Chapter Twenty-Five

Violet's squad arrives exhausted at Samara fortress after a twenty-two-hour flight to find it damaged from a recent wyvern attack. When they learn that the nearby village of Newhall—where Maren's family has fled—is under attack by venin and being abandoned by the riders due to lack of resources, the squad votes unanimously to mount a rescue mission despite their exhaustion and cadet status.

The squad reports to Lieutenant Colonel Degrensi, who informs them that fighting at Samara has ended but casualties remain high. He refuses to send cadets into battle and warns Violet to keep Tairn hidden to avoid drawing enemy attention. After learning that Newhall still stands as of that morning, the group finds refuge in Xaden's warded chamber at the fortress. Violet awakens from a traumatic nightmare in which she searches for a painting of her family while Cat tries to drag her from a burning room; in the dream, the painting itself catches fire and becomes her burning parents. While the squad prepares to make themselves useful around the fortress, they overhear two riders discussing an imminent attack on Newhall. When Maren reveals her family is there, the riders explain that the village is too small to justify risking more casualties—a strategic but callous decision. Maren's panic over her family's fate prompts the squad to vote on a rescue mission. Despite Rhi's hesitation about the unknowns and risks, all squad members vote in favor, and she agrees to lead them.