Owen felt useless. His parents had jumped into action to hide Kaz, and Jess had gone to keep watch. Orlando had quickly told him to keep preparing the herbs before rushing off to grab a ladder. If only he could do something! His fingers stripped leaves automatically while his mind ran in circles. 

The trackers would recognize him. He was sure of it. Would that make them more suspicious? Surely not. All they had was coincidence to think that he might have helped Kaz. But was there any way to remedy that? He couldn’t think of anything. He listened to the rustling of hay in the yard and wondered how they were hiding Kaz. On the roof, if the ladder was any clue. He had no way of knowing how effective the hiding spot would be, not having any sense of the visual. He’d just have to trust that his parents knew what they were doing. 

Birds chirped and the wind rustled the trees as Owen stewed in his own frustration. Ch’usaj had said that the trackers would not remember what he did to them. But would that hold up? Owen had no idea. He wished again that he could do something to help hide Kaz, or keep the trackers from getting too suspicious. 

Just then, Jess rushed by him, not even stopping for a greeting. 

“Papa, they’re close!” Owen heard the urgency in Jess’s quiet voice. “They just started next door.” 

And then it occurred to him. They shouldn’t both be here! The trackers had met both of them. If either of them would make them suspicious, then surely both of them would make them positively vicious in their search. 

Owen jumped to his feet, grabbing Devlin’s leash. “Find the yard,” he told Devlin,  and followed the dog’s lead. 

“Jess,” he said, when he felt the outhouse to his left. “One of us should leave before they get here. They’ll get suspicious if we’re both here.” 

“I’ll go,” said Jess at once. He followed her back to the sauna. 

“Thanks,” he said. 

“Of course!” she said. “It makes more sense if you’re here. You know, for the ceremony.” 

“Go out through the garden,” Owen said. 

Jess hurried off, leaving Owen feeling slightly less useless than before. Orlando hurried by, and Owen heard him settle the ladder in its usual place behind the sauna, against the back wall. 

“Maria,” Orlando said. “Can you take a broom and try to cover the footprints?” 

“Of course,” said Maria, and he heard her hurry off to grab the broom. 

Minutes passed. Maria returned and started sweeping the yard. The fire crackled. Birds twittered in the garden. Chickens clucked. In other circumstances, it would have been peaceful, but Owen had to keep reminding himself to keep working with the herbs as though nothing was wrong. At least, he assumed that’s what he was supposed to be doing.

Orlando pointed out a spot that Maria had missed, and then told her to go inside. “It’ll be good to have someone there to meet them,” he said.  

“Owen,” he added. “Take Devlin and gather more herbs. Then come back and keep preparing the water for the ceremony.” 

“So we’re just continuing the preparations?”

“Absolutely, son. After all, you’ve just gotten back from your final vision quest and we want to celebrate with the elements.” 

“Got it,” said Owen. 

“Excellent,” said Orlando. “Let me know when you’ve finished and you can move on to something else.” 

Owen went through the familiar routine of gathering the necessary herbs. Lavender and thyme. Bitter vetiver for cleansing, earthy neroli to harmonize the elements. He heard the trackers enter the house, their loud commands and the thumps and crashes as they overturned furniture and upset objects. Owen focused on his breathing and continued gathering. 

And then he went back and his father laid out the herbs, instructing him on how to prepare them to infuse the water. As if nothing was out of the ordinary. 

There was a burst of loud voices. Owen’s hands paused as he shredded lavender into a bowl.

“Please be careful, gentlemen,” said Maria’s pleading voice. “They’re preparing a ceremony and its very delicate work.” 

“Check the garden,” came an arrogant, commanding voice that Owen recognized as the lead tracker’s. Heavy footsteps stomped off towards the garden. 

“And you, around the back.” Another set of footsteps stomped towards Kaz’s hiding place. 

“Hello gentlemen,” said Orlando. “What can I do to-”

“What’s in there? Wait - it’s you. What are you doing here?” Owen took a deep breath. Here we go. 

“I live here,” he said. “This is my father’s house.” 

“Don’t talk back to me, boy. I know you helped the girl. Where is she?” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Owen. “Does this mean you haven’t found her yet?” 

“Don’t lie to me!” shouted the lead tracker. A sudden blow hit him on the cheek, knocking off his stool and sending the bowl flying. 

“You will not lay a hand on my son in my home or my presence.” From the ground, Owen dimly registered that Orlando was using the calm, controlled voice that he reserved for people he would not tolerate any bullshit from. 

“I’ll do as I want!” 

There was a sizzling sound and a shriek of pain and rage. “You’re a mage!” 

“No, I’m a shaman. And all of the elements are with me. Now, gentlemen, how can I help you?” 

“We just want to find a girl, sir,” said the tracker. Owen sat up, smiling internally. Orlando rarely used his connection to the elements in an overt way. But when he did, people listened. He found the stool and righted it, sitting on it and putting a hand to his smarting cheek. He’d salvage the herbs later. 

“I haven’t seen any strangers lately,” Orlando was saying. “Owen told me that a young woman ran past during his vision quest. Is that the one you’re looking for?” 

“That’s the one. And I don’t believe your innocent tone for a moment. Even if you are a shaman, know that we will find the girl if she’s here. We are sent by the ruler of the empire, and it is of vital importance that she be found and brought to justice.”

“But, what did this girl do to deserve such a search?” asked Orlando. 

“She is accused of high treason. Attempting to kill the sun king himself.” 

Owen tried not to show his anger and surprise at this lie. How dare they accuse Kaz of treason? 

“Well, I hope you find her then,” said Orlando. “As a shaman, it is always my goal to see justice done.”

Next Chapter: 13: Kaz - Listening