“The only reason she can’t get inside is because I’m still able to hold the wards within the walls themselves. But I don’t know how much longer they’ll work,” Kat said, her voice shaky. “And I don’t know if they’ll work if a door is open.”

“Wait,” Amelie said. “She who?”

Kat pointed.

Amelie cried out, “We’ve got to go get her.” She began to run for the door when Kat grabbed her arm.

“No,” Kat said. “Look at her. Look carefully!”

Isaac pressed his face to the glass. Through the thorns and vines and shadows he saw a figure about fifty feet away, standing still, staring at the castle. Though she looked hazy through the glass and windblown brambles, Isaac knew her at once.

“Miss Gumble,” he said. “What is she doing?”

“She’s been spelled,” Amelie said with a sob.

“Or worse,” Kat said in a low voice. “Look at her eyes. Look at her hands.”

Isaac framed his face to see better. Unnatural was the word that came into his mind when he looked at her eyes. But her hands . . . He gasped.

They were no longer human hands. They looked mechanical. He was reminded of the mouse, the poor little mouse from the kitchen.

Amelie pulled away and began to weep. “She reminds me of her,” Amelie said. “She reminds me of the witch. Like she’s not Miss Gumble any longer. Poor, poor Miss Gumble.”

“Yes,” said Kat, her voice flat. “We’d better keep every door to the castle closed tight. Another reason not to go for her.”

The library door burst open again and Baines strode into the room. “There you are. Mr. Falstone, I need you to go to the village at once. Mail this for me while I finish my paperwork.”

Leo shook his head, eyes wide. “I can’t.”

“Sorry?” Baines said. “You what?”

“It’s too dangerous now. The wards and all . . .”

“What? It’s just a little rain outside. You children act like you’ve never seen rain before. Miss Bateson?”

Kat and Amelie looked at each other.

“Fine,” Baines said. “Then I shall go myself. I’m a busy man but work must be done.” He grumbled and turned away.

“You’ve got to stop him,” Amelie said, grabbing Kat’s arm. “He might completely break the wards. Or get into serious trouble.”

“Right,” said Kat. “Isaac, I may need your help enhancing this one.”

Isaac nodded.

Kat began to whisper, “Silence is golden. Silence is golden.”

Isaac felt the hum again that emanated from Kat, and he concentrated, sending the spell toward Baines, the electric vibration humming through him, an invisible bolt between Kat and Baines.

Ralph Baines opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.

He was wrapped in a pale golden light, frozen, a still, golden statue, completely solid, openmouthed and staring.