Here is the next chapter.

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Things to think about

The next day was mostly spent getting supplies for the refugees in my attic. I fidgeted with the scarf around my head as I waited in line to pay for the bred I cradled in my arms. It was freshly baked and still warm. I wanted to get it back to my house that way. They needed something fresh and warm in their stomachs.

The attic wasn't exactly the warmest place to live. We couldn't risk anything more then a few candles and Aida was afraid to use her magic. I don't blame her. With this purge going on it seems dangerous to do anything anymore. Even those who weren't apart of the Black Feather organization were afraid. Some were afraid of the magic and others were scared that they would be falsely accused.

I think back to Aida's family. Do they miss her right now? Are they worried? Perhaps they think she has already been captured. My heart skips a beat. What if her family was taken for trying to protect her? I hoped to the high heavens that it wasn't true. But we may never know.

I absent-mindedly handed the man my money for the bread and hurried back to my house. I tried to look as normal as possible. It felt like my every move was being watched and critiqued. Undercover spies could be anywhere, always watching.

I don't think I will ever be able to relax again. I clumsily fitted my key into the lock and was about to turn it when I felt a small hand tug on my arm. I jumped and almost lost my grip on the bred. Turning around my eyes fell on the small shape of Holt. I sighed with relief. He was one of us.

"Morning Joone." He said cheerily but it was laced with curiosity, as was the voice of every child. "You ok?"

"Yes, I'm fine. You just startled me." I smiled down at him. He was fidgeting with something in his pocket, probably his feather. He looked like he was trying to make a decision. "Holt, is something wrong?"

"It's nothing, but have you seen Magnus?" He looked up at me. Holt really looked up to Magnus and was always trying to be like him. In some ways that was good but I still worried. There were more ways for that to go in a bad direction. The fact that he was hiding in my attic was a pretty big example.

"Joone?" He tilted his head. Should I tell him? He was apart of the organization, but I haven't told any of the others about what happened last night. Should I? He was only a kid and he was already more involved then he should be.

I bit my lip. "I haven't see him since yesterday. It's still early in the morning he might still be asleep knowing him." Holt laughed, buying my lie. I felt bad about it but it was for his protection.

"Tell me if you see him." He finished and walked away. I envied him. It had only been one night but the secret was already weighing down heavily on me. I turned the key in the lock and stepped into my seemingly empty house.

As soon as the door was closed and locked behind me and I was sure all the blinds were closed so no one could see, I pulled against the cabinet that stood against the wall. Slowly the wood dragged across the wooden floor, cutting into it a little more. Eventually I managed to get it far enough away from the wall to squeeze through.

I let out my breath when I stumbled through to the other side and onto the hidden stairs. When the cabinet was back in place I padded up the stairs.

I found Aida still wrapped up in her blankets and fast asleep on the cot. She had barely slept the night before. I smiled down at her. It was good that she was finally getting some sleep. She needed it.

Magnus, however, was wide awake and fiddling his thumbs. I should have known he wouldn't like being copped up in here. He was the leader of the Black Feather. He wouldn't be if he liked sitting still and watching others do the dirty work. This must be killing him.

His eyes shot up towards me. There were dark circles around them. Silently I tore the bread I had bought in half and lightly through one towards him without a word. I wouldn't know what to say to him. Sorry but you might have to stay here in my cold attic forever. Not likely.

There had to be another way. Something I could do. Something he could do really.

I watched as he slowly pick away at the bread. "Thank you." He said and lowered his eyes. He was too hard on himself, I thought. There was nothing wrong with having a kind heart. Anyone else would have just let Aida keep running but not Magnus. He wasn't like that.

It made me happy that he chose to come to me with this. In many ways it was an honor. It meant he trusted me enough with his own life. Magnus wasn't someone to give away his trust easily.

Without taking my eyes off of his slumped form, I took the bread to Aida next. I laid it down nicely beside her. If I had my way I would let her sleep, but I wanted something warm in her thin belly so I gently shook her away. Her eyes flickered and slowly opened. Her mouth opened wide as she yawned, rubbing her eyes with a dirty sleeve. I would have to get her some better cloths or at least some clean ones.

"I brought you something to eat." I explained.

Her eyes lit up at the sight of the bread. They got even brighter when she took the first bight and it went down warmly.

"Thank you ever so much miss." She managed to get out in between bites.

"Please call me Joone." I insisted and patted her shoulder.

The mud from the night before had dried in her ginger hair. Now that it was dry it was beginning to curl. Part of me wished my hair was like that. It was the kind of hair that you could show off and experiment with to see what would work best. I tugged on the scarf over my head. If only.

I shook my head, not wanting to seem as if I was hiding anything. I wasn't really, except for them of course. They were my biggest secret and one I would not give up without a fight. I had only known Aida for less then a day and I already cared for her.

I took a step back and took a moment to think about our situation. There were things we were putting off that needed to be dealt with. Most of it involved the Black Feather. Magnus was Blackbird. He was our leader and couldn't just disappear without an explanation. Should we tell the group what happened or keep it hushed.

I couldn't decide all of this on my own. I needed to talk to Magnus, alone. So I waited.

I went back to the attic after dark, when I was sure Aida would be asleep. Maybe Magnus was expecting me because I found him sitting against one of the walls, awake in the dark. He was tapping one of his knees with his middle finger. I only ever saw him do that when he was thinking, intently.

I stood there in front of him for a moment, waiting for him to notice. I started to tap my foot against the wood floor impatiently.

"What are we going to do?" He broke the silence.

"About the Black Feather?" I inquired.

"About everything." He gestured to Aida.

This was one thing we had always been worried about. Hiding the sorcerers in our own homes was a short-term solution. They couldn't stay there forever. It would be as bad as keeping them in a cage. I couldn't imagine young Aida having to stay cooped up there in the attic for all her days. I just couldn't see it.

"What are we going to tell the others about your disappearance? Some of them are already starting to look for you." I lent against the wall next to him. "The truth?"

"No." Magnus shook his head vigorously. "They can't know about this."

"Then what should I tell them?" I persisted. "It will be better to tell them a lie then nothing at all."

"I don't know." He bent his head.

"Then think about this: we can't keep the sorcerers in our houses forever. This is not freedom for them. We have to get them out." I explained.

A look came over Magnus' face. I knew that look. He had an idea.

"What? What is it?" I lent forward.

"Tell them that I have gone away." He started. "I am following a lead on a long-term solution to free our friends."

Yes, that could work. If only we actually were getting close to a long-term solution. I bit my lip as I thought.

"So I tell them that lie while you are hiding up here." It came out harsher then I had meant.

He looked hurt for a moment. Then his features softened. "It won't be a lie. I just need to sneak out of town, if you'll help me."

I was surprised. "Do you have an idea about how to free our friends?"

"I met a few sorcerers who successfully made their way to the woods and are living there." He explained. "I could go talk to them about helping us get the rest of them out."

"Yes, I guess that would work." My mind was spinning. It was a good idea but… It was hard to admit that I didn't want to see Magnus go. I had grown quite attached to him and I wanted to protect him as much as Aida, even though he was older then me.

"How long will it take to make the preparations to get me out?" Usually it was I who asked these questions so it was strange to hear him ask. I guess now that he was locked up here I know had to do the legwork.

"A few days at most." I tapped my temple in thought. "It will have to be a day when we know everyone, including any soldiers, is looking the other way."

I tapped my foot. Then I stopped abruptly. Oh. Yes that would do quite nicely.

"In three days time there is going to be a small production by a traveling group. It's all hushed up until the day so it can be a surprise. They thought it would be good to lighten everyone's spirits." I spoke up. I was actually one of the ones organizing it so it was sort of perfect.

"Everyone will be there and no one will see me leave." Magnus nodded his approval.

"Everyone except me." I added. He looked confused. "You are not going without saying goodbye and that was not a request."

He looked like he wanted to say something but shut his mouth when he saw how determined I was. He smiled.

Without another word I left to go and make the preparations for Magnus' escape. I would have to do it all on my own.

So I better get started.

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Will their plans succeed?

The next chapter will be up in the next week.