Ep. 6 Onyx Storm Deep Dive: Ch. 13-16 | Easter Eggs, Theories & Key Moments

Summary

Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast: Onyx Storm Deep Dive – Chapters 13-16

Episode Overview: In this episode of Dear Fantasy Reader, hosts Hannah, Kinsey, and Carly embark on an in-depth exploration of Chapters 13 through 16 of Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm, the latest installment in the beloved Empyrean series. This deep dive unpacks intricate plot developments, character dynamics, hidden easter eggs, and compelling theories that enrich the narrative.

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1. Chapter Recap: Navigating the Quest Squad's Challenges

Kinsey provided a succinct overview of the chapter events:

• Research Struggles: Jesenia is removed from the Adept Path due to failing three exams, a demotion orchestrated by Colonel Markham (00:04-04:02).
• Signet Sparring Sessions: Professor Ryerson conducts intense sparring sessions with the cadets, highlighting Zaden's superior combat skills and his complex relationship with Violet (04:16-05:13).
• Internal Conflicts: The Quest Squad grapples with internal politics and forbidden relationships, particularly between Violet and Zaden, amidst external threats from the Venin and Signy flyers (05:29-19:48).

2. Analysis and Discussion: Unraveling Key Theories and Foreshadowing

Violet's Pregnancy Theory: Hannah introduced a popular listener theory that Violet might be pregnant, spurred by Sawyer's quote:

"Legacies usually make for stronger riders..." (06:34)

Hosts' Insights:

• Rebecca Yarros' Clarification: The author debunks this theory, emphasizing the precarious environment for raising children within the story's context (06:34-08:32).
• Alternative Interpretations: The hosts delve into Violet's interactions with love and wisdom deities, speculating on the significance of specific temples and the potential linkage between gods and critical story elements (08:32-16:00).

Cygnisen Province Mysteries: Carly led a detailed breakdown of the enigmatic Cygnisen province, exploring its historical absorption by Breivik, its current non-involvement in Venin attacks, and the suspicious activities hinting at deeper political conflicts (16:00-32:00).

Professor Grady's Suspicions: Discussion centered on Professor Grady's questionable motives during the Quest Squad's formation, suggesting potential sabotage or hidden agendas that could influence future plot twists (33:00-39:15).

Kat and Zaden's Complex Relationship: The hosts examined Kat's ambiguous feelings toward Zaden, interpreting her statements as indicators of underlying fear or suspicion, potentially foreshadowing future confrontations (39:15-46:00).

Professor Ryerson's Dual Role: A significant focus was placed on Professor Ryerson (lovingly dubbed "Professor Zaddy"), analyzing his development from a battle-hardened leader to a romantic figure intertwined with shadows and power dynamics (46:00-55:00).

3. Favorite Moments and Standout Quotes

Host Favorites:

• Hannah: Adored Professor Ryerson's romantic moments, especially his kiss with Violet surrounded by shadows (47:20-49:08).
• Kinsey: Highlighted Zaden's formidable presence and humorous interactions with Riddick (68:33-70:06).
• Carly: Celebrated Violet's growing confidence and pivotal moments where she asserts her strength (53:30-55:00).

Notable Quotes:

• Violet's Declaration:

  "I live by you. When have I ever given a fuck about the Codex or the code of conduct? I am yours and you are mine, and there's no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that." (73:54)

• Riddick's Witty Banter:

  "I'm either completely in love with your boyfriend or utterly terrified of him. Not sure at the moment." (75:06)

• Professor Ryerson’s Romantic Assertiveness:

  "Do you need me to bury bodies? Because Darna will happily roast some scribes if they're acting like assholes." (75:41)

4. Epigraph Analysis: Decoding Hidden Messages

Chapter 13 Epigraph:

"Upon failure of three exams, Jesenia Neil Wirt has been removed from the Adept path..." (75:41)

• Interpretation: This epigraph signals Jesenia's demotion and her subsequent assignment to the Quest Squad, hinting at her potential redemption and the internal politics within the Adept Path.

Chapter 14 Epigraph:

"Though flyers only wield lesser magics, in my vast experience with the Northern wing, they are formidable opponents..." (76:44)

• Analysis: Lt. Lyran Panchak's memoir reference underscores the growing threat of the Northern wing flyers (Cygnisen), enhancing their portrayal as strategic and dangerous adversaries.

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5. Easter Eggs and Foreshadowing: Linking Past and Future Plot Points

Irid Significance: Carly delved into the name "Irid," uncovering its ties to Greek mythology and messenger symbolism, suggesting future revelations about communication and hidden knowledge within the series (87:14-88:36).

Weather as Omens: The discussion highlighted how extreme weather conditions, like the sudden snowstorm, might signal the presence or influence of deities, particularly those linked to Zaden (88:38-83:30).

Rebellion Relics and Rune Magic: The hosts speculated on the activation and extension of rebellion relic runes, pondering their impact on Violet’s access to power and hidden passages within Ryerson House (82:56-86:57).

Professor Grady's Role: Speculation arose around Grady’s possible sabotage due to his suspicious behavior and his possible connections to higher powers like Melgren, hinting at larger conspiracies within the narrative (36:22-39:15).

6. Listener Engagement: Submitted Theories and Questions

Listener Caitlin's Question: Caitlin inquired about the potential for delayed activation rune components in Zaden's rebellion relic that could extend protections or abilities to Violet through their marriage (65:49-67:32).

Hosts' Responses:

• Hannah: Agreed on the potential significance, linking it to enhanced abilities and secret passages.
• Carly: Explored connections to godly influences and potential narrative expansions in future chapters.
• Kinsey: Emphasized the complexity and awaited further revelations in upcoming books (67:32-86:17).

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7. Character Development and Dynamics: Trust and Power Shifts

Dane's Redemption Arc: Carly and Kinsey expressed appreciation for the plot change where Dane alone retrieves Papa Sorengale's research, highlighting his growth and trustworthiness (60:07-64:57).

Violet's Increasing Agency: The hosts celebrated Violet’s growing confidence and autonomy, particularly in her interactions with the Quest Squad and her ability to harness her signet powers (53:30-55:00).

Zaden's Complex Persona: Professor Ryerson’s dual role as a mentor and romantic interest was dissected, with the hosts noting his balance of humor, authority, and vulnerability amidst his Venon transformation (46:00-55:00).

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8. Concluding Insights: Setting the Stage for Future Developments

As the hosts wrapped up their deep dive into Chapters 13-16 of Onyx Storm, they emphasized the intricate web of character relationships, hidden agendas, and mythological underpinnings poised to unravel in the forthcoming chapters. The episode underscored the richness of Yarros' world-building and the podcast's commitment to uncovering every layer of the Empyrean series.

Listeners are encouraged to ponder these theories and join the conversation on the podcast’s social platforms, ensuring they stay engaged with the unfolding mysteries of the Empyrean universe.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Carly [73:18]: "It's too casual a term for what we are."
• Hannah [73:54]: "I live by you. When have I ever given a fuck about the Codex..."
• Kinsey [75:06]: "I'm either completely in love with your boyfriend or utterly terrified of him."
• Hannah [75:41]: "Do you need me to bury bodies? Because Darna will happily roast some scribes..."

Listener Engagement:

• Anna Rose's Review: Carly highlighted listener Anna Rose’s heartfelt review, praising the podcast's deep analyses and fostering community love for the series (02:06-02:31).

Support and Subscription: The hosts reminded listeners to subscribe, leave reviews, and engage via Patreon for exclusive content, ensuring continuous support for their in-depth analyses and passionate discussions (89:13-91:04).

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Tune in next Thursday for the continuation of the Onyx Storm Deep Dive, where Hannah, Kinsey, and Carly will explore Chapters 17-20, unraveling more secrets and advancing the Empyrean saga.

Transcript

[Carly]

Foreign.

[Hannah]

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 Forswing, 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. Just one really quick housekeeping note, but also super vague. Keep an eye out on our Instagram and our Discord. We do have some really exciting things coming. They're a little bit too soon to give exact details. We're just going to tease you as much as we can. If you aren't already in our discord. That is the most reliable place to see any updates just because Instagram algorithms, right? But you can also check them out on our Instagram feed as well as we announce them.

[Carly]

This week's Star of Navarre Award for a review that made our hearts soar goes to Anna Rose who wrote Ladies, y'all are the best. I found you through Spotify and listening to all of you talk about your favorite moments, the in depth conversations about what has happened, your theories and all the zaddy love. I am with you 100% Hannah. Y'all are making me fall in love with Onyx Dorm and the whole Empyrean world all over again. Thank you all of you for your dedication and time. For us listeners, I am impatiently waiting for the next episode.

[Hannah]

That is so sweet. I feel so seen.

[Carly]

Thank you so much Anna Rose. If you are also enjoying the show, please consider leaving us a review. It's a small thing that makes a big difference if if you are listening on Spotify, it doesn't allow you to leave a text review, only a star review. But you can do what Anna Rose did and leave comments.

[Hannah]

Thank you Anna.

[Kinsey]

Thank you. Yeah, thank you so much. That was so sweet.

[Hannah]

And as a reminder before we dive in, 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. First, breaking into the Archives vault for a very brief overview recap report of chapters 1316 with our squad mate Kinsey.

[Kinsey]

We start off in the Archives where Soya reveals that Jesenia was removed from the Adept Path and is now focusing on helping Violet and her squad research Irids, the Isles and the Second Krevlin Uprising in preparation for Quest Squad. Unfortunately, the best research on those topics were written by Papa Sorengale, and his research is currently unavailable. Later, during Battle Brief, the Cadets are informed that Venon do have signets, and they're given informational books about the Venn. They're told three more classes will be added to their schedules, including signets sparring with our hot new professor, none other than Zaddy Ryerson. Unfortunately for Violet and Zaden, his new promotion means their relationship is banned by Codex and General Eidos and the Cockblocker Squad are on a mission to keep them apart. Violet formally asks Dane to help retrieve her father's research, and we get Quest Squad's first formal meeting with Professor Grady, Violet, Zaden, Jesenia, and a bunch of other random useless people. Annoyingly, Professor Grady is determined to search the exact opposite place that Violet thinks they should go, and he recommends heading to the. Are you guys okay?

[Carly]

Hannah can't stop laughing. I can't recover.

[Hannah]

She won't stop. Read your summary this time. Woo.

[Carly]

Sorry.

[Hannah]

Okay. It's just also, your delivery was just so good.

[Kinsey]

Thank you. That's what I'm calling them. The Cockblocker Squad. Annoyingly, Professor Grady is determined to search the exact opposite place Violet thinks they should go, and he recommends heading north to the Emerald Sea instead of south to the island of Deverelli. The Cadets have their first sparring signet lesson with Professor Zadi, where he trains them one on one. Unsurprisingly, everyone gets their asses handed to them by Zaden's shadows, and not in the good way Hannah likes. Hannah's gonna be like, I need to read your summaries first now?

[Hannah]

No, I think I much prefer this. This is great. This is fantastic.

[Kinsey]

Once it's Violet's turn to spar as Satan, he offers them privacy from Cockblocker Squad and covers the sparring ring with shadows. He reveals that Violet is the only one capable of defeating him, AKA killing him. When the time is right and he trains Violet to track his shadows. We get a moment where they find each other and Zaded kisses Violet in.

[Hannah]

The dark with those shadows I do like.

[Kinsey]

After class is dismissed, the squad have fun with Shantara after worshiping the gods, of course, and Violet decides to trust Dane and tell him where to find her father's research in General Eidos's quarters.

[Hannah]

That's my favorite summary you've done.

[Carly]

It was so good. Cockblocker Squad was excellent. And almost the end of me and Hannah because we got really great.

[Hannah]

Well, I guess I'm going make an addendum to this next line. Grab your leathers, cock blockers.

[Carly]

I can't.

[Hannah]

I can't even deliver it. All right, grab your leathers, Quest squad, as we are officially training with Professor Zaddy. Oh, if I can get myself together. We are going to dive right into our analysis and discussion section, where we discuss key moments in some Easter eggs and theories. But most of those are saved for the later sections. First, let's start with this quote from Sawyer. I bet leadership secretly loves that you're with Ryerson. Legacies usually make for stronger riders, and with as much power as you two wield, Melgren will probably escort you both to a temple of your choosing the second you're commissioned.

[Kinsey]

Nice.

[Hannah]

So this and other moments throughout the book have prompted a lot of speculation that Violet could be pregnant going into book four. And Rebecca herself did debunk this theory, at least for now. To paraphrase, the reason that she gave is that it's not a safe environment for Violet to bring kids into, and that she would want Xaden and Violet to have a consensual conversation about going off of contraception before that were to happen, if she ever planned to write that that in. So I think we can safely lay that one to rest, thank God. And you can, if you would like to watch that interview response, it is linked down in our show notes. But what I really want to talk about here is Violet's response to Sawyer. Quote, doubt loyal would let me in. Can't remember the last time I stepped foot in her temple. And then Violet thinks I'd stopped praying to her years ago, along with Hedian, out of pure spite. Love and wisdom hadn't exactly shown up when I'd needed them, too. So my first point here is, I don't think that's true. I fully believe that love and wisdom did show up for Violet, and that's apparent in all three of the books that we've read so far. But I think it's really strange that Sawyer said, quote, melgren will probably escort you both to a temple of your choosing. The second you're commissioned. Not loyal. But Violet specified loyal unprompted. So I'm just wondering if either of you have any thoughts on that. Do you also think it is as suspicious as I do that she just immediately went there?

[Carly]

It's a little kind of theorizing though. Kinsey, do you want to go first before I jump into theorizing?

[Kinsey]

Yeah, sure, I'll go first. So it could be that she just went straight to Loial because she's in love with Zaden. She immediately has her thoughts go to the God of love or goddess. I don't really know if we know if it's a God or a goddess yet. Do we know? I'm assuming goddess because like Aphrodite is a goddess.

[Hannah]

I think I'd always assumed too, but I actually will keep an eye out.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. And it could be that in this world, like perhaps that is like the temple to go to for the specific ceremony.

[Hannah]

It's written in a weird way because if that were the case, like Sawyer could have said, Milgryn will probably escort you both to Loial's temple the second you're commissioned. Because I mean, it is pregnancy, right? Like, I get that that would be connected to love, but it's just so weird that he left it open ended. You could go to anyone for that, any God. But she jumped to tell us about Loial. I just think it's really suspicious.

[Kinsey]

She's just very in love.

[Carly]

I do find it suspicious here. Not just that that's what Violet says that's what she jumps to, but the two together, that it's love and wisdom. I've been working on this for a while and this is a little bit of a jump. So don't get me wrong, I know we're not in the theory section, but since we're right here, I'm just going to put this down right here. I think the reason why it's saying love and wisdom here is because we need to start thinking about these two things together. Because they go to the island of Heidean and it got raised 150 years ago.

[Hannah]

Right.

[Carly]

It's a whole new island. I think it's possible that that was Whale's island and now it's Hedion's Island. And I think it's not because Hedian is wisdom, it's because Hedian is chaos.

[Hannah]

Ooh. I don't think Hedon, I like it.

[Carly]

Is the God of wisdom. And I think it makes so much more sense when you think about what happened on that island. And the birds there are called the Eris birds. And Eris is the God of chaos. And I think they're linked because I think we're going to need that island and we're going to need the God of love for the cure because I think there's likely some sort of plant there they are going to need because the island is called Hydatus island and there is a plant called Hidatus which has medicinal purposes, usually used to cure infections, even in like antibiotic resistant infections. And Rebecca Yaros is super into gardening and I think it's very interesting that they're both named. That one has like a Y added into the spelling, but that's the only difference. And so I think they're inextricably linked because we're gonna need both. You're gonna need Love to cure Zaden and you're gonna, I think, need something from this island.

[Hannah]

I like that because we've just kind of chalked up to we haven't gotten to visit Love's island yet, but maybe we have and we just don't know. And that's why she didn't come across that island on our trip.

[Carly]

I think it's either that island and that's why it was raised. And I have one other possible location, but that would be my best guess.

[Kinsey]

There's also quotes where Violet's like, I'm thinking with my heart and not my head. So I wonder if that's like another way that Gideon Wisdom and Loial Love are connected because both influence your way of thinking.

[Hannah]

Well, and if you also think back to that whole call it what you want prophecy that and Darna followed to some extent of finding Violet, who has the heart of a writer and the mind of a scribe. That I know it's mind of a scribe and the whole wisdom is earned or whatever. But still, I think Violet has wisdom. The more she has gotten out of just following the procedural thought process of being in the scribe quadrant. And again, that's also why I think that she is full of shit when she says that they did not come when she needed them most. I think she just maybe has a different perspective of when she actually needed them most. And I'm assuming she's referring to Halden there or like previous loves. And it's like, girl, you have Zaden. You loved it. I mean, I get it in the context of Onyx Storm, some shit is going down.

[Kinsey]

Carly is your second theory for now.

[Carly]

Oh, I can just say it really quickly. It's a really quick one. I only had like two possible occasions for Loial, and that is that island, which I think would make kind of sense, but probably only makes sense if he, Diane, is actually the God of chaos. I'm not saying there's not a God of wisdom, but I do think if you think about everything that happened on that island, chaos makes way more sense.

[Kinsey]

Yep.

[Carly]

And then the other location would be the Barrens, because I think that we would see, like, we see all these themes of history repeating itself and we see the reason and why Zaden turned. If the first person that ever became Venon also became Venon for love, maybe it was in Loyal's territory. Or it became Loyal's territory because of that.

[Hannah]

That's so bittersweet. It's such a cool theory, though.

[Carly]

Yeah. So I think it's one of the two.

[Kinsey]

Personally, I also found it interesting that we're now three books in and we're still being introduced to brand new gods. Like, okay, now we have love, now we have wisdom. But with Sawyer's quote specifically, I feel like the temple of your choosing kind of set it up for them to be married in Dune's temple instead, because that was all that they really had available to them. But who knows? I'm also wondering if maybe this foreshadows that love and wisdom will end up saving the day later. Which I guess ties into your theory, Kylie, a little bit. That gotta use the love.

[Carly]

Yeah, I do think that'll be part of it. I think it has to be given why he turned in the first place.

[Kinsey]

Has to.

[Hannah]

So now we are going to talk about what the fuck is going on with Cygnisen, which is, to be clear, one of the three promish provinces. But I want you to all prepare yourselves for this mini battle brief because I put together a lot, a lot, a lot of information so that we can then talk about everything that we do know about Cygnisan. I unfortunately think that's the only way to look at this. There's so much going on. So in chapter 13, Violet gives us this line. Most of Breivik is saturated with red flags, especially along the Dunas River. But Cygnisen hasn't been recently attacked, nor have they sent their cadets yet. So we know that the Venin are attacking all of the Breivik province, but for some reason not Cygnisan, which is in itself suspicious and prompted the rest of this rabbit hole that I went down. So I did trace back any mention of Cygnisan across the series. I'm going to explain what information we have, then we're going to discuss what it means for our story. The next info we get about Cygnisun is in chapter 28 of Onyx Storm. The Cygni flyers finally do arrive sometime in the eight days that Violet was gone to Devarelli. And she notes in the same sentence that the Venin have moved into Krovla again. So that's the third Paromish province after Dvera told Battle Brief class that a Crovlin city, Valya, had fallen. So that is in the south, which is the opposite direction of where the Venin were attacking up North. In Chapter 13's battle brief, the next and final time Cygnisan is mentioned in Onyx Storm is Violet telling us that she is so lost in history class because she didn't learn anything on their three week trip to the isles about Breivik absorbing Cygnisun under Pome I. So this tells us that Cygnason was once independent throughout history, right? But the Breivik province absorbed them and then I guess at some point unabsorbed them because they're a separate province now. Okay, now back in Iron Flame, Professor De Vera says in Battle Brief that they had been discussing the second Cygni incursion from year 328, and that the end result of the four day temper tantrum was Cygnison being absorbed into the Kingdom of Promiel, where they've been for the last 300 years. So this seems to indicate that the mention about Breivik absorbing Cygnisan under Purim the first was the first of two historical events where Cygnisan lost their independence. As for what we know about the Venin in relation to Cygnisan is that the Venin were attacking both the Signy and Breivik provinces toward the end of Iron Flame, though they were not the Venin's main target as they were gathering in the east specifically. But according to onyx storms Chapter 13, the Venin seemed to have pulled out of Cygnison entirely at some point since. And again, I know this is a lot of moving pieces and a lot of information, but Rebecca's been dropping like these sprinkles that we're just trying to put in a timeline here. Suspiciously, back in Fourth Wing, while they are supposedly at the safest outpost to send first years Montserrat, the wards went down. Now Matsera is near the Cygnisan border, and we know from Zayden's bonus POV of this chapter that enemies were inside the walls during the attack, which could have been Venin or signifiers, and notably Zaden specified That sending Imogen in our south alone was worth the risk, as, quote, rendezvous ing there was a far better choice than risking her being caught by Signy's flyers. Signy's flyers would take the daggers and then kill Imogen to make a point. Stubborn assholes. End quote. You see this information we're slowly getting about what is making Signy flyers different? So the fact that Signe has been independent on and off over the years. Zaden's concern over them in the most recent bonus chapter released, which is where Rebecca could have plugged in Easter eggs and did, and that Violet has said, quote, someone from Cygnisan is more likely to label themselves as a Cygni instead of promish. All demonstrates that Cygnesian has conflicting goals to Pour Miel and is suspicious. And to explain why any of this matters, De Vera made a point back in Iron Flame to contextualize the importance of knowing how the second Cygni incursion ended was because history and current events are tied, because one influences the other. So all of this comes down to the role that Signes will play in our story moving forward. So what do you think, guys?

[Carly]

It's so suspicious how much Cygnisan gets mentioned and then how little. Yeah, but like, through every book, there's like this sprinkling of information about Cygnison that we're not getting about the other provinces. So I find it very interesting that.

[Kinsey]

And the second Crovlin uprising, it just keeps coming up.

[Hannah]

It's almost like we're getting mentions of them, but not context in the plot. You know, we've gotten to know Breiviks and Crovlin's flyers because they're the ones that we were familiar with. We're getting them on the page. We're getting to know them. There is never a mention of a Crovlin. There's no variation of that kind of flyer or a Brevik flyer. The only way that Rebecca distinguishes any type of Griffin flyer by their location is Cygni flyers. Just like further demonstrating this divide.

[Carly]

Yeah, like how they have the summit wing drifts and the Nightwing drifts. And it has to do with where they fly and how they fly, but not where they're from.

[Hannah]

And the fact that Zaden had an agreement with the other fliers, but has this much concern and almost opposition to the signifiers specifically. It's not great. It's not great.

[Kinsey]

The schools weren't always divided. Right. Like it was only after the school fell in Iron Flame.

[Carly]

Right.

[Kinsey]

Like half of them were divided.

[Hannah]

That's my understanding. Cards all went to the same.

[Carly]

Yeah, so it's really interesting that they still identify as Cygni flyers instead of just Hora Meal flyers or whatever drift they're with.

[Hannah]

Well, and I'd like to also add some context that we also know about Hora Meel specifically is that each of their provinces kept their own languages, their own customs, their own libraries and histories and things like that we'll talk about in just a moment as well. But it shows they already have some division amongst themselves. But this is such a stark division over like a Breivik and Krovla. Crovlin.

[Carly]

Crovish.

[Hannah]

What the fuck is that? Province Crovlin. They seemingly have the same goals.

[Carly]

It reminds me of Viscount Tokaris. Like the way he operates. Like it's very self serving. He has that luminary that they need an Iron Flame and he can't do anything with it. It does no good to him. But by giving it to Zaden to use to make weapons for them, he can only help his people. There's no real downside in giving it to him. And yet he doesn't want to. Because he wants so much in return. He's already gonna get what they actually need. But yet he's holding up getting weapons to his flyers for months. Which seems diametrically averse to what his goal should be if it's about his people. And it's not. So it's like I have to wonder what the signifier's goals and motivations are when they're killing. Like he's risking Imogen when he's worried that they're gonna kill these weapon drop offs, which can only help them.

[Kinsey]

I get the feeling that they're almost waiting for Peromial to get to a state where it's too weak from fighting the Venom that they can break off and secede again. Because it seems to be like they've tried once, they tried again. Like they keep wanting to break away. And why else would they wait so long to send their flyers to Basgaeth? Which also, I will also add, this is super strange that the Venon are not attacking the Flyer School, but they already attacked Basgaeth and they attacked the main campus location where the flyers were in Peromial. Like back in Iron Flame. But they're not attacking Cygnieson. Like that is weird.

[Hannah]

Well, I think it is. It's all really weird. Part of what I think is happening with the Flyers school is that it was on. So did you see the map that I drew out with the red flags? Yes.

[Kinsey]

I did.

[Hannah]

I don't even know how to explain that without giving you guys a visual, but basically I put red flags everywhere that they were described in Onyx Storm. But what we've known consistently is that the Venin have been going up the Stonewall river to get to Navarre for quite a while now. And Zolya Cliffsbane Academy's location is. Is at the beginning of that river. So I think that can partially be explained. But I think for one, you're right on it. De Vera is literally Rebecca through De Vera is telling us that Signesen is trying to secede. They're trying to gain independence to some extent. And then we just think about, like, the motivations behind that. But we can for sure at this point infer that their motives are divided and to some probably extreme extent from poor Emile, and that they're gonna jump show up as soon as they can. Then it's interesting because they did show up. Their flyers did show up. And so I'm just. A couple questions came to mind as I was stewing on all this information the other day. And I'm wondering, are they doing something Cygnisan, that is keeping the Venin out or preventing the attacks? Because they're not attacking at some point in Storm when they were before. So there's either some sort of agreement with the Venin or they figured out some way to keep them out. Then I'm wondering, and I don't think this is necessarily the case, but like, do they have another solution to something like the wards, an alternative of some sort? Are they. I don't know. I spiral with me.

[Carly]

I definitely think that they are potentially trading something with the Venin for their own security. That's where I'm going with this. Because in Fourth Wing we get that mention of the flower. There's this flower that says. She's described Zaden. And it says he's like one of those poisonous flowers I've read about from the Cygni Forest to the east. And I had theorized in one of our theory episodes that that's the poison that they use. That's how the Venin make that poison, that they use that flower to make it. And I wonder if Signe has been trading it with them for a long time.

[Kinsey]

Unless it's always been where the Venn hide out. Like, what if they're just already.

[Carly]

Yeah. Infiltrated and living there amongst them. But I'm willing to bet that there are people in Cygnisen that they have managed to maybe keep either the location or how to process this Flower secret so that the Venin can't just take over there, that they have some sort of deal. I think it is about this flower. I don't think it's a mistake that this mysterious poison flower was mentioned in the Cygni Forest, that the Venin have this poison and now there's all this weird stuff happening around Cygnison. I think it's all linked.

[Hannah]

I really like that. First of all, am I misremembering or did you change your theory that you were thinking that that Siegn was hiding something and like trying to secure it before they sent their flyers? Because I swear, I thought that's the conversation we had the other day.

[Carly]

We know that the Venin did go in there at one point, right? We know that they did go to Cygnisan. And so I wonder if that was them, like, securing their supply of this flower or how they processed it, or hiding it, or making it clear to them, like, maybe they came in thinking they could find it. And Signisen's like, yeah, no, you're never gonna find it in this forest without us. I just find it interesting that we have this poisonous flower mention, and at the very end, there's this mysterious poison that the Venin used that they didn't know that they had before.

[Hannah]

And you're referencing the dagger?

[Carly]

Mm, yeah. It just seems suspicious to me. I'm like, I feel like these are all linked personally.

[Kinsey]

The flower's definitely important because otherwise they would have just drained the entire forest. Right. And it's like, why do they rely so heavily on this poison?

[Hannah]

I mean, the fact that it's called the Cygni flower, like Rebecca specified it was from Cygni, like, okay, that's a big Easter egg. Yeah.

[Carly]

It has to be related to all of this. I feel like. And I might not have like the right reason, but I feel like there are dots to connect here.

[Hannah]

So, Carly, just to clarify, what dagger are you referencing?

[Carly]

Yeah, let's be clear. There's a lot of different daggers in this series. And I mean, at the end, when Violet gets stabbed by the Venon in fourth wing, and there's like that green tipped poison dagger.

[Hannah]

So I have a dagger theory on here as well, but I'm referring to the dagger at the end of Onyx Storm. So when you said at the end, and I was, okay, so the one.

[Kinsey]

That kills the dragons or the one that kills Theophany?

[Hannah]

The one that kills the dragons. Ooh, I'm wondering if that came from Cygnisan, but I actually didn't consider it to be as a result of the flower. I was just thinking that if they were trying to. The alternative to Cygnisin working with the Venon is that they're not working with the Venon. And maybe their flyers were delayed because they were trying to secure something. And so I was like, okay, well maybe they have access as griffin flyers to these new tools that could kill dragons. But I actually really like that the way that they're able to do that is through the flower that only they have access to. So building off of your theory, it's just a different thing maybe going on. Like I think if I'm understanding yours correctly, you're saying if they're working with the Venon. But first of all, I think your theory on the flower being poisonous in general is correct. I think we're just applying it to different things. And I'm wondering if the dagger that killed the dragons is from Sigmesen, so.

[Kinsey]

Then it would originally be a flier weapon and not a venom.

[Hannah]

Or I guess they still could be working with the Venon.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

My theory just developed through thinking about it the opposite.

[Carly]

I really like that. And honestly it could be both.

[Hannah]

Right. So I just think it's interesting that that one wasn't noted as green tipped.

[Kinsey]

But it could be like imbued with griffin magic too, because the riders have imbued daggers to kill the venom. So maybe it's like imbued with a special griffin magic.

[Carly]

Maybe. But I like the idea that it came from Cygnsen and that this was because Cygnisin seems to kind of hate everybod. Yeah. So it would not surprise me. And I think that's an excellent theory, Hannah. And I'm going to also.

[Hannah]

I have a words of affirmation for that one.

[Kinsey]

Well, I mean, they were willing to kill Imogen even though she was literally going there to make a deal with them and provide them with weapons. So I think it does track out that they could be the ones supplying the venom with these dangerous daggers.

[Carly]

Yeah. And you say deal and I mean literally all they're asking for is to not be killed. They're like they are giving them daggers, risking their lives and the wards, asking for nothing in return really, other than to not be attacked. So it's interesting. I love it.

[Hannah]

I'm convinced of this one. Right. Like I think that that's what's going on between the flowers and the daggers. Something. But as I was also considering what else Cygnussen could be securing to have delayed their flyers arrival, I thought about the quote that Violet thought about Queen Maria's library, so she. She thinks to herself. Breivik's capital, Zolia, fell months ago, but the kingdom's seat of power, Siniva, still stands in the province's north. North is going to be up there with Cygnisen, to be clear. I can't help but wonder where Queen Maria's summer house and her library are and hope they're at least well protected. Hmm. End quote. So there you are. Secured. If they're trying to secure something literally Violet is leading us to, she's asking a question herself that she doesn't ever give us the answer to, she doesn't get the answer to, nor does she ever follow up on. And why even have her ask it if it's not important where Queen Mariah's libraries are?

[Carly]

I think that's definitely another contender for, like, what's. Insignia.

[Hannah]

That's. Yeah.

[Carly]

Mm.

[Hannah]

But now I'm torn because I'm like. But the dagger theory with the flowers is cooler.

[Carly]

It could be both.

[Hannah]

It could be both.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Cygnisa could just be holding a whole bunch of. I mean, clearly they're holding a lot of information because we know that they specifically kept all of their separate histories and libraries in each of the provinces. They were not, like, burned down. Their history wasn't altered to the extent, at least that we know that Navarre's was, and that that's mentioned as a stark contrast to Navarre. But the fact that it also said libraries in that. I just. I think there's something else going on with the fact that Queen Mariah's libraries are unknown for the location. So are her main one.

[Carly]

I definitely think these libraries are going to be super important, and maybe it is in Cygniseen, and that's why they were targeting it and then running away from it, it seems like. So it'll be interesting to see when we find out where is this library and what is in it.

[Hannah]

But also, isn't Violet getting the books that are supposedly the most important already? So it's like there's just something suspicious going on here, but she doesn't get.

[Kinsey]

To walk through and pick the books herself. She's just being said what the Queen thinks might be relevant.

[Hannah]

That's a fair point.

[Carly]

Something else to add to the suspicious list. It's getting quite long at this point. That's suspicious.

[Hannah]

But I believe this whole season we've just been saying this is suspicious.

[Carly]

Yeah. Because it's the whole book. Because Violet is suspicious in these books. Even, like, the way she cuts herself off. She Never lets herself finish a thought. She's written in a way to withhold a lot of information from the reader.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

And so it makes everything feel suspicious when that happens. But what else is suspicious is Professor Grady. Yeah, I want to talk about the Quest God meeting with Grady. It is written almost like he's trying to sabotage his own mission. Like, the way this whole thing is written, we get a couple of quotes. Captain Anna Winshire says, yes, we should absolutely venture into undiscovered territory. She says it very sarcastically about him.

[Hannah]

Wanting to go north.

[Carly]

Yeah. And then Zaden says, it's like he pulled a list of the most common signets and started choosing names. Like there wasn't a lot of thought into who he's choosing for this ultra important mission. It's like he wants it to fail. I don't know. Thoughts?

[Kinsey]

Well, that makes me wonder. Why would he bring on Jesenia to the quest Squad if he's trying to make it fail? Is it because he knew she failed the test that M4RKIM gave her? Or does he have another reason?

[Hannah]

We learned from the epigraph that Professor Grady was insistent that she get transferred to him, much to Markham's, like, whatever he word it, he didn't want her to. So, like, it's not just that he must have known. Like, he fought for her to be on there, so it's not just like he was, like, putting. Putting whoever on Jesenia, at the very least, was extremely intentional.

[Kinsey]

Well, I wonder if the reason why he was insisting is because he's like, well, she flunked out of the adept path, so she must be the worst scribe ever, so I want her on my team. Or maybe it's because he did know, like, that Jesenia and Violet had a relationship, but it definitely seemed. I agree, Carly. Like he was trying to sabotage his own mission. Like nobody made sense. His thoughts and ideas made no sense. Like, where he wanted to go. It was just all so dumb.

[Hannah]

I mean, I think mostly, to be entirely honest, I think this whole situation and why it's so suspicious could really be chalked up to the train, to the destination of getting Violet, the ability to construct her own squad. That's what I think the actual role in the book it played. But I do think it's super suspicious from a character motivation point of view.

[Carly]

Yeah. But I think there's many ways to do that and the way this is done. And I actually think there's a quote later on where Meera even says something along the lines, like, he's Trying to sabotage this in later chapters. And I find everything about this meeting, like, the way he handles it, the way other people, not even Violet and Zaden, but like, you know, Holden's guard is there and she's even like, this isn't a good idea. Like, and everyone's kind of so surprised how he's handling it. And I do think it's very suspicious, Kinsey, that he insisted on Jesinia, because y'all know I think Jesenia is suspicious. I will not let this go.

[Hannah]

I don't care.

[Carly]

So I, I find the whole thing suspicious. But then it's like he dies. So that I'm like, that's what I.

[Hannah]

Was just about to say. Like, what, what role? Like, if we found out that he was trying to sabotage it, like, what does that end up doing for the story? He's dead.

[Carly]

Maybe it's that we're gonna find out later on that like he had orders from Melgren or something to sabotage this to like not actually find anything. So maybe it's a higher up thing we're gonna find out later on. But I. This whole scene, everything about this is not written in a way to make you think this person is trying to succeed.

[Kinsey]

Do we know who recommended Professor Grady? Because, I mean, we know Panchak was in charge of Basgaeth and Grady was a professor. So like, could he have been the one to recommend Grady, knowing that he's an idiot and would fail? And we know Panchak was working with.

[Carly]

The Venom maybe, but Melgren I think is the one that tells her it's going to be Grady. So I believe Melgren is the one getting to make these decisions. But I'm not sure. It could be Panchak, but it calls into question what Melgren really wants and his motivations.

[Kinsey]

I also thought it was super weird that Grady was so intimidated by Zaden. Like, even though Sigail and Taryn are mated and obviously Zaden had to be there, he was not invited. He just shows up. And then Professor Grady was super intimidated and kept feeling like Zaden was going to pull rank on him because of his new title instead of focusing on the fact that he's just a really good writer and is meant to be there. So I found that really odd.

[Hannah]

I also find it odd, but Daden did end up pulling ranks, so, like, I could see why he'd find that really annoying. Suspicions aside, I think the average person looking at like this writer who just walked in with a brand new title of Duke and he's literally a First year out of school. Like, I get why that. Just be like, are you fucking kidding? You're walking in here and you're pulling rank on me? Like, have some respect.

[Kinsey]

But he could be the one to question Grady's judgment, and clearly he was making some really bad calls.

[Carly]

It makes me wonder if the end goal was to kill Violet. Like, he doesn't want Zayden there, and maybe he wanted her out of the picture. Or maybe the end goal was to kill Zaden by killing Violet.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I never got the impression that he didn't want Zaden on there because he still chose to put him on there.

[Kinsey]

No, he didn't. Zaden showed up and said, thanks for the invite, and, oh, I misinterpreted that. And Zaden's like, you should have expected me to be here because our dragons are mated and all. So it was very much like he was not given information and just showed up anyway.

[Carly]

He basically just acquiesces because in that moment, he realizes that he has to, because what is he supposed to say? Like, this mission isn't going to take longer than three days. He kind of got cornered by Zaden, essentially. So. The whole thing with Grady, though, is suspicious. And I think the only way it matters is that we're going to find out that these orders came from someone above him and that person still exists.

[Kinsey]

That would make sense. Even the setback of, like, we're going to go somewhere far, and then we're going to come back, and then we're going to go somewhere far, and then we're going to come back. Like, it just. Nothing made sense on the timeline that they were on Rip.

[Carly]

Maybe not P. He doesn't deserve peace.

[Hannah]

All right, moving on. We get this conversation between some of the squad mates during the sparring lessons with Zaden, where Riddick says, I'm either completely in love with your boyfriend or utterly terrified of him. Not sure at the moment which. And Kat responds, both. You can be both. Trust me. Now, I think that this line from Kat is both super relatable and notable because Kat is always put on that she's never developed feelings for Zaden and that she was solely after the crown the whole time.

[Carly]

But I never bought that. I think Kat is lying to herself as well as others. The way that she would look at Xaden, the way Violet would say, it was like yearning. I have always thought that she loved him or thought she loved him.

[Kinsey]

The way she was taunting Violet with that finger trick.

[Hannah]

Okay, I know that you have, like, an affinity of against interviews. Recontextualizing things in the book. But Rebecca's made it a point in interviews before to be like, what? Basically, and this is paraphrasing what she wanted to demonstrate with Kat is that, like, it's not always, like, a pettiness between girls, Cat fighting, you know, pun intended. I'm sure there, over a man, that she had higher, bigger goals than just a man. And so I guess I'd always interpreted that as, like, she really was just after the crown, and the rest of it was just to get to the crown. But this. This quote is just. It indicates that maybe there was still, like, a level of that to her.

[Carly]

I think it's that Cat didn't care if there was love. She was gonna get a crown. But I do think she had feelings for him and it didn't matter to her whether they were reciprocated.

[Kinsey]

And it definitely started as an arranged marriage. Like, yeah, neither of them are gonna have feelings at first, but she could have always developed them later on.

[Hannah]

It's Satan.

[Kinsey]

Like, yeah, of course she did. But that yearning look, that's definitely telltale sign she actually wanted him for his body at least.

[Carly]

I mean, obviously.

[Hannah]

Well, she did. I mean, they had been plenty intimate, so she knows what she's missing out on. You know, there is that.

[Carly]

I want to talk about how this and, like, other comments Kat goes on to make makes it seem like Cat was afraid of Zaden in their relationship, their dynamic. I actually find the insights into their dynamic and Cat in this chapter really interesting.

[Hannah]

So you're saying you read it as Zaden did something while they were together that made her scared of him?

[Carly]

I don't know if it's directly while they were together, but sometime between when he started seeing Cat to when he started being with Violet, that there was something that happened there. Because she makes this comment in Iron Flame about. She tells Violet, like, oh, if you're not prepared for the dark, you've never been properly afraid of it. And I'm like, what happened in the dark? And then she makes this comment here in Onyx Storm, like, you can be both. And I'm like, well, she says she's afraid of the dark. Here she's saying, afraid of Daeden. I'm like, what did he do that scared her so bad?

[Hannah]

I think it happens after the relationship, and I think it's been just, like a progression thing. So they had this conversation in the pub, the bar, where they were talking about Zayden being able to take out everyone with his shadows. And they seem like, all, like, super surprised about that. And Merrin says, that's kind of new. Right. And Cat responded he wasn't as powerful, which to me, implied while they were together, or at least, like, as she knew him in that stretch of time, I think it means that she's just become scared of him after the fact, but also rightfully so. I think it's also notable that Zaden puts that off, like, that front on with everyone but Violet. Like, she'll consistently comment, oh, gone is the man. I get to see he wants people afraid of him, but. So I actually think it's showing the contrast of how he wants Cat to perceive him and everyone else to perceive him and how he's not that way with Violet to distinguish. I also. They. Rebecca was totally using that conversation to emphasize and remind us that signets evolve based on what Violet said back. So I think part of it could have just been, like, setting up Violet to explain that to us.

[Kinsey]

But reading that quote back, like, on my reread, it also made me wonder if Kat was starting to get suspicious of Zaden being Venon, particularly because, like, we do know that signets evolve, but we also know that you get so much stronger as a Venon. And she's making an observation right now that he has not been this powerful. Like, it's very sudden. How significant.

[Hannah]

I like that a lot.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. So to me, it was because she had an EM dash. Like, she got cut off. Like, Cat did not finish her train of thought, and she kind of backed off. And, yes, it could be pointing to, like, when she was with Zaden back then, but to me, it was kind of like, when did he get this powerful? He wasn't always like that. Like, to me, she was very suspicious. Yeah.

[Hannah]

Yeah. I think the reason that I didn't think of that specifically is because Venon are all the more powerful because they're also channeling from the Earth. And at this point, he wasn't. But that doesn't mean that Cat wasn't connecting those two and assuming that he was Venon because of how powerful he was. So I think both could be true.

[Carly]

I definitely think you're onto something, Kinsey. She is growing suspicious of him because she, you know, the flyers do know a lot more about the venom than most of the writers do. So I find that very interesting. I like that observation. I definitely think it'd be interesting she figured it out and she confronts Violet about it in the next book.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

I still, though, wonder, though, if he did something specific to scare her.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Like hurt her, do you think?

[Carly]

I don't think to hurt her, but to. To scare her or because he was angry maybe, and, like, I don't know, not lost control in the same way he does with Violet, but lost control of his temper, and maybe his shadows went out and it scared her.

[Kinsey]

She could have used her own mind power to make him extra angry and lose control. Although she did say in Iron Flame, he has really good control. He never loses control with me.

[Hannah]

That's a fair point, because I was about to say, technically, wasn't he manifesting while they were and just getting used to having his signet when they first got together? But then again, you're right. She split specifically. Now, she was saying in a sexual way, but she was specifically saying that he hadn't lost control with her before. Hmm.

[Carly]

I don't know. I just find it interesting, and I just want to know what on earth has her so afraid of the dark.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. And we know the new brother is a male, so it's not Cat. But she could have confided in her cousin Drake that Zaden had turned if she thought so. Maybe that could be like knowing over five months during the Quest Squad. But I don't think, for the record, that it's Drake.

[Hannah]

No. Because somebody's got to take care of Broccoli.

[Carly]

Yeah. Yeah. Broccoli needs his dad.

[Hannah]

Rebecca did say that Broccoli's safe, so.

[Kinsey]

No.

[Hannah]

All right, time to talk about Professor Zaddy. And I think a lot of it goes without saying, you will hear me, fangirl, throughout the rest of the season forevermore about Professor Zadi. But I'm wondering, like, did y'all like this development?

[Carly]

I was not. Okay, okay. In the best way possible.

[Hannah]

I was about to say, in what way?

[Carly]

I think in our notes, I literally wrote in, like, all caps that, like, Zaden's kissing Violet surrounded by shadows while also surrounded by cadets. And then I wrote, dead to see someone come revive me.

[Hannah]

I love that some context listeners. Carly told me the other day, she was like, I have a line in our outline highlighted that I can't wait for you to see. And it's that one.

[Carly]

Yeah. Did you know immediately when you saw it, you're like, that's the one?

[Hannah]

Yeah, absolutely. Well, and I think. I love that everyone has just accepted that my personal brand is just Zaddy.

[Carly]

Zaddy.

[Hannah]

Like, Zaddy. It is.

[Carly]

It is Zadd. It's why I chose that review this week.

[Hannah]

Thanks.

[Carly]

Thanks.

[Kinsey]

I loved the tension that it brought, but I actually hated that he was the professor because it was just another way that we were getting cock blocked. And I was like, oh, my gosh. Because he won't do anything with her because he's afraid he's gonna lose control. Now he cannot do anything with her because he'll get fired and she'll be punished and all this crap. And I was just like, seriously, how much more do we have to go through to keep these people apart?

[Hannah]

I immediately also didn't like that. But I knew going into the book to expect it specifically because Rebecca said, how do you. She's like, you want some conflict? Welcome to Conflict. How do you keep your characters together and apart for five books? And so I knew she was just going to do it no matter what. So if there was a way that she had to keep them together and apart. Professor is not too bad.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Definitely loved his class.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

I am an absolute whore for forbidden romance, so I here for it.

[Kinsey]

No, me too. It's one of my favorite tropes. But, yeah, I was still like, God damn it.

[Carly]

Yeah. When he has her surrounded by his shadows, though, and they're surrounded by cadets and nobody can see them, and he kisses her. I was on the floor.

[Kinsey]

No, I loved that.

[Hannah]

It's like, top three favorite moment of the whole book. But I have to say, it's not just that he's a professor now. It's not like he's a professor of battle Brief. Hot. Yeah. Not this level. Because my personal brand is not just Zaddy fangirl. It is also Power Girly. Because literally the sickness sparring, getting to see you. I say, probably I'm annoying everyone at this point, saying it so much. But I love getting, I say, romantic gestures through powers, but really any use getting to see them, use them on page in all these different capacities. And then to have Zaden leading it and then to get those romantic magical gestures integrated with the shadows. And then also, you know, we also get the Halden later. Like, there's so many moments that Rebecca was able to integrate as making him the professor of the Signet Sparring class, specifically, that I just obsessed with. I love. This is probably one of my favorite choices that she did make in this.

[Kinsey]

Book, I think Island Zaddy, Professor Zaddy. And then, like, Moby's Zaddy Devarelli.

[Hannah]

Zaddy is number one for me. And then Professor Zaddy.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, he seemed more like himself, which to me, like, that was something I really struggled with in this book because I felt like Zaden was really out of character. But once he was introduced as, like, Professor Ryerson, I Felt like his humor was back and, like, how he's like, I'm better than everybody else. I'm going to kick your ass. I just felt like he was more like himself in this scenario.

[Hannah]

I agree that he was more like himself. I'm really hesitant to say he was out of character because he's. I think it's in character for what's going on for him to be. Have lost part of his soul, to be like, we now know at this point he had plans for the end of this book. Way, way. He's been so, like. I imagine that that's really heavy and that you would lose your humor with that.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

But I agree. Drastically different.

[Hannah]

This. Yeah. Yeah. This section of him. One of the best. One of the best out of guys. I will keep talking about this.

[Kinsey]

All right, so let's move on. Let's move on then.

[Carly]

I mean, we get this great moment with him, Violet, surrounded by shadows. He kisses her, and it's then kind of followed up by this bittersweet moment where he's teaching her how to kill him.

[Kinsey]

So dramatic.

[Hannah]

Yeah. I didn't mean move on to, like, negative.

[Kinsey]

I know there's only one person capable of killing me.

[Hannah]

Yeah. So, yeah, she says that there's only one person capable of taking me down one day. Clearly, that's about Violet.

[Kinsey]

It's definitely Violet. And I think it's foreshadowing either that she's going to get more powerful and have more magic against him in general, but it could be a battle that happens in the future, or maybe he's just not capable of retaliating against her because of his feelings for her. But right now, I'd say Zaden, Signet wise, could take Violet, I feel like, but in the future, she could grow that signet.

[Hannah]

Yeah. I think that all of those are, like, limitations to why he wouldn't retaliate. Because technically, if it was like, feelings aside, 1v1, no, Zayden's got it. But all of those reasons are why he. Well, specifically his emotions toward or feelings for her is why he wouldn't. But I interpreted this to mean specifically because he's Venon and she's Lightning. Like, she quite literally is the only weapon aside of, like, a physical knife, which no one else is going to best him at. Even Violet wouldn't best him at that.

[Kinsey]

That's true.

[Carly]

One of my favorite parts of the scene that wasn't, like, Zaden Shadow related was, like, Violet's confidence in this scene when he calls her into this ring. She's like, don't let me hurt you. But she says, really cheeky. And he's like, oh, arrogant, are we? And I just love that she's getting so confident with her power and her aim. And I just loved her in this scene.

[Hannah]

Well, it's also making for really great banter, which is one of the reasons I keep coming back to the series.

[Carly]

Yeah. One of the reasons we can't quit.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Well, it's quite addicting.

[Carly]

Yeah. Let's talk about a few of the other insights we get about the gods. All right, we get, quote, your temples to Malak and Dune are disproportionately large compared to other gods here, except Amari, of course. So we know that these are the three gods here that are probably worshiped to the most. I know, Kinsey, you've said that. It's a war college. It probably makes a lot of sense that these are the three gods that they worship a lot.

[Hannah]

Well, it explains why we don't ever hear of any others except for Nablu.

[Carly]

I mean, it helps explain it. Yeah, helps, helps. So I just think it's interesting that these are the three that are being mentioned together. And I just noticed this, that Amari, I think, is linked to Andarna's kind and the sky and all of that from that previous series. And it just started to make me think, if Amari is linked to Andarna, then there's probably gods linked to each.

[Hannah]

Type of dragon, which supports a previous theory that you've had.

[Carly]

Yeah. So if that's true, that means Malak or Dune would probably be the one linked to the Black Dragons to Terence Kind. And if that's true, my guess would be it would be Dune for Terence Kind, because he's referred to as a battle dragon, like that's described.

[Hannah]

Discerning.

[Carly]

Yeah. And so it makes me think that Dune would be related to Taryn. That's where my mind leaps to, because if I was going to guess which one Malak would be related to, it would be the blue dragons. It would be Sigale. So the most vicious. That's where my brain leapt to quite.

[Hannah]

The love to see it.

[Carly]

We also get this quote from scribes, don't pray to Hedian for wisdom. And Violet responds, knowledge and wisdom are two different things. Scribes are careful not to ask for what should be earned. And I think it's interesting here because I think it's showing that the writers and the scribes are. That their quadrants kind of mirror each other, that they're both actually ruthless in their own way, because they always have to talk about how you have to earn a dragon and scribes have to earn their knowledge. And she talks about Markham and how he can cut you with words. So I just thought the parallel here between the two quadrants was really interesting for, you know, the scribe quadrant, which is in the archives, which kind of feels like a library versus dragon riders, but yet they're described with similar language, which I found really interesting. And we get this other quote. My mother was never temple minded, which is odd, considering you'd think she'd favor Dune, and I preferred to spend what worship time I had in Amari's temple.

[Hannah]

This one's real suspicious.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

I immediately thought that her mom wasn't temple minded, especially in favor of Dune, because Lilith has unresolved beef with Violet. Being touched by Dune. And specifically being taken without Lilith's consent to have this ceremony performed like it just, like, leaves like, a bad taste in her mouth. Like, I can't worship this goddess and I can't step foot in her temple knowing what was done to my daughter when I never wanted that to be done to her.

[Hannah]

I think it's interesting, though, that the alternative path, if she knew about the oracle, right, which was she has two paths, and they implied that one was her turning Venon because they didn't know the heart wording, they assumed that be Zayan. So you'd actually think that if she knew that Violet only had two paths and one was Venon, that she would actually encourage her in the direction of dedicating herself to Dune.

[Kinsey]

I guess she was happy as long as she's still going to temples. But I just think she does not like Dune because of what happened to Violet.

[Carly]

I think it makes sense if you think about, you know, her just in general wanting her children to be in control of their own fate. And maybe she feels like this has taken some of that away from Violet. But I do find it interesting, and I definitely think that that was definitely foreshadowing for what we were gonna find out about Violet.

[Kinsey]

Yep.

[Carly]

We also get. And then once my father died, I frequented Malik's, though I probably spent more time yelling at him than praising.

[Kinsey]

Hmm.

[Hannah]

Carly and I were talking about this on FaceTime the other day, and I'm wondering if Malak could possibly have been the one to take Papa Sor and Gail's life, hoping or even knowing that it would lead Violet to his temple if Malak is, in fact the God that is trying to gain favor with Violet.

[Carly]

You said that. And I was like, well, maybe he did it to set her on this path. Like, maybe it was specifically to get her in the Writer Squadron to set her on this whole path. And then my brain short circuited at the idea that Papa Sorrengale was killed by Malik.

[Hannah]

Yeah, thank you. But also the fact that in Papa Sorrengale's research, he specifically talks or what? No, that wasn't in his research. I think it's just a letter to Violet where he specifically says he failed Meera and Brennan by allowing them to go into the Writer's Quadrant. So, yeah, if he was alive, he would not have allowed that. Oh, I like that.

[Carly]

I really like it. Hannah, you said it. And my brain kind of exploded. I was like, oh, what if it is Malik is the one that killed him.

[Kinsey]

He's like, sorry I took your dad. I guess when you pray to save your friend, I'll, like, save them temporarily, but then I'll.

[Hannah]

That's not gonna mess up his plans.

[Kinsey]

Yep. And then he did take Liam, but he's like, sorry I took him from you. Here's like a little vision of your friend as a kindness. Take him. It's a little suspicious.

[Hannah]

Quite suspicious.

[Carly]

I do think, though, that for me is like a contending theory on what happened to him.

[Kinsey]

Because he's young. Why would his heart just fail?

[Hannah]

I mean, I still stand by he was assassinated.

[Kinsey]

Oh, yeah.

[Hannah]

But I think that regardless, Malik had something to do with it. I like the reasoning behind it, not just being to get her favor, but to set her on the path to what would essentially, hopefully lead to him gaining her favor.

[Carly]

Or maybe for him, it's not about gaining her favor. Maybe it's just about getting her on this path he needs her on. Maybe he doesn't really care if she likes him or wants to worship him. Maybe it's mostly about just ends justifying the means.

[Hannah]

Whoa. My brain just did a whole, like, jump across. This is a left field theory.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Hannah]

Do you think Malak is angered by those who turn Venon and then find ways to become immortal because they are evading death?

[Kinsey]

I was just thinking that because also he would want war because more people die and he gets more souls to control. I mean, if they control them, but.

[Hannah]

Well, regardless, he's still the one in control. It's his natural progression. But then interrupt that.

[Kinsey]

I could see him being mad by that.

[Carly]

It makes you wonder what happens to someone's soul when they become Venon. Like, does Malak still get it because they lose their soul? Or is it destroyed? Or.

[Hannah]

Which then makes you wonder what side are the gods on? Are they all on the same side, or are they all moving chess pieces against different.

[Carly]

Definitely don't think they're all on the same side.

[Hannah]

No, that would not be as fun.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

No. Okay, final topic for our discussion. Dane and I know we don't get all of this plot point in this set of chapters, but it does affect them. So Rebecca Yarros told us at the Denver Q and A that she initially wrote a whole chapter where Dane and the squad went together to get Papa Sorrengale's research from General Eitos's chambers, but that Rebecca and her publisher removed that chapter and changed the plot so that Dane was the only one to go get it. And she gave two reasons for this. The first being that she needed to cut down on the length of the book to fit some sort of printing standard. And second, that it was really important for her that Dane be the one to give Violet the research as part of his character arc and display of trust. We did post a video clip of Rebecca saying all of this, if you want it in her own words, and have linked it down in the show notes for you. But I wanted to include that bit of info because that plot change means that the conversations that we saw in this set of chapters between Violet and Dane would not have been there, or we would have had different conversations through the set between Violet, the squad, and Dane that are no longer there. So I thought that was just an interesting thing if you're on your reread to keep in mind. But personally, I'm really glad that they made that switch. I didn't think I was going to say that at first, because give me all the chapters you want, Rebecca. But I do feel like it fit really well for Daen's character arc.

[Kinsey]

Obviously, I'm glad that that happened too, because it did need to happen. I already forgave Dane an iron flame, and I've been a big proponent of, like, guys, we need to forgive him. He's on a redemption arc. But at that moment when she had to solely trust him, I was just holding my breath and I was like, dane, do not screw this up for me. Do not make me look like a fool. Like, please do not give your dad this research. So when he came through and he brought it and it was nice because it also, for me, it shows how at the end of Onyx Storm 2, Violet isn't in control of everybody. That's why we get Rhiannon's point of view. That's why we get IMOGEN'S because she can't be there anytime there's any significant thing that's occurring. So I think it was a good introduction to that. This is super important to the plot, getting her dad's research. But Violet doesn't need to be there. She can rely on her friends to.

[Hannah]

Get it for her.

[Kinsey]

And so I really liked that insight. I was like, thank you for keeping that for us, Rebecca.

[Hannah]

I will say I was not worried. Rebecca's such a Dane, Stan.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, she's a Dane apologist.

[Hannah]

So I knew what she was doing with it. I was a little underwhelmed by the. Essentially how easy it seemed to get the research that has been teased so much.

[Carly]

It felt a little anticlimactic. Yes. Where you're just like, oh, it was that simple. I'm really glad that Dane is the one that got it for her. I would have killed for, like a POV chapter from Dane, like Mission Impossible style. Getting it. That would have been great.

[Kinsey]

It would have been so cool.

[Carly]

Or even in the future, you know, there'll be bonus chapters at some point. Maybe we could have that.

[Kinsey]

I was just nervous that his dad would, like, run in on even though he was supposed to be, like, somewhere else for the weekend. I was just like, what if he gets caught? Like, what if he gets in trouble?

[Carly]

Yeah. It doesn't even have to be long. Like, I just take like a few pages.

[Hannah]

Knowing Rebecca, I'm sure we'll get that. But I will say it was very symbolic that he didn't turn it in when he could have gained favor potentially with his dad, given the situation. So it really did show a lot of growth for me.

[Carly]

Well. And it really solidified his commitment to doing what's right and helping Violet and trusting in her.

[Kinsey]

We love that for him.

[Hannah]

We do. We do.

[Carly]

Go Dane Dane stands.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Kinsey]

At this point, I go hard for Dane.

[Hannah]

I did say that this was the last topic, but we did get a theory question submitted by our listener, Caitlin, about chapter 14 that I did slide in right before we filmed this. It was about the quote, the quarters of commanding General are warded, so only their line by blood or marriage can pass through. And Caitlyn asked, could there be any similar applications of similar wards runes where Violet is now a beneficiary after being married to Zaden, that is. Could something like Zaden's rebellion relic that came from the rune specific to Fen Ryerson's bloodline have a delayed activation rune component to it? And now it would also extend to Violet.

[Carly]

I love It. I love everything about this question. It's fantastic. And I never thought about that at all. Like, I never thought, like, oh, because he has these wards specific for his bloodline, that Violet will discover something like that. For Zaden, it didn't even cross my mind.

[Hannah]

I will say I assumed, because I've read several books with that, like, a similar thing, that I assumed that she would get access to whatever he would. Similar to how they do their doors, but, like, a little less intentionally now. But I never thought about the Rebellion relic sort of having, like, an extension factor to it.

[Kinsey]

That's where the question got me. Because I'm sure Zaden already just like, the rooms, he already gave her access to everything. But I'm like, okay, Liam's mom was really smart. She was the best at runes. So if she did have a delay, but then again, it's like, would a delayed activation rune be necessary for the marked ones?

[Hannah]

Well, and then it's sort of like this comes down to what Rebecca really wanted to do with the Rebellion relics. And that still. It's still a little confusing. We don't know for sure that those runes activated a second signet. In some of the writers, we're kind of making that inference, but the way it's discussed is muddled. And so we also get that Q and A where Rebecca was shutting down third signets. So she doesn't like overpowered characters. But I really do like it. I like it especially. Cause now Ryerson House is hers. So if there are secret passageways or things like that, maybe that could only be accessed by. I think it could be really, really cool. I love that theory, Caitlyn.

[Carly]

I do, too.

[Kinsey]

I definitely think, as far as locations go, she's gonna have access to that. But with the Rebellion relic, I'm just like, you know, they were kids and teenagers when that happened, and if they survived and then got married and had kids, I don't really think they' protection anymore. Because at that point, they're already a kickass rider if they survive. So I don't know. I'm gonna be thinking about that until book four comes out.

[Carly]

Me too.

[Hannah]

Well, it would also tell us a lot about how powerful runes really can be, because that's doing a lot of work. A lot of heaviness.

[Kinsey]

A lot. All right, time to head on over to our 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]

Professor Ryerson.

[Kinsey]

Same. I already said earlier, he just seemed more like himself. And Signet sparring. I mean, that was great. I also loved Riddick in this section because he had a lot of funny moments.

[Carly]

For me, it was Violet. I just loved how confident she was in this section.

[Hannah]

You guys balance again. Yeah. All that. You talked up about the Shadows moment and Zayden didn't do it for you that much as much this episode.

[Carly]

I mean, I always love Zaden. I just. I don't know. I think it's who has the most progress, I guess, in the scene. So for me, it's Violet.

[Hannah]

It's so much more thoughtful than mine.

[Carly]

All right, all right.

[Hannah]

The so Knots. Kinsey covered it for me this week. You said it best, so go for it.

[Kinsey]

I said General Eidos and the Cockblocker squad.

[Hannah]

Alrighty.

[Carly]

Ditto to that. Plus Grady.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, yeah, they all suck. How about our favorite moments?

[Hannah]

I think we've already said it. The Shadows, specifically during sparring. Because holy fucking shit. Also him demanding she strike while he was kissing her and teasing her. He was not just kissing her. And that in itself is why I am so pro Professor Zaddy. Also, Zayden locking eyes with Violet and winking at her as Lauren attacked him from behind, which is one of the cadets that he was. The first one that he went against. Oh, my God. And then also, okay, this one is not Daeden, guys. It was us readers finding out that Rhys family took in Maren's brothers.

[Kinsey]

That was so sweet.

[Carly]

That was so sweet.

[Hannah]

Yours, Kenzie.

[Kinsey]

Signet sparring. Zaden kicking ass was, like, so funny. But then again, just kissing Violet in the dark. Nothing tops that. And then I also really enjoyed the first scene in the Archives with Jesenia. Her giving the fake prophecy was hilarious. Riddick being an absolute fool. And we kind of got like a breaking the fourth wall moment where they're, like, making fun of all the complain people had with Iron Flame. Like, oh, your relationship was so annoying. All you did was complain about not trusting each other. But I like you because you have secrets. And so I really thought that was really funny. And also when Riddick was saying, is Irid short for iridescent? And everyone's like, yes. And he's like, okay, can we start picking on Sawyer again? So it was pretty good.

[Hannah]

Yeah. So that's ironic because one of those is my least favorite scene. Second least favorite scene in the whole book because I feel personally victimized by the prophecy fake out. Because I spent probably 30 hours last first season talking about a prophecy. For her to play in my face like that, in case you're wondering what.

[Carly]

The first season's about.

[Kinsey]

Maybe it's foreshadowing that there actually will be a prophecy that we find in the queen's library.

[Hannah]

I think there is. I think she's just calling it something else, and that's okay. But I do think it's absolutely hilarious of her to be like, you guys thought it was gonna be this easy? Because technically it wasn't the context that I've been theorizing about. But it was funny as fuck, because I was like a prophecy. And then a very quick whiplash into reality where she's like, fuck you. You know, fuck you and your theories, you know?

[Kinsey]

Yeah, that happened a few times.

[Hannah]

Well, yeah. All right, Carly, yours.

[Carly]

I love the moment where Eidos is complaining about Zaden. He doesn't like that Zaden's there and he's like, I can't believe you're being treated this way when you were the one that killed the vice commandant. He killed Gabarish. And Violet looks at him is like, just so you know, I'm the one that killed Garrish. I love that part. It was so good.

[Kinsey]

It was pretty good. Also in that same scene, Zaden's like, by the way, I can insult you. It's not against the codex.

[Hannah]

It was funny.

[Kinsey]

She's like, I checked.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Which is also what happens when you have a professor that's one year out of school. His maturity is. You know, he's like, you suck.

[Kinsey]

Okay, our favorite quotes. Let's start with Carly.

[Carly]

It's when Violet says, have to say, the casual flex of power is pretty hot.

[Hannah]

That was my honorable mention this week. Because same. Like, that's what we loved about this whole Professor Zayden thing is. Ew, that's weird. Professor Zayden is weird. Professor Zaddy or Professor Ryerson. That's so funny.

[Kinsey]

Anyways, his real name.

[Hannah]

Ew, it just doesn't sound. It just doesn't hit as good. Now, we are currently tied 2 for 2 on if you guys guessed. This one has to be a given.

[Carly]

Yep.

[Hannah]

All right, first one. That's far too casual a term for what we are.

[Carly]

Yep, same.

[Hannah]

I also like that. Yeah, but it's also personally relatable. Like, it's hot as fuck, but it's also personally relatable because that's why I don't call my boyfriend boyfriend. I call him partner because it's just. It's too casual a term for what we are. Can't wait for him to listen to that one. He's gonna love it.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Hannah]

My second one, though, is I live by you. When have I ever given a fuck about the Codex or the code of conduct? I am yours and you are mine, and there's no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that.

[Kinsey]

Honestly, that's one of the best quotes of the book.

[Carly]

It's so good.

[Hannah]

Oh, I love his, like, romantic declaration monologues. I could have chapters. I could have a book of that.

[Kinsey]

We need more. We need more, Rebecca.

[Hannah]

They're really good. I got two more books.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

All right. And I went a little overboard this week with quotes.

[Hannah]

I literally said, can we trim this?

[Kinsey]

Yeah. No, thank you.

[Hannah]

And she did.

[Kinsey]

No, you did.

[Hannah]

I did. I did.

[Kinsey]

I trimmed them. But I have sneakily mentioned some of them earlier in the episode. Anyway, so. First one, Violet says, do you need me to bury bodies? Because. And Darna will happily roast some scribes. If they're acting like assholes, then gladly. And Darna chimes in gleefully, no. Darren rebukes. Don't encourage her. I thought that was really cute. Then. Also, I loved when Zaden said, don't worry and Dane do not belong in the same sentence.

[Hannah]

He's so sassy.

[Kinsey]

Yes, he is. And I had to leave in one of my Riddick quotes. So he said, I'm either completely in love with your boyfriend or utterly terrified of him. Not sure at the moment.

[Hannah]

I love Verdict. That's a solid, solid line. One of his best.

[Carly]

Now, let's stop by the scribe quadrant for our epigraph analysis of the most thought provoking epigraphs. The chapter 13 epigraph reads, quote, upon failure of three exams, Jesenia Neil Wirt has been removed from the Adept path and stripped of all its responsibilities and sacred privileges. As of January 15, under protest, I transfer her command to Professor Grady at his over authoritative request from official records. Scribe Quadrant Colonel Lewis Markham. Common Daunt.

[Kinsey]

This epigraph tells us that Jesenia was demoted shortly after returning to Baskiath and she'll no longer train for her dream job. Instead, she's being assigned to quest squad.

[Hannah]

And I would like to point out that despite this setback of being removed from the Adept path, we know that future Jesenia is curator of the scribe quadrant, which means at some point in time, she was able to return to the Adept path. Because in Iron Flame, chapter seven, Violet tells us that Jessinia is probably trying for the Adept path, the hardest of all degrees for scribes and the one every curator of the scribe quadrant has to have.

[Kinsey]

It's interesting that Colonel Markham purposely made three fake exams just with the intent of failing Jesenia. It makes you wonder if there's specific knowledge he's trying to hide from her by preventing her from rising amongst the scribe ranks. But it's also notable that he wrote under protest and called Professor Grady's request over authoritative, making it very clear that Markham was not pleased with her transferring out from under his Command.

[Carly]

The Chapter 14 epigraph reads, Though flyers only wield lesser magics, in my vast experience with the Northern wing, they are formidable opponents in both mind work and hand to hand. Take heed, Younger writers do not unseat against them unless forced to do so. From Tactics, Part 2, a personal memoir by Lt. Lyran Panchak.

[Hannah]

This epigraph seems to be a reference to signifiers, as Northern Formiel is cygnison, which tells us that they are even more formidable in mind work and hand to hand than the fires we are currently familiar with, making them all the more suspicious.

[Kinsey]

I would just like to add that this epigraph came from Lieutenant Panchak, and it's a personal memoir. And I'm like, how cocky do you have to be to be fresh out of Bass Goeth to write a memoir about this?

[Hannah]

I'm pretty sure Rebecca has said that in joked about how she intentionally did that in a Q and A, and she just wanted to show, like, how ridiculous that is to write.

[Kinsey]

So silly. He's like, oh, yeah, I just graduated. Let me just, like, write a book.

[Hannah]

About myself, because I think he has a second one. I think he wrote two memoirs.

[Carly]

Yeah, I think so. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

But I was just like, as you were reading it, Carly, I was like, wait, Lieutenant.

[Hannah]

I also think it's super suspicious that it is Panchak that is writing this.

[Kinsey]

How does he know? How does he know about Signy?

[Hannah]

And this seems, like way far back, right? But I do think it's suspicious that if we think about whether or not Sign is working with Venon, how they could be involved or not. It's notable.

[Kinsey]

Very.

[Hannah]

Now take flight with us to the hatching grounds for our Easter eggs and moments of foreshadowing section, including moments that stood out during this reread and may spiral into theories.

[Carly]

So we get this interesting moment from Riddick. It's a response, he says, and so there is this quote from RI where she says, saying that you're lucky Melgren hasn't yanked you out of battle brief and personally seen to the arrangements and hopes that your kid will be the next one with battle foresight. In 21 years. Riddick's response to this quote is so odd to me. He says, shame he's so short sighted. This is so weird to me because, like, they're saying that, oh, he's going to look 23, 24 years in advance for your kid to develop this perfect signet that they're going to need. And Riddick saying, shame he's so short sighted.

[Hannah]

This is such a weird way for.

[Carly]

Riddick to respond to this sentence. To me, I think Riddick thinks he knows something about what they're really going to need in this war and where they're going to be at in 23 years.

[Hannah]

Ooh. I will say, I read it opposite. I read it as he was, like, making a joke about, you know, because he is short sighted, right? Like, he can only see certain. I guess he is short sighted in how far he can see for wars. But I took it as Riddick making a joke about, like, a sexual innuendo about, like, well, it's. That's a shame that he couldn't have. He couldn't have thought 24 years in advance because that could be fun for you guys. I do think Riddick in general is, like, slightly suspicious. So we'll just add this one to the list of notable moments from him.

[Carly]

Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from with that. I just think it would have been written slightly differently. There is something where they're saying, you're lucky, and he's saying, shame. And I'm like, the way this whole interaction was written is just incredibly suspicious to me, the way he comments on this. So I think we're going to come back to this at some point in book four, book five, and be like, that's what she meant.

[Kinsey]

I hope so.

[Hannah]

I love those moments.

[Carly]

There is a moment after Zaden returned from the front lines when he said, I don't even remember reaching out for the source or taking power during the battle. It was simply there. And goes on to say, Sigel was yelling at him and snapped him out of it. I like the language here to show how this is becoming reflexive and impulsive rather than a conscious decision. And it is showing that. It's like starting to strip him of his choice of it. It's just something that seems to be. He is just kind of avalanching into slowly My Shayla. And next we have this reference to the Emerald Sea. There's this quote where they say, basing our operations at the coastline gives us access to magic. Plus, the Emerald Sea is largely unexplored because sailors don't return from the deepest waters. I am wondering if this is hinting at the fact that across the Emerald Sea is Malak's territory, and that's why nobody survives it, because he's the God of death.

[Hannah]

Ooh. I think that we should start making maps of where we think these regions are, because I'm starting to lose track myself. But I actually really wanted to touch on Violet's response to this, where she says everything in her body says to go south. And I'm. Is that signet related? Like, how does she have that? Like, a bodily reaction of intuition telling her, like, pulling her somewhere.

[Carly]

I'm wondering if it's like a God, like Dune, like, pushing her towards her path, personally. But I also wonder about this, Hannah. I don't have a solid line of thinking on it, but that's what I'm wondering. If it's a God.

[Kinsey]

I also interpreted that it would be a God leading her, but instead of Dune, I thought it was Zeno because he's the reason they ended up finding the Irids.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Oh, I like that one too.

[Kinsey]

He's like, shooting that arrow, leading them the way.

[Hannah]

I accept that. I accept that.

[Carly]

And next, when explaining the warded Sparry mat and how signets are limited to the mat, when on the mat, Xaden says with only a couple of except, he glances Violet's way when he says that. So whatever you wield will stay between the opponents on the mat. And I'm assured your signets will not leave the amphitheater or endanger the campus. So we know one of the exceptions is Violet, because he glances towards her when he says that. I'm wondering what the other one is. I think that's going to be important.

[Kinsey]

That is interesting.

[Hannah]

That's a rabbit hole.

[Carly]

I know.

[Kinsey]

Because also, her lightning did shoot up and out.

[Hannah]

I would imagine it's something physical, but.

[Carly]

Then it's like, oh, yeah, something to think about.

[Kinsey]

When the flyers ask Violet Squad which temples they visit and which gods they worship, Riddick says, quote, I personally prefer Zeno. You can get through any situation with luck. I think this could explain Riddick being kissed by Zenaal on the island of Xelnia, it's thank you for preferring him. And this also sets the stage for how important Zenol will be as a God in this book.

[Carly]

I was wondering if it was what saved him from being stabbed.

[Hannah]

I also interpreted this as foreshadowing for something different, which was Zinal's domino effect leading them to the Erins. So I Love that we each had a different interpretation, which I think all of them are.

[Carly]

Oh, I think all of them. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. I mean, he was important.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

He caused a chain of all of those events.

[Hannah]

That just points to him playing a bigger role in the books than. Than we keep assuming. I know we don't really think it's him that's trying to curry the favor, but I just. That does. That does support it. So next, we have this moment while at the pub where Violet notes that the door opens across the room and snow blows in before someone manages to shut it against the insistent wind. So this emphasis on extreme weather feels important. And if we build on the theory that weather can clue us into when theophany is around, I'm wondering if we think that this was theophany here or if that would even have been meaningful in some way if she was or something else going on. But why mention that extreme weather?

[Kinsey]

I don't personally think it's theophany here. It's still January, and I feel like just normal wind and snow is fine. But at the beginning of Onyx Storm, we had the squall where it was complete whiteout conditions. That definitely was theophany to me. But here I'm like, it's just normal snow. They still get snow.

[Carly]

For me, this is still just storm. Seeming to track Xaden because Zaden has come back to be the professor. So he's back, and then it's snowing again.

[Hannah]

And so you no longer think it's his third signet. You think it's something else.

[Carly]

Yeah. So before we had Onyx Storm, I was like, well, maybe he's a storm wielder and he just doesn't know. Cause I had no other way of explaining it, because we didn't know how prevalent the gods were. And now I'm wondering if this is somehow connected to a God that's connected to Zaden that is in this. And I still think it is somehow connected to Zaden, though. It's weird they follow him around those storms.

[Kinsey]

It's just interesting, though, because Violet had invited him to go to Shantara with them, and he specifically said, no, it'll be torture to see her there. So he wasn't in the town, but he was at Masgaith.

[Carly]

Yeah, but I assuming it's a snowing, like, in the region.

[Hannah]

And finally, we have this moment with Riddick where he's explaining to chat that the squad has been discussing Ryerson's ability to wipe out, well, everyone, which was foreshadowing the end of the book how Zaden didn't wipe out everyone when he easily could have, but instead he chose specific people. But I'm also thinking this could be foreshadowing for book four as well, unfortunately.

[Carly]

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

[Kinsey]

We get an interesting description of Zaden's eyes when he's pissed at Professor Grady during their very first quest squad meeting. And Violet notes, the hair rises on the back of my neck. There's a flash of something cold in his eyes, but it's gone with a single Blink.

[Carly]

Huh. Ms. Bam.

[Kinsey]

Every time she says huh. Anyway, I think that anytime this happens, it's a sign that someone who's turned Venon is on the verge of losing control. It could also be a reflection of the missing piece in his soul. And that the ice that Zayden is figuratively skating on.

[Hannah]

That's what I thought of too.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

I just think it's too significant for Rebecca to casually mention this and then add the huh at the end. I'm like, that's interesting. That's suspicious.

[Carly]

So that is the list.

[Kinsey]

Cold eyes watch as well.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

What all are we watching for at this point?

[Kinsey]

Who's bleeding and the weather and ice.

[Hannah]

Okay. Mentions. Okay.

[Carly]

Okay. I just wanted to briefly touch on Irid's the name because everyone's like, do you think it means iridescent? And everyone's like, yes. And they kind of like, move on.

[Hannah]

That's me.

[Carly]

Yeah. So when Theophany called her an Irid, y'all the way, I immediately stopped reading and started researching that word. I was like, it's probably iridescent, but what else is out there?

[Hannah]

You stopped reading.

[Carly]

I stopped reading. Okay. Because that's how my brain works. Until I look it up, I can't stop thinking about it and I can't focus on the book. So I had to stop reading and look up what Irid could possibly mean. And that's where I learned that it's also like the name for the genus family of like, for iris flowers. So I thought that was interesting because, like, violet's a flower and iridium, an iris, is a flower. But what's really interesting is that the name is derived from the Greek goddess iris, who carried messages from Olympus to Earth along a rainbow whose colors were seen by Linnaeus in multi hued petals of many species. So I think it's interesting that it's a messenger on a rainbow, essentially. So I'm wondering if maybe Aunt Darnett or the Irids have more messages and more information for us that we're gonna get.

[Hannah]

So I like that. I like that more than just iridescent. Okay, I said it.

[Kinsey]

I would just like to say that as a Percy Jackson kid I totally knew about Iris. They have Iris messaging and Percy Jackson so they literally create rainbows and send messages to each other.

[Carly]

One day I'll need for CJ bringing.

[Hannah]

Back some like childhood flashbacks of reading that.

[Kinsey]

It made me happy to hear that in a theory.

[Carly]

I'm glad and that wraps up our Deep Dive episode of Onyx Storm chapters 13 through 16. Thank you so much for listening. Don't forget to join us for our next episode where we will deep dive into chapter 17 through 20 and subscribe wherever you are listening.

[Hannah]

Just a quick reminder, you can access all of our episodes a day early, sometimes more, ad free and full video with the option of audio only over on our Patreon for our Tier 2 Dragonriders and Tier 3 Feather Tales. Our Feather Tales also have the added perks of a shout out during our first episode. After you join PDF resources which include Carly's weekly Onyx Storm annotations and more.

[Kinsey]

You can check out our Patreon linked in the show notes to see all of the perks across our three tiers. We offer a base tier for general support donations as well.

[Carly]

And if Patreon isn't for you, there are still plenty of ways to support us. Leaving a review on Opel Podcast or Spotify subscribing, recommending us to your fellow Empyrean readers and simply tuning in to each episode all go so far.

[Hannah]

If you haven't already, check out our first season chapters by Chapters Deep Dive on Fourth Wing through the Lens of Iron Flame. There are over 30 hours of binge worthy content to explore where we pick up all of the things that Iron Flame changed about Fourth Wing, including all the times Zaddy used his intensic abilities. And our Season two Onyx Storm Prep is packed full of Empyrean theories that could still come into fruition in Books four and five.

[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 enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. It would mean the world to us.

[Hannah]

Until next time. Dearest fantasy readers, prepare yourselves to finally get your hands on Papa Sorengale's research as we continue our journey through the Imperium series.

[Carly]

Finally getting that research.

[Kinsey]

Finally.

[Hannah]

Way easier than expected. But I'm glad it was at least in book three.

[Carly]

Yeah.