CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Contains spoilersOverview
Rhiannon leads a diminished flight to defend the Medaro Pass as a wave of wyvern approach in stormy conditions. She orders an intercept far from the cliff, trades kills with Feirge and the others, and then regroups into a shield to protect panicked civilians when several wyvern break through.
Summary
From Rhiannon’s point of view at the entrance to the Medaro Pass, she assesses the evacuation line after a violent windstorm abates and rain begins. With Violet, Imogen, and Quinn absent, she worries about their reduced strength but commits to holding the pass for the civilians. Feirge confirms that both dragons and wyvern had been grounded by the storm, and Rhiannon notes no civilians fell during the squall.
Spotting a horde of wyvern rising in the valley, Rhiannon orders Riot to launch in a thorn formation to intercept far from the cliff and assigns Drift, under Bragen, to guard the evacuees. With Baylor sighting seventeen wyvern, Rhiannon justifies keeping the gryphon unit near the cliff for maneuverability and rune support, then shifts her flight into a vertical formation to maximize kills.
Feirge engages first, dodging blue fire and executing a steep dive to seize a wyvern from above, shredding wings and snapping its neck near the mountainside. As Aotrom and Ridoc pursue another target, a curl of green wyvern fire nearly catches them, but they outrun it. Feirge tears into an additional wyvern, ripping its throat, while Rhiannon searches for squad positions amid the chaotic dogfight.
Ridoc demonstrates his signet by making contact with a wyvern mid-flight; its scales blanch, it seizes, stops flapping, and plummets to the rocks, apparently breaking apart on impact. Sawyer finishes another kill below, confirming the intercept is working but remains costly and disorganized in the rain and tight terrain.
When Rhiannon looks back to the pass, she sees that seven wyvern have slipped through. Cat (with Kira) has pinned one, Maren ignites a wing with a crossbow rune, and Bragen and Neve chase separate targets up the cliff. Four wyvern remain poised to strike panicked civilians.
Prioritizing the evacuees, Rhiannon orders an immediate regroup into a shield formation despite their losses, emphasizing the squad’s collective strength over individual prowess. The scene closes with the unit moving to block further civilian casualties in the rain as the defense consolidates.
Who Appears
- Rhiannon
narrator; leads the defense at the Medaro Pass, issues formations, and orders a regroup to shield civilians.
- Feirge
Rhiannon’s green dragon; executes multiple aerial kills and relays status among units.
- Violet Sorrengail
ally; absent from the pass and in danger elsewhere, motivating Rhiannon’s concern.
- Imogen
ally; absent from the fight, noted as one of the missing powerful squadmates.
- Quinn
ally; absent from the fight, counted among missing strength.
- Ridoc
rider; flies Aotrom, uses his signet to disable a wyvern mid-air, causing it to fall.
- Aotrom
Ridoc’s brown dragon; evades green fire and supports Ridoc’s maneuver.
- Sawyer
rider; flying Sliseag, completes a wyvern kill and stays engaged after past injuries at Basgiath.
- Sliseag
Sawyer’s dragon; participates in the intercept.
- Maren
rider; fights near the cliff, uses a crossbow rune to set a wyvern’s wing on fire.
- Cat
rider; contests Rhiannon’s orders but pins a wyvern at the cliff.
- Kira
Cat’s gryphon partner; immobilizes a wyvern beneath her.
- Bragen
rider; commands Drift to guard evacuees and pursues a wyvern up the cliff.
- Neve
rider; pursues a wyvern up the cliff alongside Bragen.
- Gamlyn
ally (Ridoc’s surname); Rhiannon calls for his focus during the engagement.
- Baylor
spotter/ally; reports sighting of seventeen wyvern.
- Veirt
ally; consulted for Baylor’s count.
- Cath
ally; provides status that dragons were grounded by the windstorm.
- Tairn
Violet’s dragon; last seen flying Teine toward the cliffs before the storm.
- Marbh
dragon escort; accompanies Tairn and Teine.
- Teine
chained storm wielder; being transported by Tairn, not active in the fight.
- Evacuees
civilians on the cliff and in the pass; their protection drives Rhiannon’s regroup into a shield.