Owen

****O******wen** is Chinese adoptee and the wife of Clem Candler. He is descended from the Bluecrowne family.

## Biography

### *Greenglass House*

Georgie told Clem that the picture she took of the stained-glass window had nothing to do with Owen. Milo wondered who Owen was, as he felt that Owen was significant. He then remembered that Georgie had said that her notebook contained notes about Greenglass House and someone she thought might have been connected to it, and Milo presumed that this meant Owen.

When outside investigating a noise, Milo and Georgie came across a man in the woods. He was extremely tired and fell down, causing Milo and Georgie to need to carry him into the house. Once inside, Milo called for Mrs. Pine and Mrs. Caraway while helping Georgie take off the man's coat. Georgie assured him that he would be fine. Mr. Vinge inquired who he was, and Milo said that he was not sure. The man managed to say that his name was Owen. Milo's jaw dropped and turned to Georgie, whose face had gone red, confirming Milo's suspicions that this was the Owen she and Clem had in common. When Clem arrived in the foyer, she noticed Owen, and as soon as she did so, she dropped her mug. Milo noted, surprised, that Clem's easy poise seemed to have finally left her. Owen smiled weakly and told Clem that he'd told her he'd find her, and called her "Ottilie". Georgie said, painfully, *"No."* Clem commented that Owen had won, and Georgie expressed surprise that Owen called Clem "Ottilie".

Clem wrapped blankets around Owen and then helped him drink from a steaming mug. Milo mused that Owen was a huge clue to something, though he was not sure what yet. Milo told his father that there was a new guest. When he returned to the house, he presumed that Clem and Owen had left the inn's first floor.

Georgie told the story of her and Clem and why they had arrived, telling how she and Clem had both fallen in love with Owen and attempted to steal Owen's heart. She told Milo that Owen had turned up because she knew Clem was there, and that was why she was telling them this now, because Owen had chosen Clem.

After Mrs. Hereward told Milo of Lansdegown, Milo suggested that she tell this to Owen, as Owen had been adopted and did not know anything about his birth family. When Owen came down the stairs, Milo commented that it looked like sleeping had done wonders for him. Clem and Owen sat next to each other on the hearth, and Milo commented on how happy they were together.

Mrs. Hereward addressed Owen, telling him that Georgie had mentioned his middle name. Owen commented that he did not know Georgie knew this fact. Mrs. Hereward inquired if he had ever met anyone else called Lansdegown, and he said that he had not. Owen told her that he had tried to track down information on it, but the city records were bad, and on top of that, he was a foundling. Mrs. Hereward asked if it would surprise him if the two of them were related, and Owen admitted that it would, as Mrs. Hereward was white. Mrs. Hereward told of how Lucy and Liao, the children in the family for whom Greenglass House was built, had translated their family name, Bluecrowne, into Mandarin and written it down phonetically as "Lansdegown". Mrs. Hereward concluded that Owen was probably descended from Liao, or someone Asian who had married one of Lucy's descendants. Owen shook his head, amazed. Clem, crying, thanked Georgie for this, and Milo commented that Owen did not seem to have known that the two of them had been competing for his heart.

Milo eventually decided to give up his Negret keys, because though they were beloved to him, they were part of Owen's history. He told Owen that he had found the keys and kept them because he liked them, but he thought Owen should have them. Owen examined the disk on the keys, running his fingers over the Chinese characters. He told Milo that he didn't know what to say, and asked if he could really have them. Milo affirmed this, and Owen told Milo that Milo did not know what this meant to him. Milo admitted that he thought he understood, as he was adopted too.

Owen later came up to Milo and showed him a carved dragon figure. He told Milo that he had been obsessed with dragons as a kid because of how many there were in Chinese mythology, and collected hundreds of dragons. Paintings, books, stuffed animals, and carvings. He told Milo that the little carved dragon he was holding was his favorite, and when he outgrew the others he carried the dragon around. He felt that it was a way of connecting to his heritage, and had even made up stories about the figure. He told Milo that he had not imagined that he would have something actually linked to his ancestry, that he could carry around in his pocket instead. Owen gave Milo the dragon, and sat next to Milo while Milo cried, Milo commenting that he did not ask if Milo was okay, if Milo wanted to be left alone, or if Milo needed a tissue, just kept Milo company. Milo eventually managed to whisper a thank you, and Owen nodded, said goodbye to the dragon, and left the living room.

Clem had switched to a room on the fourth floor to be across the hall from Owen and Georgie had moved up to the fifth. In the morning, Clem and Owen sat on the couch together, held hands, and talked intently. They later went for a walk and returned smiling and with pink cheeks. Owen agreed to tell a story when Mrs. Hereward suggested it, saying it was the least he could do.

Owen tackled one of Mr. Vinge's thugs. Clem later noted that Owen lived in the Quayside Harbors. Upon leaving, Owen thanked Milo for everything. Milo placed the figure from Owen on his bedside table.

### *Ghosts of Greenglass House*

Clem and Georgie arrived to Greenglass House the next winter, because, according to Georgie, they were running away. They pretended, however, that it was Clem's bachelorette weekend, and Clem confirmed that she and Owen were getting married. Clem later called Owen, telling him that she was on a bachelorette weekend and had thought he knew, confirming that it was indeed Greenglass House. Clem instructed Milo not to lie to those he loved. Clem mentioned her and Owen getting married again at dinner, continuing to pretend that she was on a bachelorette weekend. Milo recalled when Clem and Georgie had first come to Greenglass House, both trying to steal Owen's heart. Clem explained that she was quitting thieving for Owen, because she thought he was going to ask her to and she didn't want him to ask. When practicing lockpicks with Milo, Clem said that she and Owen were going to leave one of the locks on a bridge on their honeymoon. The ivory dragon from Owen was still on Milo's bedside table, and Milo recalled giving the keys to Owen.

Owen arrived to Greenglass House. Milo was delighted, but anxious for Clem's sake. Owen had clearly not been fooled by Clem's lies, and Milo showed Owen up. Owen hugged Milo, noting that he could spend more time with him once he'd checked in with Clem. Owen sounded lighthearted, which Milo thought was probably an inaccurate reflection of his feelings. Milo called for Clem, Owen telling him not to pretend he didn't know what was going on. Clem arrived, and Owen seemed slightly frustrated, but mostly relieved, to see her. Georgie burst out and insisted that it was all her own fault, but Clem stopped her. Clem set Georgie and Milo to stand sentry while she told Owen everything. Owen insisted that he'd never meant to ask Clem to quit thieving, and that he was not like that. Clem later began to cry.

Clem, Owen, and Georgie later descended the stairs and Owen was introduced to the others. Owen helped Marzana clear the table before stories, then interrupted Milo and Meddy going over clues so that he could speak to Milo. Milo, to his surprise, opened up about all about his difficulties with Mr. Chancelor, and Owen shared similar things that he had experienced. Owen told Milo that these sort of things don't stop when you get older, to his disappointment. Owen advised Milo to tell people after they'd hurt him, and suggested a way he could speak to his teacher. Owen provided Milo with one of Liao's letters, which proved that Liao Bluecrowne had been in Nagspeake in 1813 and been Chinese. Owen explained that he'd found a lot of letters after seeking information about the Bluecrowne family, and had brought one to show Milo that he'd put the information to good use. Owen allowed Milo to keep the letter to show Mr. Chancelor, assuring him that Owen had plenty of others. Owen planned to leave the Pines his phone number, instructing Milo to call him. They then toasted Liao.

Owen made a fresh pot of coffee. Before stories, he and Clem sat together on the loveseat, and Georgie sat next to Clem. Owen was one of those Milo enlisted to watch the guests during his story about Violet Cross. Meddy later collected observations from those watching, including Owen. Sylvester, Emmett, and Owen later conversed. When Sylvester found the locks on his coat, Owen was sent for Clem, and later returned with her and Georgie. Owen later stood in front of the front door, perhaps on purpose, and seemed angry.

Owen and Mr. Pine found Milo in the trees later. Owen seemed pale, and noted that perhaps they'd seen a ghost. Owen helped Emmett get Rob onto the screened porch so that explanations could be made. Owen was happy to hear of how Mrs. Kirkegrim and Mr. Hakelbarend had found a way to be together. Owen attempted to open some of the locks in the haul, and Milo supposed Clem had taught him how. When the guests went to leave, Owen hugged Mrs. Kirkegrim and thanked her, saying it had meant a lot to him and Clem to meet her. Owen and Clem planned to go home, but thanked the Pines for inviting them to stay longer. When Milo explained his suspicions about the derrotero, Owen gave a low whistle and sat back. Owen fetched his luggage and helped load up the Caraways' car. Georgie and Clem gifted Milo the locks from the haul to practice his lockpicking with, and Owen insisted that they were from him too. Clem and Owen left, and Clem promised to send the Pines an invitation to their wedding.

### *The Thief Knot*

Emmett noted that he had seen the Pines at Clem and Owen's wedding in January.

## Personality and traits

Owen is a very nice person. He always seems to know what to say, and is very smart, and also would marry a thief without making them change. Owen is very supportive of Milo and offers advice. Owen helps often, whether it be packing a car, tackling one of Mr. Vinge's assistants, or supporting Milo.

## Physical Appearance

Owen was described as "youngish". He has dark hair and slightly dark skin, with eyes that marked him to be of Asian descent. Milo thought that Owen looked a little like Milo himself.

## Relationships

### Clem Candler

Owen is Clem's husband. Clem, along with Georgie, attempted to steal his heart, but before she had found the secret, Owen showed up, and revealed that he was in love with Clem. The two of them were delighted to be around each other. The next year, the two of them prepared to be married, Clem loving him so much that she prepared to give up thieving for him, thinking it was what he wanted. Owen revealed that he did not want that, and Clem presumably continued to be a thief. Clem and Owen were married successfully.

### Georgie Moselle

Georgie was in love with Owen and attempted to steal his heart. However, he chose Clem, which crushed her. Georgie eventually got over this. Owen did not seem to have known that Georgie and Clem were competing for his heart.

### Milo Pine

Milo was surprised to find that Owen had been adopted, and Owen appeared Asian. When Milo found out the secret of Owen's heritage, he begged Mrs. Hereward to tell Owen. Milo realized that Negret's keys should be given to Owen, and he did, to Owen's delight. Milo admitted that he understood, as he, too, had been adopted. Owen in turn gifted Milo an ivory dragon he'd had as a kid, as a way to connect with his ancestry. Milo kept the dragon.

The following year, Owen arrived, to Milo's delight. Owen seemed to be a parental figure to Milo, yet also a friend. Milo explained his difficulties in social studies class, and Owen shared some of the times similar things had happened to him and suggested a way for Milo to speak to his teacher. Owen gifted Milo one of Liao's letters that he'd brought, to show his teacher.