Page 383 - Fourth Wing

officers have been…shall we say, sequestered with your section leaders and

wingleaders, and no, before someone asks, your task is not to find them.”
He continues to walk in a small circle, addressing each side of the mat.

“You are to break into your squads and accomplish a unique mission this

evening without the leadership and instruction of your squad leaders.”
“Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of having squad leaders?” someone asks

across the mat.

“The purpose of a squad leader is to form a tightly knit unit that can carry
on with a mission after their demise. Consider your leaders…demised.”

Panchek shrugs with a gleeful smile. “You’re on your own, riders. Your

mission is simple: find and acquire, by any means necessary, the one thing
that would be most advantageous to our enemies regarding the war effort.

Leadership will serve as unbiased judges, and the winning squad will be
awarded sixty points.”

“That’s enough to put us into first!” Rhiannon whispers, linking her arm

with mine. “We could win the glory of going to the front!”
“What are the boundaries?” someone to the right asks.

“Anything within the walls of Basgiath,” Panchek answers. “And don’t
you dare let me see you trying to haul a dragon back here. They’ll

incinerate you out of sheer annoyance.”

The squad to our left mutters their disappointment.
“You have”—Panchek pulls out his pocket watch—“three hours, at which

time we’ll expect you to present your stolen treasures in the Battle Brief

room.”
We all stare at him in silence. Out of everything I imagined the third and

final task to be…well, this wasn’t anywhere near that list.

“What are you waiting for?” Panchek shoos his hands at us. “Go!”
Pandemonium ensues.

This is what happens when you remove our leadership. We’re…a hot
freaking mess.