Page 87 - Fourth Wing

questions to ask so all of you have a chance at coming home alive.”

Something in her tone tells me it’s not just third-years who might be
called into service this year, and a chill settles in my bones.

…

“You seriously knew every answer in history and apparently every right

question to ask in Battle Brief,” Rhiannon says, shaking her head as we
stand on the sidelines of the sparring mat after lunch, watching Ridoc and

Aurelie circle each other in their fighting leathers. They’re evenly matched

in size. Ridoc is on the smaller side, and Aurelie is built just like Mira,
which doesn’t surprise me because she’s a legacy on her father’s side.

“You’re not even going to have to study for tests, are you?”
The rest of the first-years stand on our side, but the second- and third-

years line the others. They’re definitely at an advantage here, considering

they’ve already had at least a year of combat training.
“I was trained to be a scribe.” I shrug, and the vest Mira made me

shimmers slightly with the movement. Other than the times the scales catch

the light under the camouflaging mesh, it fits right in with the tops we’d
been given from central issue yesterday. All the women are dressed

similarly now, though the cuts of their leathers are chosen by preference.

The guys are mostly shirtless because they think shirts give their
opponent something to grab onto. Personally, I’m not arguing with their

logic, just enjoying the view…respectfully, of course, which means keeping
my eyes on my own squad’s mat and off the other twenty mats in the

massive gym that consumes the first floor of the academic wing. One wall

is made entirely of windows and doors, all left open to let in the breeze, but
it’s still stiflingly hot. Sweat trickles down my spine under my vest.

There are three squads from each wing here this afternoon, and lucky me,
First Wing has sent their third squads, which include Jack Barlowe, who’s

been glaring at me from two mats over since I walked in.