Page 409 - Fourth Wing

forehead. “Fine, let’s say they occupied a keep that’s already established.

Stone and all.”
“But the civilians didn’t call for help?” Quinn asks, scratching her

pointed chin. “Protocol calls for a distress signal this far into the mountains.

They should have lit their distress beacon, alerting patrolling riders, at
which time the dragons on patrol would have told all available dragons in

the area. The very riders in this room would have mounted first as the

reaction force and the others would have been woken from their rests,
allowing the riders to prevent the loss of the keep in the first place.”

Mira scoffs and braces her hands on the end of the table, staring us all

down. “Everything you’re taught at Basgiath is theory. You analyze past
attacks and learn those very…theoretical combat maneuvers. But things out

here don’t always go according to plan. So why don’t we talk about all the
ways things can go sideways, so you’ll know what to do when they do, as

opposed to arguing that the keep shouldn’t have fallen?”

Quinn shifts her weight uncomfortably.
“How many of you have been called out as third-years?” Mira stands

straight, folding her arms over her black leathers and the strap that holds her
sword to her back.

Emery and Xaden raise their hands, though Xaden’s is barely a gesture.

Dain looks like his head is about to explode. “That’s not correct. We’re
never called into service until graduation.”

Xaden presses his lips in a tight line and nods, giving him a sarcastic

thumbs-up.
“Yeah, all right.” Emery laughs. “Just wait until next year. I can’t count

how many times we’re the ones sitting in these very rooms in the midland

forts because their riders have been called to the front for an emergency.”
The color drains from Dain’s face.

“Now that’s settled.” Mira reaches under the table and pulls out a set of
models, putting a six-inch stone keep in the center of the table. “Catch.”