Read Online The Daughters Daring (The Daughters Daring & The Enchanted Forest Book 1) by Steven J. Thompson - Free Book Online

finding the recipe she was seeking. The sleep spell could be broken and she had the proper herbs. But would there be enough for the duke, and anyone else who had eaten the pies?
         Grabbing her garden shears, the duchess hurried out into the garden. She was searching for a particular plant, a flower that had great healing properties. It wouldn't be hidden like some of her more dangerous varieties, but in her alarmed state, she couldn’t be sure where it was planted.
         “There!” she exclaimed, as she came upon a beautiful row of chrysanthemums. They looked like simple flowers, but they were precisely the antidote she needed. She counted her blessings as there were at least a dozen in bloom, and collected enough to test her cure on the duke.
         She rushed back into the kitchen, where she found her mortar and pestle to crush the herbs. She had the rest of the ingredients she needed and set to work grinding them all together into a powder, being careful to exactly follow the instructions in her book. Finally, she carefully measured out a dose of the powder and stirred it into a cup of water. With potion in hand, she rushed to the duke, lifted his head, and poured a small amount into his mouth.
         Duchess Daring held her husband, praying for a quick result. At first, the Duke's eyes fluttered, then he choked and coughed as he awakened. Her potion worked.
         “Aryanna?” He asked. “What happened?”
         “You’re unharmed, my dear," she answered. “You were under a sleeping spell, but I have revived you.”
         “Sleeping spell?” he asked.
         “Yes, it was in the pie.”
         “In the pie,” the Duke said, still collecting his thoughts. “Those mischievous gnomes! I knew they couldn't be trusted!”
         “I don't think the gnomes would do this; it's not like them,” she said, “and I found this.” She handed him the berry-stained paper.
         “A note?”
         “It was in the pie, and it's in Elizabeth's handwriting!” She exclaimed.
         “How could that be?  Where are the girls?” he said, his mind was racing.
         “Where did you get the pie?” she asked.
         “Gnomes brought the pies to the city gate, a gift for the guards and...the KING!”
         Fully revived, the duke stood up and ran to the closet for his armor and sword.
         “If the girls are in the Enchanted Forest, I will search for them as soon as I warn the guards!”
         “Wait!” she said, “warn them about what—the pies?”
         The Duke was already running out the door as he yelled over his shoulder, “The kingdom is under attack!”
    
         Elizabeth woke, her head hurting from the witch's blast. She tried to move, but not even her toes could wiggle. Examining herself, she realized she was bound in the strange, gooey cobwebs that filled the witch's lair.
         “You're awake!” the witch said.
         “Yes, and I'm covered in nasty webs!” Elizabeth snarled.
         “Oh relax,” the witch said. “They're perfectly clean, and much softer than rope”
         “So now you care about my comfort?" Elizabeth said. Her sarcasm was not lost on the witch.
         “Oh, what a joy you are!” the witch said, laughing. “Such a sharp tongue in one so young!”
         “Give me back my bow, and I'll show you my sharp arrows, too!”
         “Ah yes, your bow,” the witch said. “I noticed the crest it bears, the crest of the House of Daring. I think you've been withholding your identity from me.”
         “Maybe it was a gift from the Darings,” Elizabeth replied, “or I simply stole it.”
         The witch laughed again. “I like you, child. Tell me, why did you taunt me into hurling a ball of energy at you? You realize I could have killed you?”
         “I just wanted to see if you are as powerful as you said.” Elizabeth shrugged.
         “Perhaps,” the witch