Professor Grady leads Violet, Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc into a concealed interrogation facility beneath the Riders Quadrant. In a brief “classroom” window, he explains the capture-survival assessment, orders each to share a secret, and offers a patch for anyone who escapes. The squad eats but distrusts the drink. They swap controlled confessions—Rhiannon’s Montserrat rule-breaking, Sawyer hiding his repeat year from his parents, Ridoc’s fear of snakes—while Violet reveals that Poromish civilians are being killed at the border.

Violet recognizes the drink’s smell from land navigation and suspects it severs dragon links or dulls signets. On Rhiannon’s lead, they discreetly dump it and agree to feign disconnection, vowing to “hold the line.” Ridoc pushes for an early escape, but their signets aren’t suited to breach thick walls, and Violet can’t help in this setup.

“We’re always in scenario,” Grady warns before leaving them to outside interrogators. Rhiannon, Ridoc, and Sawyer are chained to a wall; Violet is shackled to a bolted chair. Two unremarkable riders begin the interrogation. The man claims a lie-detection signet; the woman singles out Violet as “weak,” slapping and then punching her, then beating Ridoc to pressure the group. They fail to sow division, so the interrogators withdraw to let fear and pain work.

Hours pass with more blows. Sawyer seems concussed. Near midnight, Violet briefly contacts Xaden mentally to check the time, then refocuses on the squad. The male interrogator returns, offering water in exchange for harmless personal details, insisting it “doesn’t count” as breaking. Each cadet refuses.

Vice Commandant Varrish arrives, dissatisfied with the slow progress. Declaring interrogation his specialty, he takes charge and escalates the scenario, summoning Wingleader Dain Aetos. Rhiannon and Violet recognize the danger, and the chapter ends with Dain’s entrance, signaling a harsher, faster attempt to crack the squad.