CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Violet and her squad attempt the Gauntlet, a treacherous obstacle course up a cliff designed to test balance, strength, and agility before Presentation. During the practice run, Aurelie falls to her death, and Violet struggles with grief, self-doubt, and the realization that she may not survive Threshing. Later that night, Xaden confronts her in the courtyard and challenges her to stop wallowing and find a way to complete the course.

Violet's squad arrives at the Gauntlet, a five-section obstacle course carved into a cliff face. Professor Emetterio explains it tests the skills needed in dragon combat. Tension erupts within the squad when Tynan and Luca accuse Violet of receiving preferential treatment from squad leader Dain, but Rhiannon defends her, revealing Dain and Violet have been childhood friends. Sawyer demonstrates the course flawlessly, completing all five ascents despite being passed over at Threshing the previous year. As cadets attempt the course in sequence, Violet manages most obstacles through a combination of physical effort and mental recitation of dragon lore to calm herself. However, she struggles on the metal rods of the third ascent, hitting the cliff face and nearly falling before grabbing a rope. She completes the chimney formation only by using a rope—too short to span the distance needed. As she reaches the spinning posts of the fourth ascent, Aurelie, who was behind her, loses her footing and falls to her death. The scene shifts to the next morning's roll call, where Aurelie's name is read among the day's casualties. Violet volunteers to burn Aurelie's belongings, carrying her pack to the burn pit on the academic tower's roof. Standing at the edge, Violet questions whether she belongs at Basgiath, unsure if she'll survive the final timed Gauntlet. Late that night, she encounters Xaden returning from an unknown mission. Instead of attacking her, he engages her in conversation. Violet confesses her doubt about making it up the Gauntlet and her despair over Aurelie's death. Xaden reveals he knows about Markham's offer to move her to the Scribe Quadrant and threatens that if she quits, he will lose his conviction that he retains his humanity. He tells her the right way isn't the only way and challenges her to stop sulking and figure out a solution.