Page 265 - Fourth Wing

“Oh, I know.”

“I’m not the one putting us into spirals with steep banks while Kaori is
teaching plain dives.” My feet hit the ground of the field, and I arch an

eyebrow at Tairn.

“I’m training you for battle. He’s teaching you parlor tricks.” He blinks a
golden eye at me and looks away.

“Do you think we can get Andarna to join us next week? Even if it’s just

to fly along?” I do all the checks Kaori has taught us, looking for any debris
that could have lodged between the long, taloned toes of Tairn’s claws or

between the rock-hard scales of his underbelly.

“I’m not foolish enough to not know that I have something stuck in my
flesh. And I wouldn’t ask Andarna to join us unless she requested it. She

can’t keep up the speed, and it would only draw unwanted attention.”
“I never get to see her,” I blatantly whine. “I’m always stuck with your

grumpy ass.”

“I’m always here,” Andarna answers, but there’s no flicker of gold. She’s
most likely in the Vale as usual, but at least she’s protected there.

“This grumpy ass just caught you a dozen times, Silver One.”
“Eventually you could call me Violet, you know.” I take the time to

examine every row of his scales. One of the biggest dangers to dragons are

the smallest things they can’t remove that penetrate between the scales,
causing infection.

“I know,” he repeats. “And I could call you Violence like the

wingleader.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” I narrow my eyes as I move forward, checking

where his chest begins to rise. “And you know how much that ass annoys

me.”
“Annoys you?” Tairn chuckles above me, the sound like a chuffing cat.

“Is that what you call it when your heart rate—”
“Don’t even start with me.”