Page 159 of Veiled

“I don’t think it’s possible to feel ready, but I’ve been studying, and we’re in teams, so that should make it easier…and hopefully faster. I want as much time as I can get to get cleaned up before graduation tonight.”

“Are you sure you still want to go?”

“Pshhh, we are not skipping because of Aiden, Mattey. We broke up, he was an ass, but now he’s leaving. If anything, it’s like a double celebration: our friends are graduating, and I don’t have to see him anymore.”

“Okay, if you say so.”

“Now, what are you going to wear? I don’t want to show up looking hot, and then you’re dressed like a bum.”

“Definitely wouldn’t want to make you look bad,” he teases. “I picked up some navy slacks, a white dress shirt, and a matching navy sport coat.”

“That’ll do, Mattey. That’ll do,” I say with a smile.

“I’m sorry, did you just Shrek me?”

I shrug. “I was thinking Babe, but either works.”

The path leading to the Vanguard building is peaceful. Birds are just beginning to chatter overhead, completely unaware that in twenty minutes their woods will be full of recruits cursing compasses and traversing across every creek conveniently left off the map.

“Hey,” Matt says softly, bumping my shoulder with his. “You sure you’re all right?”

“Yup! You kept your octopus legs to yourself last night, so I actually slept pretty well. I’m ready to be the next Land Nav Master.”

“You do realize half this test is guessing and the other half is not dying, right?”

“Seeeee. My specialties.”

He snorts. “Sasha would be losing her shit if she heard us laughing about that—”

“Yeah, because she’s good and we’re both wonderfully terrible people. And besides, I’ve already decided I’m going to crush it today. We’ll be done early, I’ll do my hair and makeup down in my room, you’ll iron my dress because you love me, and then we will go cheer our boys on.”

Matt chokes. “Iron? I’ll iron your dress. That’s—no. No one said anything about—”

“Aww, you’re so sweet to offer. Thanks!”

“That’s not what I said,” he argues as we join the other recruits.

Professor Renwick stands in front of us, clipboard in hand, and wearing the kind of smile that means she’s excited to ruin our entire day. Professor Kael is beside her, arms crossed, looking like he’s as happy as we all are to be here.

When the regular class bell finishes chiming, Renwick starts.

“As you all know, today you will be tested on your day land navigation skills. You've read about it, you've practiced it, and now it's time to put all of that knowledge to use.

“In just a minute, you'll be split into teams of three, loaded into the ATVs, and dropped off far from here. Hopefully, you've all been paying close attention in Environmental Tactics this year because you're only being left with what is currently on you. All food and water must be foraged, just like it would be if you were lost in enemy territory.

“Once your team gets back, send one member from each team here to check you in. Anyone not back by eighteen-hundred tonight will fail and have to remediate the test next Sunday.” Professor Kael finally chips in.

“If we're not back by six, will you come get us?” Of course, it’s Jensen who asks.

“Yes,” Kael says, stepping forward and unfolding the team list. “When your names are called, find your group and head to an ATV.”

He starts reading.

“Hart, Dreer, Silva.”

“Markson, Reyes, Wright.”

“Finnley, Brooks, Gaines.”