CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Contains spoilersOverview
Violet, Rhiannon, Ridoc, and Sawyer visit the Archives to coordinate with Jesinia and collect research on irids and lost isle records, learning Jesinia was expelled from the adept program and reassigned to support Violet. Violet identifies her late father’s unpublished research as a likely key source but faces access obstacles. Days later in Battle Brief, cadets receive a venin-focused anthology, new classes are announced, and it is revealed that high-level venin can wield signets. The chapter ends with Xaden arriving as a temporary instructor, forcing a conflict with Basgiath’s fraternization rules and jeopardizing Violet and Xaden’s relationship.
Summary
Violet, Rhiannon, Ridoc, and Sawyer head to the Archives, joking about relationships and leadership expectations as they go. Violet briefs them on Jack’s claim that venin can hide undetected among people. At the Archives, they meet Jesinia Neilwart, who weathers open hostility from fellow scribes while bringing six tomes focused on Deverelli’s southernmost isle and related exploration sources.
Jesinia reveals she has been expelled from the adept program through contrived tests and reassigned under Professor Grady to assist Violet’s research, a punishment for her prior choices. She refuses pity, emphasizing the research access she now has, though she notes alarming gaps in the royal vault: missing materials, including ripped-out pages from General Cadao’s journal about an external isle supporting the second Krovlan uprising.
Prompted by Jesinia’s hint, Violet realizes her late father’s unpublished research likely contains answers about isle involvement and post-severance contacts, but accessing it would require help from Dain Aetos to betray his father’s control over those papers, which Violet deems unlikely. Jesinia confirms she has begun translating Lyra’s journal and is surveying six centuries of personal accounts; there is no prophecy about irids, despite Ridoc’s hopeful teasing.
Three days later in Battle Brief, Professor Devera unveils a large continental map showing extensive venin activity pressing along the wardline toward Samara and the hatching grounds. Cadets receive an anthology containing Captain Lera Dorrell’s Guide to Vanquishing the Venin, Venin, A Compendium, and Dark Wielders and Dark Times, compiled and printed by scribes; Violet notes she has previously read most of it.
Devera announces curriculum changes: a new venin history class taught in Battle Brief by Professor Kiandra, mandatory rune intensives in Aretia on rotating two-week cycles, and challenges that will now include wielding under Professor Emetterio with death prohibited. She also confirms a critical update omitted from printing: high-level venin—believed to be Sage and Maven—can wield signets, shocking the cadets.
To prepare for signet-against-signet combat, Devera introduces a hands-on course staffed by multiple professors and announces a powerful rider from the Eastern Wing will begin instruction. Xaden Riorson then arrives with Professor Kaori, and Devera introduces him as “Professor Riorson,” effectively adding him to leadership. Violet is simultaneously relieved he can remain within the wards and alarmed that Article Eight, Section One forbids their relationship, leading her to think their relationship has just ended.
Who Appears
- Violet Sorrengail
rider and protagonist; seeks research on irids and missing isle records; realizes her father’s unpublished work may be crucial; reacts to new classes and the reveal about venin signets; distressed when Xaden is appointed professor.
- Rhiannon
Violet’s friend and squadmate; accompanies Violet to the Archives and Battle Brief; comments on leadership and training changes.
- Sawyer
friend on crutches; learning to sign; attends the Archives visit and shares that Jesinia was expelled; supports research efforts.
- Ridoc
friend and rider; assists with signing; commits to quest-squad research; jokes about prophecies; petitions to join research efforts.
- Imogen
ally; briefly appears at the start, declines to join the Archives trip.
- Jesinia Neilwart
scribe; “new” status as reassigned from adept path; brings tomes, reports missing vault materials and Cadao’s torn pages; now officially tasked with aiding Violet’s research under Professor Grady.
- Professor Grady
scribe leader; mentioned as Jesinia’s supervising authority and requester of northern Emerald Sea texts.
- Professor Devera
Battle Brief instructor; unveils venin map, distributes the anthology, announces new classes and wielding-inclusive challenges, and confirms venin with signets.
- Professor Kiandra
instructor; to teach the new venin history course in Battle Brief.
- Professor Emetterio
instructor; to supervise revised, nonlethal challenges including wielding.
- Professor Kaori
arrives with Xaden; associated with the new training initiative.
- Xaden Riorson
rider and Violet’s partner; arrives as “Professor Riorson,” the powerful rider from the Eastern Wing to teach signet combat, creating a conflict with fraternization rules.
- Dain Aetos
rider; seen in the top row; potentially key to accessing Violet’s father’s research; no direct interaction this chapter.
- Cat
rider; comments on the map and Sawyer’s situation; notes her cousin authored part of the compendium.
- General Cadao
historical figure; his journal has missing pages referencing outside isle support for the second Krovlan uprising.
- Lyra
historical figure; author of a journal Jesinia is translating.
- Tairn
Violet’s dragon; heard in brief mental exchange, cautioning against Andarna’s impulses.
- Andarna
Violet’s second dragon; mentioned in jest about roasting scribes.