Clanless (24 page)

Before anyone had the chance to exchange words, a redheaded boy burst through the line of men, knocking one Nameless to the ground as he sprinted for Gryphon. “I knew you were alive! I told her you were! I knew it!”

Another, higher-pitched shout sounded from behind the line of men and then Tess appeared on hands and knees, crawling between the legs of bewildered men who only now seemed to recognize Gryphon.

Tess scrambled to her feet and ran toward him just as Joshua tackled Gryphon to the ground. The boy wept openly, unable to wipe his tears fast enough. “Gabe told Zo they killed you. She hasn’t been herself. Everything is going to be all right now.”

Tess jumped and squealed as she landed on the pile of Ram. Gryphon wrapped her into a big hug then held her at arm’s length to get a better look at the enormous smile that seemed to reach every corner of her tiny face. Her striking eyes, so characteristic of a Wolf, shone through the dirt on her cheeks. Eyes like her sister’s, but with just a bit more green. “You precious girl.” He kissed her forehead and pulled her in for another hug. “I’m so relieved you’re safe.”

Tess put her hands on his cheeks and whispered a little blessing. Feelings of peace and tranquility emanated from her small hands.

“You’re improving, little one.” Gryphon tapped her on the nose and the spell was broken.

“I’ve needed to,” said Tess. She cupped her hand to Gryphon’s ear. “Zo’s not well. She’s losing her gift, but she doesn’t want anyone else to know. Not even me.”

Zo was a remarkable healer. The idea of her losing her gift seemed about as likely as the sun setting tonight and not rising tomorrow. Healing was a part of her.

“Where is she, bug?” Gryphon scanned the crowd of Nameless that had gathered. It was strange that Zo hadn’t come out to meet him like Joshua and Tess. Did she regret kissing him? Did he complicate things with Gabe so much that she wished he’d never returned? The thought didn’t feel true, but then neither did the idea of Zo caring for him to the degree he cared for her.

Stone stood at the front of the group of Nameless refugees with Eva at his side. The grim look on the crazy leader’s face made the bottom of Gryphon’s stomach drop out. He climbed to his feet with Tess and Joshua still firmly planted at his sides, and together they walked to meet Stone.

“Gryphon,” said Stone, his tone matching his name. “We need to talk.”

Boar’s hand was a dead fish, cold and moist. He led Zo through the woods with the small contingent of men surrounding them. A handful of larger men with shaved heads and full beards clustered at the rear of the pack. They constantly glanced over their shoulders to see if they were being followed.

“No one will come for me. You can tell your men to relax.”

Boar smiled. “I should go back and kill every one of them if they
don’t
make an attempt to get you back.” He shook his head. “You are a valuable asset, my dear. A young Wolf healer is a fine prize. But a young Wolf healer hunted by the most powerful man in the region is a prize even greater than all the gems in the Kodiak Caves. The Nameless are fools for letting you go.”

“How do you know about Barnabas?” asked Zo, stunned.

“I helped get the information out of one of his scouts a few days ago.”

Was that why they hadn’t seen any other scouts? Had Boar’s band of Clanless killed them?

“So you’re taking me back to Ram’s Gate?” She kept her face forward, unwilling to so much as look at the man who still insisted on holding her hand. “What do you hope to gain from Barnabas?” asked Zo.

The Gate! She couldn’t go back to that place. She couldn’t!

Boar licked his chapped and peeling lips. “My citizenship.”

“And your men?” Zo looked around at the concave faces of the Clanless.

“Theirs too,” grunted Boar, but something about his tone was off. Did the others not hear the lie or were they blinded by the hope of belonging to the most powerful clan in the region? Barnabas would never accept anyone other than a Ram into his clan unless they offered themselves up as Nameless. Several of the men encircling them looked like they might pass for Ram, but the giants in the back of the group were decidedly Kodiak in origin. They’d be killed the moment they passed through the gate.

The smell of fire warned that Boar’s camp was nearby. They reached a steep rock wall, and Boar released her hand as he navigated the rock face. When he reached the top shelf, about twenty feet up, he called, “Your turn, my dear,” his smile more menacing than a hundred threats. “That is, unless you’d like one of my men to help you?”

The idea of any of these men touching her propelled her to the wall. She managed the climb without any difficulty and dusted off her hands at the top.

“Such valuable hands,” said Boar. “I hear the man who entices a healer is wealthy for life.” He stared at her hands entranced, then blinked hard and shook his head. “I felt your sister’s touch. Her little hands brought me a great deal of peace. I can’t imagine what a more experienced healer might be able to do.” He licked his chapped lips again and smiled. “Perhaps you’ll show me before I return you to Barnabas.”

The urge to spit in Boar’s face nearly overtook her. Instead, she ignored him and scanned the horizon and the view their raised position offered. She felt his stare. It was a sticky film on her skin, leaving her violated and somehow worthless.

“This way, my dove.” The shelf narrowed as it wrapped around a corner then opened up wide enough to accommodate Boar’s band of Clanless. Cook fires smoldered as clusters of haggard men looked up at Zo. Most of the men were large, carrying the round faces and dark eyes of the Kodiak clan. They wore their long, coarse hair in a mass of disheveled braids down the center of their backs.

Most barely spared a glance for Zo.

Boar led her to a small tent in the far corner of the shelf, and with a flourish, opened the flap for her to enter. “A place to rest while we prepare to leave.”

Zo eyed the dark little space and hugged her arms to her chest. “I’m not going in there.”

Boar’s smile slipped in slow motion. The skin around his neck reddened and a few of the men in the camp climbed to their feet.

A thousand chills ran the length of Zo’s spine as Boar began to shake.

“Please go, miss,” a quiet voice called from somewhere in the camp.

Boar’s head snapped around. “Who said that?” Spittle flew from his mouth.

No one spoke. A few men backed away.

Boar leapt to the Clanless man closest to him and threw his knee into the man’s stomach even though the man hadn’t done a thing to deserve it. As the victim groaned and sunk to his knees, Boar said, “No one talks to her. Am I understood? No one!”

The men in his camp nodded and muttered, “Yes, sir,” then went back to their business, doing their best to pretend Zo wasn’t there.

“
Kindly
get in the tent, Healer.”

Zo dropped to her knees and crawled into the dark space that reeked of man-sweat and fire. The shelter was only large enough for one. Facing the flap opening, she scooted backward, not daring to take her eyes off the door of the tent until her back met cold mountain rock.

This would be a horrible place to die.

“What do you mean, she’s not here?” Gryphon crowded Stone, getting right in his face. He knew the Nameless revolutionary was a volatile man, but Gryphon welcomed the challenge as adrenaline coursed throughout his body. She was supposed to be here. He’d staked all of his hopes on it.

Stone crossed his arms. “Back up, Ram, and I’ll tell you.”

“I’ll kill you, Stone.” An open threat that didn’t make any sense, but Gryphon was past logical reasoning. He took a step back and pulled the dagger from his belt the Raven had gifted him. “Talk.”

Suddenly a knife pricked the skin of his back shoulder. “Relax, Gryph. And put your blade away. We are all on the same side now.” Eva walked around Gryphon to stand next to Stone. She spun the knife around her fingers like she used to do during training sessions when they were little. Ever the showoff.

Gryphon sighed and sheathed his knife, embarrassed by his volatile temper. “I’m sorry.”

Eva nodded and sheathed her own blade. She held out her hand to Stone and the large Nameless set a folded piece of paper in it. Eva handed the paper over to Gryphon.

“What is this?” Gryphon asked.

“A letter written by Zo for Commander Laden. It explains everything.” Eva gestured to the paper. “Open it. Read it.”

Gryphon handed the letter back to Eva and frowned. “I don’t know how to read.” Reading was taught in the home, but Gryphon’s mother hadn’t bothered teaching him the skill. She’d always said a man was judged more by his physical ability than his intellect. Looking back, Gryphon wondered if it had been just another way to punish him for looking too much like his father or if it was simply blatant neglect. He couldn’t decide which answer hurt more.

Eva plucked the letter from his hands and opened it. Gryphon craned over her shoulder just to see Zo’s script.

When Eva read, “
I have been ransomed to the Clanless leader, Boar, in exchange for the lives of many Nameless. I chose to do this against Stone’s will,”
Gryphon grabbed the letter from her and squinted at the words as if he could somehow make them say something different.

His nostrils flared as he fought to maintain control. “How long ago?”

Stone said, “A day. My scout says they headed north.”

Back toward Ram’s Gate.

“The Nameless were being taken every night. Many people were burned in a fire attack. Boar threatened to hunt us all down, picking us off little by little until we delivered Zo,” said Stone. “I refused him, but after nearly ten men were taken, Zo couldn’t stand it any longer.”

“So you let her go,” said Gryphon.

“Zo is the reason we are all free.” Stone got in Gryphon’s face this time. “I would never trade a human being like livestock. I’ve lived that life, Ram. You, who have kept slaves, have
no
place to judge me.”

“Stop.” Eva wormed her way in between Stone and Gryphon. “Arguing will not bring her back.”

She was right and Gryphon didn’t want to waste another moment in this camp. “What can you tell me about Boar? How many does he command? What are his possible weaknesses? Strengths?”

Gryphon listened to Stone’s retelling of his encounters with Boar. How he didn’t hesitate to kill the Nameless woman when Stone wouldn’t trade Zo for Ram weapons. His cunning lies. How they were desperate enough in their hunger to eat other people to survive starvation. His strange fascination with Zo.

Gryphon pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing away his fears. What horrors was she facing by the hands of this wild man? “You mentioned Ram weapons. Do you still have some?” asked Gryphon.

Stone nodded and led him to a small cart of tools and weapons that they’d managed to bring from the Gate. Gryphon lifted the familiar weight of a Ram shield and a small surge of hope filled him. He strapped a short sword to his hip and, with reverence, picked up a metal-tipped spear with his throwing hand. Looking down the shaft, he found the oiled wood straight. An accurate tool. Gryphon itched to launch it, to feel the familiar flip of his wrist as he released the perfectly balanced weapon.

“I can spare to send a few men with you,” said Stone.

Gryphon shook his head, still studying the length of the spear. “I only need one.” Then to Eva he said, “Where is Joshua?”

At Gryphon’s request, Talon and Raca agreed to help escort the Nameless refugees to the Allied Camp. But as they prepared to leave, Raca returned without her older brother. “Need any help?” she asked.

“Only a promise that you’ll look after Tess until we return,” Gryphon said as he and Joshua filled their packs with some of Stone’s limited supplies.

“We’re only a day and a half’s journey from the Allies. She’ll be fine. I can’t say the same for you and the boy.”

Joshua didn’t raise his head from his task but scowled just the same. He didn’t like being referred to as a boy, even though he was one.

“You should take me with you.” Raca reached out and touched Gryphon’s sleeve, the gentle contact that, for some reason, made him freeze. He looked up from his pack and met her dark eyes. Eyes very different from Zo’s, but beautiful all the same.