He woke before the fire room emptied and stayed in his corner long enough to watch the hunters leave.
That was the plan. Watch first. Talk later.
They left in pairs mostly, with the easy economy of people who had done this many times. Some checked weapons at the door without looking at them—the kind of habit that had moved past thought into muscle. One checked a small device clipped to his belt, read something on it, and changed direction without a word to his partner. The partner followed without question.
Kai watched the device.
It was flat and rectangular, smaller than a palm, with a surface that gave off a faint light when read. He had never seen one in Helios. He had no framework for it yet.
He pushed the system toward it as the hunter passed.
Object: mission relay tablet
Function: Guild mission board access / personal assignment feed
Availability: Bronze rank and above
Bronze rank and above.
He filed that and let them go.
