Nameless (Nameless #1)(72)
Gryphon trotted down toward the town center cursing under his breath. Joshua was too young for his prizefight! The Seer was known for finding the most effective punishments. This was her way of making Gryphon pay the price indirectly. Hurting him at his weakest point. He’d admire the strategy if it wasn’t his life being destroyed.
Gabe joined Gryphon on the vacant trail. When Gryphon didn’t slow his pace, Gabe asked, “What’s happened?”
Gryphon told him about Joshua and the prizefight with a bitter tone. “He’s just a boy! He shouldn’t be fighting in a life-or-death situation.”
“And from what you’ve told me, almost every Ram soldier will be there to watch. How will we get him out before the alarm is raised?”
The noise of the looming crowd pushed the men off the trail and back into the thick forest. They crept up to the tree line but couldn’t see anything over the heads of the boisterous congregation.
Gabe looked at him like a soldier awaiting a command. The simple gesture pressed heavily on Gryphon—the knowledge that if anyone could save them from almost certain death, it was he.
“Pull your hood lower, you’re about to enter a crowd of soldiers thirsty for a Wolf killing,” said Gryphon.
To the Wolf’s credit, he didn’t even look disturbed.
“Look for Zo in the crowd while I get a better view of the platform.” Gryphon would have his spear in case Joshua needed him in the fight. This was one attack as Striker in which he would not falter.
“Zo will be guarded.” The Wolf grimaced. “If I make a scene we’ll find twenty spears in our backs before we have time to run ten steps.
They needed some sort of diversion.
A crazy idea came to Gryphon, something he never would have even considered a year ago. But then, the image of Zo with a spear in her back inspired irrational thinking. “I’ll think of something. Wait for my signal. I’m going to see if I can get the gate open for us. Once you’ve got Zo, retrieve Tess and get outside the wall. If Joshua and I don’t make it out, go on to warn the Raven.”
“How will I know your signal?” said the Wolf, eyeing him skeptically.
“Trust me. You’ll know.”
The deep sound of a single horn called in the distance. The old man from the armory returned bearing Zo’s weapon. When he looked at her his eyes widened. “You might not last very long, Nameless. But at least the men will get a nice show.” He led her out of the rocky tunnel into the reluctant light of morning. A family of birds chirped from their lofty nest. The sound didn’t belong in Zo’s world. Not as she walked down the dirt road to her death.
Zo’s hands flexed into fists then released. Flexed then released. She used her forefinger to pick at the skin on the side of her thumb. Her face revealed nothing but the mask of calm she intended. She heard the gathering crowd of both Nameless and Ram long before they turned the final bend in the trail that led to the center of town. The deep horn sounded again, only this time the vibration rattled Zo’s chest.
Eva, with her chopped hair and wrinkled brow, was one of the first faces she recognized among the throng who’d gathered to witness her death. She was a year or two older than Zo, but she clutched a traveling pack to her chest like it was a comfort blanket. Nameless men stood in conspicuous groups, whispering to each other and casting shifty glances in Zo’s direction.
She had a distinct feeling like something was happening inside the Gate. Something bigger than the prizefight. Some Nameless faces carried the burden of fear while others stood with arms folded across their chests, with chins set high in defiance.
What is going on? Only one man could be responsible for the tension in the clan. One revolutionary so blinded by love that he’d lead men to their deaths to protect his mate. Stone, what have you done?
A wave of nausea crossed over her, painful and threatening. She walked on, one foot in front of the other. Had Gryphon and Gabe been successful? Was Tess safe? And what of Joshua? She needed to know that they would live. She needed to know that Gabe would alert the Raven before the Ram invaded. That candlelight of hope would give her strength beyond measure. Perhaps even strength enough to defeat whatever budding young man she was put up against and walk away from the Gate a free woman.
The trail opened up to the main square. A mass of bodies clamored around the platform. As Zo passed, excited voices diminished to whispers. Zo didn’t have her mud and wrap to hide behind. Her ebony hair was braided along the crown of her head to frame all of her damning features.
“Wolf,” a soldier exclaimed. Others joined; speculation of what she was dawned like a sporadic wave across the stunned crowd. The horn sounded a third time, silencing all but Zo’s pounding heart.
A Ram wearing a string of ancient metal coins climbed the wooden stairs of the waist-high platform and held up his hands to address the crowd. The old man escorting Zo nudged her up the steps.
The old man’s instructions along with the white noise of the crowd were lost to Zo—the sound choked to death by fear and utter shock.
For on the other side of the platform stood a young boy with a short sword in his limp hand. He was all red hair and freckles, looking at her with large eyes rimmed with tears.
Her opponent. Joshua.
Chapter 38
Gryphon raced to the Chief’s home before reason could catch up to him. He skirted the square by weaving between the main buildings of the town. At every opportunity, he glanced into the growing crowd, hoping to be rewarded with a glimpse of Joshua or Zo, but only managed to stumble over an old man pushing a cart of wool.