They sat just below the crest of a mountain looking down at a wide plain. More mountains rose on either side of a shining ribbon of river. Nestled against the bowl of the nearest bank was the city of Alkantay. She could just make out the grey of the stone, the yellow of thatch, and the ruddy brown of clay bricks. She thought she could see the tiny figures of ships snuggled up to the shore. But it might just have been wishful thinking at this altitude. 

“Your mother really is a wonderful cook,” said Kaz. 

They had stopped for lunch and Kaz had pulled out the food that had been packed for them. Besides the fruit that was a ubiquitous part of the diet in this region, there were delicious pockets of dough filled with spiced vegetables. 

Owen paused in his chewing long enough to answer. “She is, for sure. But Jess made these. She always puts in extra cumin because she knows I like it.” 

“Jess made these? She’s got a lot of skills for someone her age. How old is she anyway?” 

“Fifteen. She’s small for her age. But yeah,” Owen smiled. “She’s pretty talented. Do you have siblings?” asked Owen. “I heard that the Sun King has many children.” 

“He does. Did. I had twenty three half brothers and sisters. And one full brother.” 

Kaz fell silent. She took another bite to mask the awkward pause. Did she still have any siblings? 

Owen seemed to sense her distress. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. I know it must be hard to think about.” 

“No,” she said, swallowing. “It’s alright. I don’t want you to be afraid to ask me things. It’s just - I don’t know if anyone else survived. I wasn’t particularly close to most of my siblings. But my brother, Blaze. Well, if anyone could have made it out, it would be him. I just - I don’t want to think that I’m the only one left, you know?” 

“I can understand that,” said Owen. “That thing in the prophecy, about you being a symbol. That’s an awful lot of pressure anyway, and it’s even worse if you’re the only one who’s carrying it.” 

Kaz was startled to find that she had almost forgotten the prophecy. It had been such an astounding moment that she had been sure, at the time, that those words would echo in her head forever. But then, she had seen and experienced so many extraordinary things in the last day that she supposed it was little wonder she was having trouble keeping track of it all. 

“I wasn’t actually thinking about the prophecy,” she admitted. “More that being the only one left seems very lonely somehow. But you’re right,” she added. “It is a lot of responsibility.” She restrained herself from adding on top of everything else, but only with difficulty. 

A breeze ruffled her hair. Owen absent-mindedly stroked Devlin’s ears before reaching for another pocket. Kaz wondered if she would ever get used to the way his eyes focused steadily on nothing. She found it unnerving. 

Kaz thought again of Old Man Grouch. His story kept popping up in her head. 

“Owen,” she said. “Do most people fear the empire?”

Owen took a moment to finish chewing before answering. 

“Yes,” he said. “But not as much as the alternative.” 

“The alternative?”

“Bandits. Raiders. There are supposed to be pirates on the river. Anyone who has come into contact with them recognizes how valuable it is to have the extra protection. They resent what they have to do to get it, but they prefer the taxation to being attacked outright. And the stories of the attacks spread, so that’s enough for most people.” 

Kaz was staring at Owen. this was not the empire she had been taught to revere. The goods, money, food, and labor sent to the major cities and the capitol were supposed to be made in gratitude for the peace and prosperity of all citizens. 

“But,” she stammered. “They never take more than someone has to offer, do they?” 

Owen sighed. “Yes, they do. That’s how people end up in the mines or shaping the terraces. And sometimes the tax collectors take everything a family has because that’s what was demanded. That’s when communities like mine come together to help out. We all worked together to build our terraces, and since then we’ve all been able to produce enough surplus for the empire. But before that - I was too young. I’ve just heard the stories. Apparently at least one family a year ended up with nothing left. Old Man Grouch wasn’t the only one taken. Just the only one to return.”

Owen’s expression was sad as he continued. “My village is lucky. Many struggle to build and maintain their terraces, as all the strong, young people are forced to ‘volunteer,’ leaving them scrambling just to produce enough to live.” 

Kaz found herself staring at the half-eaten pocket in her hand. She found that the ravenous appetite of a moment before had retreated, leaving her feeling hollow and a little queasy. 

“Kaz?” asked Owen. He had set down the rest of his pocket on his pack and was reaching towards her. “Are you alright?”  

Kaz took his hand with her free one. A distant part of her registered dully that she had never touched anyone this much, let alone someone she hardly knew. Even if it was just his hand, the frequent contact was unfamiliar, though not unwelcome.

“If I become a symbol of the empire, is that what I’ll stand for?” she asked. “Because I don’t think I want that.” 

Owen squeezed her hand. 

“How do you see the empire?” he asked. 

“I’m not really sure anymore.” 

“Ok,” he said. “How did you see it before you learned all this?”

Kaz took a moment to think, trying to disentangle the glorious vision of harmony that she had been fed since she was small. 

“Well,” she started. “To start with, the Sun King isn’t just some guy who happens to be in charge. He’s supposed to be chosen by Inti himself, and is advised by him as well. The empire maintains the harmony between the elements and maintains that balance on the human level. I was always taught that everything paid in taxes was given out of gratitude for maintaining the order and prosperity. Without the empire, everything would fall to chaos and-” she paused, hesitating, but this was, after all, what she had been taught. “And Ch’usaj would rule,” she finished apologetically. 

Owen’s hand twitched when she named his element, but he did not pull away. 

“If you’re so scared of the empire, why did you help me?” Kaz burst out. She had been wondering this since learning about Old Man Grouch. And this conversation had only intensified her doubts. 

Owen grasped her hand now with both of his. He turned his face towards hers, though his eyes stayed half closed and unfocused. 

“Kaz, my family and I helped you because you were in trouble, and because that’s what we do. You’re obviously a good person, and none of us can stand by and watch a good person get hurt.”

“But the empire-” she started, but Owen cut her off. 

“My family isn’t afraid of the empire. We know the role it plays in maintaining the balance. We may not always agree with how it does it, but we know that it’s necessary. If you become a symbol, it will be of the lost balance, not of the empire’s cruelty. Most people also acknowledge the importance of the empire as that balancing force. It’s just easy to forget when that’s not the part of the empire we actually come into contact most of the time.”

Kaz sighed. “I guess. It’s just weird to be learning all of this now. I mean, of all the times for me to start doubting the structure of our world, why now? I don’t know. I’ll have more time to think about it later. So we should probably get going if we want to reach Alkantay before dark.”

“Of course,” said Owen. He released her hands and set about packing up his remaining food. Kaz stared at the remnants of the pocket without really seeing it. Knowing she would regret doing so later, she threw it into the bushes. Her appetite wouldn’t be returning any time soon.

“Kaz?” she looked over. Owen sat with his pack at his feet, Devlin at his side. 

“Yes?” 

“Before we move on, can I touch your face?”

“What?” In her surprise, Kaz was diverted from her preoccupation. 

“Can I touch your face? So I know what it’s shaped like. I do it with all of my friends. And since we’re going to be traveling together, I’d like to learn yours.” 

“Oh,” said Kaz. I do it with all of my friends. Did this mean they were friends? Or was it just because they were traveling together. Either way, the request warmed her. 

“Sure,” she said. She stood and walked over to crouch in front of Owen, moving his pack out of the way. 

He reached out one hand. She took it and guided his fingers to her cheek. “Can you hold Devlin’s leash for me?” he asked. 

“Of course.” Kaz took the leash, and Owen’s other hand rose to meet the first. His touch was extraordinarily gentle. Kaz felt that he was indeed learning her face more completely than anyone ever could just by sight. As he traced her jawline and lips, she wondered suddenly what it would be like to learn Owen’s face this way. The thought made her blush. If Owen noticed, he was tactful enough not to say anything. 

Owen paused once he reached her eyes. “Our eyes are the same shape.” 

“Yes. They’re the same color, too.” 

“Really? My family tells me it’s an unusual color.” 

“It is.” 

Owen smiled. “That might make things easier if we can pass as relations.” 

Kaz blinked. She hadn’t even thought of that, and said so. 

“Well, we’ve got the entire descent to come up with a convincing story,” said Owen, as he traced her eyebrows and forehead. “I’m sure we can come up with something in the next day and a half.” 

He rested his palms on either side of her face. “Thank you Kaz,” he said, smiling gently. “You’ve got a lovely face.” 

“Thanks,” said Kaz. 

As they began the trek down the mountain, she raised her hand to her cheek. No one had ever touched her with that degree of gentleness and sensitivity. In her life’s current chaos, the moment had felt like a tiny miracle, like a flower growing in the midst of a bed of lava. 

Next Chapter: 22: Owen - Storm