In the aftermath of the duels at Eistol, Queen Marlis escalated her price for alliance, demanding twelve dragon eggs—two of each breed—to bring Unnbriel’s army to the Continent. Violet, Xaden, and their dragons rejected the demand, asserting that dragons choose riders and cannot be traded. Sgaeyl’s threatening display scattered some guards, and Marlis departed, telling Violet to return when more desperate.

Violet noted the priestesses’ absence from the temple and chose to leave the isle. Back at their meadow clearing, Trager tended to the wounded: Dain remained unconscious, Violet’s ribs were wrapped, and both Violet and Xaden had stitched cuts. Mira pressed Violet about whether she had wielded, but Violet attributed the plaza’s lightning strikes to a storm and mentioned a priestess’s unsettling comments about her silver-tipped hair and seeing another girl with similar hair. Violet and Xaden agreed to depart as soon as possible.

Following Drake’s advice, they rested the gryphons for a day before making a thirteen-hour flight to Hedotis, landing on the rocky coast near Vidirys. Violet observed the isle’s pale, weakened vegetation, speculating with Tairn that magic diminished farther from the Continent; Andarna disliked the place and urged leaving. The city’s uniform architecture and lack of a port struck Violet and Xaden as peculiar, and Violet explained that Hedotis rebuilt its capital with intention about 150 years ago.

As the group prepared to seek an audience with Hedotis’s leadership—requiring a test of wisdom—Trager checked their wounds again, planning Lorin salve for Xaden’s inflamed gash. A debate over flight maneuvers broke out among Drake, Mira, and others before Tairn warned of approaching company.

A delegation in pastel garments arrived, led by Faris, second of the Hedotis triumvirate, who welcomed them warmly and offered lodging. Faris’s striking purple-blue eyes matched descriptions Violet had read, and he commented on Violet’s unusual eye color. He introduced his wife, Talia, who was awestruck by the dragons and then fixed on Xaden with shock.

In a tense reveal, Talia recognized Xaden and addressed him with trembling certainty. Xaden moved protectively beside Violet and confirmed the relationship by calling Talia “Mom,” stunning the group and ending the scene on the revelation of his mother’s identity and presence on Hedotis.