The sky was still a deep navy, with only the faintest hint of dawn when Devvyn and Aela got to Jelric's house. Mist shrouded the streets, and a chill clung to the air, cold enough to make Devvyn wish he'd worn thicker clothes.
He folded his arms across his body and hunched in on himself, leaning against the gate, his head bowed as he fought to stay awake. His breath fogged the air in soft, rhythmic puffs.
He'd spent his night mapping out names from the book. People he knew who lived in the Lower City, names he'd heard of and those he had not. Eamon said to get the book to Lord Pyrethorn, but he wanted to check some of the people out himself. Starting with Jelric's dad.
Every few seconds, his eyes fluttered shut again, when he thought he heard the sound of Jelric's gate opening.
Aela paced a few steps up and down the cobbled path, muttering under her breath. "I swear there's a higher chance of the Primordials still being alive than Jelric ever being on time." She blew into her hands as she spoke.
After a few moments, she marched up to the gate and raised her hand to knock.
"Don't," Devvyn said quickly, still crouched by the gate. "It's too early. We shouldn't be making a lot of noise."
Aela froze mid-knock, then sighed and stepped back, crossing her arms. "He better not still be in bed."
Devvyn closed his eyes again. He wasn't sure how long he had been asleep, but the distinct creak of the front gate opening woke him up. He squeezed his eyes, shaking his head. He could feel a headache coming on.
A part of him wanted to go home and sleep off his shock from yesterday, but he couldn't leave Jelric and Aela hanging. And they probably would not get another chance like this one.
The gate opened with a soft groan, and Jelric stepped out carrying a backpack, followed closely by his father.
"Finally!" Aela sighed. She impaled Jelric with a glare and then turned to his dad. "Good morning, Mr. Vergahn." She said, giving him a polite smile.
Devvyn stiffened at the sound of that name. His breath caught, and for a moment, he didn't move. He wasn't sure what to do or say. He stared at Jelric's dad for a moment, taking in the permanent frown on his face, his slant brown eyes, and his callused hands. Hands that had carried him when he was a child. He could not reconcile the image of the man in front of him with that of one of the Unbound terrorists—a murderer.
A sharp elbow nudged him in the side.
"You good?" Jelric whispered.
Devvyn blinked and gave a quick nod. "Yeah. Just sleepy. Worked on a thing with my grandmother late into the night."
"Oh sorry sorry," Jelric said.
"Uh, yeah. Good morning, Mr. Vergahn," Devvyn managed, his voice sounding a little too strained, a little too high, even to his own ears. He hoped no one noticed.
Jelric's father gave them a tight smile. "Apologies for the wait. I know you three are dying with excitement to explore the Coral Coves." He glanced at his son. "I was just giving Jelric a few reminders for the day ahead. I'll be right back, going to get the neighbour."
What did he mean by "reminders"? Was Jelric in on it, too? Had the Unbound planned something? Devvyn thought and then almost laughed. He was going crazy. "Yep, bonkers." He muttered under his breath.
"Did you say something?" Jelric asked.
Devvyn crouched back to the ground as he said. "Just wondering what reminders he gave you."
"Oh," Jelric grunted. He stared at his dad's retreating figure before answering, "Nothing useful. You know how he is—paranoid and all. Long story short, we should stay out of trouble while he's off trying to get a job."
Devvyn barely heard the last part.
His mind was spinning again.
If Jelric's father was part of the Unbound, then he rejected the idea of Echos and bonding. That was what the Unbound were known for. So what was he doing trying to get a job as an Echo Hunter? It didn't add up.
Unless…
It was part of something bigger. Some grand plan.
Devvyn's stomach tightened.
"Did you get the uniforms?" Aela asked Jelric.
Jelric patted his backpack. "Yeah. Got everything." Then, lowering his voice and grinning mischievously, he added, "We should get four Lux Echos each."
"Are you crazy? That would kill us. Bonding with an Echo is already dangerous, especially high Lux Echos. We may never be able to bond with Echos again if we fail. Or become paralysed. Or worse, die! We learned that in school, that's if you were paying any attention." Aela whispered back.
"I bet we can do it. Anyone with a strong enough mind can keep a four-lux Echo in control. Maybe we should even go higher. We'd be unstoppable then."
"You can get one since you're so keen on dying, Jelric. I'll do just fine with a one-lux Echo. Devvyn tell Jelric he's crazy."
"I'm not," Jelric argued.
"Devvyn?" Aela nudged.
"Huh. Uh yeah. Echos." Devvyn shook out of his daze.
Jelric shook his head at him. "Wake up, man." He craned his neck into the mist and then motioned for Aela and Devvyn to come closer. "Here's the plan. We've got two uniforms." He said, patting the side of his backpack with a smug grin. "I even begged my neighbour to let me borrow his Hunter backpack so I could 'show it off' to my friends. But there's one problem. It has to be you and Devvyn." He said, poking Aela's shoulders.
"What, why? No. Aela stays back." Devvyn protested.
"I can speak for myself." Aela frowned. "And I'm as good as you are at sneaking around. If not better. So don't go all protective of me."
"I don't want you to either," Jelric said, earning himself a murderous glare. "But I tried the uniform yesterday and it was too small. With Aela, we can fold it in places, but I'll look too out of place. Aela's small, she'll go unnoticed."
"Fine," Devvyn said.
"We're going to change at the Coves," Jelric continued. "It's early enough that no one will be around. Once both of you are dressed, you'll double back and blend in with the Echo Hunters as they arrive."
"And you?" Aela asked, brow furrowed.
"I'll stay behind at the Coves," Jelric said. "Watch for the signal."
"What signal?" Devvyn asked.
Jelric reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of red fabric. "This. A red handkerchief. The cliff just before the Coral Coves overlook the Port. I can see this from there. Drop it into the sea once you've got the Echos. When I see it float out, that's my cue to come down."
"And then?" Aela said.
"Then we'll hand over the Echos," Devvyn said. "He'll take them back to the Coves and stash them. We'll hang back for ten extra minutes to avoid suspicion, then circle and meet Jelric."
Jelric nodded. "Yep. If we're lucky, we'll be in and out within an hour. We'll leave the Echos at the Coves too. I'll find somewhere to hide them."
"Nice." Aela grinned.
Devvyn stared at the red handkerchief as Jelric tucked it away once more. The plan sounded simple. Too simple. "If anything goes wrong, we hightail it out of there and meet at the train station."
A rustle of footsteps and low voices carried through the mist. They turned just as Jelric's father and the neighbour appeared, rounding the gate.
Three of them exchanged quick, sharp nods in response to Devvyn's words.
"Good morning, sir," Aela greeted as they stepped aside to make way.
"Morning," Devvyn Echoed, schooling his features into a polite expression.
Jelric gave a casual salute.
The man walking beside Mr. Vergahn was slim, with narrow shoulders and limbs that seemed as though they might snap under pressure. His sleeves hung loose around his wrists, and his gait had none of the usual heaviness of an Echo Hunter. Devvyn couldn't help but wonder how someone like him managed to lift a crate of drinks, let alone a crate of Echos.
He gave them all a brisk nod. "Let's move."
Without another word, they all fell into step, heading out into the misty morning toward the station.
Devvyn walked slightly behind the group, his eyes drifting again and again to Jelric's father, studying his every movement. But no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't see it. Mr.Vergahn didn't have the cold resolve he'd imagined in a terrorist, not the fanatic gleam of someone who'd joined the Unbound. Mr. Vergahn looked... normal. Strict, maybe. Stern. But not dangerous.
Maybe Eamon Wynstros was wrong, Devvyn thought. Maybe he made a mistake putting his name in the book.
They reached the train station just as the first rays of sunlight began piercing the mist. A faint clatter of wheels Echoed as the early train pulled into the platform. They boarded the train headed to Eternis, found a seat near the back, and sat in silence as the city slowly rolled past the windows. When they got off, Jelric's neighbour immediately flagged down a cab at the curb.
"No time to waste," the man said briskly.
Devvyn climbed in last, ducking slightly as he settled into the cramped backseat beside Aela. As the cab pulled away from the curb, he exhaled in relief. At least he didn't have to wear a disguise or pull his hood low to hide from the gang boys—one less thing to worry about.
The sun was fully out by the time they reached Port Azure. Its rays burned off the morning mist, revealing the Port in all its quiet splendour.
Devvyn inhaled the salty tang of the sea, and despite himself, he smiled. Being near the ocean, especially the waters of Port Azure, always made him feel at ease. Maybe he would become a Hunter when he bonded, get to explore the sea and other places in Thaloria. It didn't sound bad at all.
He stayed close to Aela and Jelric as they followed Mr. Vergahn and the neighbour along a narrow path that ran beside the old railway line. The farther they walked, the fewer people they saw, until it was mostly the sound of gull calls and the soft crash of waves that followed them.
Eventually, they reached the fork where the rusted railway split in two. One track curved eastward toward the dock and warehouses where Echo Hunters offloaded, and the other snaked upward into the cliffs toward the secluded stretch of beach of the Coral Coves.
Mr. Vergahn stopped and turned to them. "Be careful," he said, his voice low but firm. "And stay together. I assume you three can get home on your own?"
Jelric nodded confidently. "Yes, sir."
Devvyn and Aela Echoed him, nodding quickly.
With that, Mr. Vergahn and the neighbour continued along the main track.
The trio stood in silence for a moment before Aela tilted her head toward the cliffs. "Well? What are we waiting for?"
They turned and started up the cliff leading to the Coral Coves, the wind tugging at their clothes and the cries of gulls trailing after them.
