Violet faces Jack, Oren, and Tynan, who exploit Threshing’s brutal rules to attack her and the small golden feathertail. Relying on daggers and Mira’s armor, Violet disables Jack’s shoulder, slashes Oren and Tynan, and absorbs a deep cut to her arm. Jack retreats into the trees, Oren presses the assault, and Tynan prepares a killing strike as Violet weakens.

Xaden, unable to interfere, warns Violet of danger. As Tynan raises his sword for a finishing blow, a massive black dragon lands, sheltering the golden feathertail beneath a wing and terrifying the attackers. The black dragon unleashes fire, annihilating the fleeing Tynan, while Violet knocks Oren unconscious rather than behead him.

The black dragon speaks in Violet’s mind, urging her to end Oren; Violet refuses to kill an unconscious opponent, asserting her own code. Xaden and Sgaeyl depart. The dragon notes her bleeding, prompting Violet to staunch the wound. He commands her to mount. The golden feathertail reveals it can fly and leaves the clearing.

Defying dragon custom, the black dragon lowers his leg to help Violet aboard and names himself Tairneanach, Tairn for short. He launches skyward with overwhelming power. Violet struggles to keep her seat, loses her grip during a bank, and tumbles into open air as the scene ends.