Kaz waited in the silence. Or almost silence. The clucking of chickens drifted up to her hideout. It seemed too quiet, too normal a sound to fit the circumstances. If the soundscape could reflect Kaz’s state of mind, something would surely be exploding. There would be shouting, and screaming and the pounding of running feet. But no, it was just the soft clucking of contented chickens. Kaz felt like the hay’s prickling not only covered her entire body, but had invaded her other senses, setting every nerve on edge. 

Owen said something from beside the sauna, and Kaz strained to hear, even just to distract herself. Orlando responded with what sounded like instructions, something about preparing herbs. Another few moments passed without event. 

There was a burst of loud voices, slightly muffled from within the house. Kaz felt herself go stiff. Could she actually feel the vibrations of their searching reverberating up to the roof? Or was she just imagining it? The indistinct voices went on and on, giving Kaz ample room to imagine the chaos that Crayton’s men were wreaking inside. She felt anger stir within her, uncomfortable under the smothering blanket of fear. How dare they treat these good people with such cavalier disrespect?

“Please be careful gentlemen,” came Maria’s pleading voice, finally clear as she stepped outside. “They’re preparing a ceremony and it’s very delicate work.” 

“Check the garden,” said Crayton in his condescending tone. “And you, around the back.” 

Kaz wished there was some way she could freeze even more completely as she heard heavy footsteps stomp into the little yard below. 

She strained to make sense of every sound. Was this how Owen felt all the time? There was still conversation happening over by the sauna, but Kaz was more preoccupied by what was happening below her to try to make it out. 

There was a sound of feet on wooden steps, a slight creek, and a sharp slam that nearly made Kaz jump. He had just checked the outhouse. 

There was a loud thump, followed by a gargling, ululating cry that nearly made Kaz jump again. Llamas were usually quiet animals, but Kaz had heard their alarm cry enough times to be able to identify it. But it never failed to startle her that such a strident sound could issue from such a seemingly peaceful animal. Now there was the prickly sound of moving hay. Had he knocked over the llama’s trough to dig through it? 

There was a series of sharper thumps and the squawking of indignant chickens. He must be going through the henhouse. 

Then the hay piled in front of her began to tremble. Kaz could just see it through a couple of gaps in the hay. Kaz’s heart was beating so fast she thought it would merge into one, terrified and unending palpitation. 

The hay continued to shake with dry, rustling sounds. But it stayed put. He must be poking in the pitchfork to make sure she wasn’t hiding in the pile. Would he eventually want to check higher up? Decide to check the roof? Kaz could do nothing but watch the shivering hay and hope that the tracker would decide that he’d seen enough. 

As the shaking continued, however, she tensed, ready to - to what? Clamber to the other side of the roof? Would she have time? The tracker would surely have to find and place the ladder, not to mention climb it. But then he’d hear her, wouldn’t he? Maybe it would be better to move now, while the sound would be masked by the rustling bales below. 

She had just made up her mind to try it when the rustling stopped. Kaz waited, not daring even to breathe. She heard the footsteps in the yard, and then: 

“It’s clear,” said the tracker. Kaz let out her breath and sagged against the roof. 

“The garden?” asked Crayton.

“Clear,” said the other tracker. 

“Check in there,” commanded Crayton. Kaz could only imagine that he was referring to the sauna. 

There was another moment of inaudible conversation. Kaz heard the footsteps again, before they disappeared into the house. She let out another sigh of relief. 

A couple of minutes passed. Kaz began to get nervous again. Were they checking the house again? Why hadn’t Orlando and Maria come to help her down? 

And then she heard footsteps and the ladder appeared over the edge of the roof. 

“It’s safe,” called Orlando quietly. “You can come down now.” 

Kaz pushed herself up, hay cascading off her. Though her muscles ached from her flight and from holding still so long, she felt lighter than she had in days. Carefully, she approached the ladder, turned around, and lowered her foot until she felt the first rung. 

When her feet hit the ground, she felt Orlando’s large hand rest on her shoulder. “That should buy you some time,” he said. She turned to see him smiling at her, his arms outstretched. She let herself be engulfed in the big man’s embrace. She fought the tears for only a moment, and then she gave in as sobs of relief tore from her. She cried until she hiccupped herself into stillness, and then whispered, “thank you,” into Orlando’s shoulder. Orlando just held her in his solid arms and for the first time in days, Kaz allowed herself to feel safe, even if it was only for this moment. 

When they finally parted, Maria was there, helping to brush the remaining hay from her clothes and hair. 

Next Chapter: 14: Owen - Understanding