Ep. 12 Onyx Storm Deep Dive: Ch. 38-40 (Zihnal's Gifts) | Easter Eggs, Theories & Key Moments

Summary

Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast: Onyx Storm Deep Dive (Chapters 38-40) – Episode 12 Summary

Hosts: Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly
Episode Title: Ep. 12 Onyx Storm Deep Dive: Ch. 38-40 (Zihnal's Gifts) | Easter Eggs, Theories & Key Moments
Release Date: May 15, 2025

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1. Introduction & Overview

In Episode 12 of Dear Fantasy Reader, hosts Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly embark on a detailed exploration of Rebecca Yarros' "Onyx Storm", delving into chapters 38 through 40. This episode serves as a comprehensive analysis, unpacking the symbolism behind the gifts received by the Quest Squad, dissecting key plot developments, and unraveling intricate theories that tie into the broader Empyrean series.

2. Chapter Recap: Events from Chapters 38-40

The hosts begin with a concise summary of the pivotal events in chapters 38 to 40:

• Arrival at the Isle of Xelnia: Quest Squad reunites with their dragons and Griffons, greeted by Calixta, who requests them to accept the gifts chosen by Zannah without hesitation.
• The Selection of Gifts: Each member draws a card to receive a symbolic gift, ranging from mundane objects like wine to ominous items such as an arrow card that leads to Trager's tragic death.
• Formation of Alliances: Following Trager's demise, the squad strategizes to solidify an alliance with the queen, leading them to an uninhabited volcanic island with heightened magical properties.
• Encounter with the Irids: The chapter concludes with a suspenseful moment where mysterious footprints suggest that the Irids have discovered the Quest Squad’s presence.

Notable Moment: Karly encapsulates the tension with her exclamation, "[00:08:18] Hannah: Dun dun dun."

3. Analysis of Zannah's Gifts

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing the symbolic meanings behind each gift bestowed upon the Quest Squad members:

• Meera's Bottle of Wine [16:21]:

  • Symbolism: Represents divinity, celebration, and spiritual renewal. Historically viewed as a gift from the gods in mythologies.
  • Discussion: Kinsey speculates on the possibility of the wine being poisoned or serving as a housewarming gift, indicating Zannah's dual intentions.

• Marin's Two Orange Tunics [19:59]:

  • Symbolism: Orange signifies optimism and energy but can also hint at deceit. The dual tunics may signify protection or unity.
  • Theory: Kinsey believes it could symbolize the safety of Marin's brothers, possibly underscoring his favor with Zannah.

• Dain’s Hand Card [20:19]:

  • Symbolism: Hands denote connection and responsibility. The slap received by Dain hints at deeper emotional or magical ramifications.
  • Discussion: The hosts explore the possibility of the slap activating Dain’s latent magical abilities or serving as a metaphor for his internal struggles.

• Garak's Rusted Steel Bucket [23:12]:

  • Symbolism: Rust signifies decay and aging, while steel represents strength and durability. The bucket could symbolize burdens or responsibilities.
  • Theory: The bucket may foreshadow Garak's transformation or his role in future conflicts, particularly relating to Venon.

• Auric's Fractured Hand Mirror [32:21]:

  • Symbolism: Broken mirrors are often associated with bad luck and the shattering of self-perception.
  • Discussion: The host suggests it may serve as a tool to identify Venon or symbolize Auric’s inability to foresee his own fate.

• Violet’s Black Compass [42:53]:

  • Symbolism: Typically represents guidance and direction; however, its broken state implies lost purpose or hidden destiny.
  • Theory: The compass might guide Violet towards pivotal locations or serve as a magical artifact essential for combating Venon.

• Drake’s Claw and Kitten “Broccoli” [60:13]:

  • Symbolism: The claw suggests aggression or protection, while the kitten symbolizes innocence and healing.
  • Discussion: Carly posits that the kitten might have a magical role in heart chakra healing or represent Drake’s protective nature.

• Riddick’s Kiss [50:12]:

  • Symbolism: A kiss can denote friendship, betrayal, or marking someone for death.
  • Theory: The hosts debate whether it signifies Riddick’s potential betrayal or solidifies his loyalty to Violet.

4. Theories & Speculations

The hosts engage in dynamic discussions, presenting various theories about character motivations and future plot twists:

• Dain’s Magical Evolution: Carly theorizes that the slap might activate Dain’s ability to read memories through touch, hinting at his evolved signet powers.

• Riddick’s Loyalty: While initially perceived as a loyal member, Kinsey and Carly explore the possibility of Riddick’s betrayal, drawing parallels to biblical narratives like Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss.

• Violet’s Destiny: Hannah and Carly speculate on Violet’s role as a potential leader who can harness Dune’s wrath, suggesting her gifts are integral to future battles against Venon.

• Auric’s Mirror Purpose: The fractured mirror could be a tool for detecting Venon or signify Auric’s struggle with his own identity and destiny.

5. Epigraphs Analysis

The episode delves into the significance of the epigraphs from chapters 38 and 39:

• Chapter 38 Epigraph: "To live amongst the Zilni, you must prepare to accept luck as your guide and chaos as your standard." – Isle of Zenaal by Major Asher Sorrengale.

  Interpretation: Highlights the role of luck and chaos in their quest, possibly foreshadowing unpredictable events ensuing from their reliance on chance.

• Chapter 39 Epigraph: "Sometimes the best gift the God of luck can give is his absence." – The Isle of Zinal by Major Asher Zorngail.

  Interpretation: Suggests that luck can be a double-edged sword, offering protection or leading to unforeseen consequences when its influence wanes.

6. Easter Eggs & Foreshadowing

The hosts uncover various hidden elements and hints that Rebecca Yarros has woven into the narrative:

• Color Symbolism:

  • Apricot & Orange Tunics: Represent warmth and deceit, aligning with the unpredictability of the games in Zelnya.
  • Blue & Green Robes: Correspond to different dragon types and their associated deities, hinting at deeper magical lore.

• Magical Object Functions:

  • Violet’s Compass: May function beyond navigation, possibly activating alongside other magical artifacts like Xaden’s glass box to locate Venon.
  • Auric’s Mirror: Could serve as a means to identify Venon, reflecting the absence or presence of their souls.

• Time Manipulation: Repeated mentions of time slowing down for Violet suggest a deeper connection to her gifts or impending critical events.

• Survivor’s Guilt: Characters like Violet and Riddick exhibit profound guilt over lost comrades, hinting at future emotional and psychological challenges.

7. Impactful Moments & Favorite Quotes

The hosts share their favorite scenes and poignant quotes from the chapters:

• Trager’s Death [22:11]:
  "I'm more worried about the implications of that hit." - This line underscores the tragic consequences of their mission and foreshadows the squad’s vulnerabilities.

• Riddick and Aytrim’s Prank War [84:04]:
  A lighthearted moment that offers relief amidst the escalating tension, showcasing the deep bond and camaraderie within the squad.

• Violet’s Determination [37:09]:
  "They have to find the right person that knew what he needed to be the one to slap him." - Reflects Violet’s unwavering commitment to the mission despite mounting challenges.

8. Audience Engagement & Interactive Segments

While the episode primarily focuses on in-depth content analysis, the hosts briefly acknowledge listener messages and encourage audience interaction through social media and Patreon support. Notably, they highlight a heartfelt message from listener Johanna, who appreciates the podcast’s cultural sensitivity and inclusive discussions ([04:35]).

9. Closing Thoughts & Upcoming Content

The episode concludes with anticipation for future deep dives, teasing analyses of additional magical objects and character developments expected in the subsequent chapters. The hosts invite listeners to join their Patreon for exclusive content and to participate in their monthly book club, fostering a vibrant community of Empyrean enthusiasts.

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Highlighted Quotes:

• Kinsey [09:15]:
  "So, Zelnia has magic not enough to channel or even properly shield."

• Hannah [10:05]:
  "It was almost like how they experienced the wards, like an invisible force field when they were flying."

• Karly [23:14]:
  "If someone completely lost their soul, they would not have an image in the mirror anymore."

• Kinsey [21:32]:
  "He also holds a lot of guilt about Liam."

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Conclusion

Episode 12 of Dear Fantasy Reader offers a thorough and engaging exploration of Rebecca Yarros' "Onyx Storm", providing listeners with nuanced analyses, intriguing theories, and a deeper understanding of the series' complex magical systems and character dynamics. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the Empyrean series, this episode serves as an invaluable companion to your reading journey.

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Subscribe now and join Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly every Thursday for your next deep dive into the enchanting world of Empyrean!

Transcript

[Hannah]

Foreign Dearest Fantasy Readers, welcome to the Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast where we travel through the pages of our favorite Romantasy novels. I'm Hannah.

[Kinsey]

I'm Kinsey.

[Carly]

And I'm Carly.

[Hannah]

Join us as we take flight into the world of the Empyrean series, diving deep into Onyx Storm, breaking down characters, scenes, foreshadowing and lore, fangirling over shadow daddies, building theories as we go, and more.

[Carly]

With that content warning and spoiler alert, we will be covering anything and everything Empyrean series to this date and any content Rebecca Yarrows has given us. So if you haven't read four Swing Iron Flame and Onyx Storm in its entirety, go do that and we will be here waiting when you are done.

[Kinsey]

Also, due to the nature of these books, this podcast is rated R in content and language.

[Hannah]

As Rebecca Yarros says, readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note and prepare to face the storm. We have dragons to ride. Quick housekeeping item. Our May Book Club poll results are in and we will be discussing the Never List by Jade Presley. It is a steamy, wide shoes Romantasy that personally I have read and absolutely loved so much to the point that I turned down my audiobook speed so that it could last as long as possible. Which, by the way, that audiobook is dual narration and absolutely incredible. As a reminder, we meet live for book club on the last Wednesday of every month and you should absolutely join us. You can find links down in our show notes below. Now time for our lightning round of current reads.

[Kinsey]

Well, I am currently listening to the Inadequate Heir by Daniel L. Jensen. It's part of the Bridge Kingdom series and I'm also reading An Arc of A Fate Forged in fire by Hazel McBride.

[Hannah]

Nice, Carly.

[Carly]

I just finished the Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava. I actually loved it so much I went and found the author's page to see what she had up and coming and I found out that this book was the first traditionally published rom com about indigenous characters written by an indigenous author.

[Kinsey]

I love that.

[Carly]

Yeah, I loved it. It was really fun read. I liked the fmc. I felt like she was super relatable and her next book is Love is a War Song. It releases in July. I can't wait for it. I'm very, very excited and I'm currently reading while I wait for that book Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard because Hannah recommended it so much.

[Hannah]

Now I have to read it. Wait, I had no idea you were finally reading it. Are you kidding? You guys can't see it on my screen, but my top shelf is reserved for Red Queen series.

[Carly]

I started it today, so I thought.

[Hannah]

I'd surprise you with it. I'm so excited. You'd have to text me as you read it and tell me what you think. Especially because you have read the Powerless series.

[Carly]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Moving on. So since the last episode, I've reread Riftborne via audiobook. We've talked about this book so much on this podcast already, but I want to clarify that I wish I had read the book for the first time via audiobook. It was that good. And then of course, I'm finishing up my reread of Duskbound for April's book club livestream. So I'm really excited about that. Yeah, we're working on how to do this lightning round. I don't know how to not keep yapping, guys.

[Carly]

Moving on, this week's Star of Navarre Award for feedback that made our heart soar goes to Johanna, who sent us the following message hi, I did a ton of research before landing on this podcast as my go to for what I call my virtual book club for my favorite fantasy books because I don't have any friends who enjoy fantasy like I do. Found you all right on time for Onyx Storm. I just have to say that I cannot express enough how beautiful it was to hear you all pause and reassess the utilization of Dreamwalker in fantasy. It is so important that we as a society can grow and evolve and understand the meaning behind language we use, even in our favorite literary works. You so eloquently educated us as an audience and gave reverence to a marginalized community in a way that is a lost art in the US nowadays. I'm so freaking happy to be a follower and will be investing in the Patreon. Thank you for incorporating cultural sensitivity and inclusive language into this discussion. I cannot wait for the deep dives. Y' all have the most epic predictions and analyses. Sending all the love.

[Kinsey]

Aw, thank you.

[Hannah]

First of all, go Carly for that, because I wouldn't have known. So thank you for even informing us about it. And yeah, yeah, like I said, I.

[Carly]

Think dreamwalker is a term that has really, truly just been something that we just don't know. We don't have any education on it, unfortunately. And it's been used in fantasy so often at this point that I think people think it's just something that exists there, which is really unfortunate.

[Hannah]

And there's probably a lot more.

[Carly]

I think there's a lot more that we don't even know and I try to keep my eye out for things like that. But like I said, I only knew because I had done research for another project and that's the only reason why I knew about it.

[Hannah]

Thank you Joanna.

[Carly]

Yeah, thank you so much. Messages, comments and reviews like this mean so much to us. If you are also enjoying the show, please consider leaving us a review. It's a small thing that makes a big difference.

[Hannah]

We love messages like this. Like the amount of effort that it took to like. I just. It's very touching.

[Carly]

Thank you guys. It makes our really meant a lot.

[Hannah]

As a reminder, before we dive into all things Empyrean, if you would like to jump around to any section of any of our episodes, you can find the timestamps for each down in our Show Notes. We do have some new additions to our Rebecca Yarros archives. It's been a minute. She was at the LA Festival of Books on April 26 where she revealed that she knows the title for book four but is not ready to reveal it yet. And I can't blame her. And interestingly that she drew inspiration from Paris, France for hedadists after she found out that Paris raised their city and made all of their buildings the same height. Now, of course, we filmed the Hadatas episode right before that interview, so that's why we're mentioning it now. But she did also include a couple more tidbits about the end of the book that we'll integrate into those episodes as we go. But you can check out those clips over on our Instagram, which we'll link as well down in the Show Notes if you're ever in doubt, visit the show notes first. Breaking into the Archives Vault for a summary report of chapters 38 through 40 with our squad mate Kinsey Quest Squad.

[Kinsey]

Has arrived to the Isle of Xelnia and immediately gets telepathically reacquainted with their dragons and Griffons, thanks to the land's limited but still existing magic. A woman named Calixta greets them, and unlike the other isles, they're excited to see dragons. Calixta specifically seeks out the Irid and bows to Andarna. The squad was informed that they must accept the gifts Zannah has chosen for them without complaint. To gain an audience with the Queen, each member selects cards to receive their gift, which vary from a slap to kisses and a broken compass. Trager selects the arrow card and is promptly shot through the heart. The squad is forced to maintain their composure at Trager's sudden death, and as their leader Violet has to thank them for this gift. Meera, Zaden, Arc, and Violet leave to solidify an alliance with the queen that's surprisingly, actually in their favor. While everyone else stays behind to watch over the remains of Trager and his griffin. Silarain, Merrin and Cat insist that Trager and Silaraine's bodies need to be burned and not remain in Xelnya or any other inhabited island. Violet agrees that they will venture off course to commend their souls to Malak. Quest Squad flies much longer than anticipated before coming across an uninhabited volcanic island with even more magic than Zelnya. They burn Trager and Scylla's remains and decide to split up and search the surrounding isles for the Irids. Most of Quest Squad leaves to search for the Irids, while Riddick and Violet stay behind so Andarna can rest while Trager's fire burns out. Riddick and a Trim entertain themselves with a prank war, and Violet finds herself all alone. Or so she thinks. Mysterious footprints appear in the sand as we finally get what we've all been waiting for. The squad did not find the Irids. The Irids found them.

[Hannah]

Dun dun dun.

[Kinsey]

Until next time.

[Hannah]

Oh, my goodness. So much to talk about this episode. Grab your leathers, Quest Squad, as we are hoping for luck, but preparing for chaos. So, so much chaos.

[Kinsey]

So much chaos.

[Hannah]

Diving right into our analysis and discussion section, where we walk through the plot points and questions we found most interesting in this section of chapters.

[Kinsey]

So, Quest Squad has finally arrived in Zelnia, and unlike the other isles, this one does have magic. I want to know, why wouldn't they feel magic until they actually touched the ground? When they were crossing the sea between Kordan and Devarelly, they felt the loss of magic mid air. They were literally flying. So why wouldn't that kind of be like a same situation when they arrive in Zelnia? Like, instead of crossing a barrier in the air, they don't feel it until they actually touch down on the ground.

[Hannah]

It's almost like the magic was how they experienced the wards, like an invisible force field when they were flying. But apparently it's not the case in Zhonya. No, I don't have an answer for you, but I also found that really suspicious.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I was like, is it because the magic is still weaker than the continent, so maybe it's not as strong and it doesn't go up into the air? Is it because we've had this ongoing theory of there's different magic in the air, there's different magic in the Ground. Maybe they don't have magic of the sky, but they do have it in the ground, and that's why they only feel it in the ground. But you'd think that because of the Irids, it would be in the sky. I don't know. It was just really interesting to me. Also, there was enough magic for Zaden to get into Violet and Sigil's minds, but not enough magic to actually read Calixta's intentions or for anyone else to use their signets.

[Hannah]

Even if he had been able to read her intentions. Her intentions, at least. I perceived it to be like they were gonna play the games, but it was all up to chance. It's not like they. It's not like she knew that her intention was like to kill one of them.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, well, he did say it was before they actually started the game. He had made a comment like he was trying to read her intentions. And he's like, I know there's a trick, but I can't read the intention. So, like, he tried to read her, but he was unsuccessful. So it's like there is magic and there's enough for them to have their bonds, to be able to communicate with their dragons, be able to communicate telepathically between Violet and Zaden, but he still can't read into other people's minds. Like, he can't.

[Hannah]

Well, I actually would think that was more about her being able to shield, but I guess it would depend on the wording of it. I didn't catch that.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, because he knew that was the trick, but he said, I can't read her intention.

[Hannah]

But, you know, I guess it does make sense if it is a limited amount, because doesn't Violet say, like, that's literally the next point that I had had on here? So I'll just read it. It's a quote. Zelnia has magic not enough to channel or even properly shield. So there we. Guys, that answers that. And nowhere in the realm of wielding, but there are definitely two strands of power trickling down the bonds from Taran and Andarna, which I will come back to my point that I wanted to make, but I think that that would imply that he just wouldn't have enough access to magic to do it unless he's channeling his Venin. So. Yeah, but that quote is implying that those strands connecting or trickling down from the bonds from Tarana and Darna weren't there before. Right. So that's really interesting considering that she and Darna somehow, someway were actually able to wield. Yes, And Darna is pure magic. Right. But you'd still think there'd be a trickle down connection between them.

[Kinsey]

Plus, they were never cut off with, like, their communication. So it's just kind of like, odd that she's describing the bonds this way now.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Like, you think with the magic system, the way that it would work is. And Darna was still able to have that power streaming to Violet pretty much the whole time, no matter where they are.

[Carly]

This is just kind of like coming to me in this moment. But I wonder if we're gonna find out later that the reason why their bond worked here is because she was the first to bond Violet and not the second, and that this is gonna be a clue for that, that their bonds worked, but, like, didn't. Like, the bond with Taryn worked too, because she was the first to bond.

[Hannah]

I definitely think that that supports it.

[Carly]

I wonder if it's a possibility that we're gonna find out later that that's a sign because, like, it's unclear from that scene that happens later in the book. And I wonder if this is like an actual sign that because the bond works, it means. And Darna bonded her first.

[Hannah]

Yeah, well. And I've kind of had similar thoughts before, but it doesn't necessarily explain why it would actually, I would think, support more that she still should have this stream of power coming from Indarna this whole trip. So, like, why is it that the dragon that is pure magic and can still communicate with Violet and is somehow some way powering Violet's lightning? Why is the stream not there and it's trickling. It just changes how the bond itself works. Which I guess is kind of the vague answer for that.

[Carly]

I think it's. Maybe there's that Andarna doesn't know how it works, so she's not maybe utilizing it correctly.

[Hannah]

Mm. Well, I. One of these upcoming outlines, I have it somewhere that I feel like there's gonna be something that. And Darna is gonna like, her visit when she unbonds is gonna benefit a lot of this. Like, she doesn't know how to control the bond. I feel like she's gonna be able to. So we're gonna put a pin in that. But I do think that that comes back around. It would make sense. You mentioned this in the summary, but it seems like every isle is afraid of dragons. But Zanna, to the point that the children are running arms extended for them up under Andarna, who is like kind of teasing them, which is really cute.

[Carly]

Well, the kids weren't like Afraid of them in Hidatas, though.

[Hannah]

Yeah, that is a good point. I think maybe a better way to frame it is about how they talked about them and interacted. Because Calixta, which love that name, by the way, said, our queen is delighted you've sought us out and is eager to come to your aid. We have always revered dragonkind. That I almost wanted to say is suspicious. And it is. But then she tilts her head toward Silarain and says, and the griffins, of course, which was literally an afterthought. It just feels like there's some sort of, like, different dynamic going on in Zelnya compared to the other isles, who were, like, seemingly just ready to go to war with dragons at, like, first glance.

[Carly]

Yeah. No, it is weird. I wonder if it has something to do with Xenol and their, you know, that deity's feelings toward dragons.

[Hannah]

That would make sense. You know, there's some connection somewhere about each of these dragon colors and kinds and the gods. And so maybe there's just. Maybe that will explain it later. But we had to put it out. The moment everyone's been waiting for.

[Carly]

I know. Are we ready? Let's get into the gifts.

[Kinsey]

We're so ready.

[Carly]

I'm surprised Hannah didn't break into a Taylor Swift song.

[Hannah]

Oh, wait. Yeah, baby. Let the games begin.

[Carly]

Yes.

[Hannah]

It's so sad, though. I do actually put in a Taylor Swift reference. You just gotta give me a little time. It's in there.

[Carly]

Let's start with Mira's bottle of wine.

[Hannah]

Yes. We're gonna go in order.

[Carly]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Because.

[Carly]

Yeah, because Hannah.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Okay. So the symbolism of wine, it's always associated with the divine and royal spheres. Wine is a symbol of prestige, uniqueness, wealth and integrity. And wine is a multifaceted symbol representing joy, celebration, spiritual renewal, life itself. Depending on the cultural and historical context, it's associated with divinity, as in ancient Greek and Roman mythology, where it was considered a gift from the gods.

[Hannah]

A what? It was what?

[Carly]

Gift from the gods?

[Hannah]

Yeah. Clock that.

[Carly]

In Christianity, wine symbolizes Christ's blood and essential to the Last Supper. Beyond the spiritual, wine represents social connection, friendship, and sharing.

[Hannah]

So, basically what we're doing, guys, is we're giving you, like, what we research for symbolism for each of the topics. And then we're going to talk about, like, our theories and, like, connections from that. So then. But, yeah, in case any of that sparks new theories for you guys.

[Kinsey]

I mean, maybe she's God's blessed and that's why she got a gift from the gods, but I doubt it with her attitude, I think it's more likely because as far as I remember, I don't think she actually drank the wine in Onyx Storm. She did say, I'm gonna need this after this, but I almost wonder if the wine's like poisoned.

[Hannah]

Oh, shit. That's the opposite of everything.

[Kinsey]

I don't know, maybe it's like a literal bottle of wine and the crowd's just excited because they're like, yeah, let's poison her. But also it could be like a housewarming gift because I feel like a lot of people gift you a bottle of wine to welcome you to your new home. So maybe because this was the first gift that was received, it's like they're welcoming them to their aisle.

[Carly]

I like the symbolism of that.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. It could be that.

[Carly]

I'm wondering if it's not like, because, you know, you're talking about like what's in the bottle. Maybe it's poison. I'm like, what if it's the opposite of that? What if it provides like some sort of, like, what if drinking it provides some sort of temporary ability? Like, if you think about wine, literally, it's kind of a mind altering substance, right? Like you, you drink it and you can get buzzed, you can get drunk. Like, what if it's like that but actually like gives you like a mind altering ability for a little bit.

[Hannah]

I love the idea that all of the physical objects are actually magical objects calling back to like, what could be. If they are, and seems to be an Easter egg from back when Halden was doing whatever he was trying to do with King Cortland. There we go, right? King. He's King. King Cortland.

[Carly]

Yeah, I got the right.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Where he points out that, like, they have this stash of all these magical objects and apparently Navarre has been just trading them back and forth. So, like they're common. Hoarded, but common. So I just think it could be really cool.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Maybe this wine will help turn her into a good sister. It'll alter her mind.

[Hannah]

That would be really nice.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, she needs some mind altering there in that department.

[Hannah]

Oh, they're gonna come for you. Mirror stands are gonna come for you.

[Kinsey]

Are there mirror stands, though? I don't know.

[Hannah]

Next up is a Marin who receives two orange tunics, is how you say it, tunics, which are the tunics that the people of Senalia, Zelnia. Zelnya. Gosh, that's so hard to say. Anyways, that's what they wear. So first thing that comes to mind, two, she has Two brothers that are displaced technically, not because they're with Rhys family now at this point, but it could be like, Zinal offering, like, the opportunity or welcoming them to move there.

[Kinsey]

Or I thought that it could mean that Merrin's brothers are lucky to be alive because Theophany had spared their lives and that they're blessed and watched over by Zinal because they honestly shouldn't be alive. So he's kind of like, reminding them, like, I saved your brothers. They're lucky, and they're alive because of me.

[Hannah]

Yeah, that's how I see it as well.

[Carly]

Yeah. I think that that's, like, good interpretation of the symbolism. I also wondered if maybe it's supposed to be for her and Cat, because they're also kind of a pair and there's the two of them. So I wondered that. And I have some other suspicions about Marin, but I'm gonna save it for our next episode because I noticed something in the ear conversation we're gonna talk about in the next episode. So. Okay, you're gonna want to come back for that.

[Kinsey]

Next up is Dain. Dain's card reveals a hand, and when he offers his to the woman who walks over to him, she slaps him across the face. Zaden says to Violet, quote, I'm more worried about the implications of that hit. So, first off, I want to talk about the symbolism of hands, because it's the hand card. Hands can mean human connection and relationships. Laying hands on someone can represent blessing, healing, or the transference of guilt in some religious practices.

[Hannah]

Hmm.

[Carly]

I think it's interesting because, you know, it's about friendship and things of that nature. And his signet has made him so much more isolated and lonely because people don't want him to touch them because they don't trust him anymore.

[Hannah]

Hey, Shayla. Oh, wait. I don't think I've ever thought about it like that.

[Carly]

He also holds a lot of guilt about Liam, so I think the symbolism here is pretty interesting. What do you think about those two aspects of Dane?

[Hannah]

I think it fits. I think it fits, but. And I think I love that there's layers to this. I've never considered that you just. Especially even in a romantic relationship, are you ever gonna want to just wonder? All the time. You'd really have to trust the boundaries that you guys put in place. It's really interesting. First thing that came to mind, of course, is that Dane reads memories by touching someone's face. Right. Seems like karma.

[Kinsey]

It does.

[Hannah]

Which? Guilt about Liam, you know, and it also seems like this was what Rebecca wanted us to infer by Zayden's mention of the implication of that slap. So I think it's pretty satisfying. I'm not going to lie. I think it was like a little gift from her to us and be like, all right, I hear you guys fucking hate him. This is all you get. Take this moment of satisfaction before I rip your fucking hearts out in the next coming books when I kill him.

[Kinsey]

Hopefully she doesn't kill him. And hopefully this is, like, the most that he will have. That's just me being Delulu, though.

[Hannah]

But in denial. It's okay.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I'm in total denial. But just to circle back to Carly's point really quick, when you were talking about, like, touch and friendship and stuff, what if his love language is touch? That's, like, even more heartbreaking because Violet said he would always touch my face like that, and that's why she didn't know for so long. So, like, he's always been, like, a touchy kind of guy, and, like, now nobody wants to touch him. And that. That is sad. I'm sorry.

[Hannah]

Except for his look.

[Kinsey]

I'm such an apologist for Dane. But back to the karma.

[Carly]

You know, I wonder if it's almost like the reverse of what you're saying, though, Hannah. Like, what if Dane Signet has gotten strong enough to see memories from any touch, and his true gift was what he saw when he was slapped?

[Hannah]

I need you to explain that. I don't understand.

[Carly]

Like, what if any amount of touch, Dane can see memories, and what if when he was slapped, he saw something because he was touched and that's the gift, and that was his true gift from Zanal.

[Hannah]

Oh, shit.

[Kinsey]

Cause, like, maybe he doesn't need to touch them. They can touch him. And so it's enough. And I'm like, he needs to share with the class what he saw if this is the case. But unfortunately, I don't think that he can, because for one, that would expose the fact that any touch can help him read memories. And at that point, I think leadership would be like, you know what? You're true intensic. We need to take you out.

[Hannah]

So you guys know how I feel about evolved signets. So let's fucking go.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, so I don't think he would share with the class, but, I mean, like, this could be a moment where, like, maybe he found something out about the Venon or, like, relationships with the Isles, something like that. But the one issue I have with this theory is that Zaden did try to read Calixta's intentions, and he was unsuccessful due to limited magic. So I'm not sure if Dain had enough magic to use his power.

[Hannah]

But what does Sloane say at the.

[Kinsey]

End of someone like, you shouldn't have this much power? I just read that quote today, and.

[Hannah]

It'S a gift from Zinal. So, like, if Zinal wanted him to have power in that moment, I don't know if that's really, like, something the gods can do. But we see potentially Dune doing that.

[Kinsey]

They'D have to find the right person that knew what he needed to be the one to slap him, because that.

[Hannah]

Person would have to have that memory. So who knows if this is.

[Kinsey]

And we still don't know about his mom. Like, what if he, like, got some kind of, like, revelation about his mother? Like, it's. It could be anything, really, which Rebecca.

[Hannah]

Has implied is, like, it's gonna be a plot twist, whoever his mom is. So.

[Kinsey]

Ooh. Well.

[Carly]

And I just wonder, too, like, if one Dane signet could work simply because it's, like, physical touch. Maybe it doesn't have to go across distance, or maybe it takes a little less magic to do it. Or if this was just simply, like, foreshadowing and that, you know, Zanal allowed him to be shown something when he was touched, but it maybe isn't his signet, but it's foreshadowing that, like, this is what happened. So maybe it wasn't his signet directly doing it.

[Hannah]

Maybe Zinal, it was, like, sending a message, but not.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Yeah. Unless it's just for him.

[Kinsey]

What if it was, like, a priestess of Zinal and, like, he, like, sent the message, like, through them? Is that what you're suggesting?

[Carly]

Maybe something like that. So I like it a lot. Yeah. I think it would be interesting if it was, like, kind of, like, the reverse of what we're thinking. Cause I always try to, like.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

I don't know if you've ever seen those prompts where it's, like, take plot tropes and reverse them for, like, writing things, and she could have been throwing.

[Hannah]

Us a red herring or, like, you know, something with a double meaning for Zaden's whole, like, the implications of that slap. Cause I think it's.

[Kinsey]

It's definitely a red herring.

[Hannah]

Sketchy, that he said. Yeah, yeah.

[Kinsey]

There's no way. It's just, like, a fan service to have him get slapped. Like, she has so many double meanings. Yeah, it is a fan service, but also, at the same time, I'm just like, she has so many other instances in her other books where things get brought up or they have double meanings, just with Zaden's second Signet. So I'm like, I feel like there's just something hidden here at this point.

[Hannah]

I don't think we even have to explain ourselves because everybody who's listening to this podcast has been with us. They know.

[Carly]

I just love scenes written like this, though. I think it shows how strong the writing is when you can take a scene that is initially shocking and then funny, and then, wait, what's really the meaning behind this? Like, you get all three of those layers in sentences. Like, it's not a very long scene and it's just. And then you're just left thinking about it. And I just. I love it.

[Hannah]

I think that's what I love about the idea of the GIFs in general is like, I would have hyper fixated if I was Rebecca on every single one of these. Like, what's the coolest thing that I can do that can, like, come up later and just blow people's mind when they look back on it after they know? Like, that's why, if you haven't noticed how deep I went into finding the symbolism for all these things. Which brings us to Garak, who got a rusted steel bucket. So I looked at the symbolism of rust of steel and buckets. So here we go. The symbolism of rust. Rust is a commonly used metaphor for slow decay due to neglect, since it gradually converts robust iron and steel metal into a soft, crumbling powder. Which keep that in mind for our gemstones, and I guess that would technically be like metals. Deep dive. Also, rust can certainly stand as a metaphor for aging, for a life intensely lived and exposed. A sign of wisdom and erosion of the ego, which is iron. Now, you guys are so over me, considering he almost died on the isle of wisdom, but he didn't. So there you go for rust. We also have the symbolism of steel. So steel is an alloy also. Keep that in mind. Primarily composed of iron and carbon, steel represents a combination of strength, durability, and the ability to endure. Imagine what this man is going to have to do next book. End of this book. Next book. Potentially way more than not going there. It also symbolizes readiness and determination in the face of adversity. In a metaphorical sense, steeling oneself means preparing for a difficult task or situation. Pick your poison for how many of those there's been in the series. But if we're also thinking in context of, like, he could be the brother. Yeah, okay. The symbolism of a bucket is a burden. It just Keeps piling up the evidence. Okay. In various contexts, a bucket can symbolize a container for carrying, holding, or distributing things like water, spiritual blessings, or even emotional well being. It can also represent a sense of carrying responsibilities or burdens or even the limitations of human capacity. So I think I've got ahead of myself in my theorizing in there because, like. But to me, this foreshadows that he either turned Venon and is the brother and now has the weight of that responsibility, or he didn't, but he now has the weight of the responsibility of Zaden fully turning Venon, which of course was in Onyx Storm. But especially going into book four, the.

[Carly]

Symbolism of the bucket being empty and like not having like enough. Yeah. Like a full cup essentially to pull from. Like.

[Hannah]

Which is strangely similar to what Rebecca said about the brother, which is like someone who doesn't have enough.

[Carly]

Yeah. So I think there's like even more symbology there that kind of is pointing to that potentially. It's Garak. I don't want to be our baby Garak.

[Hannah]

I don't want to be either.

[Kinsey]

We know he's missing.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. He's confirmed missing at the end of the book. Like, he is one of.

[Hannah]

He's not Garruk. He's meant to be the red herring. He's who we're supposed to think it is. And I don't. It's just. It's another one of those violet second signet. Is it right there in our faces or.

[Carly]

I think I also just lean towards Garak because I don't want it to be Garak so much. So I'm like, well, it's gonna be Garak cause he's the one. I don't want it to be like. I would rather it be Bodhi and I love Bodhi. Don't get me wrong.

[Kinsey]

Could be Arryk.

[Hannah]

I think we need to see more of Bodhi and it could be good for some. Not character growth, but just display of more character from Bodhi.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I don't feel like we'd know him very well.

[Carly]

I just want Garak to be around because I want to see him and Imogen together in the next book so bad.

[Hannah]

That would be awful if we like got all these references and then it just never could be. It'd be heartbreaking anyway.

[Kinsey]

I'm still just thinking about it being rusty. Like, it's like, okay, I get the durability, having burdens, things like that, but I'm like aging and it's almost like long term burden. Yeah. It could be that. Could be that. Well, Vennon also don't age, so maybe it's a sign that he.

[Carly]

Iron is what rusts. And I wonder if it's supposed to be like, I don't know, maybe some very three steps ahead foreshadowing that like. Cause the Wardstone is made of iron. So maybe it's supposed to start to degrade over time.

[Hannah]

There's a lot of shit in this series that is made of iron.

[Carly]

Yeah, but I'm just thinking of like, you know, the wards. Maybe it's a sign that like the wards are going. The ward stone itself is gonna degrade over time since it's iron and iron rusts over time.

[Kinsey]

Well, it's in a chamber.

[Carly]

I don't know. That's all I've got.

[Hannah]

On to the next member of our squad that can get it. Auric. He receives a fractured hand mirror that immediately cuts his thumb when the man hands it to him top first. Okay, so let's talk about the symbolism of a broken mirror. It's often associated with bad luck. I'm sure all of us went straight to that. Specifically the belief that it brings seven years of misfortune. This superstition is rooted in ancient Roman beliefs where mirrors were thought to reflect the soul. The soul? The soul thought to the what?

[Kinsey]

The soul.

[Hannah]

They're thought to reflect the soul. And breaking one was seen as damaging that reflection. Do you mean damaging your soul? Shut the fuck up.

[Kinsey]

Don't Venin damage their souls.

[Hannah]

Ah, you know, that might be an understatement.

[Kinsey]

Huh, that's odd.

[Carly]

I think I heard that somewhere.

[Hannah]

Some also interpret broken mirrors as a symbol of the end of a cycle or the shattering of old self perceptions, signifying a need for self examination and personal growth. So how would we like to interpret this? Because as it stands, it is not looking good for us Auric girlies.

[Carly]

I don't love it. I want my precious baby Auric to be protected through the end of the series and into any potential spin off series through the end of time. So not happy about it. I want to point out though that like later on Violet notices that like Arik is like clenching his fists and they're both bleeding. She says that they are bleeding. And I'm wondering if the mirror can cause some sort of mirror like injury because it only cuts the one hand, but then both his hands are bleeding. Maybe it's some sort of. It creates like mirror injuries or something like that in somebody.

[Hannah]

Oh, I love that.

[Carly]

It was just weird. I was like, this is an Odd thing to notice.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. I didn't realize that it was both of his hands, but I was paying attention to the bleeding. I have a blood watch, don't y' all?

[Carly]

Yeah, well, because she says, like, they are bleeding or something like that, so it implies both his hands are bleeding, but he only cut the one. So I was like, that's interesting.

[Hannah]

What do you think that that would mean for our story? Does he just, like, have this as a weapon? Does he get to keep the broken shards? Well, yeah, he keeps it because you can't give it away. It's.

[Carly]

I don't know how you would use it, but I'm guessing that if it does do that, there is going to be some sort of interesting twist in the future where it'll be needed.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

You know what would be really cool is a sword that has it, like, embedded so that he could. That could be funny. I don't know, like, if that's really where Rebecca was going to go with this. But I like the idea.

[Carly]

I like the creat.

[Kinsey]

Pull out the shards and then just like, use it as like a little dagger or something. That's what I was thinking. But anyway, as for the symbolism, he.

[Hannah]

Could also use it to test if people are venin' he could. I mean, I guess he could do that with a regular dagger, but, like, that's true.

[Kinsey]

I mean, but like, if he, like, were to show the mirror and they have no reflection, like, maybe that's because they don't have a soul.

[Hannah]

And how was that worded? It was supposed to reflect the soul.

[Kinsey]

I think that's what it's like where.

[Hannah]

Mirrors were thought to reflect the soul. Holy shit.

[Carly]

It's like vampire rules.

[Hannah]

Like.

[Kinsey]

Cause vampires can't see themselves, can't hold.

[Hannah]

It up to people and tell immediately if they're venom.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, maybe he can. But I did think originally you're, like, still like. Wait.

[Hannah]

I have one last thing to say about that. I've been wondering. Rebecca only has two more books, supposedly. She did mention that the story might lend more. But we're supposed to have all these. A million different reveals and plot points that, like, sync together and stuff. Like, I feel like at some point she's gonna have to have some tool that reveals them pretty quickly. So that works.

[Kinsey]

We got Bloodwatch and Arryk's Myr and the Heirs.

[Hannah]

No, I think it's also Andarna, but we'll put a pin in that theory.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Okay. So just for the symbolism of Arryk receiving the mirror specifically, I think that it just means that he needs to accept his true identity as the Prince of Navarre. Because I still want to believe that he will end up being the crown prince and that Halden will get fired.

[Hannah]

Or die.

[Kinsey]

Or die. But I don't think that he can hide who he is anymore. I mean, when they get back to Basgaeth, they do know who he is. But also, what if it means that he can't see his own future, but he can see the future of others? This would ruin the theory of him seeing his own death. But I think that it would be a good limitation.

[Hannah]

I would accept. Ruin that theory. I don't like it.

[Kinsey]

No. But I think it'd be a good limitation to have if he can't see his own path. So maybe because it's broken and he can't see his reflection, it means that he can't see his future. I don't know.

[Hannah]

But no, I like that a lot, actually.

[Kinsey]

I think it's mostly about his identity.

[Carly]

I wonder, too, though, if maybe it's even simpler. The mirror's broken. And just how he cut his thumb. He's gonna ask somebody like, oh, can you hand me that mirror? And then it'll cut them, but they won't bleed, and he'll realize they're venom. Maybe it's just something very simple in the future.

[Hannah]

That's why I was saying with the sword. But.

[Carly]

Yes, But I wonder if it's something like that, where it's just something very simple, where they'll handle it.

[Hannah]

Just start handing out shards of his mirror to everybody.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, he should just start slicing everybody.

[Hannah]

But that's what I meant by he could just do that with a dagger. But I guess that that's less casual.

[Carly]

But maybe it's something simple where it's like, oh, he needs someone to hand him something that specific. And that's when he realizes. But I do love the idea that somebody who's completely lost their soul would not have an image in the mirror anymore. And maybe if they realize that, that's how they'll know that Zaden's not all the way gone.

[Hannah]

They need to put that.

[Kinsey]

I love that.

[Carly]

Anna.

[Hannah]

Okay, I was about to say they need to put mirrors like that up in Ryerson house just like everywhere. So everywhere you are, you can just see if. But. Oh, stop.

[Carly]

Don't cry, Hannah.

[Hannah]

Okay, I was thinking, if he's the brother, not that he would be, but, like, in this scenario, but if he's the brother and potentially was at the wedding, and, like, they could. I don't know, I'm not. I'm not going. It's fine.

[Kinsey]

Speaking of Zaden, though.

[Hannah]

Speaking of Zaden, he got an empty glass box which is the size of his foot with pewter hinges and edges. And when I tell y' all, like, when I reread this and saw pewter. So pewter is an alloy consisting mostly of tin, which has been mixed with small amounts of other metals such as copper, lead, or animony. I've never heard of that. To harden it and make it more durable. So again, you've heard me say it multiple times so far. Alloys just like daggers are alloy hilted, and Violet's conduit is alloy. It seems like this box will be able to be imbued with magic. We know that Zaden goes on to put his emerald hilted blade of Orisha inside of it on his nightstand, might I add. And I wonder if it will be magically protected. Like, say maybe only him and his family or his wife can access it. Like, how fucking cool would that be?

[Carly]

It would be interesting if it was like, some sort of, like, magical safe. Yeah, yeah.

[Hannah]

It's like, warded, essentially, or can be imbued for whatever. I don't know what else you could do with it, but I wonder if.

[Carly]

Other people couldn't even see what's in it, even though it's a clear glass box. Like, maybe only him and Violet could see what's in it, which would be cool.

[Hannah]

And we wouldn't know because we only get Violet's perspective on it. Wait, that's cool as shit.

[Carly]

That'd be really cool. That'd be like an interesting.

[Kinsey]

Give us more POVs.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I wasn't gonna go there, but she did imply that we're getting more POVs in.

[Carly]

Thank God. I love it.

[Hannah]

I'm so excited.

[Kinsey]

I love multiple POVs.

[Carly]

I'll also add a glass box can symbolize transparency, vulnerability, and fragility. Depending on the context, it can also be used to represent a state of being boxed in, either literally or figuratively, and can evoke feelings of confinement or stereotyping.

[Kinsey]

And he's figuratively boxed into this venom situation. He's trapped and he can't get out.

[Hannah]

I just think it's so notable that it's the size of his foot and it fit perfectly. The blade of Orisha. Or it's the dagger version of it, which, of course, was setting up for Violet, seeing that her ring was, like, the stone was missing and her ring was made out of it. I'm still stuck on the fact that it's still glass. Maybe, but maybe it gets shadowy for everyone else. Like they can't see into it because it's like a shadowed. I see the picture in my head. Sorry if I'm not articulating it correctly, but I really, really love that idea. Okay, but apparently I also have another theory on here. Oh, this is my Taylor Swift reference. Okay, so it's a glass box and it's Zaden. And I've said for forever that this is like a song that fits so well for him. It's called the Archer by Taylor Swift, which was on Rebecca's Iron Flame playlist, specifically the lyrics. And now this song is, like, meant to represent anxiety. So each of these lyrics is repeated. But I'm just for the sake of time, gonna. Cause they see right through me. Can you see right through me? I see right through me. Right. His glass box. It fits so well. It just. But it's also super awful to consider the Archer with what comes up with Trigger. I just don't even feel comfortable saying it because it's so brutal. Yeah.

[Carly]

Yeah. I don't know. The whole Trigger thing is so sad. And it almost not quite ruined the Archer song for me, which is one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs. And I love that song.

[Hannah]

Right. But it's also really strange that Rebecca didn't put this song on her Onyx Storm playlist. Maybe she was like. That would just be too brutal.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, she did.

[Hannah]

Oh, my gosh. I don't know why I didn't think to mention this, but, like, in our actual outline, but thank goodness I remembered she put Circus on it. I don't remember who the artist is.

[Kinsey]

Britney Spears. Wow.

[Hannah]

Oh, my gosh.

[Kinsey]

How do you not know the song?

[Hannah]

I know the song, but I just didn't ever really connect. That was Brittany. Anyways, that is for. It's to represent the games in Zelnya. And she said that in Denver at her Q and A there when we were there.

[Carly]

Oh. So I don't remember that part, that the circus represented the games, but that makes sense. But yeah, I'm glad she didn't put Archer on there. Cause that just would have been cruel.

[Hannah]

Yeah, it would have been a little cruel. But I'm telling you, she thought about it.

[Carly]

She definitely did. All right, next we have Violet. There's a black compass on a dark chain. I glance down as I take it and notice that the needle doesn't point anywhere north. It's broken.

[Hannah]

Is it?

[Carly]

Is it? Is it?

[Kinsey]

No.

[Carly]

Symbolism of a compass is A compass is a symbolic representation of guidance, direction, and purpose in life. It can symbolize finding one's way, staying on course, pursuing dreams. The compass also embodies independence, self reliance, and the ability to find one's way back to one's roots.

[Hannah]

You mean, like, maybe determining one's path, perhaps.

[Carly]

Which, you know, might be a theme in these books. Potentially.

[Hannah]

I don't know. Maybe that's a stretch. I do want to talk about the description of her getting this compass before we jump into, like, more of the theories. Quote, a tall man with bronzed skin and short black hair. Lots of descriptions here. Not everyone got that. Comes forward from the right, and I turn to face him. His dark eyes study me for a moment that quickly becomes awkward. I lift my chin and his mouth tilts into a smirk as he nods subtly, as though finding my reaction worthy.

[Kinsey]

Zaddy.

[Hannah]

I think it's really interesting here that Violet's gift. Only Violet's gift required extra evaluation of worthiness. And while no one probably assumed that the compass was really broken, this emphasizes all the more that it is a particularly important gift.

[Carly]

I felt like the reaction to all of this, like, he's like, use it wisely. And she says, his eyes are blatantly mocking me. I feel like it's foreshadowing that this compass is going to be dangerous to use.

[Hannah]

Ooh, I agree with that.

[Carly]

I think it's his reaction because he knows Violet doesn't understand what the compass can be used for, and maybe he realizes this silly girl is going to use this thing incorrectly. I think it's going to be dangerous to use.

[Hannah]

Well, I want to note that I'm pretty certain wisely is italicized, which is really ironic, considering they worship luck here and they just came from the island that supposedly worships wisdom.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And it's the whole evaluation. I like that.

[Carly]

Yeah. There's just something about his reaction that I was like, oh, she's gonna go think that she can use this for something, and it's not gonna lead her to what she wants or need. Like, it's gonna be. It's gonna lead her to, like, something dangerous.

[Hannah]

Oh, you think the opposite.

[Kinsey]

Well, hopefully he just assumes that she thinks it's gonna lead north, and she's not gonna understand what it can actually lead to. So, like, for me, when I first read this book, I immediately, my brain went, captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean. This is what it is. And so I was like, this is going to take them to the Irids, because at the time, we didn't know where the Irids were. But then once the Irids were found, literally, like the next chapter, I was like, okay, well, what else can it lead her to? Well, Zaden's missing. It could also lead her to a potential cure. If there is a cure.

[Hannah]

Basically, whatever she needs most.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, exactly.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

So I was like, I think it leads to what she most desires, and it could lead her to the ultimate weapon for Zaden. I still think primarily she's going to find him via her dreams. But maybe the compass will be necessary to pinpoint the exact location of where he is or to guide her while she's awake, because she still doesn't really have very much control over his signet. She's sleeping. So maybe it guides her while awake. But also, I held back when we were talking about Zayden's gift, but what if putting the compass inside his box charges or activates the item to help her track the owner? So I was thinking it could almost be like a delayed activation rune. Kind of like how Mari had made these runes for all of the marked ones. Like, it didn't activate until the parents were burned by fire. So maybe the compass is, like, similar where it has to be activated by something, so it has to be combined with, like, another magical object. And maybe that could be his box. So maybe she'll be, like, all sad that he's gone, and she's like, well, let me put my gift and his gift, and then it'll start to spin, and then she'll be able to find him.

[Hannah]

Well, part of why I like that theory a lot, actually, especially considering that I really do think it's going to be imbued in some capacity. One of my thoughts was, like, violet, AKA Rebecca, did not intentionally say where the compass was pointing, just that it wasn't pointing north. And I'm thinking, okay, but Zaden's, like, right next to her, so maybe it is pointing at him. And it didn't need to spin because she's already there, but she has not going to open it up. She literally thought about, like, not taking it with her.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Which for someone who should kind of know most of the customs of these isles, she should know. Which. We'll talk more about this in the Easter egg section. But, like, they say, it's like, a bad thing, a bad omen of some other wording that if you throw away a gift from Zinal.

[Carly]

Right.

[Hannah]

So maybe she put it away and she's not going to open it until after Zaden is gone and she finds out. Like, I've read books, kind of like.

[Carly]

That before I have a thought.

[Hannah]

Sure.

[Carly]

The compass only works when she's dreamwalking. Like, what if she can use it in the dreams?

[Hannah]

You know, I've been wondering a lot as we read ahead for our outlines about the sword of Tyrandor being wielded by Berwyn when it's supposedly with Zaden. Maybe in the dream scene you can summon in some capacity, objects, like, certain magical objects, which.

[Kinsey]

That would be interesting, because, like, I know they say that a way to tell if you're, like, lucid dreaming or not is by, like, looking at a clock. Because usually you can't see clocks when you're dreaming. And, like, I feel like a compass would be kind of similar because it's, like, spinning around, but maybe.

[Hannah]

This is so off topic.

[Kinsey]

No, you're fine.

[Hannah]

But what if the last piece of Zaden's soul was able to be put into his glass box?

[Kinsey]

I've thought about that, like, every day.

[Hannah]

Why did he mention it?

[Kinsey]

Well, I was waiting for it. Well. Cause, like, people say, like. Well, what if it's, like, in the ring? And, like, he puts his dagger in there, but, like, it can hold something. I just, like. I feel like it's magical. It can contain it. What's the pewter mean again?

[Hannah]

That, basically, that it can be imbued.

[Kinsey]

Imbued with magic. It could be. I could see it being more likely that it's in her ring or, like, inviolate herself. I feel like he'd have to dedicate himself to her, and that's how that piece of his soul belongs to her. But I have definitely thought about it being in the box.

[Carly]

Maybe the compass leads her to wherever Malik's land is so she can go demand the rest of his soul back.

[Kinsey]

And Liam, I love that. Get him back. Snatch up.

[Hannah]

Where's my husband's soul? Yes, I just wanted to call. Call him her husband the whole time. Yeah. Okay. Are we ready for Riddick?

[Kinsey]

We are ready for Riddick.

[Carly]

Riddick gets a kiss on both sides of his cheek, which sounds a little nicer than what happened to Dane. And it signifies friendship, respect, or a gesture of politeness. It's a common greeting and farewell in many cultures, often used as a way to show affection, gratitude, or to comfort somebod.

[Kinsey]

Riddick. Girlies, you gotta close your ears.

[Hannah]

I'm an everyone girly.

[Kinsey]

At this point, I do not have good news. So I have a couple of possibilities for this kiss. Some are actually good, but I'm leaning a little bit more towards the not so good. Let's Start with the good first. So it could be a thank you for Riddick favoring Zinal. Or since Riddick is chronically single and constantly bed hopping, maybe it means he'll settle into a relationship with someone. That's me being optimistic. However, I do think it is more likely that this is a kiss of betrayal or a kiss of death. So this scene immediately made me think about a story in the Bible where Judas, who is an apostle, betrayed Jesus by giving him a kiss. And by giving him this kiss, he identified him to enemy soldiers who otherwise wouldn't know who he is. So I think that, like, even though Riddick was the one receiving the kiss, I think he could be the betrayer instead of the one being betrayed. The kiss from Zanal marked him as a warning, and it could explain all of his strange behavior in this book, because I still think that he's been behaving very oddly, and it could potentially lead to him betraying somebody in the future.

[Carly]

Hannah, your face. You look traumatized.

[Hannah]

I understand. It's a good connection.

[Kinsey]

It's gonna get a little bit worse. So if it's a kiss of death, that doesn't need a ton of explanation, but I still will give it. He could be marked for death or failure. And apparently, in the Mafia, a kiss could mark someone for death after they've been caught betraying their boss. So the two kind of go hand in hand. Betray, kiss, expose, die.

[Carly]

I don't like it, Kinsey.

[Kinsey]

I don't like it either, but it's the first thing I thought of when he got this gift.

[Hannah]

I hear you. You know, I've had a couple thoughts about Riddick, and he does act very strange throughout the book. But, like, to some extent in the next couple chapters, when he finds out about Violet hiding Zaden and this whole conversation, he did feel betrayed. So mature. And he seems to handle it, like, as far as, like, the storytelling aspect. I'm sure there's very interesting ways that she could spin it, but I just find so much satisfaction is not the word I'm looking for. But take it enjoyment out of it. Being like, Riddick made the point that everyone else around that knows about Zaden is on his side. They're thinking of him, but he's thinking of Violet. And I just. It could make a betrayal really juicy. But I also. There's just something so powerful about Riddick and Violet's dynamic from that point on in the book. I really don't want it to be this.

[Kinsey]

Me neither.

[Hannah]

But I like it. It's good. Good connections As I sob.

[Carly]

Yeah, as you sob into your microphone.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. It could be like traditional, like Judas Kiss. Like, because he received it, he's the one that was betrayed. Maybe he felt betrayed by Violet for hiding the fact that Zaden is Venon. So maybe it could be that. It could be that they're going to be betrayed later on. I mean, like, he has so many near death experiences. Like, he had it in Iron Flame, he had it in Onyx Storm multiple times. Yeah. So, I mean, it could still be that he's the one that gets betrayed or he could be the one doing the betraying. He might be on the chopping block. I think a lot of us do think that because we love him so much, there's not as much room for him to grow. We know what Rebecca does to characters like that. But it could also just be a mark of friendship.

[Carly]

I mean, I pointed out in our Onyx Storm prep season that I thought, like, Riddick was an interesting character because I felt like he wasn't consistent, but written purposely that way where you weren't really sure what his motivations were and that he seemed to want a bit of glory more than maybe he wanted to let on. And so I do find this interesting. As the way I had read him in Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and then in Onyx Storm, I felt a little differently about him. But again, it's still a character that is sometimes at moments appearing inconsistent to what he seems to want other people to think about him. And we still don't know his backstory. So I could see him betraying them for something regarding his backstory that we don't know about yet.

[Hannah]

Well, and I think I should clarify that. Like any conversation we have about Riddick and what could be going on with him, to me, I think he's. He's sticking around till book five.

[Kinsey]

I hope so.

[Hannah]

So I think whatever is going on with him is going to be like an arc in four. And I think he's going to die in five.

[Carly]

Yeah, yeah.

[Hannah]

No, I think she's making it. She loves to write him. He's her favorite character to write. She said as much. She also had said something that implied that we have two more books with him, thank God. But he's also. He's needed. There's some heavy subjects. Like, there's so much fucking failure in this book that you guys know well enough that I really struggled with that. But he was such a light in that, while also balancing out that you didn't have Rhee there, you didn't have Even Sawyer or Imogen. Imogen. Yeah. So he had to kind of be all of those things for the story on Quest Squad, and I really did appreciate that he was seen as more sophisticated than we title him. Right. He says he reads all the books. He also knows he just tries to be what people need, which is humor most of the time.

[Carly]

Well. And his Taylor Swift song was Mirror Ball.

[Hannah]

Right, Exactly. But all of that to say, I think it's gonna be a big plot point, what is going on with Riddick. And I really don't want it to be negative. I'm holding out for his death to just be, like, the heartbreak, but it could be a betrayal, that is.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

I hope he doesn't betray Violet, though, because he's such a ride or die for her. And he even says so. Like, well, who's gonna take care of you? So he wanted to be on Quest Squad to take care of her, because not many other people are capable of doing that.

[Hannah]

And even Meera, who's supposed to kind of be part of that, like, you can do no wrong.

[Kinsey]

I've done it forever.

[Hannah]

He steps up and kind of, like, takes that role for. He takes so many different roles in this book.

[Carly]

You see him in this book, like, every time Violet might. He thinks that there might be something going on where Violet might be in a little bit of danger, like running to her side to stand there beside her when everything's kind of coming at her, and he's just always by her side. And so I wonder if the betrayal isn't the way we're thinking. It's where it's like, maybe she'll trust him with information and he'll decide to tell somebody because he thinks he's gonna protect Violet from herself. And that's the kind of betrayal.

[Kinsey]

Maybe he doesn't keep the inside thoughts inside and he exposes somebody.

[Hannah]

That could give some double meaning for those moments where he literally says that multiple times. I know it's humorous, but it's also. He could slip up.

[Carly]

Yeah. He could just be a mistake, which I could see happening. But on a slightly, slightly happier note, I'll also point out that a kiss on the cheek is also a greeting and a goodbye. So maybe it's representing a love lost and a love to come.

[Kinsey]

I love that.

[Hannah]

I like that.

[Kinsey]

Let's accept this one. No death, no betrayal.

[Carly]

Because I still think that maybe he had a. Like, I think maybe he was in love with Liam and lost Liam, and that's why he takes taking care of Violet so seriously. But I also Am shipping hard. I know this isn't popular, but I'm shipping hard. Him and Auric. I want him and Auric to end up together.

[Hannah]

That could be interesting. So, yeah.

[Carly]

So maybe I'll get what I want.

[Hannah]

I ship Auric with Cat. Which brings us to our next section. We're going to talk about Cat. So she receives a gold necklace with a dangling ruby the size of her thumb. Violet's thumb, probably the same size. So the symbolism of a ruby. It's a stone of nobility, considered the most magnificent of all gems. The queen of stones and the stone of kings. Ancients believed it surpassed all other precious stones in virtue, and its value exceeded even that of the diamond. Ruby has always been a talisman of passion, protection, and prosperity. It was worn as an amulet or charm to ward off plague and pestilence, warned its wearer of impending danger, kept the body safe, and banished sadness and foolish thoughts. It was reputed to bring its owner peace, drive away frightful dreams, restrain lust, and help resolve disputes.

[Kinsey]

Well, now I know why the ruby's so large.

[Hannah]

Still trying to get over stage. But she did make a lot of progress in that before this. But it doesn't necessarily mean lust for, like, Zayden himself. But maybe the power that comes. And I'll hold off on a little bit, but I do want to point out the drive away frightful dreams is. That cannot be coincidental. All right. There's also the symbolism of gold. Gold is often exchanged as a symbol of blessings, prosperity and good fortune, wealth, divinity, purity, and immortality. It's associated with luxury and success, often used to represent high status and achievement. A lot of overlap with the ruby.

[Carly]

Right.

[Hannah]

In religious and spiritual contexts, gold symbolizes enlightenment, divinity, and the highest spiritual states. As a metaphor, it points to what is superlative in all things human. Indeed, gold symbolizes what is purest, most excellent, most noble, most enduring, most sought after, most ideal, and most valued in terms of human aspirations, human behavior, and human relationships. Basically, Kat got the best possible gift out of everyone and is clearly favored by Zenol.

[Kinsey]

Sounds like it. I mean, holy moly.

[Hannah]

So all of this points to Cat becoming royalty. By the point, the end point of Onyx Storm and actually coming up with a return.

[Kinsey]

She is now second in line.

[Hannah]

Second in line to the throne. To the Promis throne. And that's only if she doesn't get married off to a another member. Okay, so given that Serena is next in line, it could be that either somehow Serena and Tokoris die and Cat takes over. Or Cat marries a Nevarian. Prince to secure an alliance, which I am praying to the gods. Guys, that is Auric, because that, as I said, is my number one ship. But based on his gift, I don't think it's in the cards. But also, that's heartbreaking. Okay, Also, I think there is something more here with who has a ruby, because it is mentioned quite a bit. I'll deep dive all of that and who has what in our gemstones bonus episode. But put simply, I think that wearing rubies will be able to prevent Violet from using her signet to enter their dreams, potentially. Also, like, warding off venom with that mention earlier of it. Warding off evil, like, that's got to be notable. Do you guys have any theories for what this means?

[Kinsey]

I mostly thought it was pointing out to royalty, but when you mentioned favored by Zanal, I mean, like, her boyfriend died, so maybe it's also she got such a nice gift because it's an apology. Like, hey, I'm sorry I killed your man. Here's like, a massive stone piece of jewelry.

[Hannah]

It could. But also, like, and I hear you temporary, short term, definitely didn't seem favored, but, like, long term, this woman has always wanted a crown. Clearly here, if she was gonna be with Trager, was, like, just gonna be a princess, right? So maybe it actually is long term her destiny to have both Auric.

[Carly]

Well, I'm wondering too, though, because it says that it, like, protects the body. I wonder if a Venin couldn't channel from her while she's wearing it.

[Hannah]

Ooh, I love that idea.

[Carly]

Because it talks about protecting from, like, plague and things of that nature. And, you know, oftentimes, like, the way being venom is described, it sounds so much like an infection or like, you know, a disease of some sort. And so I wonder if it, you know, either protects her from being channeled from or from channeling. Maybe she can't turn while she's wearing it.

[Hannah]

That could be a really cool element for Rebecca to fit into the storyline of, like, as of right now. How the fuck are they supposed to defeat Venon when literally they could just decimate the entire ground and you standing on it? So, like, put everybody in a ruby, you know, you'd have a chance.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Or the bracelet from Mira's grandma.

[Carly]

Maybe they need to start making the soles of their shoes out of stuff that's already been drained.

[Hannah]

I'm saying. Yeah, that's smart.

[Kinsey]

They need to do that because, I mean, Tokares palace is built out of stones that have already been drained. So the Venom can't be there.

[Hannah]

Why have they not built everything out of those stones?

[Kinsey]

Because they're dumb.

[Carly]

Well, I'm guessing. I mean, it's probably difficult to move things and rebuild things.

[Hannah]

So somebody long ago. Was it Takarus himself that built that.

[Carly]

Up, or, like, he had it quarried from the river?

[Hannah]

That seems strange.

[Carly]

And he didn't build everything. Like, he just built, like, the. The stands so that way they couldn't channel out from further from the arena because he was treating it like some sort.

[Hannah]

Oh, yeah, that's weird.

[Kinsey]

But, yeah, like, literally, like, if they just put it in their soles or their shoes, I mean, they can still get stabbed, they can still use their signets against them, but they can't train them, which helps to even the playing field a little bit.

[Hannah]

We might have just poked a hole in the plot.

[Carly]

Maybe it's difficult to make shoes out of that.

[Hannah]

They wouldn't even make dragonscale armor. They're like, oh, yeah, well, let's spend time manufacturing shoes.

[Kinsey]

They're too prideful. They have too much of an ego to actually make something protective.

[Hannah]

Next, because there's so many characters and gifts to get through, we got Drake with the claw card, and he gets an orange tabby kitten that he names Broccoli. Rebecca has said that the cat is an orange tabby because that is the kind that her children adopted. I looked up the symbolism of cats, kittens, and of broccoli, so we're gonna go through that real quick. Cats symbolize a wide range of concepts across different cultures, often representing divinity, independence, mystery, and even bad luck. They are revered as symbols of protection and power in some traditions, while in others, they're associated with magic, cunning, or even misfortune. Personally, I can't see Rebecca using a cat is like a negative connotation. But we also have the symbolism of kittens. So they're generally innocence, vulnerability, new beginnings, and joy. They are often associated with playfulness, cuteness, and the potential for personal growth. The curiosity and the symbolism of broccoli, because Broccoli is not her cat's name that the children adopted. So she did come up with this specifically herself. So broccoli assists you in rekindling your love for yourself. It heals the heart chakra and opens you to greater feelings of love for others.

[Kinsey]

Like with Mira.

[Hannah]

Yup. It's a symbol of health, spiritual growth, and positive attitude. And Drake explains that he named him Broccoli because, quote, no one really wants broccoli, but it's good for you. So seems fitting to me.

[Kinsey]

He also Said that he only named the cat Broccoli instead of Carrot because he wanted to annoy Mira. So they are tenet out of ten going to fuck by the end of this.

[Hannah]

I'm still leaving the door slightly open for it to be Serena, but at this point I agree.

[Kinsey]

Well, Serena was gone the entire book. She could be a Venom for all we know. Like, where the fuck is she?

[Hannah]

Just wait for next episode.

[Carly]

And to be clear, we mean Serena with Mira. Yes, yes, yes. Be clear about that.

[Hannah]

I like to be clear myself. I totally ship her and Drake, but, like, I'm not ready to let go of my. I know Mira and Serena.

[Kinsey]

I originally shipped Meera with Serena, but where is she? So. So as Drake was actually given the gift, Violet was 100% convinced that this massive man was about to attack Drake. Part of me wonders if Drake's reaction determined how the claw would be received. So earlier you had mentioned that Violet seemed to be the only character that was judged while she received the gift. I think Drake was too. Oh, because he was stoic. And Violet specifically said he didn't flinch. And she thought this guy was. He was like moving his fist and like, looked like he was about to punch him because he didn't flinch. I think he received the kitten, but if he showed fear or weakness, then maybe he would have actually been attacked. Also, this is unrelated, but what if just receiving a cat is a play on words and it's. Broccoli is supposed to represent cat, as in Catriona, his cousin. And it could be foreshadowing that he needs to protect his cousin, which he literally does after Trager is shot.

[Hannah]

I was like, where are you going? This could be really weird.

[Kinsey]

Really funny.

[Hannah]

No.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. No, no, because like you said, like, it's protection or something earlier or vulnerability and things like that. So.

[Carly]

Yeah. It makes me wonder if maybe we don't realize this, but maybe they were also judging Trager and maybe his gift would have been something slightly different. Maybe he did flinch or show fear and we just don't know because we weren't his perspective. And maybe it would have been different. Like, maybe they were each being judged and we just.

[Kinsey]

So sudden.

[Hannah]

Isn't that what Kinsey just said? What's the difference?

[Kinsey]

About Drake?

[Carly]

I said it about Drake and I'm saying about Trager. Cause Trager does get shot. So maybe. Cause we weren't in his perspective.

[Hannah]

Oh, shit.

[Carly]

Maybe he wouldn't have been shot. Like, maybe it would have been a slightly different gift. Like, maybe he would just have been given a Bundle of arrows or something.

[Hannah]

Or it could have been like a Cupid thing, right? Yeah, like love.

[Carly]

Oh, gosh, I don't love that. But I'm just gonna point out, too, that we did talk about in the episode on Brielle about all the symbols of war. And the only other thing I had to add to this was that there's the claw, and he pulls the claw card. I don't think broccoli is a symbol.

[Hannah]

Of war.

[Carly]

But maybe having the cat is going to somehow lead to some sort of set of events that will set Drake up for something and just.

[Hannah]

To calm everyone's fears. Rebecca did say that broccoli is completely safe for the series. And she's not out here gonna off cats.

[Carly]

Yeah, we're not out here catching off cats.

[Hannah]

She draws the line at dragons.

[Kinsey]

I would literally DNF if she killed Broccoli.

[Hannah]

Yeah. No, she says he's safe in cordon.

[Carly]

So when I start reading books that have pets, like dogs or cats, I always have to check before I start reading to know if they're not gonna make it.

[Kinsey]

There's a website called does the Dog Die?

[Carly]

I literally use that.

[Kinsey]

Movies, shows, books.

[Carly]

I have to know. I can't handle it.

[Hannah]

I literally DNF'd episode two of Game of Thrones because the wolf was killed. I don't play. I haven't watched a single. I couldn't do it after that. I have watched House of Dragon, but it was different, you know? All right, now we do have to talk about Trigger.

[Kinsey]

Finally, the last gift.

[Hannah]

Oh, my gosh. Okay, so he gets. Everybody knows this. He gets an arrow through the heart. So the symbolism was absolutely. An arrow through our hearts, if you will. I want everyone to just applaud me on that one. Thank you. But actually, and quite ironically, an arrow through the heart symbolizes romantic love, specifically the feeling of being smitten or love struck. It also represents the intense emotional impact of falling in love, often associated with Cupid's arrow in mythology. But also, it doesn't have to be romantic. It could be platonic. And connection between two people in general.

[Kinsey]

I did not think it was about love. I thought that the arrow was literally just pointing the way to the Irids. So without the chain reaction of his death, they wouldn't have ventured out to the other isles, the uninhabited ones, and they would have run out of time after Loisam because that was their next destination, and they probably would have just given up. So I think Zannahl and Malak were with them to point the way. I think the arrow was pointing the way, unlike the compass, which was absolutely useless.

[Hannah]

So, basically, in a super twisted and fucked up way, there was luck in Trager's gift, as it is the only reason that they found the island, and that that island specifically was the first safe place uninhibited for the Irids to actually reveal themselves. Because at this point, the Irids imply that they've, like, followed along to watch them. So that's ironic, but it didn't. Fucking sick, Rebecca.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Speaking of, we're also going to talk about the impact of this gift between Cat and Trager, right? And I noted three moments that I guess you could call, like, foreshadowing or just like, really cruel slaps from Rebecca herself through the pages that I want to point out. So in chapter 38, Trager throws his head back in laughter, then reaches up to scratch under Silveraine's silver feathered jaw. The griffin tilts her head to give him easier access and closes her eyes. And I knew on my first read, I literally stopped. And I was like, that's strange to be mentioned. Like, what? It's just really fucking sad that it's the first time that he has gotten to speak telepathically with his Griffin in weeks, and then, boom. That's so sad. I like it. Makes me want to cry. Okay. But specifically, I wasn't even fully bawling my eyes out about Cat. It was sad. But when they talk about Solarine trying to reach Trager's body and she's stumbling and they're all trying to help and.

[Kinsey]

And she didn't make it because it.

[Hannah]

Just reminds me of Zaden picked up Liam and took him over to Day, and that was such an impactful. That's how you'd want to go out as a writer or a Griffin flyer. And they didn't get that. And that's so fucked up. Also, Trager saying, this might be my favorite isle when they arrive, as he takes Kat's hand. I think Rebecca wrote the arrow scene and then she went back and she was like, what can I do to just make this ten times worse? You know? She's really good at that.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And finally, we also get this quote. If you do not accept that luck determines your fate, that Zenal may gift you with great fortune or take it, then we cannot ally ourselves with you. We do not accept those who do not adjust their sails in a storm. And Violet thinks, looking left, then right, I meet the eyes of every person on our squad, starting with Trager. Oh, my God.

[Kinsey]

That was the moment I knew he was toast, it felt like Nadine all over again from Iron Flame when she died. Cause it's like anytime you get a minor character that suddenly is brought up so many times. Cause Silarain was brought up as an afterthought. When they're like, we're glad to see the Griffons too, I guess. And then she looks at Trager. I was like, you know what? They're getting a lot of mentions all at once. Game over.

[Hannah]

You know, you're like, on edge when the author starts mentioning, especially before a battle. But I just didn't. Everything seems so positive at the beginning, and it just wipes you right under your feet. So Cat's reaction to him being shot.

[Carly]

Right.

[Hannah]

And the cruelty of her not really being able to react. Not even just that, but also that Violet has to, like, see her squad make it shot, see Cat's reaction, and then turn around and say thank you.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, it's pretty fucked up.

[Hannah]

That's one of the most intense moments of the book. I feel like.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Hannah]

I do also want to ask, like, Derbeard said that they were watching. Do you feel like how Violet reacted here is potentially like, what the Irids saw? And somehow, someway, somewhere, they determined that an action on Violet's part did not represent peace or, like, align with their morals.

[Carly]

I almost feel like they would have seen her, though, reacting with peace to violence. You would think maybe that's why they chose to expose themselves at all.

[Hannah]

Oh, they're like, okay, we're gonna give you a chance now. But something before that. Let's flip this for a second. Maybe it was how EDN Darne explained her story, but they were saying, we've watched it, but I gotta look back with that quote. We'll save that for next episode. But I think it's really interesting. And the last thing I want your thoughts on is how Cat specifically said she was the one who asked Trager to come on the mission and basically was taking the responsibility of his death on her.

[Kinsey]

It kind of felt like Zaden with Liam. Cause he asked Liam to go with them to Athpen and to be Violet's bodyguard and blamed himself for it. I also noticed. Well, for one, Violet blames herself a lot for Trager's death. But also Andarna was full of grief and really upset. And I was like, okay. I didn't realize that Silaraine and Andarna, like, had a really good relationship. But I wonder if Andarna also felt guilty because they're on this Quest because of her to find her family, and the Griffin died. So I think that there's a lot of guilt going around between all of these characters to share.

[Carly]

I mean, I think that's one of the things that I feel like is represented really well in these books, is survivor's guilt, which is really intense, and it's not necessarily logical, but it's still a very real feeling, and I think it's expressed really well. It's really sad and heartbreaking, which is what that feels like, Rip.

[Hannah]

Well, you know, to kind of lighten the mood, Rebecca did say in that interview the other day that people have to die, because otherwise it would just be dragons, sex, and ice cream.

[Kinsey]

I mean, nobody's upset about that.

[Hannah]

I would not. But you know what? It does add an emotional stakes.

[Carly]

I mean, if you want that, there is cozy fantasy out there.

[Kinsey]

That's true.

[Carly]

She never pretended that that's what this was gonna be.

[Hannah]

She basically said she set us up in chapter whatever Dylan died in To Let Us Kill. It's like chapter two, literally.

[Kinsey]

So if you guys don't remember, that's the guy that was engaged before crossing parapet and then died immediately in Point Wing.

[Hannah]

Yeah, Transition after that one.

[Kinsey]

I know. Well, it's okay. I like books that hurt me, so I'm gonna just keep reading them. Anyway. Now that we have finally covered all of the meanings and theories for the different gifts, I want to talk about how the crowd reacted to Quest Squad receiving them. So Meera, Violet, Riddick, Drake, and Trager are the only ones whose gifts elicit a response from the crowd, at least as far as Violet is telling us. Meera is given a round of applause as she receives the wine. Violet is studied, smirked at, and mocked by the man who hands her the compass. But the crowd itself does not react in any way.

[Hannah]

Oh, that's strange.

[Kinsey]

Yes. Riddick and Drake both receive cheers from the crowd. And the crowd goes silent when Trager.

[Hannah]

Pulled his card to quell some Riddick girlies. Hearts. Right. Now, that actually implies to me that it's quite positive.

[Kinsey]

Could be. Could be. We'll see. I think so. There's no doubt in my mind that the crowd knows exactly what each gift means and how it'll be received. So maybe they just reacted certain ways because some gifts are deemed more exciting than others. But on that train of thought, it is odd to me that Dane getting slapped didn't get a response from the crowd at all. Because you'd think, like, they would laugh, they would cheer. Something along those lines. But there was no crowd response for Dain. And she does go into detail about, like, the whole situation. Like, it wasn't just like a one liner. Like with Marin, where it's like she got two orange tunics. Like, Dane had, like, a whole scene of a couple paragraphs receiving his gift, but there was no crowd reaction. So I just think that's weird.

[Hannah]

Maybe with Dane, it's a fact that they don't understand the implications because they don't know his. His gift. So they're like, could be. Because if you don't know to who Dane is in the backstory, why would you laugh at that? Yeah, I'd be kind of like, okay.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, but I mean, like, they got excited when Riddick was getting a kiss. And Dane and Riddick are the only ones who got a non physical gift. They received symbolic gestures. Like, they were touched instead of given an object.

[Hannah]

Yeah. A kiss is like, of course, you whoop and holler for, like, you know, so I.

[Kinsey]

Then there's also the fact that everyone celebrated after the event was over. We can look at all of the symbolism for each gift as much as we want. But I think we still need to keep a close eye on Meera, Riddick, and Drake. Because the people of Zelnya know a lot more than we do about this, and they understand the implication of each gift that was received.

[Carly]

I almost wonder, though, if we need to pay more attention to the gifts that didn't get chairs.

[Hannah]

Like, maybe they're more dangerous.

[Carly]

So I don't know. I'm concerned about that compass and what it does.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, because they went silent when Trager got his gift, and this was before he was shot. He pulled the card and the crowd quiets.

[Hannah]

I mean, you also theorize that maybe there's multiple potential gifts dependent on reactions. So, like, maybe they were silent, waiting to see if he did pull that one. And of course, you're not gonna cheer when that's the one that's pulled, but, like, you're gonna wait on the edge of your seat to see, like, if it is.

[Carly]

Yeah, maybe some of them are, like, always good. And some of them depends on your reaction.

[Hannah]

I do really enjoy that you picked up on all the crawl reactions. Because I was so focused on, like, the gift itself. So good call there.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

We do have one last discussion question. It's a quick one. We got this line from Taryn. I'll say the same. When you've been unable to communicate with your mate for weeks and then are deprived by choice, and Violet responds, humans don't mate. And Taryn, of course, quips back. Another sign of your inferiority. So do we take this as fact that in this world they don't have mates for humans, or do we think this was to throw us off?

[Kinsey]

I mean, it's not the first time Taryn has called Zaden Violet's mate. They might not be, like, fated mates, but it's her chosen partner. And since dragons consider their partners as mates, I think that's just, like, why he's referring to Zayden that way. So he's just, like, assuming, like, oh, it's your mate. Like, he's not saying it's your boyfriend because he doesn't refer to Sigeil as his wife or his partner. He says mate.

[Hannah]

Yeah. And I don't know when this era was that she had this interview, but she has. Don't quote me on it exactly, but I think it's. Iron Flame said previously that she hadn't really decided whether or not she was going to make fated mates an actual thing in her story, but she really wanted the focus. She wanted to flip it on its head and make the dragons mates. But she seemed like she was leaving room for human mates as well. All I'm saying is that these consistent mentions are either meaningful and are foreshadowing that they are, or she's toying with us because she knows that we wonder if they're really mated and how that would really play in. And I don't know that I need them to be fated mates because I don't really know what that would do for the Venon dynamic, the storyline and stuff. But she's definitely fucking with us.

[Carly]

I definitely think that there is going to be a tie between them and it isn't necessarily fated mates, but something cosmic is going on where they're drawn to each other.

[Kinsey]

Hell, yeah.

[Hannah]

Which I love.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Speaking of things we love, time to head on over to the healer's quadrant to take a temperature check on our characters, our favorite moments and standout quotes. Who was hot for you this week, Hannah?

[Hannah]

Zayden, as always. Yep. Enough said.

[Kinsey]

I loved Aatrim, Riddick and Zaden.

[Carly]

I still loved Violet this week. I think that this is, like, a really difficult task for her and she.

[Hannah]

Still handled it, especially the thank you moment.

[Carly]

Oh, yeah, like that. And then having to go to the queen and negotiate and, like, just handled it.

[Hannah]

That's rough. I should have also put Riddick and.

[Carly]

A trim for their print war, but.

[Kinsey]

Well, I actually added a trim before the prank wore apart because Aytrim was protective over the bodies. And he carried Silarain across the isles. And so, like, the fact that he was, like, the first dragon, that was, like, standing guard. I was like, okay, Aytrim, you got it for me.

[Hannah]

Well, that brings us to our knot. And mine is Rebecca for how she described Scylla's death.

[Kinsey]

I had Calixta and Zanal.

[Carly]

Yeah. For me, it was Zannal.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Imagine that.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Favorite moments.

[Hannah]

Oh, okay. I've got a couple of them. When Zaden uses this small amount of power on the black sand island to curl a wisp of inky black shadow up Violet's leg and around her torso to caress the side of her face. Shut the fuck up. Oh, it's so good. Okay. And then also, of course, I did have a trim playing in the water and soaking Riddick as part of their ongoing prank war. Side note, itching powder. I would have killed Riddick myself if I was his dragon.

[Kinsey]

Riddick and Aytrim's prank war is literally my favorite scene of this entire book. When I finished Onyx Storm and was like, self reflecting, like, okay, how would I write this book? What did I think? I kept coming back to this scene. I loved it so much. I thought it was so cute. It fit them so well. And just being splashed. And he's like, you're such a dick. And I'm like, that is such a different dynamic from Violet and Teryn. And so I just loved it so much. I think it was fun.

[Hannah]

And doesn't she comment that? And he's like, you're not supposed to under. Oh. Taryn, I think, is like, you're not supposed to understand, like, other dragons.

[Kinsey]

And she's like, you guys are so weird. And Riddick's like, well, maybe we're not the weird ones. Like, everybody else is weird. And I'm like, yeah, I love those.

[Hannah]

Yeah, Carly.

[Carly]

It was Sigale finally speaking to Zaden. That was, like, my favorite part.

[Kinsey]

He needed his mother figure after leaving.

[Carly]

Hidanis, so I know he needed that. Like, she was, like, yelling at him, and he's, like, smiling. He's just so happy. She's finally speaking to him. So that was my favorite moment.

[Hannah]

Poor baby, though.

[Kinsey]

My Shayla.

[Hannah]

Well, in your favorite quote, Carly, since you have just one this week. Yes.

[Carly]

Just you and me today, Honey bear. Garrett swings his arm over Zaden's shoulder. Don't worry. He leans in and whispers, I'll take good care of you.

[Kinsey]

This is literally also one of my favorite quotes of this book.

[Hannah]

Yeah, Carly. Did I type this in for You.

[Carly]

You did?

[Hannah]

I did. Okay. I've, like, worked ahead on a couple outlines, but I thought I removed it.

[Kinsey]

And you put it in.

[Carly]

I was like, yep, that's it.

[Hannah]

That's the one. That's the one. We know each other so well.

[Carly]

I know. It makes me so happy.

[Hannah]

Oh, I'm next, though. Okay, so I have two. Violet is thinking about the possibility that they could lose the war to Dark wielders and tearing things. At least we're already in with the enemy.

[Kinsey]

I.

[Hannah]

You know, I'm a Zayan, girly. I don't even know what to say. But that was a good line.

[Kinsey]

That was so good.

[Hannah]

Okay. And then, of course, Zayden, you're the only thing I can't fathom losing because of. Shocker.

[Carly]

That one was in there.

[Hannah]

He can see. Yours is a list.

[Kinsey]

I have a list. As always. So between Meera and Riddick, Mera said, I don't care if she hands you a steaming pile of goat shit, no one complains. Got it. Smile and thank her. This is our last real chance to secure an army. And Riddick says, what if it's cow shit that's considerably heavier. Then Zaden, he says, I'm more worried about the implications of that hit and a little jealous of the woman who delivered it.

[Hannah]

Talking about Dean's slap. Yep.

[Kinsey]

And finally, I have this quote between Zaden and Violet. They are talking about broccoli here. And Zaden says, what the fuck are we going to do with that thing for the rest of the trip? And Violet, it says, keep Andarna from eating it.

[Carly]

So poor broccoli.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Scared for its life.

[Hannah]

Riding on the back of dragons for, like, hours across the continent.

[Kinsey]

Yes.

[Carly]

I'm just, like, picturing broccoli in, like, a front pack on Drake.

[Kinsey]

Like, oh, yes, cute cat, dad.

[Carly]

Yeah. Now, let's stop by the scribe quadrant for our epigraph analysis of the most thought provoking epigraphs.

[Kinsey]

The chapter 38 epigraph reads, to live amongst the zilni, you must prepare to accept luck as your guide and chaos as your standard. Isle of Zenaal by Major Asher Sorrengale.

[Carly]

And the word chaos is interesting here because I have theorized that there might be a God of chaos, and that might be what they are worshiping on Hadatas. But a God of luck would also fit in with being a God of chaos.

[Kinsey]

Also, just pointing out here that Asher was promoted to major by the time he wrote the epigraphs for chapters 38 and 39, so we can assume that Xelnya was one of the last isles he visited.

[Hannah]

The chapter 39 epigraph reads, Sometimes the best gift the God of luck can give is his absence. The Isle of Zinal, by Major Asher Zorngail.

[Carly]

This epigraph suggests that there may be more safety in Zinal's absence, and that the God of luck may be more dangerous or sinister than we realize, as luck can always turn on you.

[Hannah]

It also makes it all sound quite a bit meddlesome to me. Like, if he's paying attention to you, she could go left.

[Carly]

Yeah, I guess it depends on if he favors you or not.

[Kinsey]

It makes me wonder what Asher encountered in Zelnya. Like, I wonder, was this his last hope for finding Violet's cure? And he was forced to resort to Dune's dedication after that because he had bad luck. He ran out of luck, so his last resort ended up being Dune.

[Carly]

Do we think Violet has a gift of Zinal at home that her dad had that she doesn't realize?

[Hannah]

I will say I don't necessarily think it implies that he faced bad luck. I think he could just have observed, for research purposes, that that kind of could happen to people, but could be. I like that theory, Carly. I'm just down for like all these magical objects and I just wonder if.

[Carly]

She has one and she doesn't know it.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

The Chapter 40 epigraph reads, quote, conscription rates are hereby doubled for each province until further notice. Public Notice 634.23 Transcribed by Percival Fitzgibbons.

[Hannah]

This epigraph is dated year 634. And all but the prologue of Onyx Storm takes place in 635. Now shit hit the fan. And resident summer of 634. And it would make sense that Navarre would double their conscription to prepare for Venant attacks getting worse.

[Kinsey]

It's also notable that Fitzgibbons is the guy that reads the death roll at Basgaeth.

[Hannah]

So also makes sense that he would be putting up public notices about conscription rates, which is surely to lead to lots of death.

[Kinsey]

Yay.

[Hannah]

Now take flight with us to the hatching grounds for our Easter eggs. And moments of foreshadowing, including moments that stood out during this reread and may spiral into theories. Starting with chapter 38. We have the apricot tunics. Violet describes color filling the crowd, but everyone sitting in the front row is dressed in identical sleeveless tunics. The shades of apricots. I of course, looked up the symbolism of the apricot color. Its warmth, happiness, optimism, energy, playfulness and nostalgia. But then Calixta was described as wearing an orange tunic and matching scabbard. Orange, in contrast to apricot, is a color with diverse symbolism, generally associated with optimism, energy and enthusiasm. Yes, but also with with pride, impatience, and even deceit in some contexts. Oh.

[Kinsey]

Which is interesting considering that Zaden knew that she was going to trick them.

[Carly]

Regarding Auric Signet, we get this moment between Violet and Auric. She says, you didn't think we should know you speak fluent everything. And he responds and nullify ATO's reason for joining. I think this is confirmation that Arryk knew they would need Dain, that it was important that he was there or something would go wrong.

[Hannah]

So our theories in the last million episodes are not baseless.

[Kinsey]

Yay.

[Hannah]

We also have this moment where Violet prays to Zinal himself that this encounter goes better than our last. So that's a quote. This strongly contrasts to Violet's chapter 40 Thoughts where she thought, quote, thank you, Amari. Not sure if I'll ever pray to Zenal again.

[Kinsey]

We had briefly mentioned this earlier, but Violet did not want to keep her gift and Zaden said, quote, it's it's bad luck to throw away a gift from Zenal. As far as we know, nobody did throw away their gift. But I think this is foreshadowing that someone might be throwing away or not using their gift in book four and will suffer the consequences. So, Drake, you better protect Broccoli with your life. Besides Broccoli and Xaden's box, we don't really see anyone else bringing up their physical objects. Again, as we mentioned, we don't see Violet ever use or wear her compass. I could see Cat refusing to wear her necklace because it could bring bad memories of Trager being killed. And I wonder if perhaps her refusal to wear it will cause her harm. And if the ruby protects, then I guess that also goes hand in hand because she doesn't have that protection and she's refusing a gift from Sanal.

[Hannah]

We also get mention of Violet slowing down time when Trager staggers backwards. She thinks time slows to a crawl as he turns toward us with three fumbling footsteps.

[Kinsey]

And that wasn't the only time, pun intended, that it was mentioned.

[Hannah]

We're insufferable this episode.

[Kinsey]

Yes, we are. I actually counted four quotes from these chapters where time appeared to slow down for Violet. In one of them she said, quote, I suck in one full breath, then another, and the world spins back to normal speed.

[Hannah]

So if you are a Violet still has andarna's feathertail gift truther. This. This is some support for that.

[Kinsey]

Thanks, Carly, for that theory.

[Hannah]

As for chapter 39, we get a bunch of foreshadowing for Violet leading Tyrandor. Violet says to Zaden that she isn't meant to lead. And he responds, the best leaders are the ones who never want the job. And right after that, they have this conversation where Xaden says, imagine who you'll become when you finally learn to not just embrace that confidence, but live it in. Violet jokes, you. And he says, better than me. You have to be. You promised to help me protect Tirandor, remember? And Violet responds, I remember. I meant it. I'll stand by your side. But he didn't respond to that because he knew it wouldn't be by his side. And Violet then tells him that they will find a cure. And he says, there is no cure for me. That's why you have to become better than me. There's only you. And I was in complete denial still.

[Kinsey]

Meanwhile, Carly and I gave up at, like, chapter what, 19, dude, last chapter for me.

[Hannah]

I was still like, no, this is gonna switch around. No, I'm dead serious.

[Kinsey]

That's really sad for you.

[Hannah]

Speaking of.

[Kinsey]

Speaking of Zaden, I think this quote between Violet and Taryn foreshadows that we'll have an enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers dynamic quote. We could lose the war to the dark wielders. I refuse to let that happen. Then Taryn says, at least we're already in with the enemy. And Violet says, go back to sleep and thinks Zaden isn't the enemy. He's been infected by it.

[Hannah]

Also, we get clarification that Koda is the one that's pulling the strings. Violet thinks Taryn will always lead and I will always be his rider. Coda speaks through Melgren, not the other way around. We're gonna put that in our back pocket for some theories.

[Kinsey]

When Violet thanked them for killing Trager, she said she, quote, expelled another piece of her humanity. It made me think of Venon and how they lose pieces of their soul and lose their humanity in the form of losing their emotions and connections. It makes me wonder if Violet literally lost a piece of her humanity and soul here for clearly rejecting a gift within her heart.

[Carly]

Oh, I like that.

[Kinsey]

And now she's Zinal's.

[Carly]

I had a theory previously regarding Violet being able to wield Dune's wrath. I think we have some more foreshadowing for that. We get this quote, wrath stiffens my spine, and I cut off the part of me that cries for Trager and Selah, leaving only the weapon Bazga forged me to be. But it's not my blade. The situation calls for. Fighting would be too easy. Killing them all for what they've done would be a fitting punishment. And we get another quote. I'm torn between the pathetic instinct to wallow in self pity and the opposing yet growing urge to channel a power greater than anger. Getting a lot of mentions of Violet's wrath and her wanting to wield anger. I just think we're getting more foreshadowing that Violet can wield Dune's wrath.

[Kinsey]

I also thought it was interesting that despite Taryn claiming the pantheon are puny gods, it seems like they're more powerful than dragons. Because you said it was more powerful than Taryn's power.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

I don't know. There seems to be some contention between the dragons and the gods.

[Kinsey]

Oh, definitely.

[Hannah]

Oh, for sure.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

There was a moment where Violet saw Meera and thought she looked just like their mother. In the same breath, Violet remembered that Lilith died so they'd have a chance to fight this war. I think this foreshadows that Meera will not only step into General Sor and Gail's shoes, but also that she might not make it to the end of the series. The comparison was just a little bit too close for comfort.

[Hannah]

Good riddance.

[Kinsey]

Honestly, at this point and for chapter.

[Hannah]

40, the black sand from the nearby volcano really struck me as interesting. So of course I did a little googling and I found that the darker color of the sand is caused by the mixture of minerals inside the lava. The minerals giving the darker colors are mostly iron oxide oxides, such as magnetite. Now, magnetite is believed to have metaphysical properties related to grounding, protection and strength. It is thought to provide a strong connection to the Earth and enhance physical energy and vitality. Some also associate it with protection, particularly in battle, and believe it can enhance mental clarity and focus. So this is what they're standing on on this aisle when they meet the Irids. Keep that in mind for next week.

[Kinsey]

And I definitely debated here if the stronger amplification of magic was due to the sand or the presence of the Irids, or both.

[Hannah]

Oh.

[Carly]

Interesting.

[Hannah]

I definitely lead to the sand, but I like that it's both. Also, that's not even all I looked at. I forgot that I also looked up basalt. Okay, so that is part of what the sand is made of. Carly actually tipped me into this one.

[Carly]

I honestly never thought I'd be using my geology training so much in A book.

[Hannah]

Here we are. Just wait for that. That deep dive episode. Guys, on all the gemstones. Okay, so basalt is a stone of strength, courage and stability. Brings vitality to its owner and is filled with a strong energy of heat and fire. So. Makes sense. Volcano. It is also a good amulet that can give you power to live through today and tomorrow. Helps to diminish the negative aspects of one's character, which I just think is so interesting to consider when you think about that conversation with the Irides and how they seem to be like judging character. Right. Still a failure. But not entirely, technically, because Len does end up coming back, so it's just interesting to think. I don't even know if Rebecca went this far in it, but if she did, here's what she found.

[Kinsey]

And if she didn't, she'll see this someday. Maybe. Probably not. And be like, these girls are crazy.

[Hannah]

In real deep. Okay. We also, this is separate Easter egg. Have this moment where it could be foreshadowing that Zaden somehow literally gives his soul to Violet. I mean it when I say, you own my soul. You're the only place I feel completely like me anymore.

[Kinsey]

Just briefly, for Bloodwatch, we already did mention how Auric was cut by his glass mirror. It is safe to remove him as a suspected Aesim Venon, but this doesn't mean he can't turn and become the brother later on. He just isn't a Venin now.

[Carly]

Fair enough.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

And finally, we get this little bit of foreshadowing for book four. Violet is telling Taryn she'll be back tonight regarding Sigale, and he responds, I'll say the same. When you've been unable to communicate with your mate for weeks and are then deprived by choice. I think this is foreshadowing for Violet and Zaden, having to choose the mission over the ability to see each other and communicate. In book four, I hate that it.

[Hannah]

Would be Teryn to be like, he'll be back tonight.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I told you so. He totally would.

[Carly]

Yeah. And finally, let's talk theories. Time for your signet sparring professors to help you hone your farsight and precognition signets.

[Kinsey]

If each dragon den is linked to one God, like how Taryn is often compared to Dune's wrath, then I think the orange dragons are tied to Zanna. Not only does Xelnia have lots of orange everywhere, with Merrind receiving two orange tunics and everyone wearing apricot orange, but the game of chance was also very chaotic. And I think that this matches Perfectly. With orange dragons being so unpredictable.

[Carly]

100% agree. I also want to point out that we get blue robes in unbriel, and blue dragons are the most ruthless, and that would be Dune's Island. We get green robes, and Hadadis and Greens are supposed to be the calmest dragons, and that's supposed to be the island of, like, wisdom and peace, even.

[Hannah]

Though it was quite uncalm. But, yes, I hear you. I'm.

[Carly]

That's fair. And if you think about the color spectrum, there are seven colors in the light spectrum of the dragons, we have four dragons within the color spectrum. Blue, green, orange, and red. And of the robes, we have three colors that correspond to these colors, but none that do not. So in the light spectrum, that would be yellow, indigo, and violet. That is not represented. So I find it interesting that all of the colors match up to a dragon and none of them don't. I think it's possible that each God could be connected to each dragon to match their color.

[Kinsey]

Fully agree.

[Carly]

Yep.

[Kinsey]

When discussing what to do with Trager and Scyllah's bodies, Chat said, we can't trust anyone not to dig up whatever's left of her bones out of morbid curiosity. We know Vennon have medicinal uses, and Carly did not like that. And now I'm wondering if griffins do too. So they're either hiding and burning her bones out of respect or because it could be used for some sort of magical properties. And the flyers and the griffins don't want people to know about it.

[Carly]

Yeah, I don't like that. Regarding the Irids, we get this quote. Riddick and I will take this section. I drag my finger to an eastern chain about two hours away. I think the Irides revealed themselves in order to keep Riddick and Violet from locating their island as they saw them planning to go there. The island they're on now also has more magic than Zinal, so it would make sense that they are experiencing more magic the closer they get to the Irids.

[Hannah]

Ooh.

[Kinsey]

Which is interesting, because Hadatas is the other isle, right next to Xelnya, and it had the least amount of magic. I think Zelnya is the reason people in the Isles believe dragons die with their riders. I think it's possible they played this game of chance before and wanted to test it out on a dragon rider. So when Quest Squad first arrived, they were extremely excited to see dragons. The Griffons were just there, and nobody was too excited to see the griffin because they already normally die with their flyers. The crowd Went silent once the arrow was drawn. This means they know what the card symbolizes. We already went over this and understand that someone was probably about to die. If it wasn't already confirmed that dragons die with their riders, then maybe the arrow card was included in the deck just to test out the theory. Then after the event, people were drinking, celebrating, treating it like a festival. So I think the crowd's reaction was just very odd. And before the started, Zaden said he knew it was a trick, but he couldn't get a proper read on Calixa because the magic wasn't strong enough. What if they were hoping to kill an Irid specifically? Because Calixta had her eyes set on Andarna, she was asking where the Irid was. Theophany alluded to the same exact thing. And they treated Andara with respect. So maybe it could be like a sacrificial type of killing. Maybe it gives them like a special ability. I don't know. But I think that they've killed Dragon Riders in the past. And maybe we're hoping to see a dragon die.

[Carly]

Oh, like they'd want the Irid to die too, specifically, you're saying?

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Oh my goodness.

[Kinsey]

Watch out, Andarna.

[Carly]

So you think the whole we revere dragon kind is just a facade that they don't?

[Kinsey]

Yeah, but it was like a respect thing because, like, it was the same with like, Theophany. Like, she also bowed to Andarna and like, treated her with respect. But she definitely seems like she wanted to harm Andarna. So I wonder if it's just like a super powerful gift to give to the gods as a sacrifice. And maybe by killing a dragon or an Irid specifically can give you that power. I don't know. Who knows?

[Carly]

We get this observation of Drake from Violet's perspective. It says, quote, Drake's face crumples for the length of a heartbeat as he whispers in her ear, referring to Cat. Her feet stop kicking and she sags against his chest. This is when Cat is freaking out because Trager has just been killed in front of her and Drake is trying to keep her from audibly reacting because you're not allowed to. But the way it's written, it's like the second he whispers in her ear, she just goes limp. I think it's possible that Drake has some sort of ability through his lesser magic that can cause people to be incapacitated or calm them down or something along those lines. But he seemed to get her to stop immediately. And I think this is tied to whatever his lesser Magic is.

[Hannah]

I really like that.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I would like for him to be a little bit more interesting.

[Kinsey]

I was just paying attention to, like, how much his arms are flexing in that scene. I was like, damn, he works out. All right. Last theory. We've made it. I think Malak helped them to connect with the Irids just as much as Zannahl and the gods are still vying for Violet's favor. They essentially needed a death sacrifice to lead them to the Isles, and Chat insisted on properly commending their souls. Then once they burned the bodies and the rest of Quest Squad left, Violet had to remain behind because Chat said no one leaves an offering to Malak unattended. Malak could have forced them to stay longer and wait until Violet was alone by keeping up the flames to give Irids the most opportune moment to finally appear.

[Hannah]

Oh, so I like the idea that the gods are meddling more than we, like, immediately connect.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. And I definitely think my first read, I was thinking, oh, it was all zinal, but, I mean, they needed death, and then they stayed on the island because of burning bodies.

[Carly]

Do we think that maybe the gods haven't done more to stop the Venin? Because the dragons have such disdain for the gods, and so they're just like, fine, then you handle it, maybe, and.

[Kinsey]

They'Re not doing a good enough job, so they have to finally intervene.

[Hannah]

I always come back to what Rebecca said in her conversation with Christopher Paolini, the author of Eragon, where they were talking about writing dragons and stuff. And she had mentioned that in Onyx Storm, which I think got taken out in edits. I think it's gotten moved forward. But she said that she really wanted to emphasize the culture of the dragons and how their brutality against humans didn't have to be that way and how they were going to face the consequences of that, which, first of all, I don't pick that up in Onyx Storm. I don't pick up that they were facing consequences of, like, how terrible they've been to humans, unless, that is how the Isles have reacted to them. But I just kind of thought we would see it more in a revelation that they were the evil ones.

[Carly]

Or, like, I think we'll see it more in future books.

[Hannah]

I think it's going to be future books.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

But I think that that still connects to what you're saying about, like, if the gods are not really getting involved, it could just be because they're just trying to let them face the consequences of their own actions with the humans.

[Carly]

Yeah. Book four Man Book four and that.

[Kinsey]

Wraps up our Deep Dive episode of Onyx Storm chapters 38 40. Thank you so much for listening. Before we go, we want to give a special shout out to our newest Feathertail Patreon member, Lauren C. Thank you all for supporting the podcast and helping us to continue create high quality content. If you'd like to hear your name in a future episode, you can join our Feather Tales Tier 3 and we'll make sure to shout you out in our next recorded episode as a Feather Tale.

[Hannah]

You'll also get exclusive ad free full video episodes with the option of audio only, early access to our regular season episodes, access to our book Club Discord and Livestream meeting, voting privileges for our book club and various PDF resources including Carly's weekly Onyx Storm annotations and more. If you'd like to join but would prefer to keep your name private, just let us know. You can check out our Patreon linked in the show notes to see all the perks across our three tiers. We also have a base tier for general support and donations as well. And please note that Apple now charges a 30% fee for Patreon members on iOS devices, so we highly recommend using a web browser or desktop to become a member so you aren't charged that fee. And if Patreon isn't for you, there are still plenty of ways to support leaving us review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify subscribing. Recommending us to your fellow empyrean readers and simply tuning in to each episode goes so far.

[Carly]

Thank you again for listening. Don't forget to join us for our next episode where we deep dive chapters 41 through 44. If you haven't already, check out our first season chapter by chapter's deep dive on fourth wing through the Lens of Iron Flame. There are over 30 hours of Bingeworthy content to explore where we pick up all of the things that Iron Flame changed about Fourth Wing.

[Kinsey]

As always, we encourage you to email us all of your thoughts, theories and suggestions. Feel free to DM us on Instagram or join us over on our free Discord Group chat. If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. It would mean the world to us.

[Hannah]

Also, join us for Book Club May 28. Until next time, dearest Fantasy readers, prepare yourselves to fail the mission as we continue our journey through the Inferior series. Yay. Yay.

[Carly]

Really quick. Before we jump into the next thing, I need to buy those covers in 30 seconds.

[Kinsey]

I was wondering if that's what your thing was.

[Hannah]

Do you want to tell our listeners for the blooper what you're doing instead of filming our episode right now?

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

So we're taking a pause because my favorite book jacket book cover company, Charlie and Fox that makes protective covers, is doing an onyx storm release of their book jackets. And it's in 30 seconds.

[Kinsey]

And I told the team, get on your computer.

[Hannah]

Are you logged in?

[Carly]

I'm already logged in.

[Hannah]

She's like, yeah, I had this.

[Carly]

I was already ready. I had it up. I had the timer counting down and I just need a couple covers and a book sleeve and we'll be on my merry way.

[Kinsey]

It's in six seconds.

[Carly]

I know. I'm very stressed out.

[Kinsey]

Oh, it looks cute, isn't it?

[Hannah]

It's really cute.

[Carly]

I think it might be my favorite.

[Kinsey]

Oh, let's go, go, go.

[Carly]

I'm going.

[D]

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