Kate swallowed hard and sniffled at the mention of his family. She wanted to know more but he suffered enough and she was not going to pry. He would tell her soon enough. "You have suffered so much under the cruelty of my aunt."<br/><br/>Peel nodded and lowered his voice, "No need to thank me. That f...king b...h deserves worse. We have much in common as does his lordship. Kate knows little of the pits. Best not discuss it. Soon we will talk."<br/><br/>"I leave you in good hands," he said, raising his voice. Peel placed his hand on the lad's shoulder lightly, "Friends Aye."<br/><br/>Kate's ears were lowered from the moment she saw him. She looked at him with anticipation as she figured he has never tasted apple cider. It was a family favorite and was not surprised Malora never gave him a taste. "I hope in the days to come you will smile more and more. He held onto her waist and pleaded with her.  Her heart melted and she raised her fox ears. All that power and muscle held her for dear life. She thought for a moment of her parents.<br/><br/>"Leave you, never you are a gift, no a treasure. Until we find who you really are. I will call you Trillian Brevir Lyons. Trillian means he who has no name and Brevir for courage and strength. I am not of age yet to make it legal. As soon as I turn eighteen I will take you before the magistrate. Papa can do it but you are my treasure."<br/>She covered him with her tail. Kate held her hand below brand marks of a fleur-de-lis with the initials MLC seared into his skin over her stomach.<br/><br/>"You are safe now. We still have an hour. I almost forgot." Kate reached into her mage robe pocket and held them to swollen cracked lips. "Eat these. These are peppermint leaves. They will settle your stomach. There is more food at home. Never will you be beaten or starved. Sleep. You earned a long holiday. No duty and only rest. I have you and am I am not letting go. I promise."<br/><br/>She blinked tears and held him close. Her mana energy spent she rested her head against his and fell asleep. Peel stopped the carriage and opened the carriage door. A blast of cold woke to her and she opened and closed her eyes. She did not want to awaken her charge as she whispered, "Peel, please take him to my room. At last, he is sleeping. I will get Ann. Any word from Papa?"<br/><br/>She gently placed his head on the cushion. She slowly stood up stiffly and quietly stepped out. Peel lifted the young man and hurried into the manor to Kate's room. Kate collected quilts and her satchel. She made a beeline into the kitchen. An older woman of forty was bent over an over removing gingerbread cookies.<br/><br/>"Ann, come quickly I need your help."<br/><br/>The woman over the stove wore a long black dress with a lace high collar and a full white apron covered her body. She rushed to Kate's side. The teen mage took the cook's hand as she led her upstairs, "You are not going to believe this. I have one of Malora's pets. Peel is taking him upstairs. He was near death and I saved his life. Gahh! I hope Papa lets me keep him. Have you hear any word about when he and Jon are coming home?"<br/><br/>Ann gasped, "Malora's pet. Katie are you sure? Yea and he sounds educated. He was horrid. Ann, he has been beaten, whipped, and branded. Let us not worry about the sheets. Get his breeches off, get him changed into warm pajamas. I give him a bath tomorrow."<br/><br/>"Kate this highly improper. You not of age or married."<br/><br/>"Ann it is all right. I am a healer. I do not care about protocol. Come let us get him dressed for bed."<br/><br/>Ann opened the door and Peel had a basin of warm water ready, washcloth, and underclothes and pajamas. The three were careful not to awaken him. It was morning three days later before he woke up. Ann and Kate kept round the clock watch. When he woke up Kate was dressed in a blue cotton blouse, a wool navy blue full, floor-length skirt, with matching over blouse. She was sitting up next to him on the bed. He stirred in a night terror. Kate hopped off the bed and touched his forehead. He was hot with fever. He moaned and thrashed. Kate did not hold him down. She dropped a washcloth over his forehead. She softly called him, "Treasure, Gift, Trillian, Trillian. Wake up. Wake up. Malora can't hurt you. You are dreaming my gift. Your Alright. I am Kate. Do you remember me? Yes, you do. Welcome back to the living. She can not hurt you. You are far away from her. You are in Wildwood Shire. In my room. Hello. Goodmorning. Is good to see your awake. I bet you are hungry. Foods coming."<br/><br/>Kate pulled a gold cord from beside the nightstand. "I promised I would be close. You did not hurt me. I know better than get within arms reach of a warrior when he is thrashing."<br/><br/>Kate poured him a glass of water and held it to his red lips. "I got it, your going to feel weak for a few days."<br/><br/>In moments Ann softly knocked, "You rang. Ahh good, our new family member is awake. Good Marrow. I brought ya breakfast. I was not sure what ya liked. I made eggs, toast, oatmeal, pancakes, biscuits, bacon, honey butter, and syrup. Kate told me ya like apple cider. Ya gave us a scare. Glad to see ya pulled through. Katie, I brought ya tea a gingerbread cookie."<br/><br/>Kate chuckled, "You got him enough for a week. It will be a day or two before he can eat solids, Ann. Keep the eggs, oatmeal, and honey butter."<br/><br/>Kate removed the dishes and brought them over. "Ann will you help me take him the privy, please."<br/><br/>"Trillen you may eat then take a bath."