Got this chapter done faster then I thought I would.

Hope you enjoy.

Aida and the game

I hadn't faltered for a moment about what to do but hearing him use my real name showed me just how desperate he was. Without waiting another second I beckoned them inside and sealed my fate.

I helped Magnus remove his cloak and hid it under a floorboard I had discovered was loose a few days earlier. I hid it incase anyone chasing them had seen him wearing it. Once the floorboard was tightly back in its place I took Magnus aside for a word.

"You said we shouldn't interfere in other towns. Our group is too small Magnus. We are too weak." I scorned him. "What were you even doing out there?"

"I was visiting a farm close by to get some food for Fionn and the others." He explained. "I just saw her running. I couldn't help it. I guess I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." I looked over at the girl still shivering and dripping wet on my carpet. She looked so shaken.

"Or the right place at the right time." I grabbed a blanket that was resting on a chair close by and went to the girl, wrapping it warmly around her. There was something about the young girl that made me want to protect her.

"What's your name?" I asked, rubbing her back soothingly.

"Aida." She spoke only the name.

"And how old are you?" I pushed her for more information about herself. Knowing Magnus he probably hadn't asked her anything and just jumped in, trying to be the hero.

"Thirteen." Again she answered with only one word. She was too young for this life of running and hiding. Magnus stood in the doorway to the kitchen just watching.

"Why were you running?" We had both guessed the reason why but still the questioned had to be asked.

Aida looked at me for a moment, wondering whether or not she could trust me. Then she looked to Magnus who simply nodded.

"They knew about me and what I could do." She sniffed. "They knew about the magic so they came for me. We didn't think they'd find out." She began to cough. I pulled her in closer and let her rest her head on my shoulder as small tears began to roll down her cheeks. The tears made lines in the mood that covered some of her face.

I held her there until shouts came from outside. Magnus went to the window and moved the curtains slightly to see what all the commotion was. His eyes widened at what he saw.

"They know she came this way." He spoke in fear standing frozen at the window. He couldn't move. I was surprised. We had soldiers searching our town before for the sorcerers we had hidden. What about this time made it different from the others? Why did Magnus, our fearless leader, look so frightened?

I moved quickly to his side, pulling him back from the window and replacing the curtains. I held him firmly by his shoulders.

"Magnus." I shook them to get his attention. "What did you do?"

"I…" He tried to avoid my eyes. "Its my fault they're here." What did he mean?

"Magnus, I don't understand." I shook his shoulders again as he tried to look away.

"I wasn't careful enough Joone." He pulled away from me. "They saw me. They know I came this way."

"You were seen?" I gasped. "Did they get a good look at your face?" He turned away, looking again to the window. I came up behind him and grabbed his shoulder, turning him around to face me. "Magnus, answer me."

"Yes!" He yelled, looking straight into my eyes. The look he gave me made me back away. The yells from outside were louder now, getting closer.

"I'm sorry Joone." He almost whispered. "I've ruined everything. They will follow me back to the rest of the group. They will take us all and it's my fault." Tears came to his eyes and he bent his head in shame.

The voices, of what I guessed were soldiers, were getting louder by the second. I recovered from my shock and looked fearfully at the door, any second they could come barging through and find us.

"Magnus get a hold of yourself. That's not going to happen. Did they see you come here?" I asked to be sure. He didn't answer. "Did they see you come to this specific house?" I wanted to yell.

"I don't think so." He looked up. Some hope flickered in his eyes until the shouts of the soldiers came again, louder still.

I looked at Magnus. He seemed too distraught to take charge so I did. I grabbed his arm and pulled him further away from the window, beckoning him silently to follow me. I waved to Aida to do the same.

They both followed me to the tall cabinet that stood near the door. I pulled the large thing away from the wall to reveal a set of stairs going up. I pushed both of them in.

"Take these stairs up to the attic." I explained. "You'll find everything you need there."

"But Joone," Magnus looked back to me. "What about you?"

"I'll keep them away. Don't worry I've had this place ready for weeks just incase." I tried to calm his nerves. "They won't find this place."

I knelt down in front of Aida and placed my hands on her shoulders. "What ever happens, what ever you hear, don't make a sound." She nodded but still looked at me with concern.

"Joone I'm sorry…" Magnus tried but I cut him off.

"We don't have time for that, now go." I pushed them in and started pushing the cabinet back into place. I saw Magnus try to speak again but I put my finger to my lips, silencing him.

I took one last look at Aida. "Not a sound." Then the cabinet was in place and they were gone from my sight. I lent against the large hunk of wood. I may have looked strong in front of them but I was scared as well. I heard them make their way up the stairs, then silence.

That silence was quickly broken when a loud knock came at my door for the second time that day. I made my way slowly towards the door. They pounded on the wood louder so I quickened my step slightly, hoping my actions weren't at all suspicious.

The door creaked open. One of the soldiers looked like he was about to try and break the door down. There were four of them standing there but they weren't panting like Magnus and Aida had been but they did look very angry. They must have ridden here on their horses.

"May we come in?" The tallest of them asked almost politely but impatience coated his words. I closed the door slightly, blocking their path with my body.

"Do you have a reason for entering my house?" I asked trying to sound innocent. The soldier who addressed me huffed at my clear defiance to cooperate.

"We saw a few suspicious people head this way. We are sure one of them is a sorcerer. We want to check to make sure they aren't hiding here." Another soldier explained the facts I already knew.

"A sorcerer?" I faked surprise and added a little fear just to be sure. In answer to their first question I opened the door wider so they could fit through the doorway. Even though I had willingly opened the door they still shoved past me.

They looked around for any signs of Aida or Magnus. I watched fearfully as one of them stepped across the floorboard under which I had hidden Magnus' cloak. If they found it they would immediately know I had helped them, then all hell would break loose and everything would be lost.

It was a dangerous game that we played but still we played on. We kept playing until the end not knowing if we would win or loose but still trying our best. Was our best going to be enough?

The soldiers rampaged my house; breaking a few of the pots I had made only the day before. I tried to hide my fury. I couldn't risk angering them even more then they already were. If it had been only me in the house I would have yelled at them but I had two fugitives hiding in my attic. I kept thinking about them and hoping it would not read on my face when the soldiers glanced my way.

I heard more pots smashing. A whole months work gone. I was almost ready to snap when they came back to the door.

The floorboard that hid the cloak squeaked when one of their boots landed on it. He looked down and my heart stopped. He stepped on it again, hearing its protests. He growled at the noise it made.

"You should fix that." Was all he said and I felt like I was going to die. I wanted to yell for them to get out of my house. I just wanted them away.

Eventually I got my wish. One of them turned back to me just before he left. He eyed me suspiciously. Taking a step so he was standing uncomfortably close. His breath stank as he spoke. "You're lucky we didn't find anything this time peasant." He spat at my feet. Damn noblemen.

By accident I let a look of disgust cross my face. The soldier saw it before I realized what I had done. For that I got a fist to the gut, an awful cracking sound could be heard. I buckled over in pain. All I heard was his laughter as he left my house and slammed the door.

The soldier's blow had been powerful enough to knock the wind right out of me and I'm pretty sure at least one of my ribs was either cracked or broken. I lay on the floor not breathing for what felt like long minutes. I began to panic when the air would not reach my lungs as I begged it to.

Slowly I was able to get short bursts of breath but it wasn't enough. The lack of oxygen was messing with my vision. I was seeing black spots. Blinking didn't clear them away. I gasped but made no sound. The sound of the cabinet moving was the last thing I heard before the black spots covered my entire vision and I was out like a snuffed candle.

Thank you for reading.

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The next chapter will be up in the next week.