Chapter Fifteen

Summary

• The protagonist has failed a land navigation exercise with their group due to not verifying that their maps matched up.
• The group is lost and they have spent a night out in the wilderness with blistered feet and dealing with fatigue.
• An encounter with a dangerous Red Daggertail (presumably a creature) was averted because it chose to attack a cow instead of them.
• There is a reflection on the mortality rates of infantry in the upcoming war and an acknowledgment of the knowledge of unfamiliar names due to the high turnover in the units.
• Ridoc, another cadet, discusses the harshness of their current training and exercises.
• Cadet Dyre brings the protagonist dinner as a thank you for saving his life previously and speaks of a life debt owed.
• Rhiannon, the protagonist's friend and squad leader, ensures the protagonist takes rest instead of keeping watch, highlighting her concern for the protagonist's wellbeing.
• Rhiannon confronts the protagonist about their changed behavior and withdrawal from the group, offering support whenever the protagonist is ready to talk.
• The morning after, professors arrive with a convoy and criticize the group for failing to work together but also confirm the survival of most of the group.
• Professor Grady hints at another such outing in the future and implies it will be less challenging as they'll have supplies.
• After the exercise, the protagonist's connection with their dragon is restored, causing a rush of power and the feeling of being back to normal.
• There's tension in the air as the cadets discuss the implications of their bonds and signets being taken away and returned at the authority's discretion.
• Skepticism is voiced about the leadership's motivations for developing ways to potentially weaken the cadets by severing their connections to their dragons.
• Concerns about strange occurrences at their facility are shared among the cadets, including guarded infirmary doors and the development of elixirs to mute their bonds.
• The protagonist is harboring secrets that are causing strain in the friendship with Rhiannon, who is both patient and a problem solver.
• The chapter concludes with the protagonist and their dragon, Tairn, subtly addressing the issue of missing an individual named Xaden and a sense of foreboding about the future.