Two days after the last confrontation, Violet joins her squad for flight maneuvers, dreading Varrish’s attention and Andarna’s conspicuous absence. Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc note Varrish’s unsettling control and Solas’s aggressiveness, while Violet offers partial truths that Andarna is resting and skipping advanced formations.

Varrish approaches and charges Violet with dereliction for Andarna’s absence, ordering her to fly with Carr for punishment. Tairn interposes, declaring dragons do not answer to humans. When Varrish insists Violet answers to him, Tairn lunges, bites Solas’s throat, and forces Varrish to admit humans lack authority to summon dragons and to apologize—on his knees—to Violet and her bonded. Tairn releases Solas; Varrish withdraws, seething, and Violet recognizes Solas as a new nemesis.

Three nights later, Violet is surprised her leave stands. Rhiannon presses about Varrish’s earlier “punishment” comment, and Violet admits he had weaponized signet training when Andarna missed maneuvers. They debate the Gauntlet: Rhiannon calls it needless slaughter, while Violet argues it taught her to find another way to survive despite injury.

The discussion erupts as Violet’s grief and rage spill out. She recounts witnessing deaths—Aurelie, Pryor, Jack Barlowe—and, most painfully, holding Liam as he died because Deigh was already gone. She asserts the Parapet, Gauntlet, and Presentation harden riders for worse horrors beyond Basgiath, then softens, apologizing at the devastation on Rhiannon’s face.

Tairn warns of “Solas’s rider” as Varrish and guards emerge, conduct a bag search, and leave with veiled threats. Rhiannon asks if this is normal; Violet says yes, tied to suspicion of Xaden’s name. They part with a fragile truce, Violet admitting nothing is all right.