Wolf-speaker (The Immortals Book 2) by Tamora Pierce

Author:Tamora Pierce [Pierce, Tamora]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 2009-12-03T00:00:00+00:00

SEVEN

COUNTING SOLDIERS

Tkaa promised to tell Numair of the opals in the morning, then entertained Maura and Kitten with tales of the Divine Realms. Daine put out the food and made sure Maura knew how to cook it. She was impressed by the girl's camplore: few ten-year-olds could build a fire, let alone cook on it. Maura gave the huntsman Tait the credit.

“You’re lucky in your friends,” Daine said as she tucked Maura in.

“If not my family,” agreed Maura, yawning. “The wolves really won’t eat me?”

Daine took a breath and counted to ten, so she wouldn’t give an angry reply. It worked, simply because Maura was asleep by the time she finished counting.

“I leave to go south at dawn,” she told Kitten, Tkaa, and Cloud later.

Tkaa switched to thought-speech, confiding that so much spoken talk that day had made his jaw muscles ache.—Have you decided how you will go in?—

“I’ll see who’s about,” replied Daine. “Oh, listen—the pack’s coming.”

—We must take your word for that,—remarked the basilisk, amused.—In this, your magic is more powerful than ours.—Kitten nodded.

Daine went to the cave entrance to greet the wolves. The moment she saw them, she wished she had remained seated. Brokefang, in the lead, bore a ham in his jaws. Frostfur was next with a rope of sausages. Each wolf had something: small bags of grain, meat, sacks of potatoes. Each pup proudly, and gently, bore an egg in his or her mouth. Also, enthroned on Sharp Nose’s back, nagging the wolf to trot slower, was the squirrel she had healed two days ago.

Brokefang put the ham at her feet as the rest of the pack carried their burdens into the cave. The squirrel asked to come, the chief wolf told Daine, panting happily. He wants to help.

“Help with what!” Daine whisper-screamed. Tkaa, Kitten, and Cloud came out to see why she was so excited. “Are you crazy? Why did you steal all this food? Where did you steal it? Mithros above, how did you steal it?”

Easily, Battle replied. We visited the tree cutter den. They had more food than they could use. We ate some ourselves, and we spoiled the rest.

Frolic added, We knew you and the human pup would soon eat all you have. Besides, if the men have no food, they will not have the strength to cut trees.

“I told you, the Coldfang was set on your trail because you stole the axes! It’ll be a lot easier to track you when you stole hams and onions! They smell!”

If they follow, we are ready, said Brokefang coolly. There is a rockfall up the slope. When pushed, it will bury a Coldfang, and we can use other ways out of the cave.

It will do no good to moan, ‘What have I done?’ as you have been. (Only Frostfur can be that charming, thought Daine.) It is time for us to think this way. Men bully us all our lives. It is time for some revenge.

Only a little, Brokefang cautioned. Avoiding two-leggers is still best.

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