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The following text has been faithfully transcribed from Navarrian into the modern language by Jesinia Neilwart, Curator of the Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath War College. All events are true, and names have been preserved to honor the courage of those fallen. May their souls be commended to Malek.
Haven’t even started yet and the drama is at level 1,000,000
Basgiath War College isn’t known for being kind to…well, anyone, even those of us whose mothers are in command.
Is she saying her mom is in command but she only trained for 6 months? I know I’m on pg 1 but clearly I’m missing something.
Poromiel and their gryphon riders.
Fuuuuuuck already struggling with the names🤣
I don’t need the prohibited power of mind reading to know exactly what she sees.
“It’s like that fever stole all your coloring along with your strength.” Grief flashes through her eyes and her brows furrow. “I told him not to keep you in that library.” It’s not the first time I’ve heard her curse the sickness that nearly killed her while she was pregnant with me or the library Dad made my second home once she’d been stationed here at Basgiath as an instructor and he as a scribe.
“Stay the hell away from Xaden Riorson.” The air rushes from my lungs. That name… “That Xaden Riorson,” she confirms, fear lacing her gaze. “He’s a third-year, and he will kill you the second he finds out who you are.” “His father was the Great Betrayer. He led the rebellion,” I say quietly. “What is Xaden doing here?” “All the children of the leaders were conscripted as punishment for their parents’ crimes,”
Welp i know that doesn’t happen 😏 sooo she basically doesn’t take any of her sister’s advice. Oops.
blatantly ignoring Mira’s earlier suggestion that I avoid friendships and only forge alliances.
That didn’t take long. Soooo where’s Xaden???
He’s tall, with windblown black hair and dark brows. The line of his jaw is strong and covered by warm tawny skin and dark stubble, and when he folds his arms across his torso, the muscles in his chest and arms ripple, moving in a way that makes me swallow. And his eyes… His eyes are the shade of gold-flecked onyx. The contrast is startling, jaw-dropping even—everything about him is. His features are so harsh that they look carved, and yet they’re astonishingly perfect, like an artist worked a lifetime sculpting him, and at least a year of that was spent on his mouth.
Guessing from the whole paragraph dedicated to his “astonishingly perfect”, sculpted like an artist features… this is Xaden😏 Totes not taking her sisters advice now!
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“Sorrengail?” He steps toward me, and I look up…and up.
Lolololololololol it took all of 42 seconds for him to find her
Xaden sucks in a deep breath, and the muscle in his jaw flexes once. Twice. “Your mother captured my father and oversaw his execution.” Wait. Like he has the only right to hatred here? Rage races through my veins. “Your father killed my older brother. Seems like we’re even.”
… should we really be doing this now?
I’ve always loved the nights where storms beat against the fortress window, both illuminating and throwing shadows over the books
“You’re dead, Sorrengail, and I’m going to be the one to kill you.”
2nd read: after IF this makes me sooooo nervous about any sort of foreshadowing.
“I’m not saying you didn’t just kick absolute ass by getting here, Vi. But you have to leave. You’ll break the first time they put you in the sparring ring, and that’s before the dragons sense that you’re…” He shakes his head and looks away, his jaw clenching. “I’m what?” My hackles rise. “Go ahead and say it. When they sense I’m less than the others? Is that what you mean?” “Damn it.” He rakes his hand over his close-cropped light-brown curls. “Stop putting words in my mouth. You know what I mean.
2nd read: god Dain is the fucking worst immediately
The very breath freezes in my lungs. We’re moving to Fourth Wing. Xaden’s wing. It takes a minute, maybe two, and we take our place in the new formation. I force myself to breathe. There’s a fucking smirk on Xaden’s arrogant, handsome face. I’m now entirely at his mercy, a subordinate in his chain of command. He can punish me however he likes for the slightest infraction, even imaginary ones.
THIS IS AMAZING.
Even King Tauri’s second son died during his Threshing.
2nd read: Didn’t Xaden kill him??? Pretty sure Aric said Xaden killed him but Xaden said he deserved it.
A bird whistles to the left, and I look over the crowd, my heart leaping because I immediately recognize the tone. Dain. The call sounds again, and I narrow it down to somewhere near the door to the rotunda. He’s standing at the top of the wide staircase, and the second our eyes lock, he motions toward the door with a subtle nod.
Once Xaden finds out about their relationship, he will destroy them probably…
He’s been using that signal since we were kids living near the Krovlan border while our parents were stationed there with the Southern Wing.
2nd read: i think they were stationed here during the uprising which would mean Mama Sorrengail would likely come into contact with venin but most definitely knew of their existence .
Dain steps forward and cups my face, his thumb stroking over my cheekbone in a soothing motion.
2nd read: UGH THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE TAKES MEMORIES THE BASTARD
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and a chill races down my spine as I cross the center of the rotunda, then my steps halt. Cadets move around me, but my eyes are drawn upward, toward the top of the steps that lead to the gathering hall. Oh shit. Xaden Riorson is watching me with narrowed eyes, the sleeves of his uniform rolled up his massive arms that remain folded across his chest, the warning in his relic-covered arm on full display as a third-year next to him says something that he blatantly ignores.
I SO CALLED IT! AGAIN IT TOOK 6 MINUTES FOR XADEN TO FIND OUT
“I already knew your parents are tight,” Xaden calls out, a cruel smile tilting his lips. “But do you two have to be so fucking obvious?”
FR tho
All the women are dressed similarly now, though the cuts of their leathers are chosen by preference. The guys are mostly shirtless because they think shirts give their opponent something to grab onto. Personally, I’m not arguing with their logic, just enjoying the view…respectfully,
Lawl
“Pulling your punches does her a disservice,” Dain says, folding his arms. “The Cygnis on the northeast border aren’t going to give her any quarter because she’s a woman if she falls from her dragon behind enemy lines, Ridoc. They’ll kill her just the same.”
DAIN! Is this the advice he’s going to give to whoever is against Violet? STFU bro!
My brother, Brennan, was a mender—and would have become one of the greatest had he lived.
2nd read: maybe Brennan will help come up with a “Cure” for venin. We know Nolan was unsuccessful with Jack
“Just. This. Once.” I concentrate on every word. “If. The others. See I need. Mending. Allthetime, they’ll. Think. I’m weak.” “Which is why we have to use this opportunity to get you out!” Panic rises in Dain’s voice, and my heart sinks.
2nd read: fuuuuck Dain is the ugliest drama queen in basgiath
“You learn what they teach you,” Xaden says to the first-year, his voice taking a hard edge. “Keep what you know but recite whatever they tell you to.” My brow furrows. What the hell does he mean by that?
2nd read: Totally different meaning the second read.
Zihnal must have a soft spot for me, because I’m the luckiest woman on the Continent— A shadow lunges behind me and I open my mouth to scream, but my air supply is cut off by an elbow around my neck as I’m yanked against a hard chest. “Scream and you die,” he whispers, and my stomach plummets as the elbow is replaced by the sharp bite of a dagger at my throat.
LOL JK.
2nd read: yes. Take me away xaddy 😬
He scoffs. “I command shadows, but sure, it was your perfume that gave you away.” He lowers the knife and steps away. I gasp. “Your signet is a shadow wielder?” No wonder he’s risen so high in rank. Shadow wielders are incredibly rare and highly coveted in battle, able to disorient entire drifts of gryphons, if not take them down, depending upon the signet’s strength. “What, Aetos hasn’t warned you not to get caught alone in the dark with me yet?”
SHADOW DADDY LETS GOOOO
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“Fascinating. You look all frail and breakable, but you’re really a violent little thing, aren’t you?” An
Choose violence
He looks at me like he’s trying to see through me, and ice prickles my scalp.
Dain squeezes my hand gently. “Just steer clear of him.” I blink. The advice is so different from Xaden’s throw-a-few-daggers-at-his-head approach.
She definitely should go for the daggers.
“She’s a Blue Daggertail, the rarest of the blues, and yes, if you see her without her bonded rider, you should…definitely find somewhere else to be. Ruthless does not begin to describe her, nor does she abide by what we assume to be what the dragons consider law. She even bonded the relative of one of her previous riders, which you all know is typically forbidden, but Sgaeyl does whatever she wants, whenever she wants. In fact, if you see any of the blues, don’t approach them. Just…”
But since we have him up here, what can you tell me about black dragons?” “They’re the smartest and most discerning,” Aurelie calls out. “They’re the rarest,” I add in.
This has to be Violet’s dragon right?
Professor Kaori glances at me for a heartbeat before looking away. “He attempted to use that power to revive a fallen rider—which didn’t work, because there’s no signet capable of resurrection—and depleted himself in the process. To use a phrase you’ll become accustomed to after Threshing, he burned out and died next to that rider.”
2nd read: Theory- Naolin did not die but became venin because Brennan is NOT dead! So there is no reason for him to try to revive Brennan. Tairn has not said anything regarding his last rider Naolin to Violet so its not entirely unrealistic Naolin wanted to draw more power than Tairn could provide and being venin was the answer to that problem.
“Which was Naolin?” “A little bit of both. And sometimes it’s hard for a rider with a signet that powerful to accept his limits. After all, bonding makes you a rider, but resurrecting someone from the dead? Now, that makes you a god. I somehow don’t think that Malek takes kindly to a mortal treading on his territory.”
“Sorry, Violet,” Professor Emetterio says, scratching his short black beard. “You were supposed to challenge Rayma, but she’s been taken to the healers because she can’t seem to walk in a straight line.” Peels of the walwyn fruit will do that when ingested raw…say, like when they’re mixed into the icing of your morning pastry. “That’s”—shit—“too bad.” I wince. You served it to her too early. “Should I just…” I start, already backing up to get off the mat. “I’m happy to step in.” That voice. That tone. That prickle of ice along my scalp… Oh no. Hell no. No. No. No. “You sure?” Professor
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OH NO CRITICAL ERROR NOOO… but also yes? 😏
I will not die today. —Violet Sorrengail’s personal addendum to the Book of Brennan
🤣
“She’ll be in one piece when I’m finished teaching her.” “I hardly think it’s fair—” Dain’s voice rises. “No one asked you to think, squad leader,” Xaden fires back as he moves to the side, discarding every weapon on his body—and there’s a lot of them—and handing them to Imogen.
👉👈
“Going for blood today, are we, Violence?” he whispers. Metal hits the mat again and he kicks it past my head and out of my reach. He’s not taking my daggers to use against me; he’s disarming me just to prove he can. My blood boils. “My name is Violet,” I seethe. “I think my version fits you better.” He releases my wrist and stands, offering me a hand. “We’re not done yet.”
His forearm rests against my throat, not cutting off air but definitely capable of it, and his hips have mine pinned, my legs useless on either side of his as he lies heavily between my thighs. He’s unmovable.
If she made out with him run it definitely make him stumble for a sec…
“I think she’s been taught enough for the day,” Dain barks, reminding me that we’re far from alone. No, we’re a damned spectacle. “He always that overprotective?” Xaden grumbles, pressing up from the mat a few inches.
2nd read: God I wanna drop kick Dain
“Just promise me you’ll think about it,” he begs. “We still have four weeks until Threshing. Just…think about it.” The hope in his tone and the tender way he holds me cuts through my defenses. “I’ll think about it.”
How many times does she have to tell him no tho??
And you’re lucky Aetos isn’t here.” True. Dain would more than take exception to Tynan’s assumptions and probably assign him cleanup duty for a month. Good thing he’s on the flight field this time of day. Xaden would just beat the shit out of him.
Reason #4982 why we love Xaden over Dain.
My scalp prickles and Xaden stops mid-step ten feet away, the set of his shoulders rigid. Shit. He knows I’m here.
You want to know why you’re still alive? Because you’re the scale I currently judge myself against every night. Every day I let you live, I get to convince myself that there’s still a part of me that’s a decent person. So if you want to quit, then please, spare me the temptation and fucking quit. But if you want to do something, then do it.”
“You keeping any other secrets up there?” Rhiannon eventually asks. Guilt settles in my stomach when I think of Xaden and his meeting with the other marked ones. “I think it’s impossible to know everything there is to know about someone.” I feel like shit but keep from lying, at least. She snorts a laugh. “If that wasn’t skirting the question. How about this? Promise me that if you need help, you’ll let me give it to you.”
2nd read: soooo indicative of everything that follows in this book and iron flame
Rhiannon chuckles as we walk by a set of glaring reds. “Did he tell you people supposedly only turn into venin if they channel directly from the source?” “He did, but it was after my mom had a really long night while we were stationed near the eastern border, and her eyes were bloodshot red, so I freaked out and started shrieking.” I can’t help but smile at the memory. “She took my book of fables away for a month because the outpost guards all came running, and I was hiding behind my brother, who couldn’t stop laughing, and, well…it was a mess.” I keep my eyes front and center as a large
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“Dain lost his vote when he tried talking you into leaving,” she counters. There’s a lot of truth to that. I’ve only talked to him once in the past two days since Presentation, and he tried to get me to run within the first five minutes.
Preach girl.
2nd read: FUCK YES DAIN SUCKS IT CANNOT BE OVERSTATED
“You have to get out of here!” I hiss from the cover of the trees, knowing it should be able to hear me. “They’re going to kill you if you don’t leave!” Its head pivots toward me, then tilts at an angle that makes my own neck hurt. “Yes!” I whisper loudly. “You! Goldie!” It blinks its golden eyes and swishes its tail. You have to be fucking kidding me. “Go! Run! Fly!” I shoo at it, then remember it’s a godsdamned dragon, capable of shredding me with its claws alone, and drop my hands. This is not going well. It’s going the opposite of well.
2nd Read: after knowing Andarna, this is really kinda hilarious. “Oh no, save me violet 🤭” - Andarna probably
“I would strongly recommend you rethink your actions,” a voice—his voice—demands from across the field to my right. My scalp prickles as each of our heads swivel in his direction. Xaden is leaning against the tree, his arms folded across his chest, and behind him, watching with narrowed golden eyes, her fangs exposed, is Sgaeyl, his terrifying navy-blue daggertail.
🤭
