CHAPTER SEVEN

Summary

• Navarre's peace is maintained by not allowing more than three cadets carrying rebellion relics to be assigned to any squad of any quadrant.
• Groups larger than three marked ones will now be considered an act of seditious conspiracy, a capital offense.
• In the darkness alongside the Iakobos River, underneath a full moon, the protagonist gathers fonilee berries, readying herself for the challenges that begin next week at Basgiath War College.
• She stumbles upon a group meeting beneath the trees, led by Xaden Riorson and Imogen, they are breaching the rule that more than three marked ones can't gather together without suspicion.
• It appears to be a support and strategy group for first-year students, teaching survival and combat skills, though there’s talk of revenge against the protagonist, due to her mother’s past deeds.
• Xaden asserts his claim on handling the protagonist, warning the others from attempting anything against her.
• She is subsequently discovered eavesdropping by Xaden. A tense moment ensues, where she challenges him to kill her. He doesn’t, and without revealing her to anyone, Xaden warns her to keep their secret meeting unknown to others.
• His calm approach startles her, and she leaves the situation not having been caught by anyone else, with her foraged berries still in hand.