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  Gryphon closed his eyes and let his head fall back. If he ignored the boy, he might stop talking to him. After a few moments, smoke from the fire a few feet away assaulted his lungs. It smelled of cedar and made Gryphon cough and sputter. Unable to shield his face from the strong-smelling smoke, he opened his eyes long enough to see Sani fanning the fragrant cloud toward him.

  “What are you doing?” Gryphon coughed again as Sani lifted the lid of a basket by the fire and pulled out three bundles of herbs. On by one, he dropped each bundle into the fire, continuing to fan the smoke in his direction.

  “Mugwort to cleanse you, lavender to restore balance, and sweetgrass to drive away bad influences,” said Sani.

  Gryphon wiped his watering eyes on his shoulder as best he could. “I don’t need your witch doctoring.”

  Through his tears he thought he saw Sani shake his head. “It is customary to prepare the accused for punishment. We believe the smoke will cling to the bad in you and pull it away, leaving behind the good.”

  Gryphon’s head rolled forward, exhausted. When the smoke didn’t hit him full in the face he could actually breathe.

  “I thought you said they wouldn’t hurt me because you are my ‘Atiin.”

  Another wave of smoke hit him before Sani answered, “They will not kill you, but that doesn’t stop them from selecting other forms of punishment.”

  Gryphon hung from his ropes, assaulted by smoke, thinking of Zo and worrying for Joshua, Eva, and little Tess. What would become of them if they didn’t make it to the Allies? Why hadn’t he just abandoned these people who seemed too fixed on their hatred of him to even help themselves in a time of crisis?

  The smoke stopped and the door to the wooden chamber creaked open. Sani lowered the rope connecting his bound hands, his gaze intense as ever. “You’re ready.”

  By midday, Zo’s head expanded and contracted over and over with throbbing pain. She leaned heavily on her walking stick and let Tess lead her with her tiny hand.

  “I just don’t understand why you aren’t getting any better.” Tess adopted a mature tone whenever she tried to sound like a healer. “Your reaction to healing Joshua doesn’t seem normal.” She looked back and raised one brow, ashamed to have to ask, “Does it?”

  Tess’s round eyes fell in and out of Zo’s focus. “No, bug. It doesn’t.” The vertigo, the nausea, the headaches … her body should be recovering after healing Joshua. Worst of all, she still couldn’t tap into her healing energy.

  “I can carry you,” said Joshua. He fell in step with Zo and Tess, letting Eva lead as they followed the obvious tracks of the Nameless. “Gryphon used to make me carry huge rocks up the mountain to build my strength.” He held up his hands to show just how big the rocks had been.

  “Thanks, Joshua, but I’m all right.”

  “You don’t think I can do it, do you?”

  Before Zo had a chance to respond, Joshua swept her legs out from under her and hoisted her onto his back like a child. “Told you.”

  Zo laughed. “You’ve made your point. Now put me down!”

  Joshua pretended to ignore her and set off after Eva with Tess trailing at his heels. After struggling to free herself, she finally gave up and closed her eyes. He was maybe an inch taller than her, and still carried the build of a stretched-out child. He wouldn’t last long with her on his back.

  After several minutes passed, and seeing the neutral look on Joshua’s face, Zo said, “You’ve got to be tired, Ginger. Put me down.”

  “You’re light as a bird, Zo. This doesn’t even compare to training.”

  Joshua’s strength was a grim reminder of the power of the Ram. If even one Ram scout happened upon them, there would be little they could do to stop him. It was hard to imagine that at that moment two hundred of these bred killers were marching on the Raven, hunting Talon’s family and the families of countless others.

  Please save them, Gabe.

  At dusk, they filled their water skins and rested by a stream, letting their tired feet soak in the rushing water. Joshua reached above his head and stretched then pulled his sling from his pack.

  “I think I’ll try to find us some dinner.” He moved to stand, but Zo pulled him back down by the arm.

  “Rest, Joshua. There is still plenty of time for hunting.”

  Joshua only shook his head and rose to his feet again. “Until Gryphon gets back, it is my job to take care of everyone.”

  Zo’s vision tilted as she watched Joshua disappear into the forest. Eva’s grumblings about Zo lying to Joshua were lost in the wind. She lay with her back to Zo, her hand resting protectively on her stomach even though it was still too early in her pregnancy to see any sign of the baby growing within.

  “Do you think Stone is waiting for us with the Nameless?” she asked. “Do you think he was able to escape after we left?”

  “I hope so,” said Zo.

  If anyone could escape the high walls of the Ram’s Gate, it was Stone. Not only was he the leader of the Nameless rebellion, he was madly in love with Eva. Zo couldn’t imagine him failing to find her again. Not when the couple had risked so much to be together. Crossing clan lines to find a mate was looked down upon by every clan, even the Wolves. It was one of the reasons it was so easy to differentiate between them.

  Zo pressed her fingers into one of the Nameless tracks. “We can’t be more than half a day behind them now, if that.”

  “You’re dodging my question, Wolf. I asked for your opinion, and I don’t want you to lie to me like you have the boy.”

  Both Eva and Zo turned as Joshua stepped into the clearing. His whole body seemed to sag under the weight of what he’d just heard.

  “You’re lying to me?” His face was so open, so trusting, Zo had to look away.

  “It’s nothing, kid,” she said.

  Eva threw the knife she’d been holding into the trunk of a tree. The blade sank deep into the target. “The Wolf keeps secrets from you, Joshua.”

  Joshua staggered back a step. “No she doesn’t. She wouldn’t.”

  Zo climbed to her feet and black dots invaded her vision. “I’m only trying to protect you, Joshua. You’ve been through so much—”

  “No!” This time he shouted and Zo flinched. He stood like one of the rabbits he hunted, ready to flee.

  “Tell him.” Eva folded her arms. “Both of you need to hear the words spoken out loud.”

  Zo dropped to her knees and held her head. “I … I can’t.”

  “Do it, Zo,” said Eva. “You must.”

  Tess dropped down next to Zo, her little hands draped around Zo’s shoulders. A weak stream of energy flowed through the little girl. Comfort. Courage. Peace.

  “Joshua, don’t be mad!” Tess chastised. “You’re making it worse.”

  Zo pulled Tess into a hug. “He has a right to be mad, bug.” She didn’t realize tears had formed in her eyes—the first she’d shed for Gryphon. She wiped them away and took a deep breath.

  “Gryphon was taken by his mess unit while trying to lead them away from our hiding place in the tree. He’s … he’s dead, Joshua. I’m so sorry.”

  Joshua’s face, his entire body, constricted. He was so rigid he could barely shake his head. “I don’t believe you.” His face turned red to match his hair. “Gryphon wouldn’t leave me. He fought them. He got away.”

  Zo clutched her stomach and groaned. “Gabe saw everything. He said Gryphon tried to escape, but Zander and the rest of the mess had spears.”

  “No!” Joshua screamed. “Did you see his body?”

  “No, but—”

  “Then you don’t know what you’re talking about. He’s alive. How do you know he’s not wounded somewhere in the woods, waiting for me to come and help him?” He pointed a damning finger at Zo. “You gave up on him.” His control broke and he burst into a sob. “You left him!”

  Zo put a hand to her face, as if slapped. Her careful wall of unfeeling cr
umbled. Tears streaked her cheeks. “We made a promise to each other. I swore to him that I would go after the Nameless if he would warn the Raven. We were going to meet at the Allied Camp.” She took a few deep breaths to collect her emotion. “I can’t let these people”—she gestured to the Nameless tracks—“die when I could lead them to safety. I left because I’m their only hope and because it was what I promised Gryphon I’d do.” She panted from the exertion of yelling, surprised that her head had stopped spinning.

  A twig snapped not far away. Zo scanned the trees in that direction. Though her imagination ran wild with possible evils lurking in the trees, she didn’t see anything.

  Eva tugged Tess and Joshua forward, giving Zo a pointed look. “Too loud.” She pushed them ahead of her on the trail and, thoroughly chastened, Zo followed.

  The back of Joshua’s neck was bright red as they walked. His shoulders shook and he occasionally rubbed tears from his eyes, but he didn’t make a sound and never turned around. Poor Joshua. So alone in the world.

  Crying made Zo tired. Her head pounded harder with every step traveled. She reached back to take her water skin from her pack and saw a flutter of movement in the trees behind her. Forgetting her water skin, Zo looked straight ahead and whispered to Eva. “We’re being followed. Get ready to run.”

  Eva didn’t offer any indication that she’d heard other than her hands moving to the knives on her belt.

  Before she had time to think up a plan, running footsteps charged them from behind. A man wearing a boiled leather vest caught two of Eva’s knives in his shield before tackling Zo to the ground. He rolled with her secured in his arms until she lay on top of him as a human shield.

  He slowly climbed to his feet, bracing Zo’s head in his hands as though he might snap her neck if she tried to run. “You’re supposed to be dead,” said the Ram, his cheek pressed into Zo’s ear.

  Adrenaline pumped through Zo. Her fingers curled into claws as she tried to break free of his grasp.

  The Ram pulled her back a few steps to keep eyes on both Eva, who held a new knife in each hand, and Joshua, his bow already nocked and drawn. Tess was missing.

  “I have no business with you two,” said the Ram. He smelled of body odor and beef stew. “When our scouts didn’t find the girl’s rotting carcass, Chief Barnabas ordered a search. He wants her back alive.” He snickered then licked his lips. “For questioning.”

  “Release her or die,” said Eva, calm as ever.

  The scout took a few more steps back. “Aren’t you Taurus’s betrothed?” The Ram paused. “What are you doing out here with this Wolf?”

  Eva cocked her throwing hand behind her ear. “I said, release her.”

  “Don’t pretend you could kill me, girl. I’m only one of several men combing this mountain for the girl. I’m doing you a favor by letting you live.”

  Zo jammed her heel into the man’s boot, but he didn’t show any sign that he felt her assault. His deep laughter shot hot, sour air into her face. “If you’re interested in a little fight, Wolf, I’d happily accommodate.”

  The Ram backed further away from Joshua and Eva, still holding Zo as a shield.

  A thump sounded against the man’s skull. With Zo still in his grasp, he whipped around to find Tess only a few feet away, clutching a rock. She twisted up her face and reached back to hurl another rock at him.

  “You little—”

  Another thump sounded, this time bringing the Ram to his knees with Zo in tow. He reached back and pulled one of Eva’s knives out of his shoulder with a roar.

  His grip on Zo slackened. She threw her elbow into his nose but he quickly regained his hold of her. “I am a Ram,” he grunted in her ear. “I don’t feel pain.” Two more thumps sounded. This time, the strong arms binding her fell away. Zo scrambled out of reach before the Ram dropped face-first to the ground with a knife and arrow sticking out of his back.

  “Nice work, little mouse.” Despite obvious effort, Joshua couldn’t produce a smile for Tess. “Lesson number one: never show the enemy your back.” He dropped to the ground and clenched two fistfuls of his red hair. “Gryphon taught me that.”

  Chapter 9

  There were no chairs inside the circle of the Gaagii Court. No podium or stand for the Raven Chief, just the wooden wall surrounding them and bare ground. Elderly men stood in a loose circle, the chief among them. They wore black paint on their faces in the shape of a bird whose wings were outstretched to act as a mask across their eyes. Like the chief, they wore necklaces of feathers, marking their prestige within the clan.

  But it was the stone they each carried that captured most of Gryphon’s attention. Sani joined the circle and clasped his thin arms behind his back, calm as a spring morning.

  “We have heard the words of the Wolf and believe that the Ram are marching toward us. Scouts have returned confirming the number of men you warned would come,” said the chief, in his oddly accented way.

  Gryphon blinked then looked up at the sun. Was it really almost dusk? How many hours had he been tied to that platform? It had only felt like minutes. What else had Sani been burning and how had he not accounted for the passage of so much lost time?

  “We have questions for you, Ram. Questions only one of your kind can answer.”

  Gryphon nodded for the chief to continue.

  “Your people have hunted us for the location of our grain stores. If we told your chief where to find them, would they continue their attack?”

  Gryphon closed his eyes, filling his lungs with the smoke that still clung to his clothing. “My people have hunted for the location of your clan for years. Yes, Barnabas is in desperate need for a replenishment to Ram food stores, but he also wants to rid you from the land. He will keep some of your people as Nameless, but those he sees as a threat, and those who wouldn’t be able to work would be considered a burden. Another mouth to feed.” Gryphon swallowed. He couldn’t bring himself to go into more detail. “Your only option is to flee this place. Abandon your homes and take to the ocean where the Ram don’t have resources to follow.”

  Several men in the circle turned a few shades whiter. Others flared their nostrils, flexing their hands around the stone they carried. All looked to their chief for response.

  “We are tied to our land, Sheep. It is the source of all our power. We have been here since long before the Ram, the Wolf, and the cave-dwelling Kodiak entered the region. Fleeing for us means surrendering everything that defines our people. Many of us would sooner die fighting with honor than prolong a struggle that would lead to the same end. What you suggest simply isn’t possible.”

  A Raven Elder with dark gray hair and a face weighed down by the lines of time dropped his stone to the ground, gaining him the surprised attention of the group. His eyes were clouded with a milky white film. He spoke in a strange language and pointed vehemently at Gryphon. He then turned his sharp gesture on the rest of the men in the circle as he spoke.

  Gryphon and Gabe exchanged confused looks then went back to watching the weathered man finish his heated rant. When he finally stopped speaking, the chief, who’d been shifting his feet in the dirt the entire time, bowed his head to the old man and dropped his stone to the dirt as well. Everyone else in the circle followed his example.

  The chief turned to Gryphon and frowned. “There is to be a Hai, or test. If you pass, our shaman says it is a sign that our people should follow your council and leave tomorrow morning.”

  Gryphon didn’t like the sound of that. “And if I don’t pass this test?”

  The chief ran his hand along one of the feathers adorning his neck. “Then you will be the first Ram sacrificed in defense of our homeland.”

  “Why did those Elders carry the rocks?” Gryphon asked Gabe as they rested in a little tent, awaiting Gryphon’s mysterious test.

  Gabe lifted and dropped his shoulders without saying a word. “You don’t want to know.”

  “Try me.”

>   Gabe rolled onto his side to look at Gryphon. “Just an old tradition. Raven Elders always carry stones into a trial in case the person on trial is found guilty. Stoning allows for more people to exact justice.”

  “You’re joking.” Gryphon whipped his head back in the direction of the Gaagii Court, as if he could actually see it through the fabric of the tent.

  “Don’t act so surprised. Your people are twice as brutal.” He lifted his hands to show his missing pinkie fingers. “Or have you forgotten?”

  The Wolf had a point, but he still couldn’t believe he willingly walked right into a possible stoning. “About this test … what exactly happens in a Hai?”

  Gabe’s voice grew quiet. “I’ve never witnessed one before, but … ” he turned away from Gryphon to straighten his pack. “Whatever it is, it will not be easy. You heard the chief. Many of these people would rather die than leave. They’re betting—hoping, really—that you won’t be able to beat the obstacle they set before you.”

  Gryphon wasn’t immortal, but if this was to be a physical test, he couldn’t help but be encouraged. His whole life up until this point had been training. He was strong, fast, and agile. Whatever his other failings, his body was sound. If it was possible to survive the Hai, he would find a way. Not just to save these people from the Ram, but for Joshua and, in a small way, for Zo as well.

  Sani pulled back the tent flap. Ash was smeared along his cheeks and forehead making him appear ghostly; his expression level as ever. “It is almost time, Ram.” He looked down at the small vacant space just inside the tent. “May I sit with you?”

  Gryphon gestured for the boy to sit and Sani let the buckskin flap of the tent door fall closed behind him. “Hold out your arm.” Sani untied a beaded leather bracelet from his wrist. Polished stone beads of vibrant shades of green and blue rattled together as Sani fastened the bracelet to Gryphon’s wrist.