Twenty-two hours after departure, Violet Sorrengail, Rhiannon, Ridoc, Trager, Cat, and Maren report to Lieutenant Colonel Degrensi at Samara. The fortress is devastated, with a quarter of the western wall destroyed and wounded everywhere. Degrensi confirms command of Basgiath has been given to Colonel Aetos and that Article Eight was invoked to send cadets, but he discards the orders, explaining the fighting ended the previous day. He recounts that a wyvern crashed through as wards rose, venin infiltrated without magic once the perimeter fell, and the unit nearly lost its power supply repelling them across the border; the front now sits just over the hill.

Degrensi notes casualties are worse beyond the wards and warns that the potential alliance with Poromiel is unpopular, especially among riders. He extends condolences for General Sorrengail’s death and instructs Violet to keep Tairn out of sight to avoid drawing a massed attack. He dismisses the squad to find rest and make themselves useful later, limping away as they endure hostile looks from other riders.

Violet leads the squad to Xaden Riorson’s previously warded bedchamber for safety and sleep. She experiences a vivid nightmare of fire and loss, with Cat present as Violet desperately searches for a miniature family painting that burns before her eyes, echoing her mother’s death. She wakes in late afternoon; the squad quietly prepares to help around the outpost.

In the corridor, a weary major and captain mention that Maise (mated to Greim) reports an imminent threat and that Newhall shows smoke. Maren confronts them, revealing her family fled to Newhall. The officers, stretched thin and short on sleep, say the unit will not risk further losses for such a small village, prioritizing denser population centers; they assume evacuation if possible and move on.

Maren panics over her family’s safety. Violet offers to fly fast with Tairn if the squad breaks off, and Cat points out their experience surviving Cliffsbane. Rhiannon, mindful that Article Eight covers them but wary of unknown enemy numbers and wyvern presence, hesitates. Ridoc reframes the mission as a narrow extraction of Maren’s family and as many civilians as feasible, avoiding a pitched fight. Violet proposes a vote, recalling past decisions at Resson.

All six vote in favor, including Rhiannon. Concluding that Degrensi told them to be useful, Rhiannon authorizes the squad to go attempt the extraction at Newhall.