Page 153 - Fourth Wing

since they were kids, or do you not know enough about our own leadership

to know his dad is her mom’s aide?”
Tynan’s eyes widen, like he’s actually surprised. “Really?”

“Really.” I shake my head and study the course.

“Shit. I’m…sorry. Barlowe said—”
“And that’s your first mistake,” Ridoc interjects. “Listening to that

sadistic ass is going to get you killed. And you’re lucky Aetos isn’t here.”

True. Dain would more than take exception to Tynan’s assumptions and
probably assign him cleanup duty for a month. Good thing he’s on the flight

field this time of day.

Xaden would just beat the shit out of him.
I blink, shoving that comparison and any other thought of Xaden Riorson

far out of my head.
“Here we go!” Professor Emetterio walks to the head of our line. “You’ll

get your time at the top of the course, if you make it, but remember, you’ll

still have nine practice sessions before we rank you for Presentation in two
and a half weeks, which will determine if the dragons find you worthy at

Threshing.”
“Wouldn’t it make more sense to let first-years start practicing this thing

right after Parapet?” Rhiannon asks. “You know, to give us a little more

time so we don’t die?”
“No,” Professor Emetterio replies. “The timing is part of the challenge.

Any words of wisdom, Sawyer?”

Sawyer blows out a slow breath, his gaze following the treacherous
course. “There are ropes every six feet that run from the top of the sheer

cliffside to the bottom,” he says. “So if you start to fall, reach out and grab a

rope. It’ll cost you thirty seconds, but death costs you more.”
Awesome.

“I mean, there’s a perfectly good set of steps over there.” Ridoc points to
the steep staircase carved into the cliff beside the wide switchbacks of the