AFTERWORD

Chapter 63

Chapter 75

Overview

Violet must choose between protecting Basgiath's wards or her mother's home as the Sage descends on the battlefield. She learns that Andarna is a seventh breed of dragon and races to the ward chamber to imbue the stone, only to discover her mother is willing to sacrifice herself through a siphon's power to complete the task.

Summary

At Codagh's approach, Violet faces a critical decision: she can only raise wards at either Basgiath or Xaden's home. Xaden chooses Basgiath, declaring Violet is his home. Before departing, Violet confronts Codagh and confirms a secret he has been keeping about dragonkind. She races through the fortress to the ward chamber, where she begins imbuing the wardstone with Tairn's power. Andarna arrives and reveals herself to be a seventh breed of dragon, not truly black like Tairn, and that she has hidden this for centuries waiting to bond with Violet. As Violet pushes toward burnout attempting to imbue the massive stone alone, her mother arrives and reveals she killed Sloane Mairi's mother and could have prevented Liam's death. She forces Sloane, a siphon, to place her hands on the wardstone, positioning herself as a conduit for her own power (channeled through Aimsir, her dragon) to flow into the stone. Violet realizes Xaden is dying on the battlefield through their bond connection. Her mother completes the power transfer, sacrificing her life to Sloane's siphon signet, collapsing as the wards activate—marked by a black iron flame burning atop the wardstone. Violet's family grieves as Andarna shields them from the dragon fire above, and they retreat through the tunnel.

Characters

  • Violet SorrengailProtagonist attempting to imbue the wardstone; discovers Andarna's true nature and witnesses her mother's sacrifice
  • Xaden RiorsonFighting the Sage at Basgiath's gates; dying on the battlefield, communicates final emotions through bond with Violet
  • CodaghLarge dragon whom Violet confronts to confirm a secret about dragonkind; agrees to contribute fire to the wardstone
  • TairnViolet's bonded dragon; provides power for imbuing; warns Violet of her burnout and expresses distress over her condition
  • SgaeylXaden's bonded dragon; fighting in the sky above the battlefield
  • AndarnaViolet's younger bonded dragon; reveals herself as a seventh breed of dragon with scales that shift colors; lands in the chamber to support Violet
  • Violet's Mother (Melgren's colleague)Arrives at the ward chamber; forces siphon Sloane to channel her power into the wardstone; sacrifices her life through the process
  • Brennan SorrengailViolet's brother; mends Violet's injuries from burnout; grieves their mother's death
  • Mira SorrengailViolet's sister; arrives at the chamber and grieves their mother's sacrifice
  • Sloane MairiFirst-year siphon forced by Violet's mother to be a conduit for her power into the wardstone; unwillingly participates in the sacrifice
  • AaricFirst-year who restrains Violet to prevent her from stopping Sloane and her mother; helps guide survivors from the chamber
  • MelgrenMentioned; Violet gives orders regarding the fliers and gryphons in battle
  • The SageVenin teacher and dark wielder fighting Xaden at the gates; backing Xaden toward the ravine
  • LynxFirst-year guard in the tunnel; moves aside to let Violet pass
  • BaylorFirst-year guard in the tunnel; moves aside to let Violet pass