The Hunt of the Grimalkin (Erresuma Book 1) by Dani Swanson (books to read romance TXT) 📗

up and rest. We will start tomorrow.” Sorgin said as she walked past them and over to one of the many cases against the wall. She took out of her cleavage a small glass bottle that had a blue light trapped inside of it, placing it in the case and shut the door. “Charles, please show them to their rooms.”

Charles had fresh towels in his hands and was waiting at the foot of the stairs for the girls. They slowly climbed to the same rooms they were in before. Charles shut the door behind them as they entered and again there was a click of the lock from the outside. New pajamas were laid out on both beds for them. “I feel like I’m in one of her cases.” Robin said sarcastically as she walked into her bathroom and shut the door.

Thea drew a bath and filled it with bubbles. Fig sat on the edge of the tub and played with them as they floated over the side of the tub. Thea rested and soaked until the hot water had turned cold, and the bubbles had been replaced with a muddy ring. She washed her hair and rolled it up in a towel before scrubbing her dirt ring out of the tub, then putting on the pink striped pajamas. She looked into the mirror and examined the bruises she had received in battle. She looked tired and defeated. Thea walked out to find a tray with sandwiches, fruit, and water left on the table in her room.

She poked her head into Robin’s room and saw her looking out the window in her matching pajamas. “Charles left us lunch,” Thea said as she motioned with her head to the table in her room.

“Look,” Robin was pointing down to the grounds. Thea hurried over to the window to see a unicorn and a bear cub being lead into the barn by a man in a jumpsuit.  Once they were in the barn, the little man slid the latch into place and locked the door.

“Seems to be the theme around here,” Thea whispered as she looked around the room. Robin had hung her towels over the portraits on the walls. “Good idea.” Thea chuckled as she nudged Robin to come eat.

Thea followed suit with her towels and hung them over the paintings in her room as well. They sat in silence for the majority of their meal, watching out the window as the man in jumpsuit worked. He collected a couple of horses, and what Robin thought to be a griffin, adding them to the barn.  The two girls decided it was time for them to get some sleep and rest their bodies before they had to train the next day.

When Thea woke up she was sore, and her throat was dry. She must have been snoring all night. Fig was wrapped around the top of her head, purring softly. She reached up and scratched his ears before she sat up.  She pulled back the curtain of the canopy bed to see fresh clothes hanging on the door of the closet, and breakfast sitting on her table. A chill ran down her back at the thought of someone in her room while she slept.

She got up and walked over to the door to Robin’s room, who was getting dressed in long flowy black pants and a smock like shirt. There were slide on canvas shoes there as well.  Thea sleepily waved at Robin as she covered her mouth with her other hand to yawn.

“Morning,” Robin said.  “Do I smell bacon?”

Thea nodded. “Charles brought a whole spread over,” She went back in her room, and changed into her outfit matching Robin. “How did they know my shoe size?” Thea asked out loud.

“I was wondering the same thing.” Robin replied chewing on a piece of crispy bacon. “Is the door unlocked?”

“I don’t know,” Thea walked over, and turned the knob expecting to feel resistance, and to her surprise the door opened. They ate their breakfast of pancakes, eggs, pudding, and bacon before adventuring out of the room and heading down the stairs. Charles was waiting at the bottom of the stairs and he gave them a nod of his head before walking to the back of the house.

“Curious man, isn’t he?” Robin said, as she watched him walk through a door, then heard the click of the lock behind him.

Robin and Thea continued on to the sitting room where they saw Sorgin waiting for them. “It’s about time that you got up! We have work to do.” The old witch was dressed in an outrageous dress of plaid and flowers. Her hair was in a long braid over one of her shoulders and she was wearing a pair of specks that were neon orange.  “Outside though. I don’t want you two messing up my house like you did the yard.”

Thea inwardly sighed, if the day was going to start with a scolding, what would happen during the training?

Sorgin led them to the muddy front yard and had them start off facing each other. “Now, you two have to get some confidence that you have abilities. You are stronger than you think you are, but you are not properly executing the spells because of it. You are hesitating.”  The girls looked at Sorgin like she was crazy

 “The feeling that you get in the pit of your stomach when you are stressed, sad, pissed off… that is your power that you don’t know how to use.” Sorgin started pacing back and forth as she spoke to the girls. Fig sat on the ground between them and watched the old witch. “Most people just brush it off as nerves. Witches can use that as power. Having control over your emotions is the art of conjuring.” She stopped right in front of Robin. “You have the unique talent with tonics and potions, yet