Black Wizards by Douglas Niles Page A

that ran through Genna’s grove, only to pause and return sheepishly.
    “Forgot buckets!” he explained, chuckling over and over as if it were some great joke.
    As the days had passed, the scraggly stranger had grown more lucid and helpful. He was stronger than an average man and had skills that were useful in tending the grove.
    All of which were very helpful, Robyn thought with a twinge of worry, for Genna’s illness had grown suddenly worse. She had spent the past few days in bed, tossing deliriously in the depths of a fever, barely rational.
    Newt had not spent much time in the grove, either. He had taken long excursions throughout the Vale, even visiting the Fens occasionally.Today, he had gone off to seek Grunt’s company, almost certainly to annoy the old bear. Grunt had a notoriously short temper, and Newt delighted in driving the animal into a rage with his sudden spells of invisibility.
    Robyn thought again about Acorn. He was friendly and almost pathetically grateful for any praise she gave him, but more and more the man raised shudders of uneasiness within her. One minute he seemed harmless, and the next minute she was afraid of him. But she did not know why.
    “Here, lady. Here water!”
    Proudly, Acorn returned with two sloshing buckets. He set them down at Robyn’s feet as she thanked him, bobbing his head up and down eagerly. She quickly rinsed the light blankets and hung them to dry—well practiced motions, as Genna’s sweaty fever necessitated frequent linen changes. She tried to ignore the feeling that Acorn’s eyes were boring into her back as she stretched to reach the clothesline.
    “Come along, now,” she said as he followed at her heels. “Why don’t we go and sit by the pond? I have some carrots and apples that we can have for lunch.”
    They walked across Genna’s garden, a lush field of wildflowers and herbs. In the center of the garden was a broad pond with a grassy island at its heart. In places, the sandy bottom of the pond was smooth—perfect for swimming. Elsewhere, lily pads spread across the surface, home to myriad frogs and turtles. Great white swans swam regally among them. Robyn thought again, as she beheld the scene, that it must be the most beautiful place in the world.
    As they approached the pond, the water swirled momentarily, and then the smooth bridge of sand rose to the surface. She took no notice of the phenomenon, so accustomed to the ways of the grove was she, but Acorn hesitated.
    “Come on,” she encouraged, stepping onto the firm bridge. Reluctantly, he followed her to the island while she selected a smooth place for their lunch.
    She sat comfortably on the soft bank, stretching her legs over the water and kicking her feet to relieve her taut muscles. Acorn settled slowly, almost reverently, beside her. She noticed, uneasily, that thelook on his face was no longer one of innocence. Instead, he looked as though he struggled to conceal some secret thought.
    “Here,” she said to cover her nervousness. “Have an apple.”
    Acorn took the fruit and chomped greedily into it, ignoring the pieces that scattered in his beard or sprayed into the air. In seconds he had finished and reached forward to snatch another from the basket on Robyn’s lap.
    She ate absently, suddenly aware of Acorn’s closeness. She felt uncomfortable, but didn’t want to offend him by moving away. Turning to look at him, she was startled to see him staring intently at her face. His eyes were clear, but they seemed to burn with a frightening intensity.
    “Lady … you like me? My friend?” Still that burning gaze.
    “Yes, Acorn … of course I like you. Haven’t I—”
    “I mean, you—” he cut her off awkwardly. “Lady, you are my lady!” Suddenly his hand reached out to clasp her thigh. He leaned quickly forward to force her backward onto the ground, his mouth seeking hers.
    “No! Get off me!” she screamed, pushing against him and rolling to the side.
    “Mine!” he