Page 414

Vayne looks delighted. "Continue."

Chaos. Immediate. Because everyone has spent weeks learning where the Chiefs are supposed to be. Who gives which order. Which Wing follows whom. Take them away and suddenly half the Academy looks like someone removed the spine from it.

"Who's covering west?"

"I don't know."

"Where's Sky Wing?"

"Corvell's down."

"Who's second?"

"Mara?"

"She's in infirmary simulation."

"Fuck."

I move before I think about it. "Sky Wing, western passage!"

Three students look toward me. "Who said—"

"Do you have a better idea?" No. Good. "Move."

They move. A first-year runs toward me. "Tide lost their lead."

"Cassian!"

He turns. "What?"

"Tide Wing east stairs."

His face changes. "Right." He goes. No joke. Good.

"Root needs another ward hand!" Nyra shouts from the command table.

I look around. A second-year fae is standing uselessly near the wall. "You."

She points at herself. "Me?"

"Can you reinforce?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you standing there?" She runs.

The breach spreads. Red light. Western corridor. Two minutes. We aren't organized. Not fully. But we're moving. Someone yells: "Casualty at south stair!"

I reach the corner. A first-year lies on the floor.

Simulated leg injury. Another student is trying to lift him alone. "Stop."

She looks up. "What?"

"You'll drop him."

"I don't have anyone."