The dense forest surrounding Brinhold was a maze of twisted roots and low-hanging branches. Kael and Mareth ran blindly, their breath ragged and hearts pounding as the sounds of pursuit echoed behind them. The cloaked figures had wasted no time, their determined shouts cutting through the silence of the woods like blades.
"This way!" Mareth hissed, grabbing Kael's arm and yanking him off the faint trail. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, and Kael nearly stumbled, his satchel bouncing against his side.
"I'm… I'm sorry," Kael gasped, his voice heavy with guilt. "I didn't mean to—"
"Save it," Mareth snapped, her voice taut with fear and urgency. "You can explain when we're safe."
They plunged deeper into the forest, the canopy above blocking out the moonlight and plunging them into a murky darkness. Kael could hear the rustle of leaves and the snapping of twigs as their pursuers closed in. He clenched his fists, still feeling the faint residual warmth of the magic that had erupted from him in the village square. What had he done? What was he?
"Stop!" Mareth hissed, dragging him to a halt behind a thick cluster of bushes. She pointed ahead, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the terrain. A shallow stream cut across their path, its surface glinting faintly in the sparse light. "We'll follow the water. It'll mask our trail."
Kael nodded, too winded to respond, and the two waded into the icy stream. The cold bit at his legs, but the sound of rushing water drowned out the noise of their movements. They moved as quickly as they could, their steps cautious to avoid slipping on the slick stones beneath their feet.
Minutes felt like hours as they pressed on, their breaths visible in the cool night air. When the sounds of pursuit began to fade, Mareth finally allowed them to stop, collapsing onto the mossy bank of the stream.
"Are they gone?" Kael asked, his voice trembling.
"For now," Mareth replied, her eyes darting warily through the shadows. "But they won't stop hunting us. You saw the way that leader looked at you. They want you."
Kael swallowed hard, the weight of her words pressing down on him. "I don't understand," he said quietly. "That… power. I didn't know I could do that."
"Well, congratulations," Mareth said bitterly, pulling her knees to her chest. "Now we're fugitives, and Brinhold is probably in ruins."
Kael's heart sank. He had always felt out of place in the quiet village, dreaming of adventure and magic, but he had never wanted this. The faces of the villagers flashed in his mind, their fear and awe as they watched his magic burst forth. He had been their undoing.
"We can't go back," Mareth continued, her voice softening slightly. "Not now. Not ever."
Kael nodded silently, his gaze fixed on the ground. The enormity of what had happened was too much to process. He had wanted to protect the village, but instead, he had destroyed the life they had known.
As the first hints of dawn began to break through the trees, Mareth rose to her feet. "We need to keep moving," she said firmly. "We'll head toward the Free Holds. They're out of the Council's reach, and we might find help there."
Kael hesitated. "The Free Holds? But that's… it's dangerous, Mareth. Full of outlaws and—"
"And they don't care about the Council," Mareth interrupted. "Do you have a better idea?"
He didn't. Sighing, he nodded and shouldered his satchel. They began their trek once more, the forest slowly giving way to rolling hills as they moved further from Brinhold.
By midday, they reached a crossroads where a dirt path stretched in two directions. Mareth studied the faded signpost, her brow furrowed. "North leads to the river trade routes," she said. "South heads into the Free Holds proper."
"Which is safer?" Kael asked, though he already suspected the answer.
Mareth's lips pressed into a thin line. "Neither. But south gets us farther from the Council."
Before they could decide, the faint sound of hoofbeats reached their ears. Both siblings froze, exchanging a panicked glance. Kael pulled Mareth off the road, the two of them crouching low behind a cluster of brambles. Through the gaps in the leaves, Kael saw them: a trio of riders clad in dark armor, their faces obscured by metal masks.
"Inquisitors," Mareth whispered, her voice trembling.
Kael's heart raced. The riders slowed as they approached the crossroads, their leader raising a hand. The group paused, scanning the area. Kael held his breath, willing his racing heart to quiet. One of the riders dismounted, their boots crunching against the dirt as they moved closer to their hiding spot.
Kael's hand tightened around Mareth's, his mind racing. If they were discovered now, there would be no escape. He had no choice but to rely on the power that had both saved and cursed them.
Closing his eyes, Kael focused inward, searching for the spark he had felt before. It was faint, buried beneath fear and exhaustion, but it was there. He reached for it, drawing it forward. A faint hum filled the air, and Kael opened his eyes to see a faint shimmer forming around them, bending the light and blending them into the foliage.
The rider paused, their gaze sweeping over the brambles. After a tense moment, they turned back to their companions, shaking their head. The leader barked an order, and the riders spurred their horses onward, leaving the crossroads behind.
Kael exhaled, the shimmering light around them fading. Mareth stared at him, equal parts astonished and wary.
"How did you do that?" she asked.
"I don't know," Kael admitted, his voice trembling. "But I think… I think it's only just beginning."
Mareth nodded slowly, a glimmer of determination in her eyes. "Then we'll figure it out. Together."
Kael managed a small smile, and the two of them set off once more, their path leading south into the unknown.