Page 179 - Fourth Wing

“Cheating!”

I turn toward the voice. It’s Amber Mavis, the strawberry-blond
wingleader from Third Wing who was Dain’s close friend last year, and

there’s nothing but fury on her face as she charges toward Xaden, who’s

only a couple of feet away with the roll, recording times with a stopwatch
and looking rather bored with it all.

“Back the hell up, Mavis,” Garrick threatens, the sun flashing off the two

swords the curly-haired section leader keeps strapped to his back as he puts
his body between Amber and Xaden.

“The cheater clearly used foreign materials not once but twice,” Amber

yells. “It’s not to be tolerated! We live by the rules or we die by them!”
No wonder she and Dain are so close—they’re both in love with the

Codex.
“I don’t take kindly to calling anyone in my section a cheater,” Garrick

warns, his massive shoulders blocking her from view as he turns. “And my

wingleader will handle any rule-breaking in his own wing.” He moves to
the side, and I’m met with Amber’s glaring blue eyes.

“Sorrengail?” Xaden asks, arching an eyebrow in obvious challenge, a
pen poised over the book. I notice not for the first time that other than his

Fourth Wing and wingleader emblems, he doesn’t wear the patches others

are so fond of displaying.
“I expect the thirty-second penalty for using the rope,” I answer, my

breaths steadying.

“And the knife?” Amber’s gaze narrows. “She’s disqualified.” When
Xaden doesn’t answer, she turns that glare on him. “Surely she’s out! You

can’t tolerate lawlessness within your own wing, Riorson!”

But Xaden’s gaze never leaves mine as he silently waits for me to
respond.

“A rider may only bring to the quadrant the items they can carry—” I
start.