CHAPTER TWENTY

During the Threshing—the dangerous dragon-bonding ceremony where first-year cadets must find and connect with a dragon in a forested valley—Violet struggles to find her match. When she discovers Jack, Oren, and Tynan hunting the small golden feathertail dragon to kill it, she intercepts them in a clearing to protect it, only to be confronted by all three armed attackers simultaneously.

On October first, 147 first-year cadets enter a bowl-shaped valley to attempt bonding with dragons. Professor Kaori instructs them to spread out and listen for a dragon's call, warning that grouping increases the risk of incineration. Violet has seen multiple dragons—greens, browns, oranges, and reds—but feels no connection to any of them, leaving her increasingly anxious about becoming a rider. She climbs a tree to survey the valley and spots a golden dragon in a clearing to the north. While hiding from sight, she overhears Jack, Oren, and Tynan discussing their plan to hunt and kill the golden feathertail, believing it is too weak and unrideable to be useful. Realizing the dragon cannot defend itself, Violet decides to warn it despite the danger. She races through the forest toward the clearing but falls when her ankle snaps on a hidden branch. Limping forward, she reaches the clearing just as the three assassins arrive with their swords drawn. Jack recognizes her and sees an opportunity to eliminate both "weakest links" at once. Violet positions herself between the dragon and the attackers, drawing two daggers and attempting to reason with them, focusing especially on Oren, whom she believes might be swayed. As the three spread into attacking formation, Xaden suddenly appears leaning against a tree across the field, with his navy-blue daggertail dragon Sgaeyl beside him, effectively halting their advance.