Page 556 - Fourth Wing

And as for Mom… The dagger on her desk means she knows and has

done nothing to stop it. Guess I’ll be the second child she sacrifices to keep
the existence of venin a secret.

“I’ve been defenseless,” I tell Xaden, lifting my chin. “And now I’m a

rider. Riders fight.”
The others shout in agreement.

A thousand emotions cross his face, but Xaden only nods as he walks

toward the battlements. “Liam. Give me a report.”
His foster brother moves to his side and focuses. “The fliers are engaged,

all seven—six of them. Looks like they’re trying to draw fire away from the

civilians, but damn, the venin are wielding a kind of fire I’ve never seen
among riders. Three surround the city, and one is making his way toward a

structure in the middle. A clock tower.”
Xaden nods, then divides us according to objectives. Garrick and Soleil

will do a perimeter sweep for reconnaissance while the rest of us target the

venin on various sides of Resson, keeping an eye on the advance on the
clock tower as we near it on each pass through town. “The only way to take

them out is by dagger.”
“That means we’ll have to dismount and fight once we get the

townspeople to whatever safety we can find,” Garrick adds, his face set in

grim lines. “Don’t throw your only weapons unless you’re certain of your
aim.”

Xaden nods. “Save as many people as you can. Let’s go.”

We make our way down the steps and through the silent courtyard, Xaden
leading the way. When we emerge from the outpost, our dragons wait, all

perched on the edge of the ridgeline, shifting their weight in agitation as

they survey the trading post below.
I walk directly between Tairn and Sgaeyl.

“I knew you’d make the right choice,” Sgaeyl says, glancing toward
where Xaden approaches with Liam, their footsteps dangerously close to