Page 437 - Fourth Wing

system on the straps.

“The leather is a hazard on my chest if we take a fire attack, since your
saddle would slide right off. But if you take a direct blast up there, sitting on

a piece of metal isn’t going to save you.”

I don’t bother pointing out that the only fire we’d be taking is from other
dragons, which is a problem that doesn’t exist, since gryphons are all beak

and claw. Instead, I find the straps for my thighs and buckle in.

“This is ingenious,” I say to Xaden.
“Let me know if it needs modifications after we win today.”

Arrogant ass.

We’re airborne moments later, Andarna keeping up and staying tucked
close to Tairn just like we’ve practiced.

Our mission is to keep the flag out of enemy hands, so we skirt the
perimeter of the hundred-mile battlefield that encompasses most of the

central range while the other squads handle reconnaissance and retrieval.

About an hour into the afternoon, I’m wondering if this assignment is
actually meant as punishment for Dain and not an honor. The twelve of us

are split into two tight formations of six, seven when taking Andarna into
account. Dain has the flag in his group just ahead of us, and when we reach

yet another peak in the range, he splits to the right.

Tairn banks to the left, and my stomach pitches as we sweep down the
side of the mountain. The wide straps dig into my thighs, holding me firmly

in place, and my heart thunders as pure exhilaration hits as hard as the rush

of wind against my face and goggles as we dive, and dive, and dive.
And for the first time, there’s no fear that I’ll tumble off his back. Slowly,

I unclench my hands from the pommels and a heartbeat later, my hands are

above my head as we plummet toward the valley below.
I’ve lived twenty years and never felt as alive as I do in this moment.

Without even grounding in my Archives, power surges in my veins,
crackling with a life all its own, jolting every single one of my senses to a