Nameless (20 page)

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.”

“Sir, I’ll be fine.”

His commander raised a hand to silence him. “Your actions prove you don’t always consider the needs of the mess before your own.”

The words stung.

“You’re selfish, Striker. You might be the best at what you do, but I can’t fully trust you.” Zander frowned and walked away. “Three days,” he called over his shoulder.

All Gryphon could do was watch his captain leave, knowing he’d deserved those harsh words. What would Zander think of him if he knew the extent of his betrayal? Had Gryphon forgotten his brothers? Did his mercy make him weak?

Joshua’s voice startled him. “Where’s Zo?”

Gryphon slammed his palm into the doorframe. “Don’t you have training?” he yelled. “Stop thinking about that girl and go help your clan.” He pushed Joshua out the door with a little more force than necessary. Joshua didn’t look back as he sprinted down the road.

Gryphon slammed the door to his room and fell into bed with a groan. A hollow ache gripped his insides. Relentless churning that wouldn’t subside. How had he allowed this to happen? In only a few short weeks he’d gone from making Striker to betraying his entire clan. How could he make this right?

Zo awoke to find Joshua’s extra large smile hovering over her.

“Who’s Tess?” the boy asked. Zo found herself holding Joshua’s hand. She didn’t remember grabbing it.

“She’s my little sister.” Zo rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

Joshua frowned. “You have a sister?”

Zo had mentioned Tess in the Waiting Room. Joshua must have been too delirious at the time to remember.

“Do you miss her? Is she with your parents?”

I hope not.
Zo cringed, thinking of the subtle mounds of dirt that marked her parents graves. Images replayed in her mind: dark clouds blocking the cold sun, faces twisted in mourning, wind blowing the few flowers away, the sound of the half-frozen dirt covering their bodies. All buried and left with the rest who couldn’t follow the pack to a new home.

“She’s alone. I’m worried for her. Wait—how do you know about Tess?”

“You talk when you sleep.”

“Oh.” Zo hoped she hadn’t said too much. She still wasn’t sure what to do about her little sister. The worry was constant and gut-wrenching. Her sister. Alone. “Maybe you shouldn’t mention her to Gryphon.”

“Why not?” Joshua yawned the words. “Wait. She’s not
here
, is she?”

The door of the Nameless quarters squeaked open, and Joshua ducked behind the bed. An old man carrying a bucket and shovel limped into the large room. Joshua straightened with a sheepish grin playing about his lips.

“What was that about?” said Zo, while nodding to a Nameless slave in Gryphon’s household.

“Ah, nothing. I should go.” Joshua bent down, kissed Zo’s cheek, and ran out the door. Zo touched her hand to her cheek. She’d seen countless Ram exchange a similar kiss at parting, but never with a Nameless.

“That was interesting.” The old Nameless man shook Zo’s hand and smiled through a mouth only half full of teeth. “I’ve heard a lot about you, healer. Which for a Nameless, is not a good thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean Nameless talk when taskmasters aren’t watching. You, child, need to learn to keep your head down.” The old man gave her a look that said far more than words could. She hadn’t considered the possibility that the Nameless rebels weren’t limited to the brave circle in the Nameless Nest. How many were there? Trusting a handful of people to keep her secret was one thing, but the vast Nameless population?

Zo’s empty stomach soured.
I need to get Tess out of here!

Gryphon came with a plate of food and Zo’s kit around dusk. He noticed her wince as she sat up.

“Are you hungry?” Gryphon set the food next to her bed on the floor and pulled up a three-legged stool. He kept his injured leg stretched out to the side. Zo held a thin blanket to her chest. She brushed a clump of dark hair from her face, revealing piercing blue eyes.

“Eat.” He nudged the plate toward her.

When she didn’t take the food he shrugged and reached in his pack for a knife and block of wood. The girl was on her feet and across the room before he realized the problem.

He raised an eyebrow then looked down at the knife in his hand. “You still don’t trust me?” He smiled sadly and shook his head. “You and everyone else.” He pushed his knife into the block of wood with slow, practiced strokes.

Zo stayed against the wall clutching her stomach where her shirt had been cut away. Gryphon kept his eyes on his work, only sparing a glance when she slowly crept back to her bed.

She pulled the covers up to her chest again. “What do you want with me?”

Gryphon felt the color rise in his cheeks. Of course she would think he wanted her for his own devices. “To be honest, I want nothing to do with you. You’ve caused me a great deal of trouble.”

“Then why keep me here?” she asked. “Why feed me?”

Gryphon stroked the wood, cutting deep into the middle of the block to form the neck of the animal. “I keep my promises,” he mumbled.

Zo sat for a minute longer, watching him guardedly as he worked, until she finally reached for her plate and began picking at the food. A small part of him wanted to ease the sorrow on her face. To explain that the Wolf was alive. That he wasn’t the monster she believed he was. Maybe if she knew she wouldn’t hate him so. Maybe.

But then, why did he care?

They sat together with only the sound of Gryphon’s humming to keep them company. It was fully dark before Gryphon heard the clinking bottles of Zo’s kit.

“May I help you?” She gestured to his leg.

Zo opened her kit and began working on Gryphon’s thigh. She reopened and cleaned the wound with graceful strokes that felt much more painful than they looked. Gryphon clamped down his jaw and tried to relax as she worked.

When she seemed satisfied that the wound was clean, she mixed a potent concoction of oils to make an ointment. After stitching him up, she wrapped a clean bandage around his leg. Her fingers were smooth and steady but freezing cold.

When she closed her eyes Gryphon stared openly at the subtle movement of her full lips as she muttered words of healing under her breath. She finished and rolled onto her side, wincing from pain, and fell asleep.

Gryphon forgot his carving and watched the rise and fall of her thin frame by the light of a lone candle.

Joshua found him there an hour later. “Hey, Gryph, how is she?” He settled onto the ground next to him.

Gryphon struggled to find his feet without tugging on his new stitches. “I’m sorry about this morning, Joshua. I shouldn’t have yelled.”

“You’re stressed. I get it.”

Gryphon ruffled his hair. “Go get her an extra blanket. Her fingers are freezing.” He hobbled away imagining Joshua’s stunned expression following him.

The following day, Gryphon walked with only a minor limp down the road to Sara’s family home for Eva’s engagement ceremony. Each step away from home had him questioning the wisdom of leaving the Wolf unguarded. He carried the only key to the barn door on a string around his neck. The feel of the metal knocking against his chest gave him a small sense of security.

Soon all of his troubles would be behind him. His brothers would forgive him the inconsistent decisions of the past few weeks. Gryphon’s triumphs on the battlefield would cloud the clan’s memory of his dishonorable father. And Zo …

He cringed at his natural use of the girl’s name.

The
healer
would melt into the background, living on his family land, away from harm and out of his notice forever. A tiny bit of hope buoyed up his mood. Everything would work out. It would.

The closer Gryphon came to Sara’s family home, the more people joined him on the road. Though with all of the recent engagements inside the Gate, many of the Ram weren’t headed for the same ceremony.

Gryphon spotted Ajax on the edge of his in-law’s property line. They fell into step together and Ajax threw his arm around Gryphon.

“Where is your gift, brother?” He looked behind Gryphon for some invisible goat on a leash. “Tell me you didn’t come without an offering for the bride!”

“It’s taken care of.” Gryphon, patted a pocket inside his fur vest.

Ajax didn’t seem convinced. “Just don’t make a fool of me. My father-in-law still wishes Sara hadn’t accepted my claim a year ago.”