Chapter Sixty
Contains spoilersOverview
In the shattered ward chamber, Jack is revealed as venin who planted lures across Basgiath and foretells an imminent horde. He drains Dain before being subdued with Nolon’s serum. Command organizes a grid defense; Mira shields their mother while Xaden rejoins Violet’s squad. Brennan and fliers arrive to hunt lures, and Violet’s squad is tasked to guard the wardstone chamber.
Summary
Amid the wreckage, Violet and Xaden see the wardstone split and Baide dead, leaving Navarre defenseless. Xaden binds Jack Barlowe in shadows as Jack exults and admits he turned venin within the wards by drawing power from the ground. He taunts that venin have already infiltrated, that a horde of greens is coming, and that he planted lures around Basgiath. Violet and Xaden aim to keep him alive for information.
When Jack starts draining the chamber’s stones, Dain grabs his head to pull memories, but Jack instead siphons Dain, burning gray handprints into Dain’s forearms. Xaden knocks Jack unconscious, and Nolon doses him with signet-blocking serum while Xaden cuts away Jack’s First Wing patch. Nolon confirms he has been attempting to “mend” Jack for months. With only 119 cadets and 10 leaders present, Dain estimates less than ten hours before the horde arrives.
In Battle Brief, tensions rise between Aretian and Basgiath cadets. Dain reveals the lure placements from Jack’s memories and assigns infantry to find and destroy them, while Devera drills tactics: never fight venin alone and expect mimicry. Assignments spread experience across squads; Mira argues she should shield their mother as a last line and recommends Xaden join Violet’s squad for maximum effectiveness. Kaori maps a grid defense of Basgiath and the Vale. Violet warns abandoning the wardstone is a mistake, but General Sorrengail rejects defending it and dismisses the room to rest.
Before dawn, Violet and Xaden’s quiet moment is cut short as Rhiannon and their squad arrive with Brennan and Poromiel fliers, including Cat. Brennan commits the fliers to hunting lures and to the defense. Though he doubts he can mend magic, Violet presses to defend the ward chamber so he can try. Rhiannon formally requests the mission, and General Sorrengail grants Second Squad, Flame Section, the airspace over the wardstone chamber.
Who Appears
- Violet Sorrengail
Protagonist; pushes to defend the wardstone, helps subdue Jack, and secures assignment to guard the chamber.
- Xaden Riorson
Binds and interrogates Jack with shadows; knocks him out; reassigned to Violet’s squad; struggles with urge to flee.
- Jack Barlowe
Revealed venin; killed Baide; planted lures; forecasts an oncoming horde; drains Dain before being drugged and captured.
- General Lilith Sorrengail
Leads Basgiath’s defense, assigns squads, initially refuses defending the wardstone, later approves guarding its airspace.
- Dain Aetos
Pulls Jack’s memories to find lures; partially drained by Jack; leads briefing and sets the urgent timeline.
- Nolon
Mender who had tried to ‘mend’ Jack for months; administers signet-blocking serum after Jack is subdued.
- Mira Sorrengail
Advocates optimal assignments; becomes their mother’s shield; recommends Xaden to protect Violet.
- Rhiannon
Squadmate who protects others, supports Violet, and formally requests the mission to guard the ward chamber.
- Brennan Sorrengail
Arrives with fliers; directs them to hunt lures; considers attempting to mend the wardstone; backs guarding the chamber.
- Devera
Co-leads briefing; instructs tactics against venin and organizes riders and support roles.
- Kaori
Projects an illusion map and divides the battlespace into grid sectors for defense.
- Andarna
Refuses to leave Violet, committing to fight alongside Tairn despite the looming battle.
- Tairn
Mourns Baide, warns the stakes have shifted, and stands ready to defend.
- Cat
Poromiel flier who commits to hunting lures and fighting alongside riders.