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

“You also stopped the water flowing through our dam.” The nymph softly interjected without showing any emotions.

“You stole their gold?” Thea questioned with her eyebrow raised.

“We FOUND gold.” The Elf King stated with an emphasis on the word found. “There was no reasoning for us to think that it would be their gold.”

Thea let out a sigh. “And you put a dam in to stop water from filling the nymph’s lake?” she directed towards the fairies.

“We didn’t do that.” Willow snapped from the entrance of the cave. Thea could feel the pain starting back up in her head. Perhaps she shouldn’t have started such a difficult mediation so quickly after reawakening. She was far too irritable to be a calm, fair mediator.

“I don’t think anyone is going to take responsibility for anything that has happened to the others, but regardless, killing each other is not the answer to solving it.” Thea was rubbing her temple as she sat and with her legs crossed. “What if you both live here? There are plenty of trees around the lake. Besides, you have blown up so much of the fairy circle, you will need to move it anyway.”

All of the creatures started to speak at once and the noise was too high pitched for Thea or Robin to make any sense of what was being said. Chaos ensued.

“I will not be living with these creatures!” The Elf King yelled as he drew his sword and pointed it at the fairies.

Willow flew over with her dagger drawn towards the Elf King; Fig swatted her down and she fell from the air with a thud against the cavern wall.

“Stop!” Thea yelled as she grabbed the Elf King and pushed the fairies away with her other hand.

“Father! It does not have to be like this!” Starshine had followed Willow into the cave.

“We do not need to kill or steal to live,” Starshine stated in a calm voice that could barely be heard over the clamor of the still rattled group.

Thea smiled at Starshine. “Exactly.” Thea finally found an ally.

The nymph sat there watching the chaos with an indifferent look on her face.

“You each lost more than a thousand bodies,” Thea grunted as she was almost laying on the ground to separate the two groups. “I will not be helping either of you with your fallen!” Thea started to yell at the two groups who were getting ready to attack one and other once again.

The nymph stood up and walked towards the entrance. She paused at the door and looked over her shoulder at the group and stated in an icy voice: “Leave my lake and my Nymphs alone.” She then gracefully glided out of the cave and continued into the lake until her head was completely submerged by the calm water.

   “Well, there is one group done,” Robin said with an unhelpful eye roll as she had now settled herself against the wall with her forearms resting on her bent knees.

“There is enough land on either side of this lake. You will still be by the water, and you will each have a side. The land you were fighting over is destroyed anyway, so even if you had won the land you would still need to move.” Thea was now talking in a very calm and soothing voice. “We will set up the border lines of the lake. Elves will live on the East and fairies will live on the West. You will leave the water flow of the lake alone, as well as, the Nymphs.”

Starshine was watching on and smiled with the words that Thea said. Robin was giggling to herself as she watched.

“We will not live by someone who steals from us.” This was the first time that Anastasia had contributed to the conversation.

“You both are in the wrong! This is not going to be solved by you two fighting over who is right. Figure it out.” Thea let go of the two groups and walked over to the entrance of the cave with a stagger to her step. “I’m going to build a border for you two. You’re both idiots and I wish you luck. May the odds ever be in your favor.” Thea left the cave with Fig and Robin in tow.

“See? I told you that this wasn’t our fight. These groups have been fighting for longer than humans have been alive and will continue to do so afterwards.”

Thea had a heavy heart. “It doesn’t matter where it started. They both think they are in the right. The only one who gets it is Starshine, and by saving her father we stopped her from being in power. There may have been peace without us helping.” Thea was shaking her head. “I just don’t understand.”

    The girls collected branches and lined them up the beach of both sides of the lake; creating a makeshift fence that created the border. The fairies and elves were watching in their own groups. Starshine walked over to where the fairies were flying and offered a flower to Anastasia. No words were spoken, but she laid the flower on the ground, and nodding at the Fairy Queen, before retreating to her group. “Did you see that, Robin? That’s hope.” Thea said with a smile as they were walking to the north beach. The nymphs poked their heads out of the lake, just high enough for their eyes to be seen over the top of the water, watching all the groups of creatures on the shore. When eye contact was made, they dropped back into the depths.

 “Let’s get to the cabin. I did all I can do with these creatures.” The three started back to the dirt road and slowly made their way towards Thea’s home.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“You know they’re going to start fighting again, right?” Robin