Chapter 45
Chapter 101
Overview
Violet awakens from a nightmare about Theophanie and faces a new training maneuver requiring riders to dismount mid-flight, attack a target, and remount their dragons. She successfully completes the exercise with Tairn in an unorthodox but effective manner, gives Xaden a birthday gift (a wrist cuff made from Riorson House stone), and learns that the protective wards are failing faster than expected—wyvern are penetrating farther into the barrier each time.
Summary
Violet wakes from a vivid nightmare in which Theophanie attacks her while Andarna burns civilians below. She calms herself by remembering the Sage is dead and focusing on Xaden through their bond. She finds the silk nightgown Xaden secretly purchased for her before they left to search the isles. That morning, Kaori and Xaden teach a new combat maneuver requiring riders to dismount from flying dragons, attack a ground target, and remount. Bodhi demonstrates flawlessly. Several cadets are injured attempting the exercise. Violet notices Andarna withdrawing from her emotionally. During Violet's turn, Tairn descends at a dangerous angle, forcing her to leap from his claw mid-air and plummet before he catches her. She lands safely, strikes the projection with lightning, and successfully remounts—completing the exercise in an unorthodox way. Afterward, Violet gives Xaden his birthday gift: a black onyx wrist cuff containing a piece of stone from the damaged turret of Riorson House, symbolizing their future together. Xaden reveals through dark circles and his words that he has been secretly tracking wyvern incursions through the wards. Felix arrives from Aretia with letters and urgent news: two wyvern penetrated the wards the day before, traveling about ten minutes farther than they did the previous week. The wards are failing, and Felix insists on resuming Violet's training immediately, indicating the timeline may be shorter than a month.
Characters
- VioletThe protagonist; completes the new aerial combat maneuver despite danger, gives Xaden a birthday gift, and learns of the deteriorating wards
- XadenTeaches the new maneuver with Kaori; receives Violet's birthday gift; reveals he has been tracking wyvern incursions and is struggling with emotional control
- TairnViolet's dragon; executes the unorthodox aerial maneuver, launching and catching Violet mid-air
- AndarnaYoung dragon; withdraws emotionally from Violet and leaves the training area early
- KaoriInstructor who lectures on the new maneuver alongside Xaden
- KaoriLeads First Squad through the maneuver training; several cadets under his instruction are injured
- BodhiXaden's cousin; demonstrates the maneuver flawlessly on his first attempt
- Rhiannon (Rhi)Squad leader; completes the maneuver successfully with her dragon Feirge
- SawyerCadet between Sliseag's claws during the maneuver training
- CuirGreen Swordtail dragon; struggles with the tight turn and damages boulders during the maneuver
- FeirgeRhiannon's dragon; executes a perfect running landing during training
- RidocCadet who uses ice signet during the maneuver and executes a showy somersault
- AotromRidoc's dragon; successfully catches Ridoc during the maneuver
- ImogenCadet who attempts the maneuver
- QuinnCadet who attempts the maneuver
- BaylorCadet who skins his knee during landing
- AvalynnCadet who fractures her collarbone during the maneuver
- SloaneCadet who completes the entire exercise with grace
- LynxCadet whose landing results in a broken nose and face full of mud
- AaricCadet who completes the maneuver and then throws an axe at Kaori as a challenge or display
- MolvicAaric's dragon
- FelixArrives from Aretia with provincial letters for Xaden and urgent news of failing wards; demands to resume Violet's training immediately
- BrennanMentioned as having made the onyx cuff from a piece of Riorson House turret
- JesiniaMentioned as having handed Violet the silk nightgown package
- NolonMentioned as a mender Violet prefers to avoid