40- The Task

So we attmempted to formulate a plan:

Hetta can retrieve things, Ridoc can use ice.

Imogen can mind wipe, Heaton can breathe underwater, Emery has wind..

Quinn can astro project and Liam has far sight.... While I have the knowledge where everything is.. 

 So we make our way, " It's most likely guarded. Quinn, if you could astro project to the other side of the hall and make some sort of noise and lead them away a little ways that should give us enough time to grab something useful." I mention.

She nods, getting her task, taking Heaton with her so he can protect her body.

" Liam, I'll need you to be our eyes, see if there's a guard, tell us when he leaves and when they're returning."

He nods.

" Incase something happens, I can mind wipe him." Imogen says proudly which I nod to. I nod as well, " And that's about as far as I got..."

" Sounds like a solid plan so far, just wing the rest?" Hetta asks.

Imogen rolls her eyes, " Well, seeing we fought about this for an hour...I guess it'll need to do."

We all stealthily sneak to the northern part of Basgiath where her office is on top of 6 flights of stairs. As we get closer and closer, my heart beats a little faster and faster... Maybe this really was a stupid idea.. 

As if Ridoc read my mind he decides to talk, " So...if we get caught..how bad do you think the punishments would be? Take out and eye, cut off our ears, maybe serve some jail time getting torutred everyday-"

" Probably all the above." I admit quietly.

" I wish Riorson was here, use those shadows to just grab something, keep a look out or just choke the guard until he passes out." Sawyer mumbles.

" You and me both.." Imogen utters making a small flare of annoyance bubble up. I shake it off, looking over at Liam who's stuck to my side, " See anything yet?"

He stops making the rest of us do the same, " Uhhh....yea.. Just one guard.." He flutters his eyes, " And he's huge.."

I bite my cheek looking around, " Shit.."

" How long until Quinn distracts the guy?" Ridoc asks.

" Whenever you tell me."

We all jump, my hand flies to my face so I don't make a sound as Quinn steps from a wall. " That's scary as all hell.." Hetta says looking mortfied.

" Sorry..sorry.." Quinn mutters. " I thought you'd give a sign or something."

" Wait until we're at the last flight so Liam can get a good look. Like we said, take him as far as you can to buy us more time."

She nods, " Got it."

And with that, she went back in the wall as fast as she came from it.

" That is sooo creepy.. But sooo sick..." Ridoc smiles.

" Just...come on.."

We climb the next couple flights all now perched waiting for Quinn, I really hope no one come up the stairs because... we'd be so screwed.

" Anytime now..." Imogen mutters looking around.

A hand pokes from the wall giving a thumbs up making ass all jump again before taking a breath. " Damn.." Sawyers breathes shaking his head ever so slightly.

Liam closes hie eyes, " He's still standing there..."

Then we hear a loud bang.. 

" He's leaving..." Liam informs.

" Is there any lights, any other movement, any more guards?" I ask quickly.

He stands there for a good minute making me feel anxious before he shakes his head, " No.. no we're good."

I stand " Good, let's go."

We all shoot up sprinting down the hall, the new adreneline coursing through me, I feel my mark on my back seem to crackle to life, burning. 

NOW is not the TIME! Hurt me later...

It burns but I move on taking labored breaths as we continue..

Nadine- another girl in our squad who never talks because she hates marked ones and is a brat in generall- runs with me screeching to a halt infront of the door, I almost run right in to her. "Why'd you stop?"

She has her hand out looking around the door, " It's a security ward."

Right...She's a ward spcialist for her signet. And it's my mother...she never could've been to safe.

" You think you can undo it without alerting her?"

She scoffs, " Ofcourse I can... it's just going to take a little time." 

Give me strength.... I take a breath, " Ok..yea.. just hurry."

" What's the deal?!" Imogen says quickly.

" Warded." Nadine spits.

Imogen glares at her then me " Your mom really doesn't trust anyone huh?"

I shrug, " Guess not. But seeing how anyone would kill to be the general.. I see her reasons..."

I stop myself from pacing as I look at Liam. " Still good?"

He nods, " She just tipped a vase, he's still chasing her."

I take a breath, " Good... good.."

Finally there was a click like noise and the door opens. Nadine puts her hand out once more " Don't use any of the mage lights..those are warded as well."

I nod as we all pile in, " Nadine keep scanning the place."

She gives a curt nod going around clearing places for us to look. Once she clears the desk I take it filing through her papers coming across a knife with some type of green infused blade and ancient text like writing on the hilt.

I pick it up slowly examining it, almost getting a shiver or nervous feeling. I feel like I've seen this before, why does it seem to unnerving? I touch the blade and I hiss making everyone look at me Liam looks at it wide eyed, " Put that down!" 

I do as he said, it must've had some type of protection maybe making my heart hammer, I look around faster seeing a whole pile of letters.

All in which were pleas to send more help all around the boarders. What the hell...

More attacks, supply raids, lost civilians not found...

" Freya!" 

I look up to see Hetta glancing down at the letters then me. " Nothing yet?"

I shake my head huffing fraustrated until.... I see the map. The one that makes up majority of the wall, all marked with camps, the wards, where everyone is stationed, little gryphon figures, and even little gray and black figures..I'm guessing all correlate to where enemy camps are.

This is perfect.

I huge smile cracks on my face " We take the map."

Everyone looks at me as I talk out everything making them all smile and laugh in what we all know will be out victory.

" Shit! He's runnign back! Who set off a ward?!" Liam yells.

It was Ridoc.... who decided to try messing with one of the safes that say very clearly CLASSIFIED.

" Damn it Ridoc!" Imogen yells hitting him hard on the head.

In a flash Quinn was there, " Guards are coming!"

" We got that!" Hetta says.

We all run, the massive one I'm guessing Liam was referring to cuts us off from the hall we came from. " And what is..." He stops a smile forming on his lips " Care to explain what your doing up here with your friends Ms. Sorrengail?"

Ofcourse he knows who I am... damn hair..

I put on a smile, " Ahhh...well..."

I hear the footsteps of the other soldiers coming from the other side, " Imogen.. tell him!'

I quickly push her infront of me, " Um yea.." With one quick motion he does something with her hands making a cracking sound as his expression seems to dull, and with another quick motion...liam punches him in the temple making him crumble.

" Run!" he demands, taking my hand and dragging us just as we hear the yelling from the other soldiers.

" Shit! We have 8 minutes left!" Emery yells making all of us run even faster.. I swear we did all of this just to run out of time I'm jumping off the Parapet..

As we go inside, We see Quin and Heaton waiting there for us, " Come on!" They yell.

We all bolt, Ridoc pushing the door stopping to announce we made it, resulting to all of us falling on one another.

" Fourth Wing... I'm just..thrilled to see you all made it in time.." No oen other but Xaden's voice says monotoned. I shoot my gaze upwards as all the Wingleaders, Squad leaders and Officers stand on the small stage, along with 2 teammates to present.

" It's your..ow you ass get off.. Your mothers map.. you and Mairi present!" Imogen quickly says.

I grab the map from Hetta and Quinn, Liam and I make to the stage readying ourselves. We stand next to Xaden and Dain who look unamused. " You guys were almost late!" Dain hisses.

" We ran into some complications." 

" For a.." Xaden sighs, " Map...you guys have a map."

" Not just any map." Liam says brightly " It was Freya's idea."

Xaden's hard glare bounces between Liam and me. He shakes his head, wanting to say somethign before Carr starts.

First Wing got Kamori's ultimate guide to dragons, and weaknesses to each kind.

Second got a book of everyone's name, signet and post.

Third got a scribe... who looked traumatized.

" And Fourth?" Carr asks, his tone sounding disgusted as he looks at me. Liam helps me unroll the large map.

" We have a map, showing all the wards, ourposts and troops, along with enemies." I state.

Carr, along with the rest of the teachers look mortified, I see Xaden's face fall as he stares at the map then me. " Where in Malek's great heavens did you get that?!" Carr bellows.

" General Sorrengails own personal office."

That's when the whole room goes in a fenzy of amazement. " Your telling me you broke into your mom's office?!" Dain asks looking dumbfounded.

I  nod smiling brightly. I look at Xaden, " Impressed?"

He shakes his head, " That's one word."

" Give that!" Carr snags it from me rolling it up, " That's confidential..."

" Same with everything else they brought...hell third literally stole someone!" Liam says getting infront of me to talk to Carr. 

" well..this tops the cake."

" You did say the limits of Basgiath." Xaden chimes in crossing his arms. " So technically her office was in limits. I just thought no one could get pass, and obviously they did... Pretty damned talented if you ask me."

Carr sends me a hard look before looking at Xaden and Liam. " I guess so, just NEVER again...or you will be punished!"

He wraps the map back up walking away saying something to Kamori who announced as the winners.

Everyone cheers, the rest of our squad comes up all jumping around yelling, and my attention goign to Xaden who was just on the outside of it looking... maybe a little pale. His eyes on me, when they lock he gives me a nod of approval.

I manage to get out of the group going to him, " I'm almost hurt you doubted me."

He chuckles, " Sometimes...very seldom Fury.. you maybe do impress me. This is one of those times."

" A good job would be appreciated."

" A good job would be an understatement.." He comes a little closer, " I wouldn't go back in that office though..or take stuff you don't know much about..."

With that he walked away, Liam pulling me back in to celebrate.