Iron Flame
by Rebecca Yarros
Contents
Chapter Ten
Overview
During assessment, an assassin first-year murders Nadine while targeting Violet. Violet kills the attacker but suffers a concussion, and the moment underscores Aetos’s reach.
As Sloane’s poor skills complicate Violet’s promise to protect her, Xaden returns briefly, tends Violet, wards her room for privacy, shares sparse news of Samara, and leaves her a letter and instructions.
Summary
The chapter opens with a first-year dropping Nadine’s corpse, having mistaken her for Violet. Violet forbids interference, engages the giant attacker, and uses speed to hamstring him. He overpowers her, choking her while hissing, “Secrets die with the people who keep them,” until Violet draws a hidden dagger and repeatedly stabs his kidney, killing him.
Dain rushes in, but Violet refuses his touch and reinforces her mental shields against Tairn’s fear. Emetterio diagnoses a concussion and offers to end her session; Violet insists on staying. She privately tells Imogen the assassin was sent by Colonel Aetos. The bodies are removed as shocked first-years clean the mat, and Violet suppresses grief over Nadine’s death.
Assessment continues. Violet observes that Sloane Mairi is drastically undertrained, and Aaric repeatedly defeats her, complicating Violet’s intention to keep Sloane alive. After physics, Violet skips dinner and returns to her room, aching and bloodstained.
Xaden arrives after eight days, tends Violet’s injuries, and confirms he believes Aetos sent the assassin. He has warded her room for privacy and entry only by those she physically brings through (and himself). They discuss Samara’s harsh outpost culture, Liam’s death and guilt, and how second-years are desensitized into weapons.
When Bodhi knocks, Xaden prepares to leave, urging Violet to watch closely when she departs with Tairn in seven days. He gives her a folded parchment—his letter—and shares his Samara barracks location and wards for her entry. He departs, and Violet unfolds the letter, smiling.
Who Appears
- Violet SorrengailProtagonist; kills the assassin who murdered Nadine, refuses help, suffers a concussion, and later meets Xaden and receives his letter.
- Xaden RiorsonReturns after eight days, tends Violet, wards her room, discusses Samara, gives her a letter, and departs on duty.
- First-year assassinGiant cadet who kills Nadine while targeting Violet; strangles Violet, says secrets must die; killed by Violet.
- NadineSecond-year who pretends to be Violet during assessment and is killed instantly by the assassin.
- Dain AetosAttempts to help Violet and orders body removal; his father is implicated in sending the assassin.
- EmetterioInstructor who diagnoses Violet’s concussion and permits her to continue assessment.
- ImogenSupports Violet after the attack; hears Violet’s suspicion that Aetos sent the assassin.
- RhiannonRushes to Nadine, helps with aftermath, and later watches over Violet during class.
- Sloane MairiResentful toward Violet and performs poorly in assessment, repeatedly defeated by Aaric.
- AaricNew cadet who easily defeats Sloane multiple times during assessment.
- BodhiArrives to collect Xaden, prompting his departure after giving Violet a letter.
- TairnViolet’s dragon; his fear presses at her shields during the attack; later shares images with Sgaeyl.
- AndarnaYoung dragon who cries out to Violet during the fight, linked through their bond.