collecting his things. “Mother, get dressed!”

His mother rushed into the room in panic. “What is it?”

“We’re leaving.” He stuffed a bag with supplies.

“I thought your mess didn’t leave until this afternoon?”

“No, mother. We’re leaving. You and I.”

Gryphon would have said more, but his mother’s distant expression confirmed that she understood his full meaning. “I want you to come with me.”

She took a step back and shook her head.

“Please, mother. Pack a light bag. We have to leave at once.”

Her face twisted into rage. She took another step back. “Not. You. Too.”

She turned around to show him her back. “If you step out that door, you’re dead to me.” Gryphon put his arms around her but she would not turn to face him.

“Please, Mother!”

“Leave if you must, son. But I will not follow you.” She pushed his arms away. “Just like I would not follow your father.”

She went into her room and slammed the door behind her.

Gryphon couldn’t seem to command his body. He stared at the closed door and found his face wet with tears.

Gabe charged into the house just as deep Ram horns sounded in the distance.

“Gryphon!” he panted. Tess stood behind him, misery etched into her forehead. “I can’t find Zo.”





Zo couldn’t keep her body from shaking. She sat on her knees, folded into a tight ball on the floor of the cave. Her arms hung from the ice cold chains bolted into the rock wall above her. The metal dug into her wrists as she let it support her weight. The darkness was alive, filled with breath and movement. It was an evil shadow ready to envelop her forever. A tangible fiend meant to erase everything worth living for while exposing every reason why giving up was almost certainly the best option.

A light pierced the darkness. She’d only been in the cave for a few hours, but the brightness blinded her. “S’time to get you ready,” said a gravelly voice. “I just have one question.” The man walked closer. The contrast of light and shadow made his nose appear twice its size. “How are you with a sword?”

The man unleashed her wrists and led her to a vacant room filled with weapons. A torture chamber? Zo thought. But the old soldier didn’t bother tying her down. Instead he selected a sword from the wall and offered Zo the hilt.