Free Shadow Wrack by Kim Thompson

crashed around the yard, Tengu ducking and Robert swinging. Willa dashed over, trying to get between them without being trampled or beheaded.
    â€œStop, Robert, STOP! WHOA!”
    Robert pulled up and glared at her. “Did you just say whoa? ”
    Willa winced. “Sorry, Robert, I just meant ‘stop.’ Where’d you get the sword?”
    Robert flashed a smile and held it up proudly. “Isn’t it magnificent? The dwarves made it for me.” Tengu took advantage of the lull to swing up into the lower branches of a tree.
    â€œThey’ve been busy,” Willa muttered.
    â€œYou bet,” called Tengu, his grinning face peering out from the leaves above them. “We’re all armed now!”
    Willa rolled her eyes. “Terrific. Just terrific.” Willa ducked as Robert flipped his sword up and caught it again with a slice through the air.
    â€œCareful, please!” she yelped. “So why were you trying to skewer Tengu?”
    Robert held up the ninja star. Tengu looked sheepish. “I set up a target in the stable, but Robert’s rather sizeable … um … derrière got in the way.”
    This elicited another roar and a charge from Robert. Tengu scurried higher into the tree as Robert slashed at the branches, which brought Mab and the other fairies crowding around, swinging their tiny swords at Robert. Everyone was shouting. Willa was trapped against the tree trunk, with Robert stomping heavily around her feet, and she feared catching a fairy sword in the eye.
    â€œStop! Stop! You’re acting like a bunch of kids! STOOOOOP!”
    There was a moment of silence as they looked at each other, and then they all started clamouring:
    â€œAll I was doing —”
    â€œâ€¦ minding my own business …”
    â€œâ€¦ careless disregard for …”
    Again, Willa had to shout over all of them. “I DON’T CARE WHO STARTED IT! EVERYONE STOP TALKING!”
    In the silence that followed, they heard a voice calling from the other side of the fence —
    â€œWilla? Is everything all right?”
    Willa cringed. Mr. Hacker. That’s all I need right now. She gave Robert, Tengu, and the fairies a fierce look, dropping her voice to a menacing whisper.
    â€œRobert, in the stable! Fairies, in the woods! Tengu, come down this instant! You are going to sit right here and think about what you’ve done!” They all complied without a word. Tengu dropped to the ground and sat, hugging his knees contritely.
    Willa opened the front gate a crack. Hacker was on the sidewalk with the whole birding group, looking very self-important .
    â€œQuite a commotion in there!”
    â€œJust a little … difference of opinion. Nothing serious. Now, if you’ll excuse me …”
    She tried to retreat, but Hacker wasn’t finished. “Just a moment, please. I need to talk to you about Horace.” He was trying to peek around her to see inside, so she stepped out and pulled the gate shut behind her.
    â€œYes?”
    â€œThere’s no answer at his hotel.”
    â€œHe’s been a little under the weather.” Willa looked around at the group, trying to smile. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed an extremely tall fellow at the back of the group.
    Hacker shook his head. “It’s not just this week. Horace is becoming more and more … confused. You must have noticed. He doesn’t seem to be all there . A few cards short of a deck, if you know what I mean.” He smirked.
    â€œNo, I’m not sure what you mean, Mr. Hacker,” Willa snapped. “Maybe he’s just got more important things on his mind than birdwatching.”
    Hacker stiffened. “No need to take that tone with me, young lady. I was just concerned about the old fellow. Pardon me for being a good neighbour!” He turned on his heel and strode away, the rest of the birders following obediently. Willa turned away, shaking with