Chapter Twenty-Four

Summary

• The chapter opens with an excerpt from Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant, describing a phenomenon known as "burnout effect," where a successful squad suddenly collapses.
• The protagonist, Violet, is taken aback to see Dain, shocked at her injuries and calling her by name.
• Violet communicates with Xaden, indicating there's a problematic situation afoot and reinforcing mental shields with Tairn's help.
• Sawyer is confused by Dain's presence, but Ridoc expresses hope that Dain is there to advocate for Violet.
• Dain challenges the legality of an interrogation given Violet's injuries, but Varrish, an authority figure, insists on proceeding.
• There's a tension-filled exchange where Varrish suggests Dain use a classified ability called a "signet" on Violet to extract secrets, hinting at a bond between them.
• Varrish insinuates that Violet knows more than she's let on about an incident involving two marked individuals killed by gryphons.
• Violet and Dain have a history which makes him familiar yet strange to her.
• Under pressure from Varrish to use his signet for interrogation, Dain ultimately refuses and exits the room, dismissing the idea of interrogating an injured cadet.
• Violet is physically assaulted by Varrish, leading her to pass out from pain.
• When Violet comes to, she's being healed by Nolon, who informs her the interrogation has been extended and he's been ordered to remain nearby.
• Violet is adamant about keeping certain information secret, even when Nolon questions whether it's worth the torment.
• Nolon, who seems concerned, stages a conversation with Varrish to draw him away and deliberately leaves the chamber window unlocked.
• Rhiannon acknowledges the risk to Violet's life, and there's a shared urgency to escape.
• Ridoc, Sawyer, and Rhiannon all spring into action to help Violet escape, with Sawyer using some sort of heat-based ability to melt the door hinges.
• The group retrieves their weapons and makes their way to the main door, which is similarly locked and resistant to simple magical unlocking.
• Violet experiences a strange sensation from one of her knives which somehow unlocks the door, although she can't comprehend how it's possible.
• Rhiannon urges the group to escape quickly without pondering the inexplicable lock-opening further.