AFTERWORD

Chapter 4

Chapter Nine

Overview

Violet, Xaden, and their surviving squad members return to the Riders Quadrant alive, shocking everyone who had been told they were dead. They present a cover story about being attacked by gryphons to explain the deaths of Liam, Soleil, and their dragons, while concealing the truth about encountering marked ones. Violet's mother believes her account and dismisses Colonel Aetos's suspicions, effectively protecting them, though Aetos privately accuses them of lying. The chapter concludes with graduation ceremonies, where newly commissioned lieutenants depart and the surviving first-years are promoted to second-year status.

Summary

Violet and Xaden walk across the courtyard with their squad to confront the discovery of their names on the death roll. Captain Fitzgibbons and Commandant Panchek are shocked to see them alive. When questioned, Colonel Aetos claims they were reported dead after being missing for six days, then attempts to blame them for desertion and dereliction of duty. Xaden accuses Aetos of sending them into combat, prompting Violet's mother, General Sorrengail, to demand answers. Xaden presents the cover story: they were attacked by gryphons at a lake near Athebyne, resulting in the deaths of riders Liam Mairi and Soleil Telery and their dragons Deigh and Fuil. Violet corroborates the account, describing holding Liam as he died and being poisoned. She claims they found Athebyne's outpost deserted with orders directing them to either guard a village or race to Eltuval, which Xaden interprets as a trap unrelated to legitimate War Games. The general accepts their account and severely reprimands Aetos for misusing the outpost. Privately, Aetos confronts them, insisting they're lying and that gryphons couldn't have killed two dragons, but Xaden counters by threatening to report him to General Melgren, revealing Aetos understands the limits of what Melgren can confirm regarding marked ones. When Dain Aetos attempts to comfort Violet, she threatens him violently and publicly rejects him. Xaden deliberately outs their relationship to the quadrant, making a menacing reference to Athebyne that terrifies Dain into silence. During the graduation ceremony, newly commissioned third-year lieutenants receive their orders and depart. Xaden is called last, and as he leaves, Violet panics at the thought of his departure by morning, though he promises to find her beforehand. The ceremony concludes with the surviving first-years—Violet, Imogen, Rhiannon, Quinn, and Ridoc—being promoted to second-year status.

Characters

  • Violet SorrengailProtagonist; a first-year rider who corroborates the gryphon attack cover story with her mother and publicly rejects Dain Aetos's advances
  • Xaden RiorsonThird-year wingleader; presents the cover story to leadership, threatens Colonel Aetos, publicly claims Violet as his, and receives graduation orders
  • General SorrengailViolet's mother and commanding general; questions the cadets, believes their account, confronts Colonel Aetos, and dismisses his accusations
  • Colonel AetosDain's father and acting wingleader; initially reports the squad dead, attempts to blame them for desertion, and privately accuses them of lying before being threatened with exposure
  • Captain FitzgibbonsScribe assigned to the Riders Quadrant; drops the death roll in shock at seeing the cadets alive and later adjusts it per the general's orders
  • Commandant PanchekMilitary commander of the Riders Quadrant; sits on the dais during the confrontation and later conducts the graduation ceremony
  • Dain AetosSquad leader and second-year rider; attempts to comfort Violet, is publicly threatened by her and Xaden, and retreats from confrontation
  • JesiniaDeaf cadet and Violet's former study companion; retrieves the death roll and signs her happiness at Violet's survival
  • Liam MairiFallen first-year rider; died from gryphon wounds; mentioned as being killed during the Athebyne incident
  • Soleil TeleryFallen third-year rider; killed during the gryphon attack at Athebyne
  • ImogenSecond-year rider in Violet's squad; present during the confrontation and later celebrates promotion with the group
  • RhiannonSecond-year rider in Violet's squad; expresses grief over War Games losses and supports Violet
  • QuinnSecond-year rider in Violet's squad; celebrates reunion with Imogen and the group's survival
  • RidocSecond-year rider in Violet's squad; comments on the underwhelming nature of the graduation ceremony
  • GarrickWingsecond; whispers encouragement to Violet to steady her breathing during the confrontation
  • SawyerSecond-year rider in Violet's squad; hugs Violet after the ceremony
  • NadineSecond-year rider in Violet's squad; comments on the dramatic confrontation between Violet, Xaden, and Dain
  • HeatonSecond-year rider called up for graduation orders
  • EmerySecond-year rider called up for graduation orders
  • Aura BeinhavenThird-year rider noted as instrumental in Second Wing's War Games victory and prospective new wingleader
  • TairnViolet's dragon; communicates with her telepathically during the confrontation
  • SgaeylXaden's dragon; mentioned as having a mating bond with Tairn