The Hunt of the Grimalkin (Erresuma Book 1) by Dani Swanson (read aloud books txt) 📕

that they were getting ready for market. They started to make hand written labels for the bottles when there came a soft plinking noise coming from behind the stove.

“What is that?” Thea asked as she held her breath trying to hear the sound.

Robin listened for a moment. “Oh! It’s Patrick!” She said as she jumped up and rushed over to the cupboard next to the stove.

“Patrick?” Thea questioned as she watched Robin open the cupboard door.

Robin opened the cupboard door to reveal another door. It was cast iron with metalwork details of vines and flowers covering the exterior. Robin was down on her hands and knees, reaching into the small space to turn the latch. Inside was a gnome wearing what was once an elegant suit, but was now faded with time. He was holding his hat in front of his chest. He had kind eyes that had a hint of sadness buried behind them.

“Sorry to bother you Miss Robin, but I’m in need of your help! Ellie is sick and not responding to anyone. She won’t wake up” His voice was deep and gravely.

“Oh Patrick, that is horrible! Please bring her in.”

Through the cupboard door, the little gnome, who was no bigger than Fig, came into the room, carrying a much smaller Ellie in his arms. Robin laid out a blanket for Ellie to be placed on.

“You have a room behind your stove?” Thea questioned as she tried to look through the small door.

“Well it’s more of a small house back there.” She stated back.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Miss.” Patrick said with a solemn bow of his head. Thea smiled and nodded to the little gnome.

Thea knelt down next to her friend and looked at the little gnome’s body. Ellie seemed labored as she breathed. Without speaking, Thea unbandage her blistered hand without hesitation, and held her hand palm down over Ellie, just as she had done before with fairies and elves. The energy from Thea could be seen pouring into the lifeless body of Ellie; just as the dark mass of Ellie’s sickness could be seen leaving her body and going into the fingertips of Thea. The seer power coming from Thea lit the room in a green hue, that out powered the light coming from the lanterns above. Even Thea’s hair looked green, as the force between her and the small gnome blew her hair into an unkempt mess.

The little gnome rose up off the ground, a then slowly drifted down as a leaf falling from a tree. Thea fell backwards in a forceful jolt. Ellie gasped for air and then opened her eyes wide as she started to cough and choke on her own spit. Robin lifted her up to a sitting position, and slowly rubbed Ellie’s back. “Are you ok, Ellie?” Robin asked. Ellie slowly nodded yes, as she was still coughing. “Are you?” Robin directed to Thea.

Thea was in shock, staring at the little gnome on the floor. Ellie was now alert and looking around the room while Patrick was hugging her. Thea started to cough. She coughed hard and hacked up black bile into her hand.

“Gross. Robin, will you grab me something to drink?”

Thea went to the sink and washed her hands of the bile. Healing people always took so much out of her; but at least she didn’t pass out this time.

“Here Lady.” Robin handed her an icy glass of water. Thea gulped down the entire the glass in one breath. “You did a great job,” Robin said, as she rubbed the small of Thea’s back.

“Thank you for saving my wife!” Patrick was fighting back tears as he hugged Ellie and they were rocking side to side. Ellie ended the embrace and got up to run over to Thea, and hugged her tight around her calf.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” Ellie’s small voice cried.

Thea smiled weakly at Ellie, bending down to hug her back. “You are so welcome, Ellie. I hope you are feeling better.”  Thea’s head started to pound behind her right eye. “Guys, I need to go lay down. Excuse me.”

Thea stumbled as she walked over to the stairs to the loft. She staggered up the stairs with Fig in tow. “Thea? Do you need anything?” Robin asked.

Thea shook her head no as she slowly climbed the stairs. Ellie, Patrick and Robin watched her with concern as she went up to her bed. Fig curled up around Thea’s head and licked her little flyaway hairs as she drifted off to sleep.

When Thea awoke, it was the next day. Ellie had made a fruit basket from berries found in the surrounding forest as well as a beautiful bracelet full of sparkling gems, and was a mass of silver that looked of twisted vines, holding the gems in place. Thea put on the bracelet and then remembered that gnomes are known for hoarding stolen jewelry. She felt uneasy wearing the extravagant bracelet, but also did not want to hurt Ellie’s feelings if she happened to be downstairs.

Downstairs, Robin was sitting at the table and was slicing the arrowroot that was dried, and then slowly grinding it into a powder.

“Hey sleepy head.” Robin said with a smile.

“Hey.” Thea’s voice came out in a hoarse crackling noise. She cleared her throat. “Um, hey.” She sat down and grabbed an apple and a glass of fizzy. “So, you have a house behind your stove?”

Robin smiled. “Doesn’t everyone?”

Thea was curious as to what other secrets were hidden in plain sight around her friend’s house.

chapter ten

Each day the girls would spend the mornings grinding the arrowroot into dust and making their pain potion, then, they spent the afternoons studying their books and working on Thea’s defense abilities with her staff. This continued for a few weeks until they had enough bottles, filled