The sun was dipping low by the time they left the school. The air was warm and still, the streets more occupied than earlier. The Golden Fields was very different from the Lower City and Eternis. Here, it was always quiet and calm and people walked without a sense of urgency. It was very strange to Devvyn but he liked it all the same.
As they walked, he thought about asking his grandmother if they could keep the house here too and stay over once in a while. He was fine as long as he never had to see the Corn fields.
"I don't think you should take that weird man seriously,” Aela started saying, adjusting the strap of her bag.
Devvyn kept his eyes ahead. "I would've ignored it… but the person I delivered an Echo to for Gaur at the Fields? He also mentioned something about chaos.”
Aela glanced at him. "And?”
"And…” he hesitated, searching for the right words. "I don't know. I feel like there's this… cloud of misfortune hanging over my head. Just waiting to break. Ever since the festival, things have been chaotic.”
"That's not your fault,” Aela said firmly. "And it has nothing to do with you.”
He nodded. "Yeah. Okay.”
But deep down, he wasn't convinced.
When they reached the house, a familiar figure was leaning against the gate, one leg crossed over the other. Gaur straightened as they approached, a lazy grin on his face.
"There's my favourite pair of thieves,” he said. "Where's your third?”
Devvyn ignored the jab. "How did you know where we stay? What are you doing here?”
The grin faded. Gaur's expression hardened. "Friend of mine saw you moving in. Word travels fast here in the Golden Fields. I need a favor.”
"No,” Devvyn said flatly. "I'm done doing favors for you. The last one almost got me killed.”
Gaur's grin returned, sharp and knowing. "Well… this one's going to end with you having a two-lux Echo.”
Devvyn and Aela exclaimed at the same time. "Two lux?”
"Two lux,” Gaur repeated, letting the words hang like bait on a hook.
Devvyn exhaled. "…Okay. I'm listening.”
Gaur's gaze shifted to Aela. "What I'm about to say is just for Devvyn's ears. I'd rather not have you interrupting our conversation. You two can catch up later.”
Aela rolled her eyes. "You're so dramatic.” She stepped toward the gate. "Fine. I'll be inside. I'll tell Maelis that Devvyn saw an old friend on the way back. A really old one.”
Gaur smiled at her sarcasm.
"Thanks,” Devvyn said.
She waved over her shoulder and disappeared inside.
Gaur's smirk widened. "Walk with me, young thief.”
Devvyn frowned. "Can you not just call me by my name?”
"No,” Gaur said simply, already turning down the street.
With a resigned sigh, Devvyn fell into step beside him. They strolled down the narrow street, Gaur raising a hand in greeting every so often to passersby.
"By the way,” Gaur said, glancing sidelong at Devvyn, "thanks for the heads-up about the Unbound stealing my Echos. I put stricter measures in place, and every Echo's accounted for now.”
Devvyn arched an eyebrow. "Good for you.”
"Mm. Yeah. But that created another problem.” Gaur's voice dropped a notch. "A bunch of Hunters quit. Probably the Unbound spies. Now I've got fewer people, and I still can't meet my quota. The council's given me their final warning. If I don't start remitting enough Echos… they'll replace me.”
He didn't meet Devvyn's eyes right away, and when he did, there was a rare flicker of vulnerability there. "I can't lose my position, Devvyn. I don't have much else in life going for me except Echo hunting.”
Devvyn smirked. "You could just become a regular Echo Hunter.”
That earned a bark of laughter from Gaur. "Not happening. I'd rather drink away the rest of my life.”
They passed a pair of kids chasing each other down the road, the sound of their feet slapping against the sandy ground echoing in the air. Devvyn frowned, thinking. "So… how am I supposed to help you?”
"I need the Echo Locator.”
Devvyn stopped for half a step. "I'm not sure I can give you that. I'm already on shaky ground with my grandmother. I don't want to stress her more.”
Gaur shoved his hands in his pockets. "I'm trying to give you a choice here. I can walk into that house right now and ask your grandmother for the Locator… but I might have to give her some extra details about why I need it.”
Devvyn folded his arms. "Really? Threatening me?”
Gaur threw his hands up. "I'm desperate.”
Devvyn studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. I'll get it for you. But I want two Echos, not one. One for me and one for Aela.” He said, then he quickly corrected himself, "make it three. Another for Jelric."
"Done,” Gaur said instantly.
Devvyn blinked. "You agreed to that a little too fast. Also—” he jabbed a finger at Gaur's chest—"I want to come on the next Echo hunting trip.”
"I'm not paying you for it,” Gaur said.
"That's fine.”
Gaur smirked. "Then we've got a deal.”
"Our next hunt is in two days,” Gaur said. "I'll have a Hunter registration and uniform ready for you by then. We're going to have a lot of fun together, little thief.” He grinned wide, then turned and walked away before Devvyn could respond.
Devvyn sighed, shaking his head, and made his way back home. He waved at Orryn and Melo as he passed the sitting room, then poked his head into the kitchen to let Maelis know he was back. After that, he headed to his room to unpack.
He opened his bag, started hanging shirts in the wardrobe, and was halfway through stacking his books when Aela appeared at the door.
"What did he want?” she asked, leaning against the frame.
"The Echo Locator,” Devvyn said. "In exchange for three Echos. One for me, you and Jelric. And I'll be going with Gaur and his team on their next hunting trip. I'm just going to make sure nothing happens to the Locator, and then I'll bring it back.”
Aela slipped away from the door frame quickly. "Are you sure you want to do this?”
Devvyn paused, one shirt in his hand, and turned toward her. "Don't you get it? With a two-lux Echo, you won't have to do the Gauntlet Trials. You could get a good job anywhere, maybe in a bakery or the farms or something, and you wouldn't have to risk your life.”
"That's true,” Aela admitted, "but I don't want you to do this just for me. I'm tired of being a burden on you and Maelis.”
Devvyn set the shirt down, walked over, and put his hands on her shoulders. "Look at me. You'll never be a burden to me.” Then, smirking, he added, "Besides, you know I've always wanted to go on an Echo hunt. I'm just using the Echos as an excuse.”
Aela narrowed her eyes. "Sureeee,” she drawled, then punched him lightly on the arm.
Devvyn glanced at Aela. "Where's Maelis?”
"Outside,” she replied. "She's setting up the shed as her new workshop.” Then her eyes narrowed in quick suspicion. "Why?”
Devvyn shrugged, but the way his gaze lingered gave him away.
Aela smirked knowingly. "Her box of things is still inside.”
He sighed. "I'll wait till later. I'm not even sure she brought it.”
"It's pretty valuable,” Aela said matter-of-factly, "so she must have.”
With that, she pushed off the doorframe. "I'll go arrange Orryn and Melo's rooms.”
The day drifted on, a blur of unpacking and settling in. By dinner, the small bungalow felt warmer, like a real home. The scent of stew filled the air, the table crowded with plates and chatter. Aela, Maelis, Orryn, and Melo were lively, swapping jokes and teasing each other. Maelis laughed over something Melo said, the sound ringing in the cozy dining room.
But Devvyn barely tasted his food. His mind kept circling back to the Echo Locator, what Gaur needed, what Aela could gain, what Maelis would say if she found out. His chest tightened with every passing minute.
He told himself over and over: I'm doing this for Aela. That's all that matters.
By the time the plates were cleared, his mind was made up.
"I'm going to walk a bit around the compound,” he announced, pushing his chair back. "Feeling a little… choked up. Need some air.” His hand had started to itch again, a prickling irritation under the skin, but he resisted the urge to scratch it.
Maelis gave him a curious look, but nodded. "Don't stay out too long. The night air is chilly.”
Outside, the crisp air hit his face. He headed toward the shed. The doors were propped open, Maelis's tools neatly arranged on one side, crates still waiting to be unpacked on the other. He stepped inside, eyes scanning the shelves until he spotted a familiar wooden box tucked in the corner.
He lifted the lid. There it was, the Echo Locator, its polished surface catching the dim light. His fingers hesitated over it for a moment. His heartbeat was loud in his ears as he slid it into his pocket.
Devvyn left the shed quickly, glancing toward the house to make sure no one was watching. Instead of going straight inside, he circled around to the back. His room's window was slightly ajar from earlier in the day. He eased it open farther and tossed the Echo Locator onto his bed.
He closed the window, straightened his posture, and walked back to the front door.
When he stepped inside, the warmth of the house hit him again. Maelis looked up from where she was pouring tea.
"Feeling better now?” she asked.
Devvyn forced an easy smile. "Never better.”
