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

“But I saw her,” Thea said as she stared out the window a bit longer.

“Go to bed,” Robin said as she rolled over next to the wall. Thea dropped another log onto the fire and then went to the bed.

“I seriously saw her,” Thea said as she laid her head down. Robin patted her on the head and went back to snoring.

 They started off at first light to go see Sorgin. The witches locked the door and were on their way. Fig walked out to the center of the field and started to meow at the girls.

“What is your cat howling about?” Robin asked as she pulled a floppy hat she had found in Thea’s closet over her flowing curls. Fig was still meowing as Thea walked up on him.

“What?” She said as she looked at her cat. He was standing next to a set of footprints in the mud, with two black feathers lying next to them.

 “I told you I saw her.” Thea said as they walked down the path, looking off to the thicket of the forest. “She’s still trying to track me.”

Robin had her staff, out but was using it as a walking stick and was not seeming very concerned about the Crow Witch. “She can’t see. I think that you have the advantage over her.”

Thea stopped to adjust her knee high boot and to pull her ponytail tighter. She saw the same little colored frogs and birds as she saw the day that she woke up. Finally, something that she could remember without her head hurting. She moved down the path and the trio made it to the brook. They filled up all of their canteens with water, before they continued on.

 Just after lunch they reach the small lake where Thea had woken so many months before. “This is the place,” Thea said to Robin as they walked up to the grassy patch where Thea had her first memory.

“Really?” Robin questioned as she looked around. “This isn’t far from the witch school.” Thea followed Robin down to the other side of the lake where there was a wooden sign hanging from two pieces of rope tied to a branch of a tree. It was brightly painted with little daisies that said: “Chateau MelBel” with an arrow pointed down the path to the left.

“I thought you said her name was Sorgin?” Thea said, as she gestured to the sign. “Mel Bel was the founder of the witches’ school. They never changed the name after Sorgin took over.” Robin stated. “We’re almost there.” Her pace quickened and Thea had to scramble to keep up.

They continued down the path to a small lake that had a watermill turning on the side of a large stone building. “They have electricity? I thought that was only possible in the city,” Thea said in awe as she looked up the six story chateau.

“There’s running water throughout the chateau, as well.” Robin said with a smile. “It feels like being home.” They picked up the pace as they walked onto the grounds of the chateau. The garden on either side of the walkway had blooming tulips and daisies. There were large gold fish swimming in the lake and cattails along the banks.

It looks cheery, Thea thought as they walked up the stone stairs to the door. Robin pulled on the silk rope next to the door that rang a loud bell inside of the building. The clicking of someone’s heels could be heard approaching the other side of the door. The door flew open and a very handsome man answered. He had long blonde hair slicked back into a stub of a ponytail highlighting his widow’s peak. His eyes were a glistening blue. He was in a pair of black leather pants with a flowy white shirt that hung unbuttoned to his navel.

“Uh. Hi. Is Sorgin in?” Robin was taken aback by seeing a man in the house.

“Please, come in,” He said with a half-smile as he looked the women up and down. Robin removed her hat when they were in the doorway and she fluffed her curly red hair. The man watched her with his head cocked to the side. Thea was the last to walk into the entryway. She looked around the hallway and saw beautiful paintings of landscapes and animals which were framed in gold. The rugs on the floor looked to be brand new, hand woven, in wools of green and blue. Against many of the walls were glass cases with different knick-knacks and other collectables. One case was filled with different butterflies and another full of thimbles.

“Interesting place,” Thea said as she followed the man into the parlor.

“Please wait here,” The man said, before he disappeared behind a curtained door.

“What’s with all the different cases?” Thea whispered to Robin.

“I’m not sure, they weren’t here that last time I visited,” she replied as she sat down on the grand couch. Fig jumped up and sat between the two girls as they waited for Sorgin. After about twenty minutes the man reappeared from behind the curtain, carrying a teapot and three stunning tea cups, each with unique floral patterns. He poured the tea. In the third cup he put a little honey and two cubes of sugar before retreating behind the curtain again without saying a word. As the girls started to fix their own cups they heard the clicking of someone’s heels stone floor. As the steps grew louder, the curtain over the doorway opened on its own. The woman on the other side was short with long salt and pepper hair that was tied up on the top of her head in a tight bun. She had a high collared button down blouse on. The buttons were made of crystal, and the slate blue