Chapter Two

Summary

• The chapter takes place in the valley above Riorson House, recognized for its thermal energy and hatching grounds of the Dubhmadinn Line of dragons, particularly Codagh and Tairn.
• The protagonist and Brennan are having a private reunion after believing Brennan was dead for six years.
• Brennan reveals he let the protagonist believe he was dead because it was necessary, leading to strained emotions between them.
• They recall past memories, noting changes in each other, and Brennan expresses relief at hearing the protagonist survived a dangerous event known as Threshing.
• Brennan and the protagonist discuss Mira, their involvement in conflicts, and the scars and secrets that they each carry.
• There's tension around Brennan not revealing his survival to Mira and other loved ones.
• The protagonist is curious about Brennan's survival, his whereabouts, his choice not to return home, and the fate of a dragon named Marbh.
• Brennan explains his survival and that he has been fighting in secret with other dragons and civilians against dark wielders.
• The chapter unveils a conflict involving expanding territories marked by red and orange flags, representing new battle sites and the threat from wyvern produced by venin.
• Brennan and the protagonist discuss tactics, with Brennan skeptical of the leadership's ability to protect against the growing venin and wyvern threat.
• The protagonist explores the concept of a second wardstone and the potential to create new wards to protect cities beyond Navarre's borders.
• Brennan discredits the idea of ancient knowledge helping in their current situation, focusing on the need for weapons made from a luminary that intensifies dragonfire.
• Brennan warns against diving too deep into the revolution's details, highlighting the need for security against memory readers.
• The protagonist fears for their safety and the liability of knowing too much, expressing urgency in returning to Basgiath to protect others.
• A grand reveal that a character named Andarna, previously a small gold-feathered hatchling, has rapidly grown to an adolescent black dragon due to an overuse of power.
• Andarna's growth has potential dangers as she is now an adolescent dragon with a strong and unpredictable nature.
• The protagonist and Xaden have an unspoken, troubled love dynamic, with a history of hidden truths and emotional wounds.
• Xaden arrives with reinforcements, and the group debates the risks of returning to Basgiath to continue their fight and protect their allies.
• There is distrust in the intentions of General Sorrengail, the protagonist's mother, and a discussion on whether she would act against her own child.
• The consensus is to return to Basgiath despite risks, with a plan to avoid detection and strengthen the protagonist's mental shields.
• The chapter concludes with a sense of urgency to modify Andarna's harness due to her new size and to execute Xaden's plan, which is tied to Graduation happening in forty-eight hours.