AFTERWORD

Chapter 5

CHAPTER TWELVE

Overview

Violet attends her first Battle Brief class, where she impresses professors with her analytical thinking about a recent attack on the village of Chakir, and later participates in combat training where she faces a vengeful marked one named Imogen, suffering a serious shoulder injury.

Summary

The chapter opens with an epigraph from General Lilith Sorrengail objecting to forcing children to witness their parents' executions during the Tyrrish Rebellion. Violet enters the massive Battle Brief lecture hall, taught daily by Professor Devera and Professor Markham. Devera explains that riders may now be called into service before graduation and must understand enemy politics, defensive strategies, and battle knowledge. She presents details of an attack near Chakir by Braevi gryphons and riders on the Eastern Wing, where wards faltered, allowing 37 civilians to be killed before a dragon squad arrived to repel the attackers. When called upon, Violet deduces that the dragon squad must have already been en route, implying they somehow sensed the ward failure. Xaden Riorson adds that the gryphons were looting the village, suggesting they sought something specific. After lunch, Violet participates in combat training with Professor Emetterio. A first-year dies when Jack Barlowe breaks his neck during sparring. Violet is matched against Imogen, a marked one (bearing a rebellion relic) whose family was executed by Violet's mother. Despite wearing protective armor Mira crafted, Violet is overpowered. When Imogen wrenches Violet's arm behind her back, the shoulder dislocates and bones break before the match is called. Violet hears the sickening crack of her own injury as Emetterio ends the fight.

Characters

  • Professor DeveraTeaches Battle Brief class; briefs cadets on current attack near Chakir and guides discussion about strategic implications
  • Professor MarkhamScribe colonel co-teaching Battle Brief; provides redacted information about the attack and expresses disappointment in Violet's presence
  • RhiannonViolet's first-year squad mate; takes notes, later offers to help Violet with hand-to-hand combat in exchange for history help
  • RidocFirst-year squad member who makes jokes and participates in sparring against Aurelie
  • LucaCatty first-year squad member who mocks Pryor for indecision
  • AurelieFirst-year squad member who defends squad loyalty and defeats Ridoc in sparring
  • PryorMeek first-year squad member who hesitates to ask questions
  • Jack BarloweFirst-year from First Wing who mocks Violet's suggestion about precognition and breaks a first-year's neck during combat training
  • Xaden RiorsonWingleader third-year who asks insightful question about the village's condition and what the gryphons were looting
  • Dain AetosSquad executive leader who watches sparring matches and encourages Rhiannon during her bout with Tynan
  • Professor EmetterioCombat training instructor who oversees sparring matches and stops the match between Violet and Imogen
  • CiannaSquad executive leader who accompanies Dain observing matches
  • MiraReferenced as having made Violet's protective armor; sister figure
  • SawyerFirst-year squad member who offers combat training tips
  • TynanFirst-year squad member who loses sparring match to Rhiannon
  • ImogenPink-haired second-year marked one bearing rebellion relic who fights Violet seeking revenge for her family's execution by Violet's mother; dislocates Violet's shoulder during combat
  • General Lilith SorrengailViolet's mother; referenced in epigraph and throughout chapter as having executed marked ones' families