Clanless (35 page)

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Gryphon looked back to make sure Zo still slept. When he turned around again to search the trees, Ajax stood not five feet in front of him. His brother and best friend held up his hands in surrender.

“What are you doing here, Jax?” Then realization dawned. If Ajax was here then the rest of the mess wasn’t far behind. “Where are the others?”

“We’re camped at the summit. I came alone so we could talk.”

Gryphon stepped closer to Ajax and rested his good arm on his brother’s shoulder. “You’re going to be in trouble when Barnabas learns you retreated.”

Ajax offered a tired smile. “It’s actually worse than that.”

“What do you mean?”

His large friend took a deep breath; his shoulders raised and dropped under Gryphon’s hand. “After you escaped, we reported everything to Barnabas.” He shook his head. “Barnabas banished the mess as punishment. We’ve been running rogue ever since.”

Gryphon shook his head. “No.” He refused to believe it. No wonder they were so desperate to capture him. No wonder his brothers wouldn’t so much as look him in the eye.

Gryphon swayed on his feet, then rolled back from his heels to sit on the soggy ground. Water seeped through his pants and rain pelted his body, but he didn’t care. “What have I done?” he muttered, covering his face in his hands. “What about your families? Sara, and the baby. Are they all right?”

Ajax didn’t answer, but he didn’t need to. Gryphon understood life inside the Gate for the family of a banished soldier all too well. “I … I’m so sorry. What can I do, Jax? How can I fix this?”

Ajax went still, his voice barely heard over the rain. “There is something you can do.”

“Name it, brother.”

Ajax stared at the ground, unwilling to meet Gryphon’s eyes. “The only way Barnabas will let us regain our citizenship and the honor of our families is if … we bring him your head.” He seemed to have a difficult time swallowing. His voice took on a desperate tone. “The mess. They see me as their leader now. I’m responsible for them, Gryph.” His head fell forward into his hands. “I don’t know what to do!”

Gryphon swore and stepped away from Ajax.

Zo. How could he possibly walk away from Zo now that they finally had each other? “I want to help you, Ajax. But I … I just can’t.”

Gryphon jumped as Ajax dropped to his knees at Gryphon’s feet. “It kills me to beg you, brother, but think of their families.” He wiped rain from his agonized face. “Think of
my
family. Of Sara. How will I protect her and our baby if I’m not allowed near them? You know what will happen if the Seer finds out about the baby.”

Ajax threaded his fingers through the grass at Gryphon’s feet and made a fist with shaking hands. By now the Seer would likely know about the baby and the birth defect. The malformation of the child’s lip was something Zo claimed could be fixed in a minor surgery, but the Ram didn’t accept any born outside perfection.

Gryphon dropped to the ground next to his friend and rested a hand on his shoulder. “We will find a way around this, Ajax. I’ll find a way to help you.”

Ajax slowly lifted his head, his face coming level with Gryphon’s, his chin trembling. “If you ever considered me a brother, you will help me save my wife and son.”

Ajax’s words ripped through Gryphon’s chest. “I’d do it for you, Gryph.”

Gryphon swore and turned away. A knot in his throat made speaking impossible. He couldn’t believe this was happening, couldn’t fathom the words that tumbled out of his mouth next. “I will give myself over to Barnabas.” A pause. “But there’s something I must do first.”

“What’s that?” Ajax didn’t pull his eyes from the ground.

“I need to get Joshua and Zo to the Allies. It’s the only place they’ll be safe.”

Ajax frowned. “You would send Joshua to fight against us?”

“I would send Joshua away to
live
, brother. He has no future with the Ram. Even you can see that!”

Ajax shook his head. “You and that blasted boy. You set your mind to protecting something and you’ll change the stars to do it. You would make … ”

“What?” Gryphon asked when Ajax faltered.

Ajax looked him square in the eye. “I was going to say that you’d make a good clan chief someday, but … ”

“But there isn’t going to be a someday. Not for me,” said Gryphon.

Ajax swore. “I’d follow you to hell and back, Gryph. But the others, I can’t abandon them. I have to think of Sara.” He smiled weakly. “I guess we’re not that different after all.”

“Go back to the Gate,” said Gryphon. “Tell them I’ll come and turn myself in in a month. Maybe two.” How would he explain this to Zo? Why did taking the honorable road require him to hurt those he loved? He’d need that time to get Joshua settled. To say goodbye. He closed his eyes and counted to ten before opening them again.

“That won’t work,” said Ajax.

“Why?”

“Because the chief has ordered the Ram to relocate to the south. They’re leaving the Gate. The Great Move is officially underway.”

“The Great Move?”

“We’re marching on the Valley of Wolves. Barnabas sees it as our new home, and final battleground in his quest to control the region.”

“The Wolves—”

“Don’t stand a chance,” said Ajax.

Gryphon looked back in Zo’s direction. “I will
not
come with you today, brother.”

Ajax’s face looked tired, stretched and folded in misery. “Meet us outside the entrance to the Valley of the Wolves where the two rivers meet in one month’s time.”

“I’ll do it.” A rush of fluttering nerves swirled inside Gryphon’s gut as he agreed to his fate. “I … I swear upon my honor, I will do this thing.” It reminded him of walking to the shed to receive his yearly beatings. He’d been terrified, especially without a father at his side to reassure him that everything would work out. Only he wouldn’t limp away from this appointment like he had as a child.

They clasped hands in a firm shake. Ajax placed his other hand on top of the pile to seal the pact. “I’m sorry, my friend. I’m so sorry.”

Gryphon looked back in Zo’s direction. “Me too.”

Zo awoke to a gentle nudging at her shoulder.

“We need to get back to camp before the others worry,” said Gryphon.

Zo reached her hands above her head and stretched before allowing Gryphon to help her up. She leaned her head into his side with his arm draped along her back as they walked back to camp in the early light of morning.

Zo touched her lips, swollen from kissing Gryphon, and silently prayed Ikatou and the others wouldn’t notice.

They entered the camp to find the Kodiak and Joshua still asleep. Zo dropped to her bedroll and Gryphon lay down beside her, pulling her into the protective curve of his body. It seemed that within moments of shutting her eyes, Ikatou was calling the camp to action. As they packed up their belongings, Zo found Gryphon staring at her. She smiled, a blush warming her cheeks. It took her three tries to properly tie off her bedroll with those liquid brown eyes watching. Careful of her injured hands, she threaded her arm into her pack and stood next to Gryphon and Joshua.

“We’re going to see Tess today,” she practically sang.

Around them, men spoke to each other in excited whispers, as they prepared for the final leg of their journey to a new future.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’ve actually missed Tess’s cooking,” said Joshua.

Gryphon’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. He stared out to the horizon where the sun’s rays peeked over a distant mountain range. He hadn’t spoken since he woke her early that morning. Probably overwhelmed by the possibilities of living with the Allies.

“Lead the way, Wolf,” Ikatou called to Zo when the Kodiak were ready to move out.

Zo set an aggressive pace that the others—with their longer legs—matched with ease. They trudged downhill and found a familiar path marked by the passage of the Nameless refugees. All trails on this side of the mountain filtered into a narrow slot canyon.

Walls of granite towered several hundred feet above them on both sides, like God had driven a giant ax through the mountain. Several places were barely large enough for Gryphon to squeeze through sideways. The trail curved back and forth like a snake. Zo looked to the narrow patch of sky high above. They were so close now.

“Does it ever end?” Gryphon asked a few paces behind her. He panted, bracing the walls as if they needed his strength to keep them upright. Beads of sweat rolled down from his hairline. The Kodiak seemed perfectly at ease sandwiched between the giant slabs of stone.

“Only a little further,” said Zo.

After four more turns the way opened up to reveal a green meadow with a multi-colored carpet of flowers and ferns. Beyond that, a valley dotted with cook fires.

The Allies.

Gryphon put his hands on knees. “Tell me there is a different way out of this valley.”

“You didn’t enjoy that?” Zo walked up to him and placed a comforting hand on his back, a smile tickling her lips. Gryphon was good at everything. The idea that he was claustrophobic didn’t fit with his character. “It gets easier with practice,” she said.

“So there really isn’t?”

Zo couldn’t help the bubble of laughter that rolled up her throat. She reached up on her toes and threw her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek. “Welcome home, Gryphon.”

This middle child of the NAMELESS series is a story about
belonging
. I’ve been accepted, included, and supported by so many wonderful “clans” throughout the process of writing this book. Each is beautiful and different in its own, blessed way.

The most obvious clan worth mentioning is my crazy-supportive family and friends. They’ve gone to great lengths to spread book love in the form of costumes, food, words of encouragement, beta reading, babysitting, tribal face paint, acting, tweeting, and the list goes on and on. They are the metaphoric hands that hold me up—hands I know will be there to catch me if I fall or allow myself to be overwhelmed with self-doubt. Their faces are many and extend well beyond my husband and three little rascals, including: parents, brothers and sisters (in-laws included!), grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and good, good friends. I’m a firm believer that we can all do great things when great people surround us.

To the Month9Books Clan, I can’t adequately thank you for the enthusiasm and love you’ve shown this series. Jaime Arnold, I’m in awe of your mad publicity skills and will always consider you a dear friend. Thanks to editors Barbara VanDenburgh and Michelle Millet, Jennifer Million, and for all those who’ve worked in design and cover art for the series. Special thanks to the woman herself, Georgia McBride. You, my dear, are a visionary.

Huge thanks to my more immediate Writing Clan. To Amy Jameson who wears many hats, namely, agent, editor, dream weaver, counselor, travel companion, and friend. To the brilliant writers in my life: Lois D. Brown, Margie Jordan, James Lewis, Jo Schaffer, and Tahsha Wilson. And to priceless beta readers such as Brad Walker, Amy Beatty, Jonathan Ryan, Kristen Whitely, Jen Bradford, the hunky Mr. Clint Jenkins, and Brad Walker (Did I mention him already?).

I must also thank the many book bloggers who’ve taken the time to review and tweet my books. I’m extremely tempted to list out the members of the Blogging Clan one by one, but the fear of forgetting someone makes me scared to try. I will say that your reviews for this series have been beautiful, powerful, and ridiculously validating for me as a writer. Thank you so much.

As always, I will end by sending thanks and love to my little, eternal clan. Clint, Casey, Liberty, and Boston, thank you again for your loving support. You are the root of all happiness in my life.

With her degree in History and Secondary Education, Jennifer had every intention of teaching teens to love George Washington and appreciate the finer points of ancient battle stratagem. (Seriously, she’s obsessed with ancient warfare.) However, life had different plans in store when the writing began. As a proud member of Writers Cubed, and a co-founder of the Teen Author Boot Camp, she feels blessed to be able to fulfill both her ambition to work with teens as well as write Young Adult fiction.