Page 526 - Fourth Wing

peaks in front of us with breathtaking accuracy before the riot lands on the

shoreline and sends ripples over the water in tiny shock waves. A thick
forest of trees and heavy boulders surround one edge of the water, and

nearby grass is trampled, which means we’re not the first riot to rest here.

There are ten dragons in all with us, and though I might not recognize
each one of them, I know that Liam and I are the only first-years in the

group. Deigh lands beside Tairn, and Liam jumps from his seat like we

haven’t just spent seven hours in the sky.
“You both need to drink and probably eat something,” I tell them as I

unbuckle from the saddle. My thighs are sore and cramping, but it’s not

quite as bad as it was at Montserrat. The extra hours in the saddle this last
month have helped.

Tairn pops a talon onto a latch, and Andarna plops to the ground, shaking
her head, body, then tail.

“And you need to sleep,” Tairn replies. “You’ve been up all night.”

“I’ll sleep when you do.” Navigating his spikes carefully, I slide down
his foreleg to the mossy edge of the shore.

“I can go for days without sleep. I’d rather you not fire off lightning bolts
out of sleep deprivation.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to retort that it takes effort to wield lightning,

but after I shattered Xaden’s window last night, I’m not sure I have any
expertise on the subject. Or maybe it’s just Xaden who makes me lose

control. Either way, I’m dangerous to be around. I’m surprised Carr hasn’t

given up on me.
“It’s strange to be beyond the wards,” I say, changing the subject.

Tairn’s talons dig into the soil as Liam approaches, stretching his neck

high above his shoulders. From the general agitation of the riot, I wonder if
it’s something they all feel, this wrongness in the air that has the hairs on

the back of my neck standing on end.
“We’re twenty minutes out from Athebyne, so hydrate! We have no idea