AFTERWORD

Chapter 18

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Overview

Violet visits the Archives to retrieve books for her quadrant, reunites briefly with her friend Jesinia who has become a scribe, and reflects on her complicated feelings about leaving her former home. Later, after flight training and a confrontation with Dain about her struggles, she witnesses a first-year named Jeremiah manifest a mind-reading signet power and is killed by a professor. That night, unbonded cadets led by Oren break into her room to kill her, but Andarna manifests a freezing power that stops everyone except Violet.

Summary

Violet pushes a library cart to the Archives, where she reunites with her friend Jesinia, now a first-year scribe. Though homesick for the Archives, Violet confirms she is happy bonded to Tairn and Andarna. She requests a book called The Fables of the Barren, which Jesinia cannot find in the Archives' catalog, striking Violet as odd given how comprehensive their collection is. Violet encounters Professor Markham leading new scribes and learns that Sawyer has manifested a metallurgist signet during sparring. At lunch, Imogen and Quinn explain that if cadets don't manifest signets within months of bonding, the magic will consume them. During afternoon flight training, Tairn is protective and grumpy, and Dain confronts Violet about her falling during flights, revealing his fear for her safety. Violet, frustrated by his lack of faith in her abilities, tells him he represents the bullshit this place cuts away and walks past him. In the courtyard, Violet witnesses a first-year named Jeremiah in Third Wing begin screaming as his signet manifests—he is an inntinnsic who can read minds. As he reads thoughts from various cadets, including Dain's concerns about Violet, he spirals into panic. Xaden uses shadows to silence him, and a large professor with white hair arrives, breaks Jeremiah's neck, and carries away his body. That night, Violet is attacked in her bedroom by seven unbonded cadets, including Oren, who seek to kill her to gain access to Tairn. During the struggle, Oren strangles Violet and holds a knife to her throat. Andarna bursts through the door and manifests a power that freezes everyone in the room except Violet, leaving her in complete silence surrounded by immobilized attackers.

Characters

  • Violet Sorrengailprotagonist; visits the Archives, reflects on her bonded dragons, endures flight training and a confrontation with Dain, witnesses Jeremiah's death, and is attacked in her room by unbonded cadets
  • JesiniaViolet's friend and first-year scribe; helps Violet retrieve books from the Archives and expresses concern about border attacks
  • Professor Markhamscribe instructor; leads first-year scribes through the Archives and mentions Violet's previous role as his prized student
  • TairnViolet's bonded dragon; protective and grumpy during flight training, communicates telepathically with Violet, and rushes to her aid when she is attacked
  • AndarnaViolet's bonded dragon; manifests a freezing power at the end of the chapter to save Violet from her attackers
  • Sawyerfellow cadet; manifests metallurgist signet power during sparring
  • RhiannonViolet's squadmate; walks with her and converses during lunch and after flight training
  • Ridocfellow cadet; recounts a story about Sawyer's signet manifestation and is shoved aside when Xaden intervenes during Jeremiah's incident
  • Quinnfellow cadet; explains signet manifestation and the dangers of unmanifested magic during lunch
  • Imogenweapons instructor; trains Violet and eats lunch with the squad
  • DainViolet's best friend and former love interest; confronts her about falling during flights and reveals his fear for her safety, leading to their conflict
  • Xaden Riorsonwingleader; watches Violet during lunch, uses shadows to subdue Jeremiah when his signet manifests, and removes himself after the incident
  • Garrickfellow rider; stands with Xaden in the courtyard
  • Kaoriflight instructor; teaches Violet and other cadets flight maneuvers
  • Carrwielding professor; oversees Sawyer after his signet manifests
  • Jeremiahfirst-year in Third Wing; manifests an inntinnsic mind-reading signet that overwhelms him, causing him to read nearby cadets' thoughts before being killed by a professor
  • Professor Carrlarge professor with white hair; kills Jeremiah by breaking his neck when his signet manifests
  • Orenunbonded cadet; leads the attack on Violet's room, strangles her, and holds a knife to her throat
  • Jack Barlowecadet; seen with Caroline Ashton after she bonds a dragon
  • Caroline Ashtoncadet; bonds the dragon Gleann after its previous rider died
  • Cadet Piersonfirst-year scribe; greets Violet at the Archives entrance
  • Cadet Nasyafirst-year scribe in Professor Markham's group; questions the Archives' stuffy conditions