Page 319 - Fourth Wing

open it.”

Shit. I don’t know how to feel about that. It’s more than slightly
controlling, and way out of line, but also…sweet. “But if he’s the one who

warded it, then he can get in, too, right?”

“Well, yeah.” Liam shrugs as Professors Markham and Devera walk
down the stairs, heading for the front of the room. “But it’s not like Riorson

is going to kill you.”

“Right. You see, I’m still adjusting to that little change of heart.” I fumble
my quill and it falls to the ground, but before I can lean over, the shadows

beneath the arm of my desk lift the instrument like an offering. I pluck it out

of the shadows and look back at Xaden.
He’s locked in conversation with Garrick, not paying me a speck of

attention.
Except, apparently, he is.

“If we can get started?” Markham calls over the room, and we fall silent

as he places the scroll Liam and I had delivered to him before breakfast on
the podium. “Excellent.”

I write Sumerton down at the top of the page and Liam trades his knife
for a quill.

“First announcement,” Devera says, stepping forward. “We’ve decided

that not only will the winners of this year’s Squad Battle receive bragging
rights—” She grins like we’re in for a treat. “But they’ll also be given a trip

to the front lines to shadow an active wing.”

Cheers break out all around us.
“So if we win, we get a chance to die sooner?” Rhiannon whispers.

“Maybe they’re trying a reverse psychology thing.” I glance at the others

around us who are clearly overjoyed and worry about their sanity. Then
again, most everyone in this room can stay on their dragon.

“So can you.”
“Don’t you have better things to do with your day than listen in on my