AFTERWORD

Chapter 2

Chapter Seven

Overview

Violet reunites with her brother Brennan, who has been alive and hiding in the Vale for six years. She learns the truth about venin, wyverns, and the precarious military situation threatening all of Poromiel, then discovers that Andarna has undergone accelerated growth and is now adolescent-sized. The group decides to return to Basgiath despite the danger.

Summary

Violet meets privately with Brennan in Riorson House and learns he survived the attack that she believed killed him six years ago. Naolin, Tairn's previous rider, sacrificed himself to save Brennan, who woke on a cliffside and was hidden by other dragons in the valley's cave network. Brennan reveals he has been living in the Vale because he cannot support Navarre's cowardice—the leadership refuses to acknowledge the venin threat or help other regions despite knowing the truth. Violet discovers that their father's old books contained fables about venin and wyverns, knowledge their family possessed but that has been erased from public education. Examining a strategic map, Violet learns that venin are pouring from the Barrens, wyverns are being created (not hatched) by venin channeling power into them, and the threat is advancing at an alarming rate. Brennan estimates they have six months, not a year, before the venin reach Navarre's border. He reveals Aretia possesses a dormant wardstone, a second one that supposedly only one existed. Brennan explains the revolution is searching for an ancient weapon that defeated venin during the Great War six hundred years ago, and they need a luminary to forge dragonsteel daggers. Violet becomes emotional about Xaden keeping secrets and the cost of the revolution, and Tairn responds to her emotional surge. They leave the meeting and walk to where the dragons are gathered. Upon arrival, Violet is shocked to discover that Andarna has grown dramatically—she is now adolescent-sized with black scales instead of gold. Xaden, Brennan, and several cadets (Imogen, Garrick, Bodhi, Ciaran, Eya, and Masen) are present. Violet argues they must return to Basgiath to prevent General Aetos from executing cadets bearing rebellion marks, though Brennan fears General Sorrengail will kill her. After a vote, all agree to return except Xaden and Brennan, though Xaden ultimately agrees with a plan to shield Violet from memory readers. Andarna struggles to stand and fly in her new form, requiring Xaden's shadow magic to stabilize her. The group must modify her harness and return to Basgiath within forty-eight hours for Xaden's plan, which involves graduation.

Characters

  • Violet SorrengailProtagonist who reunites with her brother, learns about the venin threat and revolution, witnesses Andarna's accelerated growth, and advocates for returning to Basgiath
  • Brennan SorrengailViolet's brother, revealed to be alive and leading resistance efforts in the Vale; explains the venin crisis and strategizes about the revolution
  • TairnViolet's dragon who communicates through their bond, expresses annoyance at human ignorance, and explains Andarna's adolescent nature
  • Xaden RiorsonViolet's love interest who arrives with other cadets; agrees to help Violet shield against memory readers and proposes a plan requiring return to Basgiath within forty-eight hours
  • AndarnaViolet's bonded dragon who has undergone accelerated growth and now appears adolescent-sized with black scales; struggles with her new form and growing irritability
  • SgaeylXaden's navy-blue daggertail dragon who guards Andarna, snarls at Brennan, and communicates her disdain through the mental bond
  • MarbhBrennan's Orange Daggertail dragon who has been in the valley for days helping guard Andarna
  • ImogenCadet present at the Vale who participates in the decision to return to Basgiath
  • Garrick TavisCadet who advocates for returning to Basgiath and found an iron box at Resson
  • BodhiCadet present at the Vale who notes the need to modify Andarna's harness
  • CiaranThird Squad, Flame Section cadet who defensively notes General Sorrengail's absence from War Games orders
  • EyaFirst Squad, Flame Section second-year brunette cadet who expresses skepticism about trusting General Sorrengail
  • MasenLean cadet with pointed nose and dark-brown skin who confirms Colonel Aetos planned the War Games
  • Colonel AetosMentioned as leading War Games this year and as someone who will threaten cadets if Violet and others don't return
  • General MelgrenMentioned as leadership figure who refuses to alert the population about the venin threat
  • FelixSilver-bearded member of the Assembly described as the most rational but likely wrong about having a year to prepare
  • NaolinMentioned as Tairn's previous rider, a siphon who died saving Brennan
  • CodaghMentioned as an elder dragon who can sense hatchling pigment; referenced in Colonel Kaori's field guide
  • Colonel KaoriMentioned as a good man and author of a field guide to dragonkind
  • Violet's fatherMentioned as deceased, having written books with fables about venin and wyverns that Violet still possesses
  • General SorrengailViolet's mother, mentioned as potentially having been uninvolved in War Games planning and as devastated by Brennan's disappearance