Chapter Twenty-Two
Contains spoilersOverview
Violet wakes from a venin nightmare and, on the way to Basgiath’s forge with Xaden, is intercepted by Major Varrish for interrogation training. A tense standoff ends when Varrish threatens their leave and Sgaeyl compels Xaden to drop his shadow barrier. Violet is bound but passes Xaden a research lead.
Summary
Violet dreams of a hooded venin halting time, offering her a choice to join or die while a wave of death races toward Tairn and Andarna. Agony consumes her as he drains her energy, and she wakes shaken, dagger in hand.
On Saturday, Xaden leads Violet toward Basgiath’s forge, implicitly trusting her with the revolution’s secret. Violet reciprocates by sharing her research: the First Six personally carved the first wardstone, implying an Aretian counterpart. She believes she needs a firsthand account from one of the Six, like the text her father once saw.
In the stairwell, Major Varrish blocks them with Professor Grady and Ridoc, while riders escort Rhiannon and Sawyer bound for interrogation training. Xaden throws up a shadow barrier, arguing Violet is injured and on leave. Varrish taunts them, invokes Violet’s chain of command, and threatens to cancel next week’s leave.
To avoid the penalty that would strain Tairn and Sgaeyl, Violet reaches out to Sgaeyl, who pushes Xaden to relent. He drops the barrier, and Grady binds Violet’s hands carefully. Violet asks Xaden to return a book to the Archives and note a lead on page 304. As Grady leads her away, Xaden tells her, "You are unbreakable," and she repeats it, bracing for interrogation.
Who Appears
- Violet Sorrengail
Protagonist; wakes from a venin nightmare, shares wardstone research, and is seized for interrogation while injured.
- Xaden Riorson
Leads Violet toward the forge, raises a shadow barrier against Varrish, then relents; handles her book and encouragement.
- Major Varrish
Blocks the stairwell, orchestrates interrogation training, threatens to cancel leave to force compliance.
- Professor Grady
Genuinely concerned; binds Violet’s hands and escorts her to interrogation.
- Sgaeyl
Xaden’s dragon; reluctantly intervenes so Xaden will relent to protect their leave.
- Ridoc
Squadmate; arrives with Grady, warns Violet as the squad is rounded up.
- Rhiannon
Squadmate; escorted with hands bound for interrogation training.
- Sawyer
Squadmate; escorted with hands bound for interrogation training.
- Tairn
Violet’s dragon; endangered in Violet’s nightmare and a reason to preserve leave.
- Andarna
Young dragon; glimpsed in Violet’s nightmare, not meant to be there.
- Hooded venin
Nightmare antagonist; freezes Violet, demands she join or die, and drains her energy.