The Circle of Owls (The Grimalkin Book 3) by Dani Swanson (novels to improve english .txt) 📗

split off from Robin. She had been too focused on her own mission to help her friend. “We need to find her!”

The Ice King looked past Thea, watching her friends walk up the path toward them. “We can get a search party put together in the morning, but as for now, it is nightfall and it’s too dangerous to leave the safety of the ice dome at this hour.” Thea turned with a distraught look to her friends. The men’s happy faces turned serious when they saw her; they didn’t need to ask if Robin had returned.

“What about Penelope? Have you heard from or seen her?”

“No, I haven’t! Is she alright? Did you see her?” Irving was very excited to hear any news of his beloved. He took Thea by the hand and walked the group into the parlor, where they were served hot chocolate and dandelion fizzy, accompanied by an assortment of sandwiches and sugary treats. Thea sat next to Irving as she recapped the past months’ adventure. She introduced the Ice King to her companions, and they shared their own stories of Sorgin keeping them captive, the crow witch snatching out Charles’ eye, and their many run-ins with Lilly Quinn.

“I don’t know…I guess being stupefied is like being asleep with your eyes open. You can see everything that is going on, but it all seems to happen in just a moment. I didn’t have any control over my body – it was like I was just there for the ride.”

Irving sat in a chair with rounded arms on which Fig perched next to him, getting his head scratched as the Ice King listened to their stories. “I had no idea that Penelope was in trouble,” he had a few tears that turned into icicles on his eyelashes. “I thought she stopped loving me and was hiding from me….”

“We’ll need to find her too……” Before Thea could finish her sentence, the Ice King was on his feet, and retrieving something from a desk’s drawer. He came back with one of the enchanted fairy mirrors that Thea had used when they were looking for Lilly in the forest.

The Ice King shook his moustache in the mirror before he turned the mirror over in his hand twice. It started to glow as he lifted it to his face. “Attention fairies and creatures…. or anyone who may be watching. I am looking for four individuals. The first is a witch named Robin – She was last seen in the Izotza mountains in search of Blue-Scaled Dragon Eggs. She has flaming red curly hair and green eyes. She was accompanied by an Izotzan named Edward. He has blue skin like I do, but he’s much younger. He was last seen wearing an Izotzan guard uniform. The next party I am interested in is Lilly Quinn. She is half Elf, half Witch – pointed ears, silvery blondish-white hair and is a Grimalkin. She is dangerous and should be treated as such. Keep your distance as she is able to eat your soul. The most important is Penelope….she looks like this,” He turned the mirror to Thea who awkwardly waved at the mirror before Irving turned the mirror back to his face. “But she is my age now. She is the love of my life and I will be offering rewards for any information you provide. If your help leads to finding one, two or all of these parties, I will provide more gold pieces than you can count. Thank you.” He then turned the mirror twice over in his hands and the glowing ceased. He waved a young woman over to where he stood. “Keep track of the leads and bring this to the soldiers’ room in the morning.” She nodded and left with the mirror to join a few other workers in the hallway.

“The mirrors only work if they are still hung amongst the trees. It can be dangerous to use them though, as you can never be too sure who is watching.”

“Hopefully Lilly or Sorgin are not watching!” Dean expressed, as he gave a concerned look to Thea. She had thought of that, too. Broadcasting their intentions while also hunting for the people who are looking for them, may not have been the best idea.

“That could be a bad thing. Especially if they know where Penelope or Robin could be.” She said, as she investigated the bottom of her cup.

“I wonder if Cricket ever came back to meet up with Sorgin?” Charles added.

“I bet Lilly stopped following us to go find Cricket – tracking her down would most likely lead us to Lilly.” Thea’s eyes lit up. She couldn’t believe that she didn’t think of that first!

“I wouldn’t dare to broadcast that over the mirrors – members of the Circle of Owls lurk in every corner of every kingdom. If Cricket is the one who was controlling the group, I’m sure that her minions would report to her that we are looking for her.” Irving was back to scratching Fig’s ears. “I can’t believe I did nothing while Penelope was in trouble.”

“How were you to know, Irving?” Thea walked over and placed her hand on his shoulder as she offered a sympathetic look. “How were any of us to know?” Her head tilted to the side as she looked down at the old man. She could see the worry in his eyes.

The group made plans to meet with the soldiers after breakfast to devise a plan to find Penelope, Robin and Edward, and Lilly. Irving personally walked the group through the castle to their bed chambers. Irving brought Charles into a room, making small talk of the swords which were hanging on the wall above the fireplace.

Thea faded in and out of the conversation as her head was starting to pound. She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep for months and the guilt and worry for her grandmother and best friend were becoming overwhelming. The little witch had begun to break out