AFTERWORD

Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-Six

Overview

Violet suffers a shoulder injury from dragon dismount training and must wear a sling. A recent graduate named Masen Sanborn is killed in an attack on the Eastern Wing, raising questions about whether it was an assassination. During combat challenges, Dain forces a match against the injured Violet, and in their confrontation on the mat, he reveals cryptic information about Xaden's scars before deliberately losing. Later, Rhiannon begins piecing together the truth about the memory theft and attacks on riders from the Athebyne mission, while Aaric hints that he knows about a larger conspiracy involving secret daggers and marked ones.

Summary

Violet arrives at history class with a sprained shoulder in a sling from yesterday's dragon maneuvers. She overhears that Masen Sanborn, a recent graduate, was killed in an attack on the Eastern Wing. Violet realizes he was one of the ten who flew to Resson, and only six survive. Professor Devera teaches about Navarre's Unification and the sacrifices made—lost languages and cultures of Luceras, Morraine, and Tyrrendor provinces. Rhiannon contributes that oral folklore from border villages is disappearing. At combat challenges that afternoon, Dain uses his authority as wingleader to force a match against the injured Violet. During their fight, he pins her and whispers that he told his father about the memory he stole—the flash showing Xaden had been to Athebyne. He claims he didn't know gryphons would ambush them. When Violet threatens him with her dagger, he suddenly reveals that Violet's mother carved the scars on Xaden's back and taps out. After the match, Rhiannon begins deducing the truth: Dain stole a memory, other riders from the Athebyne mission are being targeted and killed, and she asks what killed Deigh. Violet refuses to answer and begs Rhiannon to stop asking. Later in the tunnels, Aaric reveals he knows about the conspiracy, mentioning guards carrying daggers with metal discs, implying he knows about marked ones and is secretly here for a reason.

Characters

  • Violet SorrengailSecond-year rider recovering from shoulder injury; confronted by Dain during combat challenge; reveals to Rhiannon that Dain stole a memory; realizes Aaric knows about the larger conspiracy
  • RhiannonViolet's friend and fellow second-year rider; participates in history class discussion about cultural losses during Unification; begins piecing together the truth about memory theft and targeted killings of riders from Athebyne mission
  • Dain AetosWingleader who forces a combat match against injured Violet; reveals he told his father about stealing Xaden's memory and the Athebyne visit; claims Violet's mother carved Xaden's scars; deliberately loses the match
  • Professor DeveraFills in for Professor Levini; teaches history class about Navarre's Unification and the cultural costs of unity
  • RidocFirst-year rider; attends history class; attempts to convince Violet to seek mending; trains alongside Violet for combat challenges
  • SawyerFirst-year rider; reports to Violet that leadership is running to the flight field; trains with Violet's squad
  • AaricRider with a broken wrist from combat; hints to Violet that he knows about a conspiracy involving marked ones and secret daggers
  • ImogenSecond-year rider; reacts with shock when Dain challenges Violet; runs to find help during the match
  • SloaneRider prepared to take on her opponent in combat challenges
  • Xaden RiorsonMentioned but absent; Violet anticipates his arrival on Saturday; revealed to have scars on his back; had previous combat challenge with Violet
  • TairnViolet's dragon; communicates concern during Dain's challenge match
  • BodhiSection leader and Xaden's cousin; attempts to intervene in Dain and Violet's match; supports Violet
  • Masen SanbornRecent graduate and one of the ten who flew to Resson; killed in attack on Eastern Wing
  • Cadet TreborThird Wing rider; argues dismissively about translated Tyrrish texts; chastised by Professor Devera
  • Professor EmetterioCombat professor who oversees the match between Dain and Violet
  • LiamMentioned as killed during Athebyne mission
  • SoleilMentioned as killed during Athebyne mission
  • CiaranThird Squad rider from Athebyne mission; mentioned as dead