Wolf-speaker (24 page)

Daine said to Tkaa, I understand. Now what about the diversion? Tkaa repeated the question.

The Knight Commander leaned forward. “We think Tristan will send the other mages to deal with a disturbance at the forts, especially if the trouble is odd in any way. If it's serious, he'll probably go himself. Numair says Tristan never thinks underlings can handle real trouble without him. If both forts are attacked, there's a good chance the castle will be left unguarded.”

“That ties up the Stormwings, maybe even the hurroks,” Alanna said. “They're the quickest transport for the mages. Iakoju thinks she can raise her people—”

Iakoju nodded. “If I say so, my kin will fight human masters. We make plenty of ruckus in north.”

“I can cause trouble in the south,” added Tkaa. “But I will need help.” He cocked his head to one side, “I am too big a target even for humans to miss.”

Quickmunch scratched a flea, and Daine said, Tkaa, will you and Iakoju cross back to talk to everyone with me? Let's see what we can come up with. And tell them that Tait thinks he can get all the local people out of the castle.

“One thing,” Numair said after Tkaa was done translating. “Time is vital. To be at the southern barrier by sunset tomorrow, Tristan must leave the castle no later than noon, and there is a chance he will leave earlier. Whatever you do, it must be ready to go by tomorrow morning.”

Wait a moment! Daine cried, alarmed. What about the mercenaries who are supposed to come—that Captain Blackthorn and his men?

When Tkaa passed this on, Sir Raoul grinned. “We have two Rider groups here—sixteen irregulars
and
their ponies—plus a company of the Own, a hundred warriors. Yes, Blackthorn has a hundred more men than I do, but if we're in Dunlath when he comes, the game is
ours
—not his. Blackthorn also hates to fight mages even more than he hates to work with them. If he even
hears
that Alanna and
Numair are waiting, I think he'll run like a rabbit.”

“If that's all the questions, would you get moving?” Numair hinted with awful patience. “Its going to be a long day.”

Tristan's crew aren't the only ones who need to fly, Daine thought, resuming her human shape. I will, too. The animals in the forts should be warned, so they can escape somehow. And I can ask local animals to do some damage, like the pack's raids on the lumber camp. I hate to endanger them, but this is too important
not
to involve them.

When Daine, Tkaa, and Iakoju explained the attack plan, their friends in the valley had plenty of ideas. The wolves chose to visit the northern fort, to support the ogres and to attack the hated mines. Maura offered to set the southern fort afire if she got close to it, and promised to leave the gate alone so the horses could run. Tait wanted to go with her, and the dogs followed him. Rebel, who itched to help, agreed to carry the man and girl south.

Kitten whistled a query. Daine smiled. “You're with me, Kit. I need you for locked doors.” The dragon chuckled and sharpened her claws on a rock.

Flicker said that he would go with Maura and Tait to the southern fort. He also advised Daine to recruit the valley's squirrels. They could free the fort horses. They also could chew ropes, bowstrings, and the like, once the sun was up. “You think squirrels will want to get involved that much?” the girl asked.

Yes, replied Flicker. The walls in the forts are made of logs, aren't they? Plenty of my kindred lost homes and lives when those places were built. And the southerners have family by the river where they want to put bloodrain.

“Then I'll talk to them. What about the castle servants?” Daine asked Tait.

“I'll give ye a note t' my brother Parlan,” the huntsman replied. “He's the innkeeper. He'll see it's done, and done quiet.”

“If we fight at dawn, I must go,” Iakoju commented. “I have to talk to ogres, give them hope for freedom. Talk might run all night.”

“Let's take a bit more time,” advised Tait. “Gie the squirrels a while with the sun to work in. If the mage hits the barricade hard, we'll all hear it. The ninth hour, say? Then Maura can start burnin', and the ogres can rise.”

Iakoju frowned. “Big noise? Like being inside a bell?”

“It is very hard to ignore,” Tkaa remarked dryly.

“Ogres hear. Ogres hear good, four-five days ago. That's
good
signal.”

The basilisk went to tell the plan to Numair. While he was gone, Tait wrote his brother. When he was through, Daine summoned a crow and asked if she would carry the note to the inn. The crow, intrigued, accepted it and took flight.

Tkaa returned, “The ninth hour, three hours past dawn,” he told them.

“Does everybody know what to do?” asked Maura, hands on hips.

The dogs and wolves yapped; Flicker squeaked. The humans, Kitten, the ogre, and the basilisk nodded. Rebel and Cloud stamped.

“I'm off to the northern squirrels, then,” Daine said. “And everybody?” They all looked at her. “Be careful,” she cautioned, eyes stinging a little. “Goddess bless us all.”

“Goddess bless,” whispered Maura and Tait. Silently the animals called on their gods, and perhaps the immortals did the same.

When the others had gone, Daine turned to Cloud. “If I tie myself to you and make sure Kittens's secure in her pack, can you carry us to the place we were last night? I don't want to linger here while I talk with the creatures in the north and south if I can help it.” She studied her friend: Cloud
looked
fresh. “If you can't, say so. I'll call another horse from the village, if I must.”

And risk thief catchers coming after you? retorted the pony. I think not. I can do this. You forget, I took my time walking here, and I've had plenty of rest and water and grazing. How will you be traveling?

“I thought to try that eagle again.”

So much the better. You won't weigh as much as you do now. I noticed the first thing that seems to change is your bones. If you have bird bones, you'll hardly weigh anything, just like
her
. Cloud nodded to Kitten, who was tucking herself into Daine's pack. And make sure you bring that bow.

“Cloud, it'll be too much, me and Kit and a crossbow—”

Don't be a fool, retorted the mare. You need a weapon.

The girl sighed and got the rope. “This is going to be fun.”

With the help of some birds and a marmot colony from inside the barrier, Daine tied herself, her crossbow, and Kitten to Cloud's back, with the knots in easy reach. When everything was secure, the pony set off at a walk.

As Kitten chirped soothingly, Daine relaxed and listened for Huntsong, the golden eagle who had taken her so far the day before. She found him nearly a mile away, about to leave his treetop nest. When she explained what she needed, he agreed to help. Quickly she slid into his mind, and they were off.

Word of Flicker's adventures had gone from tree to tree in the days since the making of the Coldfang statue. The eagle too had been gossiping with other birds, and the Song Hollow bats had added their information. Daine was startled to find that the woods and rocky slopes all along the western
side of the Long Lake buzzed, not only with her name, but with the names of her companions—humans, immortals,
and
animals. When she called from Huntsong's mind to the squirrels near the north fort, they asked what they could do to help end the destruction. Wood rats, overhearing what she told the squirrels, wanted jobs of their own. Three flocks of starlings reminded her that they had come at her call before, to drive off Stormwings. Did she have more fun for them?

With the wild beasts clamoring for Daine's attention, the domestic animals who lived in the fort were eager to listen to her. The dogs and cats left right away, not waiting for the next sunrise. The horses agreed to flee to the docks, once Daine promised that the wolves and other hunters would leave them alone.

As Huntsong wheeled south, Daine saw the pack running single file down the trails, the steady pace eating up the miles between them and the fort. Iakoju, heavy legs pumping in an equally constant tempo, brought up the rear. When the eagle dropped down to eye level, the ogre realized who it must be and waved, grinning cheerfully.

On their way to the southern fort, they found a trio of Stormwings going from there to the castle. With a shiver, Daine saw Rikash was one of them.

Have they ever bothered you? she asked Huntsong.

The great bird glared at the approaching immortals. Not in a general way, he replied, talons clenching. We had a few misunderstandings when they first came here, until they learned the error of their ways. His wrath faded, and he added, All the same, I shall give them a wide berth. They cut my mate to ribbons when she defended our nest.

He drifted to one side. Two Stormwings flapped past, making rude noises. Only Rikash changed course, to fly around Huntsong in a wide circle. The other two, a blond female and the K'miri male, came back and joined him.

“They soar, don't they?” Rikash asked them. “Wheeling, wheeling, always in the same place?”

“Like toy kites, and twice as wood-skulled,” joked the K'mir.

“But now here is this one, flying in a straight line, going somewhere. You don't see prey when you go too fast, am I right?”

Get ready to drop, Daine warned Huntsong.

Rikash spat, not looking to see if anyone was below. “This valley has a disease, one where cute little animals don't
act
like animals. Did I tell you about the squirrel?”

“Only a million times,” said the K'miri Stormwing with a groan.

Daine saw muscles bunch in Rikashs neck. Drop! she cried. Huntsong threw up his wings and dropped, hurtling earthward at terrifying speed.

“Go, go,
go!
” screamed Rikash.

The female whooped, and steel-winged bodies followed Huntsong down. Grimly Daine hung on, urging him into the trees that covered the road south. The eagle shot into the clear space between road and branches, scudding down the corridor they made. There was a scream and a crash: a Stormwing had come to grief. Huntsong risked a glance back. The female, scratched and bleeding, was trying to free herself from a chestnut. Seconds later the K'mir came in view, fighting to pull out of his stoop before he slammed into the dirt. He failed.

Relieved, Huntsong looked forward. Rikash awaited them ahead, where the trees fell briefly away from the road. Land, Daine urged.

I look stupid when I walk, complained the eagle as he obeyed. Hopping like a sparrow is not eagle's work.

If you think
you
look stupid, imagine how
he
will look, Daine consoled him.

Rikash cursed and darted forward, flying low, trying to keep his great metal wings from clipping the earth or trees. Called from their nests, the squirrels leaped on him, biting with very sharp teeth. Rikash screeched, tried to cover his eyes with his wings, and slammed into an elm. Now
run
, Daine told the squirrels; they obeyed. Huntsong liked that advice, too. He took off, flapping lazily past the spot where Rikash fought the elm's entangling
branches. The air filled with the Stormwing's curses as Huntsong broke free of the trees.

With battle already joined, Daine had no trouble persuading the southern animals to do what they could to help Tkaa, Maura, Tait, and Flicker. The fort's animals, told what was going on, were as eager to stop the use of the bloodrain as Daine was.

I think we're done, the girl told Huntsong, feeling more tired than ever. Let's go home. I'd return by myself, but I'm prob'ly outside the range of my magic, and I don't know if I would make it.

Would you mind terribly if I left you inside your range, and went back to that fort? the eagle inquired. I could help there. It would be a pleasure.

Daine smiled and replied, Of course.

Flying low over the treetops, keeping away from the road, they passed Tait, Maura, Tkaa, and the others. Daine pointed out the basilisk. Talk to him, she told Huntsong as they continued to head north. He can translate for the two-leggers, and they should know of something you can do.

The moment she felt the tug of attraction that was her true body, she wished the eagle good luck and separated from him. Instantly he turned south again as she slid into her human self. With regret she changed his farsighted eyes to her own, limited orbs, and his hollow, light bones into a human's heavier ones. Talons became feet; wings became
arms. When she opened her eyes, all that remained was a layer of down between her clothes and skin.

“I'm back,” she muttered. “Huzzah.”

Cloud halted. That crow came by, the mare said. She wanted to tell you she dropped the note into the man's lap. He read it, and the last she saw of him, he was on his way to the castle.

Daine took a deep breath. “I hope he's as trustworthy as Tait says.” The girl extracted herself and Kitten from the ropes that kept them on the pony's back. Then, with Daine afoot and Kitten walking or riding, they took the remainder of the day to approach the village, staying clear of outlying farms. They stopped as the shadows lengthened, so Daine could catch and cook some fish and Cloud would have a chance to graze; it was near dark when they moved on.

Everywhere the People were talking. Dunlath's nonhuman residents had much to say about recent events. They spoke to kinfolk, distant relatives, even enemies (at a safe distance). Their opinions and questions were so loud that Daine wondered if the two-leggers didn't guess something was up.

If they did, she saw no sign of it at the village. Hidden in the trees at the spot where she had left her bedroll and saddle, she watched the local people go about their end-of-day chores, then vanish into their homes. Lamps flared briefly in most houses,
then went out; farmers rose and went to bed with the sun. Only the inn and the castle windows stayed lit for any time after dark.