Chapter 93

Violet and Ridoc encounter six irid dragons on a beach, who reveal they can speak and recognize Andarna as one of their own. After Andarna recounts her entire story to them—including her bonding with Violet, her participation in Threshing, and her use of her juvenile power in battle—three irids reveal that Violet, not Andarna, was the true subject of their test, and declare that she has failed.

Violet draws a knife when an irid dragon speaks to her, shocking her since dragons shouldn't communicate with unbonded humans. Ridoc joins her as six irid dragons surround them, speaking to each other in a language they can understand because they are magic. Andarna rises to address them, and they respect her personal space when she asks them to back away. The irids marvel at Andarna's black resting color and call her 'the criterion,' causing them to flinch. When Tairn lands to protect Violet, followed by Aotrom, the irids clarify they mean no harm to the humans and have come only to speak with Andarna. They notice her scorpion tail—a feathertail, which surprises them since all six of them have feathertails, indicating she chose a non-standard form. The dragons lie down as Andarna tells them her entire story over several hours: her youth, Presentation, Threshing, bonding with Violet, her role in battles including War Games and Resson, channeling Violet's power, the Dreamless Sleep, and her current condition. The irids become silent when she mentions Violet channeling her power as a juvenile and being taken into war. When Andarna shows her damaged wing, they ask to speak privately in the ocean. Three irids depart into the sky while the other three return. Andarna asks if she passed a test, but the center male reveals the test was of Violet, not her. The female irid declares that Violet has failed, accusing her of using Andarna as a weapon, forcing her premature growth, and making her broken. The male adds that irids are born for peace, not violence, and that Violet represents humanity's failure to evolve away from weaponizing magic. He criticizes Tairn and Aotrom for arming their humans with power, and suggests Andarna has handed Violet something far more dangerous to wield.