Chapter Thirty-Nine
Contains spoilersOverview
Mira punches Brennan, igniting a family confrontation before Violet declares she can raise Aretia’s wards. She leads six powerful riders in a blood ritual at the hidden wardstone, but it fails. Leadership shifts to pursuing a luminary from Tecarus, while Xaden refuses to risk Violet, prompting her to seek another route.
Summary
In Riorson House, Brennan bleeds from a broken nose after Mira punches him for letting family believe he was dead. Amid the argument, Brennan orders Ulices to deploy riders to scout Tyrrish outposts and quietly process new arrivals. Violet cuts through the fight, and when Xaden arrives, she announces she needs the blood of the six strongest riders because she knows how to raise the wards.
Hours later, Violet, Bodhi, and the Assembly hike to a masked chamber housing Aretia’s wardstone. En route, they debate Tecarus’s terms: aid on demand, arming seaside drifts first, and seeing Violet wield in exchange for a luminary. Xaden warns Tecarus would keep Violet as a weapon and refuses to allow it; Violet is willing, but he is not.
Before the massive black pillar, the six deemed most powerful—Xaden, Felix, Suri, Bodhi, Violet, and Brennan—cut their palms and press blood to the stone. Nothing happens. Suri quits first, the others follow, and Violet confronts crushing failure. Xaden steadies her, insisting she will try again. Discussion returns to the luminary, with Ulices pushing increased weapons for Tecarus, Bodhi suggesting the stone may be broken, and Felix scheduling training to develop Violet’s signet.
Violet demands Xaden take her to Tecarus; he refuses. She storms out, Brennan trailing and recalling her lifelong stubbornness. Violet reaches for Tairn—Andarna chimes in—and Tairn grudgingly agrees to consider it. In the great hall, Violet approaches Mira and asks for help.
Who Appears
- Violet Sorrengail
Mediator between siblings; proposes and leads the wardstone blood ritual; it fails; seeks Tecarus; asks Tairn and Mira for help.
- Brennan Sorrengail
Revealed lieutenant colonel; nose broken by Mira; argues, orders scouting, joins the six, supports Violet, follows her afterward.
- Xaden Riorson
Arrives and reassures Violet; one of the six at the stone; rejects Tecarus’s terms to protect Violet; vows she’ll try again.
- Mira Sorrengail
Furious at Brennan for faking death; breaks his nose; later becomes the person Violet asks for help.
- Ulices
Assembly member; receives orders to deploy scouts; presses negotiations with Tecarus, including offering more weapons.
- Suri
One of the six; skeptical and impatient; quits the blood ritual first; urges focus on acquiring a luminary.
- Bodhi
One of the six at the wardstone; suggests the stone might be broken; supports Violet.
- Kylynn
Assembly leader present on the hike; challenges plans around Tecarus; later lectures Xaden.
- Felix
One of the six; assesses Violet’s control and commits to training her signet starting tomorrow.
- Tairn
Violet’s dragon; begrudgingly agrees to consider her plan to reach Tecarus.
- Andarna
Comments on Violet’s plan; present in the mental exchange with Tairn.