Chapter Thirty-Five

Violet reveals her secrets about Resson, the venin threat, and the assassination attempts to her squad—all except details that would endanger Aretia. Her friends react with support rather than anger, and together they begin researching how to create new wards. Meanwhile, Ridoc discovers reference to journals belonging to two of the First Six hidden in a sublevel vault. During Threshing, Violet is assigned tower watch and is attacked by four paid assassins on the academic wing turret; Eya is killed, and Violet is driven to the edge and nearly forced to fall before a mysterious savior intervenes.

Violet confides nearly everything to her squad—Rhiannon, Ridoc, and Sawyer—about Resson, Andarna, assassination attempts, the venin threat, and Navarre's knowledge of how to lure them. She withholds only details about where she woke up to protect Xaden, Brennan, and Aretia. Rather than anger, her friends respond with understanding and resolve, volunteering to help research ward creation in the Archives. Ridoc mentions discovering a reference to journals kept by Lyra and Warrick (two of the First Six) in a sublevel vault listed in a classified ledger. As weeks pass with limited contact between Violet and Xaden due to scheduled duties and patrols, the group searches for information but finds little. During Threshing, when new dragons bond with first-year riders, Violet is relieved to see both Sloane and Aaric survive the bonding. Ridoc receives a coded message from Jesinia indicating the vault has been found. While heading to tower watch on the academic wing turret, Violet encounters Eya and is suddenly attacked by four infantry soldiers acting as paid assassins. During the fight, the fire barrel is knocked across the turret; Eya is fatally wounded by one attacker. Outnumbered and cornered, Violet is forced to the tower's edge by the last remaining soldier. As he prepares to push her off, she dangles from a narrow lip of stone with no foothold below. Just as the assassin begins to force her hands free, a dagger is driven through his spine from behind, and he falls away.