Page 444 - Fourth Wing

The death of a cadet is an inevitable yet acceptable tragedy. This

process thins the herd, leaving only the strongest riders, and as long
as the cause of death does not break the Codex, any rider involved
in extinguishing another’s life shall not be punished.

—MAJOR AFENDRA’S GUIDE TO THE RIDERS QUADRANT
(UNAUTHORIZED EDITION)

CHAPTER

TWENTY-NINE

We land in the flight field what feels like minutes later. Or maybe it’s been a

lifetime. I’m not sure.
The ground shakes as dragons arrive to the left and right, the field quickly

filling with celebrating riders from Fourth Wing and angry ones from First.

The dragons take off as soon as their riders dismount, with the exception of
Andarna, who waits between Tairn’s forelegs as I fumble with the buckles.

Jack is dead.
I killed him.

I’m the reason his parents will get a letter, the reason his name will be

etched into stone.
Across the field, Garrick lifts the crystal egg above his head as Dain

waves the flag, and those in Fourth Wing cheer, rushing toward the pair like
they’re gods.

Tairn’s weight shifts beneath me as the last buckle slips through my

fingers, and I slide out of the saddle. My head swims, stress no doubt
bringing on the dizzy spell that makes it hard to keep my balance as I make

my way to his shoulder and dismount.

I stumble in the mud, hitting my knees when I reach where Andarna lies