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

“I suppose we should get ready to go to market,” Robin stated, as she boxed up the last of the bottles. “We are running low on food. I think we have roughly a hundred of these done. That should fetch us enough to get food through winter.”

Thea stayed outside as long as she could –her and Fig were cuddled up under a big tree, reading her personal spell book, with the rusty lock. As she flipped through the pages, she noticed that there were many that had been ripped out of the back. The color of the paper and the texture was the same as the little notes that she had found along the way.

I guess I have been leaving myself notes. Thea thought. She held the book by its spine and shook it. A single strip of paper drifted out to the ground.

Ice can slow the heart that will not die. Was scratched on it in the same ink and writing as the others. “Well what do I mean by that?” Thea questioned to the cat. Although she pondered, no answers readily came.

The next day the trio rose with the sun, and locked up Robin’s cabin, started their trip to the market. Thea wore her cloak with the silver sparrow, with her bag tucked underneath; her staff in hand as her walking stick. Robin packed a small wagon with their fares. Fig settled down amongst the bottles and blankets for a nap. The trip was long and would take a couple of days.

“A horse. You need to get a horse, Robin.” Thea said teasingly as she saw Robin struggling to pull her little wagon.

“Bugger off, Thea.” Robin said under her breath with a smirk on her face.

They continued down the path, watching the birds chase each other in the trees. They were singing and skipping about when a little figure came running out onto the path from the bushes. It was an elf, that was dressed all in green, with brown leather shoes. His ears were pointed, as was his nose. The elf tripped over his own feet, sending his cap flying into a mound of dirt; revealing a long scar across his forehead. Thea stopped in her tracks, startled at the little guy that was running in front of her.

“Is it you? The one that the fairies call Cannenta?” the little elf questioned. Thea tilted her head to the side and looked at the elf.

“You’re that little elf that stabbed me when I was just trying to help you!” she yelled at the elf. The elf blushed as he was picking himself up off the ground, dusting off his knees.

“My apologies Miss. At the time I thought that you were just a really big fairy and I had no idea what you were doing to me. Please accept my…”

Thea was short, as she cut him off “You’re fine. Excuse us, we have some place to be.” She started to walk around him.

Robin looked at Thea awkwardly, and followed in stride. Thea was still upset that the elf had stabbed her.

“Please wait! I am so sorry. I was sent to get you!” The elf scampered in front of Thea’s path to try to stop her.

“By who?” Thea questioned with annoyance.

“My King is very sick and is in need of you.” The elf was trying to keep up with Thea’s stride and was struggling to catch his breath as he spoke.

“Does he like to stab people too?” Thea responded quite snarky.

“I thought you were one of those fairies. Again, fair lady, I apologize.” The little elf stated with a solemn look on his face.

“Thea, we have to get going or we are going to miss the market.” Robin was getting annoyed by this whole situation as she struggled with the wagon of goods. “We REALLY don’t have time for side trips.”

 “Please ladies. We have been watching you practice your spells. I know now that you are not a fairy, but a….witch” the elf stammered out.

“I’m a healer.” Thea responded “Robin.” Is all that she said in the direction of her friend. They made eye contact and stood there for a few seconds, as if they were having a conversation without words. Robin’s annoyance was clear on her face as she spoke.

“What are we going to do with this cart? You know we have to go far off the path to get to whoever he wants you to help. Do you know what’s in the woods?” Robin was making large gestures with her arms as she pointed off into the dark of the forest.

“Excuse me,” the little elf said as he tugged on Robin’s skirt. “I will handle your cart, Miss.”

With that the little elf put his two pointer fingers into his mouth and whistled sweetly into the woods. There was a mighty squeal as a wild boar came running out of the forest towards the elf at full speed, and then turning on a dime, he slid sideways, to quickly stop. Once the dust settled and the coughing had subsided, the little elf walked the boar over to Robin’s cart. A brown leather harness was on the boar, tied around his tusks;  the little elf attached the straps to the handles of the cart.

“Doug will handle your cart. Please follow me,” the elf said.

As they walked, the girls learned that the elf’s name was Moonbeam and he was a warrior for the Raven Kingdom of elves. Moonbeam rode on the back of Doug as the girls would have a horse.

“Moonbeam? Can you tell me why you and the fairies were fighting the last time we met?” Thea questioned the little elf.

Moonbeam turned his head to the side as he paused to listen. “Those creatures” he started with a smug tone to his voice “Those fairies stole our land and