Read Online Curse of the Spider King by Wayne Thomas Batson, Christopher Hopper - Free Book Online Page A

The History of Berinfell , and beneath in smaller print, The Chronicles of the Elf Lords and Their Kin .
    â€œSee! I told you there were Elves!”
    â€œThe Elves of Berinfell actually.” Johnny smiled and turned the page. They flipped past what appeared to be a table of contents, laid out with big numbers and strange titles, then turned to a second drawing with the title 9680 Founding of Allyra and a section of text. A path bordered by briars lead to a gentle waterfall adorned by a thicket of tall pine trees— amazingly lifelike for a drawing , they both thought. And beneath the waterfall, a cave. More like a narrow mouth set to one side of the falls than a fairy-tale cave entrance.
    â€œHuh.” Johnny sat back. “That reminds me . . .” No, she’ll think I’m nuts.
    â€œOf the cave in the woods!” Autumn finished.
    â€œWhat? Hey, don’t finish my sentences. That’s not even what I was going to—”
    She ignored him. “Johnny, think about it. The path, the briars, even the waterfall and the pine trees! That’s exactly like—”
    â€œYou are nuts, Autumn!”
    â€œNo, I’m not!” She’d had enough of his insults.
    In a flash, Autumn flipped the book shut, picked it up, and leaped from the loft.
    â€œAutumn!”
    She landed with a soft thud in a stack of square bales that tumbled over as she scampered down.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Johnny yelled and started down the ladder. Once out the barn door, Autumn was almost to the house. “Autumn!”
    â€œI’m telling Mom!” she yelled and then stormed through the screen door into the kitchen.
    Mrs. Briarman stood at the counter, marinating chicken for dinner, her hands dripping with Italian dressing. Her brown hair was pulled up, and she wore a paint-smeared sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off at the elbow.
    â€œMom!”
    â€œAutumn, inside voice,” she said without looking from her work.
    â€œMom, Johnny is being—is being . . .”
    â€œHave a seat, dear.”
    Just then Johnny burst in through the door. “She’s lying!”
    â€œAutumn hasn’t said anything yet, John,” Mrs. Briarman countered.
    â€œBut she’s going to! And it’s not true!”
    â€œYou don’t ever believe me!” Autumn blasted him. “And you know it’s true about the cave!”
    Mrs. Briarman turned. “The cave?”
    The room grew silent.
    â€œNow you’ve done it,” Johnny said through clenched teeth.
    â€œOh, I wish your father had never given you permission to go there. You know it makes me nervous. You shouldn’t have gone there alone,” Mrs. Briarman said.
    â€œBut we didn’t, Mom!” Johnny retorted.
    â€œI don’t want to hear it, John.”
    â€œBut, Mom, he’s telling the truth,” Autumn defended. “I’m talking about this book.” She offered it up. “It talks about the cave in our back woods. I’m sure of it.”
    â€œWhere did you get that?” Mrs. Briarman asked.
    â€œAt the bookstore,” Autumn said. “A Likely Story Book Shoppe.”
    â€œAnd with what money?” Mrs. Briarman was growing more concerned.
    â€œIt was a gift from the owner, Nelly,” Autumn explained.
    Mrs. Briarman looked to Johnny.
    â€œIt’s true, Mom. She was really nice and gave us the book.”
    Mrs. Briarman accepted the answer, although still wary. “Well, it looks a little old to be describing our property, my gems. Of course, the cave has been there a long time.” Mrs. Briarman washed her hands and dried them on a kitchen towel before joining Autumn at the table. Taking the tome in her hands, she flipped open to the first page. Johnny slid into the chair beside his sister.
    â€œLet’s see what we have here,” Mrs. Briarman said, flipping the thin sheet and examining the drawing. “Fine work.”
    Johnny and Autumn