After ten days of tense waiting and training, Violet’s squad assembles in predawn fog to launch the Unnbriel mission, now expanded to include Trager and Maren for flexibility. Mira arrives from leave suspicious of their oversized packs and Violet’s plan to disobey Senarium orders. On the flight field, Halden needles the group and clashes with Xaden, who accuses him of withholding mission-critical information and endangering everyone.

Molvic, a blue dragon with a scarred snout, lands, revealing that first-year Aaric Cam Shepard has bonded. Violet intercepts Aaric and Dain approaching; Aaric declares he will not let Halden’s temper doom the mission or the Continent and insists on coming as the royal representative. Halden rages at the revelation, accuses Aaric of breaching the royal vault, and threatens to inform their father, but Aaric refuses to stand down. Violet endorses Aaric’s inclusion, citing his proven discipline. Halden, banned from Deverelli and without a mount, withdraws, extracting a promise from Violet to keep Aaric safe.

The squad travels in stages, resting gryphons at Athebyne and Cordyn and two days in Deverelli due to the absence of magic. Mira confirms some runes function off-continent, and the group is issued colored quartz disks to test; Violet notes sunburn protection from either an amethyst disk or a rune-etched dagger. She remains frustrated by Xaden’s unchanged amber flecks and Mira’s refusal to discuss anything but runes.

They embark on a twelve-hour sea crossing toward Unnbriel, gaining a tailwind. Andarna, unclipped, struggles with weaker extension on her left wing; Tairn warns her against losing altitude over armed ships. To pass time, Tairn recites black-dragon lore up to Thareux, the first black dragon to bond, then stops when the tale turns to humans.

Landfall approaches; Tairn identifies Soneram’s fortified port and leads the formation along the northeastern shore to avoid cross-bolts, then inland to a secluded clearing. The dragons and gryphons form a defensive circle as the riders secure water and hunt. Mira cautions that locals will see the dragons; Violet expects slim alliance chances on an isle where being separated from magic is painful, casting doubt that Andarna’s kind settled there.

While gathering stones for camp, Violet and Mira discuss Mira’s leave; Mira reveals she visited their grandmother, Niara, in Luceras and that it was their parents—not Niara—who cut off contact when Violet was a toddler. Mira withholds details and deflects Violet’s attempts to bridge the gap, including offers to share their father’s isle research books. The squad establishes watches; Violet takes first, Xaden second, and they settle in fully clothed around the fire under dragon and gryphon protection. Violet and Xaden quietly affirm their bait plan for dawn, giving their champion as much rest as possible.

At first light, Tairn’s warning rouses Violet and Xaden. A local soldier leans over them, stating in the common tongue that magic will not help here. Xaden brings a dagger to the man’s throat while Violet evaluates his pale-green leather armor marked with crossed swords over a horseshoe. Xaden replies that they brought blades, as the chapter closes with the camp confronted by Unnbriel’s forces.