Hidden - part 1

"If we go back, they will kill us."
"So would you recommend not going back?" I hiss.
Andrew doesn't answer. He knows that our options are just about zero.
"We really only have two options," I whisper, peering out from behind the tree we are in, checking for signs of pursuit. "We could go in fast, try to grab it and get out before they notice, or we could sneak in and out, trying not to be seen."
Andrew is staring back the way we came, not listening to a word I am saying.
"Andrew!" I elbow him hard in the ribs. "This is important. Speed or stealth."
He seems to come back to himself, shaking his head as though to shake some clarity into it. "You don't have to do this, you know," he says. "This has to do with me, not with you."
I just roll my eyes. "Speed or stealth? What do you think?"
"Um... I'd say speed. See, I'm not sure how much time we have before -"
Andrew's words are cut off as his mouth clamps shut. I grab him as he begins to shake, making sure he doesn't fall out of the tree.
"Focus," I breathe, holding him tightly. "Just focus."
Even as he tries, one of the branches next to us catches fire. Andrew screws up his eyes in concentration, but he can't control it. Making a split second decision, I leap off the lower branches, pulling me with him. "Come on, we need to do this now before they bring reinforcements! Just try to channel it."
Andrew can barely walk, let alone channel anything.
"Come on, Andrew, do it for me," I say softly. "You can do this."
He closes his eyes and nods. We run to the edge of the forest, to the fortress we just left. The fortress we just fled, lucky to escape with our lives. If we want to keep our lives for much longer, though, we need what they are guarding there.
They obviously weren't expecting us back so soon, and are momentarily shocked. The two guards at the door take just a second too long to cross their pikes. I barrel through them, tugging Andrew by the hand. As we go past, he manages to channel the violent forces inside him. I hear bloodcurdling screams as the two men behind us catch fire.
We run through the hall as guards flood in from every side. Arrows zip past us. I know that one good hit will be all it takes to end our lives forever.
The floor starts to tremble and people on every side start falling down. Andrew staggers, then slumps to his knees, the powers inside him finally taking their toll. I can see it, though. In a wooden cabinet just ten feet away, the end of a scroll sticks out. All the guards are converging on Andrew; it is unprotected.
Praying that he can defend himself in his current state, I leave his side and make a mad dash for the cabinet. I reach inside and grab the scroll, rushing back to Andrew's side.
Now, we are in trouble. We are surrounded by a bristling ring of steel. Even if Andrew could set fire to every one of them, the guards would pepper us with arrows before they fell. I grab his arm and pull him up, determined to try to get out, even if it means we die trying.
Then something happens that I did not expect.
I pull Andrew up to face the guards and see... trees. Trees and a lake. Spinning wildly on the spot, I find us in the middle of a glade that I recognise - one many miles from the fortress we were in just minutes ago.
Andrew's arm slips from my grasp as he sinks back onto the ground, panting. "It's getting stronger," he gasps.
I can feel my face draining of blood as I realise what he means; what just happened.
"How long?" I whisper.
Andrew just shakes his head. "It's harder to control every time. I don't know... Megan, I don't want to go the same way as John."
I kneel down and hug him. "You won't," I promise him. "We've got the map, now, see?" I hold up the scroll. "We'll find the training grounds. Once you know how to use your magic, it won't consume you."
"Why did I have to be a wizard?" Andrew sighs in despair.
I don't know what to say to him. Many years ago, being born a wizard was a great gift. Once it manifested, the person in question was trained by experts to control their power so that they could use it for good. If not controlled, it would consume them, ending in a violent death.
That was never a problem until the king's wife was killed in a magical accident. He then started a vendetta against all magic, driving all known wizards into hiding. With no one to train new wizards, young men and women everywhere were dying, killed by their own uncontrolled magic. The more powerful they got, the closer their end.
Judging by how Andrew just got us here, I would say he's getting pretty powerful.
"When we find the other wizards and the training grounds, they will help you," I say firmly. "You'll be fine, just fine."
Andrew doesn't answer and when I look at him, I see that he has passed out. I lean over and kiss him lightly on the lips. "You'll be ok, I promise," I whisper.
I sit back on my heels, clutching the scroll of paper that is Andrew's only hope.

To be continued