Wolf-speaker by Tamora Pierce Read Free Book Online

find out, Brokefang said calmly. When you ran with the pack before, you warned us about human herds. We cannot stop eating them. They are slow, and soft, without hard feet or sharp horns to protect them. What we
can
do is hide signs of the kill. We sank what was left in a marsh, and we dragged leafy branches over the place where we killed, to hide the blood.
    Instead of reassuring her, his answer made her uneasy. Here was more unwolflike behavior, a result of the pack’s involvement with her. Where would it end? She couldn’t even say the change was only in Brokefang, because the rest of the pack helped him. She had to think of a way to protect them, or to change them back to normal beasts, before humans decided the Long Lake Pack was too unusual—too dangerous—to live.
    That plan would have to wait. The badger’s lessonhad tired her again. She went to bed, and dreamed of men slaughtering wolves.
    In the morning Daine and Numair rode to the town of Fief Dunlath, leaving the wolves behind. Reaching the village at noon, they entered the stable yard of the town’s small, tidy inn. Hostlers came to take their horses. Dismounting from Cloud, Daine took the pack in which Kitten was hidden and slung it over her shoulder, then followed Numair indoors. They stood inside, blinking as their eyes adjusted from the sunny yard to the dark common room. In the back someone was yelling, “Master Parlan! We’ve guests!”
    The innkeeper came out and bowed to Numair. “Good day to you, sir. Ye require service?” he asked with a brisk mountain accent.
    â€œYes, please. I’d like adjoining rooms for my student and me.”
    â€œForgive me, mistress,” Parian said, bowing to Daine. “I dinna see ye.” He looked her over, then asked Numair, “Ye said—adjoinin’ rooms, sir?”
    â€œYes,” Numair replied. “If there’s a connecting door, it must be locked.”
    The innkeeper bowed, but his eyes were on Daine. “Forgive me, sir—
locked?
”
    Daine blushed, and Numair looked down his nose at the man. “People have sordid minds, Master Parian.” Despite his travel-worn clothes, he spokelike a man used to the obedience of servants. “I would like my student to be spared idle gossip, if you please.”
    Parlan bowed low. “We’ve two very nice rooms, sir, overlooking the kitchen garden. Very quiet—not that we’ve much excitement in these parts.”
    â€œExcellent. We will take hot baths, as soon as you are able to manage, please,” A gold coin appeared in Numair’s hand and disappeared in Parlan’s. “And lunch, I think, after the baths,” added the mage.
    â€œVery good, sir,” the man said. “Follow me.” He led the way upstairs.
    Kitten wriggled in the pack, and chirped. “Hush,” Daine whispered as Parlan opened their rooms. “I’ll let you out in a moment.”
    The room was a small one, but clean and neatly kept, and the bath was all Daine could hope for after weeks of river and stream bathing. The food brought by the maid was plain and good. Daine felt renewed afterward, enough so that she took a short nap. She was awakened by a scratching noise. When she opened her eyes, the dragon was picking at the lock on the door between the two rooms.
    â€œLeave it be, Kit,” Daine ordered, yawning. “You’ve seen locks back home.”
    The young immortal sat on her haunches, stretching so that her eye was on a level with the keyhole, and gave a soft trill. The door swung opento reveal Numair in a clean shirt and breeches. He was holding a piece of paper.
    â€œDid I know she could do that?” he asked with a frown.
    â€œNo more did I,” retorted Daine.
    Numair glared at the dragon, who was investigating his room as thoroughly as she had her own. “That door was locked for a
reason,
” he told her sternly. To Daine he added, “Though