Chapter 73

Violet and her group arrive at a temple to seek an audience with a queen, but the high priestess of Dunne demands they prove their worthiness through ritual combat. Xaden volunteers to fight a massive warrior named Costa, but the priestess unexpectedly cuts Dain's arm to bind him into the fight as well, and then cuts Violet's arm too, forcing her to participate in the battle.

The group approaches a grand temple structure where they encounter uniformed attendants and soldiers. Violet is startled to see a young girl with hair like hers—silver-tipped—among children being ushered inside, but Xaden urges her to focus on the immediate task. A commander of the guard and a high priestess emerge to greet them. When Aaric unexpectedly reveals he is fluent in Unnbrish and volunteers himself as their fighter to gain an audience, Xaden physically stops him, insisting he will fight instead because he is the strongest and Navarre needs Aaric alive. The commander accepts and summons three formidable warriors: Costa and Palta, massive twin brothers, and Marlis, a tall woman. Before the combat begins, the priestess cuts Xaden's forearm as a ritual payment to Dunne, the Goddess of War. The priestess then approaches Violet and notes that character is revealed in bloodshed. When Violet expresses her disagreement with this brutal test, the priestess deliberately cuts Dain's arm, binding him into the fight alongside Xaden. Aaric attempts to volunteer himself instead, but the priestess dismisses him, declaring Dunne has not chosen him. Dain accepts his fate. The priestess then evaluates each member of the group before finally cutting Violet's arm as well, unexpectedly forcing her into combat too. She reveals that Dunne's teachings require both the strongest and weakest warriors to be tested.