Ep 9 ONYX STORM PREVIEW READ & REACT: PROLOGUE & FIRST 2 CHAPTERS

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dear Fantasy Reader – Episode 9: ONYX STORM PREVIEW READ & REACT: PROLOGUE & FIRST 2 CHAPTERS

Introduction

Dear Fantasy Reader invites listeners into an immersive “deep dive book club” experience with its hosts Hannah, Karly, and Kinsey. Renowned for their meticulous analysis, wild theories, and fangirl enthusiasm, the trio explores every facet of the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. In Episode 9 of Season 2, titled “ONYX STORM PREVIEW READ & REACT: PROLOGUE & FIRST 2 CHAPTERS,” the hosts delve into the highly anticipated release of Onyx Storm, offering listeners an exclusive glimpse into the prologue and the first two chapters of the book.

Episode Overview

This episode serves as an emergency bonus, recorded shortly after the official Dutch preview of Onyx Storm was unexpectedly removed. To maintain respect for the publication process, the hosts decided to release their reactions only after the book's official publication. The focus lies on reading the translated excerpts, discussing potential discrepancies due to translation, and unraveling the intricate plot elements introduced in the early stages of Onyx Storm.

Detailed Summary

1. Introduction to the Preview and Translation Issues [00:35 – 02:05]

   Hannah and Kinsey express their excitement and slight apprehension about diving into the premiered excerpts of Onyx Storm. They highlight the importance of approaching the translated text with care, noting that certain nuances might differ from the final English version.

   Violet Sorengale: “Our goal has always been to approach this content with care, respect and transparency...” [01:33]

2. Reading the Prologue and Chapter One [02:05 – 05:00]

   The hosts begin reading the prologue, immediately immersing themselves in the narrative. They encounter intense descriptions of the brutal War College setting, introducing characters like Zaden Ryerson and Andarna Sheep.

   Zaden Ryerson: “Dearest Fantasy Readers welcome to the Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast...” [00:35]

3. Analyzing Character Dynamics and Plot Developments [05:00 – 22:09]

   As they navigate through the prologue, the hosts dissect the evolving relationships and underlying tensions between characters. Violet Sorengale’s determination to save Zaden from his Venon affliction becomes a central theme. The discussion touches upon translation variances, such as the phrase “May their souls be praised by Malik,” and explores its potential implications.

   Violet Sorengale: “I refuse to lose him. Refuse to let him lose himself...” [13:39]

4. Unpacking Theories and Foreshadowing [22:09 – 43:06]

   Hannah and Kinsey delve into speculative theories, pondering over the introduction of new characters like Imogen and the mysterious abilities of Venon. They analyze signet speculation, the significance of silver hair, and the possibility of hidden powers influencing the storyline.

   Violet Sorengale: “He channeled from the ground's power to save me. And I'll search the entire world to find a way to save him in return...” [12:39]

   Zaden Ryerson: “She could still very well be a truthsayer and that be a factor of it...” [95:09]

5. Exploring Themes of Trust and Power [43:06 – 74:00]

   The conversation shifts to themes of trust, power dynamics, and the moral complexities faced by the characters. The hosts debate the authenticity of character interactions, the implications of Venon magic, and the looming threat of a potential "rebellion" led by Violet and Andarna.

   Violet Sorengale: “No, I think she is a truthsayer...” [71:10]

   Zaden Ryerson: “Control is the urge to drain...” [87:44]

6. Cliffhangers and Emotional Stakes [74:00 – 86:56]

   The hosts react to high-stakes scenarios and emotional exchanges within the excerpt, such as Violet’s unwavering support for Zaden despite the risks. They express excitement over potential romantic developments and the deeper lore being unveiled.

   Violet Sorengale: “Even if I reached the rank of Maven led armies of dark wielders against everyone we care about, I would still love you...” [105:09]

   Zaden Ryerson: “I'm convinced of it...” [110:16]

7. Concluding Theories and Future Episodes [86:56 – 111:20]

   Wrapping up the excerpt analysis, the hosts consolidate their theories regarding character signets, the significance of silver-haired Venon, and the anticipated alliances between kingdoms. They tease upcoming episodes focused on chapter-by-chapter deep dives and further exploration of Onyx Storm.

   Zaden Ryerson: “We have this character, we've got Violet, we've got Suri on the assembly council who has a streak...” [72:49]

Notable Quotes

• Violet Sorengale: “I refuse to lose him. Refuse to let him lose himself.” [13:39]
• Zaden Ryerson: “She could still very well be a truthsayer and that be a factor of it...” [95:09]
• Violet Sorengale: “Even if I reached the rank of Maven led armies of dark wielders against everyone we care about, I would still love you...” [105:09]
• Zaden Ryerson: “Control is the urge to drain...” [87:44]

Conclusions

Episode 9 of Dear Fantasy Reader offers an in-depth preview of Onyx Storm, enriched by the hosts' passionate engagement with the text. Through meticulous reading and lively discussion, Hannah, Karly, and Kinsey illuminate the complexities of the Empyrean series' latest installment. Key themes such as trust, power, and redemption are highlighted, alongside intriguing character developments and foreshadowing elements that promise to elevate the narrative.

Looking Ahead

Listeners can anticipate comprehensive chapter-by-chapter analyses in Season 3, alongside explorations of Rebecca Yarros’ interviews and deeper lore dives. The hosts encourage audience engagement through emails, Discord, and social media, fostering a vibrant community of Empyrean enthusiasts eager to dissect every detail of Onyx Storm.

Subscribe and Stay Connected

Don’t miss out on future episodes! Subscribe to Dear Fantasy Reader and join Hannah, Karly, and Kinsey as they continue their journey through the pages of the Empyrean series. New episodes are released every Tuesday, ensuring a steady stream of content for romantasy fans eager to connect with a passionate community.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content sections to focus solely on the episode’s educational and analytical segments, providing a comprehensive overview for both avid listeners and newcomers.

Transcript

[Violet Sorengale]

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[Zaden Ryerson]

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[Violet Sorengale]

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[Zaden Ryerson]

Device into eligible carrier and timely redemption.

[Violet Sorengale]

Required card has no cash access and expires in six months. Foreign.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Dearest Fantasy Readers welcome to the Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast. I'm Hannah, I'm Kinsey and if you're listening to this episode, that means Onyx Storm has finally released and we all now have it in our hands. Present day Me is so extremely jealous. This episode was originally an emergency bonus episode recorded on January 2nd of Kinsey and I reading through an Onyx Storm preview of the Prologue, Chapter one and part of Chapter two that was released by an official Dutch book distributor on January 2nd. While it was from an official source and therefore not a leak, when we realized that the Dutch book distributor removed the preview, we decided to wait until Onyx Storm was officially published to release this episode.

[Violet Sorengale]

Our goal has always been to approach this content with care, respect and transparency, and we're committed to honoring the decisions made by those who brought this incredible series to life. We're so excited to dive into Onyx Storm alongside all of you now that it's officially here, so please enjoy our initial reactions to the Dutch release of the Prologue, Chapter one and Chapter two. Just keep in mind that the text featured here is likely different from what's actually in the book due to the nature of translation.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Enjoy. We both jolted out of bed to come record this, so we have not read it yet. We are reading it for the very first time here on the podcast. We we are going to read it out loud in its entirety, pausing for natural reaction and discussion occasionally. Yeah, we are thinking it could include the excerpt that was already released in the Cosmopolitan magazine. If so, we will let you know as we read it.

[Violet Sorengale]

Quick disclaimer spoiler alert for all things Empyrean. If you haven't read 4th Wing or Iron Flame or if you want to be surprised for Onyx Storm, save this episode and come back to it after. Due to the nature of these books, this podcast will be rated R in content and in language. Finally, please keep in mind that this prologue of Onyx Storm is a translation, meaning it might not be 100% accurate to the English version once we get it on January 21st.

[Zaden Ryerson]

As Rebecca Yarros says, readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note and prepare to enter Baz Gaieth War College. Oh, my God. We're about to read the first sentence of Onyx Storm.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay, okay, here we go. Okay. Forged by Darkness is an adventurous fantasy tale with non stop action. Set in a brutal, competitive military college for dragonriders. It features elements related to war. One on one, combat, blood, intense violence, severe injuries, gore, death, the death of an animal.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, that could be a sheep. That could be a sheep.

[Violet Sorengale]

Andarna Sheep. Yes. Okay. Recovery from an accident, grief poisoning, burning, life threatening situations, obscene language, and descriptions of sexual acts. Readers sensitive to these elements are advised to take them into account before diving into the storm. The following text has been translated with great accuracy from Navarrean to the modern language by Jesenia Neilwort, curator of the Scribes Quadrant at Basgaith War College. All events are true and the names of individuals have been preserved to honor the bravery of the fallen. May their souls be praised by Malik.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I'm assuming that's an example of translation. May their souls be commended to Malik. Right? Is that the actual translation?

[Violet Sorengale]

Because I'm assuming that this is going to be the exact same as the.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Other books, but an example, guys. That's what it's going to do to the translation.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yep.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay, here we go.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay. Securing Basgaeth and the shields has cost us dearly, including the life of General Sorangerel. A revised strategy is required. It is of utmost importance to our kingdom to form an alliance with Pyromiel, even if only temporarily. Recovered correspondence from General Augustine Melgren to His Majesty King Torrey.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So that's our first epigraph.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh, it picks up immediately.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay. This is the prologue. Where in Malik's name is he going? I rush through the tunnels beneath the Quarter. Probably.

[Zaden Ryerson]

It picks up immediately.

[Violet Sorengale]

Immediately.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Zaden just got out of bed to go to Jack, and it picks up. Holy shit.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay, okay. I rush through the tunnels beneath the Quarter, trying to follow him. But the night is the ultimate shadow, and Zaden blends seamlessly into the darkness. If not for a Dragon Bond guiding me in his general direction and the sporadic disappearance of mage lights, I would never have guessed he was concealed somewhere directly ahead of me. Fear grips me with an icy fist, making my steps falter. Tonight he had remained calm, guarded by Bodhi and Garak while we waited for news about Sawyer's injury after the battle that nearly cost us Basgaeth, but there's no telling what he's up to now. If anyone sees even a glimpse of the faint strawberry red rings around his irises, he'll be arrested and likely executed. So does that mean they can execute? Jack, please. According to the texts I've read, they're supposed to fade at this stage. But what could possibly be so important that he'd risk being discovered before then?

[Zaden Ryerson]

So he was in hiding. Like they were. Like they just kind of, like, decided, maybe unspokenly, to not expose him.

[Violet Sorengale]

And this means Bode and Garak are totally in on it. They know. Okay. The only logical answer sends a shiver down my spine, unrelated to the chill of the stone passageway seeping into my socks. I hadn't had time for boots or even my armor after the soft click of a closing door had roused me from restless sleep. Neither of them wants to answer, says Andarna. I yanked the door to the covered bridge just as a similar door on the opposite side slams shut. Was that him? Sigeil is still enraged, and Taryn smells of both anger and sorrow.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Pause.

[Violet Sorengale]

That was a quote, but there's no quotation.

[Zaden Ryerson]

This could be her. This could be a mistranslation in the sense that she could be saying. I reach for Andarna and Taryn, but neither of them answer. Hmm. Okay. Interesting.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. Understandable for reasons I don't want to dwell on yet, but inconvenient. Do you want me to ask Cure or crud? And Darna begins, no. All four of them need their rest badly. As soon as morning comes, we'll undoubtedly be back.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Neither of them wants to answer. She's talk. And Darna did say that. And she's talking about Taryn and Sigail.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. Mm.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

Do you want me to ask Hewer or Kreid? And Darne begins, no. All four of them need their rest badly. As soon as morning comes, we'll undoubtedly be back on patrol for any lingering Venin. With uncertain steps, I cross the freezing length of the bridge, and the view beyond the windows makes me catch my breath. Earlier, it was warm enough for thunderstorms, but now snow falls in thick sheets, covering the ravine that separates the Quarter from the main Baskayeth campus. My chest tightens, and a fresh wave of seemingly endless tears threatens to sting my painfully swollen eyes. Because her mom was the one that made it warmer to imbue Violet during the battle.

[Zaden Ryerson]

When? No, but also when more dragons are at bestgaith or Orisha. It warms up, so I wonder if that actually means that some dragons left.

[Violet Sorengale]

It could I feel like this is mostly about pointing towards General Sorengale because she is filled with grief and like they were asking rain in December, and she's like, yeah, it's my mom. Remember? At the end of Iron Flame? Like that was an actual conversation. So. Aw, that makes me sad. Okay, anyway, continuing. It started about an hour ago, and Darna says cautiously, the temperature had been dropping steadily over the past few hours since don't think about.

[Zaden Ryerson]

You were right.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay, don't think about it. My next breath is shaky, and I shove everything I can't handle into a neat mental fireproof compartment and lock it deep within me. It's too late to save mom, but I'll be damned if I let Zaden work himself to death. You're allowed to grieve, Anne, darna reminds me as I push open the door to the healer's quadrant and step into the bustling hallway. Injured people in uniforms of every color line the sides of the stone tunnel, and healers rush in and out of the infirmary doors. If I let myself dwell on every loss, I'll have no time for anything else. That's the lesson I've over the last 18 months. I've learned this lesson all too well. I pass a group of infantry cadets who appear to be intoxicated and continue through the now expanding infirmary, searching for a shadowy presence. This part of the quadrant hasn't sustained any damage, but it still reeks of sulfur and ash. May your mother never be forgotten. To General Sorengeil, the Flame of Basgaeth, one of the third years shout. My stomach twists, but I push forward without reacting. As I approach the corner and round it, my heart stutters as I catch sight of a dark blur obscuring the right side of the wall. The staircase leading to the interrogation room comes into view, flanked by two dazed guards. Shadows flicker over the steps. Damn it. I usually love being right, but this time I had hoped otherwise. I reach out to Zayden in my mind, but all I find is a thick wall of cool onyx. I need to get past those guards. What would Mira do? She would have already taken out your lieutenant and confidently owned that choice. And Darna answers. Your sister is the kind of writer who acts first and asks questions later. That's not helpful. The little food I managed to eat earlier threatens to come back up. And Darna is right, though. Mira will kill Zayden if she finds out he's been tapping into the ground's power, no matter the circumstances. But confidence? That's not a bad idea. I gather every ounce of arrogance I can muster or imagine, straighten my shoulders, lift my chin, and stride toward the guards, praying I look more composed than I feel. I need a word with the prisoner. The two men exchange a brief glance before the taller one on the left clears his throat. We have orders from Meldren not to let anyone down these stairs. Tell me something. I tilt my head and cross my arms as if I'm armed with every dagger I own, or at least have something at my feet. If the man directly responsible for your mother's death was just one staircase away, what would you do? The shorter guard looks down, revealing the scar beneath his ear. Orders are orders, begins the taller one, his gaze drifting to the end of my braid, which had come loose in my restless sleep. He's behind a locked door. I cut him off. I'm asking you to look the other way for five minutes, not hand me the key. My eyes flicked deliberately to the key ring hanging from his bloodstained belt. If it were your mother, the one who had secured the entire kingdom's defense system with her life, I promise I'd grant you the same favor. The taller guard, Paleson, the shorter one whispers. She's the lightning wielder. Govern growls and straightens his hands at his sides. Ten minutes, he says. Fight for your mother. And fight for you. We know who saved us today. He gestures towards chills.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I just got chills.

[Violet Sorengale]

He gestures towards the staircase with his head. But he doesn't know. Neither of them knows the sacrifice Zaden made to kill the Venon general. Their general. Thank you. I begin descending the stairs, my knees trembling, ignoring. Wait.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Their general.

[Violet Sorengale]

The Venin general.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay, so she's just referring.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay, yeah. Thank you. I begin descending the stairs, my knees trembling, ignoring the overwhelming scent of damp earth clawing at the edges of my self control. I can't believe he came here, I murmured to myself. He's probably looking for information, andarna notes. I can't blame him for wanting to know what he is. The yearning in her voice frightens me for more reasons than I care to admit.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Wait, that implies that Andarna doesn't really know.

[Violet Sorengale]

Well, I think she knows, but she's hoping that I don't know. Well, I guess too like Andarna doesn't fully know like what she is either. So like she kind of like empathizes with Zaden because now he's like this creature and he doesn't know like the full extent of what this means, see.

[Zaden Ryerson]

As working with the assumption that and Darna has known because she was to some extent conscious in her egg, and that she just hasn't exposed that. But that's interesting that there's still unknowns to her. That's very telling.

[Violet Sorengale]

He's not some soulless Venon. He's still Zaden. My Zaden. I snap, clinging to the one thing I'm certain of as I descend the stairs in silence. You know what happens when you channeled from the ground, she warns. Do I know? Yes. Do I accept it? Absolutely not. If he'd completely lost himself, he could have drained me at any point tonight, especially while I slept. Instead, he ensured our safety and risked discovery by staying at my side for hours. He's channeled from the ground once. If his soul has fractured, we can fix it. We will fix it. I don't dare admit anything more. I already know what Taryn thinks and the thought of arguing with both of you is exhausting. So please, in the name of everything Amari holds dear, stand with me on this.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Wait. So Taryn is not Team Zaden?

[Violet Sorengale]

I thought he would cry.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I am going to cry. It sounds like Violet is the only.

[Violet Sorengale]

One that is like Team Zaden and maybe and Darna.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Because Sigail's pissed and Darna is just on Violet's side and I think that that will come through, but it's so. Oh God. But it's hard because I imagine that Taryn would feel very, very strongly for Sigail right now. So, so hard.

[Violet Sorengale]

The direct bond between us shimmers. Okay. Really? I pause mid step, pressing my hand flat against the wall to steady myself. I'm as much in the dark as he is. And you trust me, she says. You don't need to fight me on this. Oh, thank the gods. Really floods my bones and I let my head drop for a moment. I hadn't realized how much I needed to hear that until she said it. Thank you. And you have every right to learn where you come from, but I've never doubted who you are.

[Zaden Ryerson]

And Darna is Team Violet. That is what that she said. I oh my God.

[Violet Sorengale]

I'm literally tearing up right now. Okay. I descend the final steps with renewed determination. You alone get to decide whether to find your family. But I fear Melgren. I scorched the Venon in battle and Darna interrupts, her words tumbling out in a rush. You did?

[Zaden Ryerson]

Because Fire dragon fire is not supposed.

[Violet Sorengale]

To affect me, and Darna's the only dragon who has killed A venom with her dragonfire. Frowning, I continued downward toward the interrogation cells. I'd been too shocked by how she looked, how her scales had shifted to dwell on the burning Venon. As far as I know, we've never seen one burn before. Taryn hadn't mentioned it either. I've been thinking about it all night. Magic feels different when I change colors. When I use my power, it's like the venom transformed, weakening to the point of blistering. And Darna explains, her tone slowing slightly to enunciate, but still rushed pause.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Magic feels different when I change colors. When I used my power, it was like the venon transformed, weakening to the point of blistering. Okay, did she.

[Violet Sorengale]

I think she weakened the venon.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Is she draining the Venon? Because if we think about I'm on my reread in Iron Flame and violet blisters from sunburn after her burnout. It's almost like, if this translation is accurate in this sentence, if the venin is weakening to the point of blistering, is she making the venom burn out somehow?

[Violet Sorengale]

It sounds like she is. And I wonder if it only works if they're, like, actively draining and using that magic, or if it's just. Nope. Dragonfire burning you out.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Magic feels different when I change colors. I'm really excited to see if that's an exact translation. Holy moly. Okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay. That changes everything. Muted voices echo from below, and I quicken my pace. It's definitely worth investigating, though I'm not willing to risk Indarna by declaring she might be our newest weapon. Especially not with rumors already circulating that we're seeking an alliance with Peromial. What's worse than leaders endangering in Darna? Leaders across the entire continent doing the same? You can fight it all you want. I hate that there's not quotations.

[Zaden Ryerson]

This is. Okay, so this is where the excerpts.

[Violet Sorengale]

This is what we've read starts. Rebecca Yarros that she just posted.

[Zaden Ryerson]

This is the one. There's so many excerpts floating around to clarify. This is the one she posted in her caption just days ago on Instagram.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, you can fight it all you want, but that power streaming through her veins. Jack taunts, his words growing clearer as I near the final few turns. There's a reason the higher ups want her. A little brotherly advice. Fall in line and find someone else to fuck that infamous control of yours. So much flickers in her direction. I would never. Zaden retorts, his voice lethally icy. My heart rate doubles and I halt just before the last curve in the stairwell, keeping out of sight. Jack's talking about me. Even you don't get a say in which parts of us are taken first, Ryerson. Jack laughs. But speaking from personal experience, control goes quickly. Just look at you. Freshly fed from the source and already down here desperate for a cure. You will slip. And afterward, well, let's just say that silver hair that has you so besotted will be gray like the rest of her. And those weak ass initiate rings in your eyes won't just last a few days. They'll be permanent. That's not going to happen. Zayden bites out each word with venom. You could hand her over yourself, Jack taunts the sound of chains rattling punctuating his words. Or you could just let me out and we'll do it together.

[Zaden Ryerson]

And this is where the excerpt that Rebecca gave us ends. So the rest is all new.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yep, that's not going to happen. Zaden bites out each word with venom. You could hand her over yourself, Jack taunts, the sounds of chains rattling punctuating his words. Or you could let me out and we'll do it together. Who knows, maybe they'll even let her live just to keep you on their leash until you're fully turned into an Asim and have forgotten her entirely.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay, so that whole first part that we'd already had. Jack is warning Zaden that he could, in any moment, which Violet's already said, drain her dry of her power. Because Violet is especially tempting. She is a Pure Power signet and she's one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful Riders and he is power thirsty now because of being Venon and she's right there to do it at any point. So he's taunting him about that. And he also gave the context that the the Venin want Violet so that they can have access to training her essentially is the reason that he presents here. But now he's saying that Zaden would get rewarded if he turns Violet in.

[Violet Sorengale]

And it's odd that they're saying maybe they'll let her live because this entire time at the battles they've said keep her alive like there's a reason that they want her and they weren't meant to kill her. So I wonder if really the end goal for them was either Zaden or Violet. But now that they do have Zaden, Violet is free game and she's not really safe with the Venn anymore.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So you're still thinking that the Vennan specifically were saying that they wanted just to turn one of Them. I'm kind of reading this, at least from Jack's perspective, because remember, like, he's not one of the highest Venon. Right. So maybe he doesn't have the full picture, but he is presenting it like they didn't want Violet to die so that the leader Venon could actually drain her and get that magic. Because the way it's been presented so far is that the Venin want access to the veil because then they'd be able to drain that land and stay alive for ages. So they basically need to feed to stay alive. Feed off of power. And Violet is a huge source of that. So it's almost like they wanted the lower level Venon to keep her alive so that the higher level Venan could drain her. It could be they have the power for themselves. That's how I'm reading. At least his perspective. But I think you also might be onto something there too.

[Violet Sorengale]

And I'm like, they want Zaden to progress and just forget about her. Okay, continuing on. Go to hell. My hands curl into fists. Jack knows Zaden channeled from the ground's power. He'll tell the first person who interrogates him and then Zaden will be arrested. My head spins as the two of them continue arguing just a few meters away. Their voices blur into the whirlwind of my thoughts. Gods, I can't lose Aiden. Not before I've even. No, that can't happen. It won't happen.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Wait, what is she saying there? Not before I've even. What can't we said she loves him.

[Violet Sorengale]

Maybe I.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Didn't she do that again at the end?

[Violet Sorengale]

Maybe not before she's found a cure. Maybe, like as far as we know. I mean, they slept together, but we still don't know if they really had like a heart to heart discussion following the battle. So maybe she hasn't.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Especially with the new information she just got and stuff. Okay, okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

No, that can't happen. It won't happen. I refuse to lose him. Refuse to let him lose himself. Fear claws its way to the surface, but I smother it before I can breathe, before it can grow. The only thing stronger than the forces lurking within me is the resolve that steals my spine. Zayden is mine. My heart, my soul, my everything he channeled from the ground's power to save me. And I'll search the entire world to find a way to save him in return, even if I have to. Negotiating with Tekaris to gain access. That makes no sense.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay, I can. We gotta pause on that paragraph. First of all, this makes me so happy because, I mean, we got a clue that Violet felt this way at the end of Iron Flame because she was sleeping next to him. She felt safe enough to do that. But I was really, really afraid that we were gonna have this, like, her pulling away and throw out all of Iron Flame, which, again, is like, a level of understandable throughout this. And now I love to see that she is, like, all in. He. Yeah.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay. So even if I have to.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. It's odd because they added. For those who are listening, they add a quotation mark at the end of her saying, even if I had to. And then it just kind of like jumps to another paragraph, and it doesn't really make sense.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I think she. Well, there's quotation marks there. I don't know that that's accurate.

[Violet Sorengale]

I don't think so.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I think that that's just her thoughts.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah.

[Zaden Ryerson]

And she interrupts her own thoughts.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Which is interesting, because what is she thinking there? That Rebecca's not wanting us to spell?

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So I'm like, even if she has to, what?

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. And maybe because she was using the bond to follow Zaden, maybe she's, like, realizing that her shields weren't up entirely. But, I mean, he's blocking her out, so maybe she also has to shield her thoughts.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I'm going to throw out a wild theory here.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, go for it.

[Zaden Ryerson]

He channeled from the ground's power to save me. And I'll search the entire world to find a cure to save him in return, even if I have to turn Venon myself.

[Violet Sorengale]

Probably. I don't know. Originally, Violet was supposed to be the one to turn, so it wouldn't surprise me.

[Zaden Ryerson]

But I wonder. She's. She's toying an idea right there that she's not willing to say out loud.

[Violet Sorengale]

Especially because Andarna is talking to her. So if she's also contemplating turning Venin.

[Zaden Ryerson]

She knows she has a driver's locked out.

[Violet Sorengale]

Sigail's blocked out. Zaden's blocked out. But Andarna's having a conversation with her. So if. If she is considering turning Benin, like, it could. That could be why. Because she knows Andarna is listening.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, that. She. That you're saying that that's why she's trailing off? Yeah. But she can hear.

[Violet Sorengale]

I don't know.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Let's keep reading. Yeah, yeah, yeah, go ahead.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay. Negotiating with Takaras to gain access to every book on this damned continent. Or capturing Venon to interrogate them one by one. I will find A cure. We will find a cure. And Darna promises we'll start with the easier options. But if I'm right and I somehow changed that Venon when my scales shifted, then the rest of my kind must know how to master that technique, how to change him, how to heal him. Okay, so they are alive.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Wait.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, she's confident that her family's out there, is what you're saying.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, well, she said the rest of my kind must know how. Wait, that's what she said. So, I mean, I've always firmly believed they're just still in hiding. Because even Violet couldn't see in Darna at the end of Iron Flame when she was, like, camouflaged into the rocks. So they're either hiding in Navarre or my number one thing is, I think they're in the Isles. But they're told that right there. Confirmation.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Agreed. Taking a semi step back here. Remember, the blurb, and everyone, including myself, was very much so. Like, the thing that Violet is after is the cure for Zaden. Like, that's what she's gonna. Yeah. The truth, but the cure for Zaden, essentially. Right. Like, she is. That's her one goal that Rebecca keeps talking about. But then we got that translation from the French version that. That last sentence said that they were trying to find the seventh breed of dragon. And I still think that it's actually the end goal for that. I think we said it in our Rebecca Yarros interviews breakdown episode that releases next week. I'm pretty certain I said I still think the end goal with finding her breed is actually the cure for Ven. And that right there is. What Indarna is saying is, I think my family knows and we're gonna search for them.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh, my gosh.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, yes. Okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

This is great. Wow. We might actually get a cure in Onyx Storm. I thought it wouldn't happen till later.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, we'll see.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay. My breath catches at the possibility and the cost. Even if you're right, I won't use you. I want to find my family. You know, the order to track down my kind is coming. Now that your leaders know what I am, let's do it on our terms.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Wait, who all knows?

[Violet Sorengale]

The leaders.

[Zaden Ryerson]

She had to be the seventh breed, so she had to be there while the other dragons also did. So the leaders know about the seventh breed is what she's saying. Who all was there?

[Violet Sorengale]

Melgryn's dragon for sure knows. And I mean, I think Andarne kind of like, sneaked in after the other dragons had already provided their fire, but.

[Zaden Ryerson]

They tried to keep it discreet. But she's saying right here, if this translation is accurate, that they know.

[Violet Sorengale]

I mean, all the Elders have known this entire time. But maybe they had to explain why the Wardstone worked at Basgaith and not Orisha, and that's when they were like, there's technically another breed out there. Okay, I want to find my family. You know the order to track down my kind is coming. Now that your leaders know what I am, let's do it on our own terms and for our own reasons, she says with a sharpness that cuts through my doubt. Let's follow every possible lead to a cure. She's right. Every possible lead might mean breaking a few laws. I warn dragons aren't bound by human laws, she counters, her tone eerily reminiscent of Taryn. And as my bonded as Teryn's rider, neither are you. To me this sounds like Andarna and Violet are just gonna leave everybody else.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Behind, and Darna is just here for Violet's anything and everything.

[Violet Sorengale]

I love her.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I think let's Be Menaces is actually about whether Violet or Andarna says it about those two because they are like this, locked together.

[Violet Sorengale]

I love them. Okay, rebellious teenager, I muttered, my mind already forming half a dozen plans, three of which might actually work. Even as the writer, there are crimes I'll have to commit myself and involve only those I trust implicitly. I nod to myself, accepting the risks, at least for my part. You'll have to keep secrets again, Andarna cautions. Only as far as they protect Zayden, which at this moment means stopping Jack from walking away from this conversation alive.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Pause. Do you remember in the interviews episodes we talk about how Rebecca says that Violet is so much better at keeping secrets? This book. There you go.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay. Sorry, I don't know. I think there's a mis translation here, so I'm going to say what it says, but in my mind this next line does not make sense. Do the Cloths without killing him, since we can't afford a manhunt that would come with the death of our only prisoner. Are you sure we shouldn't ask Hewer or Crad?

[Zaden Ryerson]

No, I think what she's saying there.

[Violet Sorengale]

Is like do the Cloths without killing him.

[Zaden Ryerson]

The word Cloths is the odd translation, so it's do the something without killing him, since we can't. So do the questioning, the cause, the Cloths. I don't know if it has to be a C. I think it's just do the deed. Yeah, I think it's just. Well, we should find out here soon.

[Violet Sorengale]

What if she's going to, like, recruit Imogen to, like, wipe Jack from knowing about Xaden? Imogen then have to know. But, I mean, I feel like Bode and Garrick know. They're loyal to Zaden. Imogen is loyal to Zaden. But how did Jack find out in the first place? You know, like, he sensed that Zaden did it. So I feel like anytime that Zaden goes up to him, he's still going to figure it out. Like, there's gotta be some hive mind or something. I don't know. Anyway. Okay, okay. Are you sure we shouldn't ask Kiwer or Crad? No. I begin descending the stairs. There's only one person besides Bodhi and Garak whom I trust to put Zay. I was right.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay, sorry, Simajin.

[Violet Sorengale]

I was right. Okay, sorry. I went ahead. There's only one person besides Bodhi and Garak whom I can trust to put Zaden's interests first. One person who is allowed to know the full truth. Tell Glayne I need Imogen. Yes. I love Imogen. I have said this time and time again. She is one of my favorites.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, my gosh. And we just did a whole Imogen deep dive episode where we basically talk about how she was going to have a much bigger role. Like, she's too important of a signet and too badass of a signet to not come into play in a much bigger manner than she has. And let's fucking go, because that is the start.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh, my God. The fact that literally just liked a sentence before, I was like, what if they're gonna use Imogen to make him forget?

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, my God.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay, chapter one, epigraph. This first line is crossed. I will not die today. And now, regular text. I will save him. Violet Sorengale's personal addition to the book of Brennan.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Two weeks later, which is another example of mistranslation. Or, like, not mistranslation, excuse me, but of Lost in translation, because it's personal addendum, whereas personal edition, so keep that in mind.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, just like a minor. All right. Two weeks later.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Two weeks.

[Violet Sorengale]

That's what it says. Two weeks later.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So we don't even get to know.

[Violet Sorengale]

Like, we didn't get to see Imogen using her signet on deck.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Or the conversation does violate. You know, confront Zaden about going to Jack or, like, what? Yeah, none of it.

[Violet Sorengale]

We might get it later. But, I mean, like, we don't know if Zayden caught her. We don't know like, how she knew to, like, rush back to bed.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Like, okay, so the last thing Violet just saw conversationally because we didn't get a lot of, like, context for play by play of the actual scene. She goes down to Jack. She sees Zaden talking to him. She overhears a bit of their conversation. He last says, go to hell.

[Violet Sorengale]

That's what Zayden tells Jack.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Yes. And then.

[Violet Sorengale]

And then that's It.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Doesn't really say what Violet does, except for she's, like, thinking about next steps and then leaves.

[Violet Sorengale]

Essentially, she's thinking she's gonna save him. I mean, and there could be a mistranslation where she, like, turns around like, oh, I've heard enough. Whew. Okay. I scrolled back up again to see that conversation. It should be a violation of the Codex to fly in January. With this howling storm and my constantly fogged up flight goggles, I can't see a thing as we make our way through the raging snowstorm above the mountains near Baskaith. Hopefully we're almost through the worst of it. I grip the saddle knob with gloved hands and hold on tight. It wouldn't be too convenient to die today, I say through the mental bond connecting me to Taryn and Andarna. Unless you want to keep me away from the Scenarium this afternoon. I've been waiting over a week for what amounts to an invitation disguised as a command from the King's council. But it's in understandable delay, as today marks the fourth day of the historic peace.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I actually wonder if that's backwards. What amounts to a command disguised as an invitation from the king's council? That's interesting. Not super important, but yeah.

[Violet Sorengale]

But it's an understandable delay, as today marks the fourth day of the historic peace negotiations taking place on campus. Peromiel has openly declared they'll give up after the seventh day if no agreement is reached and things aren't looking good. I just hope they're in a good mood when I arrive. Want to take that meeting of yours, then? Make sure you don't fall again, Taryn chides. I'm telling you again, I didn't fall off, I argue. I jumped off to help Sawyer. Don't make me open my mouth. You've got to let me join on the patrol sometime. Andarna interrupts from the warmth and safety of the veil. Hmm. So they're hiding her in the veil. It's not safe, Taryn repeats for probably the hundredth time. There's the weather and we're hunting dark Wielders. This is no pleasure flight. You better not fly right now. I agree. Searching for any signs.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Is this the patrols that they're doing? Are we actually also going to get the Cosmopolitan excerpt right here because she just got back from doing patrols.

[Violet Sorengale]

We might.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

We might. Okay. Um, so you'd better not fly right now. I agree. Searching for any signs of Riddick and Aotrim, but there are only white walls. My chest. Titans, how does anyone manage to see any of the topography or our squadron members in this wreckage, let alone a Dark Wielder several meters below us? I can't remember a worse storm than the ones that have battered the War College these past two weeks, but without mom, the grief sinks.

[Zaden Ryerson]

She really did.

[Violet Sorengale]

She controlled that weather. Man.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I feel like there might be actually something if Violet's making this assumption, it's typically not always accurate, so I wonder if there's actually something more going on with the weather than just her mom.

[Violet Sorengale]

It could also be that there's a Vennon, maybe like a writer turned Vennon who was previously a storm wielder and they're purposely causing if they are able to disguise themselves and get away. Okay. The grief sinks the tips of her razor sharp claws into my chest. I lift my face to feel the biting pain of the snow against the top of my cheeks and focus on anything to keep breathing, to keep moving. I'll grieve later. Always later. It's just a quick patrol, Andarna complains, pulling me out of my thoughts. I'll need the practice. Who knows what kind of weather we'll encounter when we go looking for my kind later. Quick patrols can be deadly, and I'm not going to come up with reasons to test Andarna's fire theory. Dark Wielders may have limited powers within the shields, but they are still deadly fighters. Those who didn't flee after the battle used surprise attacks to add more names to the death roll. The first wing, the third wing, and our own Claw section have suffered losses. Practice spreading the magic evenly enough to keep your limbs warm while flying, because your wings won't bear the weight of this ice. Taryn growls through the falling snow. Your wings won't bear the weight of this ice, and Darna mimics him mockingly, but yours will can somehow still bear the weight of your ego.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I fucking love her. Oh my God.

[Violet Sorengale]

Go look for his sheep and let the adults do their work. Taryn's muscles shift slightly beneath me in a familiar pattern. I lean forward as much as the saddle allows and prepare for a dive. My stomach rises to my throat as his wings fold in and we plummet downward, straight through the storm. The wind tugs at the hood of my winter flying outfit and the leather straps of my saddle digs into my frozen thighs while I silently pray to Xenol that there's no mountain peak directly beneath us. Terran levels out and my stomach settles. I push my goggles up to my forehead, quickly blink my eyes, and look to the right. At a lower altitude, the storm isn't as fierce, giving me a better view of the rocky mountain ridge just above. The flight path looks clear. My eyes begin to water from the battering wind and snow, which feels much like tiny ice projectiles than flakes. I wipe the lenses clear with the sweet fingertips of my gloves before pulling the goggles back down over my eyes. Agreed. Once we hear from Fjerg and Kvoth, we're done for today, he mutters. By the way, I don't know how to pronounce any of these dragon names.

[Zaden Ryerson]

You did great with Fjerg. I have no idea what I think the spelling on the other one might be. Yeah, I don't know.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay, you say that as if it's bad that we hadn't encountered any enemies for three days straight. Maybe we've actually caught and killed them all. The cadets have finished off 31 venin in the area around Baskaieth while our professors are sweeping the rest of the province.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Pause. 31 venon.

[Violet Sorengale]

They've killed 31 venon around Basgaeth. And this is before the excerpt from Cosmo magazine where they had a secret attack and had like an UN hidden themselves within the college. So.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Well, I actually think that they've been hidden in the scribes for a lot longer, but I can't finish off 31 venin in the area around. So while patrolling they found 31 venin. Holy shit.

[Violet Sorengale]

For the past two weeks, hopefully, is what they mean.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh well, it says in the area around it, so right around it. And then the professors are sweeping the rest of the province. So yeah, this is the patrols around Buzgaeth that she is on. They've gotten 31.

[Violet Sorengale]

Wow.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Jeez.

[Violet Sorengale]

It would be 32 if anyone even suspects one of them is among us. Zaden. Yeah.

[Zaden Ryerson]

They would kill him. She's saying she. Yeah.

[Violet Sorengale]

Even though he's the one who's taken down 17 of them. Wow. Okay.

[Zaden Ryerson]

He's if you're wondering where his loyalties.

[Violet Sorengale]

Lie, I wonder if he's able to also track them down because they all like share A better world.

[Zaden Ryerson]

It would make sense how Jack knew.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. It's not really comforting that it's this quiet. The wind slams into us, and Taryn jerks his head up. My head immediately follows his example. Oh, no. No. Wind wings. Aotrem's claws are all I see, and my heart is seized by panic. He drops out of the storm, coming straight at us. Wait, that's Dragon. No, Riddick's. What the hell?

[Zaden Ryerson]

That's Riddick.

[Violet Sorengale]

Maybe because they couldn't see. They were crashing into each other. I don't think he's attacking.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I'm trying. Okay, let's keep going, because I'm just trying to read ahead for context, but we just need to. Yeah, okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

Uh. He drops out of the storm, coming straight at us. Tarn. I shout, but he's already rolling to the left, and we shoot out of the way. The world spins. Aaron land switch places twice in a nauseating dance before Taran extends his wings in one jarring motion. The maneuver cracks the 2 centimeter thick layer of ice on the leading edge of his wings, and chunks fall away. I gasp, full but trembling for air as Taran beats his wings with maximum force, climbing dozens of meters in mere seconds and heading straight for the brown swordtail that is bound to Riddick. Okay, so it is Riddick. What the.

[Zaden Ryerson]

They should be able to communicate. Like, Taran should be able to send out to any. You know how, like, airplanes, when they're in the air, they communicate to, like, let them know not to crash like the pilots do. You'd think that the dragons would be doing that.

[Violet Sorengale]

And I mean, Riddick has to be on patrol, too. Like, I don't think it's an attack. I think it was just like they couldn't see. I don't know. We'll see.

[Zaden Ryerson]

But they can mentally communicate. Okay, they can.

[Violet Sorengale]

I. We'll see what happens. Not Riddick. No, it can't be Riddick. Because he helped Violet. Okay. Okay. Anyway. Rage sears the air in my lungs. Taryn's emotions flood my system for a heartbeat before I slam my mental blocks down to mute the worst of what's flowing through the bond. Don't do it. I shout through the wind as we come up Aotrim's left side. But as always, Taryn does whatever he wants. And seemingly just inches of Aeotrim's head. He snaps his jaws shut with full force. It was clearly an accident that normally could have been prevented by dragon communication. The smaller brown swordtail screeches as Taryn repeats his warning. Aotrim extends his neck toward him, signaling his surrender. Riddick looks my way through the snowstorm and raises his hands, but I doubt he saw my apologetic shrug before Aotrim shoots southward toward the flight field. Apparently Fjerg and Ry have checked in. Was that really necessary?

[Zaden Ryerson]

Was it. Was that. That makes me sad.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. I let my blocks drop and Tarnan and Darna's bonds rush back in full force, but the shimmering path leading to Zaden is still blocked, muted by only an echo of his usual presence. The loss of this constant connection sucks, but he doesn't trust himself or what he thinks he's going to become to open it. So he's blocked her this entire time?

[Zaden Ryerson]

No, I am. I do not want to read a book where they can't telepathically communicate. Ah, this better. Last two pages.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yes, taryn answers in a way that shows he finds that one word sufficient. You're almost twice his size. And it was clearly an accident, I repeat as we quickly descend toward the flight field. The snow on the ground in the mountain gorge is trampled into a muddy series of paths due to the constant patrols carried out by second and third years. It was careless, and a 22 year old dragon should know better than to cut himself off from his gang just because he's fighting with his rider. Oh.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, no, no. This is. This. It might seem like, oh, just a a cool way to introduce the book. Like let's show the dragons flying and stuff. No, this is important. This is going to come back.

[Violet Sorengale]

There's so much drama happening already. Oh my God. Grumbles Taryn, his anger fading into a mutter as Aotrim lands next to Rhys. Green dagger tail. Fear. Tarrant's claws sink into the frozen ground to the left of Aeotrim, and the sudden landing makes every bone in my body vibrate like a ringing bell. Pain explodes along my spine and my lower back absorbs most of the impact. I breathe through the worst of it, accept the rest, and keep going.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Wait. Pause. I'm confused.

[Violet Sorengale]

So Taryn was saying that Aotrim had nearly crashed into them because Riddick and Ayrtrim were arguing and fighting over what we don't know. And that's why he wasn't paying attention. So he's like, he should know better than to do that.

[Zaden Ryerson]

But now they're like, emergency landing. Terna's to the point where it hurt Violet, like why would you.

[Violet Sorengale]

I think that they're just finishing their patrol because like, Rhys dragon is there too and they're all landing because it said where Was it? I thought they were in their field. Well, yeah. The snow on the ground on the mountain gorge is trampled into a muddy series of paths due to the constant patrols. So I think that they're, like, heading back now because the ground is all muddy from the patrolling area. Okay. Well, that was graceful. I ripped my flight goggles off my forehead. Then you fly next time. He's more sassy in this book.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I love it.

[Violet Sorengale]

He shakes himself off like a wet dog, and I hold my hands up to my face as ice and snow fly off his scales. I tug up at the leather strap of my saddle as soon as he stops, but the buckle gets caught on the jagged row of bad stitches I gave myself after the battle. And one of them pops loose. Wait. Pause. I think my mind just went somewhere it shouldn't have. I was thinking about an iron flame when her saddle broke, but I realized she was referring to her stitches. I think.

[Zaden Ryerson]

No, I think you're right. I think she's saying the buckle gets caught on the jagged row of bad stitches.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh. And the stitches pop loose. Oh, wait a second. Oh, my gosh. Does she have precognition? Remember we said that that quote was really strange how she said, oh, my saddle broke last year.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Mm.

[Violet Sorengale]

But it never did break. Well, here it might be broken.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I can't tell if it's the stitches on her or the. Regardless, read the next one.

[Violet Sorengale]

Well, the buckle gets caught on the stitches, and one of the stitches pops loose. Damn. That never would have happened if you just let Zaden fix it. I force my body out of the saddle, ignoring how my joints, stiff from the cold, painfully protest as I move along the icy pattern of spines and scales I know as well as my own pocket, the Dark One didn't make him either. Taryn responds, what the hell?

[Zaden Ryerson]

I don't think that sentence is an exact translation. Regardless, based on that next line, that's what he's calling Zaden now instead of Wing Leader.

[Violet Sorengale]

God damn it.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Silver One and Dark One. Ah. Okay, I don't think I like that.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, don't call him that. My knee gives out. I extend my arms to keep my balance and curse my joints as I reach Taryn's shoulder. After sitting in the saddle for an hour in these temperatures, a pissed off knee is no small thing. I'm lucky my hips are still rotating. Don't deny the truth. Taryn emphasizes every word of his damn command. I avoid a patch of ice as I prepare to take off. His soul is no longer his own. What? That's a Bit dramatic. I'm not going to start this discussion again. His eyes are normal again. That kind of power is addictive. You know that too, or else you wouldn't pretend to sleep at night. He twists his neck in a way that reminds me of a snake and locks his golden, unblinking eyes on me. I sleep. It's not a complete lie, but it's definitely time to change the subject. Did you just want me to fix my saddle so you could teach me a lesson? My ass protests against the scales on Taryn's leg as I fight. It is her saddle. That's right.

[Zaden Ryerson]

It's her saddle that has the stitches, not her body. Interesting.

[Violet Sorengale]

Which is very interesting because in Iron Flame she mentioned her saddle being broken, but we never saw that, she said.

[Zaden Ryerson]

And that's earlier in the book.

[Violet Sorengale]

Whereas the very beginning, that is when they leave Orisha right after the Battle of Ressin and go back to Basgaeth right before graduation.

[Zaden Ryerson]

But Violet here specifically says after the battle she fixed it herself, if that part is the exact translation of it.

[Violet Sorengale]

And I'm assuming this is after the battle at Baskaya. So now I'm like precognition suspicious. Okay, okay. My ass protests against the scales on Taryn's leg as I slide over them and land in a fresh foot high layer of snow. Or is it because you don't trust Zaden with my gear anymore? Yes. Taryn lifts his head high above mine and spits a stream of fire over his wing to melt the remaining ice off. I turn away from the warm wave, which stands in painful contrast to my body temperature.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Taryn is not just sassy, he is grumpy.

[Violet Sorengale]

He's pissed. And in all of these interviews, Rebecca keeps saying Sigail's the ones that pissed off, so I don't know if it's like Sigaille rubbing off on him.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Well, if you recall, we also talked about how Rebecca said in those interviews, which again, the episode comes out next week, that Taryn would naturally be, and this is paraphrasing it, more grumpy because his partner's unhappy.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, but I can only imagine how pissed Sigel is if this is just Taryn and Taryn's not bonded to Zaden. And I also wonder if Sigail's protecting Zaden because she knows that Taryn apparently hates him now, and that's probably causing a rift in their relationship too, because she might be trying to protect her Rider. He thinks that Zayan should be torn for sure.

[Zaden Ryerson]

And it doesn't help that Taryn is.

[Violet Sorengale]

So Teryn says his soul isn't his own and he doesn't trust Zaden. And he doesn't trust Zaden with her gear and all these things. He calls him the Dark One. Oh my gosh. Okay. Okay, Taryn. I search for words and look up at him. I need to know which side you're on before this meeting. Whether or not the Empyrean approves. I can't do this without you. You mean whether I'll support you in the countless ways you want to face death? To heal someone who's beyond redemption. He turns his head back in my direction. Oh my God. He thinks he's beyond redemption. This book is gonna be crazy.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I don't like that. I really thought that Taryn would be more. I said, you know, he's discerning, he's level headed. I thought that at least after two weeks he would be the one who's.

[Violet Sorengale]

Like, oh my God. Had a thought. So obviously there's a big theory that Naolin had turned Venin as a way to save Brennan. So maybe he has this prejudice and already has this firm belief that there's no redemption. You can't save their soul. They're gone. Because he saw that with his own writer. Like for all we know, Naolin could be alive. And Tarin broke the bond.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Yeah.

[Violet Sorengale]

So. Oh my God. Okay. The tension crackles through in Darna's bond. He's not. I let this one discussion point go since the rest makes sense in principle. Yes. He growls deeply in his chest. I fly without warming. Is this a quote from Andarna?

[Zaden Ryerson]

Violet just asks Taryn, are you going to support me or not? And he gives a smart ass response. And she tries to respond to that response but lets it go. And I think this next part is Taran actually answering her question.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay. I fly without warming my wings in preparation for carrying heavier weights over longer distances. Isn't that an answer to your question? He means Andarna. Relief flows from my lips as I exhale quickly. Thank you.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So he's saying there I'm practicing to carry Andarna, it sounds like for long periods of time. Because I know y'all are going to want to go on a hunt for her family. Is that enough for you to know that I'm gonna support you?

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, I just scrolled with my mouse. We're like halfway woot woot. So that's. This is a lot.

[Zaden Ryerson]

This is a lot.

[Violet Sorengale]

Steam billows from his nostrils. But you must not misinterpret my unwavering support for you, my mate, and in Darna, as any form of trust in him. Taran lifts his head, signaling the end of our conversation. Understood. That said, I stagger toward the trampled path where Ri and Quinn are waiting. Riddick walks in a wide arc around Taryn and does the same to my right. My nearly numb, gloved fingers fumble with the three buttons on the side of my winter flying outfit's hood, and the fur lined material comes loose from my nose and mouth as I reach them. Everything good on your route? Ri and Quinn look cold but unharmed. Thank the gods. Still alarmingly normal. We haven't encountered anything concerning in the wyvern fire pit. Ho. What wyvern fire pit?

[Zaden Ryerson]

They're burning the bodies.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh, okay. In the wyvern fire pit, there's still only ash and bones. Ri grabs a handful of snow from the hem of her hood and pulls it back over her black braids, which reach her shoulders. We couldn't see a damn thing for the last 10 minutes. Nothing more. Riddick pushes his gloved hand through his hair and the snowflakes slide off his brown cheeks without melting. At least you're still a snow magnet. I gesture to his annoyingly snowflake free face. Quinn gathers her blonde curls in a quick knot. Maybe you can stay warm by wielding. I'm not taking that risk if I can't see where I might crash. Especially since I've lost my only conduit in the fight. I glance at Riddick just as a row of dragons from our section tail lifts off behind him. What exactly were you arguing with Aotrim about? Sorry about that. Riddick winces and lowers his voice. He wants to go home. Back to Orisha. Says we can start the search for the seventh den from there. Ryne nods and Quinn presses her lips into a tight line. Yeah, I get it, I say. It's a widely shared opinion among the gang. They're not exactly jumping to help us here. The unity between Nevarian and Eretian riders had crumbled just hours after the battle ended. But an alliance that can save peromial citizens is only possible if we stay here, at least for now. On top of that, Zaden insists we stay. He stays because Nevar's shields protect you from him. Terrance spits another stream of fire out as I ignore him, warming his left wing and then crouches down before jumping into the air with the others. The courtyard is almost empty when we arrive via the tunnel that runs under the ridge separating it from the training grounds. Straight ahead, there's a layer of snow on the sleeping quarters building, on the central roundabout that connects the barracks, and to the left of that, on all the roofs of the academic wing, except for the southernmost one, where in the highest gun tower, Malick's fire burns brightly, consuming the belongings of her dead as he requires. Maybe the God of death is cursing me for keeping my mother's personal diaries, but should we ever meet, I'll at least have a good word to say to him.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Her personal diaries. Oh, my God. So we had a listener reach out just yesterday asking if we could do a deep dive on General Lilith Thorngill. And I said, I'm really hoping that Rebecca finds a way to give us more context to her story, whether that's through Papa Sorrengill and his research, which I was thinking maybe we'd find his diaries or that Violet would go through her belongings and find things. Oh, my God. Diaries are huge.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, so it's like book of Brennan 2.0, but, like, way more information because she's, hello, in charge.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Secretive, like confidential information.

[Violet Sorengale]

And I wonder if her mother's diaries will somehow contain the information on where to go to get her father's research.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Because I don't think she knows that. Or at least she pretended not to know it.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, because I feel like research isn't considered, like, personal belongings. Like, it doesn't need to get burned. That's, like, for the greater good of Navarre, but. Okay. Report commands Ory Beanhaven from the podium to our left, where she stands next to Ewan Faber, the burly, sour looking wing leader of what little remains of Navarre's fourth wing. Wait, Dain's not wing leader anymore? What the heck?

[Zaden Ryerson]

Where is Dain? He hasn't been mentioned at all so far.

[Violet Sorengale]

Unless he's either he's in the infirmary because Jack tried to drain him, or maybe they graduated people early, which why only him. Or he's a venom. Or he's dead. I don't think he's dead. I don't think that he would die off page.

[Zaden Ryerson]

She would have mentioned that. Like, okay, we should be about to find out. Maybe. Hopefully. Oh, God.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. Okay. Oh, great, you're back in one piece.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay, so Ewan is the new wing leader of fourth wing.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. Okay, but where is Dain?

[Zaden Ryerson]

There's nothing higher than wing leader, is there?

[Violet Sorengale]

Technically. Do they have, like, a wing leader above all of the wing leaders?

[Zaden Ryerson]

Maybe. Maybe he went up, but to go down.

[Violet Sorengale]

He could have also been put into another wing if. Another wing leader.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Maybe they only kept the people who stayed in Navarre as true, true, true, true, true. As leadership.

[Violet Sorengale]

This is odd. Oh great, you're back in one piece. Eowyn's voice drips with sarcasm. He crosses his arms and snow falls from his broad shoulders. We were so worried. That jerk was barely a squadron leader and claws when we came back. Riddick mutters, nothing to report this morning, answers Rhiannon. Aurra nods but doesn't bother to say anything. Any news from the front? My stomach tightens. The lack of information is tormenting. Nothing that I'm going to share with a bunch of deserters. Ora replies.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I think he was demoted for going to Orisha.

[Violet Sorengale]

That makes sense. And then this is in Violet's head. Oh, she can drop dead.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Yeah.

[Violet Sorengale]

A bunch of deserters who save your ass. Quinn flips them the bird as we walk past. Our boots crunch on the snow covered gravel. Nevarian riders. Oration riders. We can't function like this, she says softly to the group. If they won't even accept us, the flyers don't stand a chance. So the flyers are still there? I nod in agreement. Mira is currently working on this issue.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I don't know that it means that the flyers are there. I think that saying oh true.

[Violet Sorengale]

It could just be that they're trying to combine because they're they're forming an alliance between the countries. Or at least attempting to. I nod in agreement. Mira is currently working on this issue. Not that the leadership knows or will allow us to use what she finds out, even if it would benefit the negotiations. Arrogant assholes. Devera and Kaori will be back soon. They'll straighten out the command structure once the princes have signed a treaty that hopefully grants us grace for even leaving in the first place.

[Zaden Ryerson]

The princes.

[Violet Sorengale]

The princes.

[Zaden Ryerson]

The princes.

[Violet Sorengale]

So Arryx little run around in the.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Writer'S Halden theory, which we will be going in depth on in our Theories episode. Stay tuned.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh my gosh, everybody must know that Arik is actually Prince Cam. Why not the king? That's so weird.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay, I don't know that it means that everyone does, but some of them definitely do at this point.

[Violet Sorengale]

I wonder too if maybe this is just like, maybe it's a translation thing.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, maybe it is a translation thing, but maybe he got sent back because remember General Sorengale said at the end your dad's been looking for you and she says I don't care. Right? But at that point leadership was notified. I wonder if he got sent back.

[Violet Sorengale]

Well, I mean he has a dragon so he has to train and they especially need riders at this time.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Yeah, but he's a prince. I don't think King Torrey is gonna let I think based off of this, that he got sent back. And now that is Violet's Inn to the palace? Essentially, yeah.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh, man. Ooh. Okay. Reid tilts her head as Imogen walks out of the roundabout ahead of us. Her pink hair gently falls to her cheek as she steps down the stone stairs. Cardulo, you missed your patrol. I was reassigned by Lieutenant Tavis. That's Garak, right? Yep, imogen explains, not hesitating for a second. As she approaches us, her gaze flicks to me. Sorengail, I need to speak with you. I nod. She was on Zaden watch. Make sure you're there tomorrow. Ree walks past Imogen with the other two, then stops halfway up the stairs and glances over her shoulder as the others head inside. Wait. Isn't Meera supposed to be back today? Tomorrow. Fear ties a neat bow around my throat and pulls. Coming up with a plan is one thing, but executing it is another. Especially if this is the result. Has that made the people I love become traitors again? Every possible lead, Andarna reminds me. Every possible lead, I repeat like a mantra, straightening my shoulders. Fine. A slow smile breaks out on Ri's face. We'll be in the infirmary when you're done, she promises, and she walks up the remaining steps to the roundabout. Did you tell the second year is what Meera's working on? Imogen whispers in a sharp, accusatory tone. Only the riders, I reply softly. If we're caught, it's treason. But if the flyers get caught, it's war. Imogen finishes my sentence. Riddick, did you freeze this door shut? Ri calls from the top of the stairs. She pulls with all her weight on the roundabout door handle before heading through the parallel door to her left. Get over here and loosen it. Now. Right. Telling them is a great idea. Imogen rubs her nose bridge while Riddick lets out a hysterical laugh from the roundabout. You four are so unbearably difficult. We'll be lucky if we pull this off without getting executed. You don't have to take part. I stare at her for a long time in a way that I could have only dreamed of 18 months ago. I'll do it with or without your help. No, Violet. I think you do need Imogen's help. Like, please don't say that. Ooh, are we in a feisty mood today. One corner of her mouth curls up. Relax. As long as Mira's got a plan, I'm in. She doesn't know what failure is. I can understand that. Snow blows across our faces and Imogen's eyes harden. But say, please don't tell me you didn't tell your fearless quartet anything about why we're doing this. Of course not. I stuffed my gloves into my pocket. He's still pissed that I burdened you with information.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So Zayden knows and insisted about it?

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. Zaden did not want Imogen to know, even though it was literally a last resort. Okay, this is Imogen now, speaking. Then he should stop with all that crap. No one is supposed to know. She rubs her hands together against the cold and follows me up the stairs. Listen, I just wanted to speak to you because Garrick Bode and I talked about it without me. My back stiffens about you, she clarifies without guilt. Even better. I reach for the door handle. We've decided that you two need to revise your sleeping arrangements. Ah, Basically, they're deciding to separate them or maybe go back together, because in the Cosmo thing it almost sounded like she had. Okay, I want to keep reading. My grip tightens on the handle and I consider slamming the door in her face. And I've decided that you all can get lost. I'm not running from him. Even when he loses control, he's never hurt me. He won't.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So they are sleeping together. Tarna said that Violet has pretended to be sleeping at night, but he knows she has fear, and I wonder if they're saying this because they're not getting sleep. Neither of them, and so it's not actually healthy.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh my gosh. I already told them you'd say that, but don't be surprised if they keep asking. Good to know you're still predictable, even if Ryerson isn't. How was he this morning? The heat rushes to my face as we walk into the empty roundabout and I push my hood back. Without lessons, formations, or any set arrangements, the academic wing may look deserted, but the study rooms and the hall are packed with aimless, worried, restless cadets hoping to survive their next patrol and eager to vent their frustrations on someone else. Each of us would kill for a combat evaluation. As grumpy and stubborn as always, Imogen answers. We turn toward the sleeping quarters and fall silent as we pass a group of second years from the first wing glaring at us. First wing passing by, Including Carolyn Ashton, which means the Truthsayers have let her off the hook. Fortunately for us, the downward stairs to the Healer's quadrant are blissfully empty. Are you planning on telling him what we're up to. He knows we've been sent out to find Andarna's kind. As for the rest, he doesn't want to know. I nod at a few approaching Eretian riders from the third wing as we reach the tunnels, but wait to speak until we're out of earshot. He's afraid of unintentionally becoming a leak, which is ridiculous, but I respect his wishes. I can't wait for him to find out. You're going to lead your own rebellion? She grins as we walk over the covered bridge to the healer's quadrant. It's not a rebellion, and I'm not leading Zaden, Dain Ri. They're the leaders. They inspire and give orders in the interest of their unit. I'm just doing whatever it takes to save Zaden. There we go. So Dain is alive and he's on their side still, which is great. Not even the mission to find Endarna's kind. She opens the door to the healer's quadrant, and I follow her inside. That's different, and I'm not so much a leader, but the one that picks a leader hopefully. I glance into the messy tunnel, past the quietly sleeping patients, mostly dressed in infantry blue, and see a group of scribes with hoods moving among them, undoubtedly gathering. More accurate reports of the battle. Seems the same, but it's not riiight. The word drips with sarcasm. Well, the message has been delivered, so I'm done with this conversation. Let me know when Mira's back. She walks off toward the main campus. Say hi to Soyu for me. And good luck this afternoon. I feel like this is about to get into the Cosmo.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I was about to say this feels very much Remember, it picks up and we're like, where did Imogen go? She was mentioned as just being there. Yeah, yep.

[Violet Sorengale]

Thank you, I call after her, and I turn toward the infirmary. The smells of herbs and metal hit my lungs as I walk through the double doors. I wave to Trager, one of the Writer trained healers, doing their best to help wherever possible to my right. He nods back while standing beside a patient's bed picking up needle and thread. I quickly head to the nearest corner to stay out of the way of the healers, who are hurriedly moving back and forth between rows of beds filled with the wounded, each enclosed by curtains. I hear Riddick's laugh as I approach the last bed. The light blue curtains are tied together, behind which a pile of discarded winter flight jackets sits in the corner and all the other second years from our squad are gathered around Sawyer's bed.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Pause. This is not the excerpt. Because remember in the excerpt the infirmary she walks into are scattered with, like, dead people who've been.

[Violet Sorengale]

That's true.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Drained. So this is not it.

[Violet Sorengale]

That is true. Okay. Don't exaggerate, says Rhiannon. She's sitting on the wooden chair by Sawyer's head, waving her finger at Riddick, who's sitting on the bed where our squad member's lower leg used to be. I just let them know that table was from our squad and they should just move their cowardly asses back to the first wing where they belong. Riddick finishes the sentence for her with another laugh. You didn't really say that. One corner of Sawyer's mouth curls up. But I. But it's far from a real smile. I did I make sure not to step on Cat's out. Cat is still here.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Yeah. The Griffin flyers are here.

[Violet Sorengale]

I did I make sure not to step on Cat's outstretched legs on the floor beside Maren as I enter the cramped space, unbutton my flight jacket and toss it on the top of the pile. Riders get injured by the strangest things. Cat raises a dark eyebrow and flips through Markham's history textbook. We have bigger problems than little tables. True. Maren nods and braids her dark brown hair with four strands. How did the patrol go, Actually? Sawyer shifts to sit up straighter without anyone's help. Calm, answers Riddick. I'm starting to think we've got them all. Or that they've fled, says Sawyer thoughtfully, and the light in his eyes dims. Soon you'll have to track them down. Only once we've graduated. Ree crosses her legs. They don't send cadets across the borders. Except Violet, of course. Who's going to find the seventh den so we can win this war? Riddick casts a smug grin in my direction. Don't worry. I'll keep her safe. I don't know if he means that teasingly or seriously. That's interesting because one of Carly's theories.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Is that Riddick secretly is in love with Violet.

[Violet Sorengale]

Violet. This is gonna get messy.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh shit.

[Violet Sorengale]

This is gonna get so messy. I wish that we could have read this with Carly, but okay. Oh my word. Okay. I don't know if he means that teasingly or seriously. Cat snorts and flips another page. As if they'd let you go. I bet. Only officers are allowed. Not at all. Riddick shakes his head. It's her dragon, her rules. Right, Vi? Every head turns in my direction. If they give Us the orders. I'll give them a list of reliable people who can come along. A list with so many revised versions that I'm not even sure I have the right one in front of me. You just need to take the squadron, sawyer suggests. We work best as a team. He snorts. Who am I kidding? You work best as a team. I can barely walk up a flight of stairs. He nods toward the crutches next to his bed. Poor baby Sawyer. They need to give him a metal leg already.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Maybe that's the scene. Maybe. Maybe we're ahead of ourselves.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay.

[Zaden Ryerson]

No.

[Violet Sorengale]

You're still part of the team. Hydrate. Ri reaches for the nightstand above a note in handwriting that looks like Jesenia's, to grab a tin cup. I can't grow my leg back with water. Sawyer takes the cup and the metal handle hisses as it molds to his fingers. He looks up at me. I know that sounds pretty crappy after you lost your mother. Pain isn't a competition, I assure him. There's always enough for everyone. He sighs. Colonel Chandler has been here. My stomach feels hollow. The commander of the retired writers saw you're not.

[Zaden Ryerson]

They're bringing back retired writers?

[Violet Sorengale]

Sounds like it. This is gonna be such a wild book. I can't even Sawyer knots. What? Riddick crosses his arms. Second years don't retire. Dead, yes. Retire, no. Oh. So are they trying to retire? Sawyer? Oh my gosh. Okay, keep reading. I know, Sawyer begins. It's just. Okay.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, shit.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh shit. Both of us are. Oh my God. Oh, shit. Okay. A shrill scream echoes through the infirmary, so high pitched it's meant only for something worse than pain. Terror. The silence that follows chills me to the bone, and the fear makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I draw two of my daggers from their sheaths and turn my face toward the threat. What was that? Riddick slides off Sawyer's bed and the others stand behind me as I step away from the bed and turn toward the open infirmary doors. She's dead. A cadet in infantry blue uniform stumbles in and drops his hands and knees. They're all dead. The gray handprint on the side of his neck is impossible to miss. Venom. My heart seizes. We haven't found them out on patrol because they're already inside. Okay, so this is. This has to be the excerpt now. The cosmo, maybe.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay. Holy shit.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay, on to chapter two. So this is the epigraph. I already feel like that's a typo. Yeah. The rarest seals, which appear only once per generation or century have been documented twice simultaneously with an equal signets.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Didn't Carly say that signets sound. It would be possibly like the wrong word.

[Violet Sorengale]

So I think that it's supposed to say the and not he.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Yeah.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay. The rarest seals, possibly signets, which appear once per generation or century have been documented twice simultaneously with an equal counterpart, both during critical times in our history. But only once have the six most powerful walked the continent at the same time. As fascinating as that spectacle must have been, I would rather not witness it again in my lifetime. A study of seals signets by Major Dalton Cisneros.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay, Violet and Zaden.

[Violet Sorengale]

I think they are gonna have equal counterpart. Yeah. But I also think that they say, as much as we don't want to see the six most powerful writers walking the continent again, that's gonna happen. I'm sorry, I'm calling it now. Dain, Imogen, Bodhi, Violet, Zayden, Arryk.

[Zaden Ryerson]

You think that's the set of the six most powerful?

[Violet Sorengale]

I think it could be. I think for sure. Obviously, Violet.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Interesting. They're all in, like, the same.

[Violet Sorengale]

Quinn could also be one of them. Brennan, actually, because they say that he was going to become the strongest mender ever. But, like, think about it. Everyone has, like, mind signets. Dain and Imogen are both mind signets. Zaden has a mind signet. I feel like it could be one of them. I think Arryk's gonna end up being super powerful. Brennan's probably included. But I think that this is foreshadowing. And they're definitely gonna have the six most powerful people walking the Earth again.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So we know we have a set in Violet and Zaden and then a set in D. Imogen. So that's four. And if we're. We're wanting to say that Brennan is Sloane, I don't know what the counterpart is. Sloane. And I don't know if I believe that just yet.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, unless it's Naolyn.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, shit.

[Violet Sorengale]

This is a theory a lot of people seem to agree with. They may have been a couple. Brennan and Naolen.

[Zaden Ryerson]

No, I'm fully on board with that. It's been insinuated a lot.

[Violet Sorengale]

Me, too. So. Oh, my God. I literally just got chills. Let's go.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Hang on. Okay. The rarest signets, which appear once per generation or century. So this would be generation. Right. Have been documented twice simultaneously with an equal counterpart. So that's one point. Both during critical times in our history. So that would explain why all of them, but only once of the six most powerful. Yeah, that's a complete sentence. It almost does make it sound like the equal counterpart is also in that first six. I'm really curious to know what the first six writers signets were.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, I feel like because of the Fables of the Baron, we can assume one of them was also a lightning wielder.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Mm. So.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh man, here we go. Chapter two they're within the walls. Taryn Bellows already figured that out. I swapped my daggers for two alloy hilted ones at my thighs and move quickly to hand one to Sawyer. None of us die today.

[Zaden Ryerson]

This is the excerpt.

[Violet Sorengale]

This is the Cosmo magazine part. Merrin, protect Sawyer, rhiannon orders. Cat. Help whoever you can. Let's go. Guess I'll just stay here. Sawyer calls after us, muttering a swear word as we take off, sprinting between the rows of infirmary beds. We're the first to make it to the doors where Winifred holds the wailing infantry cadet by his upper arms. Violet, don't go out there. She starts. Lock the doors. I shout as we run through. Like that's gonna stop them. Riddick challenges as we enter the tunnel, then all three of us get to a halt at the site before us. The blankets on every overflow bed down the hallway had been thrown back, revealing desiccated bodies. My stomach plummets. How did this happen so fast? Oh shit. Riddick draws another dagger at my right as two more riders sprint through the infirmary doors behind us, both from second wing. I reach for Zaden and find his shields not only up but impenetrable. Frustrating, but fine. I'm perfectly capable of fighting on my own. And I have Re or I have Riddick and Ri with me. You do not have a conduit, taran reminds me, which means I can't pinpoint lightning strikes, especially not indoors. I've always been far more accurate with daggers than my own power. Warn whoever's riders guard the wardstone. Already done, he replies. Check the bridge. Rhiannon commands the two from second wing, and they take off toward the riders quadrant. Bring their bodies outside once you're done killing them so we can roast them for fun, and Darne suggests, not right now. I calm my breath and concentrate, eyes open. Rhiannon says, her voice as steady as her hand as she pulls an alloy hilted dagger and moves to my left, lets go. Then we move as one, quiet and quick as we make our way down the hall. I keep my eyes forward as Ri and Riddick check left and right respectively, and their silence tells me all I need to know there are no survivors. We follow the curve of the tunnel, passing the last cot, and a scribe flies out of the stairwell ahead, his robes billowing behind him as he runs toward us at full speed. I flip the dagger in my hand and pinch it by the tip, my heart starting to beat double time. Which way did they go? Re asks the cadet. The scribe's head falls back, revealing red rimmed eyes with spiderweb veins at his temples. Nope, definitely not a cadet. He reaches beneath his robes, but I've already flicked my wrist by the time he grabs the pommel of a sword. My dagger lodges in the left side of his chest and his eyes bulge in shock as he falls gracelessly to the tunnel floor. His body shrivels in the span of a heartbeat. Damn. Sometimes I forget how good you are at that, Re whispers, scanning our surroundings as we move forward. How did you know? Riddick asks in the same hushed tone, quickly kicking the husk of a body over and retrieving my blade. The scribe would have run toward the Archives. I take the blade back and wrap my hand around the hilt. Thanks. The alloy's hum of power is a little dimmer but still there, hopefully capable of another killing blow. How many of them had Imogen and I seen on our walk to the infirmary without even realizing that's how they fed without notice their dress describes. Two figures in cream robes approach from the opposite side of the tunnel, mage lights shining on their first year rank, and I prepare to throw again. Drop the hoods, Re orders. They both startle and the cadet on the right lowers her hood quickly, but there's a slight tremble in her counterpart's hands as she complies, her wide blue eyes locked on the body at my feet. Is that she whispers, and her friend wraps an arm around her swaying frame. Yes. I lower my blade, noting that neither of them carry red in their eyes or at their temples. Get back to the archives and warn the others. The women turn and run. Up or down? Riddick asks, facing the steps. Someone shouts beneath us. Down. Rhea and I say simultaneously. Great. Riddick rolls his neck down the stairwell to the torture chamber, where an untold number of freshly felled dark wielders wait. Good times. He takes the lead, switching his dagger to his left hand and lifting his right in preparation to wield as Riannon steps in behind me. We edge down the stairs rapidly, keeping our backs to the stone wall, and I send up a silent thanks to Aaron Norris for building Basgaya with stone stairs instead of wooden ones, with the potential to creak or burn. Pay attention to the present, not the past, taryn lectures. Metal clangs beneath us, the pitch varying from the ting of colliding blades to the ear grating rasp of steel scraping against stone. But it's the maniacal laughter mixed with grunts of pain that has me hurrying faster, has power rising, crackling along my skin. Control it, Taryn orders shields up to block him, knowing he can still push through if he wants. Stop playing with your kill and help us get this door open, someone demands from below. If they want a cell door open, they're definitely not on our side. They've come for Jack. How many guards are on Barlow? Riddick whispers as we near the turn in the staircase that will expose us to whomever waits beneath two. Rhiannon's answer is quickly muffled by the sound of a low and painful scream. Make that one, I reply, readying my hand to throw. The antechamber of the brig comes into view and my gaze flies over the all too familiar space, taking quick stock of our situation. Two dark wielders just inscribe robes yank at the unmoving door handle to Jack's cell while a female pulls her ruby hilted sword across the neck of a second year lieutenant who's been pinned to the thick table with daggers in through his hands, and a fourth stands at the edge of the shadows. Her long silver braid swings free from her hood as her attention whips in our direction and her eerie red gaze jumps to mine and widens slightly under a faded tattoo on her forehead. My blood chills when a smirk tilts her mouth, distorting the red veins at her temples, and then she disappears.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So we've already done an initial reaction video way back when this excerpt from Cosmopolitan magazine released, so that's why we're not like super shock about this. But I do want to point out one if you're listening to this for the first time, long silver braid is a big reveal that is going to come in big time. Also the fact that she has red veins at her temples. From what we know about Venin, that actually means she's very high up in the ranks and has been a Venin for a long time as that is an indicator visually for the higher up ranks.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yep. And also now we pretty much have confirmation that all the Venin can. Well, maybe not all, but maybe a certain level of Venin can teleport or distance wield because she just disappears into thin air. So we're like ah, faded tattoo. Is it a rune? Like what is it so many things.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I've read that some people think that that means she's older because it just means like the actual tattoo that she had could just be faded because it happens. Older skin. I'm not sure. There's also theories that this is Violet in the future. There's theories that this is Imogen in the future. This is theories that it's saved his mom. There's a whole bunch of things going on there. I don't think I buy into any of them particularly.

[Violet Sorengale]

I don't think there'd be time traveling. I don't.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Yeah, I think silver hair is actually more common than we realize.

[Violet Sorengale]

Agreed.

[Zaden Ryerson]

We've got this character, we've got Violet, we've got Suri on the assembly council who has a streak. I reread Iron Flame the other day and found that Felix has a silver beard but in other moments is also called gray. So that's an interesting thing there. But yeah, we're finding that there's a lot more characters with silver hair so.

[Violet Sorengale]

We'Re not freaking out as much. And I wonder if this snake peek that we have now will end at the same point as the Cosmo magazine or if maybe we'll get just a little bit.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I'm really hoping it keeps going a little bit.

[Violet Sorengale]

I hope so too. Part of me almost just wants to jump ahead, but I will not.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So we will put it down in the show notes though, if you would like to jump ahead to the end of the excerpt.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yes, Okay. I blink against the sudden breeze that rustles a loosened strand from my braid, then stare at the empty space she'd occupied. At least I think she had. Am I saying things now? Ri gasps behind me and my focus jolts to the imprisoned guard. Blood floods the table from the writer's wound and I swallow back the burn of acid in my throat, catching sight of two corpses to the left, one in cream, the other in black. The female with a jeweled sword at the table pivots, her short blonde hair smacking her sharp cheekbones as she turns in our direction, revealing branches of red veins at her temples. I flick my wrist just in case this one disappears too. Riders her alarm. Dies with my blade lodged in the middle of her throat. Riddick rushes the two at the door, but they're ready, one drawing a sword that Riddick blocks with a thick band of ice. I throw my remaining dagger at the other as I jump the last two steps, but the dark haired Venon moves unnaturally fast, dodging the strike. My blade bounces off the stone wall behind him as I run toward the rider bleeding out on the table. Fuck. Rhea leaps over the female's body, headed for Riddick, and I continue on, keeping an eye on the one I missed. The Venon swings his arm and a shape flies toward me. Drop Vi. Riddick shouts, throwing his hand out palm down, and a chill sweeps over the front of my legs as spikes rush at my face. I hit my knees and slide along a small sheet of ice as the mace whips over my head, slicing through the air with a whistle. Not the silver hair. The dark wielder with the sword bellows and I scramble to my feet, slipping on the blood covered stone. We need her to control Zane. Fuck that. I'll never be used against him again. Mine now. Ree shouts, and when I glance left, she's swinging the mace at its previous owner, giving me time to get to the twitching rider on the table. Hold on, I tell him, reaching for his throat to staunch the bleeding, but I pause as his last breath rattles his chest and he falls limp. He's gone. My heart clenches for all of a beat before I draw two more daggers and turn toward my friends. The black haired vennon moves in a blur, ducking beneath the mace. Rhiannon swings, then appears before me like he'd been standing there. Fast. They're too damned fast. My heart jolts as I jerk my dagger to his throat and he studies me with sickening excitement in his red eyes. Power floods my veins, heating my skin and lifting the hair along my arms. Ah, the lightning wielder. You're a long way from the sky and we both know you can't kill me with that knife. He taunts and the veins along his temples pulse as Re sneaks up behind him, her alloy hilted dagger poised to strike. Shadows quake at the edge of the chamber and a corner of my mouth rises. I won't have to. His eyes flare in confusion for all of a millisecond before shadows explode around us, immediately devouring every speck of light in a sea of endless black I instantly recognize as home. A band of darkness wraps around my hips and yanks me backward, then brushes my cheek gently, steadying my galloping heartbeat and quieting my power. Screams fill the chamber, followed by a pair of thuds and I know without a doubt any threat to my life's been extinguished. A heartbeat later the shadows retreat, revealing the shriveled bodies of the dark wielders on the floor, alloy hilted daggers embedded in their chests. I lower my weapons as Zaden strides toward Me from the center of the room, the hilts of the two swords he keeps strapped to his back peeking above his shoulders. He's in thick winter flight leathers devoid of any markings but his second lieutenant rank and speckled with tiny dots of water that tell me he's been out in the snow. Second lieutenant. The same rank as Barlow's guards, had been the same as Garak, who's standing at the base of the steps behind Zaden and almost every other officer temporarily stationed here to protect Basgaeth. My heart stutters and my gaze rakes over Zayan's tall, muscled frame, searching for any sign of injury. Gold flecked onyx eyes meet mine and my breath stabilizes only when I realize he's unharmed and there isn't a single trace of red to be found anywhere near his irises. He may technically be an initiate, but he's nothing like the Venin we just fought. Gods, I love this man. Tell me something violence. A muscle in his square jaw ticks as he stares down at me, rippling the tawny brown skin of his stubble cheek. Why is it always you?

[Zaden Ryerson]

We get more.

[Violet Sorengale]

We get more.

[Zaden Ryerson]

End of the excerpt. Let's go. Okay, okay, okay. All new. I'm like, rejuvenated. I'm so excited. Okay, this is great.

[Violet Sorengale]

Also, I'm just gonna say that when we first got the Cosmo magazine, like little sneak peek, I was like, this has to be weeks to months after. And we know now. Two weeks.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Two weeks.

[Violet Sorengale]

Two weeks. Okay. An hour later, the debriefing with the Commander of the Riders Quadrant, Colonel Panchak, is over and we're free to leave. He doesn't seem to care that they were trying to save Barlow. Instead of focusing on the Wardstone, Garrick runs a hand through his dark hair and walks ahead of Zaden and me down the stairs into the academic wing.

[Zaden Ryerson]

That is important because, you know, when we first got the Cosmo excerpt, it was like, why do they want Jack so bad? They're willing to risk, you know, all of those Vinnins lives, and they're not after the Wardstone to take it down. Like, why is their effort.

[Violet Sorengale]

I'm adding Panchak to my hit list now because I don't know, it's just weird to me that he does not care. Like, I feel like that's pretty serious, that they staged an attack from within and were posing as scribes just to free Jack anyway. Maybe it wasn't their first attempt. Ri looks over her shoulder at Garrick. We're not exactly Getting daily updates. We're not safe here. Not that we ever were. Panjak is updating the other leaders, too, right? Riddick asks as we pass the second floor. Melgren already knows there were only two of us down there. Zaden casts a meaningful glance at Garak's hand, where the rebel relic is visible beneath the sleeve of his uniform. I'm just glad Sorengeil activated the ward before she left.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, because there's only two of the marked ones down there, so he knew he could see that. That's why.

[Violet Sorengale]

Ah. Okay. Yep. Because it's technically a battle. Got it. I'm just glad Sorengail activated the wards before she left. Garak doesn't bother clarifying that he's talking about my sister.

[Zaden Ryerson]

What?

[Violet Sorengale]

That's weird. Shouldn't it be her mother? I don't know.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Maybe. That's not an exact quote.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh, it could also be the wards to Jack's cell. Like how Violet has, like, her own little wards to her room?

[Zaden Ryerson]

That would make a little bit more sense. Yeah.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

Barlow can't hear or see anything outside that room unless someone opens the door. So he's not gathering any new intel. Judging by the stones in the cell that he drained, he'll be dead within a week. Thank God.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Finally. But I don't think.

[Violet Sorengale]

I don't think he died. That's true. It's false hope. But it would be really nice. It would be really nice.

[Zaden Ryerson]

But wait, does that mean that Zaden has to drain to stay alive?

[Violet Sorengale]

Now, I'm hoping this means that. Because, again, they're not opening the door for him. So he's not receiving food and water. So maybe draining is his only option. Hopefully.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I don't know how much.

[Violet Sorengale]

They say there's control. There's only control. There's no cure.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Control is the urge to drain.

[Violet Sorengale]

But I feel like they wouldn't die if they refused to drain. So I almost wonder if they're, like, not even giving him any supplies and just, like, waiting him out to die. Like, maybe it's a test. I don't know. We'll see. We'll see. I wish he'd die, but I know that that's not likely. Zaden stiffens at my side, and I reach out to him mentally, but his blocks are thicker than the walls of this fortress. Ah. It's not always up to me, I whisper to Zaden. I brush his hand with mine as we continue down the wide spiral staircase to the first floor. Zaden snorts, intertwines his fingers with mine, and brings up the back of my hand to his perfectly shaped mouth. Yes, it is, he responds softly, emphasizing his words with a kiss. My heartbeat quickens just like every time his lips touch my skin, which has been happening a lot these past few weeks. A lot has happened. You know. That whole finish them off in the dark thing you did was pretty badass. Riddick raises his finger. But I would have taken him down myself. Not true. Zaden strokes his thumb over mine. Garruk's shoulders shake as he laughs silently and we walk down the last steps to the main entrance. I almost took him down myself, Riddick insists, waving his finger. Really not, Zaden reassures him. How do you know that? Riddick lowers his hand. Garak and Zaden exchange a look of pure annoyance and I suppress a smile. Because you were on one side of the room, garruk says. But your knife was on the other. Oh my gosh. A problem I was actively solving. Riddick shrugs as he and Ri reach the ground floor. Zaden stops for a moment and tugs on my hand, silently asking if I'll stay with him, which I do. We should go check on the others.

[Zaden Ryerson]

We get a conversation on page between them. Please don't stop just in time. Watch it stop like right as that. Okay?

[Violet Sorengale]

I hope not. Okay, we should go check on the others. Ri looks up at me. Are you heading to the Great Hall? I nod and the nerves churn in my stomach. You're ready. You can do this, she says with a quick smile. Do you want us to walk with you? No, go check on the squadron, I reply. Garak stops a step below us. I'll join you later. We'll wait for you, Riddick promises over his shoulder as he and Ree head left, disappearing around the corner. Everything okay? Garak turns toward us and studies Zaden's eyes. Well, if you give us five minutes alone, Zaden says. Garak frowns in concern as he looks at me, but he quickly smooths out his expression when I nod. Damn it. You trust her at night when she's babysitting me, right? Zaden squints at his best friend. Don't act like it's my fault you need a babysitter, Garruk shoots back.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh. Oh no. Oh no.

[Violet Sorengale]

Travel in paradise between best friends. Okay? The shadows creep over the step beneath our feet. It's okay, I quickly reassure Garak, keeping my hand intertwined with Zaden's much larger one. I'm okay. He's okay. Everything's okay. Garrett glances at both of us, turns and heads up the stairs. I'M nearby, he warns, and then turns the corner to the right toward the sparring room. Damn it. Satan pulls his hand from mine and leans back against the wall. His sword clatters against the masonry. His jacket falls open as he rests his head against the stone window frame. I never realized how much I liked being alone until I couldn't anymore. His throat moves as he swallows and his hands tighten at his sides. I'm sorry. I close the gap between us, stand between his feet, and place my hand against the side of his neck, right on the magically tattooed lines of his marking. No need. He covers my hand with his, lowers his head, and slowly opens those eyes I can never get enough of. I trust you. Not a hint of red in sight. Better not. He wraps his that was so short lived, I know. She's like I trust you. Better not. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against him. The contact immediately heats up my skin and it makes my stomach twist in the most delightful way. I'm damn sure there's only one reason why he and Bode don't sleep by our bed every night, and that's because they know I would have killed them for it before, let alone now. Not that we would do anything else in that bed other than sleep. I trust him, but Dune would damn well trust himself. At least not enough to let go of control, even a little.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, that whole sentence is a little hard to process. It's a translation.

[Violet Sorengale]

But yeah, it's definitely a translation thing. But what I'm getting from it is that Zaden doesn't trust himself. So they haven't been getting spicy time because Zaden always loses control and he's afraid to lose control and drain her. So now they're going to be horny messes and we're gonna have slow burn.

[Zaden Ryerson]

It's gonna be so annoying. It's gonna be frustrating, brutal.

[Violet Sorengale]

So, okay, in the name of transparency, I might as well tell you that they want me to reconsider our bedroom arrangement. I press my hand flat against his warm chest. His eyes widen and the arm he has wrapped around me tightens. Maybe that's better. That's not happening. I told Imogen to shove it. A smile slides over his mouth. Of course you did. Once you're healed, they won't be so concerned anymore. My eyes trace the sculpted shape of his jaw over his prominent cheekbones to the black strands of hair that have fallen over his forehead. He's still him. Still mine. His muscles tighten under my fingertips. Are you ready to go to this scenarium Yes. I nod and don't change the subject. I'm going to find a way to heal you. I put every ounce of my determination into those words and raised my eyebrows at him. Let me in. It's not a request. To my surprise, he lowers his barriers.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Is that her signet? Is that her second signet? He has blocked her out for weeks. She says I put every ounce of my determination into those words and raise my eyebrows at him. Let me in. It's not a request. To my surprise, he lowers his barriers and the shimmering onyx colored bond between us takes on a solid form.

[Violet Sorengale]

Let me process real quick. She demands to speak to other people's dragons. And they do. They talk to her. She's demanding this of him. He lets it down.

[Zaden Ryerson]

The venon Carly brought up, that's the most compelling, compelling piece of evidence is that she commanded the venon to stop when it was after chat at the end of Iron Flame. And the Venin did and said, you are a powerful one, aren't you? That to me just confirmed her second signet. At the very least. If she is not an umbrella truthsayer, as mythology stands, if you guys are not familiar, listen to our dear dragons reader episode on Violet's signets that Carly hosted. She breaks this down and the mythology behind that. And compelling and compulsion is one of the traits of a truthsayer. If she is not an overarching truthsayer, that to me is her second signet. And she can compel people to do things.

[Violet Sorengale]

I full heartedly agree. I feel like I just have my mind blown.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Holy fuck.

[Violet Sorengale]

It's part of truth saying. But she's definitely compelling people. And I almost wonder because I have said this also from the beginning, whenever she like prays to the gods and like demands like, you will not take him from me. Like Malik will not take it. It's almost like she's compelling the gods.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I want to be careful when, and I do agree with you, I want to be careful that we don't use things that were also happening in fourth wing before. She would have been channeling from Indarna because I think she just has the habit. But it's okay because she set that habit. And that could have just been coincidence at first. And now she actually has the power to put behind her habit, which is telling the gods what she will or will not do or others will.

[Violet Sorengale]

Well, she does it in Iron Flame too. Like when they're hiking up and Riddick is shot with the arrows. She says, you're not taking him from me, too. Like, you already took Liam. You're not taking Riddick away.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So, like, we've all three said, myself, Kinsey, and Carly, that we pretty much think. We all agree she's a truthsayer. It's just a question of, is she able to do, like, the full umbrella of truth saying. But for me, I was thinking, what would be the most interesting signet to see on page? Not just detecting lies. I think that would be interesting. But the most compulsion is what I feel like that. And then if she could also do some sort of precognition thing.

[Violet Sorengale]

Is she manifesting things? Is she having precognition? And it'd be really interesting if that's kind of like all together and it's compulsion. But you are so right. Like, I. To me, I was like, yay, he's letting her in.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I think she's making him.

[Violet Sorengale]

I think you're right. I think you're right. And that's crazy.

[Zaden Ryerson]

And I think she has to be very intentional about it. She can't just be like, let me in. It specifically is written granted. Again, this is translation, but it translates similar wording. And so I put every ounce of my determination into those words.

[Violet Sorengale]

And it's not a request.

[Zaden Ryerson]

It's not a request.

[Violet Sorengale]

When we are done filming this episode, I'm going to go onto my Kindle and I'm going to search. It's not a request. And I'm going to search determination. And just, like, read the scene.

[Zaden Ryerson]

There's an example where she tells Sloane to get down, like, when she feels very passionate. It doesn't even have to be that. It's written that she put determination into it. When she tells Imogen to get down to help Sloan on the mat, urgency behind it, I think, also counts.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yep.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Holy shit.

[Violet Sorengale]

And then Sloane started training with Imogen after that, because she's like, you're shit at your battle or your. Your competition.

[Zaden Ryerson]

And I want to be clear, if this is her signet and she has a signal of compulsion, that could still be true. Saying, it's complex. Again, it. Go check out that episode. But she could still very well be a truthsayer and that be a factor of it. So.

[Violet Sorengale]

Holy moly, let me in. It's not a request. To my surprise, he lowers his barriers and the shimmering, onyx colored bond between us takes on a solid form. You used your seal today within the shields, and again, seal is signet. So, yeah, you used your signet today within the shields or wards.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, so maybe she didn't know that.

[Violet Sorengale]

Zaden could still use his shadows.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Yeah, maybe he hadn't tried it yet.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, so this is good, because he can use his regular signet from Sigale without channeling Venon magic.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I'm waiting for you to read that next line.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh, God. Okay. He nods, lets his hand fall from mine, and wraps his arm completely around me. I got the message from Sigel.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So Sigail finally spoke to him.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh my gosh.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So they are at least minimally still connected via bond. Hence how he can use his signet.

[Violet Sorengale]

Well, that's good. And Taryn must have told Sigeil that it was an emergency, and then she gave him permission to channel. Oh my gosh. Okay.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Or. We don't really know. Does she have, like, control over when she allows him to channel or not? That's true, you know? Cause I think it's one of Carly's theories that even if dragon unbonds, that maybe that rider can still keep their signet. Hence how, if the theory is true that Venon keep their signets, how the silver braided vennon was able to teleport or distance wield.

[Violet Sorengale]

True. So true.

[Zaden Ryerson]

There's some questions that that prompts.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay, let's keep going. We're nearly to the end. I enjoy the feeling of his body against mine, but don't hope for a kiss. They're not even kissing.

[Zaden Ryerson]

That's so annoying.

[Violet Sorengale]

Did she say we're in trouble? He looks away and shakes his head. She still won't talk to me. Flying is so embarrassing.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, because they're not communicating. But he's still flying with her to patrol.

[Violet Sorengale]

And he probably has no idea where they're going, what they're doing. I almost wonder if Sigaille is the one hunting down these venom to be like, see, I can do this to you. I can go after to you. Because he killed 17 venin. They're not communicating when they're flying. How do they find these Venin? You know.

[Zaden Ryerson]

And also he's saying flying's embarrassing because she's probably intentionally embarrassing the fuck out of him. She's like, last minute because he has to remember he's trying to make him.

[Violet Sorengale]

Fall out of his seat.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So usually they're in sync. And, you know, if there's a dip or an unexpected, you know, twist in the air, like the advanced flight maneuvers. She's just probably like, you know, the bull rodeos, like the mechanical bull. That's all I can pick.

[Violet Sorengale]

She's like, fuck him. If he flies off, that's his own damn fault. He deserves It Shit.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay, okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

My chest threatens to burst under the weight of sadness. Aww. Under the weight of the sadness in his voice. I'm so sorry. I let my hand slide over his lower back to hug him and turn my head so his heart beats under my ear. She'll come around. Oh, shit. Don't count on it. Taryn warns with a growl through the mental bond that's only ours. And I completely ignore him.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Oh, no.

[Violet Sorengale]

So Taryn is also refusing to speak to Zaden through the bond and is like, oh, God. Oh, no. Okay. Zaden places his chin on top of my head. She knows I'm not whole. She feels it. Oh.

[Zaden Ryerson]

No. There better be a fucking cure.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh my gosh. I mean, if he doesn't feel whole, then that means there's something wrong.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Part of his soul is gone. That's what Rebecca's like, explained a little better, I think, in the interviews rather than the books, is that when you become a venom, you lose a piece of your soul. And if you continue to pull from the source, you slowly are exchanging more of your soul. So, as Violet put it, if this translation is correct for that word, his soul is fractured and she wants to mend it while it still has a chance of being mended. Because if he continues to pull more, that's like, all right, there's no shot at that point. Right.

[Violet Sorengale]

Also, I wonder, because you mentioned mending. They had Nolan mending Jack, but Nolan is not the best mender that they have. Brennan is. So I wonder if Brennan and Sloane and. And Darna somehow will work together.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Where is Brennan in all of this? Why would that not be one of the things she would try first?

[Violet Sorengale]

I wonder if. Well, for one, Brennan.

[Zaden Ryerson]

He's not part of telling people.

[Violet Sorengale]

He's part of the council. And if the Eretian council finds out, find out, Zaden will lose his throne. He'll get kicked out. They won't trust him. They'd probably kill him.

[Zaden Ryerson]

That shows how much Violet doesn't trust Brennan. Because if it was like, if they were close enough to where she knew that he could at least try.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yep. So far we just know that their three dragons know them. Bodhi, Garrick, Imogen. I don't think that her squad mates know, but they do know her plan to find the seventh breed. But, like, why would she tell them to find a cure? Like, maybe she's using Jack as an excuse. Did she say they're totally in on it? They know that she wants to leave Basgaya to go find the seventh den of dragons. So they must know something about finding a cure. But she probably hasn't told them it's because of Zaden, right? I jump back, pull away, and raise my hands to his face. You are whole, I whisper. I don't know what price you had to pay to access those powers, but that doesn't mean you've changed. Yes, I have. He counters, stepping down a step out of my arms.

[Zaden Ryerson]

That's brutal.

[Violet Sorengale]

I know. Oh, gosh. I can only think of one way to prove that's not true. Do you still love me? I throw the question at him like a weapon. Oh, God. I don't want to read the next part.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I don't think I either.

[Violet Sorengale]

Do you still love me? His eyes snap to mine. What kind of question is that? Do you still love me? I emphasize each word and step into his personal space to prove I'm not intimidated by him. He grabs the back of my neck and pulls me toward him until I'm just a few centimeters from his face. Here we go. Close enough to kiss.

[Zaden Ryerson]

We've got our first Zaden devotional quote of Onyx Storm.

[Violet Sorengale]

Even if I reached the rank of Maven led armies of dark wielders against everyone we care about, and if I had to watch every vein in my body turn red because I had drained all the powers of the continent, I would still love you. Okay.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

Thank God. Okay. What I've done doesn't change that. I don't know if that's even possible.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Let's fucking go, Zaden.

[Violet Sorengale]

Let's go.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay. Yes. He would go after Malik with her. He would become the worst venom possible and still love her. It's fine. It's fine. It's fine.

[Zaden Ryerson]

We're so close to the end.

[Violet Sorengale]

Just a few more lines. Okay. See? You're still yourself. I focus on his mouth. Telling me that you're capable of terrible things while you still love me is pretty much your version of foreplay. Okay. His eyes darken and he pulls me closer until only his own stubbornness separates our lips. You should be terrified, Violet. I'm not. I stand on my toes and brush my lips against his. I'm not afraid of you. I won't run. Zaden. Damn it. He lowers his hand and takes a step back, putting more space between us. Because I had set up my blocks. I didn't know you were in the interrogation room until I was already halfway down the stairs.

[Zaden Ryerson]

And that ends. That's it. That's all.

[Violet Sorengale]

Because I had set up my blocks. I didn't know you were in the Interrogation room until I was already halfway down the stairs.

[Zaden Ryerson]

His shield. It's saying blocks actually means shields.

[Violet Sorengale]

Okay, is he referring to the prologue scene when Violet was listening in on Jack's conversation with Zaden, or is he referring to literally what just happened from the Cosmo excerpt when they just killed the venom just now?

[Zaden Ryerson]

Well, that's interesting. I wonder, because it says any point, either one of those. He realized it when he was halfway down the stairs. That's really interesting to think about if he was on his way down to Jack that first conversation. Yeah, if that's that one, he would have known during that conversation that she was listening.

[Violet Sorengale]

I think it might be the initial one, because looking back, the line before he says, you should be terrified, Violet. And she's like, I'm not. I won't run. And then he's like, damn it. Because I had it up. I didn't know you were in the interrogation room till I was already halfway down the stairs.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Wait, no, I think it's this late. I think he's saying, like, I didn't realize how close you were to them.

[Violet Sorengale]

Ugh. What a way to end that sneak peek.

[Zaden Ryerson]

What a cliffhanger.

[Violet Sorengale]

And he still pulls back and won't kiss her. So buckle up, folks, because we will be having horrible slow burn. And if when they finally kiss or get spicy, we'll just be like, finally.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I'm so glad that Violet is just completely committed.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. And so is he.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Unfortunately, he is, but he's also stay away.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, he knows that he loves her, but a way for him to love and protect her is to also keep her at a distance. He's shielding her out.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I've made a post about this on socials, if you haven't seen it. I talked about Taylor Swift's Down Bad Song and how I listened to the lyrics. How dare you think it's romantic, leaving me safe and stranded. And that is what I think this book is going to be. I also want to point out that Red Tower Books followed the podcast on Instagram from that reel from that exact post where I said that. So I think we're onto something, unfortunately, because I really don't want. I don't want, like, a New Moon Edward Cullen situation. I fucking hated that book because of that.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yep.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I won't read it. Like, I won't. I just skipped that book when I did rereads of Twilight.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So, no, I'm not looking forward to that. But I'm hoping it's not the whole book. I'm hoping it's Like a portion of it.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah. Because also there will be a point where she has to go leave for the seventh den. But if they're.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I hoped he would go with her.

[Violet Sorengale]

I don't know if he can go with her because it's going to be outside of the wards. If they are in the Isle Kingdoms, the wards aren't there. So he might not think it's safe to leave the wards. I don't know. But you know, this was great. I was still nervous for the book and there was so much that happened, but I feel like this is gonna be incredible. I think, Hannah, that you were totally right. Calling that being her signet being used just now in this scene.

[Zaden Ryerson]

That's your second signet. I'm convinced of it.

[Violet Sorengale]

Oh, I'm convinced. And like, I'm like, okay, so we got Riddick fighting with his dragon. Sawyer might be forced to retire as a writer. Which, if they force retirement, do they make the dragon and the bond? Like, are they able to still remain bonded?

[Zaden Ryerson]

That's my understanding. But then at that point. What a waste of.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, because then a dragon.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Dragon.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah, exactly. So that happens. We know that Imogen knows everything and used her signet against Jack fucking Barlow. Yes. Daen got demoted. What else happened? I mean, obviously there's the part about the silver haired.

[Zaden Ryerson]

The griffin flyers are still there.

[Violet Sorengale]

And Darna says that she felt something in her magic and that allowed her to burn the Venon.

[Zaden Ryerson]

That really is suspicious. This could be a translation thing. But she keeps saying she changed the Venon and that her magic changed when her color changed.

[Violet Sorengale]

Yeah.

[Zaden Ryerson]

So I really am curious about what that means and I'm curious about what the English version will actually say. And if that's similar, she like has.

[Violet Sorengale]

To shift in order to do it. Maybe. Ooh. I feel like these dragons might be that hidden weapon that they've been looking for for 600 years. And it's odd that they would have all left except leave and Darna and then she just waited to hatch for some.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Yeah, I'm really curious again. We. We have to take a little bit of it with a grain of salt because of the translation. But I find it really intriguing that. And Darnen doesn't know as much as I thought she did about her kind. I've been kind of working under the assumption that was some sort of prophecy. Maybe not like an official one, but something passed down from her family while she was in an egg unconscious 600 and so years ago that she was told to wait because she would help save the continent. From Venon later. Yeah, but I feel like if that were the case, would she not have been told more context about her breed? But maybe not. So I think that's really intriguing.

[Violet Sorengale]

Also, we found out that this just takes place like, literally, Night of Iron Flame and then two weeks later, at least it seems like Zaden has not used his signet at all since that initial night. Oh, my goodness. And the flyers are still there. The princes have to sign a treaty.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I really think Arryk went back.

[Violet Sorengale]

It sounds like it. I don't know.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I wonder if they're gonna be in this next scene where it's like, it calls it something with an S. I.

[Violet Sorengale]

Don'T know how to pronounce that one. But that's like their big meeting, so he's definitely gonna.

[Zaden Ryerson]

I think it might actually be with the princes as, you know, like representatives for the crown, but it's definitely like a meeting with Hora Meal. Maybe we finally get to meet their queen. Maybe because we've only ever met to Kharis, who is the nephew and next in line for the throne, but not the sole leader. I think it's gonna be really intriguing because I think that this is where, you know, they're teaming up, but I think that the Isle Kingdoms will come into play. I wonder if this will technically position Navarre and poor Emil as against the Isle Kingdoms or if that conversation will get brought up during this meeting. Yeah, because again, I really do think everyone's kind of under the assumptions that the seventh breed is in the Isle Kingdoms and back in their history following the unification of Navarre, where, you know, the dragon riders became a thing with the dragons bonding to create the Wards. The Isle Kingdoms are said to have been very upset about that decision. So they have not been on good terms the entire existence of Navarre. And that wraps up our last Onyx Storm sneak peek. Now that future us has the real thing.

[Violet Sorengale]

If you are here for Onyx Storm content and want more, we have an entire prep season that we published before this video. And as soon as we finish reading Onyx Storm in its entirety, we will film a video covering our initial reactions, followed by our experience seeing Rebecca Yarros in Denver and a Chapters by Chapters Deep Dive on Onyx Storm. So stay tuned for more Empyrean content.

[Zaden Ryerson]

A full season Chapters by Chapters Deep Dive of Onyx Storm. As always, we encourage you to email us all of your thoughts, theories and suggestions. Drop them below if you're watching on YouTube or join us over on Discord. And don't forget to follow us over on socials. Until next time. Dearest fantasy readers, prepare yourselves to have Onyx Storm in your hands. Unless you already do as we continue our journey through the Empyrean series. Yay.

[Violet Sorengale]

As if they let you go. I bet only off icers the way that it cut off.

[Zaden Ryerson]

Okay.

[Violet Sorengale]

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[Zaden Ryerson]

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[Violet Sorengale]

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[Zaden Ryerson]

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[Violet Sorengale]

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[Zaden Ryerson]

Bill credits end if you pay off devices early.

[Violet Sorengale]

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