Wolf-Speaker

infobox Book |
name = Wolf-Speaker
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Original Simon & Schuster/Atheneum U.S. hardcover of the book featuring the title character.
author = Tamora Pierce
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = The Immortals
genre = Fantasy
publisher = Simon & Schuster/Atheneum
release_date = 2 May 1994
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 182 pp (first edition, hardback)
isbn = ISBN 0-689-31833-2 (first edition, hardback)
preceded_by = Wild Magic
followed_by = Emperor Mage

"Wolf-Speaker" is a fantasy novel by Tamora Pierce, the second in a series of four books, The Immortals.

This book details the journey of Veralidaine Sarrasri as she learns more about her wild magic and her journey to Dunlath to help the wolves, only to find there is a bigger and more dangerous plot afoot.

Plot summary

Daine receives a summons from some old friends - the wolf pack from her old village, led by Brokefang and his mate Frostfur, who are unhappy with the nobles ruining the Long Lake, their territory. They send messengers to ask Daine for help and then disappear back into the night to hunt while Daine discusses this over with her teacher, Numair Salmalin.

Numair agrees to help the wolves, but he decides that he first must visit the nobles in Fief Dunlath at a party to further investigate after they find the burnt remains of the Seventh Rider Group.

Numair recognizes a battle mage at Fief Dunlath, who appears to be wooing Lady Yolane. After Daine boldly approaches them about the threat to the wolves and to the area with a warning that if they don't change, things will happen, the nobles all laugh at her. She retires with Numair back to their quarters and stealthily leave in the night from Fief Dunlath.

Shortly after this, Numair decides to go back to the city where King Jonathan is and warns him of something afoot in Dunlath. Daine stays to sort out the mess with her friends and Numair tells her not to do anything very nasty.

Throughout the book, Daine reaches the next level in the development of her wild magic as she starts to share minds with animals, a useful ability as she uses the eyes of squirrels and other creatures to spy. This ability soon translates to gaining certain characteristics of animals once she returns to her natural body.

Daine discovers she has the power to morph into animals after Maura, Lady Yolane's somewhat plain and much younger sister, runs away from Fief Dunlath. Shortly afterwards, Rikash the Stormwing appears to be fond of Maura and he makes Daine rethink her theory about all Stormwings being naturally evil. Maura tells Daine about Yolane's plans to become Queen - a deal with Emperor Ozorne of Carthak, who is also hinted at causing the siege at Pirate's Swoop in the first book. In the meantime, Daine meets a basilisk named Tkaa, who comes to be an important ally and a partial tutor to Kitten, her dragon cub. In the Tortallan universe, basilisks resemble elegantly featured lizards that have the ability to stand on their hindlegs. They eat rocks and have a curious screech that turns anything in their direct path into stone.

With the help of Maura, Tkaa, Kitten (Skysong the Dragonet), the Stormwing Lord Rikash, Alanna the Lioness and Raoul of Goldenlake, Numair and Daine manage to rip the entire plot to pieces.

Release details

*1994, USA, Simon & Schuster / Atheneum Books (ISBN 0-689-31833-2), Pub date 2 May 1994, hardback (First edition)