Page 86 - Fourth Wing

was extraneous.

“What was the condition of the village?” a deep voice asks from the back
of the lecture hall.

The hairs on my neck rise, my body recognizing the imminent threat

behind me.
“Riorson?” Markham asks, shielding his eyes from the mage lights as he

looks toward the top of the hall.

“The village,” Xaden restates. “Professor Devera said the damage would
have been worse, but what was the actual condition? Was it burned?

Destroyed? They wouldn’t demolish it if they were trying to establish a

foothold, so the condition of the village matters when trying to determine a
motive for the attack.”

Professor Devera smiles in approval. “The buildings they’d already gone
through were burned, and the rest were being looted when the wing

arrived.”

“They were looking for something,” Xaden says with complete
conviction. “And it wasn’t riches. That’s not a gem mining district. Which

begs the question, what do we have that they want so badly?”
“Exactly. That’s the question.” Professor Devera glances around the

room. “And that right there is why Riorson is a wingleader. You need more

than strength and courage to be a good rider.”
“So what’s the answer?” a first-year to the left asks.

“We don’t know,” Professor Devera answers with a shrug. “It’s just

another piece in the puzzle of why our constant bids for peace are rejected
by the kingdom of Poromiel. What were they looking for? Why that

village? Were they responsible for the collapse of the ward, or was it

already faltering? Tomorrow, next week, next month, there will be another
attack, and maybe we’ll get another clue. Go to history if you’re looking for

answers. Those wars have already been dissected and examined. Battle
Brief is for fluid situations. In this class, we want you to learn which