CHAPTER TWO

Summary

• The protagonist, Violet Sorrengail, must traverse a treacherous parapet during a storm as part of her training to become a rider.
• Competitors are not typically out to assassinate one another, but a rivalry between Violet and a competitor named Jack intensifies the tension.
• Jack is characterized as violent and unstable, seen when he pushes one competitor to his death during the challenge.
• Violet begins the challenge with dread, especially as she's aware that her friend Dylan is already dead, and she's targets because her mother is General Sorrengail.
• While moving along the parapet, Violet tries to distract herself from the height and dangerous conditions by recalling facts and history related to her kingdom, Navarre, and its centuries-old war against the Poromiel kingdom.
• Jack pursues and threatens Violet during the challenge, but despite her fear, she arrives safely on the other side, where she points a dagger at Jack, ultimately sparing him.
• Upon her arrival, Violet learns from fellow riders that if Jack were to harm her here, he'd be executed; his assaults must take place in the training ring or while unsupervised.
• Jack threatens to kill Violet as he steps into the courtyard, exchanging his first threat upon her with a more personal one after she decides to spare his life.