After the Assembly disperses, Violet confronts Brennan about his six-year absence. Brennan apologizes and explains that Naolin saved him at the cost of his own life, other dragons concealed them in Aretia, and his dragon Marbh survived. He stayed hidden to fight venin rather than return to Navarre’s lies, unwilling to face their mother’s justifications.

Studying a map, Brennan outlines rapid venin expansion marked by recent red and orange flags, predicting they will reach Navarre in six months via the Stonewater River. He confirms wyvern types, admits ignorance of their creation sites, and hears Violet assert wyvern are made by venin. He reveals iron lure boxes like Resson’s (and another in Jahna) bear Navarrian craftsmanship. Brennan suspects leadership hides the truth to maintain control; the rebels need the missing luminary to forge alloy weapons and are searching for the ancient weapon that ended venin in the Great War. He notes Aretia has a dormant wardstone, which Violet thinks might be better understood via the Archives, but Brennan warns the Archives are enemy territory.

Fearing Dain Aetos’s memory reading, Brennan withholds rebel details. Violet, not wanting to endanger them, pushes to leave. Outside, Sgaeyl bristles at Brennan as they approach Andarna. Violet discovers Andarna has rapidly grown into a black-scaled adolescent, losing her time-stopping gift and struggling with coordination; Tairn insists she must return to the Vale for Dreamless Sleep, and Bodhi says her harness needs modification.

Xaden arrives with Imogen, Garrick, Bodhi, and cadets Ciaran, Eya, and Masen. They debate returning to Basgiath: Violet argues General Sorrengail likely didn’t know about the War Games trap, while Brennan warns that Aetos and Dain threaten them. The group votes to return to protect marked cadets and keep weapons flowing, with only Xaden and Brennan withholding their hands. Xaden commits to training Violet to keep her shields up and plans to exploit Aetos’s pride to keep Dain’s hands off her. They must depart as soon as Andarna’s harness is ready and be back within forty-eight hours—by graduation.