Chapter Fifty-Nine
Contains spoilersOverview
Violet leads Fourth Wing to Basgiath, confronting General Sorrengail and forcing an inspection of the wards. In the ward chamber, Jack Barlowe, riding a corrupted Baide, ambushes them. Ridoc is burned defending the squad, and Jack kills Baide, whose blood extinguishes the wardstone’s black flames. The wardstone breaks, and Navarre’s wards fall.
Summary
Preparing to depart, Violet argues Andarna must be harnessed to travel the eighteen-hour flight, despite the dragon’s pride. Maren gifts Violet a compact crossbow with maorsite bolts. The Assembly refuses to join, and first-years are denied. Rhiannon keeps Second Squad intact, and the force launches for Basgiath.
Approaching Morraine, they encounter no patrols, split by plan, and Andarna detaches for the Vale. Violet and Xaden land in Basgiath’s main courtyard and confront General Sorrengail and Nolon. Violet insists the true attack targets Basgiath’s wards; after tense exchanges, the general agrees to inspect them. Dain leads them through a hidden passage beneath the administration building.
Chradh senses dangerous runes; in the tunnel they find two freshly slain guards. The squad sprints toward the ward chamber. A scorpiontail sweeps the entrance, forcing Xaden to yank Violet back with shadows. Inside, the wardstone—larger than Aretia’s and etched with a diamond interruption—is topped with sputtering black flames, and Baide emerges with opaque eyes, knocking the general unconscious.
Jack Barlowe appears on Baide. When Baide breathes fire, Ridoc raises a wall of ice, shielding the squad but searing his hands. Splitting left and right, Violet and Xaden round the wardstone to see Jack climb Baide’s neck and drive a blade through her throat. Jack shields against Xaden’s shadows as Baide’s blood sprays across the wardstone, snuffing the black flames.
The wardstone tips and cracks as it collapses. Violet’s thrown dagger strikes Jack amid the chaos, but the critical hum of the ward ceases. The chamber falls silent with the shattering of the stone, and Navarre’s wards fail at solstice, confirming Violet’s fears and drastically escalating the stakes.
Who Appears
- Violet Sorrengail
Leads her squad to Basgiath, confronts her mother, descends to the wardstone, and witnesses the wards fall.
- Xaden Riorson
Covers Violet with shadows, pulls Mira and the general to safety, and fights Jack in the ward chamber.
- General Lilith Sorrengail
Initially resists, then agrees to inspect the wards; Baide knocks her unconscious in the chamber.
- Jack Barlowe
Antagonist riding Baide; kills Baide so her blood quenches the wardstone’s black fire, collapsing the wards.
- Baide
Dragon with opaque eyes guarding the wardstone; attacks the squad and is slain by Jack.
- Dain Aetos
Guides the group to the hidden ward passage; flanks during the chamber fight.
- Mira Sorrengail
Supports Violet, pressures their mother, charges the chamber, then is dragged back to safety.
- Ridoc
Raises an ice barrier against Baide’s fire, saving the squad but severely burning his hands.
- Rhiannon Lawson
Insists the squad stays intact, aids Ridoc, and coordinates protection at the tunnel entrance.
- Andarna
Argues about being carried, travels harnessed with Tairn, then detaches to protect the Vale.
- Tairn
Carries Andarna, lands Violet at Basgiath, and coordinates with other dragons during the operation.
- Sgaeyl
Lands in sequence with Tairn and helps coordinate the dragons during insertion.
- Nolon
Mender at Basgiath; Xaden threatens him to keep away from Violet.
- Maren
Gryphon rider who gifts Violet a maorsite-bolted crossbow before departure.
- Cat
Gryphon rider accompanying Maren; frustrated at staying behind.
- Sawyer
Squadmate guarding the tunnel entrance during the wardstone inspection.
- Imogen
Squadmate who helps guard the tunnel entrance as others advance.