AFTERWORD

Chapter 7

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Overview

Violet sneaks out after curfew to gather poison ingredients for the upcoming challenges, only to discover a secret meeting of marked ones—cadets with rebellion relics—gathered under a tree by the river. She eavesdrops on Xaden leading the group, learning they meet to support each other through the deadly trials ahead. When Xaden discovers her spying, he confronts her with a dagger but ultimately lets her live, making her silence the price of a favor he claims to owe her.

Summary

Violet ventures into the night to gather fonilee berries and mushrooms for her poison arsenal, climbing an oak tree by the river to harvest the unripe berries. From her perch, she observes nearly two dozen marked ones—mostly first-year cadets along with some older riders—assembling beneath the tree in black cloaks. She recognizes Xaden Riorson leading the meeting with Imogen and others, including Garrick (Flame Section leader) and a second-year who resembles Xaden, later identified as his cousin Bodhi. The gathering is illegal under the college code, which forbids marked ones from assembling in groups larger than three. As Violet listens, she learns the meeting's purpose is mentoring: senior riders counsel struggling first-years on hand-to-hand combat and Battle Brief tactics. The atmosphere shifts when someone asks when they can kill Violet, and Imogen explicitly mentions revenge for her mother's role in executions. Xaden declares Violet is "his to handle" and forbids the others from touching her. After the group disperses in threes as Xaden orders, Violet climbs down but is immediately caught by Xaden, who reveals his signet is shadow wielding. They engage in a brief standoff where Violet throws daggers that frame his head with perfect precision. Rather than kill her, Xaden returns her weapons and suggests she use her skill against Jack Barlowe, a first-year who has publicly vowed to murder her. He extracts her promise of silence about the meeting, claiming he will owe her a favor if she keeps quiet. He then dismisses her, cryptically stating he will "handle" her another time, and departs into the shadows, leaving Violet stunned and alive.

Characters

  • Violet SorrengailProtagonist who eavesdrops on the secret meeting while gathering poison ingredients; discovered by Xaden but spared in exchange for her silence
  • Xaden RiorsonWingleader and shadow wielder who leads the secret meeting of marked ones; discovers Violet spying and confronts her but allows her to live
  • ImogenSenior rider and member of Violet's squad who participates in the meeting; openly calls for Violet's death as revenge for her mother's actions
  • BodhiSecond-year rider who resembles Xaden, likely his cousin; calls out Xaden's harshness toward the struggling first-year
  • GarrickFlame Section leader in Fourth Wing and senior rider who leads hand-to-hand training; argues against punishing Violet for her mother's actions
  • Liam MairiTop-ranked first-year cadet in Second Squad who attends the meeting; already excelling in hand-to-hand combat
  • Jack BarloweFirst-year cadet mentioned as having publicly vowed to kill Violet; not present at the meeting
  • DainMentioned as Violet's precious contact; she considers telling him about the meeting but ultimately keeps silent
  • RhiannonMentioned as having been training Violet in hand-to-hand combat
  • NolonMentioned as Violet's healer who may remove her sling
  • Struggling first-yearGangly first-year at the meeting who expresses inability to handle the death and violence; Xaden dismisses him harshly