Iron Flame
by Rebecca Yarros
Contents
Chapter Fifty-Two
Overview
Violet and Rhiannon disclose to their mixed squad that activating Aretia’s wards will end flier channeling, offering maorsite-charged conduits and time to choose whether to stay. A nightmare from the Sage warns Violet she may tear down the wards for love. Xaden returns after killing a venin near Draithus, and Violet reveals the “six most powerful” are dragons. She delays activation, noting Tairn will be needed.
Summary
At a squad gathering in Raegan’s home, Violet and Rhiannon choose transparency: Violet explains her translation of Warrick’s journal and that raising Aretia’s wards will end gryphon fliers’ ability to channel. Cat erupts, but Bragen steadies the room and asks for a timeline. Violet promises to tell Xaden as soon as he returns and to delay activation to allow the fliers to decide whether to stay or seek power and protection in Cordyn. To offset the loss, Violet produces conduits packed with explosive maorsite, offering imbued alternatives.
That night, Violet relives her recurring nightmare: the Sage immobilizes and taunts her, touching her throat and prophesying that she will tear down the wards for love or die—both of them will. She wakes uninjured, Tairn dismisses the dream, and she returns to sleep curled against Xaden.
Six days later, amid winter heat in the valley and fresh deaths on the roll, Second Squad must locate and close summoning-rune boxes hidden across the western range for a weekend pass. Andarna insists on flying despite limited endurance, while Rhiannon and Bragen outline teams of four by ability and confirm permission to range widely.
Xaden arrives with Sgaeyl and a full riot. After a brief reunion, Garrick blurts that Xaden killed a venin outside Draithus. Violet prepares to launch, and Xaden reads that she has solved the ward puzzle. She confirms the “six most powerful” are dragons and tells him activation will require Tairn. She defers the decision until their discussion is finished and departs on the mission.
Who Appears
- Violet SorrengailProtagonist; reveals ward activation will end flier channeling, offers maorsite conduits; endures Sage nightmare; confirms the six are dragons.
- Rhiannon MathiasSquad leader; convenes the disclosure meeting, enforces unity, and co-leads the rune-hunt training mission.
- CatFlier hostile to Violet; erupts at losing channeling, confronts riders but is restrained.
- BragenDriftleader and XO; calms conflict, demands timeline, co-briefs mission, sets weekend-pass incentive.
- Xaden RiorsonReturns with his riot; killed a venin near Draithus; intuits Violet’s breakthrough and pushes to raise wards.
- AndarnaAdolescent dragon; insists on flying the mission despite limited stamina; debates with Violet and Tairn.
- TairnElder dragon; brusquely dismisses Violet’s nightmare and will be required to activate the wards.
- MarenFlier ally; pragmatic about the cost of losing power; competitive about winning the pass.
- RidocSquadmate; wary of flier reactions, provides levity, and laments limited flying.
- SawyerSquadmate; practices signing with Jesinia, worries about losing his XO role.
- SloaneCadet; identifies the explosive maorsite in Violet’s conduits; assigned to Violet’s team.
- TrissaOfficer; co-organizes training and the summoning-rune box exercise.
- DeveraOfficer; co-leads the squad exercise briefing with Rhiannon and Bragen.
- GarrickOfficer; teases Xaden and reveals he killed a venin near Draithus.
- The SageVenin leader in Violet’s nightmare; threatens she’ll tear down wards for love.