Chapter 62
Chapter 135
Overview
Violet confronts Theophanie on a rain-soaked field and narrowly escapes her desiccating magic by climbing a wyvern carcass. After being captured and dropped by Sgaeyl, Tairn retrieves her, and together they mount a coordinated defense against a massive horde of wyvern approaching Draithus. Violet uses lightning strikes to thin the enemy forces before Tairn pursues Theophanie, who retreats into the mountains after creating a tornado aimed at the city.
Summary
Violet faces Theophanie in direct combat on an open field during a storm. The Maven threatens to drain Violet's magic by desiccating the ground beneath her feet, but Violet escapes by climbing a dead wyvern carcass. Sgaeyl then captures and drops Violet mid-air, but Tairn catches her and brings her to his back. Once mounted, Violet gains Tairn's enhanced farsight and surveys the battlefield: over a hundred wyvern approach the city gates with eleven venin-carrying wyvern behind them, including Theophanie on an exceptionally large mount. Tairn and Violet coordinate an aerial defense, with Violet drawing massive amounts of power and striking repeatedly with lightning, killing dozens of wyvern. Despite her efforts, some wyvern breach the city airspace. Violet and Tairn then engage two venin in direct combat, killing one ice wielder while the other retreats. Theophanie retreats into the mountains but spawns a tornado aimed at Draithus's northern edge. Reinforcements arrive from Zehyllna—a thousand soldiers led by Molvic—though they won't reach the city for half an hour. Violet notices Cuir (ridden by someone other than Bodhi) launching into the fray and loses mental contact with Xaden through a wall of black ice. Tairn commands Violet to focus on one objective: killing Theophanie. Violet agrees and directs Tairn to pursue the Maven into the mountains.
Characters
- VioletLightning wielder confronting Theophanie in combat, then mounted on Tairn, conducting aerial defense against wyvern horde and pursuing Theophanie
- TheophanieMaven and antagonist wielding desiccation and storm magic; creates a tornado threatening Draithus before retreating to the mountains
- TairnViolet's dragon providing aerial support, enhanced farsight, and pursuit of Theophanie; commands the riot to ground and maintain focus on their objective
- XadenShadow wielder in combat elsewhere; maintains bond with Violet but becomes unreachable through black ice barrier
- SgaeylDragon that captures and drops Violet into the air, later withdrawing from Xaden's vicinity
- DraithusBesieged city threatened by wyvern horde and tornado; location of the main battle
- GlaneRider on gryphon providing air defense on northern wall; launches toward Cuir despite shelter orders
- CathRider on gryphon in formation on northern wall providing air defense
- CuirGryphon flown into combat by an unspecified rider (not Bodhi as expected)
- RhiSquad member tasked with stopping wyvern before they reach the pass
- MolvicThe Spare; arrives from southern valley leading advance party of a thousand soldiers and horses from Zehyllna as reinforcements
- BrennanCaring for Teine at the top of the pass
- TeineRecovering under Brennan's care at the top of the pass
- MiraConfirmed alive during events of the chapter
- KaoriReferenced as leading orders to occupy or kill Theophanie