Afterwards, he knelt and hugged Ren, leaning on her broad purple chest. Her wings were folded, her scales glinted dully, her ears drooped. Mraa, she growled softly, winding her long neck around his.194

‘I know,’ he said. ‘I know it’s dangerous. I will be as quick as I can. I’ll stay in the shadows. I won’t take risks, I promise.’ It was the best he could do. ‘Stay here with Fidell and Winter. Stay safe.’ He pressed his lips to her scaly head, wishing she were coming too. If she were smaller, he could hide her. If she were fully grown, she could fight. But she was still at a gangly, awkward, in-between stage – a bit like me, he thought – and he couldn’t risk her getting hurt.

Walking away from the cavern was one of the hardest things Joe had ever had to do. But having Ren only made it more important to make the right choice. His father would do the same, he was sure. His feet felt heavy as anchors, but he made himself move through the tunnels, clutching Nestan’s compass to guide him, to see what was left of the island and the people he loved.

195

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Joe emerged from the tunnels, choosing the door closest to the Yellow House. He pushed it open and peeked out, checking east, west, and back again. The sea mist crept over everything, pale grey and thick as smoke. It took him a moment to recognise the familiar street, its stone cob­bles and high walls made strange by the floating white mist clouds.

He climbed out into an alleyway just below the Yellow House. Joe looked back at the wooden door he’d just come through, with its peeling wooden frame. In his old life, he’d passed it hundreds of times, assuming it belonged to the next-door house.

He started creeping down the street, so close to home. If the main road was empty, he was just moments away.

Then he heard footsteps. He flattened himself against the wall, listening hard over the noise of the blood pounding in his ears. Tramping feet and men’s voices. It was too late 196to run back: he’d be seen for sure. But with this mist, and a little luck …?

Joe held his breath, and kept his whole body motionless.

The footsteps grew louder, so loud it seemed impossible they weren’t heading this way. They echoed off the high walls of the buildings and the cobbled road, getting louder and louder.

He prayed not to be seen. He had to stay safe for Ren. He had to get back to her: their lives were bound together now.

‘Some of them don’t even remember – the new ones,’ a man’s voice was saying loudly. ‘We’ll show them how it’s meant to be!’ That earned jeers of approval.

Joe didn’t catch the next sentence. They were moving away, down into the city. He was safe, this time. He waited, to be sure the men had gone. He could feel the mist, chill against his face, seeping under his jacket.