Iron Flame
by Rebecca Yarros
Contents
Chapter Four
Overview
Violet and Xaden publicly present a cover story that a gryphon ambush killed Liam and Soleil and nearly killed Violet. General Sorrengail believes them, rebukes Colonel Aetos for abandoning Athebyne, and orders graduation to proceed. Third-years, including Xaden, are commissioned, while Violet’s class advances to second-year amid tension with Dain.
Summary
In the graduation courtyard, shock ripples as Xaden appears alive while Captain Fitzgibbons fumbles the death roll and Commandant Panchek, Colonel Aetos, and General Sorrengail look on. Xaden steps onto the dais, asserting that beyond the wards their riot was surprised by gryphons. He names the dead—Liam Mairi and Soleil Telery—and reveals Violet was poisoned.
Prompted by Xaden, Violet corroborates the account, adding that Athebyne was inexplicably deserted and that Xaden chose to save the living over holding a meaningless War Games post. Xaden produces written orders emptying the outpost, which General Sorrengail recognizes as Aetos’s handwriting. She believes Violet, orders the death roll corrected, and summons Aetos to answer for his judgment.
After the dais confrontation, Aetos hisses threats, but Xaden undercuts him by invoking General Melgren’s limitations and the public gaze. Dain rushes Violet, and she warns him off; Xaden pointedly reminds Dain of “Athebyne,” shaming him back into place. Fitzgibbons completes the death roll, naming Soleil and Liam, and the formation steels itself in silence.
Panchek commissions the third-years. Xaden takes his orders and departs to prepare for immediate reassignment, promising to find Violet before leaving. With graduation concluded, Panchek declares promotions: first-years become seconds, seconds become third-years. Violet and her surviving friends officially advance to second-year.
Who Appears
- Violet SorrengailTestifies to the gryphon attack, reveals poisoning, confronts Aetos and Dain, and advances to second-year.
- Xaden RiorsonLeads the public cover story, presents orders, claims he saved Violet, and is commissioned as a lieutenant.
- General Lilith SorrengailInterrogates, believes Violet, reprimands Aetos for emptying Athebyne, orders corrections and graduation to proceed.
- Colonel AetosAccuses them of desertion; exposed for War Games orders; ordered to report to the general.
- Dain AetosApproaches Violet and is publicly rebuffed; shamed by Xaden’s “Athebyne” warning.
- Commandant PanchekRuns the ceremony, announces commissions and promotions, dismisses the formation.
- Captain FitzgibbonsRiders scribe who reads the death roll and scrambles to correct it.
- JesiniaScribe who retrieves the death roll and quietly expresses relief that Violet lives.
- GarrickSteadies Violet, helps restore formation, and follows Xaden’s lead.
- TairnViolet’s dragon; waits beyond the ridge and reassures her mentally.
- Liam MairiFallen rider named on the death roll; his death weighs on Violet.
- Soleil TeleryFallen rider named on the death roll after the supposed gryphon ambush.