Header Quotes Of Each Chapter For All Three Books

 

So I wanted something to look at without the temptations of the chapters.  I really think there could be some clues overall here.

Fourth Wing

The following text has been faithfully transcribed from Navarrian into the modern language by Jesinia Neilwart, Curator of the Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath War College. All events are true, and names have been preserved to honor the courage of those fallen. May their souls be commended to Malek.

Chapter One

A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead. —Article One, Section One The Dragon Rider’s Codex

Chapter Two

There’s a misconception that it’s kill or be killed in the Riders Quadrant. Riders, as a whole, aren’t out to assassinate other cadets…unless there’s a shortage of dragons that year or a cadet is a liability to their wing. Then things may get…interesting. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Three

Blue dragons descend from the extraordinary Gormfaileas line. Known for their formidable size, they are the most ruthless, especially in the case of the rare Blue Daggertail, whose knifelike spikes at the tip of their tail can disembowel an enemy with one flick. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Four

The sparring ring is where riders are made or broken. After all, no respectable dragon would choose a rider who cannot defend themselves, and no respectable cadet would allow such a threat to the wing to continue training. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Five

Knowing I am in direct disagreement with General Melgren’s orders, I am officially objecting to the plan set forth in today’s briefing. It is not this general’s opinion that the children of the rebellion’s leaders should be forced to witness their parents’ executions. No child should watch their parent put to death. —The Tyrrish Rebellion, an official brief for King Tauri by General Lilith Sorrengail

Chapter Six

It is my opinion that of all the signet powers riders provide, mending is the most precious, but we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent when in the company of such a signet. For menders are rare, and the wounded are not. —Major Frederick’s Modern Guide for Healers

Chapter Seven

In the best interest of preserving peace within Navarre, no more than three cadets carrying rebellion relics may be assigned to any squad of any quadrant. —Addendum 5.2, 

Basgiath War College Code of Conduct In addition to last year’s changes, marked ones assembling in groups of three or more will now be considered an act of seditious conspiracy and is hereby a capital offense. —Addendum 5.3, Basgiath War College Code of Conduct

Chapter Eight

There is an art to poison not often discussed, and that is timing. Only a master can properly dose and administer for effective onset. One must take into account the mass of the individual as well as the method of delivery. —Effective Uses of Wild and Cultivated Herbs by Captain Lawrence Medina

Chapter Nine

I will not die today. —Violet Sorrengail’s personal addendum to the Book of Brennan

Chapter Ten

Don’t underestimate the challenge of the Gauntlet, Mira. It’s designed to test your balance, strength, and agility. The times don’t matter for shit, only that you make it to the top. Reach for the ropes when you have to. Coming in last is better than coming in dead. —Page forty-six, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Eleven

It is a grave offense against Malek to keep the belongings of a dead loved one. They belong in the beyond with the god of death and the departed. In the absence of a proper temple, any fire will do. He who does not burn for Malek will be burned by Malek. —Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

Chapter Twelve

Presentation Day is unlike any other. The air is ripe with possibilities, and possibly the stench of sulfur from a dragon who has been offended. Never look a red in the eye. Never back down from a green. If you show trepidation to a brown…well, just don’t. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Thirteen

There is nothing quite as humbling, or as awe-inspiring, as witnessing Threshing… for those who live through it anyway. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Fourteen

In the six centuries of recorded history of dragon and rider, there have been hundreds of known cases where a dragon simply cannot emotionally recover from the loss of their bonded rider. This happens when the bond is particularly strong and, in three documented cases, has even caused the untimely death of the dragon. —Navarre, an Unedited History by Colonel Lewis Markham

Chapter Fifteen

Just because you survive Threshing doesn’t mean you’ll survive the ride to the flight field. Being chosen isn’t the only test, and if you can’t hold your seat, then you’ll fly straight into the ground. —Page fifty, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Sixteen

Though this officer considers himself to be an expert on all matters dragonkind, there is a great deal we don’t know about the way dragons govern themselves. There is a clear hierarchy among the most powerful, and deference is paid to elders, but I have not been able to discern how it is they make laws for themselves or at what point a dragon decided to bond only one rider, rather than go for better odds with two. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Seventeen

It is therefore only natural that the more powerful the dragon, the more powerful the signet its rider manifests. One should beware of a strong rider who bonds a smaller dragon, but even warier of the unbonded cadet, who will stop at nothing to seize a chance to bond. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Eighteen

There is nothing more sacred than the Archives. Even temples can be rebuilt, but books cannot be rewritten. —Colonel Daxton’s Guide to Excelling in the Scribe Quadrant

Chapter Nineteen

In response to the Great War, dragons claimed the western lands and gryphons the central ones, abandoning the Barrens and the memory of General Daramor, who nearly destroyed the Continent with his army. Our allies sailed home and we began a period of peace and prosperity as the provinces of Navarre united for the first time behind the safety of our wards, under the protection of the first bonded riders. —Navarre, an Unedited History by Colonel Lewis Markham

Chapter Twenty

Accusing a wingleader of wrongdoing is the most dangerous of all accusations. If you’re right, then we’ve failed as a quadrant to select the best wingleaders. If you’re wrong, you’re dead. —My Time as a Cadet: A Memoir by General Augustine Melgren

Chapter Twenty-One

Don’t freak out if you can’t immediately channel your dragon’s powers, Mira. Yeah, I know you have to be the best at everything, but this isn’t something you can control. They’ll channel when they feel you’re ready. And once they do, you’d better be ready to manifest a signet. Until then, you’re not ready. Don’t push it. —Page sixty-one, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Twenty-Two

The first rush of power is unmistakable. The first time it forms to you, surrounds you with a seemingly endless supply of energy, you’ll be addicted to the high, to the possibilities of all you can do with it, to the control you hold in the palm of your hand.But here’s the thing, that power can quickly turn and control you. —Page sixty-four, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Twent-Three

The most worrisome sight for any instructor is most definitely when powers backfire. We lost nine cadets my first year to signets that could not be controlled from their first manifestation. Pity. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Twenty-Four

I know you don’t want to hear this, but sometimes you have to know when to take the death blow, Mira. It’s why you have to be sure that Violet enters the Scribe Quadrant. She’ll never be able to take a life. —Page seventy, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Twenty-Five

The Squad Battle is more important than the wingleaders will let on. They like to joke that it’s a game, that it’s just bragging rights for the squad leaders and the winning squad, but it’s not. They’re all watching. The commandant, the professors, the commanding officers—they’re watching to see who will rise to the top. They’re salivating to see who will fall. —Page seventy-seven, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Twenty-Six

There is no stronger bond than that between two mated dragons. It goes beyond the depth of human love or adoration to a primal, undeniable requirement for proximity. One cannot survive without the other. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Twenty-Seven

For valor above and beyond the call of duty in the battle of Strythmore, where her bravery resulted not only in the destruction of a battery behind enemy lines but also saved the lives of an entire company of infantry, I recommend Mira Sorrengail receive the Star of Navarre. But if the criterion is not met, which I assure you it has been, downgrading to the Order of the Talon would be a shame, but sufficient. —Recommendation for Award from Major Potsdam to General Sorrengail

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Winning the War Games isn’t about strength. It’s about cunning. To know how to strike, you have to understand where your enemies—your friends—are most vulnerable. No one stays friends forever, Mira. Eventually those closest to us become our enemies in some way, even if it’s through well-intentioned love or apathy, or if we live long enough to become their villains. —Page eighty, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The death of a cadet is an inevitable yet acceptable tragedy. This process thins the herd, leaving only the strongest riders, and as long as the cause of death does not break the Codex, any rider involved in extinguishing another’s life shall not be punished. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Thirty

Though not forbidden, cadets are strongly encouraged not to develop strong romantic attachments while studying in the quadrant for the efficiency of the unit. —Article Five, Section Seven The Dragon Rider’s Codex

Chapter Thirty-One

July first, the anniversary of the Battle of Aretia, is hereby proclaimed Reunification Day and will be celebrated throughout Navarre on this date every year to honor the lives lost during the war to save our kingdom from separatists and those saved by the Treaty of Aretia. —Royal Proclamation of King Tauri the Wise

Chapter Thirty-Two

July first, the anniversary of the Battle of Aretia, is hereby proclaimed Reunification Day and will be celebrated throughout Navarre on this date every year to honor the lives lost during the war to save our kingdom from separatists and those saved by the Treaty of Aretia. —Royal Proclamation of King Tauri the Wise

Chapter Thirty-Three

The inability to control a powerful signet is just as dangerous to a rider—and everyone in their vicinity— as never manifesting one. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Thirty-Four

The first known gryphon attack occurred in 1 AU (After Unification) near what is now the trading post of Resson. At the edge of the dragon-protected border, the post has always been vulnerable to attack and, over the course of the past six centuries, has changed hands no less than eleven times in what has become a never-ending war to secure our borders from our power-hungry enemies. —Navarre, an Unedited History by Colonel Lewis Markham

Chapter Thirty-Five

The first known gryphon attack occurred in 1 AU (After Unification) near what is now the trading post of Resson. At the edge of the dragon-protected border, the post has always been vulnerable to attack and, over the course of the past six centuries, has changed hands no less than eleven times in what has become a never-ending war to secure our borders from our power-hungry enemies. —Navarre, an Unedited History by Colonel Lewis Markham

Chapter Thirty-Six

For there, in the land beyond the shadows, were monsters that dwelled in the night and dined on the souls of children who wandered too close to the woods. —“The Wyvern’s Cry,” The Fables of the Barren

Chapter Thirty-Seven

For there, in the land beyond the shadows, were monsters that dwelled in the night and dined on the souls of children who wandered too close to the woods. —“The Wyvern’s Cry,” The Fables of the Barren

Chapter Thrity-Eight

In the event that you come across a poison you do not recognize, it is best to treat with any and every antidote. Either way, the patient will die, but at least this way you would have learned something. —Major Frederick’s Modern Guide for Healers

Chapter Thirty-Nine

You’re all cowards. —The last words of Fen Riorson (redacted)

Iron Flame

The following text has been faithfully transcribed from Navarrian into the modern language by Jesinia Neilwart, Curator of the Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath War College. All events are true, and names have been preserved to honor the courage of those fallen. May their souls be commended to Malek.

Chapter One

In this, the 628th year of our Unification, it is hereby recorded that Aretia has been burned by dragon in accordance with the Treaty ending the separatist movement. Those who fled, survived, and those who did not remain entombed in her ruins. —Public Notice 628.85 transcribed by Cerella Neilwart

Chapter Two

It is the valley above Riorson House, heated by natural thermal energy, that is its greatest asset. For there lie the original hatching grounds of the Dubhmadinn Line, from which two of the greatest dragons of our time—Codagh and Tairn—descend. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Three

There is no moment as rewarding, as stirring, as…anticlimactic as a Riders Quadrant Graduation. It’s the only time I’ve ever envied the Infantry Quadrant. Now those cadets know how to hold a ceremony. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Four

As dragons ferociously guard both their young and any information regarding their development, only four facts are known about the Dreamless Sleep. First, it is a critical time of rapid growth and development. Second, the duration varies from breed to breed. Third, as the name suggests, it is dreamless, and fourth, they wake up hungry. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Five

After three consecutive deaths of prisoners during his interrogations, it is this command’s opinion that Major Burton Varrish should be reassigned from an active wing until further notice. —Missive from Lieutenant Colonel Degrensi, Samara Outpost, to General Melgren

Chapter Six

What no one openly says is that while all four quadrants obey the Code of Conduct, a rider’s first responsibility is to the Codex, which often overrules the regulations other quadrants live by. By definition: the riders make their own rules. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Seven

All tome requests at the Archives of Basgiath must be recorded and filed. Any cadet who fails to do so will be reported for dereliction of duty, as well as punished for the loss of any text they failed to accurately track. —Colonel Daxton’s Guide to Excelling in the Scribe Quadrant

Chapter Eight

It is one thing to cross the parapet your first year. But watching countless candidates lose their life to it feels a little like dying, too. Don’t watch if you can help it. —Page Eighty-Four, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Nine

And in the mountains of the Steelridge range, the green dragons of the Uaineloidsig line, known for their keen intellect and rational countenance, offered their ancestral hatching grounds for the good of dragonkind, and the wards of Navarre were woven by the First Six at what is now Basgiath War College. —United Navarre, a Study in Survival by Grato Burnell, Curator of the Scribe Quadrant

Chapter Ten

It is not unheard of that a candidate enters the Riders Quadrant having been paid to assassinate a cadet. I’m sorry Mira was targeted but proud to say she dispatched the threat quickly. You have enemies, General. —Official Notice from Commandant Panchek to General Sorrengail

Chapter Eleven

Garrick has always been my best friend. His father was my father’s aide, which in a way makes him my Dain, except trustworthy. After Liam, Bodhi was and still is the closest thing I have to a brother, perpetually tagging along a step behind. —Recovered Correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson to Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Twelve

Sgaeyl watched me kill another cadet for bullying Garrick during Threshing. She says she chose me for my ruthlessness, but I think I just reminded her of my grandfather. —Recovered Correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson to Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Thirteen

Though the chain of command may be consulted, the final say in any academic punishment or repercussion lies with the commandant’s office. —Article Five, Section Seven The Dragon Rider’s Codex

Chapter Fourteen

There is a natural distrust that must be overcome between infantry cadets and riders. This exists mainly because riders will never trust that infantry has the courage to hold the line when dragons arrive, and infantry will never trust that the dragons won’t eat them. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Fifteen

There’s a course second year that I can’t tell you about, other than to say that it’s hell. My only advice? Don’t piss off anyone else’s dragon. —Page ninety-six, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Sixteen

My dad hoped I’d go into the infantry like he did. He thought riders were pompous pricks, and in his defense…we really are. —Recovered Correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson to Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Seventeen

Many historians choose to ignore the sacrifices made by both humans and dragonkind to establish Navarre under the first wards in favor of praising the spirit of unification, but I would be remiss not to mention the losses suffered, both in terms of the ancestral hatching grounds of each dragon breed and the civilians who did not survive the continent-wide migration that resulted from the opening of Navarre’s borders…or those lost when we closed them. —The Sacrifice of Dragonkind by Major Deandra Naveen

Chapter Eighteen

It was only when we pushed the wards to their true limits, extending them far past what we first thought possible and to what I now question as sustainable, that we defined the borders of Navarre, regretfully knowing not every citizen would benefit from their protection. —The Journey of the First Six, a Secondhand Account by Sagar Olsen, First Curator of the Scribe Quadrant, Basgiath War College —Translated into the common language by Captain Madilyn Calros, Twelfth Curator of the Scribe Quadrant, Basgiath War College —Translated and Redacted for Academic Consumption by Colonel Phineas Cartland, Twenty-seventh Curator of the Scribe Quadrant, Basgiath War College

Chapter Nineteen

Dragons do not answer to the whims of men. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Twenty

In the years after my father died, I forgot what it felt like to be loved. Then I entered the quadrant and became the monster everyone needed me to be, and I never regretted it. But then you gave those words to me, and I remembered…and nearly lost you, too. I’m striving to be better for you just like I promised, but I need you to know that monster is still there, screaming to use every ruthless part of me to get your words back. —Recovered Correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson to Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Twenty-One

The Migration of The First Year is one of the crowning achievements of Navarre’s unification. What a celebration of the human spirit, to leave a life of war and enter one of peace, blending people, languages, and culture from every region of the continent and forming a cohesive, united society, whose only goal is mutual security. —Navarre, an Unedited History by Colonel Lewis Markham

Chapter Twenty-Two

At some point, probably during your second year, you’ll realize the trust you feel for your friends and family has nothing on the loyalty you develop for your squad. —Page Ninety-one, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Twenty-Three

The things that happen behind closed doors in the Riders Quadrant in order to turn young cadets into full-fledged riders are enough to turn even the staunchest of stomachs. Those prone to queasiness should not pry. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Every few years, a squad comes along that defies all expectations. They rise through the ranks, secure every patch, win every challenge. And then…they inexplicably falter, then fall. They call it the burnout effect: they flare too fast, too bright to sustain the pace. Sad, really, but mildly entertaining to watch them turn on one another. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Twenty-Five

If we ever choose to invade enemy territory—which we don’t—I would choose Zolya as my first target. Take out Cliffsbane Academy and you take out years of gryphon riders in one strike. —Tactics, a Personal Memoir by Lieutenant Lyron Panchek

Chapter Twenty-Six

Menders are not healers. Healers are bound to the Code of Chricton, sworn to aide all in time of need and never to harm a beating heart. Menders are riders. They’re only sworn to the Codex. They can as easily bring harm as heal. —Major Frederick’s Modern Guide for Healers

Chapter Twenty-Seven

By their third year, a rider must attain full and complete control over their shields. Otherwise, in moments of extreme stress, they are susceptible to being not only influenced by their dragon’s emotions but controlled by them. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Though gryphon riders are not capable of producing signets, they are not powerless. In fact, some would argue that they’ve honed lesser magic, especially mindwork, into the deadliest weapon of all. Underestimating them is an error. —Gryphons of Poromiel, a Study in Combat by Major Garion Savoy

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Cadets who are found absent without leave will be subject to court-martial by their chain of command, if they are not executed on sight. —Article Four, Section One

Chapter Thirty

Barring invasion, only riders and designated scribes are permitted in the Riders Quadrant. To enter uninvited as infantry or even healer is to welcome a swift death. —Article Two, Section Three The Basgiath War College Code of Conduct

Chapter Thirty-One

Everyone thinks most Riders cadets die from dragon fire. Truth be told, it’s usually gravity that gets us. —Page Forty-Seven, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Thirty-Two

Gods save us from the ambitions of second-years. They think they’ve experienced everything because they’ve survived their first year, but in reality, they only know enough to get themselves killed. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Thirty-Three

The first time you are caught in the Archives after the door seals for the evening will be the last. The complex magics put in place to preserve our texts are not compatible with life. —Colonel Daxton’s Guide to Excelling in the Scribe Quadrant

Chapter Thirty-Four

My last words with my father before the Battle of Aretia were spoken in anger, because he was sending me away for my own safety. I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive myself for that, but I like to think he forgives me. —Recovered Correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson to Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Thirty-Five

The only signet more terrifying than an inntinnsic is a truth-sayer. And yet we let them live. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Thirty-Six

The only crime worse than murdering a cadet is the unfathomable act of attacking leadership. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Half palace, half barracks, but entirely a fortress, Riorson House has never been breached by army. It survived countless sieges and three full-out assaults before falling under the flame of the very dragons it existed to serve. —On Tyrrish History, a Complete Accounting, third edition by Captain Fitzgibbons

Chapter Thirty-Eight

With all we’ve sacrificed for this kingdom, we’d better be able to defend it. —The Journal of Warrick of Luceras —Translated by Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Thirty-Nine

The blood of life of the six and the one combined and set the stone ablaze in an iron rain. —The Journal of Warrick of Luceras —Translated by Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Forty

His first true action of rebellion was to seek allies, the first of which was Viscount Tecarus of the Poromish province of Krovla. —The Tyrrish Rebellion, a Forbidden History by Colonel Felix Gerault

Chapter Forty-One

Having refused every proposal from the isle kingdoms, Queen Maraya has named her distant cousin, Viscount Tecarus of Cordyn, as her heir. As the viscount is living in his fifth decade and has no direct heirs of his own, the decision has not been a popular one. —On the Aristocracy of Poromiel

Chapter Forty-Two

Though her extraordinary signet allows her to extend the wards around herself and her dragon, Cadet Sorrengail lacks the consistent ability to produce her own wards without extreme emotional distress. I’m sorry to report I doubt this ability will develop in time. I had such hopes for her. —Memorandum from Professor Carr to General Sorrengail

Chapter Forty-Three

From the dangerous waves of the Arctile Ocean to the lowest plains of the Tyrrendor plateau, the Cliffs of Dralor rise to over twelve thousand feet in places, making them unflyable by gryphon. While there are three well-carved paths within Navarre to ascend the plateau, along the Krovlan border exists only one…and it is deadly to both gryphon and flier. Do not attempt under any circumstances. —Chapter Two: The Tactical Guide to Defeating Dragons by Colonel Elijah Joben

Chapter Forty-Four

When a gryphon bonds, it does so for life. Guard your life as you would your gryphon’s, for they are forever intertwined. —Chapter One, The Canon of the Flier

Chapter Forty-Five

It was only in the last fifty years that we realized they were no longer solely coming from the Barrens. They’d begun to take recruits, teaching those who never bonded a gryphon to channel what was not theirs to take, to upset the balance of magic by stealing it from the very source. The problem with mankind is we too often find our souls to be a fair price for power. —Captain Lera Dorrell’s Guide to Vanquishing the Venin Property of Cliffsbane Academy

Chapter Forty-Six

It is somewhat fitting that the only weapon capable of killing a dark wielder is the same thing that drove them to soullessness…power. —Captain Lera Dorrell’s Guide to Vanquishing the Venin Property of Cliffsbane Academy

Chapter Forty-Seven

Defeating a dark wielder begins with knowing where they rank in age and experience. Initiates have reddish rings to their eyes that come and go depending on how often they drain. Asims’ eyes fluctuate in degrees of red, and their veins distend when riled. Sages’—those responsible for initiates—eyes are permanently red, their veins perpetually distended toward their temples, expanding with age. Mavens—their generals—have never been captured for examination. —Venin, A Compendium by Captain Drake Cordella, the Nightwing Drift

Chapter Forty-Eight

As a result of the Treaty of Aretia, the power to represent the province of Tyrrendor in the King’s Senarium has hereby been transferred from the House of Riorson to the House of Lewellen. —Public Notice 628.86, transcribed by Cerella Neilwart

Chapter Forty-Nine

Fliers and riders are held equal in every regard with the exception of wing structure. Riders will maintain their wings, sections, and squads, as well as retain their commands. Every drift will be absorbed by a squad, and their leader will replace the squad’s current executive officer for unit cohesiveness and efficiency. —Article Two, Section One The Aretia Accord

Chapter Fifty

Mastery of one’s signet does not occur at Basgiath, nor in the years directly after. No rider alive truly believes they’ve reached the limitations of their power. The dead ones may feel differently. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Fifty-One

Many of our most esteemed tacticians have tried to estimate the approaching tipping point—where the outcome of the war may have been decided even though we still fight. Many believe it will come in the next decade. I fear it will arrive much sooner than that. —Captain Lera Dorrell’s Guide to Vanquishing the Venin Property of Cliffsbane Academy

Chapter Fifty-Two

The breath of life of the six and the one combined and set the stone ablaze in an iron flame. —The Journal of Warrick of Luceras —Translated by Cadets Violet Sorrengail and Dain Aetos

Chapter Fifty-Three

The art of imbuing comes naturally to only a handful of signets, and automatically only to one: the siphon. —A Study on Signets by Major Dalton Sisneros

Chapter Fifty-Four

I’ll say one thing for dragonfire. It kills quickly. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Fifty-Five

Nothing kills powerful, unshakable love faster than opposing ideologies. —The Journal of Warrick of Luceras —Translated by Cadets Violet Sorrengail and Dain Aetos

Chapter Fifty-Six

It was never our continent. From the very beginning, it was theirs, and we were simply allowed to live here. —The Journal of Warrick of Luceras —Translated by Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Fifty-Seven

The day Augustine Melgren manifested his signet changed warfare for the kingdom of Navarre forever. —Navarre, an Unedited History by Colonel Lewis Markham

Chapter Fifty-Eight

The combined hatching grounds at Basgiath is our generation’s greatest asset…and our greatest liability. —The Journal of Warrick of Luceras —Translated by Cadets Violet Sorrengail and Dain Aetos

Chapter Fifty-Nine

We do not eat our allies. —Tairn’s personal addendum to the Book of Brennan as quoted by Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Sixty

At its core, magic demands balance. Whatever you take will be recouped, and it is not the wielder who determines the price. —Magic: a Universal Study for Riders by Colonel Emezine Ruthorn

Chater Sixty-One

Though there is some debate, it is greatly believed that turning venin heightens one of the dark wielder’s senses. It is this scholar’s belief that the one responsible for the death of King Grethwild developed keener eyesight. For not even the best of His Majesty’s royal fliers could see through the darkness the venin hid within to slay our beloved king. —Major Edvard Tiller’s Unaccredited Study of the Venin Property of the Library of Cordyn

Chapter Sixty-Two

The easiest way to defeat a dragon is to kill its rider. Though the creature will most likely survive the blow, it will be stunned long enough to be felled. —Chapter Three: The Tactical Guide to Defeating Dragons by Colonel Elijah Joben

Chapter Sixty-Three

I am alone in thinking the knowledge of wards, the protections they provide, should not solely benefit Navarre, and it has cost me everything. —Journal of Lyra of Morraine —Translated by Cadet Jesinia Neilwart

Chapter Sixty-Four

You’re going to love Violet. She’s smart and stubborn. Reminds me a lot of you, actually. You just have to remember when you meet her: she’s not her mother. —Recovered Correspondence of Cadet Liam Mairi to Sloane Mairi

Chapter Sixty-Five

Most generals dream of dying in service to their kingdom. But you know me better than that, my love. When I fall, it will be for one reason only: to protect our children. —Recovered, Unsent Correspondence of General Lilith Sorrengail

Chapter Sixty-Six

We have tried every method we know of, as you requested. There is no cure. There is only control. —Missive from Lieutenant Colonel Nolon Colbersy to General Lilith Sorrengail

Onyx Storm

The following text has been faithfully transcribed from Navarrian into the modern language by Jesinia Neilwart, Curator of the Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath War College. All events are true, and names have been preserved to honor the courage of those fallen. May their souls be commended to Malek.

Chapter One

I will not die today. I will save him. —Violet Sorrengail’s personal addendum to the Book of Brennan

Chapter Two

The rarest of signets—those that rise once in a generation or century—have manifested concurrently with an equal twice in our records, both critical times in our history, but only once have the six most powerful walked the Continent simultaneously. As fascinating as that spectacle must have been, I would rather not live to see it happen again. —A Study on Signets by Major Dalton Sisneros

Chapter Three

Sometimes I worry about Violet. She has your sharp wit, quick mind, and steadfast heart paired with my bullheaded tenacity. When she finally and truly gives that heart, I fear it will overrule the other gifts you’ve given her and logic will cede its voice to love. And if her first two liaisons are any indication of what we might expect… Gods help her, my love, I’m afraid our daughter has atrocious taste in men. —Recovered, Unsent Correspondence of General Lilith Sorrengail

Chapter Four

There are two reasons rider cadets are not given the same summer and winter leave as others: Firstly, civilians do not react well to dragons casually roaming their villages. Secondly, raising tigers for war requires locking their cages lest they turn on each other…or you. —Sharpen the Talon: A Professor’s Guide by Colonel Tispany Calthea

Chapter Five

Never forget that dragon riders have been selected, trained, and even bred for cruelty. Expecting mercy from a rider is a mistake, for none will be given. —Chapter One: The Tactical Guide to Defeating Dragons by Colonel Elijah Joben

Chapter Six

Never turn your back on a rider. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

Chapter Seven

If I’m to be court-martialed for helping Braxtyn defend his people, then I shall welcome the trial. All who channel from dragon and gryphon alike should flourish under the wards, and now Aretia will be that haven should one of the others ever return. —Journal of Lyra of Morraine —Translated by Cadet Jesinia Neilwart

Chapter Eight

While many preach loyalty to Hedeon above all others, especially in Calldyr Province, I find that favoring Zihnal has universal appeal. Everyone wants wisdom but needs luck. —Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

Chapter Nine

Calling cadets into active service in times of war may only be authorized by the Commanding General of Basgiath. —Article Eight, Section One The Dragon Rider’s Codex

Chapter Ten

Weather is the one great equalizer in battle, equally detrimental or favorable to both sides given the conditions. Without our wielders swaying that element to our advantage, we are at its mercy. —Tactics, a Modern Guide to Aerial Combat by Major Constance Cara

Chapter Eleven

In the hope and excitement this new development of the bonds between dragons, gryphons, and their humans brings, I wonder who has stopped to contemplate the nature of magic’s balance. Do we not risk the equal rise of the very powers we seek to wield? —Recorded Correspondence of Nirali Ilan, Commanding General, Cliffsbane Fortress, to Lyra Mykel, Deputy Commanding General, Basgiath War Camp

Chapter Twelve

You might be angry when you realize I didn’t wake you to say goodbye. But it’s only because I no longer fully trust my ability to walk away. —Recovered Correspondence of His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor, to Cadet Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Thirteen

Upon failure of three exams, Jesinia Neilwart has been removed from the adept path and stripped of all its responsibilities and sacred privileges as of January 15. Under protest, I transfer her command to Professor Grady at his over-authoritative request. —Official Records: Scribe Quadrant, Colonel Lewis Markham, Commandant

Chapter Fourteen

Though fliers only wield lesser magics, in my vast experience with the Northern Wing, they are formidable opponents in both mindwork and hand-to-hand. Take heed, younger riders: do not unseat against them unless forced to do so. —Tactics part II, A Personal Memoir by Lieutenant Lyron Panchek

Chapter Fifteen

Some combat signets are fearsome, but any rider can be brought low by two things: lack of a shield…or a group effort. Never give the enemy the advantage of surrounding you. —Gryphons of Poromiel, a Study in Combat by Major Garion Savoy

Chapter Sixteen

It is hereby suggested strongly that neither bonded dragon nor gryphon shall be allowed to land or hunt in a one-mile vicinity of the village of Chantara in order to sustain the endeavors of our sheep herders through this surge of demand. —Posted Bulletin, Village of Chantara Transcribed by Percival Fitzgibbons

Chapter Seventeen

My brightest light, I meant to prepare you but only had time for half the lessons you need, half the history, half the truth, and now time runs short. I failed Brennan the day I watched him walk the parapet, failed Mira when I could not stop her from following, but I fear my death will fail you. Your mother and I trust no one, and neither can you. —Recovered Correspondence of Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail to Violet Sorrengail

Chapter Eighteen

I cannot imagine sustainable life beyond the Emerald Sea. No ship has ever survived the tempests that form its ice-tipped waves, and the only sailors who return from her exploration do so defeated. —The Last Admiral, a Memoir by Admiral Levian Croslight

Chapter Nineteen

The gem given to you upon graduation from Cliffsbane should always be worn close to the heart, but if you have not mastered your control, it will only amplify your downfall. —Chapter Three, The Canon of the Flier

Chapter Twenty

Perhaps the point of this is not to deny rebellion, but to only go to war with those you trust implicitly. —Subjugated: The Second Uprising of the Krovlan People by Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail

Chapter Twenty-One

Tyrrendor was the last to cut contact with the isles. The province has a reputation for its cunning leadership, but in this case, I would add: astute. —Subjugated: The Second Uprising of the Krovlan People by Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail

Chapter Twenty-Two

It was whispered in academic circles that Cordyn had supplied troops and weaponry for the second Krovlan uprising, but the research has led me across the Arctile Ocean to Deverelli, known to our kingdom as the treacherous isle of merchants, who to my surprise may not have been the source of the arms, but perhaps the broker. —Subjugated: The Second Uprising of the Krovlan People by Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail

Chapter Twenty-Three

The uprising suddenly failed overnight on December 13, 433 AU, in what has been called the Midnight Massacre. The foreign troops disappeared, and the rebels were killed in their beds by Poromish forces. It is not their disappearance that strikes this scholar as particularly vicious but their obvious betrayal. There is a saying in Deverelli: The word is the blood. When they make a trade, broker a deal, it is considered law. I cannot help but wonder what part of the deal the Krovlan rebels did not uphold. —Subjugated: The Second Uprising of the Krovlan People by Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail

Chapter Twenty-Four

She won’t understand why you’ve kept her in the dark. You left too soon, left too many of your plans unfinished. Now we can only hope the bond between our daughters is strong enough to endure the paths they’ve chosen. They’ll need each other to survive. —Recovered, Unsent Correspondence of General Lilith Sorrengail

Chapter Twenty-Five

The most useless word in the language of aristocracy has always been and will forever be: love. Marriage is a necessary evil to secure the line. Nothing more. Save love for your children. —Confiscated Correspondence of Fen Riorson to Unknown Intended Recipient

Chapter Twenty-Six

In the first twenty-four hours of removal from source magic, the subject—an asim—presented as even-tempered. But withdrawal quickly revealed the subject’s true nature, requiring the subject’s immediate transfer to stage two of the study. Her results can be found with group thirty-three B under the category: DEATH BY FIRE, and subsequently group forty-six C under the category: DEATH BY POISON. —A Study in the Anatomy of the Enemy by Captain Dominic Prishel

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Sometimes diplomacy is best served at swordpoint. —Journal of Captain Lilith Sorrengail

Chapter Twenty-Eight

There are times I look at Parapet, at the very act of Threshing and marvel that dragons have not been to Unnbriel. What we call treacherous is their idea of primary school. —Unnbriel: Isle of Dunne by Second Lieutenant Asher Daxton

Chapter Twenty-Nine

In a culture that worships the goddess of war exclusively, blood is the preferred sacrifice and cowardice is the ultimate sin. —Unnbriel: Isle of Dunne by Second Lieutenant Asher Daxton

Chapter Thirty

It is unwise to favor one god above another. Better to shun them all than show favoritism amongst a jealous, prodigious pantheon. —Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

Chapter Thirty-One

Guardians are no longer permitted to dedicate children in service to their favored deity. The decision to serve the gods for life must be made after the age of majority and of one’s free will. —Public Notice 200.417 Transcribed by Racel Lightstone

Chapter Thirty-Two

With such wan coloring in the vegetation, it comes as no surprise that it requires four times the amount of indigo to dye even the simplest garment. I can’t help but wonder if the colors of our Continent are the exception, or if the isles are. —Unnbriel: Isle of Dunne by Second Lieutenant Asher Daxton

Chapter Thirty-Three

Do not mistake a dragon’s bond for fealty. If you expect a dragon to choose their rider over the well-being of their own kind, prepare for two things: disappointment and death. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Thirty-Four

It has been the experience of my lifetime to spend these months with others who value knowledge just as reverently as I do. But though their intelligence and their wisdom inspire me, their artifice terrifies me. —Hedotis: Isle of Hedeon by Captain Asher Sorrengail

Chapter Thirty-Five

The god of wisdom is the trickiest to placate. Hedeon seems to only answer those who do not pray to him. —Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

Chapter Thirty-Six

The citizenship test for those wishing to reside in Hedotis reminds me of the entrance exam for the Scribe Quadrant, but our test is designed to measure how much a potential cadet has learned, and theirs reads as though to prove how much one has not. —Hedotis: Isle of Hedeon by Captain Asher Sorrengail

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I wish you and Sawyer were with us, but I’m grateful to have Ridoc, even if his sarcasm is wearing on Mira’s last nerve. —Recovered Correspondence of Cadet Violet Sorrengail to Cadet Rhiannon Matthias

Chapter Thirty-Eight

To live amongst the Zihlni, you must prepare to accept luck as your guide and chaos as your standard. —Zehyllna: Isle of Zihnal by Major Asher Sorrengail

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Sometimes the best gift the god of luck can give is his absence. —Zehyllna: Isle of Zihnal by Major Asher Sorrengail

Chapter Forty

Conscription rates are hereby doubled for each province until further notice. —Public Notice 634.23 Transcribed by Percival Fitzgibbons

Chapter Forty-One

What we know about dragonkind is nothing compared to what we don’t. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Forty-Two

While the enemy’s advance throughout Krovla makes it impossible to station a full riot at Suniva, we offer you four dragons and their riders. In the spirit of our alliance, you may expect a shipment of our most valuable resource—weaponry—to be used at your discretion. —Official Correspondence of General Augustine Melgren to Queen Maraya

Chapter Forty-Three

If possible, hunt the enemy during the day. Their markings are so easily hidden by the shadows of night that it would not surprise me to find they walk among us. —Venin, A Compendium by Captain Drake Cordella, the Nightwing Drift

Chapter Forty-Four

Your Majesty, unfortunately I can find no law that supersedes the Unification Scrolls. The Provincial Commitment under Queen Alondra the Bold (207.1)—consolidating the provinces’ armies under the queen’s standard for the Poromish conflict—expired with the Second Aretia Accord, and control of all forces should must return to the provinces from which they hail. I recommend demanding asking for a new Provincial Commitment covering our current conflict. The provinces will never agree after the rise in conscription rates. My advice: do not anger Tyrrendor’s duke, who now commands the largest portion of our army. Screw this. I hate my job. —Unsent, Drafted Correspondence of Colonel Agatha Mayfair, Royal Archivist

Chapter Forty-Five

I think I started falling for you that night in the tree when I watched you with the marked ones, but I began tumbling the day you gave me Tairn’s saddle. You’ll give some self-serving excuse, but the truth is you’re kinder than you want people to know. Maybe kinder than you know. —Recovered Correspondence of Cadet Violet Sorrengail to His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor

Chapter Forty-Six

When this is over, we should take as much leave as they’ll give us and spend it all in Aretia. We can figure out what life is supposed to look like without the daily threat of death. You can govern the province you love during the day, then slide into bed with me at night. Or I can always join you in the Assembly chamber. You do some of your best work on that throne. —Recovered Correspondence of Cadet Violet Sorrengail to His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor

Chapter Forty-Seven

A dragon determines its last flight, and its rider’s. —Article One, Section Two The Dragon Rider’s Codex

Chapter Forty-Eight

472 AU, Willhaven, Braevick: With the exception of one house, the village was desiccated overnight by a single venin estimated to be a Sage. The only adult amongst the three survivors described her as, “Astonishingly ageless. Hair as black as the day we married, but in place of the age lines I’d expected were bulging scarlet veins branching outward from her red-ringed eyes.” —The Resurgence of Evil, a timeline, by Pierson Haliwell

Chapter Forty-Nine

While most deities allow temple attendants to choose their timeline of service, only two require a lifetime of dedication: Dunne and Loial. For both war and love change souls irrevocably. —Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

Chapter Fifty

Your Majesty, Tyrrendor hereby officially declines your request for a Provincial Commitment of troops for our current conflict. Having resigned my professorship at Basgiath War College, I am now in rightful command of all Tyrrish citizens in military service. —Official Correspondence of His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor, to His Majesty, King Tauri the Wise

Chapter Fifty-One

For maximum potential, riders should be stationed close to their villages if possible. Nothing is a more effective motivator than seeing one’s home on fire. —Tactics part II, a Personal Memoir by Lieutenant Lyron Panchek

Chapter Fifty-Two

Dedicating oneself to temple work isn’t just a noble pursuit. Becoming high priest or priestess is the closest most of us will get to touching the power of the gods. The rest are riders. —Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

Chapter Fifty-Three

Asher returned today. Gods help us if anyone finds out. I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive him for what he’s done to her. —Journal of Captain Lilith Sorrengail

Chapter Fifty-Four

No rider has ever survived the loss of their dragon. I can’t imagine wanting to. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide To Dragonkind

Chapter Fifty-Five

As our largest province, Tyrrendor provides the most conscripts for our forces. However, the strength of Navarre isn’t only found in Tyrrish soldiers, but also in the province’s most valuable resource: Talladium. Losing it would doom Navarre. —On Tyrrish History, A Complete Accounting, third edition by Captain Fitzgibbons

Chapter Fifty-Six

If Tyrrendor does not immediately restore the flow of Talladium, the consequences will be dire not only for the province but the Continent. This is not a request—it is an order from your king. —Official Correspondence of His Majesty, King Tauri the Wise, to His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor

Chapter Fifty-Seven

But even harder than taking a life is doing nothing while one is extinguished beside you. Keep your eyes forward, Mira. —Page seventy-one, the Book of Brennan

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Most cadets believe their ability to recite historical fact will usher them onto the adept path, but it is actually the ability to observe and recount it that separates the librarians from the scribes. —Colonel Daxton’s Guide to Excelling in the Scribe Quadrant

Chapter Fifty-Nine

It was not without risk that the first dragons bonded humans, for though they clearly hold the power, their bonded riders made them the one thing they could not tolerate: vulnerable. Many dragons suffered the loss of their bonded riders in the name of self-preservation. —The Sacrifice of Dragonkind by Major Deandra Naveen

Chapter Sixty

The only thing more stubborn than a dragon is its rider. —Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

Chapter Sixty-One

Command is built on respect, rules, and obedience. Squads are built on trust. —Leadership for Second-Years by Major Pipa Donans

Chapter Sixty-Two

There is no goddess more wrathful than Dunne. Entering Her temple will slice the soul from any attendant who has shunned Her grace. —Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

Chapter Sixty-Three

Fuck you. My daughter and I will meet Malek with clean consciences. Will you and your daughters be able to say the same when they come for you? —The last words of Tracila Cardulo (redacted)

Chapter Sixty-Four

A gift from one servant of Dunne to another. I must warn you—only those touched by the gods should wield their wrath. I will pray to Her that she need not use it to avoid reacquainting herself with the other who curries her favor. Her path is still not set. —Recovered Correspondence of High Priestess Deservee to His Royal Highness, Cadet Aaric Graycastle, Prince Camlaen of Navarre

Chapter Sixty-Five

The only thing more unpredictable than the volatile province that is Tyrrendor is her duke. There is a reason reigning aristocracy should never wear black. —Journal of General Augustine Melgren

Chapter Sixty-Six

While cadets are strongly encouraged not to form romantic attachments while studying in the quadrant, lieutenants are permitted to marry whomever they choose upon graduation. —Article Five, Section Seven The Dragon Rider’s Codex