Kate watch Abby burry her face in Jasper's arms, "Oh No. Where is Matt? Oh Abby. This is not your fault. Stay here and go to my room. I will go find Matt. I hope I get to him before Malora's does. Do not worry. I get him back. Jasper stay with you sister. You are safer in here. Please so not touch anything until I get back."<br/><br/>Kate grabbed a heavy mage robe and wool cloak before she left from the mage's coat closet. She look at the ground and followed foot prints. She stood on the bolder in the side yard and caught a glimpse of Mat chained to a wagon. The guard will be easy to fool easy enough. I just need a buggy whip. There is one in the back of the wagon. "Kate came storming from behind the wagon and shaking the whip at Matt. "Thank you, Sir, for catching the slave for me. I was on my way to see my Aunt. I paid a pittance for him and I see you got him. He ran away from me. I will flail his hide for this."<br/><br/>Before the guard could utter a word she waved her finger and whispered a few spell words. In moments the man was turned into a fat rat and scurrying off. Kate quickly dressed him in a mage robe. Waved her hand over his shackles and neck color the fell to the ground. Hold on to this whip. Get on that horse and keep your hood down and keep quiet. Ske told him as she removed the gag. She caught a glimpse of a large red mark across his face. "I will have you pain-free."<br/><br/>Kate led him to the cobblestone walk of the hospital side of the building. She spoke to the mage at the entrance. "You merely saw a traveler and his wife then directed them to the keep." See that this horse is not found until Lady Malora leaves."<br/>Kate stepped back for Matt to dismount. "Your little stunt just put us all at risk. We can't stay here.    I am not letting you out of my sight. Go on inside. Keep your head down. I would not be surprised they come into the school entrance. Lucky for us my room has a back entrance."<br/><br/>Once in a side passage, she stood in front of him and cradled his face in her hands. "I am not going to hurt you. That will a nasty mark come morning. She held her hand over his swelling cheek. You are just going feel you cheek getting warmer.  Listen I have no problem with you getting mad at me. You're used to being on your own. I am here now and you just be glad My father is Lord of the shire and slavery is forbidden. I am glad my aunt brought you and I will get you a warm bed."<br/><br/>"Damn, she is here. We will cut through the dungeons and take a hidden passage to my room. I hope Jasper and Abby stay hidden or went to my room. Give me your hand and do not let go. The passage is lit and ignore what you hear. The noises are to throw off anyone following us or scare anyone on the other side."<br/>Kate waved her finger firmly in his freezing hand. She led him to the underbelly of the castle. Errie sounds cane from the dimly lit passage of the stone. It took them ten  minutes to get at the end of her hallway. She made sure the hall was clear before she exited through the hidden recess of the wall.  Kate waved her hand over her door and shut it quietly. She led Matt into the spare room. "Stay here and if you dare leave I will give you a rat tail for a week. Get warmed up under the covers. When this is over you can have a fire. I have a feeling we will not be staying here."<br/><br/>Kate crept to the door and listened for voices. Malora's course voice resounded the downstairs hall and heavy healed boot was in all directions. She could not help but feel bad for Jasper and Abby. Ske had a tight knot in her stomach. She would get them out and safely. She the school and castle like the back of her hand. When the voices ebbed toward the banquet hall she scurried on tiptoe to the room with the tank. She was relieved they hid in the room. She found them huddled together.<br/><br/>Kate slowly closed the door and crept over to them and whispered,"Matt is in my room in the spare room. It is hidden by magic and looks like the hall to the main living area. We cant stay here. We are going to my father's hunting lodge by the lake. I would say the manor but I would guess she is going there next. We can hide in the many tunnels left by the dragon's ages ago. It's going to be a  long night. You both are coming with me and were are getting Matt. We will take the secret passage out. Abby, you will be in charge of finding a branch that will cover our tracks."<br/><br/>Kate waited until all were down the main hall and headed to the infirmary before opening the door. A guard turned to look behind him just as they all crossed the hall out of sight. Kate rounded the corner just as another guard head up the stairs above them. Kate removed her shoes and motioned the others to do the same.<br/>Just as she entered her room Malora's voice was coming up the hall. "I know that boy is here and Katherine has a room in here somewhere. If she is in on this I will add her to my collection."<br/>Kate held her breath as the three of them joined Matt. Kate heard the front door being jimmied and she remembered there being a large blanket that would be big enough to cloak them. She frantically looked for. As Malora was in Kate's room. The all shimmied and scurried to the hidden passage.<br/><br/>Once they were in the deep underbelly and out of earshot of anyone Kate took hold of Jasper's hand and ran to the garden wall. She looked behind to make sure Abby and Matt followed. She noticed a broken branch perfectly fanned and small enough to cover their tracks. She paused only for them to cover their feet. "Everybody ready?"<br/>Kate sprinted across the garden into the woods. She did her best to dodge branches and not trip on roots or stump hidden by the snow. Once they crossed the main road then it was all trail up to the cabin. She paused to see if the others heard any sign they were followed. Kate worried the Malora would get Lord Barony and his hounds. "Listen for dogs."<br/>It was an hour before they got to the cabin. "Abby, did you have any trouble covering our tracks? I am going to heat some water, make some hot chocolate. Downstairs is the best place to hide. There are hundreds of tunnels underground. They are from stone and perfectly safe. It is rumored that some are still used by dragons living as human, elves, and dwarves. There are blankets in the cellar."<br/><br/>Kate wondered how Malora found her room so quickly. She hoped the dogs if they were after them, lost their scent as she made sure they ran into the creek. Her whole body was cold and her teeth chattered as she made hot water from the sink and used her fingers for a flame. She knew her robes were torn and her shoes and stockings were soaked. At least her little family was together.