Page 157 of Resurgent

Her voice sharpens. “Not to another recruit. Not to the healers.”

She steps away from the desk, her eyes connecting with each and every one of ours. “Because fear spreads faster than any poison.”

The room remains silent as Major Halden begins walking between our seats. “This is what Ghost Walking has become. We’re no longer sneaking through shadows or memorizing disguises.

“Now we’re recognizing what isn't real while determining what is, and understanding that the enemy has learned from every mistake we've made, and they are getting better."

Lin nods. “They are.”

Their admission chills me more than anything else, and I wish they would stop there.

“The southern campaign has entered a new phase because Clowess is adapting faster than our intelligence models predicted, which means we have to adapt faster.”

“New counter-illusion wards are being distributed,” she says as new markers spread across the border, too vaguely placed to give any exact locations away. “Ghost teams are now being paired with Vanguard divisions.”

More markers.

“Communication runes are being redesigned to resist false signal replication. Everything we've discussed this year plays a part in that effort.”

She lets the silence stretch.

A shiver runs down my spine as Halden returns to the front of the room.

“One final matter,” Lin says. “The final assignments begin soon.”

A nervous energy ripples through the class because she doesn't need to explain what that means. “You saw Bravo Company go through it, and now it’s your turn. These assignments will determine your placement after graduation.”

“You will be evaluated on everything from your field performance to your ability to identify threats. From your discretion to your adaptability.”

“And your ability to keep your head when everyone around you has lost theirs,” Halden's voice cuts in.

I glance at Matt, and he instantly catches me, giving me the same calm nod and silent reassurance. We’ve got this.

At least that's what his expression says.

I breathe in slowly as Lin continues, “Some of you will graduate into units that operate behind enemy lines while some of you will never wear a standard uniform again.”

“Some of you are about to spend the rest of your careers hunting people who are very good at pretending to be someone else, and some of you will be sent somewhere you don't come home from.”

No one moves as Lin gathers a stack of papers from the desk.

“Your final assignments begin Monday. Until then, I suggest you train. You observe. You question everyone.”

Her eyes scan the classroom.

“And you remember that the most dangerous thing on a battlefield is not always the person shooting at you…sometimes, it’s the person you never thought to look at.”

Chapter forty-seven

Annalise

“Miss Corvin, you're late, and you’ve come unprepared," Hunter calls over the echo of steel crashing against steel as Delta Company fights. "If you can't be bothered to show up on time and ready to fight, then why am I wasting my time helping you catch up on your missed classes?"

Fighting my every instinct to roll my eyes, I paste on the fakest smile I can muster.

"Sorry, Sir, I got caught up in riding class."

“Ah, right.” A slow, knowing grin pulls at his mouth. “Delta Company—stop what you’re doing and give Recruit Corvin a round of applause.”